Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 134 The Demonic Concubine Brings Ruin to the Country, and the Crown Prince's Ambition!

"It is illogical for a mere woman to wield the power of 500,000 troops."

"Now she is imprisoning her own mother, which is a violation of filial piety. If she dares to ask me for military power, I will join forces with the court officials to impeach her."

Jian Xiyan nodded, but also looked somewhat worried.

“My son, that is true, but your father has been absent from court for a long time, and the memorials submitted by the court officials are left unreviewed. Even if the court officials impeach her, it will be of no use!”

The Crown Prince looked around, and Jian Xiyan immediately understood, ordering everyone to leave.

Only the mother and son remained in the room, and the crown prince then revealed a major matter.

"Mother, some officials in the court are preparing to petition Father Emperor to appoint me as regent."

Upon hearing the words "Regent," the Empress's breathing became rapid.

After the Crown Prince became the heir apparent, the Great Zhou Emperor allowed him to form his own Eastern Palace staff.

They even invited a great scholar to tutor him and occasionally had him review memorials on his behalf.

Although the Crown Prince has not been formally appointed to oversee the country, he has handled a considerable amount of political affairs over the years.

The court officials saw this and, with the help of the officials in the Eastern Palace praising him, many people felt that the Crown Prince was capable of shouldering great responsibilities!

Now that the Great Zhou Emperor is in decline, if he could truly oversee the country, the position of Crown Prince would be even more secure.

Jian Xiyan said with some worry, "But... your father is in the prime of his life. If the court officials were to petition for you to oversee the country, wouldn't that arouse suspicion?"

“There is certainly suspicion, but Father’s current state is really strange.” The Crown Prince said, looking intently at the Empress.

The Empress was so startled by these words that she covered her mouth in shock.

"My son means..."

The Crown Prince nodded: "I suspect that Father Emperor may be ill, which is why he is hiding in Hexi Palace and not coming out."

"The timing of that newly appointed Imperial Noble Consort's arrival is also quite coincidental. Does Your Majesty know her background?"

Jian Xiyan shook her head, and a hint of hatred flashed in her eyes when she mentioned Bai Xiaoxiao.

"This woman was brought back from the common people by your father. I have never seen your father care so much about any woman."

"Consort Li gave birth to a son and a daughter, and Jiang Yueli was still highly favored, yet Consort Li was never promoted to Imperial Concubine."

"As soon as Bai Xiaoxiao entered the palace, she was made an Imperial Noble Consort. Sometimes I even wonder if your father has lost his mind."

The crown prince showed no surprise at hearing such treasonous words.

He stared at Jian Xiyan, a certain light flickering in his eyes.

The mother and son were of one mind. Jian Xiyan, who had just been complaining, instantly understood what the Crown Prince meant!

"My son, you wouldn't be thinking of..."

The Crown Prince nodded slightly: "The Imperial Noble Consort's origins are unknown, and she has bewitched the Emperor. Since she entered the palace, Father Emperor has moved to Hexi Palace and has never attended court again."

"Not only that, the capital was also hit by a severe snowstorm, causing widespread disaster. Doesn't this mean that a monstrous evil is bringing disaster to the country?"

Jian Xiyan's breathing became rapid after hearing the Crown Prince's words.

The Crown Prince continued, “This evil has brought ruin to the country. As the heir apparent, I have the responsibility to restore order.”

"The court officials have petitioned for me to oversee the country. If my father still does not respond, then it will be confirmed that my father is seriously ill and has been bewitched by evil spirits."

"When the time comes, I, as the crown prince, will purge the court of corrupt officials, remove the Imperial Noble Consort, and take the opportunity to enter Hexi Palace to see how badly the Imperial Noble Consort has tormented Father Emperor."

There was a hidden danger in the Crown Prince's words!

If he really did lead people to break into Hexi Palace, the Great Zhou Emperor...

Jian Xiyan felt her hands and feet go numb just thinking about it.

Isn't this a disguised form of coercion and rebellion?

Seemingly aware of his mother's thoughts, the Crown Prince said, "Mother, I am the heir apparent, the successor to the throne."

"If Father Emperor really has a problem, then naturally I will succeed to the throne. How can this be considered treason?"

