She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

At this very moment, inside and outside the Zichen Palace.

There are no fewer than thirty members of the Dayuan clan.

Upon hearing this, they were all shocked.

"Oh my!" Jiang Ruining exclaimed in exaggerated surprise, "You guys didn't know?"

"His Majesty developed his own power under the Empress Dowager's nose. When he was discovered, the Empress Dowager was afraid that he would be difficult to control, so she drugged him, making his body weaker and weaker. She also gave him aphrodisiacs every day in an attempt to leave behind a bloodline."

"His Majesty discovered this, had someone bring him an infertility drug, and took it himself! Grand Tutor Cui probably thought only the Cui family bloodline was good enough, so he switched the son born to her eldest daughter-in-law with the one born to him, making him a substitute for the imperial heir!"

Cui Qianque's expression changed.

The shocking news made him instinctively look at his elderly father.

However, he could not discern any clue from his father's face.

Even the high-ranking officials and relatives who supported the Cui family showed suspicion on their faces, scrutinizing Grand Tutor Cui and the Empress Dowager. Their positions may differ, but the royal bloodline must not be compromised in any way!

What evidence do you have?

The Empress Dowager's brow twitched, and she tightened her grip on the eldest prince's arm, then roared, "Nonsense! How dare she spread rumors about the imperial heir! Kill her!"

Jiang Ruining's neck was pressed hard against the blade, causing more blood to flow: "If not, why is the Empress Dowager feeling guilty?"

The malevolent aura emanating from Xiao Che seemed to condense into a thousand arrows, and her flowing blood seemed to solidify into ice spikes, piercing his heart: "If you dare to harm her, no one will have the throne!"

His threats worked.

The large knife that was holding Jiang Ruining stiffly retreated to a distance of three hairs, no longer penetrating deeper into her flesh due to tension and vigilance.

"Of course there's evidence!" Jiang Ruining smiled at the man who was about to explode, and continued, "Even though His Majesty has passed away, verifying the truth is not difficult!"

The Empress Dowager and Grand Tutor Cui were both shrewd and calculating. They had anticipated that their opponent had noticed something and had prepared a backup plan. But at this moment, looking at the other party's secretive smile, which clearly showed the certainty of "seeing through everything," they couldn't help but wonder if every step they took was within the opponent's calculations!

So even if it aroused suspicion, they still used their power to suppress it and forbade an autopsy!

"The late emperor's remains must not be touched! Are you plotting a rebellion?!"

Jiang Ruining slowly moved towards the Empress Dowager, sat down, and said, "According to the Empress Dowager, it's acceptable to leave the question of the royal bloodline unresolved? Oh! I forgot."

"The Empress Dowager's goal is to become Empress. You don't care whose bloodline the next emperor will have, because the world will be yours sooner or later! The child who will succeed you will naturally come from Princess Rong'an's womb!"

"Hehe~"

The Empress Dowager's most secret thoughts were exposed to her in public.

It was only at this moment that she finally recognized the wisdom of this young woman!

He also regretted not getting rid of her sooner!

Seeing her so relaxed, showing no sign of being held hostage, his composure, which had been steady for many years, began to crumble: "The Crown Prince is indeed the late Emperor's own flesh and blood, and I know this better than anyone else! There is absolutely no need to doubt it!"

Jiang Ruining turned to look at the group of Xiao clan members: "Is there really no need for doubt? Partisan strife is one thing, but are you really willing to hand over the Xiao family's empire to the Cui family?"

The imperial family members formed factions to gain more benefits and power. If the world truly became the Cui family's world, what would be left for them?

"It must be tested! Everything else can wait. Go and summon the imperial physician… no, immediately go to the common people and find ten renowned doctors! As long as the common doctors don't know who I'm taking their pulse, they won't know the truth!"

"Royal bloodline, not to be confused!"

"The Xiao family's empire will not be allowed to be defiled by treacherous officials!"

At the command of the Imperial Clan Head, the rest of the clan members immediately responded!

The Empress Dowager and Grand Tutor Cui tried to stop them, but they couldn't.

Once the people who went to kidnap the doctor left.

The hall fell silent.

The atmosphere, however, became even more tense.

