The Emperor's face was as dark as charcoal, menacing and unsightly.
The Empress Dowager gently stroked her face. The slight sting reminded her that her appearance was now ruined. Looking at the scene before her, she was so annoyed she wanted to kill. She let out a loud command, "All of you, withdraw."
"Mother Empress?"
Shangguan Yao called out. Seeing that the guards couldn't catch that fool, he became enraged. With a flash, he moved as fast as lightning.
In a blur of light and shadow, he landed beside Yun Xiao. He reached out with his large hand, gripped Yun Xiao's neck, and squeezed hard, his bloodthirsty voice ringing out.
"You're courting death! Today is your death day."
The great hall instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at the Emperor and Empress.
The Empress's face was as pale as paper, her breathing difficult. Her pupils slowly lost focus, as if she were about to die.
Wan Wan, as if driven mad, rushed forward and grabbed Shangguan Yao's leg, begging for mercy. "Your Majesty, spare her life! Your Majesty, spare her life! The Empress didn't mean it. The Empress didn't mean it."
Shangguan Yao's hand loosened slightly from her pull. Yun Xiao's breathing finally became smoother. A cold and ruthless glint flashed in her eyes. "Shangguan Yao, I will have my revenge for this today. You wait and see."
At this moment, a eunuch led the imperial physician to them in a hurry.
The Empress Dowager managed to suppress her anger. Looking at Shangguan Yao, who was furious and seemed to want to kill, she gently called out, "Yao'er, let her go. She is a fool."
Although she had been sprayed with poison in the face by a fool, she was generally certain that this was indeed a fool. Otherwise, she couldn't think of anyone else who would calmly drink poison knowing it was poison.
And who would dare spray her, the powerful Empress Dowager, in the face with medicine, other than a woman who was truly a fool?
Since she was a fool, why should they bother with her?
However, thinking of the injury on her face, she still felt some anger. Although she also wanted to kill this fool.
But Yun Mo was currently fighting at the border. If the news of the foolish Empress's death reached his ears, it would undoubtedly cause unrest. The Western Liang would take advantage of the situation, Fengya Pass would be lost, and Dong Qin would fall into chaos.
"Mother Empress."
Shangguan Yao raised an eyebrow and looked down coldly. He saw that Yun Xiao's temples were damp, and she was covered in cold sweat. At this moment, she looked like a weak kitten, completely without strength, her head hanging low.
Although she wasn't dead, she had been taught a lesson. He loosened his grip, and Yun Xiao fell to the ground, her breathing finally smooth.
Wan Wan immediately let go of the Emperor and rushed to Yun Xiao.
"Your Highness, are you alright? Your Highness."
"Take her back to Jinhua Palace," the Empress Dowager commanded sternly.
Wan Wan tearfully agreed. Regardless of the Empress's intentions this time, she had indeed been harmed and had almost lost her life. This made Wan Wan extremely heartbroken.
From this, she increasingly disliked the people of the royal family, finding them too cruel and resorting to any means for their own purposes.
"Your Highness, come, this servant will help you back."
Wan Wan helped Yun Xiao up, and the mistress and servant left the hall, staggering. Outside the hall doors, the sunlight was still beautiful, but after the recent danger, it truly felt like two worlds, a stark contrast of cold and heat.
Xiu Xiu and two young eunuchs quickly stepped forward to support the Empress, anxiously asking.
"Your Highness, what's wrong? What happened?"
"Let's go back," Wan Wan waved her hand, and together with Xiu Xiu, she helped the Empress into a soft sedan chair and returned to Jinhua Palace.
In the great hall of Changxin Palace, the imperial physician had already examined the Empress Dowager. Apart from the injuries on her cheeks, she was not seriously harmed.
"Your Highness, this is Snow Lotus Ointment. Apply it three times a day, morning and evening. There will be no scars left on your face."
The palace was never short of these miraculous medicines and elixirs, so the injury stained by the poisonous juice was not a major problem.
"Alright, you may withdraw."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, and the imperial physician respectfully withdrew. The great hall fell silent once more.
The Empress Dowager reclined leisurely on the couch, her dark, almond-shaped peach blossom eyes casually glancing at the Emperor, and she slowly spoke.
"Yao'er, you saw what happened today. The Empress is indeed a fool. Don't think about her matters all the time from now on. Since Yun Mo has relinquished his power and is now facing the Western Liang army at Fengya Pass, he cannot threaten you for the time being. You should focus on consolidating the affairs of the court."
"Your son obeys."
After today's events, Shangguan Yao also confirmed that the Empress was a fool. Otherwise, why would she have really drunk the medicine? And why would she dare to spray the medicine on the Empress Dowager's face?
This was simply not something a normal person would dare to do. Therefore, he had been overly worried all this time. As for what Ye Susu had said, he didn't know where she got the unfounded rumors and actually believed them.
Shangguan Yao smoothed his brocade sleeves, his demeanor unrestrained and unrestrained. A smile bloomed on his face, and he nodded slightly.
"Mother Empress, please rest assured. Your son will focus his efforts on governing. Mother Empress is not seriously injured, so your son will take his leave."
"Go ahead."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand and nodded with satisfaction. She watched the Emperor stride out of Changxin Palace. Only after he disappeared from view did worry and a slight frown appear in her eyes.
What about the Emperor's illness? Who exactly had administered the medicine that rendered the handsome and dashing Emperor impotent? There were dozens of beauties in the harem, yet not one had conceived. If he remained like this forever, what would happen?
Lin An, who was beside her, walked over respectfully and reported in a low voice, "Your Highness, Grand Tutor Ye has sent someone to deliver a letter to the palace."
"The letter?"
The Empress Dowager tilted her head and extended her hand. Lin An immediately presented the letter.
Grand Tutor Ye sent a letter to the palace to inform the Empress Dowager that a skilled physician named "Ghost Hand" had recently appeared in the capital.
However, this person appeared and disappeared without a trace, and his whereabouts could not be ascertained for the moment. As long as his whereabouts were found, he would definitely be brought into the palace to see the Emperor, and the Emperor's illness would be cured. Please rest assured, Your Highness.
After reading the letter, the Empress Dowager finally felt some relief. She reached out and rubbed her forehead. "Xiao Linzi, help me inside to rest for a while. This morning's events have been too tiring."
"Yes, Your Highness," Lin An quickly helped the Empress Dowager into the inner chamber to rest.
In Jinhua Palace, Wan Wan dismissed all the eunuchs and palace maids. Only she and Xiu Xiu were attending to the Empress.
At this moment, she saw her mistress lying weakly on the couch, her eyes slightly closed. Her long eyelashes concealed her dazzling starry eyes. Her exquisite and pretty face remained pale, her breathing almost imperceptible, as if it were there and not there. Her mouth was slightly open, not daring to close, indicating that her mouth was injured.
Thinking of the scene earlier, where the Emperor almost strangled her mistress, Wan Wan's tears began to flow, and she sobbed silently.
The royal family was too bullying. The moment the Prince left the capital, they treated her mistress like this. It was truly detestable.
Wan Wan was crying, and Xiu Xiu, not knowing what had happened, quickly tried to comfort her. "Wan Wan, what happened?"
"Is it Your Highness?" Wan Wan spoke, unsure of how to continue. Yun Xiao, who had been closing her eyes to recuperate, suddenly opened her eyes. A sharp glint emanated from her pupils, and a cold smile curled up at the corner of her lips.
"Alright, why are you crying? Nothing has happened, and do you really think the Empress Dowager would let the Emperor kill me?"