Outside, the commotion grew closer.
Some were genuinely anxious, while others were purely there to watch the spectacle, and of course, to witness the outcome.
Chu Qianli's brows furrowed.
"Your Majesty…" Yang Xun looked at the man on the dragon bed, glimpsing him through the gauze curtain, and felt a flicker of unease.
"Your Majesty, they have truly arrived."
Chu Qianli's eyes darkened. As expected, they knew these people were coming.
As long as the Emperor met with misfortune, those with ulterior motives could seize the opportunity to stir up a storm in court immediately.
If the Emperor were to fall gravely ill or his life be endangered by this poison, the topic of succession would be brought up without delay.
"Tell them to get lost!" the Emperor rasped.
His voice sounded perfectly normal, yet Chu Qianli, who had personally witnessed him being poisoned, was in a state of panic.
The poison was colorless and odorless, so potent that even she hadn't detected it in time. How could he recover so quickly?
Yang Xun took his orders and immediately turned to walk towards the door.
However, with so many princes and ministers present, Yang Xun, a mere captain of the guards, would be unable to stop them.
"Since Your Majesty is well, why not meet them directly?"
"How do you know I am well? Did you not personally witness me being poisoned and spitting blood? With your medical expertise, can you not discern that I was indeed afflicted by a potent poison?"
Chu Qianli didn't understand the meaning behind these words.
However, one thing did surprise her: "Did Your Majesty investigate me?"
Otherwise, how would he know her medical skills were outstanding?
The Emperor merely grunted, remaining silent.
That grunt… Chu Qianli's gaze deepened, her unease growing more pronounced.
Why did it sound so familiar?
"You…"
"Take off your clothes and come up!" Outside, the commotion intensified, and the Emperor suddenly commanded.
"You intend to use me as your shield?" Chu Qianli's expression turned cold, her displeasure evident. "What if I refuse?"
"Then Fu Ning's life will be the price for your 'refusal'."
"You…"
"Enough nonsense, take off your clothes and come up!" The Emperor's voice grew more forceful.
"If you are well, why don't you directly… Mmph!"
Her eyes widened in shock. She had never imagined the Emperor's cultivation to be so profound!
The moment she sensed danger, she had immediately channeled her energy to resist, yet she was still unable to withstand it!
That gust of palm energy was like a tornado, sweeping her up and throwing her onto the bed.
"I refuse!" she roared hoarsely!
Even though she knew this was a plan, and even though she had clearly sensed that the man on the bed was not Chu Jiangnan at all!
But this was the dragon bed of Nanming, and she refused to be on it!
She could disregard her own terrible reputation and her utterly ruined name, but she cared deeply about rumors of impropriety with the Emperor of Nanming.
She truly cared, and she herself didn't know why she cared so much.
"I don't… it's you?" Damn bastard!
It really was him!
Although he had disguised himself as Chu Jiangnan, and although his disguise was so masterful that ordinary people might not recognize him, she, pinned beneath him, felt it instantly.
"Feng Yexuan, let me go!"
She could not have any scandalous rumors circulating about her and the Emperor of Nanming, absolutely not!
"I won't do this! Feng Yexuan, I was once your wife too. Are you just going to let my reputation be ruined further? Let go of me!"