As soon as he stepped into Shou'an Palace, the slightly annoyed and helpless voice of Emperor Shangwen was heard.

"What is the Empress Dowager going to do?"

"You're already in poor health, why are you going on a hunger strike now?"

"I have no appetite and can't eat!"

The Queen Mother sat at the side, not to be outdone, and said with a sullen face.

Xiao Ruyu took small steps into the hall, breaking the tense atmosphere.

"Greetings to the Empress Dowager."

She leaned down obediently and crossed her hands.

The tutor had just taught her how to etiquette a few days ago, and it came in handy today.

Seeing her coming, Emperor Shangwen calmed down a little.

"Why is Yu'er here?"

[Mother said, I haven't seen my grandmother for a long time, please come and spend more time with her.]

She winked at Emperor Shangwen, and he understood her intention.

"Ahem... In that case, Yu'er, please stay with the Empress Dowager. I will take my leave now."

Emperor Shangwen cleared his throat and left the Empress Dowager and Xiao Ruyu alone.

Xiao Ruyu came forward and saw the table full of delicacies, but she didn't touch anything.

She secretly felt sorry.

"Grandmother, Yu'er likes this cake the most, come and try it."

Seeing that the Empress Dowager's expression had eased a little, she sensibly picked up the pastry beside her and fed it to her mouth.

"I don't want to eat. I have no appetite."

The Queen Mother turned her head away, feeling very angry.

[Grandmother, please stop getting angry. Your face looks bad.]

Seeing this, Xiao Ruyu could only use her usual method of acting coquettishly and rubbed against her arms.

She tried to cheer the Queen Mother up and racked her brains for ideas.

[The crabapple blossoms in the yard are blooming. I remember that the Empress Dowager loved crabapple blossoms the most. Why don’t we go and enjoy them? ]

Although the Empress Dowager liked her and softened her heart a little, she still refused to give in.

"No need to say more. I know you are on the emperor's side, so there is no need to persuade me."

"Madame Wei, send the little princess back to the queen. I don't want to see anyone!"

She stood up and ordered them to leave.

Inside the Queen’s Palace.

Seeing Xiao Ruyu coming back in dejected look, Queen Duan felt a pang in her heart.

"How is your royal grandmother?"

Xiao Ru shook his head, "Still refusing to eat."

[The Empress Dowager’s temper is even more stubborn than mine. She kicked me out before I could even say a few words of comfort.]

She lay dejectedly on Queen Duan's legs, fiddling with the tassels on her clothes.

Although she had expected this result, Queen Duan still felt disappointed.

"Forget it, Yu'er, you don't need to get involved in this matter. Mother will go and persuade your father later."

Xiao Ruyu raised his head and looked at her in confusion.

[Mother, are you really going to persuade father to take a concubine? ]

[Are you really willing to share your love with others? ]

She had never had sex in her previous life, and although she was young in this life, she already understood what she should understand.

Although the storybook never mentioned that Emperor Shangwen took another concubine, the content of the storybook has been completely messed up, and there is no doubt that there will be other changes in the future.

Empress Duan pursed her lips and stroked her small face with her big hand. "As the Empress, I am the mother of the world. I cannot occupy the emperor for my own selfish interests."

"Yu'er, go back and rest."

She stood up, asked Eleven to take her back, and turned to go to the Yangxin Palace.

I don’t know what Empress Duan talked about with Emperor Shang Wen, but she has been staying indoors since she came back from the Yangxin Palace.

The next day, Xiao Ruyu went to pay her respects, but saw Queen Duan lying on the bed.

【Mother, what’s wrong with you? 】

She came over quickly, and Doctor Yang, who had just prepared a medicine soup, was bringing it over to her.

Looking at Queen Duan's pale face, Xiao Ruyu felt a pang of pain in her heart.

"Nothing... ahem..."

"Maybe I just caught a cold... cough cough..."

As soon as Queen Duan opened her mouth, she started coughing non-stop, and her face became paler due to the violent coughing.

Xiao Ruyu quickly grabbed a handkerchief from the side and wiped the corners of her mouth with concern.

[Master, what happened to my mother? ]

Doctor Yang hesitated, "Your Majesty, please don't let your mind wander these days. Just take your medicine on time."

After leaving the bedroom, Doctor Yang was not surprised to see her catch up with him.

He sighed deeply, "The Queen has a heart disease."

Imperial Physician Yang hurried to report the situation to Emperor Shangwen, talking as he walked.

"The Empress went to persuade the Emperor yesterday, but he did not agree."

"I'm afraid it was because I was too anxious for a moment, and the qi had been stagnant for a long time in the past few days, so I fell ill overnight."

Xiao Ruyu clenched her hands nervously.

[What did Daddy say? ]

Doctor Yang shook his head, indicating that he didn't know.

"The Queen is ill?"

Emperor Shangwen had just finished his court session when he heard the report from Imperial Physician Yang and hurried to Empress Duan's palace.

Outside the palace, Xiao Ruyu was stopped at the door.

"The emperor just instructed that no one else be allowed in."

Eunuch Yin was standing at the door with an embarrassed look on his face.

Xiao Ruyu thought for a moment and gave Eleven a look.

The two of them sneaked to the window nearby, and Eleven lifted her up.

Emperor Shangwen's voice came from somewhere, sometimes far away, sometimes near, "Are you really going to do this?"

"I don't want to treat you unfairly."

"I am already the queen, so how can I be treated unfairly... ahem."

Queen Duan spoke weakly, and after a few words she started coughing again.

"That being said, but..."

Emperor Shangwen was in a dilemma and hesitant.

Seeing this, Queen Duan gently stroked his hand with a tender look on her face.

"I know that Your Majesty is in a difficult situation, so I advised Your Majesty to listen to Your Majesty's mother."

"Just agree to my request."

Emperor Shangwen lowered his eyes and finally agreed.

"Okay, I'll listen to you and choose a day to marry a concubine."

Xiao Ruyu looked at this scene and felt sorry for Queen Duan.

[Mother, it's too hard. She's in a dilemma. ]

[I clearly don't want the person I love to give in to someone else, but I still can't help it. 】

[Is this the ruthlessness of the imperial family? ]

Eleven slowly carried her down, and seeing that she was in a low mood, he said softly, "As an emperor, there are many things that are beyond your control. Little princess, please don't blame the emperor."

[Are you going to marry a concubine against your will? 】

Xiao Ruyu was so angry that she jumped out of his arms and put her hands on her hips.

Eleven's words ignited her already dissatisfied mood, and she retorted angrily.

[Taking a concubine is wrong in the first place. Since Daddy loves Mom, there shouldn't be anyone else by her side.]

Eleven was stunned and spoke subconsciously, "Eleven means that there is nothing wrong with taking a concubine, but..."

【Okay, you don’t have to say any more! 】

Xiao Ruyu interrupted him, and her original feeling of standing up for Queen Duan was further fueled.

[So you mean you support taking a concubine? ]

[I didn't realize that you are this kind of person, Eleven! ]

She turned her head away, refusing to pay any more attention to Eleven.

Eleven stood there at a loss, trying to explain what he had just said, "Eleven didn't mean that. The little princess misunderstood."

[I don't want to listen, I don't want to listen! ]

Xiao Ruyu covered her ears and ran away, ignoring Eleven who was standing behind her.

[Don't follow me anymore! ]