wear it lord god

Chapter 2681 Being an Empress Isn't Easy 27
This time, no one caused any trouble by trying to hold the sacrifices in this palace or that palace.

Even if the palace is changed, there are still so many inspection procedures. Even if a concubine falls, it is her own business.

Xining, dressed in palace attire, followed Liu Cheng, who was dressed in imperial robes, to offer incense and kowtow.

During this time, although Liu Cheng did not say he would punish her, she kept herself locked in Fengyi Palace. She ignored everything, forgoing greetings, and publicly declared that she was praying for the Empress Dowager and the fate of the nation.

But instead of becoming thinner, she actually looked a bit rounder.

As soon as she finished kowtowing, Xining immediately stood up and went to help Liu Cheng up: "Your Majesty."

A faint, almost imperceptible, contemptuous smile played on Liu Cheng's lips. Even if she was the Empress, she was still his woman, her life, death, honor, and disgrace entirely at his whim.

"Kill the tyrant!" Suddenly, several men dressed in black appeared out of nowhere, wielding knives, and charged towards them.

Chaos erupted immediately, with the concubines scattering in terror, and the guards standing watch around the perimeter drawing their swords.

"Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!" Xi Ning shouted, helping Liu Cheng back.

Six months ago, when the Crown Prince and Prince Wen were ordered by imperial decree to go to the northern frontier for training, Xining secretly hosted a banquet and invited the Three Dukes. On the one hand, it was to have a meal with her son, and on the other hand, to thank the Three Dukes for their years of guidance to the Crown Prince.

During the banquet, Xi Ning offered a toast: "The three of you are all pillars of the court and relatives of the Empress by marriage. If one day the Crown Prince is deposed, I wonder if the three of you would agree to it."

The Grand Tutor, Grand Preceptor, and Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince exchanged glances, their wine cups still raised.

Isn't that obvious? Now all three of their daughters are married to the Crown Prince. When the Crown Prince ascends the throne, there will be an Empress and two Consorts.

If the crown prince is deposed, the three fathers-in-law of the emperor will lose their positions.

The Grand Tutor remained composed and asked softly, "Did Your Majesty hear something?"

Xi Ning put down her wine glass: "Sit down first, and eat some meat."

He then glanced at Qiushi beside him, and Qiushi immediately clapped his hands, led all the palace servants out, and closed the door.

Xi Ning then spoke: "His Majesty is suspicious by nature and easily swayed by rumors. He intends to target the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, so this trip is supposedly a training exercise, but in reality, it's sending the Crown Prince to the northern frontier to monitor the situation. If the Crown Prince replies and exposes the Duke of Zhenguo's crimes, he may live a little longer; if he shows favoritism, he will be eliminated along with the Duke."

The three dukes and the crown prince were immediately terrified.

The Grand Tutor stared wide-eyed, with an incredulous expression: "No way, even tigers don't eat their cubs."

Xi Ning just sneered. The previous plot not only killed the crown prince, but also caused the children born to the original owner to either die or be ruined.

After thinking it over carefully, the Crown Prince realized that his father seemed to be just that kind of person. He immediately stood up from his seat and knelt down before her, pleading, "Mother, save me!"

"Your life depends on your three fathers-in-law. If you cannot save your life, your three wives will all have to be buried with you. If you can ascend the throne, not only will your three families become noble families, but they will also assist you in handling state affairs."

The crown prince was not confused; he turned to his three fathers-in-law.

"Oh dear, no, no!" The three dukes all jumped up to help the crown prince. This was the heir apparent, the future emperor.

Just as his hand touched her and before he could even lift her up, he heard the Empress's voice: "Ji'er, swear here before the three of you that the future Crown Prince will be chosen from among the three princesses."

The crown prince immediately swore that his heir would be chosen from the children of his three current wives.

After a moment of silence, the three dukes bowed first and said, "Your subject is willing to serve Her Majesty the Empress."

