For a moment, the room fell silent.
"Brother, what do you mean by that?"
"It's nothing." Pei Yuance shook his head. "Sister, no matter what happens in the future, you must remember that only we are your family."
Pei Zhi asked doubtfully, "Brother, you don't need to say it, I understand."
"From now on, no matter what happens, you must pretend you don't know anything, understand?"
"Brother, what are you planning to do?"
Pei Yuanze would certainly not tell Pei Zhi that he planned to kill his mother.
The fewer people who know about this, the safer he is.
"Sister, tell me, what is Mother's greatest wish?"
Without hesitation, Pei Zhi replied, "Of course, it is because my brother has ascended to a high position."
“You’re right,” Pei Yuance nodded to himself.
Pei Yuance knew that if he didn't seize this opportunity, he might regret it for the rest of his life.
Pei Zhi watched as Pei Yuance took the tea and drank it all in one gulp, as if he had made up his mind.
She also understood that everything had gone according to her plan.
Didn't Consort Lin love her son?
So, to die at the hands of her own son, Lin Fei must have been willing, right?
As for that idiot Pei Yuance, Pei Zhi naturally still needs him to act as a shield for a while.
Pei Yuance acted swiftly, but he was also genuinely worried that if he hesitated any longer, the Empress would have already adopted a prince.
Consort Lin naturally had no defenses against Pei Yuanze.
Pei Yuanze has been bringing Lin Fei pastries every day for the past few days.
They offer different kinds of pastries every day.
Her son brought it over personally, and Consort Lin insisted on eating some, no matter what.
After eating this for several days in a row, Consort Lin was unable to get out of bed.
The imperial physician was summoned, but he only said that Consort Lin's illness was likely caused by catching a cold.
Pei Zhi went directly to see the Empress, saying that he wanted to go to the temple to chant sutras and pray for his mother.
Pei Zhi cried bitterly, and the Empress selected two palace maids to grant Pei Zhi's request.
Consort Lin is now lying sickly in bed, and Pei Zhi has been serving her for two days as per the rules, and has also been tormented for those two days.
Pei Zhi simply made up an excuse, which could also be considered as giving Pei Yuance some space.
Hopefully, Pei Yuanze will act decisively and without dragging things out, so that she can hear the news of Consort Lin's death during these few days of chanting sutras and praying.
On the day Pei Zhi arrived at the temple, she ran into an acquaintance, Xie Qi.
Pei Zhi had just finished burning incense and came out when she bumped into Xie Qi coming in.
Upon meeting, both sides took two steps back, and Xie Qi performed a courtly salute.
Pei Zhi returned the greeting with a gesture of respect befitting a peer.
"I've heard that Consort Lin is seriously ill. The princess has done the Xie family a great favor, and the Xie family has a doctor who is quite skilled. Should we send him to the palace to diagnose Consort Lin?"
Pei Zhi sighed softly, "These past few days, the imperial physicians have been scolded by my mother for their treatment. It's better not to let the doctors get scolded."
Xie Qi was surprised that Pei Zhi would be so direct.
"In that case, I have spoken too much, Xie."
Pei Zhi said helplessly, "Thank you for your kindness, young master. I appreciate it."
"Young master, please go and offer incense. I'll go ahead first."
Xie Qi stared at Pei Zhi's retreating figure, and he understood what was going on.
It seems that the princess is also aware of the Fifth Prince's actions.
Xie Qi thought that the princess might not know, which is why he suggested sending the doctor to the palace.
If the princess wants Consort Lin's condition to improve, she shouldn't refuse.
The Xie family has never liked to meddle in royal affairs.
Xie Qi only mentioned it because Pei Zhi had done a favor for the Xie family.
There were side rooms in the temple. During the day, Pei Zhi would burn incense and chant sutras to pray for Consort Lin, and at night she would copy sutras.
Meanwhile, Consort Lin in the palace was helped up by Pei Yuance.
Pei Yuance brought over a bowl of medicinal soup. "Mother, drink the medicine while it's hot so it will be more effective."
Consort Lin looked at Pei Yuanze and said, "I don't want to drink it. Every time I drink it, my mother feels even more pain."
"Mother, please don't be childish. How can you get better if you don't take your medicine?"
Lin Fei shouted, "I said I don't want to drink it! I feel terrible after taking the medicine!"
Pei Yuance said softly, "Mother, listen to your son. If you finish this bowl of medicine, you won't feel uncomfortable anymore."
Lin Fei's tone was filled with disbelief: "What do you mean by that?"
"Your subject naturally hopes that Mother Consort will be freed from this burden soon."
Consort Lin looked on in astonishment, "You drugged me?"
“Mother, I didn’t want this either.” Pei Yuance held the medicine. “I originally wanted you to live a few more days, but I don’t have time.”
"The Empress has already arranged for the Eleventh Prince to be moved to Changqiu Palace. If this is delayed any longer, I will really have no chance."
Consort Lin's heart trembled. "I am your own mother, how could you want to kill me?"
This is the son she raised herself.
This is the son she painstakingly planned and schemed for.
“Mother, you may leave now. Do not blame your son.” Pei Yuance said coldly, “After this is accomplished, your son will posthumously honor you as Empress Dowager.”
"Haven't you always dreamed of becoming Empress Dowager? Your son will certainly grant your wish!"
Consort Lin shook her head hurriedly. She wanted to shout, but Pei Yuance pressed her down and forced the medicine down her throat.
Consort Lin was forced to drink the medicine by Pei Yuance, and her face turned pale. She stared at Pei Yuance as if she wanted to devour him.
Pei Yuanze's eyes gleamed with a cold light: "Mother, may you have a safe journey."
Consort Lin clutched her neck and then struggled violently. Gradually, she stopped moving.
After Lin Fei stopped breathing, Pei Yuanze waited quietly for a while. Once he was sure she was really dead, he knocked over the bowl and chopsticks and burst into tears.
"Mother, Mother, Mother!"
Pei Zhi stayed at the temple for two nights before being taken back by the palace servants.
With Consort Lin gone, Pei Zhi, as her own daughter, naturally needs to return.
As soon as Pei Zhi entered, he heard Pei Yuan Ce's wailing and lamentation from inside the palace.
Pei Yuanze was probably genuinely heartbroken. After all, Consort Lin had treated him fairly well, and it was understandable that he was distressed after personally killing his own mother.
Perhaps Pei Yuanze was just putting on an act for outsiders.
Regardless, Pei Yuanze was indeed heartbroken.
Pei Zhi knelt beside Pei Yuan Ce, silently shedding tears.
Pei Zhi's handkerchief was stained with chili powder; otherwise, she really wouldn't have been able to cry.
Consort Lin was a concubine during her lifetime, and after her death, Emperor Pei posthumously conferred upon her the title of Imperial Noble Consort.
Even if she is a Noble Consort, she is still just a concubine.
The funeral lasted three days.
During this time, when the Empress came to see Consort Lin off, Pei Yuance put on a great show in front of the Empress.
Even though he was already of marriageable age, Pei Yuanze cried and said that he no longer had a mother.
The Empress also shed two tears and said a few words to comfort Pei Yuance.
Pei Zhi knelt for several days until her knees were bruised.
As soon as Consort Lin's funeral ended, the Empress arranged for a side hall to be set up in Changqiu Palace for Pei Zhi to live in.
This move caused quite a stir in the imperial harem.
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