The Emperor's motivation for addressing the Empress Dowager in this manner stemmed from the counsel of a Daoist priest. The priest had cautioned him that harming his savior would incur karmic consequences, a fate he wished to avoid not only for himself but for the entire royal family.
Qin Zhenzhen had not only rescued him but also safeguarded the lives of both the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince. The Emperor recognized that if any harm befell him, it would likely set in motion a chain of tragic events. He foresaw the Eighth Imperial Uncle orchestrating the assassination of the Crown Prince, given their unusually close relationship, which left the Crown Prince vulnerable to manipulation.