Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1097 - 130: She Was Already Crazy Before Taking the Divine Pill—Does She Need the Divine Pill to Go Mad?

Hearing Empress Xie's words, Jiang Chuan found some logic in them. Yet, if she were in that position, fear would still grip her.

"My main worry right now is being unable to consume the Divine Pill any longer." Swallowing one every seven days filled her with deep unease. Switching it to every ten days would make it worthless. "Where do I obtain the Divine Pill now?"

"Your Majesty, Prince Han discovered the Divine Pill. Rumors say it's produced in Lingnan, and he may possess the formula." Ever since starting the Divine Pill, the Empress's spirits had lifted remarkably, without her snapping at everyone constantly. Should she go without it, her temper could worsen beyond its prior state. With the Empress unafraid of the insect poison inside her, she should keep using the Divine Pill.

Empress Xie's eyes sparkled upon hearing Jiang Chuan's suggestion. "Exactly, Prince Han must hold the Divine Pill's formula."

"Word is the Divine Pill's ingredients hail from Lingnan. Your Majesty, dispatch Duke Zhen to uncover the formula there and produce it on-site."

"I'll pen the letter immediately."

Empress Xie rose and headed to the study, with Jiang Chuan hurrying after to prepare the ink.

Once the letter was finished, Empress Xie dispatched a messenger to Duke Zhen's estate.

Soon enough, news reached the Emperor that Empress Xie had sent a letter urging Xie Shi to seek the Divine Pill's formula in Lingnan.

Sun Kui reeled inwardly: The Empress still craves the Divine Pill! Does she not fear the insect poison hidden within?!

The imperial decree had explicitly forbidden the Divine Pill, yet the Empress brazenly gathers it from all corners and now tasks Duke Zhen with hunting its formula in Lingnan. Has madness overtaken her?

Hold on—legends claim excessive Divine Pill consumption induces insanity. The Empress has indulged heavily; perhaps she's already lost her mind?

"Pay her no mind; allow Xie Shi to assist her search."

Sun Kui stood stunned: The Emperor won't halt the Empress?!

"Your Majesty, do you not fear the Empress might..." Sun Kui couldn't utter that the nation's mother could descend into lunacy.

The Emperor eyed the wavering Sun Kui and arched a brow. "You suggest she'll lose her sanity?"

"Doesn't the lore say too much Divine Pill leads to madness?"

The Emperor chuckled softly. "She was deranged long before the Divine Pill; does she require it to go mad?"

Sun Kui: "..." The Emperor's logic strikes true.

True enough, the Empress exhibited madness prior to the Divine Pill. No other palace consort rivals her wildness.

"Your Majesty, as the mother of the realm, a truly insane Empress... could tarnish your prestige and the imperial clan's dignity." With Great Zhou newly founded, a deranged Empress would invite scorn and stain the annals of history.

"What prestige do I possess? What dignity remains for the Royal Family?" Reputation meant nothing to the Emperor.

Sun Kui: "..." Your Majesty, must you be so blunt?

"Her frame won't last much longer; indulge her whims."

Sun Kui sighed deeply at the Emperor's callous decree: No fondness exists between the Emperor and Empress.

"Your Majesty, should Duke Zhen fail to secure the formula, might the Empress endanger Prince Han?"

The Emperor replied cryptically, "Who can say."

"Your Majesty, will you lay another snare for Prince Han?" The term 'snare' fits perfectly.

The Emperor shot Sun Kui a fierce look. "Do you take me for such a schemer?"

Sun Kui mused silently: Indeed, you are.

"Leave me; don't interrupt my perusal of the memorials."

Sun Kui concluded: His hunch was spot on—the Emperor plots once more against Prince Han.

Meanwhile, in distant Swamp Prefecture, Zhao Yao let out a mighty sneeze.

Hidden Guard A inquired worriedly, "Your Highness, are you well?"

Zhao Yao scratched his tingling nose. "All good, likely someone mentioning me. Carry on."

"The Dragon Guards uncovered proof that Duke Zhen, Duke Anyang, and Marquis Xuanping craft weapons and amass private troops in Annan."

"Since they haven't shipped the arms or soldiers back to Great Zhou, Father lacks grounds for execution. It sparks minimal chaos." Zhao Yao dismissed the issue lightly. "And Prince Han?"

"Prince Han acquired numerous war horses from the Western Regions and keeps them on the Xiongnu Grassland." Hidden Guard A went on with his report, "Modu Chanyu was poisoned with a banned toxin from the Western Regions."

"When do they intend for Modu Chanyu to perish?" Zhao Yao showed no shock at Modu Chanyu’s poisoning.

"Once Prince Dai follows their scheme."

Hearing that, Zhao Yao grinned in delight, "So they managed to convince Prince Dai?"

"Yes, Prince Dai consented to ally with Prince Han."

"The Beauty Trap proved so effective?"

"Your Highness, the woman is pregnant now, and Prince Dai intends to make her his concubine."

"Tsk tsk tsk, even heroes succumb to beauty’s allure." Zhao Yao rested his right hand under his chin, smirking mischievously, "A grand drama awaits when Prince Dai heads back to the capital."

"The Third Princess convinced Modu Chanyu to hold off on attacking Great Zhou from the south for the moment. Prince Dai will depart for the capital soon."

"Perfectly coinciding with the Annan crisis exploding." Zhao Yao drummed his fingers lightly on the desk, deep in contemplation, "I’m curious how Father will handle Prince Dai."

Hidden Guard A stayed silent on Zhao Yao’s question.

"Oh, and what of the Southern Wei people?"

"The Emperor’s earlier decree led to arrests of Southern Wei people, dealing them heavy blows. The Southern Wei people inside Great Zhou pose no danger now." Hidden Guard A continued reporting, "Most Southern Wei people slain by the Emperor’s decree weren’t Lord Wei’s subordinates."

"Thus, Father’s decree against the Southern Wei people wound up aiding our eighth brother."

"Yes."

Zhao Yao pressed further, "What about the Southern Wei people among the Xiongnu?"

"Outwardly, they’ve allied with the Third Princess and her faction. Prince Han is thrilled by this." Yet they remain oblivious that Lord Wei controls it all. Prince Han and the Third Princess plotted against Prince Dai, unaware they’d been puppets in Lord Wei’s game all along. "At present, most influence in the Xiongnu Royal Court supports the Third Princess."