Quick Transmigration: Knowing I'm a Bad Woman, Yet Still Liking Me?

The Empress Dowager slowly stood up, the calm in her eyes instantly replaced by coldness. "Set up your act."

Before leaving, she glanced at Chen, the old nanny beside her, and asked, "Has there been any unusual activity from the Imperial Concubine's side?"

The old nanny instantly understood the Empress Dowager's meaning and quickly shook her head. "Your Majesty, the Consort has been quietly recuperating in the Jade Palace. Even her two personal maids and Xiao Qi have been obediently staying by her side. Moreover, His Majesty has long had the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot keep an eye on her. Let alone any tampering, not even the slightest movement can escape His Majesty's notice."

The Empress Dowager walked out step by step, saying, "I don't believe the Emperor was so angry that he vomited blood."

Granny Chen helped her up, but she couldn't respond to those words.

Upon arriving at the emperor's bedchamber, the Empress Dowager saw Xiao Chengyu's terrible condition and realized the seriousness of the situation.

Everyone in the main hall was driven out. The Empress Dowager stayed up all night, and Xiao Chengyu finally woke up the next morning.

When the Imperial Physician Qian and the two judges heard that the person had woken up, they rushed over immediately. "Your Majesty, His Majesty's pulse is weak and feeble, and he is deficient in both Qi and Yin. I'm afraid he won't recover in a short time."

He spoke tactfully, but how could the Empress Dowager not understand the meaning behind his words?

Xiao Chengyu's parched lips moved slightly, his voice unusually hoarse, "How much time do I have left?"

"this......"

Qian Yuanshi looked at the Empress Dowager, and only after seeing her nod did he grit his teeth and say, "Your Majesty, if you take good care of yourself, you should have a month or two left."

Upon hearing this, the room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The Empress Dowager sat in her chair, exuding an aura of authority without anger. After a long while, she glanced at everyone in the room and said, "This matter concerns the foundation of the nation, and not a single word can be leaked. From today onwards, you will all remain in the palace for the time being."

After saying that, she looked at Wang Shunan and said, "Go and tell them that His Majesty has woken up, his pulse is stable, and he is in good health, but he still needs to rest for a while."

Wang Shunan lowered his head. "Yes, this old servant will take care of it right away."

After giving her instructions, the Empress Dowager stood up and waved her hand, "You may all leave now."

After everyone had left, she slowly walked to the bedside, her eyes filled with heartache as she held Xiao Chengyu's hand. "Your Majesty, are you still feeling unwell?"

Xiao Chengyu looked into her eyes and smiled faintly. How could he not know what had happened?

Although he did not have many outstanding political achievements in his life, the court never lost a single city under his leadership. Although taxes were still very heavy, there were no major uprisings among the people.

He never expected to end up like this, and he didn't even know who had defeated him.

The Empress Dowager raised her hand and wiped the corner of her eye. The last time she shed tears was on the day she became Empress Dowager, when she cried tears of joy.

"Your Majesty, I have ordered an investigation. Although it wasn't Consort Gui who did this, we still have to be wary of her. The best course of action now is to quickly establish an heir apparent."

As for who to appoint, the former crown prince is no longer coming back, so now the second prince and the fourth prince are the only two she can consider.

The fourth prince has just been suspected of treason, and even if it really wasn't him, it won't be easy to clear his name in a short time.

Even if he is cleared of suspicion, with this incident still in the background, no official would agree to appoint him.

Now, apart from the Fourth Prince, there is no one else to choose from.

Xiao Chengyu turned his head to the side and looked outside, remaining silent for a long time.

The Empress Dowager grew anxious. "I know what you're thinking, but Your Majesty, you must understand that if the Fifth Prince were older, it would be fine, but he's only a month old. If you make the Fifth Prince the Crown Prince now, the imperial power could very well fall into the hands of the Consort."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengyu closed his eyes; he understood the Empress Dowager's meaning.

It's not that it's impossible to make his child with the Imperial Concubine the crown prince, but to avoid losing power, Bai Yuan might have to make a sacrifice.

He felt he owed no one anything except Bai Yuan, and now he couldn't bear to ask her to die with him.

"Mother, is there really no other way?"

The Empress Dowager was anxious. She closed her eyes and said, "You can make the Fourth Prince the Crown Prince, which is not impossible to protect the Consort and her child. You can just entrust the Fifth Prince to someone else to raise."

The two argued for a long time, until Xiao Chengyu was completely exhausted.

He spoke, panting heavily, "Mother, I am tired. Please allow me to reconsider the matter of establishing an heir. Order, order Prince Jin to return to the capital as soon as possible."

The Empress Dowager was taken aback for a moment, but she immediately realized that the Emperor was worried about unexpected events during the transition of imperial power and wanted Prince Jin to take charge of the overall situation.

But the Consort's child is Prince Jin's.

Although she understands her son, who can truly remain clear-headed when faced with absolute power?

However, it would indeed be safer if the Prince of Jin returned.

However, in this way, Bai Yuan could not be allowed to stay.

The Empress Dowager believed that all Prince Jin wanted was the child. As long as the child was in her hands, neither Prince Jin nor the General's Mansion could cause any trouble.

As for Bai Yuan, she can die now.

However, we still need to wait. If we kill Bai Yuan now, there's no guarantee the emperor won't get the news.

Once the Fourth Prince is established as the Crown Prince and the court is stabilized, that will be Bai Yuan's death day.

Thinking of this, she slowly stood up. "Then the Emperor should rest first."

With that, she walked out of the main hall, but before leaving, she carefully gave instructions again, "Be sure to protect His Majesty and do not allow anyone to approach. Especially the Consort, she has just finished her confinement period, do not let His Majesty be infected by her illness."

Everyone outside bowed and accepted the order.

What the Empress Dowager did not expect was that Xiao Chengyu's health was worse than anticipated, and he still insisted on not establishing an heir apparent.

Even more surprisingly, Consort De also fell ill.

All of this was done by Wang Shunan, who naturally did not want Prince Jin to return before Xiao Chengyu died.

If Consort De doesn't die, how can Shen Xun'er become Empress Dowager?

Xiao Chengze rode at breakneck speed, traveling almost day and night, and it took him five days to return to the capital.

The moment he entered the main hall, the Empress Dowager knew she couldn't wait any longer.

She led her men straight towards the Jade Hibiscus Palace, but was stopped halfway by Qin Guang, the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. "Your Majesty, I have important matters to report. The matter is too important, and I am worried about His Majesty's health, so I had no choice but to come to Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager was somewhat anxious, "Then speak quickly."

Qin Guang raised his head and looked at the crowd around him. The Empress Dowager waved her hand and said, "Step back a little further away."

After everyone had left, Qin Guang spoke in a low voice, "When His Majesty was poisoned last time, I discovered some other clues during my investigation, but since it involved Eunuch Wang and we didn't have any solid evidence, we've been investigating in secret. Just yesterday, I found out that the Fourth Prince's birth mother and the current Consort Shen are actually Eunuch Wang's granddaughters."

"What did you say?"

Qin Guang briefly repeated himself, then continued, "Furthermore, the Fourth Prince's identity is also somewhat problematic. Back when that palace maid was pregnant, His Majesty didn't pay much attention, and Eunuch Wang might..."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager stumbled and almost fell, but fortunately, Granny Chen caught her in time.