Prince Ling’s face darkened.
“Today, only I, Mother Consort, and her entered the Hall of Supreme Polarity.”
“I had just changed my clothes before coming here. There is no way they could have been stained.”
“And yet Imperial Physician Li found the powdered poison that made Father Imperial sick on my clothes.”
“Other than Mother Consort, the only person I came into contact with was her!”
Prince Ling glared furiously at Consort Shu. Covering her face, Consort Shu sobbed softly.
“Mother Consort took all the blame upon herself to protect me!”
“Grandmother, do you believe me?” Prince Ling asked coldly, turning toward the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager’s expression darkened as well.
“Crown Prince, everything must be supported by evidence, not empty words!”
“Even if Grandmother trusts you, she still needs to see the evidence!”
“Otherwise, if you say you are right and she says she is right, how are we supposed to resolve this matter?”
Prince Ling gave a cold smile.
“Grandmother wants evidence? Simple!”
“Someone, search Consort Shu’s palace!”
“I refuse to believe that a poisoner would leave no trace whatsoever in her palace!”
At once, someone answered the order and quickly left.
Consort Shu’s sobbing paused for a moment.
Then she began crying again.
The Hall of Supreme Polarity fell silent.
Just then, the Empress Dowager heard a commotion coming from the side hall.
“Who is making such a racket next door?” the Empress Dowager asked with a frown.
“Your Majesty, it’s the ministers,” Eunuch Li replied, bowing at the waist.
The Empress Dowager was puzzled. “Why aren’t they attending to state affairs? What are they doing in the side hall?”
Prince Ling was beginning to lose patience.
“Grandmother, they all witnessed Father Imperial vomiting blood and collapsing.”
“If we let them leave the palace, news of His Majesty’s critical condition will spread in no time.”
“A nation cannot go even one day without a ruler. Otherwise, the realm will descend into chaos!”
Shock appeared in the Empress Dowager’s eyes.
Having lived through such matters before, she understood the hidden meaning in Prince Ling’s words.
The Empress Dowager lowered her head and pondered for a moment, her expression solemn.
“Hmm. What you say is not without reason.”
“However, your father is merely unconscious…”
As she spoke, the Empress Dowager glanced at the Emperor lying on the bed.
Then she swiftly made up her mind.
“Xiao Lizi, go and invite the ministers from the side hall.”
Eunuch Li bowed low and left.
Prince Ling slowly turned around, walked to the table, and picked up the teacup resting there.
The tea had already gone cold, without even a trace of steam.
The ministers were brought in. The moment they saw the Empress Dowager, they all knelt and paid their respects.
The Empress Dowager looked over them. They were all veteran officials who had served alongside the Emperor for many years.
“Rise,” the Empress Dowager said, gently waving her hand.
“I summoned you here because I wish to ask your opinions on a matter.”
Her voice was slow and measured.
Members of the harem were not supposed to interfere in state affairs.
But given the current situation, she had no choice but to step forward.
“The Emperor is unconscious, yet there are still countless matters of state that require attention.”
“A nation cannot go even one day without a ruler. Therefore, I suggest that the Crown Prince temporarily oversee the government. What are your thoughts?”
The ministers glanced at one another. For a moment, no one stepped forward to respond.
The official who had first accused Prince Ling of burning down the residence took a step forward.
Since the Crown Prince’s ascension was already inevitable, pledging allegiance early was the wisest way to protect himself.
“Your Majesty, His Majesty had already entrusted the state affairs to the Crown Prince.”
“Now that His Majesty is unconscious, it is only natural for the Crown Prince to oversee the government.”
The Empress Dowager nodded and looked toward the other ministers.
“And the rest of you? Does anyone object?”
One of the ministers belonged to Prince Rui’s faction.
“Your Majesty, this minister suggests that perhaps several of the princes should oversee the government together!”
Prince Ling let out a cold laugh and glanced at the man who had made the proposal.
“It seems the Vice Minister of Personnel is rather dissatisfied with me?”
The Vice Minister of Personnel hurriedly dropped to his knees.
“Your Majesty, that is absolutely not my intention!”
“I merely feel that the Crown Prince has not been in charge of state affairs for very long and still has much to learn.”
“Would it not be better for several princes to oversee the government together? They could discuss matters among themselves whenever problems arose!”
“Besides, as the old saying goes, ‘Father and son make a strong army; brothers can conquer a tiger together!’”
“Brotherly affection and harmony are what His Majesty most wishes to see!”
The Empress Dowager nodded slowly.
“Hmm. What you say is not without merit.”
The other ministers immediately began voicing their agreement.
Prince Ling’s murderous gaze swept across Prince Rui.
“This is the first time I have ever heard of brothers jointly overseeing the government!”
He gave another cold laugh.
“Since all of you are making this proposal, which princes do you think are capable of overseeing the government alongside me?”
“Or do you truly believe any of them can actually help me?”
There was unmistakable arrogance in Prince Ling’s words.
Prince Rui stepped forward and saluted the Empress Dowager.
“Grandmother, although I am not particularly capable, Father Imperial personally educated me as well.”
“For the sake of the realm, I am willing to assist Second Brother in overseeing the government.”
As he spoke, Prince Rui cupped his hands toward Prince Ling.
“Second Brother, please do not be angry.”
“We are all acting for the sake of the realm!”
“Once Father Imperial wakes and learns of this, he will surely be delighted!”
Prince Ling could not conceal the murderous intent in his eyes when Prince Rui invoked the Emperor to pressure him.
It seemed that if he wanted to claim the throne without a hitch, the court would have to undergo a thorough purge!
“Grandmother, there has never been a precedent, from ancient times to the present, for brothers to jointly oversee the government!”
“I know that everything you are doing is for the sake of the Xiao family’s empire.”
“Grandmother, since Fourth Brother is confident that he can manage the realm well, why don’t I step aside and yield the opportunity to him?”
“As it happens, I have been unwell lately, and the physicians have advised me to get more rest.”
“Besides, weren’t there other candidates as well? They can all take turns trying!”
After saying this, Prince Ling stepped aside.
His strategy of retreating in order to advance left Prince Rui uncertain.
How could Second Brother willingly hand him such a good opportunity?
Could there be a trap hidden in this?
But Prince Rui had no intention of giving up.
Even if it was a pit, he would step into it!
Even if it was a pit, he would fill it in and turn it into a broad avenue!
Prince Ling’s words sparked a heated discussion among the ministers.
In the end, the Chancellor stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, since the Crown Prince has proposed it, we all believe it is worth trying!”
The Empress Dowager hesitated.
She understood all too well how important a ruler’s stability was.
If the person in charge kept changing, the people below would be thrown into confusion.
However, what if the Emperor regained consciousness soon?
Then perhaps none of the things she feared would come to pass.
“Since you all agree, then we shall proceed with this arrangement.”
“However, I have one condition.” The Empress Dowager’s tone was extremely solemn.
“This concerns the fate of the empire and cannot be handled carelessly.”
“All decisions must be reported to me and approved by me before they can be carried out!”
The ministers immediately began whispering among themselves.
Was the Empress Dowager taking advantage of the situation to seize political power from behind the curtain?
Was she, a hen, trying to crow at dawn?
