Empress?
On the day of the palace coup, the empress was bound by Jiang Chi's men and imprisoned in an abandoned palace.
Only after the palace had been completely cleared did the palace servants find the dying empress in the abandoned palace...
After resting for several days, the Empress finally recovered.
The empress was dressed in mourning clothes, with several silver hairpins in her hair.
Her face was covered in thick powder, but it couldn't hide the weariness in her eyes.
Stepping into the hall, the Empress brushed aside the palace maids who were supporting her and rebuked them, "As the Empress of the Great Qi, how could I not know that the Emperor had established a Crown Prince when he was alive?"
Upon hearing the Empress's voice, Jiang Xian instinctively tried to hide.
Yuan Yuan reached out and gripped his wrist tightly.
“Ah Yuan…” Jiang Xian looked up, her eyes filled with unease.
Yuan Yuan lowered his eyes and said coldly, "Have you forgotten everything I told you last night? If you want to live, trust me."
Otherwise, once the new emperor ascends the throne, Jiang Xian will not escape death, and at that time, Liu Yue will likely suffer as well.
As for Yuan Yuan, the general of the Western Ling Army who returned to the capital to rescue the emperor, he will likely not escape the fate of "when the birds are all gone, the slingshot is put away; when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked" once the new emperor's power base is stable.
He crawled back from hell, not to die again!
He doesn't want to die!
He wants to live!
Not only does he need to live, but the 200,000 Xiling soldiers also need to live well!
Jiang Xian must ascend the throne as emperor!
Upon seeing the emperor, all the ministers bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress..."
The Empress raised her hand: "All of you, rise."
After speaking, her gaze fell on Yuan Yuan.
Yuan Yuan bowed and said, "This humble general, Yuan Yuan, pays his respects to the Empress."
The Empress frowned, her carefully drawn willow-leaf eyebrows furrowing: "Yuan Yuan? The son of the disgraced official Yuan Shanglu, and the nephew of the disgraced concubine Yuan Chanyi."
Back then, the Yuan family was implicated in the poisoning of the former crown prince, and the late emperor ordered the execution of the entire Yuan family...
You not only escaped, but you also dared to infiltrate the military camp, seize military power, lead an army of 200,000 to besiege the capital, and even try to influence the crown prince of the Great Qi?!
Do you know that this is a capital offense?!
Do you know that an army of two hundred thousand might be forced to die with you?!
Yuan Yuan: "..."
The Empress truly lives up to her title!
Every word is full of profound meaning.
As soon as these words were spoken, Yuan Yuan, who had originally saved the emperor, was instantly branded as a traitor.
She also sentenced an army of 200,000 to death...
Inside the hall, no one dared to speak.
Suddenly, Yuan Yuan chuckled softly.
The voice was extremely cold.
For some reason, it sent chills down my spine.
The Empress's nails dug deeply into her palms, her gaze darkening as she looked at Yuan Yuan: "What are you laughing at?"
Yuan Yuan curled his lips into a smile, his eyes cold: "This humble general is merely disheartened!"
Upon learning of the crisis in the capital, an army of 200,000 men marched day and night, covering thousands of miles, to return to the capital, quell the palace rebellion, and rescue the people of the capital from their suffering...
However, with just one sentence from the Empress, she wanted their lives taken!
Upon hearing this, the Empress frowned instantly: "I..."
"Your Majesty the Empress!" An older minister stepped forward, bowing respectfully, but his voice was firm and impolite: "Since ancient times, the empress's harem has never interfered in politics!"
Could it be that Your Majesty the Empress intends to defy the late Emperor's decree, oppose the court officials, and establish another crown prince?
Upon hearing this, the Empress's eyelids twitched violently, and veins bulged on her relaxed face: "You..."
The minister looked up and met the empress's gaze without fear.
The Empress took a deep breath, glanced at the court officials who filled the hall, and said angrily, "Some of you were among those who passed away when the late Emperor died!"
"I don't believe it! He really made a prince who was sent to the cold palace since childhood the crown prince!"
Cao Qin looked up, his gaze shifting back and forth between Yuan Yuan and the Empress.
After a long while, Cao Qin finally made up his mind and spoke first: "Your Majesty the Empress, before the late Emperor passed away, he did call out the name of the Sixth Prince, Jiang Xian."
As soon as Cao Qin spoke, someone immediately echoed his words.
“Your humble servant was present at the time, and the late emperor… did indeed designate the sixth prince as the crown prince.”
"Your humble servant heard it too..."
"Although the late emperor has passed away, the decree to establish the crown prince has already been issued. Does Your Majesty intend to lead the way in defying the decree?"
"..."
The sword tips that were originally aimed at Jiang Xian and Yuan Yuan suddenly all pointed towards the Empress.
The empress was both shocked and furious.
Her chest heaved with anger, and she abruptly turned her head to look at Yuan Yuan... or rather, at Jiang Xian standing next to Yuan Yuan.
Jiang Xian should have been the legitimate prince.
