Even at this point, the Empress Dowager still dares to threaten him? "Whether Rouzhu leaves the palace or not, you must go to Changchun Garden. My mind is made up, and there is no going back!"

When threats failed, the Empress Dowager flew into a rage, "Emperor, how can you be so heartless? For the sake of a woman, you even want to drive away your own mother!"

To prevent the Empress Dowager from holding a grudge against Yu Shan, Hongli corrected her, saying, "I made this decision not because of Yu Shan, but because you drugged me! You have completely shattered the last shred of trust between us, mother and son. You are the culprit. Don't try to shift the blame to others."

The Empress Dowager wanted to say more, but Li Yu knocked on the door and came forward to report that there was urgent military news from the Dzungar Khanate.

Military matters are of paramount importance, and the Empress Dowager knew that military matters could not be delayed. She had no choice but to leave first so that the Emperor could discuss important matters with his ministers.

In Jingren Palace, Su Yushan, who had just finished her lunch and was about to take a nap, was suddenly informed by a eunuch that Consort Cheng had learned that the Emperor wanted to expel her from the palace and was now threatening to commit suicide.

Su Yushan couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Just as Hongli had predicted, Consort Cheng really didn't want to leave the palace.

While Hongli was busy with state affairs, the trivial matters of the inner palace should be handled by her. She decided to personally go to Chuxiu Palace to see Consort Cheng.

The midday heat in April can be quite intense, and even when riding in a palanquin without having to walk, it can still feel stuffy.

Su Yushan couldn't care less about anything else and urged the palace servants to speed up.

When she arrived at Chuxiu Palace, she could hear Consort Cheng's mournful cries from afar.

Su Yushan paused slightly, hesitant, unsure whether to approach. She could have simply left Consort Cheng's affairs alone, letting him die in the cold palace, but a sliver of conscience compelled her to take a gamble.

Others may not think this is right, but from the perspective of someone who has been through it, it seems to be the best arrangement.

In the end, she still took a step forward, and as soon as she entered the door, the crying became even clearer.

Upon catching sight of the Imperial Noble Consort, the frail Consort Cheng, despite her illness, forced herself to rise from her bed, threw back the covers, and climbed out of the tent. Without even putting on her shoes, she knelt directly before Su Yushan.

"Your Highness, I do not wish to leave the palace. Please, I beg you, plead with the Emperor not to send me away, okay?"

Su Yushan did not agree, but looked directly at her and calmly asked, "Do you think the Cold Palace is better than home?"

The thought of her family made Consort Cheng nervous. "If I go home like this, I will suffer the cold stares of others. That would be even more unbearable than being in the cold palace."

"Have you ever thought that life in the Cold Palace will be even harder? You will lose your rank and be demoted to the lowest level, with only one maidservant by your side. You may not even be able to get a hot meal, and you may never even see the Emperor. What are you after?"

Consort Cheng had never experienced such a life, but she always felt that the situation described by the Imperial Noble Consort was unlikely to happen.

"No, I am the Empress Dowager's niece. The Emperor was just saying that out of spite. The Empress Dowager will definitely plead for me."

She was so naive. Su Yushan couldn't help but remind her, "The Empress Dowager was the one who poisoned her. The Emperor was furious and wanted to send the Empress Dowager to Changchun Garden. The Empress Dowager is in trouble herself, how could she have time to care about you?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Cheng was startled and suddenly felt a little scared. "Has this matter become so serious?"

"What do you think? Poisoning the Emperor is a serious crime, and even the Empress Dowager is no exception. This time the Emperor is truly enraged, and neither you nor the Empress Dowager will have an easy time."

Su Yushan had already explained the current situation to her, but Consort Cheng still had some concerns. "So be it, let her be in the Cold Palace! Your Majesty, I really can't leave the palace. I don't want to be laughed at or gossiped about."

The little girl was just being stubborn; she had no idea what the words "cold palace" truly meant.

"What's the point of risking your happiness for the rest of your life by staying in the cold palace? Don't tell me you're doing this for your family. In this harem, only those who are favored can bring benefits to their families. You're in the cold palace, the emperor doesn't care about you, you can't bring any benefits to your family, and your family members won't be grateful to you. They'll just think you're useless!"

Even if you waste your entire youth, you won't earn anyone's gratitude. The emperor won't remember you, and your life will have been lived in vain, you know that?

"Then I'll kill myself! I will never leave the palace, I'd rather die than leave!"

Cheng Guiren's attitude was very firm, and Su Yushan smiled sneer.

"Suicide? You don't think suicide is an easy thing, do you? Didn't anyone tell you that you can't commit suicide in the palace? All the palace maids, eunuchs, and concubines in this palace, even if they suffer the greatest injustice, cannot commit suicide. If anyone dares to commit suicide, her family will be implicated. Even if she dies, the emperor will hold her family accountable. Are you sure you want to implicate your family?"

Since she cared about her family, Yu Shan used family as a pretext. Consort Cheng looked apprehensive, but she also felt that the Imperial Noble Consort was exaggerating and trying to scare her.

“My father is the emperor’s uncle, the emperor wouldn’t be so heartless.”

"The Emperor can even send the Empress Dowager out of the palace, so why would he care about an uncle? The kinship in the royal family is far more fragile than you imagine."

No matter what she said, the Imperial Noble Consort would refute her. Consort Cheng grew increasingly desperate, her eyes red and choked with sobs, "But I didn't administer that medicine. Why won't the Emperor believe me? Why do you insist on sending me away?"

Even now, she still doesn't seem to understand the real reason why Hongli dislikes her. "The Emperor doesn't trust the Empress Dowager, and you are the Empress Dowager's niece, so naturally he won't trust you. If you stay in the palace, you will only waste your life and will not gain the Emperor's favor."

Her remaining life seemed shrouded in darkness, with no hope of ever seeing the light again. For a moment, Consort Cheng felt suffocated, having lost all hope in life, and cried out in despair.

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