Escalating Conflict

Chapter 41: Escalating Conflict

The next day, the Empress drank her tea, quite unhappy.

Last night, she had gone out of her way to eavesdrop, but after squatting there for the entire night, she hadn't heard the sound she wanted.

"The Emperor has truly changed. To be able to resist even after being drugged," the Empress said, her expression grim.

First, the sudden outburst and killing of Liu Fenggu, and now refusing to have children and remaining unmoved even when tempted.

Unexpected events kept piling up. Despite her reluctance to admit it, a sliver of panic began to creep into the Empress's heart.

What should I do? the Empress thought.

"Your Majesty, this servant has an idea," the palace maid Chunhua suddenly said. "I don't know if I should speak it."

"Speak," the Empress replied. "You've been by my side since you were little; there's no need to be so cautious."

"Yes." Chunhua nodded. "Since His Majesty doesn't want to have a daughter, and we can't force her, why not just prevent her from having children at all? We can announce to the public that she's no longer capable, and then simply adopt a daughter from the imperial clan."

The Empress was taken aback. "Adopt a daughter? No, that won't do."

She shook her head. "An adopted daughter will never be as legitimate as a biological one. There are still some factions in court who support the Emperor. They'll surely scheme behind our backs. It's not stable enough."

"Then what should we do?"

The Empress pondered for a moment, then waved her hand. "Double the dosage of the medicine!"

A few more days passed.

During these days, the dosage of the medicine in Chu Lu's dinner was doubled every day. Soon, it escalated from adding medicine to the food to adding food to the medicine.

The number of consorts sent to him increased daily, and the rooms were almost full.

Although Chu Lu complained incessantly in his heart, he remained largely unfazed. The Empress, however, grew increasingly restless.

"This can't go on. I need to think of a plan. Otherwise, she'll truly believe she's superior to me!" the Empress declared, biting her fingernails fiercely.

She considered going to see Chu Lu herself, but the bitter defeat from last time was still vivid in her mind. Going again would likely result in nothing but humiliation.

"I'll go find Liu Jin'er. Yes, I'll go find her!" the Empress's eyes lit up.

She figured her sister was clever and full of tricks. If she could handle the situation last time, she could surely handle it this time.

"Let's go! To the Liu residence," the Empress announced, standing up.

Soon, the Empress departed the palace and arrived at the Liu residence.

Upon arriving home, she first paid her respects to her mother and other relatives, exchanging pleasantries, before mentioning Liu Jin'er.

However, when the Empress brought up Liu Jin'er, her mother's expression turned subtle.

"She's in her room right now."

"In her room? It's already afternoon. She's still staying obediently in her room? That's not like her," the Empress said.

"It's not just this afternoon," her stepmother added. "She's been shut in her room for days."

The Empress frowned slightly. "What's wrong with her? Did someone bully her?"

"We don't know. She won't say when we ask," her stepmother said meaningfully. "We only know she's been like this since she returned from the palace last time."

The Empress's expression changed slightly, a sudden unease rising in her heart.

"I'll go see her!" the Empress declared immediately.

Arriving at Liu Jin'er's chambers, she pushed the door open and entered.

Inside, Liu Jin'er heard footsteps and the door opening. She irritably shouted, "Who is it?! Didn't I say not to come in?"

"It's me."

Hearing the Empress's voice, Liu Jin'er was startled. She then came out and said, "Sister?"

"What exactly is wrong with you? What happened after you went to see the Emperor last time?" the Empress asked directly.

"That, I, I..." Liu Jin'er looked frightened.

"Don't be afraid. With your sister backing you, just tell me the truth!"

Liu Jin'er seemed to find her anchor and nodded, revealing everything.

The Empress's face darkened as she listened.

She had originally thought Liu Jin'er had gone to bully the Emperor, but it turned out to be the other way around.

"This is too much! It's utterly outrageous! What does she think she is!" the Empress exclaimed, furious.

The pent-up frustration and dissatisfaction of recent times erupted at this moment.

"Chunhua, let's go," the Empress said angrily. "This time, I will have an explanation, no matter what!"

Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Chu Lu was still leisurely basking in the sun.

His complexion had improved slightly, clearly showing the positive effects of his recent rest.

"You dog emperor! Get out here!" the Empress's furious roar echoed from outside.

"Finally here?" Chu Lu didn't need to think to guess the Empress's intentions. He stood up, a silver needle held between his fingers, and calmly walked out, Xiao Lizi following behind him.

Soon, they met the Empress.

Upon seeing Chu Lu, the Empress immediately let out a cold laugh, drew the Imperial Sword, and pointed it at him, saying, "You dog emperor! How dare you! You dare to humiliate my sister!"

