In this rare moment of ease and comfort, Jiang Si had almost forgotten about Ji Chongyi. It was only when A-Man mentioned the Anguo Duke’s Manor that she suddenly remembered.
In her previous life, during the late spring of this year, Ji Chongyi had drunk himself into a stupor and never opened his eyes again.
It was said that when he was drunk, he kept calling out Qiao Niang’s name.
This was a common occurrence; she had personally heard it at least three times. Because Ji Chongyi died this way, it became a great joke at her expense.
How incompetent the Third Young Madam was, unable to compete even with a deceased commoner girl, letting her husband call out another woman’s name until his death.
Duchess Anguo was grief-stricken and even cried in front of her, saying that if they had allowed their younger son’s wishes back then, he might not have died.
Jiang Si still remembered that anger and humiliation, to the extent that she barely felt the pain of losing her husband.
At that time, she only had hatred left for Ji Chongyi.
Later, as time passed, when she thought of this man again, even the hatred was gone. He was nothing more than a stranger.
But now Ji Chongyi was alive and well, completely different from her previous life, which made Jiang Si ponder.
How did it change?
Of course, she didn’t wish for Ji Chongyi to die early, but the fact that someone who had passed away at this time in her previous life was now fine puzzled her.
After thinking for a long time, Jiang Si smiled self-mockingly.
It didn’t seem too strange after all.
Ji Chongyi deeply loved Qiao Niang. In her previous life, he had reluctantly married her, and probably drank himself to death out of longing for Qiao Niang.
In this life, he got his wish, so naturally, he was alive and well.
Having figured it out, Jiang Si put the matter aside and continued her peaceful days.
However, in Cining Palace, every day felt like a year.
The Empress Dowager’s illness was getting worse.
Strangely, the Empress Dowager had been unwell since shortly after the plum blossom viewing banquet, gradually becoming bedridden. Yet the imperial physicians couldn’t diagnose the problem.
Emperor Jingming visited Cining Palace more and more frequently, and the various consorts came in waves to pay their respects. Although they couldn’t see the Empress Dowager, the key wasn’t in seeing her, but in coming.
They might chance upon the Emperor, and even if they didn’t, at least their visits would reach the Emperor’s ears, earning them a good reputation.
“Your Majesty—” The palace maids bowed as Emperor Jingming approached.
An eunuch was about to announce his arrival, but Emperor Jingming stopped him. “No need.”
Emperor Jingming strode in, heading straight for the Empress Dowager’s resting place.
The inner chambers of Cining Palace were shrouded in deep curtains, and the medicinal smell grew stronger as one went deeper.
When he saw the Empress Dowager, Emperor Jingming’s mood became heavy.
They say that as people age, they can’t withstand illness well. This held even for the most noble woman in the world.
The Empress Dowager didn’t look well at all.
Emperor Jingming inwardly cursed himself for such thoughts, quickened his pace, and took the Empress Dowager’s hand. “Mother, are you feeling any better?”
The Empress Dowager opened her eyes with effort, her voice gentle: “Still the same. Why has Your Majesty come again? State affairs are important; you shouldn’t neglect them for my sake.”
Emperor Jingming felt quite uneasy but didn’t show it on his face. He smiled and said, “It won’t be neglected. Besides, nothing is more important than Mother’s health. Those incompetent physicians, they should all be beheaded…”
The Empress Dowager gently squeezed Emperor Jingming’s hand. “Your Majesty needn’t blame the physicians. I’m old now, and my body can’t keep up with even the slightest disturbance. It’s about time anyway—”
Emperor Jingming quickly stopped the Empress Dowager from continuing. He sat with her for a while, only leaving when he saw her energy waning.
Walking outside, the damp scent of grass after rain filled his nostrils, but Emperor Jingming’s mood didn’t improve with the brightness of early summer.
Another year of spring and summer had come, and the Empress Dowager had reached an age rarely seen in ancient times.
