Chapter 508 Breaking Through

"You were in the palace on the day the Empress gave birth. Do you know why she suddenly went into labor?" Xie Shang asked again.

Wuxin didn't go to Chenxi Palace to avoid suspicion, but he was aware of the situation there. He said, "This servant only heard it from the other eunuchs. Her Majesty the Empress suddenly fainted and even had a miscarriage. It was Physician Mei who rushed to her aid and revived her. The Empress then had a difficult childbirth, giving birth to the Fourth Prince from morning till night. She was on the verge of death. Everyone thought she would die in childbirth, but she gave birth to the Fourth Prince with her last bit of strength before fainting again. It was Physician Mei who saved her. This servant doesn't know anything else. If Your Majesty wants to know anything, you can ask Physician Mei!"

Xie Shang felt a sense of dread. He left resolutely that day because he felt she was up to some scheme again.

Only now did he realize that he could ask Physician Mei about the Empress's condition; Physician Mei wouldn't lie to him.

Wu Xin glanced at the Emperor's face. He didn't care about something as important as the Empress giving birth. Now he's heartbroken, but it's too late. The Empress has already been hurt by him.

He then said, "Come with me to the Cining Palace."

Wuxin hurriedly followed.

Just as they arrived at the palace gate, the eunuch guarding the gate was about to report when Xie Shang said, "Don't make a sound. I will go see the Empress Dowager myself."

The eunuchs, naturally not daring to cause trouble, quickly stepped aside, while Xie Shang quietly walked inside.

As the emperor's most favored eunuch, Wuxin was someone that even the eunuchs and maids of Cining Palace had to fawn over.

The emperor strode ahead with an imposing air, and Wuxin, who was following along, also took advantage of his power. With just a glance from him, the palace maids and eunuchs around him dared not make any moves.

Upon reaching the entrance to the Empress Dowager's bedroom, one could see a faint candlelight flickering inside, and even hear other subtle sounds emanating from within.

Xie Shang had excellent hearing, and he heard someone inside say, "The Empress Dowager's skin is so well-maintained. This Jade Face Cream is our Bai family's best-selling product. After applying it to the Empress Dowager's hands, they become fragrant and soft. She also applies some to her neck. Empress Dowager..."

Bai Shangwen's actions were very bold, teasing the Empress Dowager into a state of agitation. She suddenly grabbed Bai Shangwen's restless hands and groaned, "I really like your Bai family's skin cream."

Bai Shangwen was originally just applying lotion to the Empress Dowager's fingers. The Empress Dowager was so beautiful, even more charming than the women outside the palace, that his hands started to wander.

Wuxin hadn't expected to witness such a thing, and he felt embarrassed for the Empress Dowager.

At this moment, Xie Shang's face had turned from white to green, his eyes were bloodshot, and he was furious. "Wuxin, seal off Cining Palace. No matter what happens, do not let a single word be revealed."

Wu Xin replied, "Yes."

He then pushed open the door and saw the scene on the soft couch, which made him feel nauseous and want to vomit.

The Empress Dowager, her clothes half-undone, saw the Emperor suddenly appear before her. She pushed Bai Shangwen aside and sat up straight. Bai Shangwen was also wearing clothes, but his belt was not around his waist.

“Your Majesty,” the Empress Dowager explained, “I am merely applying skin cream.”

Xie Shang said coldly, "Men, drag this villain out and beat him to death."

Bai Shangwen was so frightened that he knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, spare my life! I did nothing! I only delivered skin cream for the Empress Dowager! Empress Dowager, save me!"

When the Empress Dowager heard that Bai Shangwen was to be executed, she couldn't bear to do it and quickly said, "If you want to kill him, kill your mother first!"

Xie Shang found it unbelievable. She thought about how she had been caught cheating on her father with men before, and now that her father had only been dead for a few months, she was cheating on her father with men again.

His chest heaved with rage, and he wished he could really kill her. He was extremely disappointed in the Empress Dowager, saying, "From now on, you are no longer my mother. I have no mother as shameless as you."

The Empress Dowager was so frightened that tears streamed down her face. "I have done nothing wrong. I have endured humiliation and hardship in the palace for thirty years all for your sake."

"I think you're doing this for yourself!" Xie Shang didn't want to say another word to her.

The Empress Dowager felt her heart breaking. "I have been neglected by your father my whole life. I am also a woman. Emperor, why don't you feel sorry for me? You have always resented your mother. Your father was too heartless and ungrateful."

Xie Shang stared at her, "If you hadn't done those shameless things, how could Father have been so heartless and ungrateful to you? Father is already gone, and you're still making excuses. Your actions and your face are truly disgusting."

The Empress Dowager was speechless after being rebuked. Now she just wanted him to release Bai Shangwen. "The Bai family are wealthy merchants in Jiangzhou. You can't kill Bai Shangwen. He was brought into the palace by your mother. He can't die in the palace. If you kill him, your mother won't care about your father's reputation."

Xie Shang was shocked. "You are the Empress Dowager. Do you know what you're saying? You're going to disregard the dignity of the royal family for some random man."

"Am I the Empress Dowager? Have you ever treated me as the Empress Dowager?" the Empress Dowager accused. "I have been the Empress for so many years, but has your father ever treated me as the Empress? I am nothing but his tool. Now you are just like your father, treating me like air. If you want to kill him today, then kill me too! Anyway, I've had enough of living alone."

Bai Yuhan originally lived in the side hall. When she heard the commotion, she ran over and saw Bai Shangwen there as well. In an instant, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She knelt down in front of the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, please let me explain. My third uncle would never dare to do anything to offend the Empress Dowager."

Xie Shang stared at her face, thinking of what Wu Xin had said, and felt disgusted by all the people in front of him: "You entered the palace to compete for the Empress's position?"

"I didn't." Bai Yuhan was also frightened by him. "Originally, my third uncle and I were going to leave the palace tomorrow. I don't know where Your Majesty heard the rumors. Please investigate thoroughly. Although I was born into a merchant family and have a humble status, my family has always raised me strictly. If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's kind invitation, I would not have entered the palace."

Bai Shangwen knelt on the ground, "This humble subject truly only delivered skin cream to the Empress Dowager. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."

At this moment, Bai Yuhan said again, "This commoner has something she wishes to say to Your Majesty alone, and asks Your Majesty for permission. It concerns the Empress."

Xie Shang stared at Bai Yuhan, full of questions. Was this her first time meeting the Empress?

He walked straight out of the bedchamber, and Bai Yuhan followed him out. When they reached a secluded spot, Xie Shang said in a deep voice, "What do you want to say?"

"I only want to save my third uncle's life. I believe he wouldn't dare to send the skin cream to the Empress Dowager if he hadn't been bewitched," Bai Yuhan said boldly.

Xie Shang's expression was cold and somber; she meant that the Empress Dowager had taken the initiative to seduce her.

Bai Yuhan continued, "These days, I have heard many rumors. Although we met the Emperor through the Empress Dowager's introduction, he has never treated me with courtesy. Except today when the Empress suddenly came to the Imperial Study and the Emperor used me as a shield."