good season

"Your Highness, I just asked Cui, and he said that the Emperor Emeritus is nearing his end, and His Majesty will bestow titles on his father's behalf."

The old woman whispered in Consort Li's ear.

Xiao Cui is Jin Gonggong's godson. He was ordered to greet Consort Li in front of Wuji Temple.

Consort Li was taken aback; the sudden surprise left her momentarily dazed.

Appointed on behalf of his father?

The emperor wants to replace the retired emperor and make her empress?

Back then, when the retired emperor was preparing to move to the Longevity Palace, she knelt outside the door for four or five hours on the day before her departure, but the retired emperor still did not agree.

The next day, her legs ached so badly she couldn't walk, so she couldn't see the Emperor Emeritus off from the capital. The censors impeached her for this, saying she was arrogant because of the Emperor's favor and that she lacked manners.

The fact that the emperor's birth mother was not granted the title of Empress Dowager was illogical, yet it was covered up by the impeachments of the censors. No one mentioned it, no one asked about it, and both the emperor and his officials pretended to be confused.

She cried, made a scene, even attempted suicide. For so many years, she has made a scene several times a year, but it was no use. She was still the Dowager Consort, the unreasonable Dowager Consort Li, while the Emperor's attitude towards her became increasingly indifferent.

But only now did she realize that she could actually bestow titles on behalf of her father!

It turns out that the emperor could make her empress dowager without the retired emperor issuing an edict!
Wow, I didn't know you could do that!

The emperor must have known this long ago, the imperial family and relatives must have known it too, and as for the civil and military officials, they were well-read and knowledgeable in law, so they must have known it as well.

But nobody mentions it; for over a decade, not a single person has brought it up.

They let her feel wronged, let her become a laughing stock, and let her cry and make a scene.

Especially the emperor, who could have resolved the matter with a simple appointment on behalf of his father, but he dragged it out for more than ten years and deceived her for more than ten years. Now that the retired emperor is about to die, he wants to act as a filial son and wants to make her the empress dowager.

Ridiculous, too ridiculous!
Consort Li's mood changed drastically from initial joy upon hearing the news to overwhelming hatred in an instant.

Forty years have passed; does he really think he's a descendant of dragons and phoenixes?

Consort Li glared fiercely at the outside of the palanquin, when suddenly, that face came into view again.

Princess Li instinctively rubbed her eyes again, but this time, the face did not disappear again.

She looks just like him, so much like him, only much older than her beloved Xu Lang.

Her beloved Xu Lang was in his prime, while this man was already old and frail.

If her beloved Xu Lang lived to this age, he would be like this.

No, how could that be? Xu Lang must be even more handsome and dashing!
"Your Highness, the sedan chair is ready. Please alight."

Princess Li's thoughts were interrupted, and when she looked again, the old man was gone.

She thought she must be so angry that her vision was blurry.

At this moment, the retired emperor was still lying in bed with his eyes closed.

After taking the emperor's pulse again, Imperial Physician Han sighed, "The Emperor Emeritus's pulse is becoming increasingly weak."

Overwhelmed with grief, Emperor Yongjia asked in a heavy nasal voice, "How much longer can Father Emperor hold on?"

Han, the Imperial Physician, glanced at the water clock in the corner: "At most two hours."

Just then, the voice of a eunuch rang out from outside the door.

"Consort Li has arrived—"

"The Queen has arrived——"

"The Sixth Prince has arrived—"

"The Seventh Prince has arrived!"

"The Eighth Prince has arrived!"

The young princes followed Consort Li and the Empress, filing in one after another.

They had been instructed by those around them before they arrived, so as soon as they entered, they knelt before the Emperor Emeritus's bed and began to sob.

Emperor Yongjia looked at their performance and nodded in satisfaction, his gaze lingering on the Seventh Prince for a moment.

All of this, when seen by the Third Prince, made him wish he could kick the Seventh Prince out.

I have done so much for my father, yet he still favors the seventh prince.

Although Father has been bringing the Seventh Prince along frequently lately, I never paid attention to him before. The Seventh Prince has no maternal support and is too young to be compared with me.

But things are different now. After Fan Qiuyun's incident, although my father only fined me a year's salary, I could feel that he treated me differently.
Consort Li only glanced at the Emperor Emeritus from afar before looking away.

That old geezer is still as repulsive as ever!

Prince Lu was still crying, but when he heard that Consort Li had arrived, he immediately stopped crying and asked, "Is everyone here?"

The third prince was determined to make a good impression on his father, the emperor, while attending the funeral of the retired emperor.

He quickly said, "Everyone's here."

Prince Fu shook his head: "No, we're still short three."

As he spoke, he looked at Xiao Zhen, who had remained silent: "What kind of person are you? Where are they? Why haven't they arrived yet?"

Xiao Zhen hurriedly replied, "We've arrived."

