Chen An knelt by the Empress Dowager and paid his respects. With a benevolent smile, she personally helped him up.
"An'er, rise quickly. I heard the Xia family investigated your father these past two days. You must have suffered with him. Look how thin your face has become."
Xia Yunting narrowed his eyes. He had been closely watching the Chen manor these past two days. The Empress Dowager hadn't shown herself, yet she knew everything.
"Aunt, please don't worry. I am fine. It is my father who is old and frail, but upon receiving your message, he hurried over."
As soon as he finished speaking, two more people entered. One was Grand Tutor Chen, and the other was Chen Yanyan.
They entered as if they were in their own home, paying no mind to anyone else. Chen Yanyan surveyed everyone with smug satisfaction, her demeanor one of disdain.
"Your Majesty, you had Xia Yunting investigate the Chen family these past two days, which has indeed troubled me greatly. Now that you wish to reveal everything from the past, do not blame this humble minister for disregarding the bonds of sovereign and subject. Your reign as emperor is at its end."
What did she mean? Could it be that Grand Tutor Chen was the one plotting to usurp the throne?
Rong Zhi was somewhat stunned. She hadn't expected Grand Tutor Chen to harbor such ambitions. He had hidden them well.
However, Jin Jinghong did not seem overly surprised; he was more filled with anger.
"Mother, I am your flesh and blood. Do you truly disregard our maternal bond and wish to commit such treasonous acts?"
"Treasonous? Hahahaha..." The Empress Dowager seemed to find his words amusing.
"If not for the Chen family offering their allegiance to the Imperial Preceptor, Tian Que Kingdom would have long been destroyed by the surrounding small nations. If not for the Chen family's suggestion in acquiring the Medicine King Valley, how would we have so many elite physicians? If not for the Chen family's constant support in governing, how would we have peace and prosperity now? Since your ascension to the throne, not a single matter has been handled without the Grand Tutor's assistance. Yet, you are incompetent. You cannot even hold onto the Medicine King Valley and have to return it. Since that is the case, the empire should change hands."
"Absurd, utterly absurd! My own mother is conspiring with others to seize my throne!" Jin Jinghong gave a few bitter, almost mad laughs, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
"Mother, when did you formulate this plan?"
"Ever since An'er was born."
The Empress Dowager looked lovingly at Chen An.
"In this life, I have only had you, my own son. Had your brothers not been so mediocre, you would not have become Crown Prince. All these years, your reign as emperor has depended entirely on the assistance of the Imperial Preceptor and the Grand Tutor. Our Tian Que Kingdom needs a more capable emperor, and An'er is the best candidate in my heart."
Chen An met the Emperor's gaze fearlessly, his eyes filled with defiance.
"Very well, your Chen family is remarkable. You have played such a grand game. But I tell you, even if you manage to seize the throne today, you will not hold onto this dragon seat for long."
"That is not for you to worry about, Your Majesty. Please abdicate!"
As soon as the Empress Dowager uttered these words, her expression suddenly changed, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Aunt!" Chen Yanyan rushed to wipe the blood for the Empress Dowager. Chen An, who had been respectful moments before, remained motionless.
Grand Tutor Chen was also somewhat surprised.
"Sister, could it be that the poison has relapsed?"
"It's nothing. I won't die." The Empress Dowager wiped the blood from her lips and looked at the Emperor with cold eyes.
"Hong'er, do not blame me. There was little mother-son affection between us to begin with. You poisoned me first, and only then did I conceive this idea. We are even."
What did she mean?
The Emperor poisoned the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager wanted to depose the Emperor and enthrone someone else?
This mother-son relationship was far too complicated.
"Mother, you should focus on recuperating. I am aware that the Grand Tutor has been trying to find someone to test medicine on in Changping County to cure your poison, harming innocent lives. I will immediately make this matter public. By then, even if I cannot remain Emperor, no one else will be able to."
Rong Zhi grew more confused with each word. The events in Changping County actually involved a power struggle between the Empress and the Empress Dowager.
She looked at Xia Yunting.
Did he investigate this matter? Or did the Emperor already know?
Unfortunately, Xia Yunting was not paying attention to her and did not see her gaze.
"Threatening me is useless. The winner takes all. Guards, seize the Emperor for me!"
Two guards entered and immediately moved to apprehend Jin Jinghong.
Jin Jinghong roared in fury, "Xia Yunting! Kill them."
However, Xia Yunting did not move.
"Your Majesty, there are at least thousands of men outside. This humble minister is powerless."
Prince Xiao, who had been about to make a move, swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
Rong Zhi, Liu Yunxi, Wen Yu, and the others looked bewildered. No way, was the dynasty about to change so casually?
Xia Yunting and Prince Xiao were renowned generals. It seemed out of character for them to simply allow their sovereign to be captured.
