Lin Wanwan's bow was like a stone thrown into a stagnant pool, instantly breaking the suffocating deadlock in the Golden Palace.

All eyes, whether surprised, curious, contemptuous, or scrutinizing, were focused on the young empress, dressed in a phoenix robe, kneeling on the ground.

What does she want to do?

When even the emperor was forced into a dilemma, how could she, a woman in the harem, possibly turn the tables?

Regent Xiao Yuan had a cold smile on his lips. In his view, this was nothing more than Lin Wanwan's last desperate struggle.

The Empress Dowager narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, looking down at her with a tone that remained gentle and loving, yet carried an undeniable pressure: "Oh? Empress, please speak freely."

In her opinion, Lin Wanwan would either cry and plead for mercy or put up a stubborn resistance, and either way, it would only make her lose even more miserably.

Xiao Che's eyes were filled with worry, and he even subconsciously took half a step forward, wanting to protect Lin Wanwan behind him. He would rather bear the blame for being unfilial than let her face the Empress Dowager's wrath.

However, Lin Wanwan shook her head almost imperceptibly at him, giving him a reassuring look.

Then, she slowly raised her head and met the Empress Dowager's dignified gaze.

To everyone's astonishment, her face showed no trace of resentment or anger. Instead, her beautiful eyes were filled with glistening tears, her expression a mixture of grievance and affection. Her voice, tinged with a perfectly timed sob, resonated clearly throughout the entire hall.

"What Mother says is true!"

What? !

These words caused an uproar throughout the court! The royalist officials were all stunned, unable to believe that the Empress had conceded defeat so easily. Meanwhile, the Regent's faction was overjoyed, their eyes filled with disdain as they looked at Lin Wanwan.

As expected, she was a girl from a humble family who couldn't be brought into the limelight. She was so frightened by the slightest pressure from the Empress Dowager that her legs went weak.

With tears in her eyes, Lin Wanwan continued in a tone of utmost reverence and trust, "I know I am young and lack virtue. Since entering the palace, I have relied entirely on Your Majesty's mercy. To receive your constant guidance from the Empress Dowager is truly a blessing I have accumulated over many lifetimes!"

Her words were delivered with utmost humility, perfectly portraying the image of a naive and respectful young daughter-in-law, leaving the Empress Dowager with no fault to find.

The Empress Dowager smiled with satisfaction and was about to say a few polite words to finalize the matter.

However, at that moment, Lin Wanwan suddenly changed the subject!

"But...that's precisely why I can't let Mother Empress get tired!"

Um?

The Empress Dowager's smile froze slightly.

Lin Wanwan's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, filled with a heartfelt filial piety: "Mother, please think about it. Holding the Phoenix Seal and ruling the six palaces may seem glamorous, but in reality, how complicated are the affairs? Above, you must serve the Emperor Emeritus and yourself; below, you must manage the concubines and thousands of palace servants; and you must also oversee royal sacrificial ceremonies... Every single one of these tasks is a labor of love and effort!"

She paused, raised her sleeve to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and her voice became even more emotional:

"Your Majesty's good health and long life are the greatest blessings for this country! Such tedious and laborious matters should be shared by your daughter-in-law, how can I... how can I let Your Majesty worry and suffer for me? If word gets out, won't the people of the world criticize me and call me an unfilial and incompetent person?!"

These words were spoken with heartfelt sincerity and were deeply moving!

She cleverly disguised her desire to reclaim the Phoenix Seal as a power grab, transforming it into a display of filial piety to "share her mother-in-law's burdens and solve her problems"!

The Empress Dowager's expression began to change.

She discovered that the mountain of "filial piety" that she had previously used to suppress the emperor had now been taken back by this seemingly weak empress and used against her instead!

Lin Wanwan didn't give her a chance to react at all, and directly gave her final summary, her voice clear and firm:

"Therefore, I beg Your Majesty to return the Phoenix Seal!"

She bowed deeply, her posture extremely respectful, yet her words carried an undeniable authority:

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will personally learn how to handle palace affairs under your supervision and guidance! From now on, I will pay my respects to you every morning and report to you on everything, big or small, without daring to be negligent in the slightest!"

"If there is any mistake, I will take full responsibility and will not cause you, Mother, any trouble!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire Golden Palace fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned by Lin Wanwan's watertight, witty, and cunning "green tea" remarks!

This...this can actually be done like this?!

The Empress Dowager had just used "teaching" as a pretext to seize power.

The Empress immediately turned the tables, clearly distinguishing between "teaching" and "wielding power."

You want me to teach you? No problem! I'll come to listen to your teachings every day!

But let me, the younger generation, do the tiring and difficult work of taking power! You're getting old, you should rest properly!

Listen to this! What a dutiful daughter-in-law she is!

At this moment, the Empress Dowager's face could no longer be described as merely ugly; it was a mixture of pale and flushed colors, as if a dye shop had been opened.

She was put on the hot seat by Lin Wanwan and couldn't get off!

She refused?

That would be tantamount to admitting to the entire court: I don't want to teach the Empress at all; I just don't want to relinquish power! I'm not kind! I don't care about my own exhaustion; I just want to hold onto power!

This caused her carefully cultivated image of a "virtuous and loving mother" to collapse instantly!

She agreed?

That would be tantamount to handing over the imperial seal! Her meticulously planned "imperial decree" today has become a huge joke!

A dilemma! A situation where one can't back down!

Regent Xiao Yuan's face also darkened. He stared intently at Lin Wanwan, his eyes revealing genuine fear for the first time. He realized for the first time that this empress, whom he had always regarded as a pawn in a marriage intended to ward off bad luck, possessed such terrifying political wisdom and eloquence!

At this moment, the happiest person was none other than Xiao Che, who sat on the dragon throne.

He looked at the woman kneeling on the ground who had single-handedly turned the tide, his eyes filled with undisguised amazement and admiration.

He was trapped by the predicament of "filial piety," but she resolved it in the same way, so casually and effortlessly!

His empress was not only a meritorious ally who fought alongside him, but also his one and only confidante and his greatest surprise!

Xiao Che could no longer contain his excitement. The little figure above his head, which had been bound by ropes, instantly broke free and transformed into a cartoon character in a tuxedo, clapping wildly, with a line of large, glittering gold characters flashing beside him—

[My wife is awesome! .gif]

This originally one-sided struggle for the Phoenix Seal has taken a dramatic turn, and the balance of power has shifted.

The Empress Dowager, having shut down all her escape routes with her own words, stood there with a livid face, unable to utter a single word.

The officials in the court looked at each other, not daring to utter a sound.

The first round of this battle for the Phoenix Seal ended in a way that no one expected.

In the end, the Phoenix Seal remained in the Empress Dowager's hands, but everyone knew that her attempt to retain control of the seal under the guise of "acting as a proxy" was no longer legitimate. Empress Lin Wanwan, though she did not obtain the Phoenix Seal, won the respect of the entire court.

She lost this round, but she was still honorable!