But at this moment, seeing He Tiantian being so merciless, and the crowd reacting this way, all of Emperor Yongcheng's remaining conscience vanished completely.
"I cannot! Today is my mother's sacred birthday; it should have been a day of universal celebration and joy!"
"However, the Dengwen Drum was set by the late Emperor to provide the common people with a way to seek justice!"
"With the Dengwen Drum sounding, as the Emperor, I shouldn't spoil my mother's sacred birthday, but I also cannot pretend to be unaware!"
Emperor Yongcheng continued with officialese, even bringing up the late Emperor as a banner.
Ruining his mother's birthday banquet indeed suggests some filial impiety.
But he does this to adhere to his father's legacy, where the father is regarded more highly than the mother.
Therefore, he is not truly unfilial.
"Emperor, you've spoken as such, if I don't agree, I would become a senseless, unreasonable woman who disrespects the late Emperor!"
