Full level Black Heart Lotus, reborn to bully scumbags every day!

Shen Shuyi and Xie Jingchi first returned to Xie's mansion. After bathing and changing clothes, they changed into more formal attire and went to the palace to meet the emperor.

As soon as the two arrived at the palace gate, Wang Xi brought people to meet them.

"Oh my Lord Xie, Princess Mingzhu, you two are finally back. His Majesty has been missing you all the time."

Just as Shen Shuyi had guessed, Wang Xiru was eventually released because of his "loyalty" to Emperor Qianwu.

Moreover, Emperor Qianwu took into consideration that he had been by his side for many years, so he considered it a small punishment and continued to keep him by his side.

"Thank you, Eunuch Wang." Shen Shuyi and Xie Jingchi greeted Wang Xi.

Wang Xi diligently led the way. Perhaps it was because he had been following the emperor for many years and had noticed some clues, or perhaps it was because he remembered Shen Shuyi's rescue in the past, so he was particularly polite to the two of them.

Wang Xi whispered, "Over the past year or so, Your Majesty's health has deteriorated significantly, and he has begun to let go of many court affairs."

Xie Jingchi frowned and said, "When I left the capital, Your Majesty was still in good health. How could he have become like this in just over three years?"

Wang Xi looked around calmly and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty has taken many elixirs in order to achieve immortality."

Every time I take it, it really works wonders at first.

But it won’t be long before your body becomes worse, so you have to take it again, and the cycle will repeat, and your body will naturally become worse.

Shen Shuyi thought to herself that this was not much different from the method she had used to control Xiao Tingshan before, except that the medicine prescribed by Mr. Liancheng was indeed a good medicine for regulating the body, but it was not suitable for Xiao Tingshan.

Most of those so-called elixirs contained cinnabar, which was highly poisonous. If Emperor Qianwu took them for a long time, his health would only deteriorate.

Not long after, the group was brought to the Zhengji Palace. Emperor Qianwu was resting there. Perhaps he knew the two would come, so he did not sleep. He only asked Wang Xi to pick up the people and then go in to pass on the message.

"Your Majesty, Lord Xie and Princess Mingzhu have arrived." Wang Xi spoke carefully.

Emperor Qianwu opened his eyes, his pupils slightly cloudy, but still sharp: "Transmit."

Shen Shuyi and Xie Jingchi entered the hall and knelt in front of it. "We pay our respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!"

"Get up quickly and let me take a good look." Emperor Qianwu looked at Xie Jingchi who was sitting below him.

After Xie Jingchi stood up, he bowed deeply to Emperor Qianwu again. Emperor Qianwu was a little dazed.

Shen Shuyi looked at the emperor in front of him calmly. He was indeed old, but it was better to say that he was not as energetic as before.

In fact, he was still handsome and still considered young among emperors, but he was completely different from three years ago.

Shen Shuyi didn't understand why he chose this path in this life. Was it because of his appearance that everything changed?

Or...he has other plans in mind.

"Everyone get out." Emperor Qianwu waved his hand.

Wang Xi and others retreated with a group of palace maids. For a moment, only Emperor Qianwu, Xie Jingchi and Shen Shuyi were left in the room.

Emperor Qianwu's gaze fell on Shen Shuyi, his sharp eyes were full of scrutiny. Shen Shuyi did not look up but could feel the gloomy and sharp gaze.

"You already know?" Emperor Qianwu said in a deep voice.

"Yes, I already know." Shen Shuyi said frankly, not intending to pretend.

Her frankness made Emperor Qianwu smile for a moment: "Your courage is the same as before."

"To me, he is just my husband, no matter who he is or who he will become in the end." Shen Shuyi spoke calmly, looking directly at Emperor Qianwu.

Emperor Qianwu stared at her for a moment, then pushed a palm-sized box in front of her and said slowly, "This is a poison pill. Take it. From now on, I will send someone to give you the antidote every year."

"Your Majesty!" Xie Jingchi frowned, with a hint of hostility in his eyes.

Emperor Qianwu looked at him and said slowly, "Jingchi, you must know that I am protecting you. The more people know your identity, the more dangerous you will be."

"If you fail to regain your status as a prince, and others learn of your identity, endless poisoning and assassination await you."

Emperor Qianwu changed the subject, scrutinized him, and asked, "Or perhaps, you've grown so independent now that you're unwilling to work for me anymore?"

Shen Shuyi clearly felt that at this moment, there was some inexplicable murderous intent in Emperor Qianwu's tone.

After experiencing countless calculations and betrayals, this emperor became more and more suspicious.

Xie Jingchi knelt on the ground and said, "I am willing to serve you at your service, but I will not let my wife take poison."

Emperor Qianwu just looked at him with a cold gaze.

Xie Jingchi's eyes were deep as he looked straight at him and said again, "If your Majesty has any concerns, we will leave the capital tomorrow and never set foot in it again!"

Emperor Qianwu looked at him for a long while, then suddenly smiled and looked at Shen Shuyi with an ambiguous expression, "Shen Shuyi, what do you say?"

Shen Shuyi looked at Emperor Qianwu calmly, "If Your Majesty insists that I choose between you and my husband, I am willing to die. However, I also believe that winning people over with virtue and treating them with sincerity is ultimately more reliable than these means."

"Of course, I don't want to die. No matter what we face in the future, I hope to be with him through thick and thin."

Emperor Qianwu said coldly, "Okay, since you care so much about him, then take this pill."

Shen Shuyi's eyes fell on the pill and he slowly walked forward.

Of course she didn't want to die, but if she had no choice, she would hope that Xie Jingchi would live.

There is too much injustice towards women in this world.

Only if he is alive can he do more for the people and the country.

But as she said, she wanted to live more. After all, pinning her hopes on others was not as good as seeing the prosperous world with her own eyes.

Just as Shen Shuyi picked up the pill, Xie Jingchi stepped forward, snatched the pill from her hand, threw it directly into his mouth and chewed it.

Shen Shuyi was stunned, his pupils constricted. He turned around and hugged Xie Jingchi's face, picking at his mouth: "Are you crazy! Spit it out, spit it out!"

His previous calmness was gone, and Shen Shuyi was really scared.

Her eyes were red and she was anxious to pick the pill out of his mouth, but he held her hand.

Xie Jingchi turned to look at Emperor Qianwu and said in a deep voice, "If your Majesty must treat the one I love this way, then just pretend you don't have a son like me."

Emperor Qianwu slammed his hand on the table and cursed, "Asshole!"

Xie Jingchi pulled Shen Shuyi and turned to leave.

Emperor Qianwu stood up and looked at their backs: "Do you know what you will miss? If you want to be an emperor, you can't have any weaknesses! You care about Shen Shuyi so much, she will become your weakness!"

Xie Jingchi stopped and turned to look at Emperor Qianwu: "She is not my weakness, she is my armor."

It is the light in my muddled and dark life, and my only remaining yearning and beauty.

"Also, becoming the emperor or not doesn't matter to me. I just want to live a good life, just like her, and bring peace and stability to the people of the world."