He called out loudly towards the door, "Come in."

Everyone in the room was taken aback, especially Emperor Yongjia.

All eyes turned to the doorway, which slowly opened, and two teenagers walked in.

Prince Lu's Crown Prince: "Why have you come?"

It was his two mischievous sons, the Stone-Breaking Brothers, who arrived!

The two men, however, acted as if they hadn't seen him at all, standing ramrod straight with serious expressions.

Prince Lu could hardly believe his eyes. Could it be that these two unfilial sons had been possessed? Shouldn't they be jumping around like crazy?
Emperor Yongjia's brows twitched almost imperceptibly. With Prince Lu and his son here, it was normal for these two children to come over. What was abnormal was their relationship with Xiao Zhen.

Xiao Zhen just let them in.

When did Xiao Zhen start getting so close to the Prince Lu's mansion?

Jiayi has hidden Zhao Yuan for so many years, and now Xiao Zhen and Zhao Yuan have returned to the capital together and colluded with the Prince Lu's mansion. I never expected that the Prince Lu's mansion would also be involved.

Very well, after today, I will make sure you all die without a burial place!
But the next moment, Emperor Yongjia saw three people following behind the brothers who had broken the big stone.

Three people who look familiar!

Emperor Yongjia only felt that these three people seemed familiar, but the others present were already stunned.

The three people were an elderly man in his sixties and two middle-aged men around forty years old.

To everyone's surprise, the two middle-aged men bore a striking resemblance to Emperor Yongjia, with six or seven points of resemblance!

You can even see the shadows of several princes in their faces!

The most surprised was Consort Li.

She recognized the old man at a glance; he was the same one she had just seen outside. She wasn't seeing things; she was definitely seeing him. If Xu Lang hadn't passed away forty years ago, she would have thought this man was her Xu Lang.

"Who are you? Who are they?"

Consort Li's head was spinning, and an inexplicable fear surged over her like a tidal wave. Her body swayed, and she almost fell over.

"Xiao Zhen, who are they?" Emperor Yongjia asked in a deep voice.

Xiao Zhen's voice was cold: "Who they are, you'll have to ask Consort Li. Your Highness, you tell me, who are they?"

Consort Li's expression changed drastically. She shook her head vigorously: "I don't know them, I don't know them! Guards, drag them out, drag them out!"

"It's not your turn to give orders here!"

A voice suddenly rang out, and Consort Li trembled. She nervously looked around, but no one spoke!
But the next moment, she heard a shocking scene!
The retired emperor, who had been lying on his couch waiting to die, slowly sat up.

The young princes kneeling before the bed were startled. The youngest, the eighth prince, burst into tears, and the seventh prince quickly covered his mouth.

Imperial Physician Han and his attendant Wang helped the Emperor Emeritus up from the couch. The Emperor Emeritus nodded to Imperial Physician Han and said, "Old Han, there's nothing more for you to do here. Take the people from the Imperial Medical Academy and leave."

Imperial Physician Han bowed and walked out without looking back. As he passed by Physician Jiang and Physician Han, he glanced at them. The two were puzzled, but subconsciously followed behind Imperial Physician Han. The other physicians also followed him out.

The retired emperor looked around and his gaze fell on Xiao Zhen: "You get out too!"

Xiao Zhen: "The Emperor Emeritus, my grandson."

The retired emperor interrupted him, saying, "This place is all Zhao imperial family. What business is it of yours, Xiao?"

Okay, I see.

Xiao Zhen also wanted to roll her eyes at the old man like Zhao Shiqing, but now she remembered to care about her reputation, as if she still had any face left.

After Xiao Zhen left, only the man surnamed Zhao and his wife remained in the room.

Of course, there are also those three people.

The wooden door slammed shut behind Xiao Zhen, who walked down the steps expressionlessly.

Seeing Lu Qian walking towards him, he smiled and nodded: "Commander Lu, you've worked hard."

Lu Qian looked at the tightly closed wooden door and asked, "Young Master Xiao, I just heard that the young master of the Lu Prince's residence brought three people in. Who are they?"

Before he could finish speaking, a sharp knife pierced his chest.

Lu Qian looked down at his chest in disbelief. The dagger was pulled out, and blood gushed out.

Where is Li Qing?

Li Qing, disguised as an attendant, emerged from the shadows. Xiao Zhen nodded to him and said, "I'll leave this to you."

Unable to contain his excitement, Li Qing clasped his hands in a fist salute to Xiao Zhen: "Young Master, rest assured, Li Qing will certainly live up to your expectations!"

After returning from Tongzhou, he was sidelined. He was first detained in the yamen, and later released after it was determined that he had no contact with Zhao Guanyue. However, he was not given a new job, so he simply claimed to be sick and stayed at home.

