"I can neither be with the one I love, nor do I have the emperor's favor."
“I’ve been claiming to be sick every day since I was the Crown Princess. Do you think I wanted to?”
"Even if I am not sick, the emperor will not come to see me. If I am sick, I can refuse to see the emperor and at least retain some dignity for myself."
"At this point, shouldn't I hate them?!"
"So what if I stabbed someone in the back!?"
"Which of you women in the harem has a better background than me? Yet you are all happier than me!"
"First it was that self-righteous Gu Jiangru! And then it was you!"
"I'm going to scheme, I'm going to use underhanded tactics, I'm going to see the entire harem in turmoil because of me! I'm going to see the emperor suffer and lose sleep because of me!"
"Only when I see each and every one of you suffering can I feel at ease!"
The queen's words became increasingly frantic.
She gripped the iron bars tightly, her expression so fierce it looked as if she were about to burst out.
Gu Jiangli was not frightened by her frantic appearance, but continued to ask questions:
"Since we've come this far, what else have you done? Confess now."
The empress made no attempt to hide anything; the sinister smile remained on her face.
"Gu Jiangli, I know what you want to ask. Your mother's death was indeed caused by me."
Gu Jiangli's face suddenly darkened, and he was about to get up when the emperor grabbed his hand.
The emperor held her hand gently, yet it made her feel exceptionally at ease.
She sat back down in her chair and looked at the Queen as she continued speaking.
"It was I who arranged for Eunuch Li to leave the palace and deliver a message to the Gu family. What he was delivering was naturally His Majesty's oral decree."
"I had Eunuch Li tell your mother: His Majesty has decreed that as long as she atones with her death, he will not pursue any further charges against you, Gu Jiangli."
"Your mother was very sensible; she committed suicide that very night."
"I could have chosen not to get involved, but if the Emperor really investigates seriously, your mother might not have died."
"If your mother hadn't died, how could you and Gu Jiangru have become enemies?"
"How can I be happy if you don't fight her to the death?"
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