The Empress Dowager shouted angrily and stood up, walking directly to Emperor Xuanwen. Suppressing the anger in her heart, she said, "If it weren't for your indulgence of the Liu clan and Chu Yanxi, they wouldn't have dared to do something so treasonous. Even now, you still refuse to believe it. Do you want them to break into the palace and kill this empress dowager with their swords before you will believe what I say!"
"Mother, please calm down. Your son has no such intentions. It's just that this matter happened so suddenly, and your son finds it difficult to believe. Mother, please rest assured that if the Empress and this rebellious son have truly committed such treasonous acts, your son will personally deal with them and give you an explanation."
Even though Emperor Xuanwen had managed the court for many years, he still felt a sense of trepidation towards the Empress Dowager, and more so, respect.
He had personally witnessed how the Empress Dowager had supported him onto the throne for many years. Back then, he was still young, and his father had passed away prematurely. Numerous royal uncles and cousins had their eyes set on his throne.
His position on the throne was precarious. If not for the Empress Dowager's all-out efforts to protect him, the throne would no longer be his. He held the Empress Dowager in the utmost respect and was extremely obedient to her.
If the Empress and Chu Yanxi were truly plotting rebellion and forcing the Empress Dowager, he would absolutely not forgive them.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, if you wish to know whether Chu Yanxi has truly rebelled, Your Majesty only needs to open the doors and windows to look outside. Are the palace grounds not already filled with the figures of rebel soldiers?"
Chu Chenyi's tone was distant. He addressed the Emperor as "Your Majesty" rather than "Father Emperor."
Emperor Xuanwen's old face flushed with shame. He now realized how excessive his behavior had been. Avoiding eye contact, he bent down and helped Chu Chenyi, who was kneeling on the ground, to his feet.
His hand inadvertently brushed against the wound on Chu Chenyi's arm, and the blood on the gauze instantly deepened by another shade.
Emperor Xuanwen's guilt towards Chu Chenyi intensified. His gaze began to scan this son whom he had neglected for so long. The debt he owed Chu Chenyi was difficult to repay lightly. It seemed too late to compensate now.
After a moment of hesitation, Emperor Xuanwen still took Chu Chenyi's hand and pulled him to sit beside him. "You have worked hard these past few days. Your father understands everything you have done. It is your father who has failed you over these years..."
"Your Majesty is too kind."
The Empress Dowager sighed softly, looking at the father and son sitting together. She said helplessly, "The bond between father and son is hard-earned. Father and son are indeed enemies from a past life, and they come in this life to resolve their grievances..."
"Empress Dowager... Empress Dowager, it's not good... Empress Dowager!"
Mammy Qin ran in in a panic, her face filled with alarm.
"What has happened to make you so flustered?"
Mammy Qin was always very steady. Her current panic made the Empress Dowager's heart suddenly jolt. A gut feeling told her that something major must have happened.
"Empress Dowager, it's the Third Prince and the Empress. They are about to arrive at the palace."
Everyone present was startled by this news. Emperor Xuanwen finally understood that what the Empress Dowager had said earlier was true... His heart suddenly sank. His complexion grew even more unpleasant, and a surge of anger caused him to cough violently.
"Your Majesty, the residual poison in your body has not yet been cleared. Do not get angry; you must calm your emotions."
Feng Jin noticed Emperor Xuanwen's distress and quickly took out a pill for him to swallow, then helped him lie down on the bed.
"This rebellious son, rebellious son... he has actually done such treasonous things. I must... I must... cough... cough..."
Feng Jin was also worried that Emperor Xuanwen might not be able to catch his breath and would be angered to death. If he died from anger instead of poison, then all her efforts to save him would have been in vain. She directly took out a silver needle and pricked a pressure point on Emperor Xuanwen.
Instantly, Emperor Xuanwen, who had been clamoring to get up and question Chu Yanxi, became quiet. He lay on the bed with his eyes wide open and motionless.
"Father Emperor... what is this?"
Chu Chenyi looked at Emperor Xuanwen's current state, his heart filled with unease. He asked Feng Jin what was going on, wondering why the Emperor had suddenly become still.
"I pricked His Majesty's pressure points with a silver needle. We cannot determine Chu Yanxi's intentions at the moment, nor do we know where Ling Mohan's troops are. It's best not to let Chu Yanxi know that His Majesty has woken up. I fear that if he learns of this, he might become desperate and do something more excessive."
If Chu Yanxi were to learn of Emperor Xuanwen's awakening and feel that it was detrimental to him, he might act impulsively and do something reckless, putting Emperor Xuanwen's life in real danger.
It was best for Emperor Xuanwen to lie quietly on the bed for a while longer. At least his life would be guaranteed.
"Your Majesty, this is a last resort. Please forgive me. This is for your safety. Your Majesty, please close your eyes and do not move."
As soon as Feng Jin finished speaking, the palace doors were forcefully pushed open from the outside, the loud noise echoing throughout the entire room.
Everyone's gaze shifted outwards. Only Emperor Xuanwen, who was lying on the bed, unable to move due to Feng Jin's acupuncture, immediately closed his eyes, just as he had when he was unconscious. He didn't move at all.
In just a moment, the Empress and the Third Prince appeared before them, surrounded by a group of soldiers.
The Empress's gaze immediately fixed on Emperor Xuanwen lying on the bed. She took a step forward to check on his condition. As she neared the bed, the Empress Dowager stepped forward and blocked her path.
"Mother!" Fear of the Empress Dowager caused the Empress to cry out instinctively. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat, and her legs felt weak, almost causing her to fall to her knees.
"Don't address me like that. I cannot accept your address, you poisonous woman. Get out quickly and stop being so audacious in front of me!"
Being scolded by the Empress Dowager like this, the Empress's face instantly turned ashen. For years, she had carefully tried to please the Empress Dowager, but all she received in return were her cold eyes and harsh words, never even a kind glance.
With matters having reached this point, the Empress no longer wanted to endure. The anger that had accumulated over the years erupted at this moment. "Now that it has come to this, what right do you have to order me around? If you are sensible now and obediently listen, there will still be a place for you in this palace after Xi'er ascends the throne!"
"You look so pleased with yourself, having achieved petty success!"