However, his mother's maternal family ran into trouble. The dignified Empress was implicated by her family and demoted to Consort Jing. Later, she was implicated again and banished to the Cold Palace, where she died in despair.
Young Liuyue and Jiang Xian were also thrown into the cold palace.
Afterwards, Consort Jing died in the Cold Palace, leaving behind only her young children who were too young to understand, relying on each other for support...
She played a role in pushing Consort Jing to her death.
Over the years, she has never properly taken care of those two children.
Children who are locked away in the cold palace from a young age are illiterate, lack manners, and probably can't even tell the difference between a cow and a horse...
Is a prince like this going to become emperor?
ridiculous!
Utterly ridiculous!
The Empress gave Jiang Xian a disdainful look, and when she saw the fear in Jiang Xian's eyes, she sneered and raised her voice: "The Emperor's decree is my due!"
As she spoke, the Empress's eyes reddened, and she picked up a silk handkerchief to wipe her eyes: "Your Majesty, I was your wife when we were young, and we promised to grow old together and have many children and grandchildren..."
It is because I am useless that I have failed to give you a legitimate son.
However, Xian'er is the son of a disgraced concubine. If he wants to ascend the throne, he must sever ties with Consort Jing and acknowledge another mother...
You may go in peace. From this day forward, I will recognize Xian'er as my own son and fulfill my duties as Empress Dowager, personally and carefully teaching him.
Once the new emperor is capable of handling things independently, I will hand over power to the Great Qi Dynasty. At that time, I will come to accompany you again…
After speaking, the Empress burst into tears.
In the Haoran Hall, the ministers listened with wide eyes.
What does it mean that "the Empress Dowager personally taught the new emperor"?
What does it mean to "wait until the new emperor is capable of handling things independently before handing over power to the Great Qi"?
The Empress... is she planning to rule from behind the curtain?
At this moment, the palace maid supporting the Empress immediately spoke up: "Sixth Prince, from now on, you are the Empress's biological son."
"Come quickly and pay your respects to your mother."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xian took a step back.
He gently tugged at Yuan Yuan's sleeve: "A Yuan..."
Yuan Yuan looked down at him.
Jiang Xian's eyes were slightly red, and she shook her head at him as if seeking help.
He doesn't want to!
Don't acknowledge the empress who killed his birth mother as your mother!
Yuan Yuan remained silent for a moment before breaking the silence of the hall: "Forgive my ignorance, but since the founding emperor of the Great Qi Dynasty, has there ever been an empress dowager who ruled from behind a screen?"
The moment he spoke, the hall erupted in commotion—
"Emperor Taizu established a rule: the empress dowager must not interfere in politics!"
"Exactly! Women in the harem should only take care of their own affairs; how can they meddle in the court?"
"This is inappropriate!"
"..."
"You bunch..." The Empress was so angry that her face turned red and she was out of breath.
Yuan Yuan raised the corners of his lips slightly, cupped his hands in a salute, and said coldly, "Respectfully seeing off Her Majesty the Empress."
"Respectfully seeing off Her Majesty the Empress!"
Inside the main hall, the ministers' voices rang out in unison.
The Empress's eyes reddened with anger, and she forcefully flung her sleeves aside: "Hmph!"
She turned around and angrily left Haoran Hall.
That night, the Empress's head appeared in Haoran Hall.
The woman carrying the severed head was dressed in a pink and white palace gown, with a white flower in her hair, and her face was deathly pale.
Consort Hui gritted her teeth and said to Jiang Xian, "The Empress's head is my congratulatory gift for your ascension to the throne."
In exchange, they will acknowledge me as their mother and honor me as their Empress Dowager!
Seeing the Empress's head, its eyes wide open and covered in blood, Jiang Xian turned deathly pale: "Ah...A Yuan..."
Yuan Yuan looked at Consort Hui, who had once saved him, and pursed his thin lips: "If I said that the Great Qi does not need an Empress Dowager, what would Consort Hui say?"
“I…” Consort Hui took a deep breath and said sharply, “If you don’t agree, I will jump off the palace tower.”
I will proclaim to the world that the Sixth Prince Jiang Xian and Princess Liu Yue have raised assassins and trained an army of 200,000, plotting to assassinate the emperor and his father, and seize the throne!
"Are you crazy?" Jiang Xian's voice was shrill with fright.
Consort Hui looked at Yuan Yuan: "Yuan Yuan, I once saved you, and you owe me a debt of gratitude. Today, all I want is the position of Empress Dowager and the safety of my family."
I guarantee that neither I nor my family will interfere in the affairs of the court in the slightest.
"Should you... not?"
Yuan Yuan: "..."
He glanced at Jiang Xian, then looked at Consort Hui with no expression: "Yes."
Consort Hui smiled slightly: "The evidence that the Empress plotted against Consort Jing's family back then will be delivered to you by myself tomorrow."
The evidence of the Hai family's plot against the Yuan family will also be delivered to General Yuan.
In addition, I have a mysterious gift to give you…
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