Shang Xiye reached out and took it, unfolded it and saw that the handwriting on it was exactly the same as the handwriting of Master Sun in his memory, both of them were strong and vigorous.

The letter reads:

Your Majesty, please consider this: our family has suffered a great calamity, and I fear no one may survive.

Only the infant Mengxi, who had already entered the palace to accompany the Imperial Concubine, might be spared.

On my deathbed, I humbly beg Your Majesty's grace to bestow upon Mengxi the title of Ninth Prince's consort.

I only wish that Mengxi could receive the Emperor's grace and the Ninth Prince's favor, be surrounded by children and grandchildren, and live out her life in peace.

Even if I die, I will have no regrets!

Sun Zhao respectfully submits his final words.

At the end of the brocade cloth, a bright red character was written in imperial ink: "Permission granted!"

The late emperor's private seal was also stamped next to it.

Judging from the quality of the brocade, the weathering of the characters over the years, and the handwriting of both Lord Sun and the late Emperor, none of them seem to be recent forgeries.

Wu Ying's gaze lingered twice on the phrase "surrounded by children and grandchildren," before finally settling on his master, hesitant to speak.

At the banquet hall.

Ji Fengyao asked Lin Shuang to help her serve food, and watched the unoriginal song and dance performances in the hall with utter boredom. She was so bored that weeds were growing on her head.

I don’t know if the Empress did it on purpose, but the fruits, dishes and soups served were all very plentiful, making people want to relieve themselves after eating too much.

Some of the other people at the table had already left several times during the meal.

Ji Fengyao had been eating for a while and was starting to enjoy it. She also felt bored, so she asked Xique and Linshuang to accompany her for a walk.

As the Ninth Prince's consort, she naturally had her own place to rest, bathe, and change clothes, which wasn't too far from the banquet hall.

As soon as you enter, you can still hear the sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments coming from the banquet hall.

Because of a ailment she brought from Earth, Ji Fengyao is not used to having others around when dealing with personal matters.

Xique and Linshuang were already used to her habit.

Ji Fengyao had just finished tidying her clothes and pulled down the sealed curtain when she sensed something was wrong.

At that moment, from a secluded spot not far away, Wu Shang's anxious voice came: "Your Highness, be careful!"

Ji Fengyao heard a rustling sound from the window frame behind her, and a gust of cold wind rushed straight to the back of her head. Instinctively, she slid her head to the side, and when she turned around, she saw a tall, thin, masked man in black grabbing at her with his bare hands.

The slender man in black, having missed his attack, was clearly surprised: "I didn't expect that your skills, bandit skills, would be even better than I imagined."

"There's more to it than you thought," Ji Fengyao retorted, though alarm bells were ringing in her mind.

This person is most likely a cultivator, and one whose cultivation level is higher than hers!

Ji Fengyao dared not hold back, and grasped both silver needles and poison in her hands.

Outside, the sounds of fighting could also be heard.

Judging from the sounds, Wu Shang, Xi Que, and even Lin Shuang were all entangled by someone.

"You might as well surrender. These things are useless against me. I don't want to hurt you," said the tall, thin man in black, his voice as cold and hard as striking stone.

"I'd be a fool to believe you!" Ji Fengyao scoffed.

She swiftly shot out silver needles, piercing several vital points on the man in black's body. At the same time, she opened the packet of medicinal powder in her hand, scattering it into the air.

The tall, thin man in black retreated swiftly, smashing open several window panes with a few blows. The biting winter wind rushed in from outside, quickly dispersing the scattered medicinal powder inside.

The man in black twisted his arms strangely, reaching into his sleeves to rummage around.

Ji Fengyao was shocked to discover that he had pulled out two black snakes as thick as a child's arm from his sleeve!

Those jet-black snake scales and chilling snake eyes were like a miniature version of a black dragon from a dream!