Jade Palace

Yan Qing, dressed in mourning clothes, removed her hairpins and knelt before the tomb of Consort De, her lips already dry and cracked.

"Your Highness, why don't you go back and rest for a while? This servant will stay here and watch over you." Si Ying looked at Yan Qing with concern.

"How could you possibly replace me?" Yan Qing's eyes were lifeless.

"Your Highness, your health can't take this. If Consort De finds out, she'll be worried too." This time, it was Siying, Consort De's attendant, who spoke.

"No need, I won't fall. I haven't even avenged Yingyue yet, how could I possibly fall? How could I possibly fall?" Yan Qing seemed to have changed completely after Consort De's death. Wen Xi was about to say something when she was interrupted by the announcement from outside.

"Her Majesty the Virtuous Consort has arrived!"

Yan Qing's expression remained unchanged. When Consort Xian entered, she was still smiling: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Noble Consort. I have come to bid farewell to Consort De." Consort Xian spoke casually, showing no sign that she had come to see Consort De off.

Yan Qing gently raised her hand, and Si Ying quickly went to help her up. Yan Qing stood up with Si Ying's help. She looked at Consort Xian and saw that Consort Xian was wearing a blue palace dress, dressed in an exceptionally gorgeous manner.

Yan Qing laughed when she saw her outfit. Before Consort Xian could even wipe the smile off her face, Yan Qing slapped her hard across the face, and Consort Xian couldn't even stand up straight.

"Your Highness!" Consort Xian glared at Yan Qing, "What do you mean by this?"

"What do I mean? You come here dressed like this and ask me what I mean?" Yan Qing's anger had intensified.

"I only came to send Consort De off on her final journey because I felt that Consort De liked these things when she was alive. Your Highness, the Noble Consort, slapped me so often. Isn't that a bit too much?" Consort Xian questioned.

"I hit you, and that's it. Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? Get out! We don't need your hypocrisy here!" Yan Qing was somewhat agitated.

"Guards, drag her out of here! No one in the harem is allowed to disturb her without my permission!" They are unworthy; they are all hypocrites. They have no right to disturb Consort De's final peace.

"Yes," Si Ying replied. The relationship between Consort De and the Imperial Consort had always been very good, and Consort De's departure must have been a great blow to the Imperial Consort. After saying this, Yan Qing knelt down again beside her; she wanted to protect Consort De on her final journey.

Consort De… she was the only person she had ever met in her life who wholeheartedly protected her and considered everything for her. If it weren't for her, she might have frozen to death on that snowy night. She was the first person she had ever met who showed her kindness.

Yan Qing knew that her status was lowly, and her background alone was enough to make people criticize her, but Consort De never cared... She said that she would protect her for life... but she still failed to protect her well.

If... if she hadn't let her stay in the palace this time, if she had let her go on this spring hunt, wouldn't all these things have been avoided? Yan Qing regretted it so much, it was all her fault... it was all her fault, otherwise Consort De would definitely still be alright.

"What's so good about it? Even if you didn't say that, I still wouldn't go. You're in the palace, how could I leave? I want to stay with you." Yan Qing felt as if she could see Consort De. She... hadn't left, she was right in front of her. Tears fell silently.

"Hey, why are you crying? Yan Qing, you're not such a fragile person." Consort De smiled and squatted down in front of Yan Qing.

"Let me tell you, you can't do this. This isn't like you at all." Consort De's voice kept echoing in Yan Qing's ears. She wanted to reach out and touch her, but the moment she was about to touch her, Consort De disappeared.

Yan Qing smiled. No...did she really leave? Did she not even want to stay with her anymore?

The next moment, Yan Qing heard someone beside her shout, "Your Highness, Imperial Concubine!" and then she completely lost consciousness.