Yongzheng frowned even more, but in the end he couldn't bear to scold her anymore. He held her slender hand and said softly, "Tell me if you feel unwell anywhere or if there's anything you want."

Lady Nian shook her head, still smiling happily: "Your Majesty, I don't want anything, I only want your love. With your love, I don't care about anything else."

Yongzheng was startled and stared at her blankly.

Lady Nian lowered her eyes and sighed softly: "There are some things that I understand in my heart, but I don't know how to tell Your Majesty. However, I am afraid that if I don't say it now, I will never have the chance again. While I can still speak, I want to tell Your Majesty some of my innermost thoughts."

Before Yongzheng could speak, Lady Nian leaned against his chest, took a few breaths, and, despite her weak voice, insisted on saying what she wanted to say: "From the first moment I saw Your Majesty, there has only been Your Majesty in my heart, and I can no longer accept anyone else. Marrying Your Majesty is my own choice. To be Your Majesty's woman and to be held in Your Majesty's heart, I have no regrets in this life."

"Your Majesty, I know I've done many foolish things. I thought you loved Prince Yi's wife, and I was jealous of her, so I framed her—all because I wanted Your Majesty's love. But in the end, I realize it was all just my wishful thinking. Don't you think I realized this too late?"

Lady Nian chuckled softly, but her laughter was tinged with bitterness. She gripped the sleeve of Yongzheng's dragon robe tightly, coughed a few times, and then covered her mouth with a handkerchief in her other hand. After a while, she quickly clenched the handkerchief and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I wanted to leave an heir for you, but in the end, only Fu Hui is left. I am not a good mother and cannot protect them. Fortunately, there is still Fu Hui. After I am gone, at least Fu Hui will be with Your Majesty."

Your Majesty, I do not regret falling in love with you. I only blame myself for being too foolish, being deceived by others, and doing many wrong things, repeatedly angering Your Majesty. It was my fault. I failed Your Majesty's love for me. Perhaps this is Heaven's punishment for my failure to cherish it, which is why I have this illness. Or perhaps Heaven pities my sincere feelings and has given me Your Majesty's favor.

In addition, there is something I have always wanted to tell Your Majesty: I have never liked the Fourteenth Prince. At the time, I thought you married me only because of my brother. I was depressed, but when I met the Fourteenth Prince, he comforted me. I could not tell Your Majesty my feelings, so I could only talk to the Fourteenth Prince to relieve my depression.

Back then, I was confused. How could I not trust my own heart and my own feelings? Your Majesty clearly doted on me more than any other woman in the household, but I didn't trust you, which led to so many wasted years and caused so many regrets.

The Princess Consort of Prince Yi said, "If you truly love someone, you will treat that person with your whole heart." She advised me to trust Your Majesty, but alas, I was blinded by my own feelings. I was terribly wrong, but I realized it too late. I couldn't explain it to Your Majesty in time. My illness is incurable. Before I leave, I have no choice but to tell Your Majesty, "Your Majesty, can you forgive me?"

Yongzheng held her tightly, his eyelids drooping, his expression unreadable, but his voice became low and hoarse: "How could I... blame you? You should rest and recover. Fu Hui is still young and cannot be without her mother."

Lady Nian smiled weakly, her smile full of joy: "Your Majesty, it's so good that you can forgive me. But I know I won't get better. Please don't worry about me. After I'm gone, Your Majesty must take good care of Fu Hui in my place, so that he can grow up safely and happily, and not be exposed to those scheming and intrigue."

Furthermore, Consort Shu is a good person. In this palace, she is the only one who truly treats me well and is truly devoted to Your Majesty. I have a request for Your Majesty.”

"Say it, and I will grant your request," Yongzheng said in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, after I leave, please promote Consort Shu to the rank of concubine and raise Fu Hui under Consort Shu's care. Only then can I feel at ease."

Yongzheng neither agreed nor disagreed, but only said: "I command you to get better for me. Fu Hui cannot be without her mother. Once you get better, I will promote you to Imperial Noble Consort. Do you hear me? I will not allow you to refuse."

Consort Nian shook her head, gripping his hand tightly, and gasped, "Your Majesty, I don't want to. Please, please..."

Yongzheng looked down into her tearful, pleading eyes and slowly nodded: "I... agree."

Ms. Nian smiled, her lips curving upwards in a bright and pure smile. Suddenly, the smile vanished: "There's one more thing..."

As Yongzheng stepped out of Yikun Palace, he was greeted by a vast expanse of white snowflakes, his face as cold and stern as the winter snow.

"Su Peisheng."

Su Peisheng hurried forward.

"By imperial decree, Consort Nian is promoted to Imperial Noble Consort, with the title of Yi. The Ministry of Rites shall immediately prepare for the promotion."

"Yes, sir," Su Peisheng replied respectfully.

However, there was no need to prepare for the promotion, and the next day, Consort Nian passed away.

Although no investiture ceremony was held, the funeral was still conducted with the rites due to an Imperial Noble Consort, and Emperor Yongzheng suspended court for five days.

After the funeral, Emperor Yongzheng issued an edict stripping Consort Qiao of her title and demoting her to commoner status for plotting against the imperial heir.

Su Peisheng led two old women to the east side hall of Changchun Palace, where Consort Qiao used to live.

Consort Qiao, or rather, now a commoner named Qiao, knelt on the cold ground, her face calm as she received the Emperor's decree.

Su Peisheng's face was icy cold as he said, "The Emperor has decreed that the commoner Qiao Shi plotted to harm the imperial heir and is hereby sentenced to death."

After listening to the brief imperial decree while kneeling, Lady Qiao smiled bitterly. "Ha, plotting to murder the imperial heir?"

What murder of the imperial heir? He was nothing but a scapegoat.

To this day, has she ever stained her hands with a single drop of blood? The one who plotted to murder the imperial heir was…

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