Consort Hui became increasingly smug as she spoke, while Jiang Xianhao had already strode out of the Cold Palace.
After Jiang Xianhao left, the maidservant beside Consort Hui spoke with some concern.
"Your Majesty, will there be any problem if you tell the Empress these things?"
Consort Hui snorted coldly.
Don't worry!
"She's a tight-lipped person. No matter how much I talk to her, she won't mention a word to His Majesty."
I've mentioned it many times before; not only will it not cause any problems, but it will actually create a rift between them.
"snort!"
"This time, His Majesty, for the sake of his own throne, will probably also abolish Shen Hechuan's position as crown prince."
"With these words added, she will probably hate His Majesty even more, and the two of them will inevitably have another fight."
"This is my opportunity."
Consort Hui smiled smugly as she finished speaking.
Just wait, soon she will walk out of this cold palace and stand once again in a position second only to the emperor.
Fortunately, the moment Jiang Xian stepped out of the Cold Palace, she could no longer hold on and her legs went weak. Luckily, Jing Tan caught her in time, preventing her from falling.
"Your Majesty, are you... alright...?"
Jing Tan's voice trembled.
She had heard Consort Hui's words clearly, and was now forcing back the tears welling up in her eyes.
Jiang Xianhao shook his head, but the next second, he spat out a mouthful of blood, his body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Your Majesty—"
Jing Tan and Yun Shu shouted.
Jiang Xianhao felt weak all over and her vision went black, but she seemed to see the night of her birthday all those years ago.
At that time, Jiang Xianhao had four head palace maids: Jingtan, Yunshu, Wenxiang, and Shiying.
They were all maids who had grown up with Jiang Xianhao and accompanied her during her dowry, so naturally they had a deep bond.
The weather was perfect on her birthday.
She stood in the courtyard early in the morning, looking at the azure sky, but she no longer felt the joy she once had.
Just yesterday, she had another argument with Shen Wanshan.
He kept saying he didn't care, but he wanted her to explain to him again and again.
She was tired and didn't want to explain anymore.
She said nothing, she was completely exhausted, but he suddenly flew into a rage, smashed everything in her room, and then stormed off.
Before leaving, he made a fierce decision, ordering his men to surround her courtyard and prevent her from stepping out of the palace gates.
They treated her like a prisoner.
Looking at the azure sky and watching the birds fly by, she simply couldn't understand how she and Shen Wanshan had ended up like this.
As the weather grew colder, a gust of cold wind blew by, sending a shiver down my spine.
Wenxiang came over and draped a cloak over Jiang Xianhao's shoulders.
"Your Majesty, the weather is getting colder and colder. You should go back to your room and wait for His Majesty. Don't catch a cold."
Jiang Xianhao nodded and smiled gently at Wen Xiang.
"It's alright, I know what I'm doing."
Wen Xiang frowned slightly and muttered something under her breath.
"If Your Majesty were aware of the situation, why would you be standing here in the wind right now? You've become increasingly quiet lately."
Jiang Xianhao smiled bitterly.
Yes, she's becoming less and less like herself.
As time ticked by, Jiang Xianhao lowered her eyes to hide the disappointment in them.
"It's almost time, there's no need to wait any longer, let's go to the room."
As she spoke, she added another instruction.
"I'll put away the osmanthus cakes I made myself in the yard, so that when Hechuan sneaks over at night, he can eat a few to fill his stomach."
Wen Xiang nodded and sighed.
"I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince has been forcibly imprisoned by His Majesty and forced to study. I'm afraid he won't be able to get out today."
After she finished speaking, seeing the regret on Jiang Xianhao's face, she couldn't help but mutter to herself.
"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, why must you be so cautious?"
"Now that everything has been explained to His Majesty, you can interact with His Highness the Crown Prince normally."
Wenxiang spoke with a voice full of indignation and dissatisfaction.
"His Highness the Crown Prince thought you didn't care for him or love him."
Little did you know, you were afraid he would fall from the tree, so you specially drilled a dog hole in the perfectly good yard.
Just to see him, she braved the freezing weather and sat in the courtyard waiting for him every day. Look at your hands, they're almost covered in chilblains!
Jiang Xianhao gently patted Wenxiang to comfort her.
"It's alright, Wenxiang. You don't understand. Shen Wanshan is no longer the silly boy he used to be. He's suspicious and overthinking now."
"Hechuan is my child; I wouldn't dare risk his life in the slightest."
"However, I believe that Wan Shan is just having a temporary mental breakdown, and he will come to his senses."
"Today is my birthday. In the past, he would come to be with me on every birthday."
He's probably too busy right now, I'll wait for him.
When he arrives, I'll explain it to him in detail. He'll understand and believe me.
Jiang Xianhao repeated these words twice.
It seems like she's trying to comfort herself and convince herself.
However, as time passed little by little, until the sun set and the moon rose above the branches, Shen Wanshan still did not appear.
Jiang Xianhao sat at the table, watching the food she had personally prepared gradually grow cold. In the end, she could only sigh and order the food to be taken away.
After that, she lay down on the bed, her mind filled with memories of her time with Shen Wanshan, as if it were yesterday.
She lay awake for a long time, so she got up and went for a walk. But as soon as she came out, she saw Shen Hechuan squatting at the door.
His eyes were closed, his small body huddled together, and he was freezing cold. It was unclear how long he had been there.
Jiang Xianhao didn't care about anything else and immediately carried him into the room, taking meticulous care of him.
However, at this moment, Shen Hechuan's forehead was burning hot, and he had lost consciousness.
Jiang Xianhao immediately ordered someone to fetch the imperial physician, while Jingtan and Yunshu busied themselves fetching water for Shen Hechuan to wash his body.
However, after smelling the fragrance, she hurriedly ran back.
"Your Majesty, the guards at the gate won't let us out."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xianhao immediately rushed out.
"Get out of the way, all of you! His Highness the Crown Prince is seriously ill. If you stop him from summoning the imperial physician, can you bear the responsibility if something happens to him?"
The guards at the gate exchanged a glance, realizing the seriousness of the situation, and then nodded and saluted.
“Your Majesty, we are here on His Majesty’s orders. We cannot let anyone leave or enter except by his command.”
"However, Your Majesty, please be patient. I have already sent someone to consult His Majesty. Please wait a moment; he will probably be back soon."
Hearing this, Jiang Xianhao's expression finally improved considerably.
However, as time passed, Jiang Xianhao couldn't help but go out again.
"Has the person who went to ask for instructions not returned yet?"
The guard nodded helplessly.
"Something must have gone wrong, Your Highness, please wait a moment."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
