However, the new emperor asserted, "I didn't explicitly state that I would inevitably end Qin Zhenzhen's life. As long as she complies obediently, I will spare her and allow her to continue managing business to replenish the treasury."
The Empress Dowager comprehended the new emperor's underlying intentions. She discerned that, camouflaged under the pretext of avenging his royal sister, he actually aimed to include Qin Zhenzhen in his harem.
Unable to withhold her counsel, the Empress Dowager addressed the new emperor, "Your Majesty, Lord State Duke has a valid point!"
"If Governor Su faces execution, Mrs. Su is bound to harbor profound resentment. She might devise schemes against the throne, rather than contributing to the imperial treasury."
As the Empress Dowager, she harbored no reservations in expressing her thoughts to the new emperor.
However, her words displeased the monarch.
