Emperor Shang Xiche heard that the Empress Dowager had not only returned empty-handed, but had also become strange in temperament.

Since it concerned his throne and the future heir of the Great Zhao Dynasty, he went to Cixi Palace in the evening to discuss with the Empress Dowager the matter of Ji Fengyao's inclusion in the family genealogy ceremony the next day.

Unexpectedly, Shang Xiche had just stepped into the inner hall of Cixi Palace.

After Eunuch De announced, "The Emperor has arrived," a palace maid rushed out from the inner hall. Her face flushed, she stammered, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment. The Empress Dowager... the Empress Dowager is unwell..."

Before the palace maid could finish speaking, the Empress Dowager's calm yet clearly displeased voice suddenly rang out from inside the hall: "Have you not eaten enough? Shall I bring you some food?"

"Empress Dowager, I was wrong..." A guard's voice, almost breaking down in tears, rang out.

"Otherwise, you might as well castrate yourself and become a eunuch," the Empress Dowager said calmly.

The guard then fell silent.

An extremely embarrassing sound came from inside the hall.

Shang Xiche's face turned green upon hearing this:

It's broad daylight, and it's not even dark yet!

What is the Empress Dowager doing?!

He wanted to go in and chop that audacious guard down, but then he was afraid that if he just barged in, he would go blind. So, in a fit of anger, he immediately turned around and went back to Chaoyang Palace.

When the lanterns were hung high in the sky, the guard emerged from the Empress Dowager's palace, his limbs limp.

Gao Chengwei personally led a squad of Imperial Guards to wait for him there.

"Commander Gao, I really didn't mean it. It was the Empress Dowager... she threatened me with the lives of my entire family..." The guard pleaded tearfully, hoping that Gao Chengwei would let him go.

Gao Chengwei looked at the guard with pity: "..."

The guard was startled when he saw Gao Chengwei looking at him like that, and he immediately knelt up straight: "Commander Gao, what's wrong?!"

Gao Chengwei didn't say the rest: "The Emperor went to Cixi Palace in the evening."

But the guard understood that his entire family had probably been wiped out.

Looking at the sword already drawn in Gao Chengwei's hand, the guard suddenly laughed loudly, "What a disrespectful empress dowager! What an unrighteous emperor! My Qian family is ashamed to be citizens of the Great Zhao, ashamed of the foolish ruler and his ministers, as wicked to the wronged souls under the empress dowager's skirt, and as proud of Shang Xiche's favor to the emperor!"

Gao Chengwei thrust his long sword forward, piercing the guard's vital point, and sighed softly, "Why bother with your quick wit?"

"Ha..." Blood spilled from the guard's mouth, a sinister glint in his eyes. With his last ounce of strength, he roared to the heavens, "My Emperor, my son, you have murdered your father and exterminated your clan today. You will be punished! I will be waiting for you in the underworld!"

Shang Xiche was furious that his mother had draped him in a green robe.

He was watching Gao Chengwei execute the man from not far away when he heard these infuriating words. He was so angry that he nearly fainted.

Shang Xiche was too lazy to go and discuss anything with the Empress Dowager. This shameful old woman, he wished he could just bury her alive, why bother discussing anything with her!

The Second Prince Shang Nanjue and the Minister of Personnel Wen Jiyan heard about this.

Shang Nanjue raised an eyebrow in surprise: "I didn't expect that bandit was actually quite capable, managing to force the Empress Dowager to this point. If we could get her, it would really be a great help to her."

Wen Jiyan's eyes flickered a few times upon hearing this, also showing surprise: "Does Your Highness mean that all of this was done by that bandit? How could she have such courage and means?"

"She is a miracle doctor, Uncle, don't underestimate her." Shang Nanjue saw through Wen Jiyan's displeasure at a glance.