ast surgery. Her face was tired, her hands covered in blood, but she didn't show any sign of stopping. Dugu Cheng stood not far from her, just watching her until Feng Lingxi finished everything, stood..."No wonder, I said that my mother's attitude towards me is somehow…"

Dugu Cheng held Feng Lingxi's hand and comforted her, "It's okay, Mother Empress is just feeling unwell. She also knows my intentions."

"Mother, this is not a solution."

Feng Lingxi glanced at the sky, "I'm going to check on her."

"I'll be back early," Du Gucheng nodded.

Feng Lingxi responded and went out. She came to Shutai's room, knocked on the door and went in. Shutai looked at Feng Lingxi coming in, her eyes swept over her, and she asked faintly, "It's so late, why haven't you slept yet"

"Mother, today is New Year's Eve, I came to keep you company."

Feng Lingxi sat down beside Shu Taifei. Shu Taifei glanced at her, "What use are you to me I'm just an old woman with nothing interesting to offer."

"Mother, are you blaming me for letting Dugu Cheng go to Linxi County"

“This is his decision and it has nothing to do with you. I can see the situation in the palace, and I know that you are all thinking of the greater good. But every time I think of your father's death, my heart feels constricted. Finally, when Empress Dowager Cen was poisoned and about to die, you gave her antidote. Now she is alive and well, and still plotting to destroy me and Cheng’er. To be honest, I'm just so angry.”

“Mother, the assassination of Cheng wasn’t the work of Empress Cen, but rather Duguo Su. Think about it, Empress Cen doesn’t know that Cheng and I are good friends. She hopes that Cheng will bring me back to be the Fourth Princess Consort so that the Yao Clan can continue to cooperate with her and fulfill her ambitious plans. Why would she try to kill Cheng”

Shu Tai-fei looked at Feng Lingxi and questioned, "Xier, do you also think it was Du Gu Su who did this Why would he do this Could it be that he really wants to be emperor"

"Mother, this is obvious. Empress Cen once told me she wanted to make Dugu Su the emperor. But she poisoned him for over ten years. Think about it, Dugu Su is so cunning, how could he just let it go Revenge is certain, and this poison from Empress Cen must be Dugu Su's doing."

Looking at Shu Taifei's questioning eyes, Feng Lingxi continued, "Think about it, this Dugu Xiu's love Gu, he died. Cen Taihou also intentionally let Dugu Su become the emperor. If Cen Taihou also died, wouldn't Dugu Su, who became the emperor, be no longer under Cen Taihou's control"

"That's true, but if Empress Cen died, would she make Dugu Su the emperor"

“This is where Dugu Su's brilliance lies.” Feng Lingxi paused, “Mother Empress, do you really think Dugu Su would poison Empress Cen when she was still the Emperor He would definitely ascend the throne before that, and then gradually take back power, torturing and avenging Empress Cen. After all, the poison in Empress Cen's body is not immediately fatal, but a chronic one. What Dugu Su wants is to slowly torture her.”

Hearing Feng Lingxi say this, Shu Taifei frowned deeply, completely not believing that Feng Lingxi was talking about the King Su she knew.

"Isn't that child all that bad"

At first, he still affectionately called her Shufei. How could he poison Cheng'er

"Mother concubine, for the throne, there's nothing I wouldn't do."

Shutai sighed, "I just didn't expect this."

If the assassination is successful, the Emperor will investigate and inevitably target Du Gu Yu. He won't let A Cheng return to Bian Guan, claiming later that he obstructed them, making Du Gu Yu the prime suspect.

"You make a good point."

Feng Lingxi looked at Shu Taifei's serious expression, "Mother concubine, in the current situation, we only need to go to Linxi County. These two tigers are fighting each other, and one must be injured. Both Dugu Su and Dugu Yu want this imperial position, plus Dugu Xiu and Cen Taifei, who knows what will happen in the palace It's better to stay in Linxi County, deal with the war situation below, and wait for the right time."

"Xi'er, so you also want Cheng'er to replace them"

Shutai’s voice was filled with excitement. "Mother thought you didn't want Cheng'er to become emperor, which is why…”

Wind Lingxi looked at Empress Shu's agitated appearance and comforted, "Mother Empress, we need to endure. The time is not right. We can't be their scapegoats. I promise you, I will avenge the revenge of Empress Cen poisoning my father and framing me. She will taste the pain of being poisoned, and in the end, she will get nothing."

"Xi'er."

The Consort Shu was so moved, she held Feng Ling Xi in her arms, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Mother, I believe you. Whatever you say, Mother, I believe it."

Shu Taifei's worries in her heart were comforted, she was truly at ease. As long as Cen Taigi would die, she would be content.

Feng Lingxi patted her mother's back, "Xi'er and Acheng will not disappoint Mother."

Shutai's knot of anxiety loosened, and her mood improved considerably.

"Xier, if your father heard you say this, he would be pleased even in the afterlife."

“Mother, A-Cheng and I only hope that you can be happy. We are doing our best to fulfill your wishes, but some things are not as simple as they seem. So, sometimes we may not do well, please don’t blame us, we will try our best.”

The Empress Dowager nodded, "Good, this Imperial Mother trusts you."

Feng Ling Xi only then let out a breath, looking at Shu Taifei's smile, "When we reach Linxi County, I will entrust Wan'er to you. When Wan'er sees Grandmother, she will surely be happy."

"That girl, whenever my mother thinks of her, she's in a good mood. She truly wants to meet her soon."

Shutai's eyes were filled with anticipation, but the smile at the corners of her eyes couldn't be hidden.

"You'll see me soon, Mother Empress. Get some rest. We leave early tomorrow."

Feng Lingxi served the noble concubine to bed and then left her room, a worried expression on her face.

Is the throne really that alluring

She still thought that Shutai had not cared much about the throne, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be the same in the end.

Feng Lingxi didn't tell Dugu City about Shu Taifei's thoughts. She returned to her quarters and rested early, as they still had a long journey ahead. Though there hadn't been any assassination attempts these past few days, if things went according to their plan, after the new year, it would be inevitable.

Early Summer

Huangfu Qingyun received the news and knew that Feng Lingxi and Dugu Cheng were returning to Linxi County. He calculated the time and took Wan'er to Linxi County with him. During the Lantern Festival, he would be able to see Feng Lingxi. After they met, he was afraid that the distance between him and Xi'er would grow even wider.

"Your Highness."

A sweet voice came, and Huangfu Qingyun looked at the person. She was the candidate for Crown Princess chosen by his mother, Qiao Shuyue, the daughter of the Prime Minister. She was gentle and virtuous, graceful and composed, every move exuded the demeanor of a noble lady. She was meek and compliant, seemingly without any temper, making him unable to dislike or like her.

Unless his mother had insisted, he would not have let her follow him around.

Even after a month of living together, he felt nothing for Qiao Shuyue. In fact, seeing her so submissive made him feel listless, as if he were half asleep.o clan didn't want Wan'er to inherit anything at all. They only wanted her blood."Xier, I know you are intelligent beyond compare. This is all I know about the Yao clan. The rest, you will have to inv...