"If you dare to take one step forward again, this palace will accuse you of treason and exterminate your entire Yan family!"
Zhao Hua's sword was pointed at Yan Hong's throat, which momentarily subdued him.
As a military general, he was accustomed to battlefield killings, but he was astonished to find a woman like Zhao Hua daring to confront him with a sword.
After regaining his composure, Yan Hong suddenly grabbed Zhao Hua's blade, causing a deep and long cut on his palm, blood dripping down the cold steel.
Seemingly oblivious to the pain, he tightened his grip even more, "Is the Empress trying to stop me from protecting the emperor because she has ulterior motives?"
In the midst of the dispute, soldiers from both sides were ready for battle at any moment.
*Squeak*
Suddenly, the door to the inner chamber was pushed open.
Hearing the commotion, everyone's gaze turned towards Ning Wanshuang, who walked out alone with her head held high.
Facing the astonished crowd, she calmly approached Zhao Hua and stood by her side before coldly addressing everyone, "No need to protect the emperor anymore. His Majesty has ascended to the heavens."
Her words caused an uproar, and Yan Hong pushed aside Zhao Hua's sword, confronting Ning Wanshuang, demanding, "What did you say?"
Ning Wanshuang met his intense gaze with indifference, casually stating, "I said, the Emperor is dead. And I killed him with poison."
Her words were so casual, as if the Emperor's death was inconsequential, like that of an insignificant animal.
Zhao Hua's heart clenched upon hearing her words.
Firstly, she never expected Ning Wanshuang to take matters into her own hands and kill Xiao Jingheng at such a critical moment.
Secondly, now that she had spoken these words in front of Yan Hong, if Xiao Jingheng's poisoning were to be confirmed, Ning Wanshuang would have no way out.
To protect Ning Wanshuang, Zhao Hua had to steady herself and loudly rebuke her, "Empress Dowager, you must not speak nonsense. His Majesty was gravely ill and unable to bear the suffering. He once told me he wanted a swift end, and you simply granted his wish?"
Ning Wanshuang smiled but didn't answer, pushing through the crowd and leaving without looking back.
Yan Hong couldn't let her leave like this. He quickly stepped forward and grabbed her arm, blocking her path, "Empress Dowager, I'm afraid you can't leave at this moment!"
Ning Wanshuang glanced back at him with a cold gaze, taunting, "You don't need to stop me. With these high palace walls surrounding me, where can I go? The investigation hasn't started yet, and you, a former general of the previous dynasty, have no authority to meddle in harem affairs. If you want to accuse me, wait until there is concrete evidence that the Emperor was poisoned with Crimson Crest Poison, then it won't be too late to come after me."
With a forceful shake, she broke free from Yan Hong's grip and walked out of the Chaoyang Palace.
At this moment, the concubines attending to the emperor's illness, the historians recording events, and countless palace maids and eunuchs rushed into the inner chamber.
Yan Hong couldn't afford to delay for a moment and hurried inside to check on Xiao Jingheng's condition.
At this time, Zhao Hua couldn't chase after Ning Wanshuang to get some clarity.
She must stay, awaiting Xiao Yinzi to present Xiao Jingheng's posthumous decree, stabilizing the court's situation before discussing other matters.
Moreover, if it's indeed revealed that Xiao Jingheng's death was caused by Ning Wanshuang, then Zhao Hua can also promptly consider countermeasures.
She instructed Xiao Fuzi in a low voice, saying:
"Inform the guards under my brother's command, if Yan Hong insists on holding Ning Wanshuang accountable, I am willing to resort to rebellion to protect her!"
Xiao Fuzi repeatedly agreed and promptly went to carry out the task.
Meanwhile, Zhao Hua, supported by Yun Shan, slowly made her way to the inner chamber.
At the doorstep, Zhao Hua already heard the continuous sobbing coming from the inner chamber.
As she pushed the door open and entered, Xiao Yinzi, kneeling by Xiao Jingheng's bedside, turned around hastily to kowtow to her, crying:
"Empress! The Emperor... has passed away!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Hua's legs went weak, stumbling for a moment.
Fortunately, the attendants around her steadied her, preventing her from falling to the ground.
With steps as heavy as lead, she laboriously walked to Xiao Jingheng's bedside.
Looking at the person lying quietly on the bed, a myriad of emotions flooded Zhao Hua's heart.
She recalled the verdant days she had spent with Xiao Jingheng when she first entered the palace.
At that time, she had indeed, for a moment, believed that Xiao Jingheng was a man worthy of entrusting her lifetime to.
Now that her beloved had passed away, with their marriage dissolved, she could only kneel on the ground in shock, grasping Xiao Jingheng's cold and stiff hand, unable to hold back her tears, murmuring:
"Xiao Lang... Your Majesty!"
In the first day of the third month of the tenth year of Qiyuan, Emperor Qilong, Xiao Jingheng, passed away at the age of thirty-one.
