How do these shoujo princes do it? This guy managed to make the statement he'd already prepared a coffin for the MC sound romantic. (And I don't think he was joking.)
@Mintzu
Haven't the emperor and the MC already pulled that routine? (I may just be mixing this up with some other Chinese Imperial Court harem drama. I read too many of them.)
I'm guessing they're still in cahoots, and figuring out how they can make the empress dowager's plot backfire on her.