"We need to find someone... who would be suitable at this time."
Chu Chenyi also found himself in a difficult position, hesitating for a long time as finding a suitable candidate proved challenging.
In the current circumstances, it was not as easy as before, where anyone could be found to test the medicine. The situation was urgent; their every move was under surveillance, forcing them to be cautious in their actions.
Not to mention how difficult it was to find a living person to test medicine. Both of them fell into a dilemma.
…
"Is what Empress Mother said true?"
Chu Yanxi looked at the Empress, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Of course, it's true. Does Empress Mother have any reason to lie to you about this?"
"Empress Mother, I still find it hard to believe. Empress Mother, are you really sure Chu Chenyi and Feng Jin entered Father Emperor's chambers?"
Seeing that Chu Yanxi still refused to believe her, the Empress became as restless as an ant on a hot pan. She sat down beside Chu Yanxi impatiently and said, "Ever since your Father Emperor fell ill, Empress Mother has arranged for people to constantly monitor your Father Emperor's chambers day and night. They personally saw Consort Qin, who is by the Empress Dowager’s side, bring Chu Chenyi and Feng Jin inside together."
"Consort Qin brought them in, so it must be the Empress Dowager's intention. Ever since Father Emperor fell ill, the Empress Dowager has controlled the inner palace and personally guarded Father Emperor's chambers. Concubines and princes can hardly see Father Emperor. Now that the Empress Dowager has Consort Qin bring Chu Chenyi in, does that mean... does she want to establish Chu Chenyi as the Crown Prince!"
Chu Yanxi panicked at this thought. He knew that the Empress Dowager had always favored Chu Chenyi and had more than once requested that Chu Chenyi be made the Crown Prince.
The condition of his Father Emperor was still unknown. If this were true, wouldn't all his years of planning be in vain? Thinking of this, Chu Yanxi slumped powerlessly onto the chair.
"Xi'er, now that things have come to this, what are your plans?"
"What else can I do? Now that Father Emperor is critically ill, everything is under the Empress Dowager's control. If the Empress Dowager wants to establish Chu Chenyi as the Crown Prince, what can I do?"
Seeing Chu Yanxi’s self-abandonment, the Empress became anxious. She immediately said anxiously, "This child, you've truly been drained of all spirit by that little slut Feng Ruoyan. She's a fox spirit! What have you become after marrying her? Where is your former ambition?"
"Enough, Empress Mother. What does this have to do with Yan'er? Don't blame Yan'er for everything!"
When Chu Yanxi heard his mother speak of Feng Ruoyan like that, he felt a surge of displeasure. How could he let anyone insult the woman he loved, even his own mother?
"You... alas..."
The Empress sighed, feeling helpless about Chu Yanxi. If she had known her son would become like this, she would never have agreed to let him marry the disaster that was Feng Ruoyan.
As a result, Chu Yanxi had become estranged from her. How could her son have been so rebellious towards her before? It was all because that little slut Feng Ruoyan had instigated discord between them, causing them to drift apart.
If this woman of misfortune continued to stay by Chu Yanxi's side, it would eventually lead to great disaster.
At that moment, the Empress vaguely harbored murderous intent. When the great plan succeeded, it would also be the day of Feng Ruoyan's demise.
Her son would become the Emperor of Dong Chu; what kind of woman would he not have by his side? She would never allow Feng Ruoyan to remain by Chu Yanxi's side.
"It's useless to say these things now. The urgent matter is to find a way to seize the throne. Xi'er, Empress Mother has planned for so long and endured so much humiliation just for you to become the Emperor of Dong Chu."
"Empress Mother, the situation is very unfavorable to me. I'm afraid it's already a foregone conclusion. What else can I do..."
Chu Yanxi sighed, appearing listless as if his spine had been removed, his entire demeanor having greatly deteriorated.
"The only way forward is to break the cauldrons and sink the boats, and gamble for ourselves."
The Empress's words instantly piqued Chu Yanxi's interest. He looked at his mother and tentatively asked, "Empress Mother, what do you mean..."
"I had already anticipated this day and made arrangements long ago. Xi'er, Empress Mother will handle all these matters. You only need to step by step ascend to that position and firmly secure it. You don't need to worry about anything else."
"Empress Mother, are you planning to force your way into the palace and rebel? This is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of relatives..."
Only at this moment did Chu Yanxi fully understand what his mother meant. If they succeeded, they would live; if they failed, they would be prisoners, their lives and property not even guaranteed. How could his mother choose such a risky path?
"You are the legitimate son, and I am the Empress. This position should rightfully be yours. If it weren't for that old hag, the Empress Dowager, constantly interfering and preventing your Father Emperor from naming you Crown Prince, you would have been the Crown Prince long ago. How could that bastard Chu Chenyi have had a chance!"
"I should have been more ruthless back then and directly taken his life, rather than leaving him with crippled legs. I never expected him to have such good fortune, to be able to stand again!"
This was her greatest regret. If she hadn't shown compassion back then, thinking that with Chu Chenyi's crippled legs, he would have no hope of ascending the throne, and a cripple would not threaten Chu Yanxi's position, she had spared his life. Little did she know that he would be able to stand again.
Things had reached this point. The enemy's sword was already at their throats. If they continued to remain indifferent, in the end, they would only be like fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of others.
"Empress Mother, this matter is of great consequence. Ling Mohan is stationed outside the palace. We cannot possibly succeed."
They were no match for Ling Mohan alone. With Ling Mohan present, even with an army of a thousand men, they would be helpless.
This plan was too risky. Calculating it, they had no chance of victory.
"That's not a problem. If it were before, we truly weren't Ling Mohan's match, but it's different now. Feng Jin is his greatest weakness. Now that Feng Jin is in His Majesty's chambers, as long as we control Feng Jin, Ling Mohan will be nothing to fear."
If it were before, she truly wouldn't have dared to act. However, it was different now. As long as they controlled Feng Jin, they would have no need to fear Ling Mohan.
"Xi'er, you can no longer hesitate. Now is the best opportunity. If you delay further and miss this chance, you will be destined to have no fate with the throne, and you can only watch from the sidelines as Chu Chenyi ascends."