"Father Emperor... you..."
Chu Chenyi's eyes narrowed sharply. Were there other ways out of the imperial palace that he had never known about?
"There is a switch on the dragon throne in the Taiji Hall that opens a secret passage. Following the passage leads directly outside the palace."
"Father Emperor, this... this is..."
"This secret passage was prepared for emergencies. Only the emperors of Dong Chu throughout the ages have known about it. The previous emperor also informed me and the Empress Dowager on his deathbed. Today, I am telling you this, do you know what it means!"
Chu Chenyi's heart skipped a beat. He quickly knelt down, "Your son will not disgrace your expectations, and will surely resolve the capital's predicament!"
"Go, be careful with everything."
By telling Chu Chenyi this, he had already made up his mind. The current situation was set, and he could only pass the throne to Chu Chenyi.
"Your son takes his leave."
Chu Chenyi clutched the token tightly, suppressing the excitement in his heart as he walked out. He had to leave the palace as soon as possible and bring troops to resolve the current crisis.
...
When the Empress Dowager saw Emperor Xuanwen return alone without Chu Chenyi, she knew what had happened.
"It seems you have made up your mind to establish Chenyi as the Crown Prince?"
"After careful consideration, among my sons, only Chenyi is most suitable to bear this great responsibility!"
Indeed... he had no better choice now. Establishing a Crown Prince under these circumstances was also a natural progression, and it was all ordained by fate.
"Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, women of the harem cannot interfere in state affairs. This concubine shall take her leave!"
"You have already heard everything, so there is no point in leaving now." Emperor Xuanwen reached out and held the Imperial Noble Consort's hand, stopping her from stepping back. "My dear, I have not established our child as the Crown Prince. Do you harbor any resentment?"
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Noble Consort's heart tightened. She quickly knelt on the ground, "This concubine dares not. This matter concerns the state. How could I, a woman of the inner palace, understand such things? As long as it is a decision Your Majesty has made, this concubine believes it is correct. As for... as for our child, he is not suited to be an emperor, and this concubine has never dared to hope that he would become the Crown Prince."
"What this concubine desires most in this life is to grow old with Your Majesty, and to watch our child grow up healthy and safe. As for anything else, this concubine does not dare to think about it or ask for it."
Having achieved all her desires in this life, she had nothing else to ask for, only wishing for peaceful days ahead and to grow old with her lord.
"Ru'er, your heart is pure and kind. It is I who have wronged you in the past. Henceforth, I will use the rest of my life to compensate for my past shortcomings."
"No... Your Majesty has never wronged this concubine. To have met Your Majesty in this life, and to have married Your Majesty as I wished, I was already content. Now that I also have Your Majesty's sincere affection, even if I were to die immediately, I would have no regrets."
"Enough, stop saying such foolish things. We have not completely escaped danger yet. You are acting as if you want to die, do you truly think you have lived too long?"
The Empress Dowager could no longer stand the couple's affectionate display and spoke with helplessness.
Emperor Xuanwen and the Imperial Noble Consort heard the Empress Dowager's voice and suddenly felt they had gone too far. They lowered their heads in slight embarrassment.
The harmonious atmosphere in the hall had not lasted long before someone, lacking discernment, came in to disrupt it.
Empress Liu, surrounded by attendants, strode in, her tone extremely arrogant. "Empress Dowager, has your consideration... Your Majesty!"
Upon seeing Emperor Xuanwen standing there perfectly fine, the Empress instinctively cried out, her legs weakening slightly. Fortunately, a palace maid nearby supported her, preventing her from falling to the ground.
"Your Majesty, you... how are you awake?"
"Why are you so frightened that I am awake!"
The Empress gasped for breath, forcing herself to appear calm. "This concubine... this concubine was merely worried about Your Majesty's health. Now that I see Your Majesty awake, this concubine is relieved."
"Worried? I wonder how the Empress worries about my health, or if she is worried that I am not dead and will spoil your plans!"
"Your Majesty, what are you saying? This concubine's devotion to Your Majesty is as clear as the sun and moon. As long as Your Majesty is safe, this concubine can..."
With a loud 'bang', the blue and white porcelain teacup shattered at the Empress's feet. The Empress instinctively took a step back, but tea splashed onto her skirt. Coupled with her panicked expression, she looked extremely disheveled.
"When faced with the truth, you still quibble. If I had not woken up, Chu Yanxi would have ascended the throne before long, and you would have already become the Empress Dowager!"
"Your Majesty... this concubine has absolutely no such intention. It must be... it must be that Your Majesty misunderstands. This concubine did this because she was worried that someone might harbor ill intentions due to Your Majesty's illness, which is why I had Yanxi enter the palace to protect Your Majesty's safety. It must be the Imperial Noble Consort... the Imperial Noble Consort has always disliked this concubine, and she must be sowing discord. I beg Your Majesty to investigate clearly!"
Why had she not noticed the Empress's eloquence before? If he had not witnessed it himself, he would have truly been deceived by the Empress's honeyed words.
Emperor Xuanwen let out a cold snort, mocking, "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have imagined you to be such a person. I have been blind for so many years to have doted on you, this venomous woman, for so long..."
"Your Majesty... this concubine..."
"Silence! I do not wish to hear your eloquent lies anymore. From this moment on, you are no longer my wife; nor are you the Empress of Dong Chu!"
The Empress's expression stiffened. She had not expected Emperor Xuanwen to be so heartless, abandoning their many years of marital affection so readily.
With things having reached this point, the Empress no longer pretended. She stood up directly, her face no longer showing the panicked expression from before.
"Depriving me of my title, I fear Your Majesty no longer has the资格 for that. The entire palace is now under my command. Soon, my Xi'er will be the new emperor of Dong Chu. Your Majesty should be the one to worry!"
"You intend to commit regicide!"
"If Your Majesty cooperates, Yanxi values filial piety the most. Out of consideration for our years of marital affection, I can have Yanxi bestow upon you the title of Retired Emperor to live out your years. However, this lowly woman cannot be spared. As long as Your Majesty personally kills her, I can pretend that nothing has happened, and Your Majesty will naturally remain the Retired Emperor!"
The Empress glared at the Imperial Noble Consort, her eyes filled with murderous intent. She had been suppressed by this lowly woman for so many years. If this lowly woman did not die, her hatred would never be appeased!
"Liu Shi, you poisonous shrew, you are simply insane!"