Having thought this through, Li Dan felt some of his sorrow ease, but anger and a chill suddenly surged within him.
He drew a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. "You have a discerning eye, Mr. Lu. Had you not pointed this out, I... the consequences would have been unimaginable. But since my third brother bestowed this pill on me, he must be taking it himself. We must find out as quickly as possible who presented it and eliminate this archvillain!"
"Who else could it be?"
Li Lingyue knitted her brows and sighed. "Most likely, Empress Wei is stirring up the waves again..."
That woman was her third brother's very lifeblood. Tell him about her schemes, and he would not believe it; ask him to stay away from her, and he would refuse.
Whenever Empress Wei was involved, there was no solution.
They could only let her wreak havoc at court!
Unless...
They replaced the emperor.
A strange gleam flashed through Li Lingyue's eyes. She raised her teacup and took a sip.
Li Dan followed with a deep sigh. "My third brother... wandered through hardship in his early years, repeatedly demoted and exiled. His circumstances were bitter, and he narrowly escaped death several times. Back then, the Wei Clan truly never abandoned him, sharing his hardships through thick and thin. My third brother values affection. After ascending the throne, he never forgot those years, and he felt gratitude toward the Wei Clan, even guilt. That was why he indulged her every whim and gave her free rein. But Empress Wei..."
He shook his head, his unfinished words heavy with worry. "The human heart is never satisfied; the chasm of desire is hard to fill. She is not someone who will accept things as they are and find happiness