First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

Qingyanzi remained unmoved by the sword pointed at him, showing no sense of danger, and his face was full of disdain.

He casually shifted his gaze from Mu Lingxuan to Gu Junxi.

"Who said I wanted to harm her? It's because she obeyed me. Gu Junxi, come behind me."

As soon as Qingyanzi finished speaking, Gu Junxi stepped out from behind Mu Lingxuan and walked toward Qingyanzi with a blank look in her eyes.

"Xi, don't go." Mu Lingxuan reached out to pull Gu Junxi away, but Gu Junxi shook him off. Mu Lingxuan used his sword to block her, but Gu Junxi immediately attacked him.

Mu Lingxuan was afraid of hurting Gu Junxi, so he always held back when he made his move.

To carry out Qingyanzi's orders, Gu Junxi showed no mercy and acted without restraint. When Mu Lingxuan opened his arms to stop her, she didn't even blink and plunged her sword into Mu Lingxuan's chest.

This is a perfect example of what it means to lift a rock only to drop it on your own foot.

The white blade went in, the red blade came out. Gu Junxi expressionlessly withdrew her sword, mechanically completing the task, and stood behind Qingyanzi.

Mu Lingxuan covered his injured chest with his hand, feeling extremely regretful for drugging Gu Junxi.

"Mu Lingxuan, you can't beat me. Don't forget, the drug you gave Gu Junxi was given to you by me. You were able to control Gu Junxi entirely because of me. How can you possibly compete with me?"

"You should go back and prepare. Tonight, Emperor Sheng will write an edict for you, and tomorrow the throne will be passed to you. If you successfully ascend the throne, I promise to return Gu Junxi to you."

Mu Lingxuan glanced at Gu Junxi, whose expression remained unchanged, his face pale, and pursed his lips. He never imagined that one day Gu Junxi would become the noose around his neck.

But he couldn't just abandon Gu Junxi like that.

Mu Lingxuan arrived in a menacing manner and left in a disheveled state.

He stepped out of the palace gate, stood on the steps, looked up at the boundless black sky, and felt extremely depressed.

He couldn't help but murmur helplessly, "Gu Junxi, how can I help you? It seems like everything I've done, thinking it was for your own good, has only hurt you. But I really don't want to. Am I really that useless?"

This was the first time Mu Lingxuan had felt that his abilities were limited.

Unfortunately, no one could give him an answer. In truth, he didn't need anyone to give him an answer.

Because the truth is right before our eyes.

"Your Highness, the Commander-in-Chief requests your presence at the Eastern Depot." A eunuch stepped forward, bowed, and reported.

Mu Lingxuan frowned upon hearing this, disliking Wei Ming's commanding manner. However, thinking of Gu Junxi, he had no choice but to compromise.

Moreover, aside from Gu Junxi, his current situation is also related to his own choices. He is becoming increasingly intertwined with Qingyanzi, and there is indeed no way to break free from Qingyanzi in the short term, unless he no longer wants the throne.

"I'll be there right now," Mu Lingxuan replied unhappily.

As night fell, the news of Emperor Sheng's awakening did not spread.

When he woke up, only Gu Junxi and Xu Decai were there. Gu Junxi wouldn't tell anyone, while Xu Decai outwardly obeyed Emperor Sheng's orders and didn't tell anyone the news, but was waiting for the right moment to lure Mu Lingxuan there alone.

But Mu Lingxuan was looking for Gu Junxi, so there was never a chance.

In retrospect, this seems like a closed loop. The cause influenced the development.

When Mu Lingxuan reappeared in the inner hall, he was accompanied by Qingyanzi, Wei Ming, and Gu Junxi, who was under control.

"Let's get started," Wei Ming said directly to Qingyanzi.

Qingyanzi took out a round sandalwood box from his sleeve. Inside, there was a black insect about the size of a thumbnail. Qingyanzi bit his little finger and dripped a drop of blood onto it.

The insect's pair of transparent wings instantly turned golden. It seemed to be able to communicate with Qingyanzi, flapping its wings and flying directly towards Emperor Sheng, finally landing on Emperor Sheng's forehead.

