Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

Su Yue'e picked up the medicine bottle on the table and said to Emperor Jing, "This medicine is exactly the same as the poison that the old lady of the Shen family was poisoned with when she passed away. And the bottle of medicine that poisoned the old lady was taken by the Shen family's concubine. This concubine is now a concubine in the Third Prince's mansion. Your Majesty may wish to send someone to investigate this matter thoroughly."

After hearing what Su Yue'e said, Emperor Jing's face instantly turned ashen. He stared at the medicine bottle in Su Yue'e's hand with rage and shouted, "Dequan!"

Upon hearing the sound, Dequan hurried forward, carefully took the medicine bottle from Su Yue'e's trembling hands, and then quickly left the palace.

Seeing that her purpose of coming to see the emperor tonight had been achieved, Su Yue'e secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She bowed slightly and said softly, "Your Majesty has been busy with state affairs all day and must be exhausted. I dare not disturb your Majesty's rest any longer, so I will take my leave now."

After she finished speaking, she turned around and walked away slowly with light steps.

On the way back to her own palace, Su Yue'e deliberately slowed down her pace and whispered to the palace maid beside her in a low voice, "Go tell Shen Chuning that I have already fulfilled her request. This time, she owes me a favor!"

Shortly after Su Yue'e left, Dequan hurried back to the bedroom.

He reported to Emperor Jing with a solemn expression, "Your Majesty, after careful examination and comparison, I discovered that this bottle of medicine is exactly the same as the poison that caused Madam Shen's death!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing couldn't help but frown.

In fact, the bottle of medicine in Su Yue'e's hand did not originally come from Xiao Yuanlang. It was the half bottle of poison left over from Old Madam Shen.

On the day when Emperor Jing issued the order to enthronize the crown prince, he specially summoned Xiao Yuanyi to the imperial study.

After Xiao Yuanyi bowed respectfully, Emperor Jing slowly spoke, "Yuanyi, due to what happened to your biological mother, I have indeed neglected and ignored you over the years. However, even in this situation, you have not strayed from the right path, which truly brings me great relief."

As he spoke, Emperor Jing gently stroked Xiao Yuanyi's head, with a loving look in his eyes.

Hearing Emperor Jing's words, Xiao Yuanyi quickly lowered his head and humbly responded, "Your son's talent is dull and he is far inferior to your wisdom and bravery, father."

Emperor Jing smiled faintly, waved his hand, and said, "My son, please do not be so self-deprecating. Two years ago, the third brother caused that epidemic. If you hadn't painstakingly sought a cure and brought it under control, the consequences would have been disastrous. This shows that you care about the people and have a broad mind. When faced with acts that violate worldly morality, no matter how prominent the opponent's status, you are able to stand up to them without fear. This is sufficient proof of your integrity and goodness."

After hearing Emperor Jing's words of praise, Xiao Yuanyi's face suddenly turned red, and he lowered his head in even greater shame.

However, Emperor Jing mistakenly thought that he was just being humble and shy because of the praise.

"I don't have much time left, and my son will surely become a wise ruler in the future." Emperor Jing sat on the dragon couch, looking at Xiao Yuanyi in front of him with a kind and expectant look, and spoke slowly.

At this time, Emperor Jing's face was as pale as paper, and his breath was weak, like a candle in the wind, whose life could be extinguished at any time.

Hearing this, Xiao Yuanyi stood there in a daze as if struck by lightning. He widened his eyes in shock and looked at Emperor Jing in disbelief.

An irrepressible joy suddenly surged in his heart, but reason told him not to show it, so he tried his best to restrain himself and not let the upturned corners of his mouth show.

"Father..." Xiao Yuanyi shouted in a trembling voice, his eyes gradually becoming moist.

He tried to appear a little sad in an attempt to hide his true thoughts.

"My father is the true dragon emperor, he will surely live forever!" Xiao Yuanyi shook his head, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I am not capable enough. I just want to be a carefree little prince under the protection of my father." He choked and trembled slightly.

Emperor Jing sighed softly and reached out to stroke Xiao Yuanyi's face.

"Silly child, don't take those words seriously. Everyone will die one day, and this is a fate that no one can escape. However, your father has arranged everything for you." As he spoke, Emperor Jing's eyes became firm.

"I know that the Shen family is loyal, but as a father I am also worried that you cannot control the Shen family. So, after I leave, you must release Prime Minister Shen from prison. The Shen family will be loyal to you and will assist you with all their strength." Emperor Jing said earnestly.

Xiao Yuanyi raised his head and looked at Emperor Jing with tearful eyes. "I don't want Prime Minister Shen, I only want you, my father!"

Emperor Jing smiled faintly and consoled him, "Father can't be with you forever. Although Prime Minister Shen is older, he's experienced and highly respected. Furthermore, Shen Qinghe has experience as both a court official and a provincial governor. Whether handling state affairs or leading local affairs, he possesses exceptional abilities. As the next Prime Minister, he will surely help you stabilize the government and achieve great things."

After saying this, Emperor Jing seemed to have used up his last bit of strength and slowly closed his eyes.

At this time, Xiao Yuanyi was crying uncontrollably, but not because of sadness, but because of joy.

Once the edict to establish the crown prince was issued, it was like a bolt from the blue, hitting Xiao Yuanlang hard.

In a rage, he swung the objects in his hands wildly, smashing the Third Prince's mansion, which was not wealthy to begin with, into a mess.

However, anger did not make Xiao Yuanlang lose his mind, but instead aroused the rebellious heart that had been hidden in his heart for a long time.

After careful consideration, he decided to take a gamble and give it a try.

Fortunately, the commander of the camp outside the capital and the commander of the Jinwu Guard were both his trusted men.

As long as they obey orders, there will be great potential for rebellion.

However, fate always seems to like playing tricks on people.

On the night when Xiao Yuanlang was busy preparing to send troops, a sudden change completely disrupted his plans.

First, the commander of the camp outside the capital mysteriously hanged himself at home, and then the commander of the Jinwu Guard followed suit and ended his life in the same way.

What is even more bizarre is that shortly after the deaths of these two men, their concubines took advantage of the chaos to escape and disappeared.

Seeing that it was hopeless to transfer troops from the capital, Xiao Yuanlang was extremely anxious.

In desperation, he had to find another way out.

So he made a prompt decision and sent his trusted men to the border at full speed to find King Hao, hoping to get his support.

However, things went against their wishes. The people they sent out were only a hundred miles away from the capital when Emperor Jing suddenly passed away.

This unexpected change undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to Xiao Yuanlang, making his situation even more difficult.

At the same time, Xiao Yuanyi, the crown prince, ascended the throne naturally.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, he acted decisively and quickly took control of the situation.

Soon, the guards Xiao Yuanlang sent to the border to deliver a letter to King Hao were arrested.

Faced with overwhelming evidence, Xiao Yuanlang and Shen Jingwan could no longer deny it and were both thrown into jail.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yuanyi did not immediately order the execution of the two. Instead, he sent people to tell Xiao Yuanlang and Shen Jingwan, who were imprisoned in prison, about his great achievements in detail every day, in order to humiliate and undermine their will.

The Queen Mother was heartbroken when she learned that her entire family was imprisoned.

Coupled with the death of Emperor Jing, she could not bear such a heavy double blow and eventually fell ill in bed.

Under this circumstance, Xiao Yuanlang arranged for Shen Chuning to enter the palace to take care of the empress dowager in the hope of slightly alleviating the pain in her heart.