"After those skeletons were salvaged, your concubine wishes to become a vegetarian and dedicate her life to Buddhist rituals to deliver these innocent palace maids."
"The Empress speaks truly, it is all Zhao Ang’s fault. That young man deserved more than death."
Emperor Yongye propped up his feeble body and helped the Empress up.
The Empress’s words, Emperor Yongye almost instinctively believed them all, without a hint of doubt.
This infuriated Noble Princess Consort Xiao to no end.
"Noble Princess Consort Xiao, look at the good sons you’ve raised, both Seventh and Ninth have been led astray by you, even casting suspicion upon the Empress. As the Queen Mother, you should also reflect on this. Take them both back and have them think over their actions in confinement for a month."
Emperor Yongye glared at Noble Princess Consort Xiao.
Noble Princess Consort Xiao was indignant in her heart, but dared not flare up and could only take the two Princes back.
"Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself."
The Empress then comforted Emperor Yongye with kind words for a while before returning to Luan Palace.
As soon as she got back to her palace, the Empress dismissed the palace maids.
Suddenly, a figure flashed out and swept the Empress into an embrace.
"You audacious fool, who gave you the guts, how dare you come here?"
The Empress, upon seeing the figure, was pale with fright; she pushed him away, her face full of anger.
She and Dongfang Cheng usually met in the Cold Palace.
A few days earlier, because they were stumbled upon by Feng Xiaoli, the Empress had become even more cautious and told Dongfang Cheng not to meet for a while.
"Mother, it has been several days since you’ve seen your child, your child misses you dearly."
Dongfang Cheng said playfully, edging closer to the Empress.
The Empress slapped him across the face.
Dongfang Cheng’s face was swollen and red on one side.
"Haven’t I already had you marry Mo Qianqian? And you still dare come to Luan Palace."
"That woman only accepted because she somewhat resembles you. Mother, you know, in your child’s heart, there has only ever been you."
Dongfang Cheng said regretfully.
"Cheng’er, you must be patient. Zhao Ang has just had an incident, and although the Emperor trusts me and does not suspect anything, you cannot be careless until the day you become the Crown Prince."
The Empress had not expected, after all these years, that Zhao Ang’s issue would suddenly arise.
That Dugu Wu, as well as the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Dongfang Li, and Dongfang Mosheng all made her wary.
"Mother, what are you still worrying about? The position of the Crown Prince is already within my grasp. This time, if it were not for Feng Bailing and Hong Haoran getting in the way, once Emperor Yongye dies, I could have taken over the throne."
Dongfang Cheng said in frustration.
"You still dare to say it, tell me, was it you who used the Heartbreak Grass?"
The Empress’s face flushed with anger as she glared at Dongfang Cheng.
If it wasn’t for the fact that she had no children of her own, she wouldn’t have chosen him; to control him, she had no choice but to enter into that sort of relationship with Dongfang Cheng.
"Mother, don’t wrong your child. Zhao Ang’s poisoning with Heartbreak Grass was indeed my doing, but that was following your orders. The poisoning of Father Emperor was not my doing; I even thought it was you, Queen Mother, who sent someone to do it, wishing to have me ascend the throne sooner."
Dongfang Cheng said with a sly smile, moving forward to embrace the Empress.
The Empress, although well into her forties, had kept herself in good shape because she had never borne children.
"Mother, I know Father Emperor has not favored you for many days; your child will love and cherish you on behalf of Father Emperor."
Dongfang Cheng said, as he began to reach for the Empress’s clothing.
It was at that moment Dongfang Cheng screamed in pain.
A sharp thorn had wrapped around the hand that he was using to embrace the Empress. The thorn was so sharp that it instantly sliced his skin open.