"I risked meeting you tonight to remind you, don't be foolish!"

"The current Emperor is very cunning. If we make one wrong step, our situation will be beyond redemption!"

Empress Dowager Lu's tone was grave. Thinking of her previous encounters with Jiang Chen, a look of lingering fear appeared on her beautiful face.

However, Jiang Zuo Wang didn't take her worries seriously, and said coldly, "Royal Mother, you're overthinking it."

"I admit that Jiang Chen has some tricks up his sleeve, but he will never be a match for me!"

"The previous plan failed only because this dog Emperor had some luck. Someone always came to his rescue at crucial moments... This time, I will learn from the experience and won't give him a chance to turn the tables!"

Empress Dowager Lu was getting a headache from his stubbornness. Her beautiful face fell, and she warned sternly, "I think you're blinded by greed and don't know the immensity of Heaven and Earth!"

"Now the Emperor is already suspicious of you and me, but he's just afraid of not having evidence, so he hasn't taken action."

"But if you insist on marrying the Zhenhai Regional Commander, you'll be playing right into his hands, handing him the handle yourself!"

Thinking of Jiang Chen's cruel methods against traitors, a deep dread flashed in Empress Dowager Lu's eyes.

She quickly walked over, took Jiang Zuo Wang's hand, and said sincerely, "My son, while things haven't reached the worst point, stop now!"

"Success or failure doesn't have to come all at once. As long as we get through this period and let the Emperor relax his vigilance, you can continue to be your wealthy prince..."

Before she could finish speaking, Empress Dowager Lu's hand was violently thrown off.

Jiang Zuo Wang looked at her with bloodshot eyes, as if the two were not mother and son, but mortal enemies!

"Royal Mother, after saying so much, you still want me to bow my head to that dog Emperor!"

"Okay, very good, you're amazing!"

"When you tell me to bow my head now, have you ever thought about how you taught me when you adopted me! How you instilled ambition in me?!"

"You couldn't bear to let your two sons suffer and take this path of rebellion, so you chose me, a child abandoned in the Cold Palace, with no one to care for or love me, to be your pawn!"

"Just because I have no power or influence, because I'm disliked by my Imperial Father, because I'm bullied by everyone, you think I'm easy to control, don't you?"

Roaring, Jiang Zuo Wang suddenly calmed down.

His eyes were sinister, and he approached Empress Dowager Lu step by step, "But Royal Mother... I've grown up now, and I'm no longer the child who had to rely on you for everything."

"From the moment you pulled me out of the Cold Palace, I swore in my heart that I would never be bullied again."

"I can't stand it anymore, I don't want to be bullied by others."

"I want to be, to be the most honorable Jiang Yuan in the entire Dawei, making everyone look up to me!!!"

"Tell me to stop, to be a wealthy idler, to bow my head to that dog Jiang Chen... I'd rather die."

Empress Dowager Lu was stunned.

The moment she met Jiang Zuo Wang's eyes, all the blood in her body seemed to freeze instantly.

It was a look that couldn't be described in words, bloodthirsty, fierce, resolute... but deep in his eyes, there was also a hint of sorrow and helplessness.

Empress Dowager Lu's heart was gripped.

As a mother, she knew that she couldn't persuade him any further, otherwise, she would really lose this son!

Tears welled up in her eyes, and Empress Dowager Lu reached out again, trembling as she stroked Jiang Zuo Wang's face, "My son, Royal Mother was wrong, it was all Royal Mother's fault."

"Royal Mother shouldn't have imposed her ambition on you!"

Tears rolled out, blurring Empress Dowager Lu's vision. She looked at Jiang Zuo Wang in front of her, and what came to her mind was the thin, weak child curled up in the Cold Palace decades ago.

"While, while things haven't reached the worst point, let's stop."

"Royal Mother only wants you to be safe now, Royal Mother doesn't want anything else... My son, you are Royal Mother's child, you are as dear to me as Sixth and Seventh are!"

"To watch you get into trouble with my own eyes, isn't that like cutting out Royal Mother's heart with a knife?!"

Empress Dowager Lu sobbed uncontrollably. At this moment, she was no longer the majestic Imperial Concubine Dowager, but an ordinary mother who was worried and helpless, her eyes full of self-blame!

It was all her fault, her ambition and desires, that had created today's situation.

If she could, Empress Dowager Lu would be willing to give everything she had to exchange for Jiang Zuo Wang's safety... Unfortunately, this regret came too late, and it was destined to be of no avail.

Retreating coldly, Jiang Zuo Wang's expression didn't change in the slightest, "Royal Mother, let's end it here today."

"My choice will not be changed for anyone. If you still see me as your son, don't think about stopping me."

"Otherwise, I don't know what I'll do!"

"That's all I have to say. Royal Mother, go back and rest early."

After speaking, Jiang Zuo Wang shook his sleeves and turned away without the slightest hesitation.

That cold back once again pierced Empress Dowager Lu's heart.

Thinking of Jiang Zuo Wang's misunderstanding of her, she couldn't help but hurry after him, explaining, "My son, Royal Mother is on your side... Royal Mother doesn't have the kind of relationship with the Emperor that you think!"

"In this deep palace, Royal Mother only cares about you, Sixth, and Seventh. Don't misunderstand Royal Mother anymore..."

In the urgent and cautious voice, Jiang Zuo Wang's tall figure completely disappeared.

Leaving only Empress Dowager Lu standing there in a daze, gazing at the path where Jiang Zuo Wang disappeared under the cold moonlight...

Changle Palace.

Only a few candle flames flickered in the deep palace room, and more than half of the space in the hall was shrouded in darkness.

Empress Dowager Lu, who had secretly taken a shortcut back to the palace, pushed open the side hall door, moving extremely carefully, without making a sound.

The Changle Palace was now being monitored by the Emperor's secret guards. If she wasn't careful, she was afraid she would be in big trouble!

More seriously, it would also involve Jiang Zuo Wang, Sixth, and Seventh, which she would never want to see even in death.

She took off her hood, moved her lotus steps lightly to the bedroom, and observed that the surrounding environment was still as it was when she left, and she was completely relieved, letting out a long breath.

But just then, a pair of big hands suddenly reached out from the curtains behind Empress Dowager Lu and pinched her slender waist hard!

"Ah! Who!"

Like a startled rabbit, Empress Dowager Lu was so frightened by this sudden change that she almost jumped up, and her breathing stopped.

But after all, she had seen many storms and soon calmed down, realizing the identity of the person who came.

She opened her mouth in horror, "Your, Your Majesty?!"

In the darkness, Jiang Chen curled his lips and let out a soft laugh.

He caressed Empress Dowager Lu's pretty face familiarly, and said casually, "The Empress Dowager is very clever, she guessed it was me so quickly... Tsk, is it because you're always fantasizing about me sneaking into your bed in the middle of the night?"

Empress Dowager Lu was so angry that she almost fell over, hating Jiang Chen's frivolousness.

But because she had been caught and didn't dare to be tough, she could only swallow her anger and say, "Your Majesty, it's getting late, you should go back to the harem to rest!"

The words 'harem' were emphasized, as if reminding him of something.