Resisting the Wind and Splendor

"Mother!" Lu Ziling knelt down and helped her up. "Mother, don't be sad anymore. You still have your son! I am your son too, and I will always be devoted to you!"

The empress's gaze fell upon him, and suddenly, a chilling light appeared in her eyes that she herself could not have anticipated.

Where were you last night when I was discussing matters with Consort Rui?

Upon hearing this, Lu Ziling was taken aback: "What...does Mother mean?"

"I'm asking you a question. Where were you last night?" The Empress suddenly grabbed his arm and asked through gritted teeth, "Did you come to Qiankun Palace? Tell me!"

"Your subject... Your subject is just... coming to check as usual..."

"So, you really came?" The Empress suddenly pushed him away forcefully, stood up, pointed at him, and gritted her teeth, saying, "What exactly did you do to Nian'er? Tell me! What exactly did you do?"

"Mother, it has nothing to do with me. I was just here on an inspection tour, and by the way... I just wanted to see my fourteenth brother. I meant well, how could I possibly..."

Lu Ziling's face turned flustered, and he was so shocked that he couldn't even breathe properly.

"Mother, I have absolutely no intention of harming my fourteenth brother! I have always been loyal to you, Mother, you must believe me!"

"Nian'er showed no signs of struggling in bed. Why was he sleeping so soundly? Was it you? Did you feed him something? Tell me!"

Doubt is like a seed; once planted in your heart, it immediately begins to take root and sprout.

Why were the corpses on the bed so still? Why did the fire start up in an instant?

That must have been arson!

If they are enemies, why not target her or Lu Ziling instead of a seven-year-old child?

The fourteenth prince is only seven years old! A seven-year-old child can't do anything at all. Killing him would do the enemy no good at all.

It couldn't be Lu Beimo, nor could it be Chu Yueli.

The fire at Qiankun Palace did not affect the guards of Qinzheng Hall. Even if a fire were set there, the guards of Qinzheng Hall would remain heavily guarded, and Lu Beimo and Chu Yueli would still be unable to enter.

So it wasn't them!

It couldn't be them!

The fourteenth prince is dead, her only son is gone, and there is only one person who can benefit, and that is the person who just said that he would be her son in the future.

Lu Ziling!

"It's you! It must be you!" The Empress was heartbroken. She stood up, pointed at Lu Ziling, and almost went mad.

"Mother, it wasn't me..."

"Shut up! I am not your mother! My only son is Nian'er, only Nian'er!"

But the year is gone, and her only son is gone...

"You killed my son! I will never let you get away with this!"

The Empress gritted her teeth, clenched her fists, and roared, "Guards! Tie him up and execute him on the spot!"

"Mother!" Lu Ziling was shocked and immediately took several steps back to get away from her.

"We've fallen into a trap! It's Chu Yueli, it's Chu Yueli trying to sow discord among us! Mother, wake up!"

"Is that so?" The Empress sneered, looking at him, then suddenly softened her voice: "Yes, Mother was wrong. Mother was almost driven apart by them. Ziling, come here and return to Mother's side."

Lu Ziling hesitated.

She looks so crazy now; if I went over there, she could kill me at any moment.

But if she doesn't go, she'll feel that there's already a gap between her and him, and she can't really trust him anymore.

What to do?