Upon hearing this, Zhou Changling's previously amused gaze instantly turned icy, and the chill emanating from his body made him...
He didn't know whether to call the woman stupid or greedy.
With the Prime Minister's mansion gone, she was just a commoner, no longer the daughter of an official. She even dared to dream of becoming the Princess Consort of Jing, the future mother of the world—the Empress. What a boastful tone!
However, he did not refuse, because he couldn't express his true feelings. He couldn't possibly marry a principal wife or concubine, as that would only delay their lives.
These days, Zhou Changling was looking for an excuse to postpone the engagement, but unexpectedly, that foolish woman Zhao Xueqi came up to him.
Even if I have absolutely no feelings for you?
To ensure he hadn't harmed an innocent woman, he emphasized this point.
If Zhao Xueqi were a smart person, she would naturally understand the warning in Zhou Changling's words. Unfortunately, she has always been foolish and did not back down because of these words. Instead, she became more aggressive and wanted to achieve success in one step.
"I have no regrets; I wish to stay by your side forever."
"Even just seeing your back is enough for me, and I would gladly accept it."
Zhou Changling's lips curled into a disdainful smile, but unfortunately Zhao Xueqi didn't see it.
"Deal. I grant you the position of Empress. You must provide me with evidence of the Prime Minister's factionalism and corruption."
"Your Highness, words are not enough."
"Naturally, I will first inform my father that I will marry no one but you, and that I only want you," Zhou Changling continued. "On the day I see the result, I will demand that you produce evidence; otherwise, you will die a horrible death."
Zhao Xueqi was frightened by Zhou Changling's last words, but she firmly believed in the dream she had, in which Zhou Changling proposed to her with a grand wedding procession, and the two were happily married. She was convinced that it was real.
"This humble woman wishes Your Highness all the best. This humble woman takes her leave." Zhao Xueqi said this and then withdrew.
"My wish has been fulfilled; indeed, my wish has been fulfilled."
Zhou Changling pulled a scroll from the desk beside him, opened it, and saw that it was a picture of Consort Rong from the palace.
Zhou Changling stroked the figure in the painting, his expression tender, and murmured, "You will be mine."
——————
The Imperial Palace.
Taiji Hall.
"Your Majesty, I have successfully completed my mission. The Empress Dowager has passed away."
A figure in black was kneeling on the ground reporting; this person was An Yi.
Has anyone noticed anything unusual?
Zhou Jin didn't know what heinous things that poisonous woman had done, but it was best to kill her as soon as possible. This person could not be kept in the palace. Xi'er was pregnant, and if she was harmed, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Your Majesty, some palace servants died suddenly along with the Empress Dowager. In my humble opinion, it was because the Empress Dowager used a mother Gu poison to control the palace servants and make them work for her. Now that the mother Gu is dead, the offspring Gu cannot survive on their own."
"Throw their bodies out to the outskirts and burn them clean. Also, send some more people to check if there are any more people in the palace who know Gu poison." Zhou Jin didn't believe that such a scourge had no backup plan, so he naturally wanted to eliminate it completely.
"yes."
An Yi flew away.
Zhou Jin still had one thing on his mind: if the seventh prince inherited the throne and Xi'er gave birth to another prince, it would always be a threat. How could anyone else sleep soundly on the emperor's throne!
Zhou Jin was worried, and this was only one aspect; there were other concerns as well.
Xi'er is also the niece of the Imperial Concubine Yi. The Seventh Prince has an old grudge against the Bai family, so it's inevitable he'll take his anger out on Xi'er. If I hadn't protected her...
Zhou Jin's concerns were not unfounded, but he should be worried not about Bai Lingxi, but about the top of his own head.
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