So for a long time, he swallowed his endless resentment and always kept a low profile.
He endured such hardship and humiliation in order to find a weakness in the emperor and deliver a fatal blow.
He had never found an opportunity before, but now he suddenly felt that the opportunity had come.
At the same time, a plan came to mind.
The real emperor was trapped outside the palace and dared not return, so he could only send out his stand-in to take the blame.
If he were to expose the fake emperor in front of him at this moment and kill him, the civil and military officials would naturally not say anything.
While everyone was searching for the real emperor, he sent men to intercept and kill them beforehand, without anyone noticing.
If the emperor cannot be found for a long time, it is impossible to leave the throne vacant indefinitely. In time, the throne will naturally fall to him.
Thinking this, Zhou Jing'an couldn't help but slightly curl the corners of his lips.
It's truly as if even God is on his side.
Suppressing his inner elation, Zhou Jing'an left the Imperial Study under the pretext of visiting the Empress Dowager.
As soon as he left the imperial study, he immediately ordered the eunuchs he had placed in the palace to go out and quickly invite the ministers who had colluded with him into the palace.
An hour later, Zhou Jing'an returned to the Imperial Study.
The emperor was still reviewing memorials.
Seeing him return, she didn't ask why, nor did she even look up, but simply said, "Have you finished visiting the Empress Dowager?"
Zhou Jing'an frowned slightly.
Why is it that the emperor's aura is completely different from before, even though we haven't seen him for just an hour?
Although he was filled with doubt, Zhou Jing'an still replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is in good health and spirits. However, she has been saying to me that she has not seen Your Majesty for a long time and misses you."
The Emperor nodded and said calmly, "It's getting late today. I'll go see the Empress Dowager after court tomorrow. Would you like to come along, Your Majesty?"
Zhou Jing'an smiled and said, "Okay."
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Eunuch Zhang ran into the imperial study, leaned down and whispered in the emperor's ear for a long time.
The emperor listened with a look of surprise on his face.
Zhou Jing'an silently observed his expression, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
The emperor quickly regained his composure, placed the pen on the pen holder, and said calmly, "Let them in."
Upon receiving the order, Eunuch Zhang immediately jogged out to relay it.
A moment later, more than a dozen ministers filed in and knelt down to pay their respects to the emperor and Zhou Jing'an. Among them were two military officers.
However, the emperor did not allow them to get up.
The ministers exchanged glances, then exchanged meaningful looks with Zhou Jing'an, who was standing at the front.
These people were all officials who were on good terms with him in private. He had summoned them to the palace today, and if they failed to accomplish anything, their identities would be exposed.
For some reason, Zhou Jing'an, who had been confident, suddenly felt a little uneasy.
But he had already summoned these people to the palace, and he had to seize this opportunity that Heaven had given him, no matter what.
"It's so late at night, my esteemed ministers, what urgent matter brings you to the palace?" The emperor finished a cup of tea before slowly speaking.
Zhou Jing'an nodded to one of them.
Then a minister stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I had a dream last night."
The emperor chuckled and said, "Lord Wang is quite amusing. He even comes to tell me about his dreams. Perhaps he thinks I don't spend enough time reviewing memorials all day?"
Although he said this with a smile, there was no smile in the emperor's eyes.
Lord Wang was immediately terrified and broke out in a cold sweat, and the thought of retreating arose in his mind.
But Zhou Jing'an coughed twice, urging him to continue.
After quickly weighing the matter, Lord Wang gritted his teeth and said, "This dream concerns His Majesty's safety, so I have no choice but to speak!"
The emperor feigned interest and said, "Oh? In that case, tell me about it."
Lord Wang took a deep breath and said, "This humble subject dreamt that the Queen Mother of the West appeared to me in a dream..."
The emperor chuckled, then quickly waved his hand and said, "It's alright, please continue."
Lord Wang then continued, "The Queen Mother appeared to me in a dream and said that if three red moles grow behind the Emperor's ears, it would be a very bad omen that would endanger the country and its people!"
Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.
Zhou Jing'an frowned and glared at Lord Wang with displeasure.
According to their original plan, the Queen Mother's dream should have revealed that the person sitting on the dragon throne was a fake emperor, and that she had specially sent him to verify his identity.
But Lord Wang was afraid of death, so he changed the content on the spot.
Fine, three moles it is. He can just step forward later and, under the guise of checking, tear off the fake emperor's mask and expose him.
Zhou Jing'an thought so.
"presumptuous!"
The emperor, who had been smiling and watching the show, suddenly flew into a rage, pointing at Minister Wang and demanding, "Who instructed you to utter such misleading and wicked words?"
Lord Wang immediately kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, this is truly what I dreamt about! I would never dare to utter a single falsehood."
The emperor, however, ignored him and loudly ordered, "Guards, drag Lord Wang out and beat him to death!"
Upon hearing this, Lord Wang nearly fainted, and the other ministers trembled with fear.
Zhou Jing'an immediately stopped the guards who were dragging people into the hall and pleaded with the emperor, "Your Majesty, Lord Wang is only thinking of you and the country. Why are you so angry?"
The emperor sneered, "Today one person says I have three moles, tomorrow another says I have five sores. Am I to let them talk nonsense?"
"Your Majesty," Zhou Jing'an quickly advised, "it's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't!"
"Does Your Majesty mean that if I were to have three red birthmarks, the world would perish?" The Emperor looked at him coldly.
Zhou Jing'an feigned composure and said, "Your Majesty, how about I verify it for you? If there are indeed three red moles, we'll figure out a way. If there are none, it won't be too late to punish Lord Wang."
"Very well," the emperor's voice grew even colder, "I will grant your request. But brother, if there is nothing behind my ear, you will be punished along with Lord Wang. Are you still willing to verify?"
Zhou Jing'an had been waiting for this opportunity.
Although he knew perfectly well that the emperor's three red moles wouldn't appear out of thin air behind his ears, it didn't matter. His intention wasn't to find the moles. As long as the emperor allowed him to get close, he would have a chance to expose this fake emperor!
"Your subject is willing!" Zhou Jing'an declared loudly.
The emperor nodded and said, "Very well, in that case, Your Majesty, please come over."
As Zhou Jing'an walked step by step toward the emperor, his heart was pounding in his chest.
He wasn't afraid, he was excited.
In no time, his plan would be perfectly executed, and the throne beneath the emperor would belong entirely to him.
After Eunuch Zhang thoroughly searched him, Zhou Jing'an finally walked to the emperor's side.
"Your Majesty, I have offended you."
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