Even if you kill me, you won't escape this palace.
Physician Fu showed no anger or fear at being attacked; instead, his tone was firm.
Consort Shu looked stunned and released her grip.
Clang!
The piece of porcelain fell to the ground and shattered into even smaller fragments.
She covered her face and sobbed softly.
It must be said that even though she looks disheveled now, she is still a rare beauty. When she cries, her face is like a pear blossom in the rain, making people feel sorry for her.
But Physician Fu remained calm, simply releasing her and handing her a handkerchief.
"Your Majesty, we've come to this point, do you have the courage to burn your bridges?"
Consort Shu stopped crying, raised her head, and revealed her pretty face. You really couldn't tell that she had given birth to two children.
"Whose side are you on?"
She asked in a low voice.
Physician Fu extended his index finger, making a "one" sign.
Consort Shu's beautiful eyes widened in astonishment.
"Isn't the Crown Prince dead?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince is the Son of Heaven, how could he be so easily harmed?"
Consort Shu's eyes flickered: "What do you want me to do?"
Physician Fu pursed his lips slightly.
"Help us prove that the current emperor is an imposter!"
Consort Shu's pupils dilated violently.
"You, you all..."
She never expected that the secret would be discovered by the Crown Prince's men so quickly!
She lowered her eyes and remained silent, clearly considering her options.
After a moment, she finally spoke.
"If I agree, can you guarantee you won't kill me and the Eighth Prince? After all, the Eighth Prince is his bloodline, not a true dragon descendant."
Surprisingly, there was no denial or excuse?
Physician Fu couldn't help but glance at her again.
“Your Highness is not a murderer, and the Eighth Prince has not done anything wrong.”
He didn't mention whether the Crown Prince would let Consort Shu off the hook, after all, Consort Shu had done countless things to the Crown Prince in the past.
Consort Shu understood and gave a slight smile.
"I ask for nothing else, I just want to live!"
Physician Fu stared at her for a long time, and finally said that he would go back and ask his superiors.
After Physician Fu left, Consort Shu sat on the ground for a long time before slowly getting up, walking to the bedside, reaching under the bed, and groping around for a while. Then, with a click, the carved bed board sank down a bit.
She carefully reached in and pulled out a piece of cloth.
To be precise, it was a handkerchief, but it was very old and worn.
The handkerchief was folded into a very small piece.
Consort Shu pinched the handkerchief between two fingers and slowly unfolded it. Her gaze fell on the hard scab in the middle of the handkerchief, which looked as if it had been soaked in ink. A sense of melancholy appeared in her eyes.
…………
Physician Fu's message reached Song Xibai through the layers of communication.
Song Xibai was not surprised.
If they weren't on opposing sides, she would almost certainly admire Consort Shu.
Her ability to remain a favorite in the imperial harem for over a decade was definitely not solely due to the fact that she bore a son for the fake emperor.
When she needs to be ruthless, she can be truly ruthless, even towards herself.
Granny Fangqi was very indignant.
"As a concubine of the late emperor, she actually sided with the traitor, becoming his accomplice and repeatedly harming His Highness, trying to let her bastard child ascend to the throne. Her heart is despicable!"
“But I think Consort Shu is quite pitiful too,” Wei Hong said in a low voice. “She used to be so powerful and influential in the harem, but now she has to pretend to be crazy to avoid the clutches of the fake emperor.”
"You foolish girl! What's there to pity about her?! The life she's lived these past ten years has far exceeded what she deserves! Such an unfaithful slut should be hanged!"
Granny Fangqi was extremely angry.
Song Xibai glanced at the two of them, her expression indifferent.
"Alright, what's the point of saying all this? It's none of our business what fate awaits her. We'll deal with it when His Highness returns."
Granny Fangqi seemed to sense Song Xibai's emotions, so she quickly composed herself, responded softly, and then asked.
"How should we reply?"
"Say yes."
Granny Fangqi frowned deeply: "But Master, isn't this letting her off too easily?"
Song Xibai raised an eyebrow.
"Sometimes, living isn't necessarily better than dying. Alright, I understand. Go and pass on the message!"
Granny Fangqi said no more and then withdrew.
As soon as she left, Song Xibai couldn't help but sigh as he looked out the door.
Wei Hong thought she was unhappy because she had given in, so she quickly tried to comfort her.
"Your Majesty, please don't overthink it. Consort Shu has done so many bad things. Even if we don't take action, Consort Shu and Consort De will not let her off the hook."
Song Xibai waved his hand and leaned back, his bulky body looming.
"That's not why I'm talking about it. I'm just thinking that there's a significant difference in how people think..."
Just now, she suddenly felt that she could understand Consort Shu's actions.
In that situation, the late emperor was dead, and she inadvertently discovered the secret of the fake emperor. If she wanted to live, she had no choice but to rely on him.
Now, the fake emperor wants to kill her, so she's feigning madness and cooperating with the crown prince's men, all just to survive...
Even so, that sliver of pity only lasted for a moment.
The fact that she killed her own child alone makes it impossible for Song Xibai to truly understand and accept her.
They couldn't possibly let her go.
Consort Shu must also know that what she is doing now is nothing more than prolonging her death.
“People are inherently different. Anyway, I think that you, my lady, would never end up like her.”
Song Xibai thought for a moment, then pursed her lips.
"If I were in that situation, I'd probably drag him down with me."
Just as they finished speaking, a series of firm and powerful footsteps came from outside.
Song Xibai seemed to sense something, and her heart suddenly beat faster.
She looked up.
Bang!
The door was pushed open from the outside, and a figure walked in.
"Qingqing, I'm back!"
Song Xibai's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the person in front of her.
At that moment, she even forgot to breathe.
The person in front of me was dressed in a black, muddy outfit. His dirty hair was tied up in a mess with strips of cloth. Half of his once handsome face was covered by a beard, and only his eyes, which were filled with surprise, were still full of tenderness and affection.
Song Xibai jumped up and rushed into his arms.
The crown prince smiled broadly and put his arm around her back.
Just when he thought the person in his arms was crying tears of joy, he suddenly felt a pain in his chin.
"You actually know how to come back?!"
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