After returning from the Prime Minister's residence, Chu Yun increased the dosage of hibiscus flower powder in Emperor Zhou's diet.
She didn't even consult with Liu Shi of Chu Xuan.
One day, Emperor Zhou was working hard when he suddenly trembled all over, foamed at the mouth, and collapsed to the side.
The Imperial Medical Academy mobilized its entire staff, but the physician who was specifically tasked with taking the Emperor's pulse immediately fled when he sensed something was amiss.
As expected, Zhou Difu's addiction to peach blossoms could no longer be kept secret.
"I want to eat!" Emperor Zhou struggled incessantly, and several strong guards almost couldn't hold him down.
When the imperial kitchen brought out the food, Emperor Zhou said they were trying to fool him.
The Empress wiped away her tears and asked, "Your Majesty, what would you like to eat? Just tell me, and I will make it for you."
"Consort Zhao, I want what's in Consort Zhao's palace!"
The imperial guards surrounded Chu Yun's Mingyun Palace and discovered a large amount of hibiscus pollen in a hidden compartment on Chu Yun's bed.
If we follow Chu Yun's lead, we'll find that Liu Shi, Chu Xuan, and the Second Prince will all be implicated.
Without the powder of the hibiscus flower, Emperor Zhou roared in bed every day, wanting to kill this person or that person.
The Empress Dowager finally emerged from the Buddhist hall.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty's health has been ruined by the peach blossom powder, and my elixirs are powerless to save him."
Chunyang shook his head regretfully.
"You've been by His Majesty's side for so long, how could you not have noticed at all?"
The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table, and everyone in the hall knelt down.
Chunyang smiled bitterly: "Empress Dowager, since we returned from the palace, His Majesty has stopped allowing me to serve you."
"Your Majesty, the most urgent matter is to return to the Imperial Physician. Should we give this peach blossom powder to His Majesty...?"
The Empress stepped forward, blocking the Empress Dowager's view of Chunyang.
"Ridiculous! Burn all of these harmful things!"
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" the Empress hurriedly stopped her. "The imperial physician said that if His Majesty has this pollen, he can hold on for a few more days. If we don't give it to him, I'm afraid he might pass away tonight..."
The Empress Dowager's heart nearly stopped as she listened. After turning her prayer beads a few times, she finally nodded in agreement.
After taking the pollen, Emperor Zhou slept for a while and regained some of his senses when he woke up.
"Your Majesty, are you feeling better?"
In the bright candlelight of the bedchamber, the Empress's face looked very gentle: "Your Majesty and I are almost terrified."
Emperor Zhou struggled to his feet and issued several imperial edicts in quick succession—
The first punishment was to execute the second prince by slow slicing.
The second measure was to give Chu Xuan a cup of poisoned wine, and Liu would turn him into a human pig and place him at the city gate of the capital to intimidate everyone.
The third decree was that after Chu Yun gave birth to the imperial heir, she was given a white silk ribbon.
Fourthly, if he dies, Chu Xinxin will be buried with him.
The fourth imperial edict had just left the room when a loud "bang" was heard.
The Zhou Emperor and Empress Dowager were talking, so they didn't hear it.
The Empress heard this, but said nothing.
"You may step back now. I need to discuss matters with His Majesty."
The Empress Dowager gave the order.
The Empress bowed and withdrew. As soon as she stepped out of the palace gate, she saw Zhou Huaichuan.
Zhou Huaichuan had his back to her, but upon hearing the sound, he suddenly turned around. His scarlet eyes startled the Empress, who took several steps back.
"Don't be angry, I'm here."
A familiar female voice rang out, and the Empress then noticed that there was another figure beside Zhou Huaichuan, but this person was wearing a black cloak and was not very clear in the night.
Zhou Huaichuan closed his eyes and remained silent for a while. When he opened them again, the crimson had faded.
