After Commander Jiang left, Consort Xian stared coldly at the Emperor, growing more annoyed the longer she looked, a flood of grievances and complaints rising within her…
"Hmph, you dog emperor, if you weren't so biased, would I have to go to such lengths?" Consort Xian muttered to herself, then suddenly thought of Xiao Jinfeng in Great Water Village. "That useless thing, I had so many expectations for her, yet how did you treat me? Now that the matter is done, even if you didn't want to get on board, you have no choice…"
Speaking of which, Consort Xian glanced at the Emperor again. "When I am regent, I will be more enlightened and capable than you, you dog emperor! As for Jinfeng, I'll let him indulge for a few years. When I'm old and can no longer climb, he'll understand my intentions!~"
The Emperor: "…"
You venomous woman, why so much drama?
Is it interesting to be thinking about these ephemeral things every day?
At this moment, Commander Jiang entered with a short man.
"Your Ladyship, Lord Liu, the Chief Eunuch, has arrived…" Commander Jiang announced.
Consort Xian gave a 'hmm' and looked at Lord Liu. "Do you know what the Imperial Seal looks like?"
"Replying to Your Ladyship, the Imperial Seal is the foremost of all seals, how could I not know!~" Lord Liu replied.
Hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Consort Xian's eyes. "Very well, I now order you to forge an Imperial Seal. It just needs to be indistinguishable from the real thing!"
Lord Liu: "…"
Consort Xian, you are truly audacious. Forging an Imperial Seal is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.
Seeing his hesitation, Consort Xian frowned. "What, you are unwilling?"
At this point, there was no turning back for anyone…
"How dare I disobey Your Ladyship's command? Rest assured, I will carve an Imperial Seal out of a radish before dawn!~" Lord Liu said, cupping his hands.
"Good, go do it!" Consort Xian withdrew her gaze and looked at Commander Jiang. "Go have a decree drafted, and then summon all the civil and military officials of the court. This dog emperor probably won't make it to dawn. We don't have time to waste with him…"
Among the civil and military officials, some were Consort Xian's people, but more were loyal to the court and the Emperor.
The reason for summoning them all was to read the decree of abdication in front of everyone, to depose the Crown Prince. This way, her son could bypass the Eastern Palace and ascend the throne directly…
There was no other way; with the decree in hand, who would dare disobey?
Commander Jiang nodded. "Understood, Your Ladyship!~"
The night was already turning pale, and dawn was breaking.
On the outskirts of the capital, a young shepherd boy, drowsy, rode on the back of an ox, nodding off frequently…
Although the outskirts in early spring lacked lush green grass, after the ice and snow melted, the dense withered grass was exposed. Donkeys, horses, cattle, and sheep could eat their fill in half a morning.
Just as the shepherd boy was about to fall off the ox, he suddenly heard a rumbling sound in the distance…
The sound was very dense, like fine raindrops pattering on the earth.
"Hmm? Is it thundering?" the shepherd boy opened his eyes and looked up at the overcast sky. "Why would it rain this time of year?"
It seemed impossible.
But listening closely, the sound was similar to lightning and thunder, as if it could tear the entire earth apart, sounding somewhat terrifying…
The shepherd boy looked back and saw a black mist appearing on the horizon, like a surging tide sweeping in.
The earth trembled, trees swayed gently, and some early risers stood on the ridges of the fields, craning their necks to look into the distance.
"Wow, where did so many troops come from? Is the court going to war?"
"What are you saying? Isn't the court always at war with the barbarians? In my opinion, these troops must be reinforcements for the northern frontier…"
"Yes, yes, drive out those barbarians sooner, so they don't harm us common folk!~"
"……"
Tens of thousands of troops galloped past, each soldier's face filled with a grim aura.
In just a moment, everyone had passed through the fields and disappeared into the horizon.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Imperial Palace.
Consort Xian's lips finally curved into a smile as Lord Liu entered with the radish-carved Imperial Seal…
"How is it, is it done?" Consort Xian asked.
Lord Liu smiled slightly. "Your Ladyship can rest assured, what I imitate is enough to be indistinguishable from the real thing. Unless one is a professional, they won't be able to tell…"
"That's good!" Consort Xian was overjoyed and quickly took out the drafted decree. "Come, let's affix the seal!~"
"Alright!"
Lord Liu nodded, leaned over the decree, dipped the radish in the ink pad, and carefully stamped it…
"Your Ladyship, please take a look, isn't it very lifelike?" Lord Liu asked.
Consort Xian examined it closely and gave a 'hmm'. "It is indeed excellent. When this is accomplished, I will reward you handsomely!~"
"Thank you, Your Ladyship!"
Just then, Commander Jiang hurried in. "Your Ladyship, the ministers have all arrived and are waiting outside the hall…"
"Excellent!" Consort Xian narrowed her eyes and sneered, "Today, we will hold court here in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Commander Jiang, call them all in!"
The decree of abdication was ready, and the dog emperor was about to breathe his last. It was time for a change of dynasty…
A moment later, a group of civil and military officials entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Some were bewildered, some feigned ignorance, and some, being cowardly and afraid of death, were already trembling and could barely walk steadily…
As the saying goes, a new emperor means new officials. Whenever an emperor changed, the old officials loyal to the previous emperor rarely had a good outcome.
Moreover, the Emperor had been sickly for some time, and some wise ministers had known for a long time that his days were numbered.
If Consort Xian were to become regent, would they still have a chance to live?
Prime Minister Yang saw Consort Xian kneeling before the screen in the inner hall, sobbing softly, and stepped forward to ask, "Your Ladyship, why are you weeping so early in the morning?"
In fact, even without asking, he could guess what had happened…
"Wuwuwu, Prime Minister Yang, the Emperor… the Emperor has been coughing since last night and vomited a lot of blood. I stayed with him all night and was almost frantic with worry."
Consort Xian cried tearfully, her eyes red. "The Emperor's breath is faint, and he likely won't last. If Prime Minister Yang doesn't believe me, he can go in and see the Emperor…"
Prime Minister Yang's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and he frowned towards the inner hall. "If that is the case, why not call for an imperial physician? Your Ladyship knows the Emperor's health is poor, yet you continue to cry and disturb his rest. If there were an imperial physician to treat him, the Emperor wouldn't be this ill!~"
Other ministers also stepped forward to inquire, "Yes, Your Ladyship, why didn't you call for an imperial physician?"
There must be something fishy going on here.
Consort Xian: "…"