If you're made a fake emperor, why did you change the country's name?

Sunlight streamed into the imperial study through the cracks in the window, casting long, thin beams of light within which dust motes floated and tumbled in the air.

The clear sound of a walking stick came from outside the hall, growing louder as it approached.

Before long, an old woman dressed in a phoenix robe and holding a dragon-headed cane entered, supported by palace maids.

She was the Empress Dowager, née Qian.

The Empress Dowager dismissed her attendants, leaving only the two of them in the vast imperial study.

"Yu'er, why have you summoned me so early?" The Empress Dowager's voice was somewhat urgent.

The main reason is that Zhao Yu hasn't contacted her since their relationship soured.

This unprecedented attempt to find her, especially so early in the morning, inevitably made him uneasy.

Zhao Yu didn't beat around the bush and told the whole story of his dream from the previous night.

He deliberately omitted the details of how he retaliated and replaced "Zhao Yu" with "the late emperor".

He then went on to embellish his account of what he had seen and heard, the malice of the person behind it all, and the slender figure he had caught a glimpse of at the end.

"...Most importantly, the jade pendant that person wore at his waist had an earth dragon pattern."

After he finished speaking, the imperial study fell into a deathly silence.

The veins on the back of the Empress Dowager's hand, which held the dragon-headed cane, bulged out one by one.

The previous kindness had vanished, replaced by a murderous intent that seemed to solidify on his face.

"Earth dragon pattern..."

Those were ornaments that only direct descendants of the Liang royal family were qualified to wear.

This means that a traitor has emerged from her Qian family, who is using such insidious witchcraft to harm her own son.

"It seems some have forgotten how I became Empress Dowager!"

Zhao Yu lowered his eyes and took in her reaction.

He then gave a timely sigh, displaying an expression of lingering fear and considerable unease.

"Mother, this matter is of utmost importance."

"Although I have the Embroidered Uniform Guard under my command, they are, after all, officials from outside the capital. If they rashly investigate the imperial relatives, it may alert them and give them ammunition to criticize us."

"After much thought, I believe that among the imperial relatives, only you can maintain order and conduct a legitimate investigation into this matter."

Zhao Yu stood up and bowed deeply to the Empress Dowager.

"I implore Your Majesty to summon all members of the imperial clan to the palace under the pretext of 'rectifying the etiquette system of the Imperial Clan Court' to thoroughly investigate this matter."

"I understand."

The Empress Dowager coldly interrupted him.

She stared at Zhao Yu, her aged face devoid of any emotion, but Zhao Yu could sense a storm brewing within her.

"Anyone who dares to harm my son, I will tear them to pieces."

After saying this, she said no more, leaned on her cane, and turned to leave.

The sound of the cane striking the ground struck people's hearts heavily with each blow.

Watching the Empress Dowager's departing figure, Zhao Yu's lips slowly curved into a smile.

This knife is fast and sharp.

"Qiu Ping," he called softly to the empty hall.

A dark figure appeared silently in front of him and knelt on one knee.

It was Qiu Ping, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"His Majesty."

"Go, send someone to keep a close eye on the Empress Dowager."

Zhao Yu's voice was soft, yet it carried a chilling undertone.

"Keep a close eye on the first person she comes into contact with after returning to the palace, no matter who that person is or what their status is."

"yes!"

Qiu Ping lowered his head even further.

"The Empress Dowager's sword has been drawn."

Zhao Yu's lips curled up in a smile.

Compared to the current weakness of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Coffin Master is most likely a Celestial Realm expert.

If the Embroidered Uniform Guard were to investigate, they would most likely find nothing.

But if the Empress Dowager investigates, things will be different.

She checked the family genealogy one by one to find out who had ever owned a jade pendant with a dragon pattern. Everyone had to be investigated.

No matter how well that "coffin maker" could hide, he couldn't withstand such a massive search.

Therefore, if the real Zhao Yu does not want this pawn to be exposed, he must send someone to contact the Empress Dowager and let her know that he is an imposter and that Zhao Yu is the real one.

And the one that comes into contact with is most likely the eye that sees through his every move!

Zhao Yu had to give up one of these open schemes for him, no matter what.

Zhao Yu would call this move "borrowing a knife to scare the snake"!

at the same time.

Deep within the Zhennan Prince's Mansion, in a secluded room filled with calming incense, a still-attractive woman in a brocade robe exhaled a long breath of stale air.

She rubbed her throbbing temples, her face full of annoyance.

"What bad luck! That beggar emperor's imperial artifact can actually counter my 'Dream Spell'."

"Fortunately, there are still two nights left. As long as it succeeds once, the effect will be the same."

As she was talking to herself, a servant's respectful voice came from outside the door.

"Madam, a letter from Lord Zhennan."

"read."

"The prince said that he will personally return to the capital to handle His Majesty's affairs in a few days, and that you should not interfere."

The beautiful woman's face instantly darkened.

"Okay," she replied impatiently.

Once there was no more noise outside the door, she began to complain in a low voice.

"Not getting involved? The opportunity will be lost!"

"Fighting destroyed his manhood and his brain along with it."

"If we don't seize this opportunity to get close to His Majesty now, when will we?"

Her tone carried a hint of a resentful woman's muttering.

"I wonder if he's telling the truth or not that he'll recover in a month..."

Night fell once again over the imperial city.

The Imperial Clan Court, which was relatively peaceful during the day, was now brightly lit and filled with a somber atmosphere.

The Empress Dowager indeed took action.

Qiu Ping's secret report was presented to Zhao Yu's desk.

The secret report clearly stated that the Empress Dowager summoned all imperial relatives in Beijing to the Imperial Clan Court under the pretext of inspecting the genealogy of the imperial clan.

Holding the family genealogy, she questioned each person one by one. Anyone whose words were even slightly evasive, or anyone she noticed as suspicious, was dragged out and beaten to death without a word.

Within an hour, three members of the clan had already died on the spot.

Throughout the Imperial Clan Court, everyone was on edge and kept silent.

Zhao Yu put down the secret report and tapped his fingertips lightly on the table.

"Now, let's see how you handle this, Zhao Yu."

In the darkness, a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.