Upon hearing the last sentence, Ouyang Zhen's face turned cold. Very well, he wanted to see who would be childless and without descendants!
The ministers kneeling outside the door all kept their eyes down, wishing they could see and hear nothing at all.
"Your Highness, the Empress is, after all, the mother of the nation. Even the Emperor has not convicted her. Isn't it inappropriate for you to send her to the imperial prison?"
An adult stood up shakily, and sure enough, Ouyang Zhen turned to look at him: "Oh, so it's the Vice Minister of War!"
"I knew it! That's why Ouyang Fu was able to enter the palace so easily. There must have been someone supporting him! I felt there were still people involved behind the scenes who weren't arrested. Guards, take Lord Liu away and interrogate him properly!"
"Your Highness, this old minister is innocent!"
Lord Liu was so frightened that he started kowtowing. He also secretly glanced at several people around him who were on good terms with him, but unfortunately, they all had their heads down and dared not say a word.
This Lord Liu is out of his mind. It was one thing for you to be close to the former Crown Prince before, but what's going on now? At this time, you still come out to speak up for the Empress. Isn't that just courting death?
Amidst Lord Liu's unwilling cries, he was still dragged away.
"Your Highness, we are truly powerless to help His Majesty with his illness."
The imperial physicians tried to treat him for a long time, but to no avail. In the end, they could only kneel down and beg for forgiveness.
With such a major incident occurring in the palace, Ouyang Zhen sent someone to inform the Empress Dowager.
In recent years, the Empress Dowager's health has not been very good, and she has been recuperating in Cining Palace. Unless there is a major event, people usually do not go to disturb her.
The Empress Dowager, having learned the gist of the matter, rushed over. Seeing the Emperor lying unconscious on the bed, she sighed heavily: "Crown Prince, since the Emperor is unconscious, and we don't know when he will wake up, perhaps..."
She made a huge decision to say those words. Although the Emperor was somewhat incompetent, she wasn't like this when she was young. Now that she's older, it's inevitable that she'll soften her heart.
"A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. Crown Prince, prepare to ascend the throne!"
The minister kneeling outside the door hurriedly kowtowed and agreed.
The matter was urgent, and the Ministry of Rites didn't have much time to prepare, so they could only say that everything should be kept simple.
...
"Damn it! He's actually going to ascend the throne!"
Upon hearing the news, the former crown prince smashed everything he could in his room, then raised his fist and pounded it against the wall repeatedly.
Several people around him couldn't bear to watch and wanted to stop him, but Xiangyang did raise his hand to stop them and shook his head at them!
Their prince had been groomed as the heir apparent since childhood and had served as crown prince for so many years; no one expected that he would be deposed one day. Now it's even worse—the emperor has actually allowed someone else to ascend the throne. How could their prince possibly accept this?
He definitely needed to vent his anger at this point. He was certain that anyone who went over there would only get beaten up!
"But Your Highness..." someone whispered worriedly. Xiang Yang sighed, "Let's wait until Your Highness has calmed down before we think of another way!"
Ouyang Zhen is not the emperor. This man is ruthless and never shows any mercy when dealing with their prince.
"I'm just worried about Your Highness..."
The voices of the group were very low, and Ouyang Fu did not notice them until he felt a sharp pain in his hands. He then realized that both of his hands had been beaten bloody and mangled.
"Damn it!"
"That old bastard said he loved me the most! And this is what happened..."
Seeing that His Highness had regained some of his senses, Xiangyang hurriedly stepped forward, holding a box of ointment in his hand: "Your Highness, your health is more important. Let me apply the ointment to you first."
Ouyang Fu's hand was indeed in a lot of pain, but seeing the worried looks on his subordinates' faces warmed his heart. He wasn't alone yet.
No, he's not finished yet. Don't forget he's still in Yancheng, and he has a huge bargaining chip there.
Ouyang Zhen still wants to be emperor? Fine, unless he abandons his woman and child. He's investigated this thoroughly over this period of time.
How come he never knew before that Han Luoxue's peasant fiancé was actually his mortal enemy, Ouyang Zhen?
Damn it, he had seen this person before, but he hadn't recognized him then. He didn't know where Ouyang Zhen got such amazing disguise skills.
He also attended their wedding that other time, but he didn't recognize them either!
Ouyang Fu clenched his fists, and blood oozed from his hand that had just been treated.
"Damn it, he's just making a fool of me!"
Xiang Yang was also helpless. He didn't know how Ouyang Zhen could have such a skill in disguise, which was almost ingenious.
He had seen it a few times before without realizing it!
"However, Your Highness, we still have a great ally, which I think we should make use of!"
Xiang Yang's mind worked quickly. Ouyang Fu was stunned for a moment and looked up at him.
“Xi Wujue. You used to be acquainted with him and later helped him escape. Now he has gathered troops on the border of Xishu. We can capture him and take him there directly.”
"I believe Xi Wujue will definitely like Ouyang Zhen's woman and child!"
That's right. They've found Ouyang Zhen's weakness, so why would they be afraid he wouldn't compromise?
Thinking of Ouyang Zhen kneeling beside him begging for mercy, having to compromise for the sake of his woman and child, Ouyang Fu trembled with excitement and couldn't help but burst into laughter!
"Haha, this is really good news! You're right. As long as we capture Han Luoxue and the two children, and then hand them over to Xi Wujue in Xishu, I believe Xi Wujue will be very satisfied!"
"That old man didn't want to hand over the country to me, did he? Humph, then I'll take it myself. Did he really think I wanted his little thing?"
Ouyang Fu's eyes were sinister, and his face was twisted.
Seeing his deranged state, everyone was very worried. However, at this point, they were all like stray dogs, and their only chance to survive was to fight to the death.
If it succeeds, they will all be meritorious officials when Ouyang Fu ascends the throne. If it fails, it will only cost them their lives.
"Your Highness, Ouyang Zhen in the capital is preparing to ascend the throne. I think he will send someone over soon to pick up Han Luoxue and the others. We should act as soon as possible!"
Ouyang Fu nodded: "You're right! Let's make our move tonight!"
"By the way, where is Wang Yaofa?"
After beating Wang Yaofa in a fit of anger last time, he hadn't paid him any attention since. Now the Crown Prince realized that he hadn't noticed the county magistrate for several days.
"I'll go look for it right now!"
Xiangyang also noticed that the county magistrate had been unusually quiet lately. Could it be that he had become more obedient after being beaten last time?
It seemed unlikely; he remembered that this magistrate's household had quite a few women.
There was also a newlywed wife, who was quite young, and it was unknown who had given her to him.
Xiangyang went out for a walk and finally found the county magistrate, but he was still greatly shocked when he saw him.
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