Yun Nian's heart was in her throat; she had just witnessed the Empress Dowager adding something to the water.
She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then closed it and swallowed it back down.
She understood: His Majesty was not the Empress Dowager's biological son. His Majesty had discovered his true parentage and had come to interrogate her. The Empress Dowager knew that she was in grave danger. Only if His Majesty died first could she survive. Then, she could find someone from the clan to be the new emperor, and she would still be the Empress Dowager above all others!
Yun Nian instantly understood many things. She knew that the Empress Dowager's success or failure depended on this one move, and as the Empress Dowager's confidante, she couldn't ruin the Empress Dowager's important plans. She immediately lowered her eyes and pretended not to see anything.
However, she was still saddened. She had watched Jun Zhe grow up since she was a child and had invested a lot of feelings in him. It wasn't something she could just cut off immediately. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but tear up. She was even more confused. If His Majesty wasn't the Empress Dowager's son, then whose son was he?
Before the Empress Dowager was banished to the Cold Palace, she had just given birth to a son. The child was banished to the Cold Palace only three days after birth, and was given to Consort Hui, who was in the palace at the time, to raise. Consort Hui and the Empress Dowager were like sisters, so naturally she would not treat the child badly.
After the Empress Dowager came out of the Cold Palace, she took the child back from Consort Hui.
She only started following the Empress Dowager after she was released from the Cold Palace. She knew perfectly well that the child the Empress Dowager had taken from Consort Hui's palace was His Majesty.
If His Majesty was not born to the Empress Dowager, then the only possibility is that the child the Empress Dowager received from Consort Hui was not her biological child at all, and that Consort Hui switched the child.
Yun Nian was terrified as she thought about all these strange things she had never considered before. She broke out in a cold sweat and looked at Jun Zhe with pity.
Jun Zhe looked at the clear water before him, and his heart turned completely cold.
He slammed the water glass down on the table, his eyes already red. He still harbored feelings for her, but she was already eager to kill him.
The Empress Dowager remained expressionless, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Hmph, emperors throughout history have been suspicious, and you, having become emperor, have also acquired this habit of suspicion."
Without making a sound, the Empress Dowager drank the water in front of her in one gulp and raised the cup in front of Jun Zhe.
Jun Zhe's eyes were icy cold. He clapped his hands, and footsteps immediately sounded outside as someone entered. The Empress Dowager stared at the newcomer, her eyes widening.
The visitor was the head physician of the Imperial Medical Academy, the same physician who had recently treated her head injury.
The head of the Imperial Medical Academy bowed to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, skillfully picked up a cup of water, examined it, smelled it, poured some onto a piece of paper, observed it carefully for a moment, then dipped his finger in it and tasted it with his tongue. His face immediately changed color, and he said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the water contains blood-dissolving herb powder, which is highly poisonous. Drinking this cup will immediately cause intestinal perforation and death."
Jun Zhe's heart turned completely cold. "Why was the Empress Dowager unharmed after drinking a cup just now?"
The head of the Imperial Medical Academy frowned, picked up the kettle and examined it, then reported, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's kettle has a hidden feature. It is a double-sided rotating incense pot, which can hold both water and wine at the same time. By rotating the lid, one can pour out either water or wine."
The judge didn't say the rest of his words; in fact, there was no need to say them anymore.
Jun Zhe stared coldly at the Empress Dowager, his voice as cold as ice: "Empress Dowager, is it that I am too suspicious, or that you are too murderous?"
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