Emperor Luo's heart grew utterly cold.
He never should have held any expectations for the Empress Dowager.
"Empress Dowager, We will personally see to justice for Our Imperial Sister. We ask that you keep your Jin'er in line. For the sake of your fervent protection of him, We can let him off for now."
"But if there is a next time, do not blame Us for disregarding the bonds of brotherhood."
"Even if you throw a tantrum or try to suppress Us with filial piety, We will absolutely not compromise."
"And please relay this to him: tell him to put away his ambitions. We are perfectly clear about his actions. We can tell him explicitly that Our throne is not something he can just snatch away because he wants to."
Emperor Luo's tone was firm and resolute.
In all these years, this was the first time he had spoken to the Empress Dowager with such decisiveness and finality. Of course, he had no regrets. On the contrary, he felt a sense of relief all over, wishing he had laid down these harsh words sooner.
The Empress Dowager's breathing grew ragged, her anger flaring.
"Emperor, how dare you say I throw tantrums?"
"I am the Empress Dowager of this nation! How could I engage in such shrewish behavior? You are simply too unreasonable, too much of a disappointment to me."
"Furthermore, your third imperial brother has always been well-behaved and kept to his station. He has never coveted your throne. Why must you slander him to this extent? Why must you have me relay these words to him?"
The Empress Dowager's mind felt like a muddle. In her heart, her Jin'er was perfect in every way. How could he possibly commit such a treasonous act?
Emperor Luo clenched his fists tightly, his jaw locked.
He desperately wanted to tell the Empress Dowager that the Anguo Duke's Mansion was secretly colluding with Tianzhu, and the person behind it all was none other than her precious son, Luo Fangjin.
The two were partners in crime, both committing treason, and had even won over half the ministers in the court. The private network they had built was extensive, their intentions obvious.
It was an utterly heinous crime.
But forget it. Saying these things would only be for the momentary satisfaction of a sharp tongue; it would have no real effect and would instead alert the enemy.
Given his mother's temperament, she would immediately summon Luo Fangjin to the palace, showering him with concern and affection.
Heh, Luo Fangjin's ambitions had never changed.
He hadn't dealt with him before because the Empress Dowager had been in the middle, protecting him with all her might.
But now!
Setting aside his private efforts to win over court ministers, the fact that he had secretly instructed the Anguo Duke's Mansion to harm his Imperial Sister was unforgivable.
It had thoroughly enraged the usually good-tempered Emperor.
And his Imperial Sister was his reverse scale!
This had severely crossed his bottom line!
At this moment, he was extremely disappointed in Luo Fangjin and the court ministers. At the same time, he was reflecting on whether he had been too benevolent, too indecisive.
Was that why these people had become so audacious, colluding in private, to the point where they were about to ride on his head and relieve themselves?
Emperor Luo's eyes grew resolute as he secretly made up his mind.
From this day forward, whether it was toward Luo Fangjin, the civil and military officials, or the consorts of the Imperial Harem, he would no longer be soft-hearted. He would only be impartial and incorruptible, dealing with matters strictly according to the law!
If he couldn't even protect the people he cared about, then he might as well not be the Emperor!
Oh ho!
After the incident with Princess Qingyang, the soft-hearted emperor had finally learned from his painful experience and steeled his heart to clean up the imperial court.
If Little Ginseng Spirit Luo Ranran knew, she would surely wave her ginseng rootlets and dance with joy.
Hehe, congratulations, Emperor Uncle, your bloodline has awakened! ^0^~
Emperor Luo suppressed his emotions, no longer bothering to speak with the Empress Dowager. He said only one thing: "Empress Dowager, during this period, the imperial court will undergo a major reshuffle. To prevent Your Ladyship from being affected, please remain in Cining Palace and go nowhere."
The Empress Dowager: ……('' )
Emperor Luo immediately turned and exited the palace hall, giving an order to the Imperial Guards outside.
"Surround Cining Palace. No one is allowed in, and no one inside is allowed out. In particular, do not allow any random person to take anything out. If discovered, kill on sight."
The Imperial Guards, their faces stern, respectfully accepted the order. "Yes, Your Majesty."
The sound was deafening, the aura immense.
The Empress Dowager clutched her chest with one hand and supported herself on an armrest with the other. Her face was filled with pain and sorrow, and large tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably.
She didn't know what was wrong with her.
Watching the gradually departing back of the Emperor, whose heart she had broken, her own heart throbbed with an unstoppable pain, as if insects were gnawing at it from within, causing her unbearable agony.
Ahhh, what on earth was happening to her?
"Pfft!" As the Empress Dowager struggled with her inner torment, her face contorted, and she suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted completely.
"Ah! Empress Dowager, what's wrong?" Nanny Hua turned pale with fright and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Imperial Physician! Someone, quickly! Call an Imperial Physician! The Empress Dowager has vomited blood and fainted! Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has fainted!"
Emperor Luo's steps halted. He frowned deeply and instructed his personal eunuch, Eunuch Xiao Li.
"Xiao Li, send someone to summon Imperial Physician Huang to Cining Palace."
Xiao Li lowered his gaze and respectfully accepted the order. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Sigh, what a mess!
…
Upon receiving the summons, the working man Imperial Physician Huang immediately grabbed his medicine box and rushed to Cining Palace without stopping.
His poor old legs were about to break from running.
"This subject pays his respects to the Emperor. Long live Your Majesty…"
"Enough, dispense with the formalities. Quickly diagnose the Empress Dowager." Emperor Luo waved a large hand, his face worried as he looked at the Empress Dowager lying on the bed.
Imperial Physician Huang dared not delay and hurried forward to make his diagnosis.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager was overcome with anger, which caused her to vomit blood and faint. However…"
Emperor Luo: "However what?"
Imperial Physician Huang's brows furrowed as he replied cautiously, "However, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has severe internal damage and a serious deficiency of qi and blood. If this continues long-term, I'm afraid…" she won't have many years left.
He dared not say the last part.
A single slip-up could cost him his head. Fortunately, his own Emperor was not a great tyrant who would demand heads at the slightest provocation.
Emperor Luo's gaze turned cold. He truly couldn't understand how the pampered Empress Dowager could have severe internal damage and a deficiency of qi and blood.
Before he could figure it out, Nanny Hua recovered from her shock. "Imperial Physician Huang, the Empress Dowager has her pulse checked for wellness every few days. Her body was clearly healthy and without worry. How could it be this serious?"
Imperial Physician Huang looked at the incredulous Nanny Hua, then glanced cautiously at Emperor Luo, and said in a firm tone, "Your Majesty, this subject dares to guarantee with my own integrity that every word I have spoken is true."
Nanny Hua's heart skipped a beat.
Only then did she realize that in her emotional state, her tone had inadvertently questioned Imperial Physician Huang.
She hurriedly explained, "Imperial Physician Huang, this servant was not questioning your medical skills, I just suddenly couldn't accept this diagnosis. To be honest with you, just yesterday, Imperial Physician Sun checked the Empress Dowager's wellness pulse. He said the Empress Dowager was in good health and would surely live a long life."
"Imperial Physician Sun?"
Imperial Physician Huang understood immediately, then let out a disdainful sneer.
"Nanny Hua, I can say this: my medical skills are the best in the entire Imperial Medical Academy. As for Imperial Physician Sun, hehe, to be frank, his skills are mediocre. He can't even pass the various assessments at the Imperial Medical Academy and is fundamentally unfit for the position of Imperial Physician."
To put it bluntly, he was someone who became an Imperial Physician solely through connections. His medical skills were even worse than those of a consulting physician in a medical hall.
Hmph… ptooey