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

Even without seeing the person, just hearing the voice, one can imagine the immense suffering the speaker is enduring.

Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye exchanged a glance and walked into the inner chamber together.

Inside the inner chamber, Emperor Sheng lay on his bed, while Yao Duzhong sat beside him, intently trying to remove the Gu poison from the emperor. The most effective method for removing the Gu poison was, surprisingly, burning it off.

Specially made incense is lit and burned slowly down the meridians to expel the Gu worms from the body. Sensing pain and threat, the Gu worms become extremely agitated within the body.

Those afflicted by this curse will naturally suffer twice as much pain.

Moreover, this requires exceptional skill from the person removing the poison.

If you're not careful, your meridians will burst.

After Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye arrived, they did not make a sound to disturb them, but stood quietly to one side, waiting for Emperor Sheng to finish removing the Gu.

In addition, several princes in the capital were present. The sixth prince felt sorry for Emperor Sheng when he saw him suffering such torment, and his eyes turned red.

Mu Lingye, however, seemed completely oblivious, as indifferent as if the person lying in the bed was a complete stranger. This couldn't be blamed on Mu Lingye; as the saying goes, every cause has its effect.

Half an hour later, Yao Duzhong finally stopped. He stood up and put the used silver needles and leftover special incense into his medicine box.

Gu Junxi then stepped forward to greet Yao Duzhong: "Senior Brother."

"She's awake!" Yao Duzhong smiled as he looked at Gu Junxi, who seemed to be out of danger.

Gu Junxi nodded: "Thank you, Senior Brother, for suppressing the Gu worms for me, which is why I was able to wake up so quickly."

When the Sixth Prince Mu Lingche and the others saw Gu Junxi exchanging pleasantries with Yao Duzhong and heard Gu Junxi call Yao Duzhong "Senior Brother," they suddenly realized that Gu Junxi had such an extraordinary hidden identity.

Without realizing it, he began to trust Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye to some extent.

"Master of Medicine Valley, how is Father Emperor's health now?" Mu Lingche asked first.

Eucommia ulmoides frowned and told the truth: "His Majesty's body was already depleted from taking those potent elixirs. Now, with the addition of the Gu poison, even though it has been removed, it's still not enough. He only has three days left at most. We must be prepared."

This preparation naturally refers to preparing for the aftermath, and the expressions on the faces of the princes present became subtle.

Qingyanzi's recent calamity in the capital has resulted in the princes suffering some degree of suppression.

Now that Mu Lingye has completely taken control of the situation, it is now virtually impossible for him to seize the throne again.

Although this fact is hard to accept, we have to admit that they have truly lost.

Mu Lingye has not yet ascended the throne, but he is already the undisputed new emperor.

As they were talking, Emperor Sheng, who was lying on the bed, woke up.

Because of the illness, and also because he had temporarily lost control of his body, Emperor Sheng's mind went blank for a moment before he slowly came to his senses.

"Ah ah ah..."

He made a series of sounds, drawing all eyes to him.

"Father, you're awake!" Mu Lingche exclaimed excitedly.

Emperor Sheng's gaze first fell on Mu Lingche. At this moment, his emotions were still calm, but when he saw Mu Lingye, the veins on his forehead suddenly bulged and his emotions became agitated.

He pointed with difficulty at Mu Lingye: "Ah...ah..."

Mu Lingye smiled when he saw the Emperor's reaction.

Others might not understand what Emperor Sheng meant by those "ahs," but he did.

This is asking him, "Why aren't you dead yet?"

Now that things have come to this, he is not afraid of anyone saying anything, but some things are never good for others to hear.

Mu Lingye glanced around and said to Mu Lingche and his group, "You may all leave."

"Ahhh..." As soon as Mu Lingye finished speaking, Emperor Sheng shouted, signaling everyone not to leave.

Mu Lingche and the others understood the meaning behind Emperor Sheng's words.

There's a saying: "Those who understand the times are the heroes."

Emperor Sheng was clearly like a setting sun, his life and death still in Mu Lingye's hands, so his words had no effect whatsoever.

Mu Lingche led his men out of the inner chamber, and even Gu Junxi took the initiative to leave, leaving the space to Mu Lingye.

"I'll wait for you outside." Gu Junxi pulled her hand away from Mu Lingye's.

Mu Lingye had suffered so much injustice at the hands of Emperor Sheng, he needed to vent and seek justice for himself.

Mu Lingye glanced at Gu Junxi and nodded.

With everyone gone, only Mu Lingye, Emperor Sheng, and Xu Decai, who had been left behind as a translator, remained in the entire palace.

Mu Lingye came to the bedside and stared at the emaciated and emaciated Emperor Sheng.

Recalling some things that happened when he was a child, he said that Emperor Sheng was very young at the time and treated him very well.

Unlike now, where there is only annoyance and endless scolding.

He would hold his son's hand like any other father, teaching him to write and to ride a horse.

But everything changed after my mother passed away.

He became so unaware of what he had done wrong.

"Ahhh!" Emperor Sheng was well aware of the numerous crimes he had committed against Mu Lingye. Now that they were alone in the bedchamber, he too felt fear.

Emperor Sheng's cloudy eyes widened, his hands gripping the bedsheets tightly, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

"What is he saying?" Mu Lingye's broad figure loomed over Emperor Sheng. He didn't understand what Emperor Sheng was saying, so he turned to ask Xu Decai.

Xu Decai dared not meet Mu Lingfang's gaze, and bowed respectfully, saying, "His Majesty is looking for His Highness Prince Xuan."

"Heh!" A cold laugh escaped Mu Lingye's throat. The smile on Mu Lingye's face vanished in an instant, his expression tightened, and he stretched out his hands to tightly grip the Emperor Sheng's neck.

"Mu Lingxuan conspired with Qingyanzi and Wei Ming to rebel and kill you, yet you still care about him. Since you care about him so much, then go to the underworld and join him now."

As soon as Mu Lingye finished speaking, his hands tightened suddenly. Emperor Sheng had no power to resist at all and could only watch helplessly, making "uh-uh" sounds.

"Your Highness, please have mercy! His Majesty only has a few days left to live. If you kill him now, you will be branded as a patricide. Why bother?" Xu Decai, seeing this, knelt down in fear and begged for mercy.

Xu Decai is selfish, and it's true that he only chooses to protect himself in the face of danger, but he does still have some feelings for Emperor Sheng. Besides, the reason he dares to plead with Mu Lingye is because he understands Mu Lingye's character.

Mu Lingye has the demeanor of the late Empress, and never engages in collective punishment.

Moreover, he remembered that Mu Lingye was the most filial child when he was young, and he also had a good relationship with Emperor Sheng.

Even if you change as you grow up, your nature will never change.

He believed that Mu Lingye would never do something like patricide.

He's in a fit of anger right now, and what he needs is someone to pull him out of his straits.

"Uh..." The syllables that Emperor Sheng could utter became smaller and smaller, and his entire gaunt face had turned bluish-purple.

Mu Lingye tightened her grip on his hands, and just as Emperor Sheng was about to roll his eyes, Mu Lingye released her hands.

This near-death experience completely threw Emperor Sheng into a panic, and at the same time, it made him finally feel a trace of fear towards Mu Lingye.

"I'll ask you a question, you answer it, or I'll send you to meet the King of Hell right now!" Mu Lingye looked at Emperor Sheng with icy eyes, holding absolute control over this negotiation.