Could it be that the Empress Dowager who had protected and loved him was not going to make it through?
Whispers from behind the vegetation made Emperor Jingming pause his steps.
“Have you heard? The Empress Dowager isn’t ill; she was offended.”
Seeing Pan Hai’s cold face about to speak, Emperor Jingming waved his hand and quickly hid behind some nearby flowers and trees.
Seeing that the Emperor had hidden, the Grand Eunuch Pan Hai had no choice but to hide as well.
The two pricked up their ears to eavesdrop together.
“Ah, offended? By what?”
“They say she was offended by a prince’s marriage arrangement at the plum blossom viewing banquet.”
Another voice exclaimed in surprise: “Oh my, it’s true. The Empress Dowager’s health started declining after the plum blossom viewing banquet… Then, which prince’s marriage offended her?”
The imperial decrees for Prince Shu and Prince Yan’s marriages were issued together after the plum blossom viewing banquet, and the two princes’ weddings were only about a month apart.
“Isn’t it obvious? It must be that one—”
“Which one?”
“The Sev—” The young palace maid’s words suddenly caught in her throat as she stared dumbfounded at the person who suddenly appeared before her.
The other young palace maid was quicker to react. She pulled her companion down to kneel, trembling as they paid respects to Emperor Jingming.
Emperor Jingming’s face was as dark as water. He asked, “Which one?”
Seeing the two young palace maids lowering their heads in silence, Pan Hai kicked one of them. “The Emperor is asking. Have you become mute?”
One of the young palace maids, who had been kicked down, quickly scrambled up, pressing her forehead to the ground and trembling. “Your, Your Majesty, they say it was Prince Yan’s marriage that offended the Empress Dowager…”
Emperor Jingming turned and left.
The two young palace maids, knowing great misfortune had befallen them, kept kowtowing and begging for mercy.
As the head of the Eastern Depot, no matter how respectful he was in front of Emperor Jingming, Pan Hai was cold-blooded in front of others.
Pan Hai looked down at the two young palace maids and beckoned to someone not far away. “Take them away.”
Two eunuchs immediately appeared, walked over, and skillfully covered the young palace maids’ mouths, dragging them away silently.
Emperor Jingming walked faster and faster, clearly very angry.
Pan Hai caught up and said, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. It’s not worth damaging your dragon body over those lowly servants.”
Emperor Jingming stopped and looked at Pan Hai. “I had no idea such absurd rumors existed!”
Whether it was Prince Shu or Prince Yan, their marriages were bestowed by him. To say that Prince Yan’s marriage offended the Empress Dowager was to say that he was responsible for the Empress Dowager’s illness.
The more Emperor Jingming thought about it, the angrier he became.
Pan Hai shook his head inwardly.
Whoever started this rumor was truly a fool.
It seemed to be aimed at Prince Yan, but the marriage was bestowed by the Emperor, and the Emperor cared most about the Empress Dowager. How could he not be furious if it was linked to the Empress Dowager’s illness?
“I don’t want to hear any more of this nonsense.”
Pan Hai quickly agreed.
It was most difficult to trace the source of such rumors, but it was easy to silence those who spread them.
However—
Pan Hai thought of the beautiful young woman at the plum blossom viewing banquet and sighed inwardly.
The future Princess Yan’s life would probably not be easy. Even if the Emperor didn’t mind, it would still bother him. Moreover, while they could silence people’s mouths, they couldn’t control their hearts. Even if the Emperor had no thoughts about it, what about the Empress and the other consorts?
What about the Empress Dowager herself?
A rumor could ruin a person; he had seen it happen many times.
The Empress Dowager had also heard these whispers.
Her trusted old nanny advised, “Your Highness, should this old servant go and speak to the Emperor?”
The Empress Dowager shook her head with effort. “Speak about what? Bringing such baseless talk before the Emperor would be ridiculous.”
“But—”
At this moment, an eunuch announced, “Princess Rongyang has arrived.”