Yesterday, Dazhuang suddenly appeared in front of him.
Looking at Lu Qian lying on the ground, Li Qing knew in his heart that after today, Lu Qian's position would be his.

Xiao Zhen is indeed his benefactor, always has been!
Xiao Zhen continued walking forward. The sounds of fighting and clashing swords came from ahead. He knew that the Imperial Guards were fighting amongst themselves!

On one side were the Duke of Dingguo's confidants in the Imperial Guard, and on the other side were Emperor Yongjia's men; the two sides were evenly matched.

Yan Xia walked over carrying a knife, followed by Zhao Guanyue and Shen Wangxing.

"Xiao Zhen, the person has been rescued, and not a single hair on their head is missing."

Xiao Zhen thanked him, looked Zhao Guanyue up and down, and then looked at Shen Wangxing and Niqiu: "Are you both alright?"

"It's okay, you're fine."

Xiao Zhen patted Zhao Guanyue on the shoulder: "You can go in alone in a while. The other two don't need to come with you."

Shen Wangxing and Niqiu were puzzled: "We have to go with him. What if he gets bullied if he goes in alone?"

However, when they met Xiao Zhen's cold and stern gaze, the two of them instinctively shrank back, not daring to argue.

“Okay, I’ll go in alone.” Zhao Guanyue looked at the others, her gaze finally settling on Xiao Zhen’s face. “Brother, don’t worry, I’ve grown up.”

This older brother protected him for more than ten years, from the Princess's residence to Wuji Temple. From not letting anyone bully him when he was a child to planning and arranging things for him later, they were not only brothers, but also people who could entrust their backs to each other.

Xiao Zhen smiled and said, "In my past life, you died for me. In this life, I will help you ascend to a high position. The road ahead is up to you."

In the autumn wind, the boy's slightly thin figure walked forward until he pushed open the door.

Inside the gate, the Third Prince stared at the Emperor Emeritus in astonishment: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you, you..."

The retired emperor snorted coldly: "Third brother, I'm sorry to disappoint you. The string of incense beads you sent only made me sleep for a few hours. It won't kill me."

The Third Prince stared in disbelief: "Impossible! This is a Ghost Flower Seed! Ghost Flower Seeds are highly poisonous!"

Before she could finish speaking, the previously closed door was pushed open from the outside, and Zhao Guanyue walked in.

Looking at the people in front of him who should have been bound hand and foot and waiting to be executed by slow slicing, the Third Prince turned ashen-faced.

"Let me tell you, the ghost flower seed is indeed highly poisonous, but the ghost flower seed used in the string of incense beads you sent had an extra ingredient added, which just happens to counteract the toxicity of the ghost flower seed. The side effect is that it will cause the person to be unconscious for several hours, and the symptoms of unconsciousness are exactly the same as the onset of ghost flower seed poisoning."

The Third Prince still couldn't believe that Hu De, the eunuch who concocted the Ghost Flower Powder, was one of his men. After the incense beads were made, Hu De was silenced.

Even Shen Wangxing and Niqiu, who replaced the incense beads, didn't know what kind of poison was used in the incense beads.

Seeing the astonishment on the Third Prince's face, Zhao Guanyue couldn't help but laugh. His smile was like a gentle breeze, as if he were talking about something very interesting.

"Because Hu De knew that if he made drugs for you, you would definitely kill him. In your eyes, he was just an ant, but an ant is also a life, and he didn't want to die in vain."

He couldn't escape the palace, and he couldn't kill you. The only thing he could do before he died was to make a string of non-poisonous incense beads.

You would never have dreamed that the eunuch you treated like dirt would betray you on his deathbed.

"Aren't you disappointed? Your grandfather just had a good sleep. You failed to kill him, and your plan to frame me has failed."

The muscles on the Third Prince's face twitched uncontrollably. He reached out to cover his face, but his hands were shaking so badly that he could only look to Emperor Yongjia for help, only to meet Emperor Yongjia's murderous gaze.

"Beast!" Emperor Yongjia spat out the two words through gritted teeth, his face betraying his utter disappointment.

"How dare you! You actually tried to murder your grandfather!"

The third prince was taken aback. What did his father mean?
Is Father Emperor going to abandon him?

He took a few steps back, panicked and bewildered.

“I am not his grandfather; his grandfather is standing right there.”

The retired emperor pointed at the old man and said, "Xu Lin, did you hear that? Your grand-nephew plotted against me. Shouldn't I exterminate your entire Xu family?"

Xu Lin was startled and knelt down with a thud, his two sons following suit.

They were imprisoned by Zhen Wuduo for almost two years, and only they themselves know how they survived those two years.

They are no longer the idle men of Weijiazhuang; now they are like frightened birds!

"Your Majesty, spare us! My elder brother is a beast, and his descendants are all beasts. They all deserve to die! Your Majesty, if you must kill, kill them, but don't drag us into it!" (End of Chapter)