"Do you know where your illness comes from?"
She approached Xuanyuan Che step by step, her tone sinister, like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue.
"I gave you all the medicine bit by bit!"
She leaned close to Xuanyuan Che, almost close to his ear, and whispered softly, but every word was as sharp as a knife.
"The daily decoctions, the nightly calming incense, and even every bite of food you eat are all tainted with the poison I carefully prepared."
She admired Xuanyuan Che's gradually pale face, and a smug smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.
"The poison is slow-acting, colorless and odorless, making it difficult for even the imperial physician to detect it."
"You suffer from illness every day, but you don't know that the culprit is your beloved mother. How does it feel?"
Xuanyuan Che was silent for a long time. The hall was eerily quiet. The only sounds he could hear were the heavy breathing of the two people and the whistling wind outside the window.
The wind howled like a dying beast, foreshadowing the coming storm.
He slowly raised his head, the pain in his eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a bottomless cold pool.
"Does Queen Mother know why Father brought you into the palace?"
His voice was eerily calm, without a trace of emotion, yet it made the Queen Mother feel uneasy.
"Why else? You're just attracted by my beauty!"
The Queen Mother subconsciously took a step back, avoiding Xuanyuan Che's gaze.
"It's because of my uncle."
Xuanyuan Che looked directly into the Queen Mother's eyes, which were as black as ink, as if they could see through people's hearts.
"My uncle died saving my father. Before he died, he begged my father to take care of you, his sister."
He paused, his tone becoming even colder.
"As for that poor scholar that my mother had always been obsessed with..."
He sneered, and that laugh was like ice chips in the cold winter, piercing the bones and heart.
"My father has sent people to investigate. He's just a scoundrel who lives by deceiving women. He spends all day hanging out in brothels and has no sincerity."
Every word he spoke was clear and powerful, like a heavy hammer hitting the empress dowager's heart.
The Queen Mother's face suddenly changed, her body swayed, and she barely managed to stand by holding onto the table beside her.
"You...you're talking nonsense!"
Her voice trembled, and her eyes were filled with fear and despair, as if her last disguise had been pierced.
Outside the palace, thunder roared and lightning streaked across the night sky, illuminating the empress dowager's pale face.
The raindrops as big as beans hit the window frames, making crackling sounds, indicating that the storm had just begun.
Xuanyuan Che looked at the woman in front of him who was like a trapped beast, and an indescribable sadness surged in his heart.
He knew that from today on, there would be no more mother-son love between him and her, only endless hatred and calculation.
And this palace will also usher in a bloody storm.
Xuanyuan Che stood in front of the hall with his hands behind his back, his black robe fluttering in the strong wind, like a Shura returning from a bloodbath. A chilling and murderous aura emanated from his whole body, and his eyes were cold and resolute.
He looked at the Queen Mother, his voice low, but every word as cold as ice: "Mother, all your scheming has ultimately been wasted. From now on, you will stay in this Cining Palace and reflect on your mistakes!"
"Li Dequan!" He suddenly raised his voice, and his voice echoed in the empty hall.
"Your servant is here!" Outside the hall, Li Dequan came quickly, bowed and answered, not daring to breathe.
Xuanyuan Che turned around, his hands clenched into fists behind his back, his knuckles whitening. He spoke with a stern tone, enunciating each word: "Pass on my oral order. Effective immediately, the Queen Mother's title will be abolished and she will be imprisoned in the Cining Palace. Without my order, you are not allowed to take a single step out of the palace!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the wind and rain outside the palace suddenly got stronger, thunder roared, and a flash of lightning tore through the night sky. The pale light reflected the empress dowager's distraught face, and raindrops as big as beans slammed against the window frames frantically, making a heart-pounding sound.
Xuanyuan Che didn't even glance at the Queen Mother. He turned around and left resolutely. His tall figure was elongated in the flickering candlelight, appearing even more lonely and desolate.
His footsteps were heavy and powerful, and every step seemed to be stepping on the Queen Mother's heart, announcing the end of her power.
The wind, carrying rain, poured in through the open palace door, causing the candlelight inside to flicker and drowning the empress dowager's helpless sobs in the howling wind and rain.
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