Why is there no joy? (Forty-one)

The current situation in the imperial city is clear to anyone who isn't foolish.
Many officials who are deeply trusted by the Empress have claimed illness to avoid visits from the Crown Prince.
But you can escape the first day, but not the fifteenth.
They can once excuse themselves from seeing guests by claiming physical discomfort, but they cannot use this as an excuse for long.
"Sigh."
Thinking of the general who has already set off to the northwest, many people feel a sense of envy in their hearts.
```htmlIf only they had followed along, there wouldn't be today's troubles.
Officials can endure, but the Crown Prince cannot.
The Assistant Minister has been missing for half a month.
The spies she sent to the Great Marsh were cut in half.```
她猜测南挽已经知道了，估计马上就会上报给女皇，到时她就完了。
“Cannot wait any longer.”
The Crown Prince murmured to himself.
Her time was running out; she had to act immediately.
```htmlAfter thinking this over, she headed straight to the imperial palace.
The empress, feeling faint from her illness, had tossed and turned all night before finally managing to fall asleep.
"Your Highness."
Upon seeing her arrive, a nearby serving maid hurriedly bowed in greeting.
The crown prince waved his hand, signaling for them to leave.```
```htmlThe palace maid's expression was difficult.
The empress had previously instructed that no one should disturb her.
"Your Highness, the Empress has ordered..."
"Foolish."
The sycophant beside the crown prince was adept at reading faces; seeing the prince's displeasure, he kicked out.```
```html“Can Your Highness be like an ordinary person?”
“As the Crown Prince, the legitimate son of the Empress, and deeply favored by His Majesty, if His Majesty wakes up and knows that His Highness has been wronged, be careful with your heads.”```
The palace maid's expression was hesitant.
“Why aren't you moving aside quickly?”
The toady saw that they were scared and arrogantly cleared a path for the crown prince to pass.
“Mother Empress.”
Upon seeing the weak woman lying on the dragon bed, a trace of mockery flashed in the crown prince's eyes, but it was quickly masked, and his gaze subtly revealed three parts admiration.
The loud noise just now couldn't have gone unnoticed by the Empress.
She slowly opened her eyes, her voice hoarse: "Why are you here?"
Why can't I come?
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince was initially inclined to step forward and confront. But recalling the purpose of today, he forced himself to hold back.
“When I, the son, learned that Mother Empress's condition had worsened, I wanted to come personally to take care of her and ease her worries.”
Although the Empress was ill, she was not foolish; the Crown Prince's sincerity and deceit were easily discernible to her.
"Share worries?"
The empress tugged at the corner of her mouth meaninglessly: "I'm afraid sharing worries is just a facade; seizing power is the real intention."
This daughter of hers has certainly been raised with increasingly grand desires.
“Mother Empress.”
The crown prince's smile is pure, appearing quite harmless to both people and animals.
"You have grown old."
Throughout history, power transitions are often accompanied by fierce competition.
But the crown prince is different; she poses no threat and is rightful in her succession.
```htmlAs soon as the Empress gives the order, she can openly take that position.
She now has everything, except for a rightful title.
The Empress straightened her posture, her eyes extremely cold.```
“It seems you still haven't learned your lesson.”
“What does Mother Empress mean?”
The Crown Prince asked knowingly, “Hasn't your son already learned his lesson?”
Imprisonment, loss of power, and the mockery of others.
She has almost tried every bit of suffering she has never experienced in this lifetime.
As well as being forced to separate from the one she loves.
Thinking of Yun Yao, the Crown Prince felt a deep frustration in his heart.
She rarely encountered someone she liked, only to be torn apart by the Empress in such a petty manner.
The crown prince's heart ached like a knife at the thought of the pure and kind Yun Yao suffering so much hardship behind her back, where she could not see.
“Mother Empress, I don't want to force you.”
“Force?”
The Empress looked directly at the crown prince, as if trying to see through him completely.
“Do you think you have the right to compel me?”
The crown prince felt a chill run down his spine under her gaze, yet he still forced himself to remain calm.
"Certainly, I do."
Nearly half of the ministers in the court followed her orders, and even the palace maids in the empress's palace had to obey her.
The empress gave a cold laugh and remained silent.
Knowing that she was at her wit's end, the crown prince felt a touch of guilt in his heart, but it was slight, only a trace.
"Mother Empress, your son will surely cultivate himself and manage his family well in the future, living up to the teachings you once imparted."
说完，她便起身，想从女皇身上拿到传国玉玺。
但手还没有完全探出，就被人拦下。
"You..."
太子第一次正眼看着自己的父君。
```html“I have said it before, you have no qualifications.”
The Empress said coldly.
“Nonsense.”
The Crown Prince curled his lips: “No one in this world is more qualified than me.”
She is a legitimate daughter born of the main wife.```
“Legitimate?”
The Empress looked at her with a hint of mockery: “What makes you think you are legitimate?”
Today, he finally understood, expressing all the grievances and frustrations he had kept bottled up for so many years.
“Your father is just an ordinary servant. Because of your difficult birth, he had to be registered under my name. If we're being honest, you should be considered a bastard.”
"Impossible."
The Crown Prince was stunned.
If her father was truly an ordinary servant, why had the Empress treated her as her own for all these years?
“Your Highness, do you not understand the principle that too much is as bad as too little?”
For many years, the Empress had been holding back, and only today did she finally reveal the truth, not wanting to give the other party the satisfaction.
“Mother Empress.”
The Crown Prince looked at the Empress with hope.
The empress avoided her gaze, which was tantamount to acquiescence.
The crown prince suddenly felt like a joke after all these years.
While others thought she was deeply favored, this favor came with ulterior motives.
```htmlThe favored one of the empress may not be her at all; she could just be a shield brought out for the occasion.
"I don't believe it."
The prince stumbled and ran away.
"You can go back!"
The empress waved her hand and lay down by herself.```
“Go back? Lock up?”
The Empress retorted.
"You..."
This was the first time she looked at her husband directly.
Initially, she had gone against popular opinion to crown him as the Empress because he bore a striking resemblance to that person.
“Your Majesty, it is time for me to leave the palace.”
The Empress, who had always worn a cold expression, finally broke into a smile.
He had never liked this person and had no intention of bearing any offspring for them.
The Crown Prince is not his biological son, and the An Prince is not his biological son either.
These two have not a shred of blood relationship with her.
His slight affection for the An Prince is due to the fact that the An Prince bears some resemblance to the person in his heart.
But that person had long been dead, having died years ago in a military turmoil.
“Leave the palace.”
The empress stared fiercely at Feng Hou, her gaze sharp: “I do not allow it.”
As long as she lived a day, she would not let this person leave.
Even in death, the other party must accompany her to the grave.
“I’m afraid it cannot be as Your Majesty wishes.”
The Empress removed her heavy phoenix crown and took off her magnificent robes in front of her, leaving without looking back.
“Block him, quickly block him.”
The Empress finally realized that some things had already spiraled out of control.
However, the palace maids stationed at the gate acted as if they didn’t see anything, allowing the Phoenix Empress to leave without hindrance.
"Ahem, ahem, ahem."
The empress was furious and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Your Majesty."
A palace maid heard the noise and walked in: "It's time, Your Majesty, you should take your medicine."
"Get lost."
The empress casually grabbed something and threw it outside: "Get out, all of you, get out."
A group of traitorous individuals.