The empress disliked my achievements for overshadowing her own, so she turned her attention to the N

It soon became evening, and the civil and military officials arrived at the Fengtian Hall at the same time.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Chen Nan slowly walked into the imperial court.

He was still standing below the dragon table, with Eunuch Wang standing to his side.

"Attend court!"

As the familiar voice of Eunuch Wang rang out, all the ministers bowed slightly to Chen Nan and said, "We greet the Prince of Zhennan!"

Chen Nan waved his hand and asked, "Does anyone have anything to discuss?"

The officials looked at each other, especially Changsun Du, who dared not speak because he was involved in treason and even shrank back into the crowd.

Chen Nan glanced at Changsun Du, who was backing away, and sneered, "Doesn't Prime Minister Changsun have anything to say to me?"

Changsun Du was taken aback, then chuckled awkwardly, "Your Highness is joking. Nowadays, all the important matters in the court are decided by Your Highness. What can I possibly influence?"

"Oh? Does the Prime Minister mean that I am acting arbitrarily? Or does the Prime Minister think that I will not listen to your advice?" Chen Nan sneered again.

Changsun Du shook his head repeatedly: "Your Highness is joking. I have never said such a thing."

"I am merely stating a fact. Since the Empress Dowager fell into a coma, the Prince has prevented us from visiting her."

"Isn't the entire Northern Wei now acting on the Prince's orders?"

"Moreover, what I said doesn't seem to have much significance for the court, does it?"

"Is that so?" Chen Nan sneered again. "I'd like to know where the councilors in the Prime Minister's residence have gone?"

"That's Qin Lang, the advisor in the Prime Minister's office. I wonder why Advisor Qin didn't attend court today?"

"This..." Changsun Du hesitated for a long time, but couldn't utter a complete sentence.

"Your Highness, Councilor Qin took leave to retire at home a couple of days ago. I don't know why Your Highness suddenly wanted to see Councilor Qin?" After a long while, Changsun Du finally came up with a reason that sounded reasonably good.

"Oh? Is that really so?" Chen Nan snorted coldly. "May I ask, Prime Minister, why did I see Councilor Qin outside the palace this morning?"

"Most importantly, thousands of heavily armored soldiers have appeared around the Imperial Hospital. If it weren't for General Gao Shun leading his troops to defend the Imperial Hospital, I'm afraid other unexpected things might have happened."

While the others might not know, Chen Nan was perfectly aware that the Empress Dowager was listening from behind at that very moment.

Most importantly, he also wanted to understand what benefits Qin Lang had promised Changsun Du that would make him betray his country for personal gain.

"This..." Changsun Du's steps were unsteady, and his body swayed.

"Your Highness, I am unaware of this matter."

"By the way, didn't Your Highness say that you wanted to attack the barbarian tribes and completely wipe out our Northern Wei territory?"

"Why did Your Highness turn back halfway? And why did you go straight to the palace?"

Changsun Du not only refused to admit it, but also threw the question back at him.

"May I ask how the Prime Minister knew that I went straight to the palace? Is it possible that the palace is full of the Prime Minister's informants?" Chen Nan smiled, his voice very gentle.

These words immediately drew the attention of everyone in the court.

If it is confirmed that there are indeed informants of Changsun Du in the palace, someone will immediately step forward and request to execute Changsun Du without Chen Nan giving the order.

A prime minister dares to extend his reach into the palace; who can guarantee that he won't rebel next?

"Chen Nan, you...this is utter slander!" Changsun Du trembled with anger at these words.

But he couldn't come up with a good reason to exonerate himself for a while.

He can't very well admit that he planted an informant in the palace, can he?

Just as the two were about to get into an endless argument, a voice suddenly came from behind the Fengtian Hall: "Enough! What's all the noise about?"

Immediately afterwards, the Empress Dowager, dressed in a yellow robe and wearing a rosy crown, slowly walked into the hall.

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager, everyone gaped in disbelief: "Empress...Empress Dowager..."

Chen Nan was the first to act, bowing and clasping his hands in greeting: "Chen Nan, the Prince of Zhennan, pays respects to the Empress Dowager!"

Upon hearing this, the other court officials also knelt down and said, "Your subjects pay their respects to the Empress Dowager!"

Without the Empress Dowager speaking, no one in the hall dared to raise their head, not even Chen Nan, who remained bowed.

Only after the Empress Dowager had reclaimed her supreme throne did she wave her hand and say, "Rise, my beloved ministers!"

After the court officials rose, Changsun Du cautiously glanced up at the Empress Dowager.

With just one glance, he met the Empress Dowager's gaze.

Then the Empress Dowager asked, "Is it alright for Prime Minister Changsun to come in?"

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's question, Changsun Du trembled as he walked to the center of the hall and knelt down directly: "Your Majesty, I am still in good health. Thank you for your concern!"

After answering, he didn't even dare to raise his head, quietly waiting for what was to come.

He didn't believe that the Empress Dowager called his name first just to inquire about his health.

Sure enough, the Empress Dowager said coldly, "Since the Prime Minister came in in relatively good health, why did I see his informant in the palace?"

In reality, the Empress Dowager knew nothing; she asked the question simply because Chen Nan had asked her the same question not long ago.

Moreover, Changsun Du's answer was quite vague.

"Your Majesty...that person is not my informant!"

Immediately, Changsun Du, with a sob in his voice, poured out everything as if pouring out beans: "Empress Dowager, it's all Qin Lang's fault."

"It was all his instigation that made me dare to do this!"

"Even when Your Highness proposed to attack the barbarian tribes, it was only on Qin Lang's advice that I agreed."

"Oh? So, the Prime Minister disagreed with the Prince's initial plan?" The Empress Dowager's voice grew even colder.

Just then, Chen Nan spoke up: "Your Majesty, I have something to say!"

Upon hearing Chen Nan speak, the Empress Dowager immediately put on a smile: "Prince Zhennan, please speak freely!"

"Your Majesty, don't you feel that something is missing from the Fengtian Hall?"

"Something is missing?" Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager looked around.

Only then did they realize that there were very few officials in the entire imperial court.

Especially the military officers, many of whom they themselves didn't even recognize.

So he asked, "What exactly happened? Why are so many of my Northern Wei officials missing?"

Chen Nan clasped his hands in a fist salute again: "Your Majesty, I have beheaded most of the civil officials."

"As for the military officers, Hongze and Qingyu will each lead a group of officers to the border to defend against the enemy's army."

"An enemy army? Could it be that Northern Wei is being attacked by an enemy army?" The Empress Dowager was full of doubt.

After thinking about it carefully, he realized something was wrong. Even if something really happened in Northern Wei, the first person to go out should have been Chen Nan, the Prince of Zhennan.

How could it possibly be Hongze and Qingyu leading the troops into battle?