Isn't that so?

Emperor Rongcheng cried out these words in despair, as if he wanted to unleash all the jealousy and pain he had suppressed over the years.

"If that weren't the case, why are you still staring blankly at this jade pendant?"

His gaze was piercing, and he pressed closer with each step.

Do you think I don't remember?

"This jade pendant was a gift from Li Wenci!"

"Back then, it was I who personally handed it to you!"

Jiang Xianhao was stunned for a moment, then laughed self-deprecatingly:

"Yes... so you still remember. Wasn't this jade pendant a gift from you back then?"

The mockery in that laughter stung Emperor Rongcheng's ears, and he frowned deeply: "You admit it?"

Jiang Xianhao, however, felt utterly exhausted.

She lowered her head, her gaze sweeping over the shards scattered on the ground, then landing on the wound in her palm where one of the shards had cut her and was oozing blood. A tremendous sense of powerlessness instantly gripped her.

Say what you want.

Her voice was low and hoarse, "Over the years, I've explained everything that needed to be explained countless times."

She abruptly raised her head, her voice rising sharply, filled with long-suppressed resentment:

"Back then! Because of your unfounded suspicions, I had to walk on thin ice with trepidation!"

"You keep saying that I'm looking at Tsurukawa, but that's just you using him to look at other people!"

"You took my child away and won't let me see him!"

"In order not to arouse your suspicion, I even had to suppress my longing and deliberately distance myself from Hechuan, not daring to look at him even once!"

Even if he ran up to me, I wouldn't dare to reach out and hug him!

Tears streamed silently down her cheeks, and she choked out:

"So many years have passed... I thought everything had settled down... but you... you still want to find fault with me for this!"

Shen Wanshan! Tell me! What exactly do you want from me?!

Emperor Rongcheng felt a sudden tightness in his chest when he saw the tears and grievances on Jiang Xianhao's face.

Even though his anger hadn't subsided, and even though many years had passed, her tears and accusations still pierced his heart like a sharp knife, bringing unbearable pain.

He wanted to continue his stern questioning, but his throat tightened and he couldn't utter a single word.

That thorn from back then remains deeply embedded in their hearts.

The years have not worn it down; instead, they have made it pierce deeper, causing the surrounding flesh to rot and become inflamed, making the pain far worse than before.

Jiang Xianhao tilted her head back and fiercely wiped away her tears. Suddenly, she took a step forward, approaching Emperor Rongcheng, and spoke each word clearly and resolutely:

"Shen Wanshan, I'm saying this to you one last time!"

"Li Wenci and I are just friends!"

"Before the wedding, I was completely innocent with him!"

"Shen Hechuan is not his child!"

"You've wronged me for so many years, causing our Hechuan to lose the love of his parents for so many years! If you continue to make such unfounded accusations..."

A resolute glint flashed in her eyes: "Then just kill me! Let my death prove my innocence!"

These resounding words were like a thunderclap, causing Emperor Rongcheng's pupils to shrink sharply!

He grabbed Jiang Xianhao's shoulders in disbelief, his voice trembling with panic:

"Ah Hao! It's my fault! It's all my fault."

Ah Hao! You mustn't do anything foolish!

He pulled her into a tight embrace and began to confess incoherently:

"It was my fault! Ah Hao, I shouldn't have doubted you!"

"I told you before, I don't care about any of that! I really don't care, I only care about you... I just... care about you too much!"

"I just want you to see only me..."

Held tightly in his arms, listening to this belated confession, Jiang Xianhao suddenly felt a surge of intense nausea.

She could no longer bear it, and suddenly pushed Emperor Rongcheng away, immediately bending over and retching violently.

Emperor Rongcheng was so frightened that his soul almost left his body:

"What happened? Did you eat something bad?"

He immediately shouted loudly towards the outside of the hall, "Someone! Summon the imperial physician immediately!"

Half an hour later.

The imperial physician knelt tremblingly in the hall and reported:

"Your Majesty, Her Majesty's health is not seriously affected. Just now... perhaps her emotions were too agitated, which caused her to vomit. Once Her Majesty calms down, she will recover."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Rongcheng's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

He waved away the imperial physician, returned to the bedside and sat down. Looking at Jiang Xianhao, who was pale on the bed, a wave of guilt washed over him.

He gently took her cold hand in his and softly whispered, "Ah Hao..."

Jiang Xianhao kept her eyes closed and did not speak.

Emperor Rongcheng remained silent for a long time before finally making up his mind and slowly speaking: "Ah Hao... I was wrong all along."

"I swear to you, from this day forward, I will never mention the past again, nor will I doubt you in the slightest. From now on... let's live a good life together, shall we?"

Jiang Xianhao's eyelids trembled slightly, and she nodded very slightly, uttering a single word: "...Okay."

Half an hour later, Emperor Rongcheng left Jingyu Palace.

The imperial physician, who had already retired, returned unexpectedly.

"Your Majesty," the imperial physician said with deep concern.

"Your health... is deteriorating rapidly. If you don't take good care of yourself, I'm afraid... I'm afraid it will shorten your lifespan!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xianhao chuckled softly.

"My life... living too long may not be a blessing."

Seeing the concern in the imperial physician's eyes, she instructed the palace servants to present the reward.

The imperial physician hurriedly waved his hand and refused, saying, "Your Majesty! I have returned to advise you because I am truly worried about your health, and it is certainly not for these material possessions!"

Jiang Xianhao nodded slightly, her voice as soft as a sigh: "Over the years, I am so grateful to you for taking care of my frail body."

"This small token is my way of expressing my gratitude."

She paused, her smile filled with bitterness and self-mockery:

"It's laughable, really. After serving as empress for twenty years, all I have left are these gold and silver coins... Fortunately, the money is still somewhat useful. Take it and have a drink when you're off duty to warm yourself up."

The imperial physician understood the deeper meaning in her words, his heart ached, and he looked up abruptly, tears welling in his eyes: "Your Majesty! You are still young! As long as you take good care of yourself, your health will surely..."

Jiang Xianhao slowly shook her head, interrupting him, her eyes filled with a desolate emptiness that seemed to see through everything:

"No need. I know my own body."

"Since the heart is dead, what use is it to repair this body no matter how well it is repaired?"

Upon hearing this, the imperial physician felt a burning sensation before his eyes.

The imperial physician had served in the palace for many years. Back when he was just an ordinary junior physician, he offended the powerful Consort Hui because he couldn't speak properly, and was almost executed.

It was Jiang Xianhao's kind words that saved her back then.

He has remembered this kindness ever since.

Even when Jiang Xianhao seemed to have been relegated to the sidelines, and no one else was willing to come and check on his health, he would still come once a month without fail.

That's why he knew that Jiang Xianhao was depressed and her health was deteriorating.

Later, he heard that Jiang Xianhao had reconciled with His Majesty.

He had thought her health would improve as a result, but to his surprise, her condition deteriorated and became increasingly serious.