When Jian Xiyan heard the Crown Prince utter the words "treason," her heart pounded.

With great difficulty, she suppressed her emotions and asked worriedly, "But what if your father rejects the memorial?"

The crown prince remained silent, his resolute expression concealing a certain madness!

After a while, he started talking about something else.

"Mother, how long do you think this snow will last?"

Who can say for sure what will happen in God's hands?

It might stop tomorrow, or it might rain like this for months.

Jian Xiyan shook her head: "I don't know."

The Crown Prince laughed: "The Empress Dowager doesn't know, the people of the world don't know, and the court officials know even less."

"The less we know, the more panicked we become! As the emperor, Father is indifferent to the suffering of the people. What will the court officials think?"

"My father's actions already show signs of being a tyrant. If he rejects the court officials' petition for me to oversee the country, wouldn't I then have an excuse to break into Hexi Palace?"

Jian Xiyan suddenly looked at the Crown Prince and completely understood his intention.

Her son couldn't hold back any longer!

The heavy snowfall, coupled with Emperor Zhou's refusal to hold court in Hexi Palace and the sudden appointment of an Imperial Noble Consort, gave the Crown Prince hope.

As the Empress said, the Great Zhou Emperor is in his prime and has many more years to reign as emperor.

But the Crown Prince couldn't wait any longer!

Regardless of how the court officials submitted their memorials or how the Great Zhou Emperor reacted, the Crown Prince still had to take action.

The reason is readily available: a wicked concubine brought ruin to the country.

Jian Xiyan felt her blood surging and stood up, pacing nervously.

Her instinct was to dissuade the Crown Prince from being cautious, but when it seemed that what she had thought of for so many years was within reach, she hesitated.

If her son really becomes emperor, why should she suffer any more grievances?

Bai Xiaoxiao, a woman who could bewitch the emperor, could be dealt with however she pleased!

After thinking for a long time, Jian Xiyan sighed and said, "My son, I only ask one thing of you: spare your father's life."

“I have known your father since we were young, and I cannot bear to see him end up like this. When you succeed in your mission and ascend the throne, I will take him and live in seclusion.”

"My husband and I will continue to live a life of not competing or fighting."

The crown prince glanced at Jian Xiyan and thought his mother had lost her mind.

The fact that the Great Zhou Emperor could casually bestow the title of Imperial Noble Consort upon any commoner shows that he had never paid any attention to Jian Xiyan.

I wonder where her deep affection comes from?

Jian Xiyan learned of the Crown Prince's grand scheme and could no longer remain calm, so she couldn't help but think of Mei Xingyue.

The crown prince had been the heir apparent for many years, but he had never been so eager for the throne.

However, Mei Xingyue had only been in the East Palace for a few days when the Crown Prince began to plot a coup.

Could this matter be related to Mei Xingyue?

Between a mother and son, there is nothing that cannot be asked.

The Empress asked directly, "My son, tell me the truth, was Mei Xingyue instigating this?"

The Crown Prince was troubled. How could Mei Xingyue, who was of such noble and refined character, have such thoughts?

The Empress Dowager is clearly prejudiced against the stars and the moon!

"Mother, Xingyue is a person of high moral character, how could she tell me such a thing?"

"At most, she would sigh about how difficult it was to reunite with me and how reluctant she was to part with me. If the Empress Dowager continued to obstruct her, she would be caught in a dilemma and would have no choice but to leave again."

After hearing those words, Jian Xiyan almost vomited blood.

She really wanted to crack open her son's head and see what was inside.

Isn't Mei Xingyue's instigation enough?

She practically had the words "Hurry up and ascend the throne" etched on her forehead!

No wonder her usually steady son suddenly became so radical; it was all thanks to this woman.

Compared to Mei Xingyue, what kind of vixen is Bai Xiaoxiao, a scourge of the country? Mei Xingyue is the real seductress!

The Empress immediately sensed something was wrong. Perhaps because of Mei Xingyue, the Crown Prince hadn't carefully considered the feasibility of a coup, and was only acting rashly.

That won't do!

The Empress was planning to give the Crown Prince a good talking-to.

Then they heard a noisy shouting sound outside.

"Your Highness, please return to the Eastern Palace immediately! Lady Mei is about to be beaten to death by the Eldest Princess!"