"Go and see the Emperor; you've been worried about him these past few days."
The Empress Dowager saw through the Imperial Noble Consort's thoughts and directly told her to go and check on Emperor Xuanwen.
"Yes, Your Majesty." The Imperial Noble Consort, having received permission, couldn't hide her joy. She hurried to Emperor Xuanwen's bedside, her concerned gaze fixed on him.
"Your Majesty... If only you could be safe and sound, I would willingly give twenty years of my life."
A layer of mist gathered in the Imperial Noble Consort's eyes, as gentle as flowing water. Her heart felt as if it were being wrung, and even her breath ached faintly.
As the effects of the acupoints Feng Jin had pressed gradually weakened, Emperor Xuanwen, with great effort, opened his eyes and slightly moved his fingers, grasping the Imperial Noble Consort's hand.
"My beloved concubine..."
"Your Majesty, you're awake... Your Majesty!"
The Imperial Noble Consort looked at Emperor Xuanwen with ecstatic joy. In that instant, the tears in her eyes could no longer be held back, falling like pearls from a broken string.
Emperor Xuanwen raised his weak hand and gently wiped away the tears from the Imperial Noble Consort's cheeks, his voice exceedingly gentle, "My beloved concubine, I've made you suffer these past few days."
"As long as Your Majesty is unharmed, I would gladly sacrifice my own life. What is a little suffering in comparison?"
Only at this moment did Emperor Xuanwen truly understand who was sincere towards him. He felt even more deeply the debt he owed the Imperial Noble Consort over the years. A wave of bitterness washed over him, and he pulled the Imperial Noble Consort into his embrace, "Ru'er, I have failed you over the years. I will surely compensate you well in the future."
Looking back, he had indeed failed the Imperial Noble Consort significantly in these twenty years. His heart and eyes had only ever held the Empress. His favor towards the Imperial Noble Consort had been more like a routine, largely perfunctory.
Now, witnessing the Imperial Noble Consort's affection for him, he realized how excessive his own actions had been, having wronged this woman who loved him for so many years.
Upon seeing the Empress's true face again, he wished he could slap himself soundly. He had doted on such a viperous woman for so long; he had been utterly foolish.
With the Imperial Noble Consort's support, Emperor Xuanwen stood up and knelt before the Empress Dowager, kowtowing thrice. "Mother, your son has been exceedingly foolish, deceived by Lady Liu for so long and indulging her blindly, showing unwavering favor to Chu Yanxi, which led to this disaster."
"I have also implicated Your Majesty, causing you to be imprisoned. Your son is truly unfilial and unforgivable. I beg Mother to punish me."
The Empress Dowager sighed helplessly. She had not been unaware of what might happen today. It was indeed due to Emperor Xuanwen's failure to see the true faces of Lady Liu and Chu Yanxi. However, if there was blame, she also bore some.
Knowing Lady Liu's true nature, she should have strongly opposed her becoming Empress when Emperor Xuanwen intended to. But fearing that too much control would cause discord between mother and son, she had turned a blind eye, allowing Emperor Xuanwen to establish Lady Liu as Empress. Furthermore, she had not properly guided Emperor Xuanwen when he showed favoritism towards Chu Yanxi, thus leading to the disaster today.
After self-reflection, the Empress Dowager bent down and helped the kneeling Emperor Xuanwen up. "This is indeed your fault; your favoritism led to this disaster. However, the fault of the child is the fault of the parent. Your father passed away early, and I raised you alone. If you have made mistakes, so have I. Today's events are truly the mistakes of us, mother and son, and have implicated so many innocent people in suffering."
"My heart aches as if pierced by a knife. Therefore, I have decided that after this matter is resolved, I will reside in the Buddhist hall of Cining Palace. I will use the remainder of my years to atone to the Buddha, hoping that these sins will not be counted against you."
Children are always a mother's concern, even now that Emperor Xuanwen had reached his age. The Empress Dowager still worried about him and wished to protect him with all her might.
"Mother, it is your son's lack of filial piety that has implicated you. Let all these sins be counted against me alone. I only wish for Mother's peace and well-being. How can I let Mother bear my punishment? Otherwise, even death would not bring me peace."
Emperor Xuanwen felt even more ashamed. It was his lack of judgment that had caused this disaster without cause. How could he let his mother bear the punishment for him?
"Grandmother... Father, this is not your fault. It is entirely Chu Yanxi's insatiable greed that led to such rebellious actions. If the Buddha truly wishes to blame someone, then I am willing to bear all the consequences alone, as a filial son."
Chu Chenyi's words struck Emperor Xuanwen's heart deeply, and he was immediately shocked. He personally helped Chu Chenyi to his feet and carefully observed this child he had long neglected.
The image of Imperial Noble Consort Yijing floated in his mind. She looked so much like her...
"Good child, it is rare to have such filial piety. Father remembers it all... remembers it all..."
Emperor Xuanwen patted Chu Chenyi on the shoulder. No wonder his mother had wanted to make Chu Chenyi the Crown Prince before. Now that he had let go of his previous obsession and was carefully observing Chu Chenyi, he had to admit that this child was indeed much stronger than Chu Yanxi.
He truly possessed a regal bearing. Among his many sons, Chu Yanxi was indeed the most outstanding.
He couldn't help but have the thought of making Chu Chenyi the Crown Prince. Perhaps due to Chu Yanxi's actions, he felt even more strongly that the position of Crown Prince should be established early to secure the foundation of the nation and to make those with ill intentions quiet down and extinguish all their wicked thoughts.
"Chenyi, come with me."
Chu Chenyi was slightly stunned. After a moment of hesitation, he stood up and followed Emperor Xuanwen.
Emperor Xuanwen walked to the bookshelf and took out a box from the top shelf. Inside the box was a token made of pure gold.
"This token can command the one hundred thousand troops stationed outside the capital. Take this token and mobilize the army to assist Ling Mohan in capturing Chu Yanxi."
Upon receiving the token from Emperor Xuanwen, Chu Chenyi immediately became troubled. Even with the token in hand, the entire palace and its surroundings were guarded by Chu Yanxi's men, making it difficult for him to leave. At this moment, the token was useless, no different from scrap metal.
"Father, the palace and its surroundings are heavily guarded. I cannot get out, and this token is indeed useless."
"No... there is still one way out."