Tian Yu still went to the records room to read every day during her afternoon nap. It recorded all the big and small things that happened in the Wu Kingdom. Tian Yu also learned by chance how Zhao Moyan's father died and how their family was raided. Although Zhao Moyan never told her, she probably guessed it. But seeing it today, she was still worried for Zhao Moyan. Fortunately, he escaped.
These past few days, Tian Yu has been experiencing morning sickness, but thankfully the tonics Li Xingyun gave her are quite effective. She only feels nauseous occasionally in the mornings, and Tian Yu hides away so no one notices her until she feels better. But as the days go by, hiding like this isn't a long-term solution, and she has no better option than to be extra careful at all times. She thinks she must wait until Qiu Xue leaves the palace; she can't afford to give herself away now.
Qiu Xue was a clever woman. She had been bedridden for the past few days due to illness. When the Crown Prince questioned Tian Yu again, Tian Yu denied it, saying that she hadn't done it and that Qiu Xue was genuinely ill.
Tian Yu memorized every detail of the palace, observing everything around her discreetly. What puzzled her was that while many of the concubines in the palace had children, Consort Li, despite her rank, had never conceived. She only learned this from palace maids and eunuchs when she visited Consort Li and noticed that although she was middle-aged, she remained young and beautiful. She had wondered about this before, but now she was even more puzzled. She had heard that Consort Li had never been pregnant, yet she was still favored by the Emperor; otherwise, how could she have been granted the title of Consort? Other concubines who had children had not been able to become Consorts.
That day, the Empress fell seriously ill, and Tian Yu and the Crown Prince went to pay their respects. They happened to run into Consort Li outside the palace. Tian Yu quickly followed the instructions of her nanny and performed the proper greeting. Consort Li smiled and took Tian Yu's hand, saying, "Let me take a good look at this. This is the Crown Prince's future Crown Princess." It seemed like a simple sentence, but Tian Yu sensed something different. Had she eaten something wrong? That shouldn't be the case. Stealing a glance, she caught Consort Li's gaze at the Crown Prince. Tian Yu's sixth sense told her that these two were not simple, but they shouldn't be like this either, especially since the Crown Prince had a severe case of mysophobia. Consort Li could be the Crown Prince's mother! Tian Yu thought she was overthinking it; pregnancy really does make you stupid for three years.
The group entered the Empress's palace together. The Empress was unable to get up. The Emperor sat by the bedside, held the Empress's hand, and said, "Empress, Empress, I've come to see you. How are you feeling?"
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid I can't hold on any longer. I'll leave the princess and Xiao Qi in Your Majesty's care."
"Your Majesty, you will be alright. Imperial Physician, please have the imperial physician come in quickly."
The Imperial Physicians arrived, including Li Xingyun. The princess and the seventh prince were already sobbing uncontrollably. The head physician stepped forward to take the empress's pulse and shook his head. When the emperor found out, he was furious and berated the physicians. The empress's cough interrupted the emperor's anger. The empress weakly said, "Your Majesty, please don't make things difficult for them. I know my own body well."
"Your Majesty, lie down and don't speak, just lie down."
"Your Majesty, I have one last request for you, and I hope you will grant it."
"If there is anything you need, Empress, please speak freely, and I will grant your request."
"Ling'er, come here," the Empress said, beckoning to the princess.
"Mother." The princess knelt before the bed and took the empress's hand.
"Your Majesty, please grant Ling'er's wish."
"Mother! Mother!"
"Empress, Empress, I promise you, lie down quickly." The Emperor said, looking at Li Xingyun.
"Ling'er, your mother won't be able to see your wedding day. You must take good care of Xiao Qi!"
"I understand, Mother. You won't do it."
The princess looked at Li Xingyun behind her. Li Xingyun saw that everyone was looking at him. The emperor said, "Li Xingyun, come here quickly."
To everyone's surprise, Li Xingyun slowly stood up from his wheelchair, refused the help of others, and slowly walked towards the Empress's bedside. When he passed Tian Yu, Tian Yu was still a little worried, but seeing that although he walked slowly, he was very steady, Tian Yu was relieved and thought to herself, "Well done, no wonder he's my brother."
"Imperial Physician Li, I know you are a good person after spending these past few days with you. I hope you will not let Ling'er down."
"Yes, Your Majesty, please rest assured, your subject Li Xingyun will certainly not let down the Third Princess."
"Good, very good." After saying this, the Queen placed their hands together and tears streamed down her face.
"Your Highness, come here," the Empress said, beckoning to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince stepped forward, and the Empress looked at Tian Yu and beckoned, saying, "You come here too."
Tian Yu quickly stepped forward to listen, and the Empress pulled her and the Crown Prince together, saying, "Crown Prince, you must treat the Crown Princess well and not be like before."
"Your Majesty, I understand."
"Tian Yu, I don't know much about you, but I've read your books and I like them very much. My sister passed away early, and it's all my fault for not taking good care of her. If she makes any mistakes, you must be more tolerant of her."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Good child, Your Highness, please don't hate me. It was my fault. I apologize to you."
"Mother, please stop talking and lie down to rest," the Crown Prince said.
The Empress looked at the Crown Prince, slowly released his hand, lay down, and gently closed her eyes.
Tian Yu glanced nervously at Li Xingyun behind her. Li Xingyun stepped forward, looked at the Empress, and then shook his head.
"Mother! Mother!" The princess and Xiao Qi collapsed in tears by the bedside. Li Xingyun stayed by their side. Everyone outside knelt down, and the eunuch shouted, "The Empress has passed away."
Empress Wei died just like that. The palace was silent, the bells echoed in the sky, and the princes stayed in the empress's palace all day long.
Meanwhile, in the backyard of the Eastern Palace, Qiu Xue, gravely ill, refused to take any more medicine upon hearing of the Empress's death. She passed away three days after the Empress's passing, leaving behind a dying wish to remain by the Empress's side. Rong'er, seeing Qiu Xue dead, wept bitterly. The Crown Prince, upon learning of this, rushed to the scene and found Qiu Xue lying lifeless on the bed. Tian Yu, also hearing of Qiu Xue's death, hurriedly arrived. Before Tian Yu could say anything, the Crown Prince turned and angrily grabbed her, demanding, "Speak! Did you do this?"
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