"If you knew you were wrong, why poison me again."
Murong Chong circulated his energy, only to discover he had been poisoned. It was a drug that suppressed his cultivation. If he forcibly circulated his energy, not only would his meridians break, but he would also bleed from all seven orifices.
He truly was the most unfortunate person in the world, to be poisoned twice by his own mother.
"Yao'er, as long as you promise me one thing, I will immediately give you the antidote and send someone to escort you out of the palace."
Murong Chong sneered. Indeed, she was still doing it for that person. Did she want the Jade Dragon Talisman?
Was it because of the Jade Dragon Talisman that she would harm her son a second time?
He truly wished he could dig open this woman's heart and see what it was made of, why she could bring herself to poison her own child.
"I truly wish to see what your heart is made of. It is far more venomous than a tiger or wolf. Don't even think about the Jade Dragon Talisman. I will not give it to you. That belongs to the Shangguan family. Remember, even if I am gone, Lin is still here. What right does that bastard have to sit on the throne."
After speaking, Murong Chong lowered his head. His long, black ink-like hair cascaded down, obscuring his pale, peerless face.
The Empress Dowager knelt down with a thud, looking at Murong Chong. "Yao'er, Mother begs you. Hand over the Jade Dragon Talisman. Mother will not let anyone harm you again. Why must you be so fixated on the throne? Jingyi will be a good emperor. Mother regrets it, but there is no turning back now."
Murong Chong raised his head and looked at her. He never expected their reunion to be under such circumstances. He had imagined countless scenarios of their reunion.
Mother regretted it. She had always wanted to compensate him. But what he saw before him completely exceeded his imagination. It turned out there really were people in this world whose hearts were like iron and as venomous as poison.
She had repeatedly harmed her own son.
He was truly unfortunate. Some said beautiful women were fated to have short lives. It seemed that what Xiao'er had said was true – handsome men could bring disaster.
If it weren't for Mo Ruyan spoiling his plans this time, how would he have fallen into this woman's hands? But it was fine. He was finally dead set on it. From now on, he would not harbor even the slightest hope for this woman.
If he could get out, he would let her know.
What it meant to wish for death over life. Just as she knew his weakness, he also knew hers.
What was death? Only torment was the most piercing pain.
Ye Lanzhi, from this moment on, you are no longer my Empress Dowager. The blood flowing in my body has been completely poisoned by you. If I survive, I will not let you off, nor that bastard.
If it was my fate to suffer this tribulation, I would have reunited with Father. Everything belonging to the Shangguan family would not have fallen into your hands.
Murong Chong's mind churned. Due to the poison and his surging anger, his brain was stimulated, causing him to involuntarily slump onto the couch.
The Empress Dowager was greatly alarmed. She scrambled to her feet and rushed to the couch to check, anxiously demanding, "What's going on?"
"Your Highness, do not be anxious. The Crown Prince merely fainted while circulating his energy."
"Yao'er."
The Empress Dowager began to cry again. She knew Yao'er's personality – very stubborn and proud. Making him hand over the Jade Dragon Talisman would not be easy. But she could only leave him here for now.
"Ping An, make sure no one enters here. You will deliver all the meals daily."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Ping An answered. To be honest, her affection for the young Crown Prince Yao was no less than the Empress Dowager's.
When he was young, she often took care of the Crown Prince. He was a lovable child, yet he had to endure such treatment. Ping An shed tears, but to avoid discovery, after they settled Murong Chong, they left the secret room.
The secret room was hidden behind a portrait. In front of the portrait was the Empress Dowager's shrine. Ordinary people would not touch this place, nor would they imagine that there was a secret room behind the shrine.
Yunshui Villa was shrouded in a layer of gloomy fog. Everyone gathered in the main hall, waiting for news. Several days had passed, and there was still no word.
Yun Xiao's heart was even more on edge, not knowing what had happened to Murong Chong, or why he was like this. Where had he gone?
In the main hall, no one spoke.
Shangguan Lin exuded an unusually cold and sharp aura. He paced back and forth in the hall, restless and anxious.
The longer time passed, the more fearful everyone became. Originally, all these matters would have been resolved once they entered the capital, but such an accident had occurred.
In the main hall, everyone was anxiously waiting when a subordinate ran in, panting.
"Someone has returned."
"Really? That's great."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and stood up in unison to greet them.
Yun Xiao and Murong Yingxue were even quicker, rushing to the entrance. However, they only saw Yi Yuxuan and Zhuifeng walking up from the bottom of the stone steps.
Both were injured and battered, their faces covered in a pale, sickly pallor. They walked as if each step weighed a thousand pounds, their sleeves stained with blood.
Upon seeing this, Yun Xiao and Murong Yingxue's hearts sank. They both took a step back. Those behind them walked up, and everyone looked at the two who were entering, Yi Yuxuan and Liufeng.
"Where is Murong?"
Yun Xiao spoke coldly, her voice extremely sharp.
Liufeng and Yi Yuxuan, remembering the words their master had told them when they left, knelt down with a thud and said with pain in their voices, "Miss Yun, you must save our master. He was captured and taken into the palace."
"What?"
Everyone felt as if a thunderclap had exploded overhead, leaving them all stunned and bewildered, not knowing what had happened.
They looked at each other in dismay. Shangguan Lin, who reacted first, rushed forward, grabbed Zhuifeng by his collar, and roared, "What exactly is going on?
Tell me, what is going on? How could Brother Huang, someone so formidable, be captured by the imperial palace?"
"Master could have killed his way out, but he was captured by that dog emperor for our sake,"
Yi Yuxuan said with a heavy tone. Yun Xiao felt her head buzz, and she was so stunned that her body went weak, and she began to fall backward. Yun Zhen reached out and supported her, gently comforting her, "Xiao'er, don't worry."
Yun Xiao shook her head, steadying herself. The eldest Miss Murong beside her had already begun to cry.
Yun Xiao turned her head and coldly reprimanded, "Shut up! What are you crying about?"
Then she looked at Yi Yuxuan and Liufeng and slowly said, "Tell us from the beginning what happened?"
Everyone in the hall gathered around the two, looking at Yi Yuxuan and Liufeng.
Shangguan Yao also let go, staring at the two with a bloodthirsty gaze.
At this moment, Yi Yuxuan collected himself and said solemnly,
"That day, the Palace Master received news that the Skeleton Blood Bandits were robbing tombs at the imperial mausoleum in the western suburbs. Those people always engaged in such unsavory activities and would blow up tombs. Upon receiving the news, Master immediately led us there to capture the Skeleton Blood Bandits. Who knew this was a trap. It turned out that dog emperor had received the news and set up a scheme to wait for us. When we rushed there, we fell into their trap. For our sake, Master voluntarily surrendered."