"Doesn't Imperial Consort Wen's personal testimony mean anything?"
Feng Qingheng and Duke Pei were overjoyed that Imperial Consort Wen had personally accused Feng Xiwu of being an imposter.
Duke Pei impatiently said, "Commander Du, why aren't you apprehending him? If he injures His Majesty, can you bear the severe punishment for failing to protect the emperor?"
The Imperial Guard commander, initially somewhat intimidated by Feng Xiwu's composure, was overwhelmed by greed at the thought of his future promotion upon successfully protecting the emperor. He immediately stepped forward to apprehend Feng Xiwu.
As Lu Qingwan was still attending to Emperor Jingyou with acupuncture, Feng Xiwu saw this and kicked the Imperial Guard commander away.
Humiliated and enraged, the commander shouted, "How dare you resist! Seize this assassin! If there's any resistance, kill them without mercy!"
Drawing his sword, Feng Xiwu's eyes turned cold. "I'd like to see how capable you are of twisting the truth! Xuanjia Army, obey my command! Anyone who obstructs the Princess Consort from saving the Emperor will be killed without mercy!"
With his order, Liyang and the accompanying guards rushed forward. Feng Xiwu, however, remained steadfastly behind Lu Qingwan.
The Xuanjia Army and the Imperial Guards clashed, turning the magnificent Weiyang Palace into a battlefield. The sounds of combat mingled with the panicked shouts of the officials.
Amidst the chaos, Prime Minister Wen's furious voice could be heard questioning Imperial Consort Wen, "Wen Yanyi, what are you doing? His Majesty has provided for you for so many years, and the Regent King has never been unfilial to you! Must you extinguish the last embers of affection they have for you, leaving them disheartened before you are satisfied?"
Prime Minister Wen, already advanced in years, had exacerbated an old heart condition when he lunged at Feng Qingheng to save Lu Qingwan. Now, further agitated by Imperial Consort Wen, he seemed on the verge of collapsing, gasping for breath between sentences.
Imperial Consort Wen, facing her father, showed no remorse. Instead, she replied stubbornly and coldly, "Father, I know you would prefer to let the wrong stand for the sake of the greater good. But I am not you. I cannot stand idly by and watch a scoundrel impersonate my son and harm His Majesty!"
To convince everyone in Weiyang Palace that Feng Xiwu was indeed an imposter, she declared loudly, "I know my son best. If I say he is an imposter, then he is an imposter. Can a mother truly misidentify her own child?"
Imperial Consort Wen's actions were indeed persuasive to those officials who still harbored doubts. Most of them, despite their own ulterior motives, believed that even a tiger wouldn't harm its cubs. In the minds of normal people, a mother would not fail to recognize her own son. Consequently, the resolve of the officials who had been observing the situation began to waver. Jing Chunnan, the Minister of Rites, known for his cautious nature, approached Prime Minister Wen.
"Prime Minister Wen, this… Imperial Consort Wen wouldn't harm her own son, would she? Could this Regent King really have some issues?"
With one person speaking up, others grew bolder. "Indeed, Prime Minister Wen. The Regent King has been seriously ill for many years. Even if he's not on his last legs as rumored, his crippled legs are a fact, aren't they? This person before us is walking and kicking effortlessly. He even sent the Imperial Guard commander flying with a single kick. If the Regent King were crippled, wouldn't that mean we're worse off than a cripple?"
Marquis Ningguo, naturally timid and preferring to develop his influence subtly, was adept at finding loopholes and excuses to stir up trouble. As soon as he spoke, all the officials not involved in the brawl turned their attention from the chaotic fight to Feng Xiwu, who stood tall and imposing, radiating killing intent.
"When did the Regent King start walking again?"
Prime Minister Wen was utterly stunned.
Grand Scholar Chi seized the opportunity to offer Prime Minister Wen a life-saving pill for his elderly wife. "Prime Minister, why else do you think the Prince entered just now?"
Everyone belatedly realized that in their shock at Lu Qingwan and Consort Yu rolling on the floor, no one had noticed how Feng Xiwu had entered Weiyang Palace. This provided Duke Pei and his allies with the perfect excuse to question Feng Xiwu's identity, without needing any further pretext.
Feng Qingheng urgently declared, "My uncle was severely injured by Xiao Jing'an years ago, and later poisoned and afflicted with curses. Even a divine being couldn't recover so completely. Lu Qingwan, despite her supposed medical skills, feigned ignorance and used this imposter's influence to approach Father. They must have conspired long ago! Prime Minister Wen, order the Shence Army to protect the emperor. Otherwise, it will be too late once they harm Father!"
Feng Qingheng knew well that the Imperial Guards were no match for Feng Xiwu's Xuanjia Army. To eliminate Feng Xiwu amidst the chaos, they had to rely on the Shence Army. However, the Shence Army answered only to the emperor. With Emperor Jingyou in a coma, the only individuals in Daqian who could command the Shence Army were Prime Minister Wen and Feng Xiwu, both trusted by Emperor Jingyou. To apprehend Feng Xiwu, Feng Qingheng had to do his utmost to convince Prime Minister Wen.
The officials chimed in, mostly siding with Feng Qingheng. Of the nearly twenty high-ranking officials in Weiyang Palace, most, excluding Prime Minister Wen, Grand Scholar Chi, and Prince Nan, were swayed by Imperial Consort Wen and Feng Qingheng. They began to believe that Feng Xiwu was indeed an imposter.
The clamor grew, and Prime Minister Wen, who had only recently taken a heart-protecting pill, was so distressed that he almost suffered a relapse. Despite his condition, he attempted to reason with them, "Esteemed officials, if the Regent King were truly an imposter, would he allow you to question his identity like this? Wouldn't he have killed us all upon his entry, to silence us permanently… cough cough…"
Mid-sentence, Prime Minister Wen's vision blurred, and he collapsed onto the ground.
"Prime Minister Wen!" Grand Scholar Chi hastily supported him. The officials, seeing this, no longer pressed him for a decision.
Duke Pei exclaimed, "Prince Chen, His Majesty is unconscious, and Prime Minister Wen has collapsed. What are you waiting for? You are the Emperor's son. If you don't step forward to eliminate this traitor now, how can you be worthy of your royal blood..." His words were righteous, as if Feng Qingheng were a savior descending from the heavens.
This spurred Feng Qingheng to draw his sword and charge at Feng Xiwu. "Traitor, I will not allow any of you to harm Father or Daqian! Today, I shall rid Father of you..."
"Puff, cough cough..." A violent coughing fit interrupted Feng Qingheng's grand declaration. Tang Xiao shouted, "Everyone, stop! His Majesty has awoken. Anyone who makes another move will be executed on the spot for deceiving the emperor!"
Although his words were audacious, the Shence Army's duty was to protect the emperor, and Tang Xiao, as its commander, had the authority. Moreover, with Emperor Jingyou awake, the situation had become uncertain, and silence fell over Weiyang Palace once more.