Inside Kunning Palace,

The Empress Dowager was leisurely drinking her bird's nest porridge when a young eunuch who had been waiting outside rushed in, tumbling and crawling, too excited to speak coherently.

"The Empress Dowager, the Emperor Emeritus has issued an edict summoning you to await his arrival."

"Snap!"

The Empress Dowager dropped the jade porcelain bowl in her hand to the ground, her face filled with disbelief.

Granny Gui was overjoyed and immediately sent the young eunuch to guard outside, and had the palace maids clean up the ground and go outside as well.

Only then did he bend down and kneel on the ground.

"This old servant congratulates the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager had already come to her senses. She raised her phoenix eyes slightly and gave a cold snort.

"What's there to be happy about? I knew he would come to me for help, but I didn't expect it to come so soon."

She looked at the exquisite and luxurious nail polish on her fingers, her gaze gradually turning cold.

"So what if he was whipped thirty times? He wasn't killed, why did he have to walk out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation so flustered and red-faced!"

Knowing what she was thinking, Granny Gui quickly whispered, "Your Majesty, shall this old servant do your hair and makeup?"

The Empress Dowager hummed in agreement and, supported by her arm, sat her down in front of the bronze mirror.

Looking at his youthful face in the mirror, he felt even more smug.

"Go and bring me my set of gold-threaded snow cloud satin."

She seemed to remember something else, "And bring that set of Phoenix Seeking Phoenix headdress as well."

Granny Gui was taken aback.

That set of gold-threaded snow cloud satin was a palace dress bestowed upon her by the retired emperor when he conferred the title of empress. That headdress was a dowry carefully prepared by the empress dowager, which she designed herself and had the best craftsmen make.

She felt a pang of sadness and pain in her heart.

Over the years, the Empress Dowager has not let go of her feelings for the retired Emperor.

Just as she finished tidying up her makeup, the high-pitched voice of a young eunuch rang out from outside.

"The Emperor Emeritus has arrived."

The Empress Dowager's hand, which was turning the prayer beads, suddenly stopped. She then raised her hand to help Granny Gui to her feet, the swaying tassels gently swaying her hair.

She looked at the man who walked in against the light at the entrance of the palace.

In a daze, it seemed as if I had returned to the year of my wedding.

Through the bridal veil adorned with dragons and phoenixes, a pair of boots embroidered with gold dragons could be vaguely seen.

The man used a wedding scale to lift her veil, and she saw a pair of handsome, spirited eyes that seemed to last a lifetime.

"Cough cough cough..."

A low cough interrupted all memories.

The Emperor Emeritus in sight was casually dressed in a bright yellow robe, his hair disheveled and hanging down his back, without even the most basic jade crown.

His face, tormented by illness for years, was pale and bluish. Though his dignity remained, he was no longer the handsome young man he once was.

The Empress Dowager felt that all the beauty had been shattered, her heart filled with a jumble of thoughts, leaving only an empty desolation, to the point that she even forgot to perform the proper etiquette.

Granny Gui hurriedly knelt down and cried out.

"Greetings to the Emperor Emeritus, long live the Emperor."

As he spoke, he subtly tugged at the hem of the Empress Dowager's robe.

The Empress Dowager, in a daze, wanted to curtsy.

The retired emperor had already passed by her, indifferently flicking his sleeve.

"No need for formalities."

He sat in the main seat, and after taking a few steps, he couldn't help but cough softly twice, his breathing very disordered.

"Please sit down too."

Granny Gui quickly helped the Empress Dowager sit in the lower left seat.

The Emperor Emeritus's gaze fell upon them again, looking them over from top to bottom, and then he suddenly let out a cold laugh.

"At an age when she's almost in her grave, she's still wearing this color. It seems the Empress Dowager isn't lonely in Kunning Palace."

The Empress Dowager's chaotic and unrestrained emotions suddenly exploded.

"Does the Emperor Emeritus care how I am doing? Have you ever counted how many years it has been since you last stepped into Kunning Palace?"

The retired emperor scoffed.

"Does he expect me to summon you to my bedchamber?"

The Empress Dowager's face instantly turned bright red, not from embarrassment, but from anger.

She slightly raised her still-attractive face.

"I am alright, but is Your Majesty alright?"

Their eyes met, and neither was willing to give way.

The surroundings were deathly silent. The palace maids and eunuchs were all so frightened that they lowered their heads and dared not even breathe loudly.

In the end, it was the retired emperor who first looked away and gestured to the old eunuch.

The old eunuch immediately called out towards the door.

"Bring in the gifts for the Empress Dowager."

Two guards carried in a large red box.

In the first few years after she entered the palace, she was still the Empress Dowager's favorite, receiving constant favors from the Empress Dowager.

Every now and then, large boxes filled with gifts would be delivered to the Jiaofang Palace at that time.

Some were exotic items presented as tribute by small countries from all directions, while others were treasures offered by court officials.

Seeing this scene again after so many years, the Empress Dowager felt a pang of sadness and deliberately glanced at it.

"Your Majesty, Kunning Palace has everything you need. Please take back the Emperor Emeritus's gift."

The retired emperor leaned back lazily in his chair.

"Your Majesty, please take a look and open it."

Even though time has passed, this domineering and unyielding arrogance still makes the Empress Dowager's heart flutter.

When the box was opened, it contained not some glittering treasures, but a desiccated corpse that was nauseating.

A skull-shaped face encased in skin was facing the Empress Dowager, its sunken eyes seeming to hold the souls of countless wronged men, roaring and lunging forward with bared teeth and claws.

The Empress Dowager turned pale with fright, sat stiffly, and quickly turned her face away.

Suppressing the urge to vomit, she demanded angrily, "Why did you bring this disgusting thing here? It's the monstrous offspring of the vixen chosen by your favorite Xiao Jiu. Are you expecting me to turn a blind eye and pretend it never happened?"

She pointed to the palace gate, her resentment barely contained.

“Go and see outside the Imperial Study. All the civil and military officials are kneeling on the ground, all requesting the emperor to execute the witch. You are so focused on protecting your Xiao Jiu, but have you ever cared about the emperor's difficulties? He is also your own son!”

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