Jiang Wang clenched his teeth, and the dark gold dragon sleeves slowly drooped down. He lowered his head and smiled, a smile full of mockery. His eyes, which used to be gentle, were now icy cold, devoid of any warmth.

He stepped back, nodded slightly, and coldly instructed Physician Jiang: "Save the child."

Shen Mingzhuang acted as if she hadn't heard anything, but she knew everything in her heart. She turned her back to Jiang Wang.

I thought I could pretend I didn't care, but tears still fell uncontrollably.

An uncontrollable sob escaped from between his fingers. Jiang Wang tilted his head back, took a deep breath, and turned to leave with long strides.

After that, she was placed under house arrest in Jiang Wang's palace, guarded by layers of imperial guards, while Jiang Wang did not appear for several months.

The person on the bed grew weaker day by day, but something inside her seemed to be swelling, struggling but determined to rouse her. She sensed movement in the space more than once, and she couldn't help but think of those she had let down, especially Shi Jiang.

She had wronged many people in her life, but Shi Jiang seemed to be the one she hurt the most. His words before he left came to mind, which gave her some strength to get up.

She wore a pear-white undergarment, her waist-length black hair casually draped behind her. As she walked to the door, someone immediately approached alertly. Shen Mingzhuang's lips twitched slightly: "I won't leave."

Upon hearing this, several top-level imperial guards immediately retreated.

The sky was filled with stars, a night breeze caressed her face, and the faint fragrance of night-blooming jasmine wafted through the air. It was already summer. She turned around and glanced around the hall, and sure enough, she saw the ice basin.

Is the Empress Dowager well now?

Shen Mingzhuang suddenly thought of Yin Rong. She was very curious whether Yin Rong was dead or not. If she was dead, there was no white silk hanging in the palace. If she was alive, why hadn't she come to seek revenge?

There was no sound from behind for a long time. Shen Mingzhuang smiled coldly, "Even if you don't tell me, I have my own ways of finding out. But when the Emperor blames you, you will be held accountable."

The people behind her subtly changed their demeanor, clearly pondering her words.

A moment later, a deep male voice rang out: "The Empress Dowager can only rest in bed now and is not yet able to speak."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mingzhuang smiled. That was good. It saved her from having to find a way to send her to hell before leaving. Since she was already in such a miserable state, she didn't need to rush.

She glanced at the moon overhead. Amidst the chirping of insects, the branches that obscured the moon swayed, and the shapes of the leaves were vaguely visible. The night wind lifted the hem of her skirt, and her pale beauty possessed a kind of suppressed and poignant beauty. Several top-notch palace guards held their breath and watched, afraid of making the slightest sound to break the tranquility.

"Please invite the Emperor over tomorrow. Tell him that I have something of utmost importance to discuss with him, concerning the imperial heir, and ask that he not refuse."

The group exchanged bewildered glances, but immediately went to report to Jiang Wang.

This was the first time in a long time that Shen Mingzhuang had taken the initiative to ask to see him. If it weren't for the guards explaining that Consort Ming wanted to see him the next day, he would have gone directly to her palace to see her.

He stood up, took a couple of steps, and then sat back down.

It's just a matter of one night; tomorrow will come sooner or later.

The following night, Tan Yonglin heard His Majesty tossing and turning from time to time. Finally, around midnight, the person in bed suddenly asked in a deep voice, "Change your clothes, you're having a nightmare."

Tan Yonglin hurriedly got up from the footstool and ordered someone to bring in water to help Jiang Wang change clothes and wash up. "No need, I'll go..."

Before he could finish speaking, he twitched his thumb slightly, thought for a moment, and then sat back down. "Go wash up."

Tan Yonglin had never seen the emperor like this before. Seeing this, he felt unsure of what His Majesty was going to do. His ideas kept changing, and he had never seen His Majesty get up so early before, even though the grand court assembly was still a while away.

His heart was pounding, but he dared not utter a sound. Only after he finished helping the emperor change his clothes did he hear the emperor's order: "Come with me to the imperial bedchamber."

Tan Yonglin immediately swallowed hard, thinking of the woman in the palace.

He was increasingly unable to understand His Majesty's thoughts.

If His Majesty didn't care about Consort Ming, why did he confine her to his own palace? Even after she passed away, her image would still linger in the palace. If His Majesty did care about Consort Ming, why did he imprison her and not visit her even once during this time?

While pondering, they had already arrived at the palace.

The stars twinkled, and the dark clouds in the sky gathered and dispersed. The palace was quiet. When Jiang Wang entered, he found that Shen Mingzhuang had not settled down. Instead, he was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) by the window, gazing outside in a daze.

How could she not know that Jiang Wang had come? Of course she knew.

Shen Mingzhuang hadn't expected him to arrive so quickly. As the candlelight flickered in the hall, he could finally see clearly that the person he hadn't seen for months had become incredibly thin.

Her high, protruding belly was already visible under her pear-white nightgown. Jiang Wang's fingertips felt cold, and her throat felt like it was blocked with cotton. She opened her mouth but couldn't utter a single word.

"It's been nine months already. Let's have someone come for a cesarean section tomorrow."

She wasn't sure if she had the strength to give birth to the child, so this method was the only way to ensure success.

Jiang Wang was stunned for a moment before he could understand what she was saying.

"Cesarean section...to remove the baby?"

His voice was hoarse and filled with disbelief.

"This is the safest way, giving the Emperor a healthy, lively child."

Jiang Wang frowned, and Shen Mingzhuang seemed to only then remember that he was behind him. He turned around and looked at him, explaining in a low voice, "The child in Consort Shu's womb is something I owe you. This is how I repay you."

His temples throbbed, and for a moment, Jiang Wang's mind nearly exploded. He stepped forward and grasped Shen Mingzhuang's hand, his voice deep and resonant: "Shen Mingzhuang, listen to me carefully. As long as I don't divorce you, you will remain Consort Ming, my woman. Put away your thoughts. You owe me for the rest of your life, and don't think you can repay it with just a child!"

Shen Mingzhuang let him hold her wrist, but her thin, fleshless face still couldn't hide her stunning beauty. She didn't say anything, just smiled.

The laughter echoed in the empty bedchamber, the reverberation sounding as if someone else was mocking her. She laughed uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. She looked at Jiang Wang as if he were a fool.

Jiang Wang felt as if he had been exposed to bright light. He took two steps back and fled the palace as if he were escaping.

Shen Mingzhuang's laughter finally stopped when his voice became hoarse.

As dawn broke, a maid came in to deliver breakfast. She sat there as usual, like a statue, but a familiar voice rang in her ears.