Emperor Wen looked at his mother, feeling a pang of pain in his heart. He knew she had sacrificed so much for his throne, but he also knew her methods were too ruthless. He couldn't help but say, "Mother...you shouldn't have attacked Xiao Qichen and his son! They must be important officials of Dazhao!"
Hearing her son's words, Empress Dowager Xue's eyes grew cold. She spoke slowly, "Back then, Prince Wu'an and the Princess obeyed the late Emperor's will. The late Emperor wanted Chu Shiyou to be the Crown Prince! I, Your Majesty, wanted to kill them, but the evildoer only sustained a facial injury! And yet the late Emperor actually wanted to save him with Youli's secret medicine!"
At this point, a hint of hatred flashed in Empress Dowager Xue's eyes. She continued, "As long as Prince Wu'an is alive, you won't be crowned Crown Prince! As for Xiao Qichen, he'll eventually learn the truth. If he rebels, your throne will be in jeopardy! I, your majesty, am doing this for you!"
After saying this, Empress Dowager Xue stared at Emperor Wen, as if expecting his understanding.
Emperor Wen looked at the Empress Dowager, tears glistening in his eyes and a look of deep sorrow on his face. His voice trembled slightly, a hint of coldness in his voice: "Will Your Majesty still protect my kingdom and the reputation of the imperial family? I have brought your favorite sweet-scented osmanthus wine. Come! I will fill your glass! I wish you a long and healthy life!"
Empress Dowager Xue stared intently at Emperor Wen, as if trying to see through him. This son had been born after ten months of pregnancy, and she had risked her life to protect him through countless dangers. And now? He was actually forcing himself to die!
Queen Mother Xue, with trembling hands, slowly picked up the cup of sweet-scented osmanthus wine and drank it all in one gulp. As the sweet-scented osmanthus wine flowed down her throat into her stomach, her tears also flowed down.
Emperor Wen lowered his voice and said, "Mother! From now on, the Queen Mother of Da Zhao has passed away. I will arrange for someone to send you to a beautiful place with clear water and mountains, so that you can live out your remaining years in peace."
Queen Mother Xue widened her eyes in shock and asked in disbelief, "You...you want to send me away?"
Emperor Wen nodded, a trace of helplessness and sadness flashing in his eyes: "Mother! How could I be unfilial? I know that everything you do is for my own good. It's just that the current situation is so tense, I can't do anything about it!"
Empress Dowager Xue burst into tears: "I'm sorry! There must be someone behind this!" Her voice was trembling and angry, and tears were flashing in her eyes.
Emperor Wen looked at his mother, his heart filled with guilt and helplessness. He knew that this incident was a huge blow to his mother, but he also understood that now was not the time to be sad.
Emperor Wen gritted his teeth and declared, "I will definitely find this person! My mother will die tonight at midnight! Tomorrow I will announce that the Queen Mother has committed suicide to comfort the world!" His tone was firm and decisive, his eyes gleaming with anger. He decided to use this method to protect his mother and also to uphold the dignity of the imperial family.
At this moment, the voice of Eunuch Gao came from outside the door: "Your Majesty! Urgent news from Beiyuan!" Emperor Wen frowned slightly, he realized that things might become more complicated.
He gently patted Empress Dowager Xue's arm and comforted her in a soft voice: "Mother, Kong Boda will come to arrange everything tonight! I still have important things to deal with!" After that, he turned and left, leaving Empress Dowager Xue sitting alone in the palace, tears still flowing.
Emperor Wen walked out of the Cining Palace with a face filled with grief, his expression unconcealable. Eunuch Gao cautiously followed him, saying in a low voice, "Your Majesty! Urgent news from Beiyuan! Beiliu has suddenly dispatched troops!"
Emperor Wen frowned, a hint of doubt and worry flashing in his eyes: "This little princess of Beiliu is still in the capital, how dare they send troops?"
Eunuch Gao respectfully handed the urgent military report to Emperor Wen, who quickly unfolded it and carefully read its contents. His expression gradually grew solemn, his eyes filled with surprise. "The Beiliu royal family is actually controlled by the Imperial Master! Hurry and recruit Qingxuan into the palace!"
After receiving the news, An Qingxuan rushed to the palace immediately. Emperor Wen and he discussed in the imperial study how to deal with the current situation and decided to provide military supplies to Beiyuan as soon as possible to support them in resisting the invasion of Beiliu.
Empress Dowager Xue sat on a soft couch in the Cining Palace, packing her belongings while observing everything around her with a cold expression. Her gaze finally fell on an exquisite brocade box. She reached out and gently opened it, revealing an exquisite phoenix hairpin inside.
This phoenix hairpin was put on her by the late emperor himself when he made her the queen. At that time, they were still a loving couple, but now everything has changed.
She narrowed her eyes, examining the phoenix hairpin, as if transported back to that distant moment. Back then, their love had been as beautiful as a phoenix spreading its wings and soaring high. But as time passed, everything changed. The appearance of Chu Shiyou and his mother shattered their peace, and the late emperor's heart gradually drifted away from her.
Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Xue frowned slightly, and a fierce look flashed in her eyes. She gritted her teeth and said to herself, "Since you love each other so much, let you reunite in the underworld!"
It turns out that the late emperor's condition suddenly worsened because Empress Dowager Xue secretly added a highly toxic drug to his medicine. This secret was known only to her, and now she decided to bury it in her heart forever.
Empress Dowager Xue smiled coldly, put the phoenix hairpin back into the brocade box, and then carefully put the box away. Her heart was filled with resentment towards the late emperor and Chu Shiyou and his mother!
Queen Mother Xue suddenly felt as if there was someone standing behind her. She turned around and saw a tall man who looked somewhat strange and yet inexplicably familiar!
The man wore a black robe with gold embroidered around the collar and cuffs. He wore a black belt around his waist, inlaid with a large gem that shone brightly. His lips curled up slightly, revealing a cold and ruthless smile.
"Who are you?" Queen Mother Xue asked in surprise.
The man sneered, "Queen Mother Xue, no, according to royal etiquette, I should call you Mother! Ha! Unfortunately, you! Are! Not! worthy!"
His voice was low and magnetic, with a hint of teasing and sarcasm.
Queen Mother Xue was horrified. She stared at the man in front of her with wide eyes and asked tremblingly, "You...you are Chu Shiyou! How...did your face...heal?"
Her eyes fell on the man's face. The face that had been disfigured had now returned to its original state, becoming handsome and without any flaws.
Chu Shiyou's smile was somewhat sinister, his eyes revealing an uncontrollable anger and hatred. He stared intently at the person before him and said in a low, cold voice, "My face has been healed. What? You still want to destroy me again? I am no longer the child I once was! You killed my mother! Today, I will settle accounts with you!"
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