Master Ciyuan caught up and said a few words to Tan Yonglin in a somewhat flustered manner. Tan Yonglin's expression immediately changed, and he went forward to help Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang held the still-warm person in his arms. Her pear-white nightgown was stained red with blood, like a bewitching and alluring vine. He stared at the person in his arms with bloodshot eyes. Tan Yonglin stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, the medicine has been given to Consort Ming. This is also..."

He wanted to say that life and death were predestined, but seeing the emperor's expression, how could he bring himself to say it?

His Majesty listened to Master Ciyuan's advice and actually used his own heart's blood to make medicine, just to save Consort Ming's life. Very few people knew about this, and he only just found out.

Your Majesty is currently in poor health. If you continue to grieve over this matter here, it may harm your health.

"Didn't you say that heart's blood can save the one you love? Master Ciyuan, have you thought about how to explain this...!"

In that instant, Shen Mingzhuang felt a tightness in her chest. Her heart's blood was used to save her beloved, so what a foolish thing Jiang Wang had done for her!

And what about himself? Did he still hold a place in his heart? That's why he was so anxious and regretful.

Jiang Wang looked up, his scarlet eyes filled with grief, regret, and murderous intent... Master Ciyuan took a step back and slowly uttered, "Amitabha, Your Majesty, please do not be anxious."

Jiang Wang was utterly despondent. He only regretted that he had been angry with her. He could have avoided this situation by drinking a bowl of abortion soup back then.

I hate myself for not being decisive enough. I should have been ruthless to the end, instead of being half-hearted and then softening my heart, which has led to this heartache!

"Wake up! I will grant you the title of Empress and your lifelong favor. If you die, all those connected to you will be buried with you. Shen Mingzhuang, wake up!"

Jiang Wang gritted his teeth and spoke hoarsely, word by word, in Shen Mingzhuang's ear. Suddenly, he remembered something, took a deep breath, and slowly whispered, "The child of Consort Shu is not the imperial heir, and I have never touched her. As for Consort Song, I only asked her to play chess and the zither every night; I did nothing else..."

The once proud man now kneels there, pleading for her forgiveness in his ear, humbly explaining the unfounded misunderstandings and the words he found difficult to utter.

As Shen Mingzhuang listened, her heart felt as if it had been vigorously rubbed and then suddenly relaxed. The pain in that instant made her feel as if she was being torn apart!

Seeing Jiang Wang like this, how could she not feel heartbroken? Why couldn't he have told her sooner? But then she thought that she was just as proud as him, unwilling to humbly explain the misunderstandings that stood between them.

Perhaps this is why two proud people shouldn't come together; neither will back down, and in the end, they can only suffer losses.

She walked over gently and reached out to touch his face, but this time, she was like a gust of wind, a cloud, a wisp of mist, and could no longer touch his face.

In that instant, that tearing sensation spread throughout her body again, as if a tremendous force was carrying her away, and she instantly lost consciousness.

She fell into a dream.

She walked barefoot lightly on the grassy field, surrounded by mist that enveloped her like a skirt or a garment. A figure approached her, and she looked up to see Shi Jiang.

It was like seeing an old friend she hadn't seen in a very long time. She was overjoyed. Shi Jiang also walked over with a smile. He looked at her gently. His face, which was as beautiful as a god, had a faint smile on it, as if he were welcoming an old friend who had returned to his homeland.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Shi Jiang looked at her with a smile, as if he were looking at a lover left behind in the ancient past, whose joy remained unchanged even after a long time apart.

"What are you doing here? I thought..." Shen Mingzhuang thought he would never appear again. The guilt in her heart was about to burst forth. He was the most tolerant person she had ever met, but he was also the one who was hurt the most by her.

Shi Jiang reached out and covered her lips with his, a slight smile playing on his lips. Yet, she could still see the subtle pain in those beautiful, peach-blossom eyes.

"Whether it was right or wrong before, let's not dwell on it anymore, Diesheng. You must remember that I destroyed myself just so that you could live. Don't let me down. You must live on for me. I'm going back to where I belong. Whether this was a deception or an encounter, forget it. This space is the last thing I'm giving you."

A sense of unease washed over Shen Mingzhuang once more. She was terrified; the place was so empty. Was Shi Jiang leaving too...? "Are you leaving too?"

Shi Jiang saw her tears fall like pearls, gently cupped her face in his hands, and slowly smiled. He leaned forward and breathed a long, reluctant sigh into her ear, "Diesheng, this is goodbye forever. Live well in your own world, and don't remember me..."

Shen Mingzhuang looked up at him, and Shi Jiang slowly leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. His deep affection pierced her heart, and in that moment of panic, she couldn't help but reach out, wanting to grab something. But the person who had just been alive in front of her vanished like smoke, and all she could grasp was in vain.

She felt as if she were falling into boundless darkness, frantically reaching out to grab something, but all she got in return was to fall deeper...

When I opened my eyes again, it was already broad daylight.

She seemed to have been asleep in a daze for too long. The sweltering summer and the noisy cicadas had been replaced by the warmth of spring and blooming flowers outside. Swallows chirped and twittered outside the eaves, carrying mud. A young palace maid walked by with a leisurely gait, her green skirt trailing behind the half-lowered bamboo curtain.

Where was she...? Shen Mingzhuang felt completely unfamiliar with the place. It was a magnificent palace, yet it also had a sense of tranquility. This was a palace she had never been to before.

Why is she sleeping here...?

She moved her feet, trying to get up, but the moment she moved, she alerted the servants in the room.

"Quickly, someone come! Her Majesty has awakened!"

As the first maidservant who noticed he was awake spoke, the sound of a porcelain bowl falling to the ground came from the doorway. Shen Mingzhuang turned around and his eyes immediately welled up with tears. It was... Manhuan!

"Your Majesty..." Manhuan choked up and rushed to the palace bedside, looking at Shen Mingzhuang, who had just woken up and was still somewhat at a loss, in disbelief.

Warm tears dripped onto the back of her hand, yet she still had a dreamlike feeling. How could Man Huan be here? She looked much older. Wasn't she already dead? Why was she here?

With so many questions swirling in her mind that desperately needed answers, she asked Manhuan, "How did you get here? Where am I?"

Manhuan wiped away her tears and, upon hearing her young mistress's hoarse voice, hurriedly went to pour a cup of hot tea.

Shen Mingzhuang took a sip and looked at Man Huan again.