I have been a county magistrate for ten years. My subordinates insist on giving me a yellow robe.

"Your Majesty, the Queen requests an audience!"

Without waiting for Duanmu Xiongtu to speak, the young eunuch outside the door announced loudly.

"Your Majesty, let's just go all out. I will bring people to wipe out the Ning family tonight, so that we don't have any worries!" Chen Liu's face was gloomy.

If it weren't for the Ning family, Duanmu Xiongtu wouldn't have left behind so many founding fathers to act as a check and balance.

But this is obviously not a long-term solution. Duanmu Xiongtu may be able to control them, but it is hard to say about Duanmu Yuanchen. They will definitely be hidden dangers in the future.

"No, the Ning family is easy to deal with, but Ning Fei, ahem, he is now a general outside the army. Although I know he will not rebel, if we touch anyone from the Ning family, then it will be hard to say." Duanmu Xiongtu forced himself to sit up.

"Your Majesty, your health is critical and you cannot get up." Chen Liu hurriedly went forward to support Duanmu Xiongtu.

"It doesn't matter. Even if I die on the ground, it's better than dying in bed. Ahem, Chen Liu, help me sit over there."

After Chen Liu helped Duanmu Xiongtu to sit on the chair, the latter immediately beckoned: "Zhou Chen, come and play a game of chess with me."

Duanmu Xiongtu said this, and picked up a black piece and placed it in a corner first.

As the Prince's tutor, how could Zhou Chen not know the importance of the matter? If Duanmu Yuanchen failed to sit on that chair, it goes without saying that he would have a bad ending.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After responding, the two people sitting opposite each other made moves quickly. According to the opening pattern, they quickly occupied two corners each. Only then did Duanmu Xiongtu look at Chen Liu.

"Go and invite the Queen in."

Chen Liu nodded emphatically, hurried to the door and opened it. "Chen Liu greets the Empress. Your Majesty is playing chess with the Crown Prince's tutor Zhou Chen. May I ask what the Empress may wish to hear?"

Outside the slightly dim door, the graceful and elegant face of Queen Ning was vaguely reflected. Although she was nearly forty years old, time seemed to favor her and did not leave too many traces on her face.

Her gaze passed Chen Liu and looked at Duanmu Xiongtu who was sitting in the middle of the lobby. The latter seemed to be thinking at this moment, holding his chin with one hand and frowning.

"Really? It's rare that Your Majesty is in a good mood. I won't disturb you anymore. I will come to visit Your Majesty again tomorrow." Queen Ning said, and turned around and left with two palace maids.

As the footsteps faded away, Chen Liu breathed a sigh of relief and looked outside the door, but still did not see Duanmu Yuanchen.

"Your Highness, you must hurry!"

After muttering to himself, Chen Liu gently closed the door. When he walked back to Duanmu Xiongtu and was about to speak, Duanmu Xiongtu immediately gave him a look.

Chen Liu's face froze and even his breathing stopped.

"Haha! Zhou Chen, when did you study this trick? Why have I never seen you use it?" Duanmu Xiongtu's voice sounded faintly.

But the sound now was no different from the sound in the past.

"Your Majesty, I recently obtained a fragment of a manual that is incredibly exquisite. I was lucky enough to learn a few free-hand moves. If Your Majesty doesn't mind, I will send it to you tomorrow."

"No need for that. A gentleman doesn't take away what others like. Lord Zhou, please keep it for yourself."

Just as Duanmu Xiongtu finished speaking, there was another knock on the door.

Bang bang bang!

"Your Majesty, it's you." Queen Ning's voice sounded again.

"Chenliu, why don't you go and open the door for the Queen?" Duanmu Xiongtu said softly.

When Chen Liu opened the door, Queen Ning already had a food box in her hand.

"Your Majesty, I forgot for a moment. I was just talking about this. The peach blossoms in my courtyard are in full bloom recently. I made some cakes and sent some to Your Majesty."

Duanmu Xiongtu slowly stood up, his eyes sparkling as he nodded at Queen Ning: "The peach tree in your courtyard is a decades-old tree. The fruits it bears every year are sweet and delicious. I would like to try this flower cake."

Chen Liu quickly took the food box and brought it to Duanmu Xiongtu: "Your Majesty."

Duanmu Xiongtu opened the food box, picked up a piece, took a bite, and immediately showed a satisfied expression.

"Not bad, not bad, it tastes sweet and has a unique flavor."

"I'm glad Your Majesty likes it. It's getting late, so please allow me to take my leave first." Queen Ning bowed sideways and finally turned to leave.

Following Duanmu Xiongtu's eye hint, Chen Liu did not close the door immediately.

After a while, Duanmu Xiongtu's expression suddenly changed and he opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Your Majesty!" Zhou Chen growled and hurriedly supported Duanmu Xiongtu's arm. However, Duanmu Xiongtu seemed not to care at all. He took the silk scarf handed by Chen Liu and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were full of murderous intent as he stared at the path where Queen Ning left.

"It's okay, I'm feeling better now." Duanmu Xiongtu said calmly.

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the people from Chenliu turned pale. Zhou Chen and the others were all literary masters. Even if they were not proficient in medical skills, they had seen examples in history books.

Before his death, the emperor of a certain dynasty was full of energy and had a great appetite. According to the book, this is called the last breath of life.

Not to mention Xue Zhen and Chen Liu, both of them fought their way out of the mountains of corpses and seas of blood on the battlefield. Some people will indeed suddenly become more energetic before they die.

But if this is the case, it means that the person is completely hopeless.

"Your Majesty..." Chen Liu knelt down in front of Duanmu Xiongtu again. The leader of the East Factory, who was known for being cruel and ruthless, lowered his head deeply.

"Chen Liu, you are the chief of the East Factory after all. Aren't you making a fool of yourself?" Duanmu Xiongtu smiled faintly and patted Chen Liu's shoulder, motioning him to get up.

However, before Chen Liu could get up from the ground, the door was pushed open again, and Duanmu Yuanchen walked in carelessly. Seeing this scene, he hurried over:

"Father, what happened to Consul General Chen? What has happened?"

"Yuanchen, you're here." A kind look appeared on Duanmu Xiongtu's face.

"Your son pays his respects to the Emperor, Father. What does it take to call me in the middle of the night?" Duanmu Yuanchen said, his eyes glancing at the flower cakes in a food box.

Duanmu Xiongtu shook his head helplessly: "Sit down and eat, I have something to tell you."

"Huh? Father, what's wrong with you?" Duanmu Yuanchen, who was about to reach out his hand, paused and looked at Duanmu Xiongtu in confusion. Why didn't father call him "I" this time, but said "I"?

Since he ascended the throne, Duanmu Xiongtu has not called himself this for a long time.

Duanmu Xiongtu coughed lightly a few times and slowly sat down on the chair. The redness on his face began to fade, and the pale complexion appeared on his face again.

"Father, what happened to you? Call the imperial physician, call the imperial physician quickly!" Duanmu Yuanchen spoke hurriedly.

"Yuanchen, be quiet, it's too late." Duanmu Xiongtu gasped heavily.

Duanmu Yuanchen stood there in a daze. What did he mean by "too late"? Duanmu Xiongtu was a very important figure, and he even had an imperial physician by his side. Was it too late?

"Father...you..."

Duanmu Xiongtu nodded with difficulty: "Yuanchen, your father doesn't have much time, you must remember every word I say next."

Duanmu Yuanchen suddenly burst into tears and knelt on the ground unconsciously.

"Father..."