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

The Empress Dowager, panting heavily, her eyes filled with ferocity, said viciously, "What makes you think you can? You think you can rely on Wei Ci, or your so-called 450,000 troops? Heh, don't dream. Do you really think the General's Mansion and the Prince of Jin would risk offending me for your sake?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Yuan waved her finger, "If that's all there is to it, then I can naturally be abandoned, but I have more than just these trump cards."

After speaking, she approached the Empress Dowager and said, "Now the Eastern Depot is in my hands, half of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is in my hands, the Grand Secretariat is in my hands, and two of the Six Ministries are in my hands. Your Majesty, do you think these trump cards are enough for me to have the last laugh?"

Actually, there are three ministries. She can bribe the Ministry of Works with blueprints, which are all real achievements.

All the Ministry of Revenue needs is a recipe that makes money; she's a time traveler, she can't be completely clueless, can she?

As for the Ministry of War, with the General's Mansion and the Prince of Jin around, there's no need to win them over.

The Empress Dowager stared at her wide-eyed in disbelief. "What did you say? The Cabinet? The Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Bai Yuan nodded, looking at her with a charming smile, "Half of the Embroidered Uniform Guards are in His Majesty's hands, and the other half were originally taken over by Wang Shun'an. I had Wei Ci help investigate and secretly dealt with some incriminating evidence against them, and they then submitted to me."

The Imperial Guards could distinguish between submitting to a eunuch and submitting to a noble consort who was the legitimate daughter of a general's family.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager sat down on the couch with a sigh of relief. "The Cabinet, you and Consort De have joined forces?"

"yes."

"How could she possibly believe you?"

Bai Yuan shrugged. "If she doesn't trust me, who else can she trust? Does she really believe that the Fourth Prince will make her Empress Dowager after he ascends the throne? Haha~~."

"Even if Consort De doesn't trust the Fourth Prince, she can still protect herself. What leverage do you have to win her over?"

"It's very simple. I only promised her that her two princesses would not be forced into marriage alliances, and that they would be free to choose their own spouses."

Consort De's father was a man of great talent, and the cabinet had never made a mistake in all these years under his leadership, so there was no need for any other promises.

The Empress Dowager still couldn't believe it. "It's that simple? I don't believe it."

Bai Yuan looked at her with disdain, "The Empress Dowager is truly cold-blooded. Of course, if she weren't, how could she have stood by and watched His Majesty scheme against Prince Jin!"

Bai Yuan rolled her eyes at her unpleasant expression and slowly sat back down on the couch. "Your Majesty, please choose. Time is running out."

The Empress Dowager lowered her head further and further; what choice did she have?

The fourth prince is most likely not of royal blood. If one of the other two princes were chosen, the court would definitely descend into chaos, and it might even spiral out of control.

What other choice could she make?

Although Bai Yuan's son is not the emperor's, the Prince of Jin's bloodline is still royal blood.

With Bai Yuan being intelligent and Prince Jin in charge, even if she temporarily takes over the government, the court should not be in chaos.

The Empress Dowager, supported by Granny Chen, slowly stood up. Her once straight back was now slightly hunched. She looked at Bai Yuan, who was sitting opposite her, and after a long pause, she spoke, "Then let it be as you wish. I am old now, and from now on I will guard the Buddhist hall, chanting scriptures and praying for you."

Just as she finished speaking, Xiao Qi led Fu Ning in, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Your Highness the Imperial Concubine, His Majesty's condition is not good. He has issued an edict summoning everyone to come over."

Bai Yuan remained seated, and the Empress Dowager stared at her, momentarily stunned.

She then realized what was happening and said with a wry smile, "Imperial Consort, I am asking you to go to the Emperor's bedchamber. This is something I must do. You have not broken your vow."

Bai Yuan then slowly stood up. "Then I will obey the Empress Dowager's order and accompany you on this trip."

Inside the main hall, Xiao Chengze looked at the emperor on the bed with mixed feelings. "Your Majesty, I have returned."

Xiao Chengyu sat pale-faced against the headboard. The poison had already invaded his lungs and internal organs. In just a few days, he had lost a lot of weight and looked ten years older.

He felt pain in his throat as he breathed. "It's good that you're back. I will make the Fourth Prince the Crown Prince, but I want to protect the Consort and her child, so I want to make the Consort the Empress. With you as the Regent, even if Bai Yaoting has other intentions, you can still put up a fight against him."

Xiao Chengze was taken aback for a moment, then lowered his head. "Brother, don't worry, there's definitely still a way to save you."

The Emperor shook his head. "There's nothing I can do. The Consort is simple-minded. As long as you prevent her from having too close contact with the General's Mansion, there won't be any major problems. Remember, the most important thing is the Empress Dowager. Although she protected the child in Consort's womb, she has never truly wanted to let the Consort go. From now on, you must help me protect the Consort, don't let her, don't let her..."

He was only halfway through his sentence when he suddenly collapsed, too weak to even sit up.

Xiao Chengze quickly stepped forward to support him, "Royal brother, royal brother..."

Xiao Chengyu took a few deep breaths before continuing, but his voice was already very low, "Call, call Wang Shunan and..."

Xiao Chengze quickly stopped him and shouted outside, "Imperial Physician, let Qian Yuanshi in."

"No, no need, it's unnecessary."

The palace doors were opened, and the sounds of weeping rose and fell, filling the entire hall and preventing even the autumn breeze from getting in.

Qian Yuanshi stumbled into the main hall, quickly took the emperor's pulse, and then fed him a pill.

The person is definitely beyond saving, but we should still do our best to prolong their life.

Wang Shunan lowered his eyes and quickly handed over a bowl of yellowish soup. "This is ginseng soup, Your Majesty. Please drink some to help you settle down."

He was extremely anxious; given the dosage he had given the emperor, the emperor should have died long ago.

He couldn't understand how things had dragged on until now, but it didn't matter; he was just a regent without an heir.

Xiao Chengze took the bowl and personally fed the ginseng soup to the person on the bed.

When the Empress Dowager arrived outside the palace, she saw everyone kneeling on the ground and weeping. She hurriedly went into the inner palace.

Bai Yuan looked at the trees outside and saw that the leaves were beginning to turn yellow. It was autumn again, and the harvest season had arrived.

She then slowly entered the inner hall and saw the Empress Dowager and Prince Jin guarding Xiao Chengyu's bedside, both of them holding his hands with tearful faces, listening to his last words.

Also entering with her were the Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet, who was Consort De's father, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, and the Fourth Prince.

Logically speaking, Shen Xun'er, being a beauty, shouldn't have been qualified to enter, but she still managed to get in.

When she reached Bai Yuan's side, she covered her lips with a handkerchief, gave her a meaningful smile, and said softly, "I have always admired the Imperial Concubine, so I have always taken the Imperial Concubine as my role model. But from now on, I don't need to admire her anymore."

Bai Yuan glanced at her in surprise. "Opening champagne at halftime?"

She then nodded in deep agreement and whispered, "Indeed..."

After speaking, his gaze swept to Shen Xun'er's lower abdomen. Before she had finished her postpartum confinement, Shen Xun'er had told others that she had miscarried.

As everyone entered the inner hall, Bai Yuan gave Wei Ci, who was outside the door, a wink, and the hall door was closed again.

Just before the door closed, Consort De hurriedly arrived and came in.