The trusted aides of Duke Qiguo and Commander Ruan directly closed in on the Emperor and Empress at the head of the room.
One of them reached out, trying to grab the Emperor.
The Empress, face pale, forced herself to remain calm and stood in front of the Emperor, angrily rebuking, "What are you trying to do? Are you rebelling or attempting regicide? Today, unless you walk over my dead body, don't even think of touching a hair on His Majesty!"
The trusted aides hesitated; after all, the Empress was still the Empress at this moment, the mother of the nation, and they were under the watchful eyes of many. Even if they succeeded...
When the Second Prince ascends the throne in the future, to reassure the civil and military officials and to maintain a good reputation, he might simply throw out those who acted.
What kind of end would they meet then? At best, they'd be required to die to atone for their crimes; at worst, their families might not even be spared.
