"Do you know why I called you here?"

Murong Ze hesitated, somewhat uncertain: "Is it because of the Sixth Princess?"

"Hah! Sixth Princess? You sound so affectionate calling her sister! Do you think they see you as a brother? Don’t flatter yourself! Those siblings treat us as enemies!"

Consort Hua displayed a mocking look, while Murong Ze turned his head and gazed deeply at her: "Could it be... Mother Consort really did something to them?"

Faced with her son’s questioning, Consort Hua replied confidently: "What else? Originally, that queen position was mine. I don’t know where that woman came from, but she took my place and my favor. If it weren’t for the support from your maternal family all these years, and my careful efforts to remove obstacles for you siblings, do you think you would enjoy your current honors?"

Murong Ze was left speechless by Consort Hua’s words: "Does Mother have anything else? If not, we’ll leave first."

"No, no, I don’t want to leave that place anymore, brother, can we go out through the main gate? Secretly, without being discovered? It’s too terrifying down there."

Murong Jie, who was in a slightly better mood, started crying anxiously at the mention of leaving.

Murong Ze was about to comfort her, but Consort Hua interjected: "Stay with me here for a while, we should receive news before dawn."

Consort Hua sat to the side, looking thoughtfully at the flickering candlelight, and murmured this.

"Wait? Wait for what?" Murong Ze still didn’t understand the situation.

"Naturally, wait for the news of your beloved imperial sister’s assassination!"

Consort Hua glanced disdainfully at her disappointing son.

As expected, Murong Ze was shocked upon hearing this: "What? You actually sent someone to kill..., "

Before he could finish, Consort Hua cast an unpleased glance over, silencing his voice in his throat. After a few deep breaths, he couldn’t suppress it.

"Why? That day’s incident was caused by multiple factors, how could you send someone to kill her over this? Is power and status so important? Important enough for you to dare give such an order even after being placed under house arrest? If Father Emperor finds out, do you know what fate awaits us?"

Murong Ze anxiously looked at his mother consort, instinctively feeling that he couldn’t continue aiding in her harmful plans. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Unfortunately, some people only wanted them to be witnesses, not advisers, hence they looked at him indifferently.

"Is it too late? Do you know whom I hired for this task?"

Murong Ze didn’t know, but from Consort Hua’s expression, he had a foreboding feeling.

Sure enough, Consort Hua even smiled mysteriously.

"Have you heard of Shengming?"

Murong Ze’s heart skipped a beat, "You, you’ve actually found Shengming?"

Consort Hua seemed satisfied with his reaction: "Scared now? This time we put in a great deal of effort, not only hiring Shengming, but also the Liuyun Sect, Shura Sect, and the most mysterious Yue Palace. Hmph, I don’t believe that with these four major forces, I can’t get rid of those siblings. Just wait and see, by tomorrow morning at the latest, news should arrive!"

"Mother Consort, if you act now, Father Emperor will first suspect you."

Consort Hua showed a resolute expression: "Do you think he can still control it now? I’m staying here obediently just to create an illusion for him, making him think that today’s Lanyue is still under his control. In reality, hehe, he will soon know who can truly sway the thoughts of civil and military officials."

"Does he think that Murong Han’s return automatically makes him the Crown Prince? He’s dreaming! Without the support of officials, he’s nothing more than useless mud that can’t stand on its own!"

Consort Hua laughed hysterically, deeply unsettling Murong Ze. He came just to visit her, but he didn’t expect to confront a deeper realization of his mother’s cruelty.

Yes, perhaps he was the least ambitious of her three sons, but he was the one who most hoped for her well-being.

Having grown up in the Imperial Palace, he had seen too much plotting and strife, and found no joy in such a life, especially among the women of the harem, who spent their time longing only to never even catch a glimpse of the Emperor.

He believed that his mother consort had already received considerable favor from Father Emperor, so why was she not content? Craving power and status, even conspiring with their maternal family to rebel, if this charge was substantiated, the punishment could be extermination of the entire clan. Is it worth it? Is it really worth it?