"Cough, Emperor, let go, let..."

Empress Dowager Lu patted Jiang Chen's chest, her phoenix eyes glaring with anger, showing no fear.

She was certain that the Emperor didn't truly intend to kill her, so even with her neck being tightly gripped, she still wouldn't yield.

After all, she was the Empress Dowager. If the Emperor really took her life in front of all the palace servants, he would truly solidify his reputation as a tyrant, and his overthrow wouldn't be far off.

Empress Dowager Lu didn't believe the Emperor would do something so foolish and detrimental. More likely, he was trying to intimidate her, hoping to throw her off balance and make her submit in front of her subordinates, thus losing her prestige.

She would never let this damned Emperor succeed!

Digging in her heels, even as she was choked and struggled to breathe, her vision darkening, Empress Dowager Lu didn't relent.

Forcing Jiang Chen to release her first.

Tsk, if he kept strangling her, this woman would really die. He should let go for now.

Thinking coldly, Jiang Chen released his fingers, letting Empress Dowager Lu slide to the ground, showing no pity.

Only when he felt she had recovered somewhat did he leisurely lean over, smiling ingratiatingly, "The Empress Dowager truly has great resolve!"

"I used so much strength just now, but I still couldn't make the Empress Dowager yield... This is truly, beyond my expectations!"

Empress Dowager Lu gasped for breath, her captivating phoenix eyes red, glaring at Jiang Chen with a mixture of fear and resentment.

Her voice hoarse, she said, "Cough, Your Majesty, aren't you afraid that I will expose your tyrannical actions today to all the civil and military officials?"

Although she spoke threatening words, her voice was soft and lacked any real power due to being choked for too long.

Jiang Chen let it enter one ear and exit the other, not taking it to heart at all, casually saying, "Is that so?"

"I thought that after the last experience, the Empress Dowager would learn a lesson, but I didn't expect you to still want to complain to the officials."

Saying this, he stood up, looking down at Empress Dowager Lu, who was sprawled on the ground, and mocked, "The Empress Dowager is welcome to say whatever she wants. I won't stop you... However, it's uncertain who will be the unlucky one in the end."

Empress Dowager Lu felt a chill run down her spine from Jiang Chen's gaze, and she subconsciously lowered her head, avoiding those dark eyes.

But after realizing what she'd done, endless humiliation surged in her heart.

How could she have become like this?

Just a glance was enough to make her uncontrollably afraid... How could the Emperor have become so terrifying!

Unable to accept her own weakness, Empress Dowager Lu forced herself to stand up, her beautiful face frosty as she said, "Your Majesty, you are too presumptuous!"

"Although you are the supreme ruler, this court is not your one-man show. If I were to..."

*Tear!*

The sound of ripping cloth interrupted Empress Dowager Lu's angry rebuke.

She froze in place, looking in disbelief at the familiar fabric in Jiang Chen's hand.

That plain cloud brocade had been wrapped around her soft body just moments ago... But now, it had been forcibly taken from her and was being played with in his hand.

"Empress Dowager, your choice of incense is quite good. I like the scent very much. From now on, I'll use this scent to perfume my clothes." As he spoke, Jiang Chen lowered his head, lightly sniffing the fabric in his hand.

The frivolous and bold gaze made Empress Dowager Lu almost faint on the spot. It took her a long time to find her voice.

Trembling, she said, "Emperor! You, you beastly bastard! I am your father's woman!"

Examining Empress Dowager Lu's pale face, Jiang Chen smiled disdainfully, "So what?"

"I am the Emperor of Great Wei, so I naturally have the power to do whatever I want!"

"Besides, Empress Dowager, didn't you just scold me for being presumptuous? I'm not the kind of useless Emperor who allows others to wrong me, so I naturally have to do something presumptuous to avoid being wrongly accused."

As he spoke, a hint of coldness flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes. He tossed aside the fabric in his hand and slowly approached Empress Dowager Lu.

Seeing the distance between them closing, Empress Dowager Lu completely panicked. Her beautiful face lost all its strength, replaced by the helplessness of a young woman.

"Emperor, today's matter is my fault! I apologize to you. Don't come any closer..."

"I, I can swear that as long as you give up these rebellious thoughts, I will close my doors and no longer interfere..."

*Rip!*

The sound of ripping cloth, which Empress Dowager Lu found despairing, rang out again.

Moreover, Jiang Chen was even more ruthless this time, directly tearing her upper palace dress, revealing most of her snowy white skin.

Some angles even offered a glimpse of faint pinkness.

A gust of cold wind swept over, taking away the temperature from the hidden places. At this moment, Empress Dowager Lu completely collapsed.

What forbearance, what not tearing up relations with the Emperor... All of it was thrown to the back of her mind!

She wrapped her arms around her chest, hysterically saying, "You beast! How could you do such an unethical thing? I am the Empress Dowager!"

"You, you, I will summon the imperial clan and the officials to expose your true face! I'll make you lose face and be scorned by the world!"

Jiang Chen looked down at her from a high position, a sneering arc appearing at the corner of his mouth as he coldly said, "Alright, since the Empress Dowager wants to expose me, then I don't need to hold back and keep secrets for the Empress Dowager."

"Compared to me, the imperial clan and the officials should be more interested in the Empress Dowager's secrets, right?"

"After all, who would have thought that the Empress Dowager, who appears virtuous and docile on the surface, is actually such a ruthless and vicious woman in private!"

What?

What does the Emperor mean by this?

Could it be that he has discovered my identity?!

As if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, the blood instantly drained from Empress Dowager Lu's beautiful face. Her red lips trembled as she averted her gaze, no longer daring to meet Jiang Chen's eyes.

"Empress Dowager, weren't you very excited just now? Why aren't you speaking now?"

"Your little face is so pale, I feel a little sorry for you just looking at it." Jiang Chen teased with a smile, but there was no hint of a smile in his dark eyes.

Empress Dowager Lu felt a chill run down her spine from his false smile, and she snapped back to reality, saying, "Emperor, what are you saying? I don't understand!"

"I don't want to see you now. You leave immediately!"

As she spoke, a hint of shame and indignation appeared on her face, and she frowned, saying, "If today's events were to spread, do you know what the consequences would be? When the officials memorialize, how will you deal with it!"

Hearing this, Jiang Chen smiled disdainfully, "Deal with it? I'm not those useless emperors who are controlled by their ministers!"

After saying this, he strode forward, directly picking up Empress Dowager Lu horizontally and walking towards the side hall.

"Emperor, what, what are you going to do?"

"You, you're bold, quickly put me down... Did you hear me?!"

Empress Dowager Lu struggled in panic, using all her strength, but she still couldn't escape Jiang Chen's embrace and was thrown roughly onto the bed.

Although her body ached from the fall, Empress Dowager Lu had no energy to pay attention to these minor details at the moment. She was completely frightened by Jiang Chen.

This beast, he really doesn't have any scruples!

"Emperor, you, don't come over!"

"If, if you really take this step, both you and I will be scorned by the world! Please wake up!"

She pleaded helplessly, her usually strong phoenix eyes already glistening with tears...