Inside the bedchamber, the palace servants tidied up, making it look unlike a palace, so that the physicians who would arrive later would not have a chance to notice any trace of it.

I don't know how much time passed.

The city's doctors were arrested one after another and brought to the palace. They were masked, unconscious, and carried directly into the bedchamber.

Jiang Ruining suddenly spoke up again: "Speaking of which, don't you all suspect that His Majesty was poisoned by some people who attempted to usurp the throne?"

As soon as she finished speaking...

It was like a thunderclap.

Lord Zongzheng chimed in, "Only those who have no chance of winning would take such a risk! The Regent has His Majesty's edict, doesn't he? Fellow clansmen, carefully consider this. If you personally destroy the foundation of the Xiao family, you will not only be failing your ancestors, but also your children and grandchildren!"

The most influential elder in the Empress Dowager's faction changed his stance from absolute support: "First, if we cannot assure you that the eldest prince is His Majesty's flesh and blood, then adopt a child from the imperial clan and appoint a regent!"

This is a power struggle with the Cui family!

The Empress Dowager will also be sidelined.

Therefore, the Empress Dowager and Grand Tutor Cui would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen!

They tried their best to appease the royal family's supporters.

But the relationship between the two sides is deteriorating!

Jiang Ruining was very satisfied with the result.

While the Empress Dowager and Grand Tutor Cui were busy appeasing their supporters, she raised her hand, took off the last remaining hairpin from her hair bun, and broke it off.

blah blah blah!

Powder flew out from the hollowed-out hairpin.

The person supporting her instantly drained all her strength.

Xiao Che remained silent, only staring at her, waiting for her to make a move.

The soft whip wrapped around her wrist lashed out with a "whoosh," wrapped around her waist, and was pulled hard.

Two breaths later, the person landed steadily in his arms.

Jiang Ruining was shocked and laughed inwardly. In modern times, there are spies who infiltrate high-ranking government officials and take away all the state secrets. Now, she has escaped the hostage-taking of traitors in front of a bunch of archers. Sure enough, there are makeshift teams everywhere!

"Xiao Che, you rescued me, that's great!"

Xiao Che was furious about her involvement: "I'll deal with you when we get home!"

Jiang Ruining stuck out her tongue, completely losing her composed princess demeanor, and said mischievously, "Alright! In front of so many people, give me some face first, okay?"

Xiao Che had absolutely no way to deal with her!

Jiang Ruining rubbed her hands together: "Should I continue the main act, or is it your turn?"

Xiao Che could easily see the eager look in her eyes: "You do it!"

The Empress Dowager and Grand Tutor Cui failed to appease the members of the imperial clan and even lost hostages, which infuriated them.

Grand Tutor Cui waved his hand.

The archer immediately drew the bowstring tighter, and the bowstring made a bloodthirsty sound.

Grand Tutor Cui straightened his sleeves and regained his composure: "If you don't hand over the imperial edict and all military power, you won't leave the Zichen Palace today! If you know what's good for you, fewer casualties will be the best thing you can do, and the new emperor might spare your lives."

The young emperor feared the regent and hated the empress dowager even more, so he made two preparations. He seized an opportunity to steal a blank imperial edict from the empress dowager and wrote down his will to pass the throne to the regent.

Years later, after sacrificing more than a dozen hidden pieces, the imperial seal was finally affixed to the edict, making the will effective!

If he succeeds in consolidating power, the imperial edict will be destroyed; if he fails, he will allow the regent to ascend the throne and use him to eliminate the Empress Dowager and the Cui clan!

Throughout his life, he has never had the opportunity to make his own decisions.

He only wanted to be a wealthy prince, but his birth mother forced him to the position of supreme ruler.

Despite sitting on the supreme throne, he was monitored even when he wanted to speak to the people around him, and none of the imperial edicts he issued were of his own volition!

Despite having three children, the mother dotes on her two daughters, even when they cause a huge uproar, and helps clean up the mess. But towards him, she is only cruel!

So even if he loses completely, he will stab his birth mother hard before he dies, so that she can taste what it's like to be severely injured by a puppet and watch power slip through her fingers!

Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager's faction found out.

Driven to desperation, they staged the regicide and power grab drama from eight years ago!