The Empress composed herself and stepped forward, saying, "They must be discussing the matter of choosing an heir."
Zhou Huaichuan nodded but did not reply.
"Aren't you worried?" The Queen looked at him with a complicated expression.
She knew those two in the hall too well; even now, in their eyes, Zhou Huaichuan was still worthless.
"There's nothing to worry about. I've never needed him to give me anything."
No sooner had Zhou Huaichuan finished speaking than Eunuch Su was called in to grind ink.
"It is the Seventh Prince, Zhou Xin."
The black-robed man who had been standing next to Zhou Huaichuan suddenly spoke. The Empress, who was nearby, realized that the voice belonged to Chu Xinxin.
"Um."
Zhou Huaichuan nodded as if he were not surprised.
The Empress frowned: "Prince An, is this what you promised me...?"
"Your Majesty, please don't be hasty." Chu Xinxin took off her hat and smiled at the Empress: "Your Majesty, didn't you want to take revenge? Let's do it together."
After saying that, she pushed open the palace door.
"who!"
Emperor Zhou and Empress Dowager looked over at the same time.
Chu Xinxin winked mischievously: "It's me."
The Empress Dowager asked instinctively, "What are you doing here?"
“I was enjoying the moon with my husband outside the palace when I suddenly received this imperial edict. I wondered if I could negotiate with the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to cancel the matter of being buried alive with the deceased.”
"Being able to be buried alive with someone is a blessing earned over many lifetimes..."
"Do you want this blessing?" Chu Xinxin tore the imperial edict into several pieces. "When the late emperor passed away, why didn't you, Empress Dowager, go with him?"
The Empress Dowager's face darkened: "How dare you! Guards, seize this daughter of a traitor!"
Zhou Huaichuan came in, but stood behind Chu Xinxin.
"You lowly slave, you also want to rebel!" The Empress Dowager was furious and threw the tea beside her at Zhou Huaichuan.
"rebellion?"
Chu Xinxin shook her head: "Your Majesty is joking. We are all the most loyal subjects, how could we possibly rebel?"
"Eunuch Su, go and summon all the Imperial Guards outside and seize these two traitors!"
"yes!"
Eunuch Su stood by the door and then slipped away.
The Empress Dowager held Emperor Zhou's hand and patted him reassuringly.
"Your Majesty, I wonder if you're getting senile? If Eunuch Su wanted to call, he would have done so long ago."
As if to confirm Chu Xinxin's unfinished words, as soon as she finished speaking, the commander of the Imperial Guards and the commander of the Imperial Bodyguards entered, but knelt down before Zhou Huaichuan: "Master, the entire capital has been taken over by our people."
"impossible!"
Emperor Zhou struggled to his feet: "You unfilial son! Don't even think about it!"
Empress Dowager: "You, a bastard who cannot have children, dare to dream of inheriting the throne!"
"Your Majesty, please be careful what you say." Chu Xinxin took out a fire starter and pointed the dark hole at the Empress Dowager: "If I hear something I don't like to hear, my hand might shake, and Your Majesty's head might be blown off."
Chu Xinxin held up the torch, while Zhou Huaichuan brought up paper and ink, allowing Emperor Zhou to write the edict of succession.
Since Emperor Zhou was unwilling to write, the peach blossom powder was taken out.
Emperor Zhou could not endure the torment and gave up after a short time.
"I will write it!"
The Empress Dowager said coldly, "Even if you receive the edict of succession, the local armies will not submit to you..."
Chu Xinxin took out several more tokens: "Is this the local army that the Empress Dowager mentioned?"
The Empress Dowager recognized the plaques as the waist badges of local military generals.
With the situation hopeless, the Empress Dowager closed her eyes and said nothing more.
After consuming the pollen and catching his breath, Emperor Zhou asked Zhou Huaichuan, "When did you begin to have such thoughts?"
"It probably started from the day my father, through Consort Shu, put that maddening drug into my food."
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