"Compared to you, who dares to humiliate even the Emperor, what I did is nothing," Chu Lu said.

"Hmph, enough. Stop wagging your tongue here. I didn't come to argue with you," the Empress said coldly. "You will now go to the Liu residence and beg for forgiveness!"

Is it this again? How boring. Chu Lu thought.

"And what if I don't go?" he mocked. "Are you going to threaten me with the Imperial Sword again? And then put on a show of master-servant affection."

"Heh. Your Majesty, do you think I brought the Imperial Sword to deal with you?" The Empress's expression suddenly changed, revealing an incredibly venomous smile. "I brought it for self-defense. Your Majesty, you were clearly so wise before, but now you've become so shameless and vulgar. This must be the vengeful spirit of Consort Ping causing trouble after her death, blinding Your Majesty's mind. If Your Majesty still refuses to admit your mistake, then I will scatter Consort Ping's ashes! So that the Winnowing Basket Demon dares not act recklessly again!"

After speaking, the Empress was filled with pride. She had used this same tactic to force Xu Liniang to drink poison last time, and she believed she would succeed again this time.

She looked at Chu Lu, expecting his face to contort in anger.

However, Chu Lu was incredibly calm.

"Then scatter them," Chu Lu said.

"What did you say?" The Empress was stunned.

Then, with an expression of disbelief, she said, "I'm going to scatter Consort Ping's ashes!"

"Mhm. Scatter them," Chu Lu said. "If that's not enough, you can also burn Consort Xian, Consort Min, Consort Jing... burn all the ashes of the consorts in the three palaces and six courtyards. I will not stop you. It's just..."

Chu Lu walked step by step towards the Empress, unafraid of the Imperial Sword in her hand.

He stood before the Empress and said, "Everyone you kill now, I will make you pay tenfold in the future."

Chu Lu's words were calm, but his tone carried a hint of bloodlust.

A chill rose in the Empress's heart, as if the person speaking before her was not the Emperor Xu Liniang, but some madman who annihilated entire families at the slightest provocation.

The Empress subconsciously took two steps back.

After retreating, her expression immediately changed, realizing she had shown fear.

Her entire demeanor deflated instantly.

"Since you're scared, then get out," Chu Lu said.

The Empress's face turned red with anger, but she knew that staying any longer would only lead to further humiliation. Thus, without a word, she turned and left.

It wasn't until she returned to Kunning Palace that she began to vent, screaming and smashing all the tables, chairs, and stools in the palace.

"Ahhhhh! Xu Liniang! Xu Liniang!" the Empress shrieked hysterically.

The palace maids beside her were terrified, hiding in the corners and not daring to approach.

"Haaah, haaah." After smashing things for a while, the Empress finally stopped, panting.

"Chunhua, come here," the Empress suddenly called out.

"Yes." Chunhua walked over, looking nervous. After her outburst, the Empress's expression had calmed, but her eyes grew colder, as if she had made some kind of decision.

"I've decided. I'll do as you suggested before."

"Ah? What?"

The Empress looked at her and said, "I'm going to find an adopted daughter for the Emperor!"

Two mornings later, Chu Lu was suddenly woken up and told to attend the morning court.

This immediately made Chu Lu vigilant.

Given his current situation, almost as if he had been deposed, why would he be summoned to the morning court?

Clearly, the Empress was up to something.

Xu Liniang: Strange, this didn't happen in my previous life. What is she up to?

Chu Lu: It doesn't matter. We'll deal with whatever comes. We'll adapt to the situation.

He got up, allowed the palace maids to dress him in the imperial yellow robe, and then left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Gate of Heavenly Purity

Chu Lu sat on the throne, looking down at the civil and military officials below.

The officials dared not look up at Chu Lu, but even without seeing his expression, Chu Lu could sense that the atmosphere in the hall was a little strange.

Chu Lu thought to himself, Is something wrong here? What's the procedure for your morning court?

Xu Liniang said, "After everyone is assembled, there's a ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows. Then, officials from the Court of State Ceremonial report the number of people entering the capital to express gratitude and those leaving to resign their posts. Following that, other departments report their situations one by one... Like today, with no one speaking, it's indeed very strange."

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached. Surrounded by several palace maids, the gorgeously dressed Empress slowly walked in.

Her arrival immediately drew the attention of the civil and military officials, who began to kowtow and bow.

Chu Lu narrowed his eyes, wondering if the Empress was here to show off.

After arriving, the Empress went to her designated seat and said, "All my esteemed officials, rise."

