Three days later, Concubine Zhuang was reprimanded by the Emperor for not educating her daughter properly. She was confined to her house and ordered to copy the teaching sutra a hundred times every day. The third princess was also reprimanded by the Emperor and confined to her house for a month.
What did the Third Princess do? She was led by her aunt to imitate the clothes of Empress Jing'an. When the Emperor saw the clothes that Empress Jing'an once loved most appeared on the Third Princess, he directly threw the tea that Concubine Zhuang brought to her.
The emperor was quite rational and did not say that the third princess was disrespectful to her stepmother. What he said to the public was that the third princess was not serious in class at the women's college and had let down her teachers.
After Concubine Zhuang and the Third Princess met with misfortune, a pair of golden chickens appeared in Jinyi's private vault. Because Jinyi was born in the Year of the Rooster, Princess Shuyi would reward her with golden chickens whenever she was pleased, sometimes just one, sometimes a pair, with no particular pattern.
Meanwhile, Princess Shuyi's mother, Empress Jing'an, had failed again in her mirror-making. With a cry of pain, Empress Jing'an collapsed on the imperial concubine's couch, exhausted and ready to throw it away.
In the past, when Empress Jing'an was young in modern times, she was also fascinated by novels. The heroines who traveled through time in the books could basically move modern things to ancient times one by one.
Perhaps she wasn't the heroine. Looking around the palace, Empress Jing'an realized that Concubine Zhuang was somewhat like the heroine. Those who appeared unfavored upon entering the palace were actually the emperor's favorites. The Imperial Noble Concubine was Concubine Zhuang's shield, leaving her like a white moonlight that had died young.
When Zishu heard Queen Jing'an's call, he immediately pushed the door open and looked inside. Seeing Queen Jing'an lying on the imperial concubine's couch with her hair loose, he walked up to her and asked, "Queen, do you have any instructions?"
Queen Jing'an was immersed in her own world and didn't hear Zishu's words clearly. She turned to look at Zishu and said, "Prepare the necessary materials again and have them send them in tomorrow."
Zishu lowered his head and responded. Queen Jing'an waved her hand and Zishu retreated.
Queen Jing'an touched her chest. The pain had intensified from a slight sensation at first, now feeling as if a rope were pulling at her chest. But she wasn't panicking at all. Instead, she smiled happily. "Wait a minute," Queen Jing'an thought to herself.
After Concubine Zhuang was confined to her house, she never again had the opportunity to personally serve spiced desserts to Fengyang Palace. However, the poison, which had been administered daily for years, had long since penetrated deep into Empress Jing'an's heart.
Empress Jing'an refused to take the medicine that Imperial Physician Ouyang brought her. Yesterday, Imperial Physician Ouyang knelt on the ground and begged Empress Jing'an to take the medicine quickly. If she delayed it for another month or two, there would be nothing he could do.
Empress Jing'an simply sat and watched Imperial Physician Ouyang kneel down, then ordered the eunuchs to help him up. With a faint smile on her face, Empress Jing'an looked at Imperial Physician Ouyang and said, "Don't waste your time on my illness. If this illness can bring me to see the two princes, I will have no regrets."
Doctor Ouyang struggled for a while before collapsing to the ground. With red eyes, he looked at Empress Jing'an and said, "Your Majesty, you care about the deceased, but don't you care about the princes and princesses who are still in the palace?"
Empress Jing'an said calmly, "If they didn't have me as their mother, their lives would be easier."
Doctor Ouyang wanted to say something, but remembering the cause of the two princes' deaths, he swallowed his words. Ever since becoming the prince's consort, the Empress had been greatly favored by the Emperor. Later, after moving into Fengyang Palace, despite the increasing number of beauties in the palace, the Emperor would spend ten days a month with the Empress. Even the most popular Imperial Noble Consort would only spend three days a month.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
