The envoy from Dongyang, carrying a wine cup, walked to the center of the hall and bowed slightly: "Your Majesty Xijing, war on the border between our two countries is of no benefit. To show our sincerity, our country is willing to offer Princess Mingzhao for a marriage alliance to promote friendly relations between our two countries."

As soon as the envoy from Dongyang finished speaking, Princess Mingzhao gracefully stepped forward and knelt down to pay her respects: "Mingzhao greets His Majesty Xijing."

Di Jingcheng put down his wine cup and slowly said, "The envoy from Dongyang is kind, but a marriage alliance is a bit too insincere."

The Dongyang envoy's temple throbbed. After a moment's consideration, he said, "Your Majesty, my Dongyang Emperor wishes to cede five cities near the Xijing border to Xijing, hoping only for peace and friendship between the two countries."

After a moment's thought, Di Jingcheng tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "Alright, let the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue handle the follow-up matters."

The Minister of Rites and the Minister of Revenue immediately accepted the order: "Your Majesty, we obey."

The ensuing banquet was just a formality, with Di Jingcheng drinking alone in silence, and no one below dared to disturb him.

Outside Yanqing Palace, Qinghe knelt upright in the snow, her eyes resolute. She was determined to see the Emperor!

Zheng San looked at the stubborn Qinghe and felt a pang of sadness. He couldn't persuade her to leave, nor could he pull her away. He could only wait for the emperor to come out.

Zheng He Er walked out carrying an umbrella. Seeing his apprentice and Qinghe still outside the hall, he sighed and stepped forward: "Miss Qinghe, you should go back quickly. The Emperor is busy right now and has no time to see you. The one in the Cold Palace still needs your service. You should go back first."

Qinghe remained unmoved, her gaze fixed firmly on the brightly lit hall. She was so frozen that her body was stiff as ice, and she could no longer speak; her teeth chattered uncontrollably.

"Alas, Qinghe, why are you doing this to yourself?" Zheng He'er instructed Zheng San to watch over her, as he still had to go back to serve the emperor.

As the banquet drew to a close, everyone left Yanqing Palace one after another. No one paid any attention to the person kneeling in the snow, assuming that he was just a palace maid who had made a mistake.

Finally, Di Jingcheng walked out of the main hall. He walked up to Qinghe with a cold expression and indifferent eyes.

A light shone in Qinghe's eyes, and she spoke tremblingly, trying to curtsy, but her body was already paralyzed: "Your...mother!"

Di Jingcheng's expression became complicated, and after a long while, he finally spoke: "How is she?"

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty...Your Majesty, she wants to see you. Please...Your Majesty, go and see her." Qinghe finished speaking with difficulty, her eyes full of hope.

Di Jingcheng didn't say anything, and walked past her towards the door.

Qinghe's body was so stiff that she couldn't move. She felt that the Emperor had rejected her request, but the Empress was about to collapse!

She instinctively broke free from Zheng San, who was supporting her, turned around and fell heavily into the snow. She reached out to grab the emperor's robe, but failed.

The screams were heart-wrenching, hoarse, incredulous, and filled with grief.

"Your Majesty, the Empress is dying!" Qinghe cried out, spitting out a mouthful of blood, a horrifying sight on the white snow.

Even though it was getting dark, the crimson in the snow was still clearly visible.

Qinghe looked at the tall figure who had stopped, and crawled with all her might, trying to grab him.

Until she could no longer speak, leaving scarlet bloodstains on the ground, her stiff, crawling body stopped.

"Qinghe, Qinghe..." Zheng San gently shook her body, but she was no longer alive.

"Give her a proper burial." Di Jingcheng felt a little heavy-hearted. He closed his eyes and thought to himself that the loyal girl who had been with him for so many years was gone.

Zheng He gave Zheng San a wink, and then followed the emperor out of the palace gate.

"Your Majesty, let's go back to our palace to rest."

"He Er, how is she?" Di Jingcheng was panicked. Qinghe froze to death in the snow. Was it true, as Qinghe said, that she was also dying?

But he still couldn't go to see her; now was not the right time. If someone targeted her, her life would be in danger.

“Your Majesty, you have sent guards to protect the Empress, so there should be no problem. However, the fact that Qinghe left today seems a bit suspicious,” Zheng He said cautiously.

"Where are the bodyguards?"

"Your Majesty, the secret guards should be in the Cold Palace. Why don't you go and take a look?"

"You should go back to the palace first." Di Jingcheng waved his hand and flew alone towards the Cold Palace, his figure as ghostly as a shadow.

Zheng He Er watched the emperor's figure disappear and sighed deeply: "Alas, I hope the Imperial Concubine is alright."

A side note: Please don't skip chapters you don't like; just scroll through them quickly. Thank you for your support of this humble author!