Whether death or survival, they needed an explanation. At this point, she had nothing left to fear. No matter what, things couldn’t get worse than they already were.

The head steward’s face was somber as she curtsied in acknowledgment and hurried out at a trot.

Before she returned, Eunuch Jiang rushed in first to report that the Crown Prince and Prince Dongping had arrived.

Both Empress Lu and Princess Rongcheng were somewhat surprised. They never expected the Crown Prince and Prince Dongping to come at a time like this. Empress Lu was the first to react, waving her hand somewhat weakly. “Tell them to return.”

At this moment, she truly had no energy left to be angry with the Crown Prince.

However, Princess Rongcheng pressed down on her hand. “Mother Empress, let them enter.” She smiled bitterly as she looked at Empress Lu. “Right now, the Cabinet hasn’t come to a decision yet. If something happens, what will become of Crown Prince Brother and Dongping? Wouldn’t it be better to summon them to Qingning Hall first? No matter what, they surely won’t storm into Qingning Hall to seize people, will they?”

Empress Lu froze, but her heart felt only ice-cold. What did she mean by “seize people”?

Yet she no longer had the energy to ponder the deeper meaning behind Princess Rongcheng’s words, or perhaps she was unwilling to think about it.

She had never dreamed that one day she would be pushed to this extent by her own son—pushed to a dead end, pushed to the depths of despair. She nodded in agreement, then bit her teeth and added, “Go to Mingcui Palace and Yong’an Palace. Have both the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince Consort come here as well.”

The Crown Prince was carried in on a daybed. His face no longer bore his usual sinister cruelty, and even his gaze had somehow become much more peaceful. Upon seeing Empress Lu, for the first time he didn’t call for violence or death. For the first time, his eyes held no venom. He moved his lips and called out “Mother Empress,” then looked at the shocked Empress Lu and Princess Rongcheng. Haltingly and with difficulty, he said, “Don’t… panic… Don’t… be afraid.” He panted for a while before having enough strength to continue. “I’m… here.”

Though whether he was here or not made no difference at all.

Empress Lu stood frozen in place in shock. For a long moment, she couldn’t react. Looking at the Crown Prince, she found it utterly unbelievable, hardly daring to believe these words had come from his mouth. By the time she reacted, her tears had already preceded her actions, streaming down her face. She rushed to the Crown Prince’s side in a few steps and looked at him for a long time. After a long while, she clenched her fists and said a single word: “Good.”

Princess Rongcheng also stood up with Empress Lu and stood beside the Crown Prince with a complex expression. She had thought the Crown Prince would be trapped by his obsessions for life. She had thought he would be happy this time, since he was someone whose obsession bordered on terrifying. He might even rejoice at Zhou Weizhao and Empress Lu’s misfortune.

But the Crown Prince didn’t. It wasn’t that he truly didn’t care about past grievances, nor that he had come to understand. He simply didn’t want to see Prince Gong triumphant. Whatever Prince Gong detested, he favored.

Moreover, his son was still here now. Since Prince Dongping was determined to live or die with the Eastern Palace, how could he as a father flee from battle? Thinking of this, he looked approvingly at Prince Dongping standing straight as a pine tree, then turned to look at Empress Lu and Princess Rongcheng. “Since… the Cabinet members have determined… Weizhao is guilty… then…”

Struggling to catch his breath, he looked at Empress Lu and Princess Rongcheng both turning to face him. With firm resolve, he declared, “Then let Dongping preside over state affairs!”

Empress Lu’s tears that hadn’t yet finished falling instantly evaporated. She stared blankly at the Crown Prince, seemingly unable to understand for a moment what he meant.

Princess Rongcheng also instinctively looked toward Prince Dongping. Seeing that Prince Dongping had also widened his eyes, she frowned and lowered her voice. “Are you mad?! At a time like this, you still have the mind for internal conflict?!”

They were on the verge of death! The Eastern Palace was nearly finished! They were about to be forced into a desperate corner, and at this moment, the Crown Prince was still thinking about seeking fame and gain for Prince Dongping. Was now the time for that?!

The Crown Prince let out a laugh and waved his hand with difficulty. “If not him… would you have Prince Lu or Prince Su come instead?”

He smiled sarcastically. Seeing Empress Lu, Princess Rongcheng, and Prince Dongping all frozen in place, he added, “Or should we let Prince Gong’s two sons emerge?”

His expression was complex and his eyes fierce. “Isn’t this… Prince Gong’s objective?… Doesn’t he want… the Eastern Palace… utterly disgraced… condemned by all?… Didn’t they say… he was forced away by us?… Since he was forced away… naturally he’s innocent… Since he’s innocent… now the Tatars have invaded… and there’s no one… to manage court affairs… As the only person… who can communicate with Han Zhengqing… naturally…”

Naturally, he should be the one pushed forward. He spread rumors in court in advance, building momentum and whitewashing himself—wasn’t it all for this purpose? To be able to ascend to this position with a better reputation.

The Crown Prince didn’t wait for the others to speak and continued with an ugly smile. “Just wait… Soon there will be ministers memorializing to establish a national sovereign. Regardless of which one it is… would there be any good outcome for us?”

Throughout history, there had never been a shortage of people who would betray their country for profit. Moreover, Prince Gong’s reputation had already been whitewashed. He had become a good son, a good prince who had suffered countless hardships and injustices but remained unyielding, thinking only of removing treacherous officials from the Emperor’s side.

Han Zhengqing had already paved the way for him, taking all the bad reputation upon himself.

The two of them—one playing the villain, one the hero. When the time came and they succeeded, Prince Gong would symbolically make some demands, rebuke Han Zhengqing a bit. Han Zhengqing would then negotiate with the Tatars to withdraw troops, offer a princess for marriage alliance, provide some rewards, open border markets—and the matter would be resolved.

But their wishful thinking was too good!

While Empress Lu and Princess Rongcheng were still unable to react, Eunuch Jiang was already rushing in urgently seeking an audience. As soon as he entered, his knees went weak. He knelt on the ground, trembling continuously. “Disaster, Your Majesty…”

Empress Lu’s heart suddenly jumped. She exchanged glances with the Crown Prince and Princess Rongcheng, then heard Eunuch Jiang speak again. “…Daoist Master Ciyun, who was at the Celestial Master’s side, has stepped forward to testify that the Celestial Master was acting under His Highness the Crown Prince’s orders when he poisoned His Majesty…”

It’s here! Just as expected!

The Crown Prince’s face showed disgust. His loathing for Prince Gong and Han Zhengqing was simply beyond measure.

These two sinister and vicious scoundrels—he knew they would do this.

Prince Dongping stood frozen in place, unable to react. Empress Lu let out a laugh, but no more tears fell. She said mockingly, “Oh? And what of His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Zhou Weizhao had recently been attending Emperor Jianzhang’s bedside at the ministers’ request. Now that Celestial Master Taibai had confirmed Emperor Jianzhang was poisoned, and with both testimony and physical evidence—what did those people plan to do with Zhou Weizhao?