Caiyue lowered her head, exchanged a glance with Lianxing beside her, and spoke respectfully.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. Consort Ma Jia is suffering from both qi and blood deficiency, and her body is severely weakened. She was also given such a shock by Huanxi. Even if she survives, she won't live for more than a few years."

"Your Majesty will soon be made the new Empress by the Emperor. At that time, Consort Ma Jia will pass away, and Your Majesty will be able to raise the Fourth Prince and the Third Princess, which will be more legitimate."

Consort Zhao nodded slightly, her brows furrowing.

"That's true, but as the fourth prince and the third princess grow up, I'm worried that if Lady Magia lives a long time, the fourth prince and the third princess will be old enough to remember things, and they'll become ungrateful wretches."

Changing the subject, Consort Zhao said in a deep voice, "Huanxi has been working for me all along. Today she has been exposed. You know how to deal with it. I don't want to leave any evidence against her."

"This servant has already had Huanxi thrown into the well. The palace will only assume that Huanxi committed suicide by jumping into the well out of fear of punishment, and they will not trace it back to our Chuxiu Palace."

A fierce glint flashed in Caiyue's eyes as she respectfully reported back.

In the silent cold palace

The young palace maid, soaking wet, slowly woke up in the still chilly spring breeze. She groggily pulled her clothes tighter around herself and curled up on the ground.

"From now on, you will live in the Cold Palace. If you don't want to die, don't step out of the Cold Palace."

A chilling voice rang in her ears.

The young palace maid jolted awake, her muddled mind instantly clearing, memories of the day's events flooding her mind, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"I, I..."

With his back to her, the tall, thin figure turned around, and a ghostly mask came into her view.

"Watch your mouth, say what you should say, and don't say what you shouldn't say."

The young palace maid was terrified and fainted again.