The servants inside hurriedly left one after another.
“Your Majesty, the late Emperor passed away in his prime. Although I am not clear about the details, there may be something fishy going on. The Empress Dowager and the late Emperor… they were definitely enemies. Although His Majesty and the late Emperor fought fiercely and had many sordid affairs, they are still of the Shu family bloodline. How could they allow the Empress Dowager to haunt them?”
"I'm afraid that His Majesty has been patient all these years. If the Empress Dowager hadn't fallen ill, she probably would have. Now he's lucky to have fallen ill and passed away peacefully."
The Empress Dowager nodded: "I know about this, but... I can't help but feel uneasy after seeing it."
"Your Majesty, you are His Majesty's birth mother. To be frank, it was the late Emperor who wronged you back then, but you never did anything to him. Our Emperor cannot tolerate anyone going against him. But to say that he was unkind to you and the Ye family would be untrue. Leaving aside others, although His Majesty did force-feed Consort Ye some medicine in a fit of anger, Consort Jing remained unscathed, didn't she?"
"With Consort Jing's skills, if His Majesty really wanted to deal with her, would she still be alive?"
The Empress Dowager took a deep breath and nodded: "You're right."
“You are hurt by the many things the late emperor did back then, but His Majesty is not the late emperor. He is your own son. Besides, how does he treat the harem? It’s not the same as the late emperor’s. Moreover, His Majesty is of noble birth and is proud. He is very different from the late emperor.”
The Empress Dowager laughed: "Only you know how to advise me. Peihuan, this is all I have to say to you now."
“Of course, this servant speaks the truth to Your Highness,” said Granny Fei with a smile.
"What do you think of the Jin family's matter? If the Jin family had such great abilities, they wouldn't just be a lowly concubine." The Empress Dowager asked.
“This matter, I think, His Majesty is aware of. Back then, the eldest prince was raised by the empress, so he was an adopted son. Now the second prince is raised by the empress, so he is still an adopted son… Perhaps, His Majesty still wants a legitimate son,” said Granny Fei.
The Empress Dowager sighed, unsure of what to say for a moment.
Inside Ruining Palace, the Empress Dowager drank a cup of tea.
Pei Lan patted her chest and asked, "Your Majesty, are you... feeling any better?"
My liver disease flared up, and it was painful. I hadn't felt any pain for a while, but it suddenly started the day before yesterday, so I called the imperial physician before long. And when they examined me, it turned out to be this kind of illness.
"As expected, this Shu Chengfeng is far more ruthless than his father," the Empress Dowager sneered.
"Your Majesty..."
"How could my health suddenly deteriorate? There must have been signs of this illness for a while now. It's just that I can't suppress it anymore. I'm afraid there are quite a few painkillers in the herbal medicine I usually take. Who with liver disease can be perfectly healthy without pain? I'm afraid even painkillers can't suppress it now, can they?"
"Your Majesty!" Pei Lan exclaimed in shock. No wonder.
No wonder Her Majesty didn't say much yesterday; perhaps she only figured these things out yesterday?
"This...how can this be..."
"Throughout my life..." The Empress Dowager paused halfway through her sentence.
“Your Majesty, they are too cruel…they are too cruel…” Pei Lan cried.
"Don't cry. I'm afraid I won't live much longer. Before I die, I must find a way out for you. You've been with me all these years."
Perrin knelt by the window, sobbing uncontrollably.
Inside Zhaochun Palace, after changing her clothes, Yan Nangui comfortably ate a bowl of iced milk.
It's no wonder she's so heartless; she truly doesn't care whether the Empress Dowager lives or dies.
So I'm too lazy to think about anything more.
"Your Majesty, Sanqi has arrived," Baihe said as she came over.
"Call them in."
Sanqi entered, knelt down and said, "Your Highness, this servant greets Your Highness."
Sanqi was a palace servant in Zhaochun Palace, and these young eunuchs were all under the supervision of Shuanzi.
"Get up and answer."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Sanqi stood up. "These past few days, I've been keeping an eye on Suning Palace, and I haven't seen anyone acting suspiciously. I've also taken care of things at the kitchen over there, and there's nothing suspicious there either."
"Yes, just have the eunuchs keep an eye on it. They need to keep a close eye on it," Yan Nangui said.
Sanqi agreed and then took his leave.
“It seems the person behind this isn’t in a hurry,” Jiang Xiang said.
“Either there’s no rush, or there’s no need. In any case, Jin must live. If it’s really the Empress’s scheme, we’ll need her in the future. If it wasn’t the Empress’s doing at all, we’ll still need her in the future,” Yan Nangui said.
“Yes, I’m keeping an eye on her too. It’s just a matter of spending a few extra taels of silver each month to bribe her. In any case, I’ll keep her around,” Jiangxiang said.
It wouldn't be difficult for a favored concubine to protect someone from the Suning Palace. Unless the emperor wanted that person dead.
“Your Majesty, Consort Huo Zhaorong has come to pay her respects,” said Shuanzi from outside.
Yan Nangui frowned: "Please."
Before long, Huo Zhaorong entered: "Greetings to my elder sister."
"Come sit down, and bring a bowl of this for Consort Huo as well. It's hot, so it's quite nice to eat," Yan Nangui said.
Huo Zhaorong thanked her and sat down with a smile: "Sister came back so suddenly. Actually, these past few days have been the hottest."
"There's nothing we can do about it," Yan Nangui said.
“Yes, the Empress Dowager is unwell, so there was really nothing she could do. When Lady Jin was suddenly sent back, and I heard that my sister was also involved, I was quite frightened. Fortunately, it had nothing to do with my sister,” said Consort Huo.
"It's none of my business, let's not talk about this anymore." Yan Nangui waved his hand: "How's the palace? I just sat down, I haven't even had time to ask yet."
"Everything is fine in the palace, except that Consort Xiao caused another scene, arguing with Consort Ding and getting beaten by him... Sigh, that Consort Xiao, she never stops causing trouble," said Consort Huo.
Yan Nangui also shook his head, saying that Meng Haijiang's so-called princess was nothing at all.
"These are all minor matters. What really shocked the palace was that Consort Xiangxian suddenly miscarried. Consort Xiangxian has been favored for so many years, and now that she finally has a child, she can't even sit still. I heard that she was heartbroken for several days and couldn't sleep at all."
“Yes, having children is a matter of fate. The Empress is the same; she couldn’t ask for them. Consort Xiangxian and Consort Jing also couldn’t have children. I’d rather not ask at all,” Yan Nangui said.
“My sister will have it, but as for me, His Majesty doesn’t like me, so it’s a long way off,” said Consort Huo.
As they were talking, someone from the Beichen Palace came and delivered the rewards.
It's grapes.
Although they are small, they are sweet and juicy.
A basket of them was delivered.
"Isn't it too early? It's either summer grapes in May or June, or August. Is this all there is now?" Chanyi asked.
The visitor glanced at Huo Zhaorong and laughed, "Not many, that is, the output is not much, so it can't be found everywhere."
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