Just as it stopped on Emperor Sheng's forehead, Emperor Sheng, who was still pretending to be unconscious, opened his eyes.

"Ahhh..." Perhaps sensing danger, Emperor Sheng opened his mouth and let out a series of sounds. Unfortunately, apart from Xu Decai, no one here could understand him.

When Emperor Sheng woke up, Wei Ming and Qing Yanzi showed no emotional fluctuation.

Mu Lingxuan, however, showed joy on his face and quickly walked to Emperor Sheng's bedside: "Father, you've woken up!"

Wei Ming lied through his teeth: "Why is Prince Xuan making such a fuss? The Emperor has been awake the whole time. He just feels that his body is failing, which is why he intends to pass the throne to you."

"Imperial Advisor, what are you waiting for?"

"Hehe, yes." Qingyanzi nodded with a sinister smile, making no attempt to disguise himself. Even his robes had changed from snow-white to dark gray, making him appear as if shrouded in gloom.

But this is the real him.

"Ahhh..." Emperor Sheng screamed in fear as he watched Qingyanzi approach step by step, casting his pleading gaze toward Mu Lingxuan.

Mu Lingxuan felt increasingly reluctant; he always liked to do things that he would easily regret.

For example, right now, he spreads his arms, protecting Emperor Sheng behind him, and negotiates with Qingyanzi and Wei Ming.

"Could you please stop using the curse on Father? Father can't even speak properly now, and he won't cause us any trouble anymore. Father loves me the most. If I talk to Father properly, he will definitely agree to pass the throne to me."

Qingyanzi sneered: "Prince Xuan, you are still too naive. You are rebelling now. What emperor will tolerate a traitor? Even if he lets us go, he will only let you go, not us. And we don't need anyone to let us go."

"Go and pull him away," Qingyanzi said, then looked at Gu Junxi.

With her hands hanging vertically at her sides, Gu Junxi, who looked like a walking corpse, raised her blank eyes and walked directly towards Mu Lingxuan.

Without saying a word, she raised her hand and struck Mu Lingxuan's chest with a palm strike.

Mu Lingxuan was forced back a few steps by the blow. At the same time, the blow aggravated the wound that Gu Junxi had just inflicted on him, and bright red blood gushed out from it.

"Mu Lingxuan, if you say another word, I can feed you Gu poison. You can try if you don't believe me." Qingyanzi stared at Mu Lingxuan with a smile, his face as fierce and menacing as a monster.

Mu Lingxuan was stunned for a moment. Qingyanzi clapped his hands lightly, and the Gu worm that had been resting on Emperor Sheng's forehead instantly and nimbly burrowed into Emperor Sheng's nasal cavity and then down into Emperor Sheng's body.

"Ahhhhh..." Emperor Sheng's eyes widened, his features contorted, and his legs and feet kicked wildly.

It must have been when the worms entered his body that he felt discomfort and pain.

His contorted movements gradually subsided, and he slowly returned to calm.

A miraculous scene unfolded: the Emperor, who had been unable to move or make a sound, suddenly sat up nimbly.

He stared intently at Qingyanzi.

"It's done." Qingyanzi was overjoyed.

Not every Gu worm that enters the human body can successfully exert control.

Moreover, to refine a Gu, one needs the right timing, the right place, and the right people.

Otherwise, if it were that easy, Qingyanzi would have already ascended the throne and become emperor himself, instead of waiting until now.

"Have him find the imperial seal and then write the abdication edict." Wei Ming's face showed joy, but he looked much more cautious.

Qingyan nodded and looked at Emperor Sheng again: "Where did you put the imperial seal?"

Emperor Sheng got out of bed, put on his shoes, and walked out of the palace like a ghost.

Wei Ming exchanged a glance with Qing Yanzi and followed behind.

Gu Junxi didn't need anyone to tell her to leave, and she followed them out.

Seeing that everyone had left, Mu Lingxuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and followed.

Things are really out of control now. He feels that the monster's mouth is getting bigger and bigger, about to devour him, or even the entire palace. He has no clue how to break the deadlock.

The controlled Emperor Sheng led everyone to Fengyi Palace and into their sleeping quarters.