After the civil and military officials rose and the Gate of Heavenly Purity quieted down again, the Empress slowly spoke, "Today, I have an important matter to discuss with all of you."

"This matter is of great importance and is related to royal secrets, so it shouldn't be discussed openly. However, the situation is urgent, and I have no choice but to handle it exceptionally," the Empress said slowly. "I intend to adopt a girl from the imperial clan to fill the Crown Prince position."

Chu Lu was stunned.

In his mind, Xu Liniang suddenly shrieked, "What is she doing?!"

The civil and military officials also burst into an uproar.

"Empress, this is absolutely not permissible!" an old woman, shocked, stood up.

She was the Vice Minister of Revenue, Zhao Chongli, one of the few in the current court who sided with Xu Liniang. She said loudly, "The position of Crown Prince is of great importance, how can it be treated so casually? His Majesty is in the prime of his life, and it is only a matter of time before he has an heir. Why would we need to adopt one?"

"Alas," the Empress sighed. "If His Majesty could have an heir, why would I resort to such a desperate measure? This should have been a royal secret, not something to be revealed to everyone, but things have come to this, and I have no other choice. His Majesty... she is no longer capable!"

Vice Minister Zhao was dumbfounded. "Ah?"

The Empress continued, "Although His Majesty is young, her body has long been depleted. Every time we engage in intimacy, it requires a great deal of effort to prepare, and then after just a few moments... it's over. This is also why I have never conceived."

After speaking, the Empress began to weep softly.

The atmosphere in the hall became extremely awkward.

In Chu Lu's mind, Xu Liniang began to rage, "Slander, this is all slander! Nonsense! I am not depleted! I am incredibly vigorous! I can do it seven times in one night! You poisonous woman, talking such nonsense!"

Vice Minister Zhao also reacted and, in her shock, directly looked at Chu Lu and asked, "Your Majesty, is this true?"

"It's false," Chu Lu said.

"Vice Minister Zhao, please don't ask. Who would admit to such an embarrassing issue?" the Empress said. "Ultimately, His Majesty has three palaces and six courtyards, yet not a single concubine is pregnant. That speaks volumes."

"Nonsense! Utter nonsense!" Xu Liniang continued to roar in Chu Lu's mind. "I just wanted Consort Ping to have the first child, so I've been secretly controlling things! How am I incapable? I am extremely capable!"

However, Vice Minister Zhao looked at the two of them suspiciously and chose to believe Chu Lu.

"Impossible! Even if there is a hidden ailment, medicine should be administered for treatment first. Why the rush to adopt from a collateral branch of the clan? I suspect you, Empress, have ulterior motives?" Vice Minister Zhao said angrily. "You want to depose His Majesty, establish a young ruler, and control the court yourself!"

"Vice Minister Zhao, you must not speak such nonsense," the Empress's eyes narrowed.

"Fine. Empress, you said before that His Majesty was gravely ill, and you reluctantly took over the reins of government. Now that I see His Majesty is in good spirits, and since you have no ambitions, why not return the administration to His Majesty?" Vice Minister Zhao said.

The Empress's expression turned cold. Vice Minister Zhao had clearly crossed her bottom line.

"Guards, Vice Minister Zhao has fallen ill. Escort her away to rest!" the Empress commanded.

Immediately, several soldiers arrived and dragged Vice Minister Zhao away.

Vice Minister Zhao became furious and shouted, "Poisonous woman! A poisonous woman who brings ruin to the nation and its people! May you die a terrible death!"

Vice Minister Zhao's voice gradually faded.

The Empress surveyed the others again. "Do any of my lords have any further objections?"

Most of the people remaining were from the Liu family, so naturally, no one spoke.

The Empress showed a triumphant smile and looked at Chu Lu. "Your Majesty, do you have any objections?"

Chu Lu glanced at her, then at the civil and military officials below. "I am unwilling, but is there anyone willing to help me?"

Silence fell upon the hall.

"I see," Chu Lu said, scanning everyone and memorizing their faces. "Since no one is willing, then we shall follow the Empress's wishes."

The Empress's expression grew even more triumphant. She stood up and declared, "Court is dismissed!"

Returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation

At this point, Xu Liniang had also calmed down from her anger and began to worry.

"Chu Lu, what should we do? I didn't expect that poisonous Empress to use such a vicious tactic!" Xu Liniang said. "Why don't... we just yield? Cooperate and have a child. It's better than watching her adopt an heir with our own eyes."

"No," Chu Lu shook his head.

"Chu Lu, don't be stubborn. Aren't you still trying to buy time?"

"There's no need to buy time anymore."

"Ah?"