noffsinger Chapter 574: Shi Anxia is clearly just a bed warmer
Chapter 574: Shi Anxia is clearly just a bed warmer
The furnishings in the dark and solemn Chaoyang Palace were simple yet elegant. Exquisite palace lanterns lit up one after another, and the intricate and exquisite patterns on the lampshades made the candlelight even softer.
The scent of ambergris still lingered in the hall, but no new incense had been burned.
The Empress Dowager did not expect Emperor Mingde to be so straightforward, and she tore open the thin layer of truth.
This is not concealed at all.
The Queen Mother was extremely angry.
The more she hated, the more she had to stay calm.
She asked back, "Your Majesty, do you think I poisoned you to death?"
Emperor Mingde's lips turned purple, he was extremely tired, and he closed his eyes and said, "What else? I can't think of anyone who would want me to die so much!"
The Empress Dowager's brows were tightly furrowed, a cold light flashed in her eyes, the corners of her mouth were tightly pursed into a cold straight line, her face was full of clouds of displeasure, and she exuded an unquestionable majesty and anger.
She said bitterly, "The emperor was alienated by that little girl Shi Anxia!"
She did not expect Emperor Mingde to reply, and continued, "Did she tell you that she had experienced everything in her previous life and was reborn? Did she tell you that in the previous life, you were poisoned to death by me?"
Emperor Mingde wanted to see what the old woman had to say, so he just closed his eyes and looked blue with pain.
He has always known that the Empress Dowager is far from being as simple as she appears on the surface. She has many tricks up her sleeve.
There were turbid and deep tears in the Queen Mother's eyes, and the corners of her mouth were trembling slightly, as if every twitch carried endless sorrow and pain.
She folded her hands lightly in front of her chest, her fingertips slightly white, as if silently telling of the pain and struggle in her heart, and her whole body was shrouded in a heavy and sad atmosphere.
She said solemnly, "Emperor, you must listen carefully to what I say next. In this world, not only Shi Anxia was reborn, but also I and Shi Anxia's illegitimate sister Shi Anrou were reborn."
Emperor Mingde: “!!!”
This! I can't pretend anymore!
I just really want to curse!
It’s hard for me, an emperor, to even dream, and you all have been reborn?
I don’t believe it, I absolutely don’t believe it!
The Empress Dowager sat in a sedan chair, her face old and haggard, with unspeakable sadness flashing in her eyes.
The corners of her mouth drooped slightly, outlining a trace of pain that was difficult to conceal. The eyes that had witnessed countless storms were now moist and red, with tears rolling in her eye sockets, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
"What I want to tell you is that the person who poisoned you in your previous life was Li Qinghui! But in this life, it was Shi Anxia and Cen Yuan."
Emperor Mingde was extremely tired.
If he had not experienced all kinds of doubts in the past, if he had not been firm in his determination, he would have been trapped by the Queen Mother.
He knew that the Queen Mother was much smarter than he thought.
He had not fallen out with her in the past because he knew that she was cunning and scheming, especially good at bewitching people.
Look, isn't it coming?
The Empress Dowager said, "Sheng'er has always loved Shi Anrou in his past and present lives, but Shi Anxia is proud of being the legitimate daughter, not only suppressing her concubine sister, but also trying to compete for Sheng'er's favor.
She has always been jealous of Shi Anrou, and she has never stopped! She took advantage of Sheng'er's drunkenness and pretended to be a concubine's sister to climb into his bed! She was clearly just a bed-warmer for Sheng'er, and she made up stories to deceive everyone after she was reborn!
Shi Anxia! Just a bed-warmer, not even a concubine.
In the end, she actually deceived you, the emperor! She alienated the relationship between us mother and son! Every step of the way for us mother and son to get to this point was Shi Anxia's handiwork!"
Emperor Mingde asked in a hoarse voice, "Where is Princess Yuyang? My eldest sister, was it also designed by Shi Anxia? Wasn't it done by the Empress Dowager herself..."
The Empress Dowager burst into tears, "Emperor, I was wrong! I was angry that you didn't listen, and I did something wrong in my rage. I was instigated by Princess Chanyu!"
She wanted to curse! She was clearly talking about Shi Anxia, why did she end up talking about Princess Yuyang?
She had to pull it back, "Emperor, did Shi Anxia tell you that Emperor Rongguang lost the Northern Wing? Yes! It is true that Emperor Rongguang lost the Northern Wing, but Emperor Rongguang is the Prince of Ling, not the Prince of Jin!"
Emperor Mingde: “!!!”
Apart from silently reciting a few phrases of "being sincere and determined", there is really no way to resist the bewitching of this old woman.
The reason why he was raised in her care when he was a child was because he was deceived by her eloquent words.
The Queen Mother continued, "Think about it. You have always looked down on Prince Jin, so why would you pass the throne to him? Emperor, think about it carefully! Even now, think about who you would pass the throne to? Would you pass it to Prince Jin? You wouldn't! You would still choose to pass it to Prince Ling! Right?"
On the imperial edict of Emperor Mingde, he had indeed written with his own hands that the throne would be passed on to Prince Ling.
Because Shi Anxia said that Emperor Yuqing was not fit for the job, she invited Prince Ling back to the throne. Later, Prince Ling created the prosperity of Beiyi.
So he also has a good son!
Putting aside his trust in Shi Anxia and Cen Yuan, the Queen Mother's words... are actually credible.
Even if Shi Anxia hadn't said those words, after careful consideration, it seemed that Prince Ling was the most suitable person to succeed to the throne.
The eldest son is disabled and cannot be the crown prince.
The second prince... definitely cannot succeed to the throne.
The third prince, Prince Jin, is stupid! Don't even think about it.
The ninth child is too young to shoulder such a big responsibility.
There’s only the fourth one left!
The Queen Mother's eyes moved with pride. After a moment of deep thought, she continued, "After Prince Ling ascended the throne, he started a massacre and killed all his brothers and sisters. He favored treacherous ministers and indulged in pleasure, and the court of the North Wing was in chaos. I... I failed to protect the ministers you favored. Many loyal ministers of generations died or were injured..."
"Stop talking!" Emperor Mingde closed his eyes in pain, his purple and black face became more terrifying.
"No, I want to tell you! I must let you know that you have been blinded by these two treacherous villains, Shi Anxia and Cen Yuan! The people who poisoned you in this life are no longer Li Qinghui, but Shi Anxia and Cen Yuan! They gained your trust and made you alienate me, hate me, and even force me to death! They poisoned you because they tricked you into writing the edict of succession to King Ling! They have always been King Ling's people!"
Emperor Mingde finally opened his eyes with great effort, his eyes were cloudy, "Is there any evidence to prove it?"
"Yes!" When the Empress Dowager heard Emperor Mingde ask this, she knew that the seed of doubt had already planted in the emperor's heart.
Once the seeds of doubt took root, it would be difficult for him to listen to Shi Anxia's words.
The Queen Mother raised her voice and said, "Bring him in!"
The door to the inner hall opened and the guards brought in a man.
The man was in his fifties, lean and strong, with an obvious knife wound near his ear and one of his arms hanging strangely.
After he came in, he knelt respectfully in front of Emperor Mingde's couch and said, "Greetings to His Majesty, and to the Empress Dowager."
"Go ahead," the Queen Mother said gently, "Report what you know to the Emperor."