latelenovela Chapter 189 The Empress Dowager's Scheme
Chapter 189 The Empress Dowager's Scheme
Alone in her room, the Dowager Consort muttered to herself, her eyes filled with malice, "Su Yinyin, how dare you defy me like this! You must not be allowed to live."
The Empress Dowager's eyes were filled with ruthlessness and determination; her lips were tightly pressed together, and her hands were clenched into fists.
As dusk fell, the Imperial Noble Consort remained in her palace. The palace maids outside assumed she had already retired for the night. However, this was not the case; the Imperial Noble Consort was actually in a dark room in the basement.
"Yuan'er, Yuan'er, you are so disobedient." The Dowager Consort gently stroked Zhou Yuan's face, gazing at her son with a look of almost obsessive infatuation.
The fake Zhou Yuan sat limply on the stool, his hands and feet bound by chains. He had also been drugged, leaving him completely powerless.
Seeing the Empress Dowager staring at his appearance with such infatuation, the fake Zhou Yuan tensed up. His heart pounded, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his body trembled uncontrollably!
He knew full well that if he were discovered to be an imposter, he would surely die a horrible death. This was simply because he had failed to complete the task she had assigned him.
He should be the regent in the palace now, and he should really be staying in this dark room.
But he forced himself to remain calm, pretending to be very angry as he looked at the Dowager Consort. He mimicked the Regent's tone, sneered a few times, and asked, "Mother, why have you locked up your son?"
The fake Zhou Yuan tried his best to make his voice sound angry and confused, but his eyes revealed a hint of fear!
The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes. "Yuan'er, why do you seem so unfamiliar today? Are you still angry that I imprisoned you here?" She stared intently at the fake Zhou Yuan, trying to find a flaw in his expression!
The fake Zhou Yuan was startled and quickly composed himself, saying, "Mother, I just don't understand why you acted this way. I'm devoted to you, yet you treat me like this." He tried his best to make his expression appear more sincere!
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's expression softened slightly. "Yuan'er, as long as you promise your mother one thing, I will release you immediately."
The Empress Dowager's expression softened slightly, but her eyes still held a firm resolve!
The fake Zhou Yuan hurriedly said, "Please speak, Mother."
"Kill Su Yinyin! That woman has bewitched you too much. If you don't get rid of her, she will become a great threat." The Empress Dowager's teeth were grinding together, her face contorted with rage!
"Mother, why? Yinyin has given birth to my child, and I love her."
"Ahhh!" The Imperial Noble Consort went completely mad when she heard the fake Zhou Yuan say he loved Su Yinyin. She screamed, her hair disheveled, looking like a madwoman!
The Dowager Princess grabbed the fake Zhou Yuan's arms tightly with both hands and shouted, "Why do you love her? Why? She's a lowly woman, what is there about her that makes you love her? Just because she bore you a son?"
The Empress Dowager's hands gripped the fake Zhou Yuan's arm tightly, like pincers, her voice almost hysterical!
Seeing the Dowager Consort's erratic behavior, the imposter Zhou Yuan grew increasingly fearful. He hadn't expected this, but he had to feign composure. "Mother, please calm down," the imposter Zhou Yuan tried to soothe the Dowager Consort's emotions.
The Dowager Consort gradually calmed down, her gaze fixed on the fake Zhou Yuan. "Fine, you promise your mother that you will kill that bitch Su Yinyin with your own hands. Otherwise, you will never leave this dark room."
The Empress Dowager's eyes revealed a fierce and resolute look!
"Mother, Yinyin is the baby's mother. If I kill Yinyin, the baby will never forgive his father when he finds out."
As the fake Zhou Yuan nodded, he spoke urgently, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead!
He knew that the real regent truly loved Su Yinyin and would not agree to kill her just because of a few words from the Empress Dowager.
He also wanted to know why the Empress Dowager was so obsessed with killing Su Yinyin.
"You're not listening to your mother?" The Dowager Consort's eyes widened, her anger seemingly about to burst forth!
"Mother, please calm down. Your son wants to know why you hate Su Yinyin so much and are determined to kill her?" The fake Zhou Yuan's tone was full of caution and flattery!
The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, a hint of malice flashing in her eyes: "That bitch ruined my grand plan. If it weren't for her, I would have already taken control of everything."
The Empress Dowager's lips curled up, revealing a sinister smile!
Zhou Yuan feigned confusion and asked, "Mother, I am dull-witted, please enlighten me."
The Dowager Empress gritted her teeth and said, "I originally planned for you to marry a princess from another country to consolidate our power, but that Su Yinyin interfered and ruined everything. Moreover, she knows too many of my secrets; she cannot be allowed to live." Her eyes were filled with resentment towards Su Yinyin!
The fake Zhou Yuan thought to himself, "This concubine is indeed vicious." But on the surface, he still said, "Mother, even so, killing her may not be the best course of action."
The Dowager Princess roared, "You unfilial son, are you still reluctant to part with that wretched woman?"
The Dowager's voice rang out in the dark room like a thunderclap!
The imposter Zhou Yuan quickly said, "Mother, I wouldn't dare. However, this matter needs careful consideration to avoid alerting the enemy and causing trouble." He hurriedly explained!
The Dowager Consort was silent for a moment, then said, "Then what do you suggest?" A hint of doubt appeared in her eyes, and her tone softened somewhat.
After a moment's thought, he said, "Why not first devise a plan to make her lose the Emperor's trust, and then find an opportunity to strike?" A sly glint flashed in the fake Zhou Yuan's eyes!
The Dowager Consort nodded slightly: "Hmm, you should think carefully about a specific method. If you dare to stall me again, don't blame me for being ruthless." The Dowager Consort's face was gloomy, and her tone was full of threat!
The fake Zhou Yuan hurriedly replied, "Your son wouldn't dare, I will certainly do my best."
"I, the Dowager Consort, do not believe it, unless…!" The Dowager Consort gave Zhou Yuan a profound and inscrutable look. Her eyes revealed a hint of mystery and malice!
The fake Zhou Yuan got goosebumps just looking at him.
The Dowager Consort took out a bottle from her bosom and poured out a pill. Holding the pill up, she said to Zhou Yuan, "If you take this pill, I will trust you."
The Dowager held the pill in her hand and waved it in front of the fake Zhou Yuan!
The imposter Zhou Yuan was terrified. He didn't know what this pill was, and swallowing it would likely be fatal. But if he didn't take it, the Dowager Consort certainly wouldn't believe him. His face instantly turned pale, and his eyes filled with fear!
He forced himself to speak, "Mother, what is the effect of this pill? If I were to take it rashly and it harms my health, how could I serve you?" He was trying to buy himself a chance to survive!
The Dowager Empress sneered, "Hmph, this is nothing more than a pill to control your actions. As long as you sincerely work for me, I will not harm you in the slightest."
The Empress Dowager's laughter echoed in the dark room, sending chills down one's spine!
Fake Zhou Yuan had no choice but to take the pill and swallow it.
"Good, good, good!" The Dowager Princess's face showed a triumphant smile, her eyes filled with the joy of victory!
The Empress Dowager stepped aside and pressed a mechanism. Instantly, the anklets on the fake Zhou Yuan's hands and feet vanished into thin air. Once freed, he slumped into a chair.
The Empress Dowager was overjoyed upon seeing this. She then ordered her guards to take the person away.