The Empress Dowager coughed a few times and finally set her gaze on Rong Zhi, a glint of longing in her eyes.
"You are the renowned Valley Master of Medicine King Valley. I have long wished to meet you. I have heard you can cure all poisons and even bring the dead back to life. I implore you to heal me and restore my health."
Her tone carried a threat: "You have no room to refuse."
Hmph, learning to make threats now.
"Empress Dowager, healing and saving lives is my duty. Of course, I will not refuse. But are you not afraid of the world descending into chaos if you simply replace the Emperor like this?"
"What of it? As long as the people live well, they do not care who sits on the throne. Moreover, are you not displeased that he used so many lives to exchange for yours? I can help you vent your anger, imprison him forever, or even kill him. As long as you obey me, you can name any condition."
Even her own son, she was willing to kill. Such a mother was truly unparalleled.
"What are you hesitating for? He poisoned me, poisoned the Empress, all to consolidate his imperial power. I have long wanted to replace such an unfilial son. Do not worry, he will have no chance to recover."
"Aunt, I'm afraid you are mistaken." Chen An's cool voice came from behind.
The Empress Dowager turned around and discovered that Grand Tutor Chen and Chen Yanyan had, at some point, been bound and gagged. Only Chen An stood nearby, his smile chilling.
"Chen An, what are you doing? That is your father and your sister."
"Aunt, I am truly sorry. I merely wanted to watch a good show just now. Now that the play has ended, I have nothing more to see."
With that, he suddenly raised his long sword and slit Grand Tutor Chen's throat.
He actually killed Grand Tutor Chen!
Even Rong Zhi was startled. A son killing his own father.
She had never found Chen An's smile so terrifying.
"Mmmph!" Chen Yanyan was still struggling and was also slit by Chen An.
She fell heavily to the ground, a large pool of blood staining the floor, and a metallic scent filled the air.
The Empress Dowager nearly fainted, pointing at Chen An and sputtering for a long time.
Everything happened too suddenly. Even though she had lived for most of her life, she didn't know how to react.
"Aunt, let me tell you a joke. Actually, I didn't escape from Xia Yunting; he let me out. We reached an agreement: I would bring all of the Chen family's subordinates here to be captured, in exchange for my own life."
The Empress Dowager looked at Xia Yunting in horror: "I underestimated you."
She had initially thought that with so many of the Chen family's subordinates, they could rescue Chen An. Furthermore, the Chen family had people from the Blood Drinking Pavilion.
But... so many people couldn't even defeat one Xia Yunting.
Xia Yunting no longer concealed his intentions and directly told the Empress Dowager, "Empress Dowager, there will be a fierce battle shortly. If you do not wish to be involved, please take shelter in the rear hall. His Majesty will be waiting for you there."
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager understood. The reason Xia Yunting had not intervened when the Emperor was being taken away was because he knew the Emperor was not in any real danger.
Looking at her deceased brother and niece lying on the ground, the Empress Dowager suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha... In the end, I was the one who was outmaneuvered. Hong'er, I misjudged you!"
She began to gesticulate wildly, her demeanor appearing deranged, as if she had lost her sanity.
Chen Xing came and escorted the Empress Dowager to the rear hall.
Now, only Rong Zhi, Liu Yunxi, Wen Yu, several sect leaders, Xia Yunting, Prince Xiao, and Chen An remained.
Rong Zhi looked at Chen An with a complex expression. She knew he was not simple, but she never imagined he would kill his own father.
He was far more terrifying than she had imagined.
"Why are you looking at me like that? I merely killed people I didn't like. Is that strange?" Chen An leisurely fanned himself, as if he had just crushed an ant, not murdered someone.
"That was your father and your sister." Rong Zhi didn't know how to address him.
"So what? From my childhood, they forced me to learn this and that. They had been planning to usurp the throne for a long time. I was merely a puppet my father intended to place on the throne. I refuse to be controlled by them."
Even his own sister could scold him as she pleased over the years. He had long been tired of living such a life of humiliation.
Rong Zhi still felt uneasy and remained silent.
"Xia Yunting, I have completed the task you assigned me. The people surrounding the area outside are now those who have surrendered. Since that is the case, I will be leaving now. I hope we never meet again."
Chen An laughed heartily and departed, seemingly having found the freedom he desired.
Rong Zhi came back to her senses and found Xia Yunting standing before her.
"I've done it."
"Done what?" Rong Zhi was momentarily dazed.
"The people outside Medicine King Valley will withdraw within half a month, and you will be able to return then."
He said this with utmost seriousness, and a warmth surged through Rong Zhi's heart. He still remembered, even though he had lost his memory, and was earnestly fulfilling his promise.
Her previous resentment completely vanished.
"Thank you," she said sincerely.