However, to be honest, she was also curious why the Empress Dowager would attack Empress Li, so she rested her chin on her hands, waiting calmly. She believed the Empress Dowager would definitely speak; what difference did it make whether she spoke or not at this point?
As expected, the Empress Dowager couldn't bear it any longer and finally gritted her teeth, confessing everything.
"Yes, I ordered the eunuch to poison my sister, and then had her thrown into the artificial lake that the late Emperor built for her."
Upon hearing this, Mu Rong Liu Zun’s usual calm and self-possession vanished. His handsome face turned icy cold, his eyes dark and menacing, his breathing ragged with suppressed rage. He clenched his fists, his veins bulging.
At this moment, he resembled a bloodthirsty beast in the forest, wishing he could devour the woman whole. His voice, chilling as if emanating from a ghost from hell, boomed,
"Why would you do such a thing? She treated you like a sister, and you could actually do it?"
The Empress Dowager trembled uncontrollably, looking at everything before her with despair. She contorted her body in pain, her hair disheveled, and she kept pulling at it, clearly enduring immense suffering herself.
"The late Emperor doted on her immensely. She was the Empress, and I was merely a lowly sixth-rank Gui Ren. I gained the late Emperor's favor and soon gave birth to Mo'er. However, even if a sixth-rank Gui Ren had a son, it would only bring suffering to the son alongside me. So I begged her to have the Emperor grant me the title of Consort."
"I believed that if she spoke up, the Emperor would surely grant us, mother and son, a good position. As long as I could be a Consort, I would be content. But I never expected her to do nothing. I gave birth to two more children, yet still couldn't make the Emperor promote me to the rank of Consort, so I hated her, I hated her!"
By the end of her words, the Empress Dowager not only pulled at her hair but also let out screams, her consciousness lost in confusion, utterly miserable.
Mu Qingyao watched all this with cold eyes, a complex mixture of emotions churning within her. Perhaps this woman was good at the beginning, but it was the deep palace that had transformed her into a ruthless woman. Had she truly been happy all these years?
If she had been truly happy, why would she have been so distraught and turned white-haired overnight upon learning that Su Zhan had been imprisoned?
Mu Qingyao’s heart felt heavy. This was the imperial palace. Did she really want to stay here? At this moment, she couldn't help but question it deeply.
"It was you, you harmed her! Why do you say she didn't speak? Although I was young then, I knew she spoke for you. It was only because Father Emperor feared others would threaten her that he consistently refused. As a sister, you actually doubted her?"
The Emperor roared, unable to control his emotions any longer. He had completely lost himself, unleashing his fury within the imperial bedchamber, smashing many things.
The Empress Dowager, whether from fear or from being unable to withstand the stimulation, finally fainted.
The Emperor watched the motionless Empress Dowager with cold eyes. His rage finally subsided somewhat, but his expression remained terrifyingly dark.
A fathomless dark glint flickered in his black eyes, the corners of his lips etched with bloodthirsty coldness. He cast a cold glance at Eunuch Li, who stood by.
"Summon someone."
With his command, A Jiu led a few young eunuchs into the room. They stared at the mess in the hall with trepidation, daring not to breathe too loudly. The Emperor's furious roars had long reached their ears, and none of them dared to make another sound.
"Your Majesty."
"From this day forward, Guangyang Palace is to be sealed off. No one is permitted to enter Guangyang Palace. Those who disobey will be executed."
The bloodthirsty,魅惑 (mèihuò - enchanting/bewitching) words rang out, striking terror into the hearts of everyone present. No one dared to breathe loudly.
"Yes, Your Majesty," A Jiu accepted the decree.
In the bedchamber, the Empress Dowager still lay unconscious, her face pale and devoid of color on the large bed. Who would dare suggest calling for an imperial physician for her now?
Mu Qingyao stood up. How the Emperor dealt with the Empress Dowager was his affair; she had done what she needed to do.
"Let's go, Your Majesty."
Mu Rong Liu Zun turned to look at Mu Qingyao, gazing into her clear, water-like eyes. His frantic, bloodthirsty heart found solace, slowly calming. He spoke with steady composure, "Let's go, I still have matters to attend to."
"Yes, I'm hungry. I haven't eaten this morning yet?"
Mu Qingyao pouted. She had been so focused on handling his affairs that she had forgotten to eat. Her stomach was so hungry!
"Let's go," the Emperor did not look at the Empress Dowager. He extended his large hand, took hers, and walked out. xxs one
The officials and attendants standing outside the bedchamber door finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, the Empress Dowager would never be allowed to leave Guangyang Palace again, and the Emperor still didn't know how he would punish her next.
Originally, Mu Qingyao had planned to return to Fengluan Palace for her meal. Unexpectedly, the Emperor ordered breakfast to be sent to Liuli Palace, as he had also not eaten. The two of them would dine together.
Mu Qingyao saw that he had suffered a great deal earlier, and although he had regained his composure, his heart must still be in pain. Therefore, she let him have his way.
In the side hall, the two of them quietly ate their breakfast.
Mu Qingyao was truly hungry, so she ate heartily. However, the Emperor had a thoughtful expression on his face, picking at his food listlessly, eating without savor.
He had always wanted to know why she had harmed his mother, but now that he had heard her confession, his heart ached even more. Recalling his mother's innocent death, he wished he could have that woman beheaded immediately. But he would make her life worse than death.
Did she want her son to ascend the throne? Then he would make her witness how miserably Mu Rong Liu Mo would die, his pupils cold and sinister.
Mu Qingyao quickly finished her meal, her hunger sated. She tapped the tabletop with her chopsticks, reminding the man opposite her.
"Your Majesty, what are you fiddling with?"
She saw a plate of pastries in front of the Emperor, which he had so thoroughly messed with that it was unrecognizable.
Mu Rong Liu Zun snapped back to attention, dropped his chopsticks, and said, "I am full."
"I am also full," Mu Qingyao was truly full. As for the man, he was probably full from anger. No matter who this happened to, it would be difficult to accept immediately. She should let him calm down slowly. She believed that with his intelligence and restraint, he would be able to adjust quickly.
Mu Qingyao stood up. To be honest, her body was aching all over. She had been tormented by this man all night yesterday and was now very tired. She just wanted to sleep. "Your Majesty, I'm returning to Fengluan Palace."
"Alright."
Emperor Xian did not forget that he still had state affairs to handle. This internal crisis had not yet been resolved, and he would settle old and new scores together. A sinister smile curved his lips, his eyebrows subtly raised, his deep pupils flashing with sharp light, staring at the air with chilling menace, ruthlessness, and a desire for slaughter.
Mu Qingyao paid him no mind, leading Mo Chou and Mo You away from Liuli Palace to return to Fengluan Palace.
Last night, she had been exhausted. That drug had been administered by that scoundrel Chu Qian Yi.
Of course, he hadn't administered the drug to fulfill a happy occasion between her and the Emperor, but rather to facilitate Chu Yu Yan's good fortune with the Emperor. However, she had accidentally stumbled into it.