Although his daughter was a concubine, and the Crown Prince's principal wife was about to give birth, what did it matter if he was the eldest grandson? Who could predict the future? First, they needed to secure the Crown Prince's position and get him to become emperor. Then the Grand Tutor and Grand Preceptor bowed, expressing their willingness to serve.

Xi Ning's lips curled up: "Actually, it's not that difficult. You just need to find a way to infiltrate some assassins during the New Year's sacrificial ceremony and pretend to cause some trouble. I will arrange the rest."

Within the palace walls and courtyards, it's incredibly difficult for an assassin to infiltrate. But what if the assassin was originally an insider of the palace?
They could bribe some guards, or even hire a few eunuchs or palace maids who knew a little martial arts, dress them in black, cover their faces with veils, and make them look like real assassins.

Now it's done, isn't it? A dozen assassins rushed over with knives, and occasional stray arrows were fired. Although the arrows were a bit weak, the atmosphere was just right.

"Help! Help!" Liu Cheng panicked. Those who become emperors are most afraid of death. He had probably forgotten that he used to be able to fight with a gun on horseback and hunt with a bow and arrow.

Xi Ning suddenly pulled out the phoenix head of the hairpin. This phoenix hairpin was made of high-quality gold. It looked no different from an ordinary hairpin, but once the phoenix head was pulled out, it turned out to be a hidden small dagger.

No sooner said than done, she swung her hand, and the sharp tip of the knife sliced ​​across Liu Cheng's neck...

Liu Cheng froze, instinctively clutching his neck, and was horrified to see his empress slowly pull the lower half of the hairpin from her hair and insert the bloodstained phoenix-headed knife back in. She then tucked the hairpin into her wide sleeve.

This is my sister. Since I can't change you, I'll cremate you!

You don't want such a good empress, such a good crown prince, such a loyal Duke of Zhenguo's family. Then die, you dog emperor!

Liu Cheng clutched his injured neck and slowly collapsed to the ground, his eyes bulging in horror.

After hiding the phoenix hairpin, Xi Ning rushed over, seemingly hugging Liu Cheng but actually pressing him down tightly, and began to wail in a fake manner: "It's terrible! His Majesty has been assassinated! Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"

Upon hearing this, the assassins scattered in all directions, leaving behind a chaotic scene.

"Your Majesty, you absolutely mustn't die!" Die quickly, hurry up and die.

"What will we do without you!" It would be better if you died, so that the Queen and her children could live.

"Where's the imperial physician? Imperial physician! Come here quickly!!!" Heh, when I do act, it's a fatal blow. With the current level of medical technology, unless I'm the one to intervene, death is inevitable.

The imperial physician who was originally testing for poison rushed over.

Liu Cheng tried to say something to the imperial physician, but as soon as he opened his mouth, blood and foam gushed out.

"Your Majesty, what do you want to say? Your concubine is here." Xi Ning pretended to lean her ear close, not caring that blood and saliva would splatter on her face. At this moment, she wanted to drag it out until Liu Cheng breathed his last.

The scene became much quieter. The frightened concubines who had been fleeing had all escaped, and the rest had recovered from their panic.

"Oh, oh, okay!" Xining nodded, raised her head, and looked at the people who had gathered around her: "His Majesty said that the Crown Prince should be the one to succeed to the throne."

"Cough, cough..." Liu Cheng coughed up even more blood in his mouth, but his life was slipping away with the gushing blood. Even though he tried to cover his mouth with his hand, blood kept seeping out from between his fingers. Finally, his hand fell limp, his whole body went limp, and he stopped moving completely.

The imperial physician cautiously extended a trembling finger and probed under Liu Cheng's nose for a moment, his eyes wide open in death. Then, he lowered his hand and wailed loudly, "His Majesty has passed away!"

After saying that, he prostrated himself on the ground and began to wail, as was customary.

"Your Majesty!" Xining cried out in grief, but secretly felt relieved.

He's finally dead. Good, he didn't cause any trouble. If Liu Cheng shakes his head, then the matter becomes unclear.

Everyone around knelt down and wailed loudly, their cries deafening.