Help! The cunning and treacherous minister and I were reborn together!

The emperor's face darkened, and he raised his hand to interrupt Xing'er.

Xiao Zong and Zheng Xiangxiang are from the same hometown. If they are truly in love and tell each other frankly, he might very well help them get together.

The infuriating thing is that Xiao Zong never mentioned this matter, and even rose to prominence by virtue of saving the emperor.

What exactly are they planning?

Wait a minute, Xing'er said that Consort Yuan died at the hands of Wei Xueyao. The presiding judge in the Wei family case was Xiao Zong!

The Empress Dowager had lived in the deep palace for a long time. If it weren't for Xiao Zong's mediation, how would she have known that the Wei family had such a daughter, let alone recommend her to enter the palace!

After Consort Wei gained favor with the emperor, she advised him to extend his affections to all his consorts, which prompted him to visit Consort Zheng's palace. It was after that visit that Consort Zheng became pregnant.

In retrospect, Wei Xueyao was merely a pawn sent into the palace by Xiao Zong to protect Consort Zheng.

What audacity! They actually dared to plant spies in the palace!

What? Does the emperor need the permission of a mere subject to favor whomever he wishes to visit?!

Li Kai pinched the bridge of his nose and said to Xing'er, "Continue."

Xing'er's eyes flickered slightly. Directly throwing mud at someone would easily arouse suspicion. Facing someone as intelligent as His Majesty, a little reminder would be much more effective.

"Lord Xiao instructed me that if Consort Zheng were in danger, I could seek help from Imperial Noble Consort Wei. On the night of her delivery, the Empress had a difficult labor, and I intended to ask Imperial Noble Consort Wei for assistance, but I saw her personal maid hurriedly running out of Luanxiang Palace. I was about to go and ask what was going on when Consort Yuan discovered me and took me back to her chambers. Now that I think about it, the Empress's death is very likely related to Imperial Noble Consort Wei!"

Li Kai extracted several key points, his whole body growing increasingly cold, his words seemingly carrying icy shards.

"Has Xiao Zong been to the inner palace? Did he see Consort Zheng?"

"I haven't been there often, just... once or twice."

"How long do you stay during each meeting with Consort Zheng?"

"About... an hour or two."

Once or twice, for an hour or two, this adulterous couple!

The man's anger surged, and he slammed his fist on the table.

The Empress and Xing'er both trembled and lowered their bodies even further.

"I will have someone investigate the rest. Get up." Li Kai composed himself, took a few steps, and extended his hand to the Empress. "Shuo'er, I misunderstood you. Don't blame me."

Zhao Shuo placed her hand in his palm, then immediately released it after standing up, replying, "Your Majesty, I dare not."

Li Kai twirled his prayer beads and said in a deep voice, "I'm leaving. You... should get some rest."

After leaving Kunning Palace, Li Kai ordered the detention of everyone in Consort Wei's palace and summoned Wei Xueyao to Zhuque Hall.

Before His Majesty could question her, Wei Xueyao confessed everything, saying that she was acting under Xiao Zong's orders.

"Was it also Xiao Zong's idea to poison Consort Zheng?"

Wei Xueyao paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Kill Consort Zheng? How could he bear to do that! Is His Majesty blind to the truth, or is he pretending to be ignorant? Xiao Zong and Zheng Xiangxiang are secretly having an affair, defiling the palace, and using their illegitimate child as royal blood. My Majesty, the first cuckolded emperor in history, you will be recorded in history and go down in eternity!"

Knowing she had no way out, she figured she might as well stir things up a bit more and take a few more down with her, so she wouldn't be alone in the afterlife.

"You bastard! Xu Dahai, drag this damned wretch away and beat him to death!"

"Hahahaha, so what if you kill me! Li Kai, you are licentious and imminent, and instead of using your remaining energy to save Daqi, you indulge in revelry every night. What face will you have to meet the ancestors of the Li family a hundred years from now!"

"How dare you! How I act is none of your business!" He stood up abruptly, pointing at Xu Dahai and the two eunuchs, and cursed, "You can't even move a woman, what use are you!"

The two eunuchs turned pale with fright. Xu Dahai, being more composed, apologized while covering Wei Xueyao's mouth and shoving her out.

