The imperial heirs hurriedly got up and staggered to the bedside, surrounding it completely.
Little Seven, Little Eight, and Little Nine practically tumbled and crawled to the front, their little faces filled with fear and attachment.
Qin Minghuang used all her strength to lift her incredibly heavy arm.
The skin on the exposed back of his hand was loose, covered with deep wrinkles and horrifying bruises.
She trembled, and very slowly and gently stroked the heads of the three youngest children one by one, her movements carrying an almost pious reluctance.
"Mother Queen..." the children called out affectionately.
Xiao Jiu subconsciously rubbed her head against her mother's cold hand, tears streaming down her face like broken beads.
Qin Minghuang struggled, using her rough fingertips to wipe away Xiao Jiu's tears, the touch was icy cold.
"Don't cry... Mother Queen's children must be strong... There is still hope..."
His gaze shifted to the three older princesses and princes kneeling before the bed.
Princess Qin Zhaowan immediately grasped her mother's aged hand tightly, her heart filled with unspeakable sorrow, and her eyes instantly reddened.
"Zhaowan..." Qin Minghuang's voice was almost inaudible, "The rest... is up to you..."
"Yes, Mother Empress!" Qin Zhaowan choked back tears, but her tone was unusually firm.
"Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail your trust!"
His gaze shifted to the Fourth Princess, Qin Zhaoshu, and he took her hand.
"Fourth brother, stop hiding it all the time..."
Your third sister needs your strength; she will treat you well... Believe in her..."
The Fourth Princess's chest heaved violently as she nodded heavily, tears falling silently.
"Yes, Mother Empress! Your son... will do everything in his power to assist Third Sister!"
Then came the Fifth Prince, Qin Jingzhan, a son who was usually somewhat simple-minded. At this moment, his clothes were already soaked with tears, and he was sobbing uncontrollably.
Qin Minghuang held his hand, "Good child, all these years... you've suffered so much..."
Of all her children, she felt most indebted to Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu.
When they ascended the throne, they were still young, focused on political affairs, and rarely showed concern for others.
"Mother!" The fifth prince's mind went blank, and he could only repeat the name while tightly gripping his mother's hand.
"Okay, okay..." Qin Minghuang responded very weakly, finally turning her gaze to Qin Zhaoyue's face.
She tremblingly stretched out her hands, vaguely encircling Qin Zhaoyue's hands that had been pressing against her heart, channeling her inner energy.
Her smile became somewhat fleeting, and her tone even carried a hint of flippancy:
"You...try to be less annoying in the future...the Empress's life...is truly...in your hands..."
Qin Zhaoyue pursed her lips tightly.
Logically speaking, she wasn't really the sixth princess, and she didn't have any deep feelings for him.
Perhaps influenced by the atmosphere, I found it difficult to control my emotions, yet my tone was unusually calm when I spoke:
"Don't worry, I'm here, nothing will go wrong."
Your Majesty, you still owe me a lot of money, but I keep track of it all. I must save you.
Just think of it as... getting a good night's sleep and resting; you've been too tired these past few years."
Qin Minghuang smiled, her breath growing weaker and weaker:
"It's rare to hear you say something so filial... Yes... Mother... also... should rest..."
Before she could finish speaking, her tense shoulders suddenly relaxed, and her hand, which had been gently holding Qin Zhaoyue's, slipped limply to the ground.
The last glimmer of light in his eyes was rapidly fading, becoming empty and scattered, and his consciousness was quickly sinking into boundless darkness.
“Pei Xuanyun, Meng Guang… I entrust… him to you…”
This was the last indistinct murmur before he completely lost consciousness.
The two high-ranking officials immediately knelt down, their voices heavy with sorrow yet resolute:
"We, your humble servants, would gladly die a thousand deaths!"
Qin Minghuang's eyes finally closed slowly, her head tilted weakly to one side, and she completely lost consciousness.
The Imperial Study was deathly silent.
Only the heavy breathing of the crowd, and the unspeakable grief and pressure, filled every inch of the air.
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