A gentle breeze blew by, and Princess Jiahua kept glancing towards the door. She turned a page of her book, poured herself a cup of tea, hesitated for a long time, and then spoke: "Your Highness, His Highness may not be able to return today."

In addition to rewarding the army, he also had to receive greetings from civil and military officials. One cup of wine per person was enough to keep the Seventh Prince occupied.

She raised her eyes slightly: "Let's wait a little longer."

The moon rises above the middle of the tree.

There was still no movement outside the courtyard.

As the book neared its end, she sighed, realizing she had been overthinking things.

"Alright, turn off the lights."

Phoenix Palace

The Empress suddenly fell seriously ill, vomiting blood. Dozens of imperial physicians were summoned, but they were all helpless. A bold palace maid hurriedly went to the front hall to report the news.

The third prince's expression changed upon hearing this.

Looking at the Seventh Prince who was surrounded, she stood up and called out, "Seventh Prince, Her Majesty the Empress has fainted."

The Seventh Prince paused for a moment, frowned slightly, put down his wine cup, stood up, pushed through the crowd, and walked towards the Phoenix Palace.

"This is an old ailment of the Empress. She was injured when she first entered the palace, and for so many years, medicine has been ineffective. She has only been dragging on for the past three years, and her health has only deteriorated further as she has struggled to manage the harem." The Third Prince frowned, his face full of worry. "In such a large harem, so many people are dissatisfied, especially those who miss Father Emperor. Alas."

With every word the Third Prince uttered, the Seventh Prince felt a growing sense of guilt.

They soon arrived at Fengyi Palace.

Palace maids came and went, carrying basins of water that had long since turned pink.

The seventh prince stepped over the threshold and smelled the sandalwood scent mixed with a fishy smell in the room. From time to time, he heard the calls of palace maids coming from behind the screen.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please wake up!"

The seventh prince's heart sank upon hearing this.

Upon seeing this, the Third Prince's Consort, who had rushed over from behind, hurried inside. A moment later, she came out again and instructed the palace maid, "Quickly, go and invite Madam Yan here."

Lady Yan, the birth mother of the Empress.

"How is the Empress?" the Third Prince asked impatiently.

The Third Prince's wife's eyes reddened: "I don't know why I vomited so much blood. The imperial physician said that I was already at my last gasp. It's already a miracle that I've held on until today."

The seventh prince's expression darkened slightly upon hearing this.

Today's victory celebration banquet is attended by Prime Minister Yan, who is the head of all officials. Lady Yan also came to the palace and was quickly invited by the palace servants.

She hurried in, her face full of anxiety, and called out, "Your Majesty, I've arrived. Do you have anything to say to me?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts sank.

Is it really that serious?

The lights of Fengyi Palace shone brightly all night.

As dawn broke, Madam Yan emerged from behind the screen, looking utterly dejected. She appeared to have aged more than ten years, her eyes red-rimmed and her legs weak. She would have nearly collapsed if not for the support of her maid. She clutched a handkerchief to her mouth and nose, trying to suppress her sobs.

"Madam Yan." The Third Prince's wife stepped forward and offered a few words of comfort. Madam Yan choked up, "Her Majesty the Empress is on her deathbed. No one should be left alone in the palace."

"That's natural."

The Third Prince's wife then said to the Seventh Prince, "Seventh Prince, why don't you go in and chat with the Empress for a bit?"

The seventh prince paused, glanced at the gradually brightening sky, pondered for a moment, then turned and went behind the screen, where a strong medicinal smell wafted out.

Empress Yan, lying on the couch, had a deathly pale face and was breathing weakly. Hearing footsteps, her eyelids trembled, and she struggled to open them and turn her head to look in this direction.

Their eyes met, and a hint of regret welled up in their gentle gazes.

"Seventh brother..." she said weakly.

The seventh prince stood before the bed, watching the young girl in the prime of her life transform into a withered flower branch, about to reach the end of her life.

"The imperial physician said you need to rest, so don't bother."

Empress Yan shook her head: "It's not easy to hold on until you come back. There are some things we need to say quickly. I still remember when you first learned archery a few years ago, you couldn't even hold the bow properly. But just a few days later, you were able to hit the target quite well. Father said that you are more talented than any of the princes."

The Seventh Prince frowned, suddenly recalling the past.

Like several princes, he was a protégé of Prime Minister Yan, learning riding and archery at the Yan family home. Over time, he also came into contact with Prime Minister Yan's eldest daughter, who is now Empress Yan.

The Southern Emperor once jokingly remarked that he never knew which prince would marry the Prime Minister's daughter.

But who could have imagined that the Emperor of Southern Xinjiang had met the Empress once by chance, and on that very day, he issued an imperial edict to welcome the eldest daughter of the Yan family into the harem as Empress.

Empress Yan cried until her eyes were red and pleaded with Prime Minister Yan, saying that the lives of the entire Yan family were in the hands of the Southern Border Emperor, and even the head of all officials dared not disobey.

Thus, Empress Yan was welcomed into the inner palace and isolated from the world.

"If it weren't for the Emperor's decree to make you Empress back then, you..." Empress Yan looked at the Seventh Prince with a flustered expression, hesitating to speak.

The Seventh Prince lowered his eyes: "It's all in the past."

"But I'm not reconciled!" Empress Yan suddenly became agitated, clenching her fists tightly: "What did I do wrong that I have to be forcibly taken into the palace and kept behind high walls for the rest of my life?"

Overcome with emotion, Empress Yan suddenly coughed violently, covered her lips with a handkerchief and vomited blood. She then lifted her sleeve to reveal a bright red spot on her fair wrist.

It's actually a virginity mark!

The seventh prince's pupils contracted.

Empress Yan said, "Since I entered the palace, I have been taking a slow-acting poison that prevents me from having sex for the rest of my life. Otherwise, my partner will also be poisoned, but it will weaken his body."

"You..." The Seventh Prince was so shocked that he couldn't recover for a long time.

Empress Yan, supporting her swaying body, looked at the Seventh Prince, two lines of clear tears streaming down her cheeks: "Whether you are the Empress or the Empress Dowager, you are all shackles to me."

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