The truth!
Chu Qianli's heart constricted violently.
Why was there still a so-called "truth"?
Could it be that imperial decree?
She stared at Chu Jiangnan.
Chu Jiangnan's serious expression told her that he was absolutely not lying about this matter.
"I am a fair person. As long as Nanming can overcome this current crisis, I can clear your name."
"Does Your Majesty mean that the imperial decree ordering Ziyue to be empress is fake?"
She actually didn't covet the throne, but she cared about the innocence of her imperial grandmother and mother.
Their family had not rebelled, had not forced the former emperor to death, and had not snatched anything from others!
She had always been unwilling to believe it!
However, Chu Jiangnan's words shattered her last illusion: "No, that imperial decree is real."
She was greatly struck.
So much so that Chu Qianli didn't want to say another word.
Yet, a hint of a smile appeared in Chu Jiangnan's eyes. "Don't be disappointed. Your throne as empress was not snatched; you are rightfully the empress."
"What exactly do you mean?" Chu Qianli's mood was like riding a roller coaster, going up and down, the drop too steep and uncomfortable.
"When this matter is over, if I am still alive, I will definitely tell you."
But at this moment, Chu Jiangnan clearly had little strength left to speak.
Outside, Feng Yexuan arrived. His footsteps were heavy, deliberately announcing his approach, and he had no intention of eavesdropping on their conversation.
Therefore, the conversation had to end temporarily.
...Today, the moat needed to be inspected.
That was something that had been planned all along.
Prince Yu himself had arrived, and Prince Ling also rushed to escort the emperor.
After all, it had been said last night that the safety of the imperial city was his full responsibility during this period.
However, the emperor, impersonated by Feng Yexuan, had ordered Prince Ling to personally search the imperial city and apprehend the culprit who administered the poison.
"You sent Prince Ling away, are you afraid he'll recognize you?" Chu Qianli snorted coldly after getting into the carriage.
Feng Yexuan glanced at her slowly and then said, "With Prince Ling present, how would those people dare to provoke us again?"
Chu Qianli moved her lips and glanced at him, somewhat surprised.
So, he intended to use her as bait.
"Then why didn't you stop Prince Yu from following?"
"Prince Yu is meticulous and overly suspicious. If I were to stop him from following, he would definitely suspect that I am not the real emperor."
In fact, Prince Yu's suspicion had never ceased.
After all, many people had likely witnessed his master spitting blood from poisoning last night.
To return as if nothing had happened, this was bound to arouse suspicion.
However, for someone like Feng Yexuan, who knew he was fake yet openly and frankly believed himself to be real, it required extraordinary willpower.
An ordinary person would easily reveal their true colors.
Prince Yu did not intend to accompany them to the moat, as his leg was "seriously injured," making it extremely inconvenient to go out.
But as a prince, it was natural for him to see the emperor off when he left the palace.
"Your Majesty, how is your health today?" Through the carriage curtain, Prince Yu's attitude was very respectful.
Since he was sitting in a wheelchair, his bow was only a slight inclination.
However, Prince Yu's gaze was locked on another figure.
That was Chu Qianli, kneeling by the emperor's legs.
Through the carriage curtain, it was truly difficult to see how stunningly beautiful this young lady was, to the point that she could make the emperor, who had remained chaste for so many years, break his vows for her.
But he had heard that she was indeed a peerless beauty.
However, Prince Yu had obtained quite a bit of information about this beauty from Chu Minghao.
"Your Majesty, today is the day the Imperial Preceptor will perform rites for the souls of those who died in the moat. It seems… rather inappropriate for Your Majesty to bring Miss Li along."
Chu Qianli's heart trembled.
The Imperial Preceptor would also be at the moat today? Why had no one ever mentioned it to her?