"Indeed, I am mad, and I was driven to this by you. It's all your fault, all your doing!"
The Empress was utterly deranged at this moment, no different from a lunatic in a mental asylum. Her gaze locked onto the Imperial Noble Consort standing to the side. "It's you, you贱人 (jianren - bitch/slut), you bewitched His Majesty, and that's why he treats me like this. You deserve to die... die!"
A flash of silver light appeared from her sleeve. The Empress clutched a dagger tightly and lunged towards the Imperial Noble Consort.
"Ru'er, be careful!"
Emperor Xuanwen was the first to spot the dagger in the Empress's hand. He cried out in alarm, his feet moving swiftly towards the Imperial Noble Consort, pulling her into his embrace a step ahead of the Empress.
"Ru'er, how are you? Are you alright?"
Emperor Xuanwen anxiously inquired about the Imperial Noble Consort's condition, his face etched with worry.
"Your Majesty, I am fine. Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress... Her Majesty the Empress has gone mad. She's truly mad. She just tried to kill me. She wanted to kill me."
Indeed, she was terrified by the Empress's manic actions. Even as she spoke, her voice trembled slightly. The Imperial Noble Consort, fearful, nestled closer into Emperor Xuanwen's embrace.
The Empress Dowager was also shocked by the Empress's frenzied behavior. While the Empress's conduct had always been questionable, she had never before resorted to such outrageous actions. Now, it seemed undeniable that the Empress had lost her mind.
"You are truly mad. If I had known you would become like this, I would never have let the Emperor marry you!"
"I am indeed mad. You all drove me to this madness, you old hag. Ever since His Majesty married me, you've disliked me. More than once, you've tried to persuade His Majesty to divorce me. You should have died long ago!"
The Empress's gaze towards the Empress Dowager was filled with boundless hatred. The Empress Dowager had always looked down on her. Despite her every effort to please, the Empress Dowager remained unimpressed, always offering sarcastic remarks. She had long since grown weary of this life.
Now that things had reached this point, she had nothing left to consider. She might as well die with them, so as not to be too lonely on the road to the afterlife.
"Today, I will take your life, you old demoness. We will all die together."
The Empress, brandishing the dagger, lunged towards the Empress Dowager once more.
"Mother Empress!"
"Empress Dowager!"
Emperor Xuanwen and the Imperial Noble Consort cried out in unison. However, they were too far from the Empress Dowager, and the Empress moved with such speed that even their desperate sprints towards her were not fast enough.
As the Empress's dagger was about to pierce the Empress Dowager's body, Emperor Xuanwen's heart clenched. He wished he could instantly fly to his mother's side and shield her with his own body.
With a 'clang,' a sword flew through the air and struck the Empress's wrist, the one holding the dagger. Blood sprayed everywhere like a fountain. The Empress's right hand was severed at the wrist, and her severed hand, along with the dagger, fell to the ground.
The scene was incredibly bloody. Even the Empress Dowager, who had witnessed countless major events, was greatly shaken. Her legs suddenly weakened, and she nearly collapsed.
"Imperial Grandmother!"
Chu Chenyi, who arrived shortly after, quickly helped the Empress Dowager, guiding her to a chair. "Imperial Grandmother, are you alright?"
The Empress Dowager was still recovering from the shock, her breathing trembling. "This Empress Dowager is fine. Fortunately, you arrived in time, Chenyi. Go check on your Father Emperor!"
"Yes, Imperial Grandmother!"
After settling the Empress Dowager, Chu Chenyi immediately went to check on Emperor Xuanwen. "How is Father Emperor?"
"Chenyi, you arrived in time. I am fine. You have worked hard this time."
Emperor Xuanwen placed a hand on Chu Chenyi's shoulder. He was truly grateful for Chu Chenyi's timely arrival, as the consequences would have been unimaginable otherwise.
"It is good that Father Emperor is unharmed. The rebels in the palace have all been eliminated, but Chu Yanxi has disappeared. General Ling is in pursuit with all his might. I will return this token to Father Emperor."
Chu Chenyi took out a token from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.
Emperor Xuanwen did not immediately take the token. Instead, he helped Chu Chenyi up from the ground. "Chenyi, you have worked hard this time. Keep this token for now. The remnants of the rebels are sure to be fleeing in all directions, and you will have to work hard to round them all up!"
"Your subject obeys!"
Emperor Xuanwen's gaze fell upon the Empress, lying on the ground, covered in blood, and on the verge of death.
"Madam Liu has committed treason, colluding with Chu Chenyi to rebel. Her crimes are unforgivable. Madam Liu, do you confess your guilt!"
The Empress, enduring the pain, slowly regained her footing. Her eyes, fixed on Emperor Xuanwen, were filled with determination. "Your Majesty calls me Madam Liu. Your Majesty, we have known each other for over twenty years. We were young lovers. You are so heartless! Your Majesty, do you still remember how you addressed me when we married..."
Emperor Xuanwen did not answer the Empress. He turned his head away, as if looking at the Empress for even a moment would soil his eyes.
Completely wounded by Emperor Xuanwen's heartlessness, the Empress let out a mocking laugh. The laughter seemed to mock her for daring to harbor hope for Emperor Xuanwen. How foolish she was.
"Indeed, this consort was foolishly overconfident. This consort had forgotten that Your Majesty now detests me to the extreme, wishing not to even cast a glance my way..."
"Take Madam Liu away and imprison her!"
Emperor Xuanwen said calmly, not looking at the Empress again from beginning to end.
"Ha... haha... haha..."
The Empress laughed madly, her voice close to delirium, as several soldiers dragged her away.
"Your Majesty!" The Imperial Noble Consort called out worriedly, reaching out to hold Emperor Xuanwen's hand, attempting to offer comfort, but the words caught in her throat, unsure of what to say.
"I am fine," Emperor Xuanwen said, his voice deep, as he clasped the Imperial Noble Consort's hand.
He then turned his gaze to Chu Chenyi. "Capture Chu Yanxi as soon as possible. I wish to interrogate him personally."
"Your subject obeys!"
After acknowledging, Chu Chenyi stepped away, leaving the handling of the situation to his deputy.
"Emperor, how do you plan to deal with Madam Liu's affairs?"
After Chu Chenyi left, the Empress Dowager inquired about Emperor Xuanwen's intentions regarding the Empress, showing him some consideration.
"Mother Empress, Madam Liu has lost a hand, which can be considered retribution for her wicked deeds. This subject intends to confine her to the cold palace, letting her live out her remaining years there."
"Madam Liu wished to kill you, this Empress Dowager, and the Imperial Noble Consort, wanting us to die with her. Yet, Emperor, you only intend to confine her. That is indeed a benevolent heart."
"Mother Empress, this subject... this subject is also considering the fact that Madam Liu and I have been husband and wife for over twenty years. I truly cannot bear to be so heavy-handed..."