Half an hour later, the eunuch carried a bucket of water to wash away the bloodstains on the ground. Xu Dahai threw away the handkerchief, his smile sinister.

No matter how strong your bones are, you still can't withstand severe torture!

A heart-wrenching cough came from the Vermilion Bird Palace. Xu Dahai didn't rush in, but instead looked up at the moon.

Despite such a humiliating disgrace, His Majesty did not recall Commander Xiao, indicating that he remains wary of the Empress and the Zhao family. National affairs are more important than family matters; the troubles in the southern border may jeopardize the fate of the Great Qi Kingdom.

His Majesty's illness has relapsed, the Crown Prince is about to be deposed, and several forces are stirring up trouble. Who will be able to ascend the throne of the Supreme Emperor?

Other courtyard.

Su Zhi had just fallen asleep when she was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

She straightened her clothes, held the candle, and opened the door, only to be startled by Xu Muxin's disheveled hair.

"Why are you in such a sorry state?"

Xu Muxin pulled her into the house, took a couple of sips of cold tea, and said, "Something has happened in the palace. His Majesty has had Wei Xueyao beaten to death!"

Su Zhi's eyelids twitched violently. "On what charge?"

"Officially, we'll say she died of illness, but my spies in the palace report that His Majesty went to Kunning Palace and upon his return ordered Wenxue Palace to be surrounded. Wei Xueyao was brought to the palace by us, and she directly obeys Xiao Zong's orders. I'm worried..."

"This matter has likely been exposed."

Su Zhi felt nauseous and had a headache. The fetus in her womb sensed the change in her mother's body and rolled and kicked restlessly.

She touched her belly, comforted the two little ones, and pulled Xu Muxin aside to discuss a solution.

"His Majesty's punishment of Wei Xueyao conveniently confirmed that Xing'er was in the Empress's palace. His Majesty was furious. I guess it must be because Xing'er twisted the truth and slandered the Crown Prince as the child of Consort Zheng and Xiao Zong."

Xu Muxin asked cautiously, "So, is it Xiao Zong's child?"

Su Zhi nudged her, "They say it's slander! But it's true that Consort Zheng's child is not His Majesty's biological child."

"Whose is that?"

"I don't know, Xiao Zong didn't even tell me."

Are you still husband and wife?

"Oh, that's not important. What we should be thinking about now is how to deal with the upcoming storm."

Xu Muxin sighed: "That is His Majesty, the ruler of a country. How can we possibly contend with him?"

Su Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Since His Majesty hasn't summoned my husband back, we still have time."

"What do you want to do?"

"Establish a new emperor."

His Majesty is old and frail, and after this blow, his health must be much worse than before. He probably realizes this as well, and knows that the matter of establishing an heir apparent is urgent.

As long as Xiao Zong stays in the Southern Frontier until the new emperor ascends the throne, the current predicament will be easily resolved.

It doesn't matter whether the eldest grandson of the emperor or the Prince of Yong becomes emperor. With the Grand Tutor and the Prime Minister in charge, the Great Qi will not cause any major trouble.

The first thing to do is to stop the empress from interfering in politics, or to get rid of her directly.

Although they didn't know what grudge the Empress had against them, the fact that she had tried to kill them time and time again made it far too dangerous to keep such people alive!

Know thyself, ever-victorious.

To deal with the Empress, we must start with the former Crown Prince.

Su Zhi rested her chin on her hand, a smile gradually spreading across her face. "I wonder what old man Duan Sheng has been up to lately. I need to find some time to meet him."

Seeing her increasingly sinister smile, Xu Muxin rubbed her arms and asked, "What kind of dirty trick are you thinking of now?"

The other party beckoned her over, signaling her to come closer, and then explained his plan in detail.

Xu Muxin smiled and said, "I'll go with you when it's light. With me here, Duan Sheng won't dare to disrespect you!"

Su Zhi thanked her and pulled her to bed to rest, saying, "Please don't look down on our humble abode, Princess."

"No problem, no problem! Quickly put out the candle, I'm so sleepy!"

Su Zhi shook her head and smiled, blew out the candle, and walked to the bedside. At this moment, Xu Muxin suddenly sat up. Su Zhi's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly asked what was wrong.

"I'm a restless sleeper. If I roll over onto the baby, Xiao Zong will chop me up! You sleep on the bed, I'll sleep on the couch!"