Novel website. "Sister!" The Empress Dowager uttered these two words, and the knot in her heart that had been tied for many years was suddenly untied.
No matter how cold the palace may be, there is still a sense of camaraderie there.
She hated Consort Hui her whole life because of the child incident. Consort Hui paid for her life, but she still harbored resentment and couldn't forget her. Now, looking back, she realized that the days when they supported each other in the palace were rare days of affection. She was blinded by hatred, and only when she fell into decline again did she remember those precious friendships.
The Empress Dowager stood up, walked to the dressing mirror, took out a key from a small box next to her, opened a box, and pulled out a letter. It was a letter left by Consort Hui before her death. The late Emperor had specially given this to her before his death.
As the Empress Dowager read the words on the letter, she couldn't help but burst into tears. Her cries sounded particularly mournful in the empty Xiankun Palace. The remaining palace women all wore expressions of sorrow, unsure whether they were grieving for the Empress Dowager or for themselves.
The Empress Dowager was stunned for a long time. Suddenly, she poured a cup of water from the mandarin duck incense burner, tilted her head back, and drank it down in one gulp.
"Sister, I've come to keep you company!" In this palace, even children and grandchildren are just illusions; the only real thing is probably death.
The excruciating pain spread from her chest and abdomen to every part of her body. The Empress Dowager coughed up a mouthful of blood, her head lolled to the side, and she collapsed onto the table, lifeless.
...
Inside the Buddhist hall.
Yue Qingyin suddenly raised her head.
"What is that sound? Who is playing music?"
Cai Ling went to the window and listened. "The sound includes flutes, xiao (vertical flutes), large and small drums, and a large horizontal drum. It's Shao music. His Majesty is going on a trip!"
"Go quickly and see where His Majesty is going in such great style!"
Cailing opened the door, but was stopped by the guard. Cailing became anxious. "Brother Guard, may I ask what's going on outside with all this commotion?"
"How should we know? Let's go back, or we'll get yelled at!"
Cai Ling hurriedly took off her jade bracelet and earrings and handed them to the two guards, saying with a fawning smile, "Brother guards, could you please help me inquire? My lady is still praying for His Majesty and is very worried about him. Could you please inquire so that she can pray properly?"
The guard smiled, took the money, went outside for a quick look, and returned to say, "Your Majesty, prepare the carriage to go to Suning Palace to fetch the Empress from the palace."
"What?" Cai Ling was stunned.
Yue Qingyin slumped onto the prayer mat.
Is Yuehuangyin about to appear? How could the Empress Dowager allow such a thing to happen?
She hurriedly asked, "Where is the Empress Dowager? What is she doing?"
The guards were opportunistic and had already figured out the general situation: if the Empress came out, Consort Yue would probably have to step down.
He replied without any politeness, "Your Majesty, my orders are to guard the Buddhist hall. I know nothing else. Please do not make things difficult for me."
The door slammed shut.
The sound startled Yue Qingyin. She suddenly remembered the old nanny she had hidden in the palace. When she sent people to hunt down Yun Ya, she accidentally learned that Yun Ya's mother had once served the Empress Dowager. So she devised many ways to bring the old nanny into the palace, thinking that by knowing the Empress Dowager's secret, she would have another bargaining chip to blackmail her...
But what if His Majesty already knew he wasn't the Empress Dowager's biological son? His Majesty's grand welcome of the Empress means he no longer respects the Empress Dowager. Has the Empress Dowager's secret been exposed?
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