Chapter 534: Your Majesty, Please Think Twice

Chapter 534: Your Majesty, Please Think Twice

This declaration stunned everyone in attendance, except for Consort Yuan and Nanny Wang, who all gaped at Emperor Shunwu in astonishment.

They even muttered to themselves: Has someone messed with the Emperor's head?

The moment he showed up, he dropped this bombshell.

Was he talking about the neglected Fourth Prince he was holding?

Nan Qi wondered the same thing, but given that Fei Nanyu was his strategist, a little kid wouldn’t get credit for solving the palace crisis.

This thought bolstered his confidence instantly.

"Father, you’ve been through so much. I’ve been doing everything to get news of you, and after going through hell and back, I’ve finally rescued you today.

Out of nowhere, Fei Nanyu, that backstabber, tied me up. Father, you’ve got to help me!"

Emperor Shunwu had just learned that Nan Qi wasn’t his real son, and he knew full well that it was his real son, Nan Yu, who had saved the day.

He’d planned to handle the Empress’s rebellion first, then deal with Nan Qi, but he didn’t see Nan Qi’s bold move to take credit coming.

"Guards, throw Nan Qi in the dungeon and hold him there."

Hearing this, everyone was stunned.

When he saw his order wasn’t being followed right away, Emperor Shunwu angrily scolded, "What? Does my command mean nothing here?"

As he spoke, he raised the token in his hand.

The army, loyal only to the token, didn’t give a damn about anything else; they obeyed whoever held the token.

As Emperor Shunwu raised the token, they swiftly moved forward to apprehend Nan Qi.

Nan Qi, trussed up and helpless, found it difficult even to stand. The soldiers’ rough handling made him lose his balance.

Suddenly, it hit him, and his face twisted with panic.

"Father, what are you doing?

Did I mess up by saving you?"

As he spoke, he also cast a pleading glance towards Consort Yuan.

After a brief moment of eye contact with him, Consort Yuan immediately looked away.

No matter how foolish Emperor Shunwu might be, he was still the emperor of a nation, and the aura of a ruler was unmistakable.

"Take him to the dungeon and await further orders."

Seeing this, the ministers who had sided with Prince Qi's faction knelt down one after another to plead for mercy.

"Your Majesty, Prince Qi has rendered meritorious service in rescuing you. It is inappropriate to imprison him. Please think twice, Your Majesty..."

"Please think twice, Your Majesty..."

Emperor Shunwu was not yet fully aware of the specific details of the palace crisis. He ordered Nan Qi to be imprisoned because of his identity issue. Regardless of whose fault it was initially, he had been a fake prince for over twenty years.

Especially after Mo Jiuya and the others left Nanny Fei in Consort Yuan's palace, Emperor Shunwu had asked her many more questions.

In front of the Emperor, Nanny Fei naturally dared not conceal anything, and in order to save Nan Qi's life, she tried to shoulder as much blame as possible.

Despite this, Emperor Shunwu harbored deep resentment towards Nan Qi.

He doted on Consort Yuan, and his treatment of Nan Qi was an extension of his affection for her.

However, the son he had cherished for over two decades turned out not to be his own, which made Emperor Shunwu feel increasingly bitter. Seeing Nan Qi now, he felt increasingly like a fool who had been thoroughly deceived.

Seeing these oblivious ministers pleading for Nan Qi, Emperor Shunwu's face darkened completely.

"Hmph! Since you all want to plead for this scoundrel, you can accompany him to the dungeon."

The ministers who had pleaded for mercy were instantly terrified, breaking into a cold sweat. They exchanged glances, too frightened to utter another word.

Minister He, who was privy to the inside story, understood that the Emperor had not yet reached the stage of purging the court. Imprisoning Nan Qi's allies now would not benefit the court.

Thus, he gathered his courage and stepped forward to speak.

"Your Majesty, it was Mr. Fei and Prince Rui who took the lead, rescuing you from danger with a team of soldiers. Now that most of the remaining members of the Xue family have been captured, how do you wish to handle this matter?"

Although Emperor Shunwu was somewhat foolish, his many years as emperor had taught him the gravity of the situation. Moreover, it was Minister He who had spoken.

He trusted Minister He, who had never sided with any faction and always prioritized the court's welfare.

Earlier, he had been enraged by the ministers pleading for Nan Qi and had spoken harshly.

Now, with Minister He stepping forward, he seized the opportunity to back down.

"Hmph, today I will spare you for now. But if you dare to plead for Nan Qi again, beware your heads."

The ministers felt as if they had been granted a great pardon. Though still confused about the situation, they dared not utter another word, standing silently with bowed heads.

Emperor Shunwu scanned the room, his gaze finally settling on the Empress and Minister Xue.

Minister Xue now realized that his position was hopeless, with no arguments left to make. Others might not know, but Emperor Shunwu was well aware that Minister Xue had once threatened the Empress Dowager in the secret chamber to surrender the imperial seal.

With the situation completely reversed, any further words from him would only result in physical punishment.

The Empress had never imagined that her and her family's meticulously planned scheme would fail so completely.

She was still struggling to accept reality, and it was only when Emperor Shunwu looked at her that she fully realized she and the Xue family were finished.

But she had no desire to die, nor was she willing to concede defeat.

"Your Majesty, I had no choice. It was all Minister Xue who urged me to do this..."

Minister Xue, seeing his own daughter shift all the blame onto him, immediately retorted angrily, "If it weren't for securing your position as Empress Dowager, why would I have done such things?"

...

In front of Fengxi Palace, a dramatic scene of mutual betrayal unfolded, only to be quelled when Emperor Shunwu, growing impatient, scolded them both.

If there was anyone Emperor Shunwu hated most now, it was undoubtedly the Empress.

If looks could kill, the Empress would have died several times over.

"You vile woman, you conspired with your family to imprison me and caused the death of my mother. And now you dare to shamelessly defend yourself?"

The ministers present, hearing that the Empress Dowager had been killed, looked around in disbelief.

Indeed, there was no sign of the Empress Dowager in the crowd.

"Poisonous woman, tell me, where is the secret chamber hiding the body of the Empress Dowager?"

Emperor Shunwu had been knocked unconscious and taken to the secret chamber, and he had no awareness when he left, so he truly did not know its location.

After Mo Jiuya took him from the secret chamber two days ago, he couldn't stop thinking about the Empress Dowager's death.

After all, she was his birth mother, and her death was caused by his involvement.

Thinking of this, Emperor Shunwu's heart ached, and he wished he could immediately cut the culprit who caused the Empress Dowager's death into a thousand pieces.

The Empress was so terrified by Emperor Shunwu's piercing glare that her legs gave out. The reason for her fear was none other than her desire to live.

Perhaps, using the location of the secret chamber to negotiate with Emperor Shunwu was her only hope for survival.

"Your Majesty, I was just momentarily misled and listened to Minister Xue's words, committing these acts. I beg you, for the sake of our years together as husband and wife, spare my life, and I will reveal the secret chamber's location."

The Empress was utterly terrified at this moment. She didn't even realize that the secret chamber wasn't known only to her.