The Emperor Jingming couldn’t tolerate any involvement of the Empress Dowager. How could an elder who had helped him ascend the throne and then lived in seclusion target Fuqing, a mere granddaughter? It was completely illogical and unacceptable.
Yet, deep in his heart, he harbored some suspicion towards Cining Palace, which made him increasingly irritated by Consort Xian’s words.
Consort Xian coughed, leaving spots of blood on her handkerchief. She looked at Emperor Jingming pitifully and said, “It was the Empress who first spoke nonsense, forcing me to retort.”
Emperor Jingming glanced at the Empress coldly, saying, “At a time like this, you still try to implicate the Empress. You truly show no remorse!”
Defending the Empress’s dignity in front of the consorts had become a habit for Emperor Jingming, but he also felt the Empress’s words were somewhat extreme.
Noticing the fresh blood on Consort Xian’s handkerchief, Emperor Jingming said with a stern face, “White silk or poisoned wine, choose one. Considering your years of service to me, I’ll grant you an intact corpse.”
Consort Xian trembled all over, prostrating herself on the ground, shaking as she softly said, “I… thank Your Majesty.”
She had thought her illness was terminal and her life short, so using her life to pave a path for her son to the Empress Dowager was worth it. But when death truly arrived, she realized she was still afraid.
Seeing this, the Empress urgently said, “Your Majesty, you mustn’t!”
“Oh? Why not?” Emperor Jingming looked at the Empress expressionlessly.
The Empress curtsied to Emperor Jingming, “Your Majesty, I still believe there’s more to Consort Xian harming Fuqing than simply resenting me for taking Jin’er under my name—”
“Then what do you think is the hidden truth?” Emperor Jingming asked in return.
The Empress fell silent for a moment.
Knowing the Emperor as she did, she knew he would be angered if she openly expressed suspicion towards the Empress Dowager.
The Empress could only say, “We can only know the truth if we pry open Consort Xian’s mouth.”
Consort Xian, prostrate on the ground, stared at the jade bricks and smirked.
The room was brightly lit, and the jade bricks reflected Consort Xian’s blurred face and her upturned lips.
Pry open her mouth? The Empress could dream on!
She knew the Empress wouldn’t dare directly voice her suspicions about the Empress Dowager, as that would surely enrage the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, ever since the Seventh Prince severed ties with me, I foolishly harbored jealousy towards the Empress, leading to today’s events. But the Empress insists there’s more to it, saying I was incited by someone else. This confuses me. I’m a dead woman walking; if someone truly incited me, would I willingly be a scapegoat while they remain unscathed?”
Emperor Jingming listened to Consort Xian’s words, finding them somewhat reasonable.
Consort Xian continued, “I’m not some low-ranking consort; I’ve borne two princes. Apart from the three I just mentioned—you, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager—who could incite me? I’ve already confessed my reasons, yet the Empress refuses to believe me… Your Majesty, the words of a dying person are sincere. Even if you hate and resent me, please consider carefully why the Empress speaks this way—”
“Enough! A criminal like you has no right to comment on the Empress!” Emperor Jingming shouted.
The Empress, hearing Consort Xian’s words, had to admit her eloquence despite her anger.
Even in such a dire situation with no hope of survival, she could still sow discord between the Emperor and herself, making the Emperor suspicious of her.
This way, if she were to mention the Empress Dowager later, the Emperor would surely be wary.
As the Empress was about to speak, Consort Xian suddenly clutched her collar and began coughing violently.
Her coughing grew more intense, with large amounts of blood spewing from her mouth, a terrifying sight.
Emperor Jingming, unaccustomed to such a shocking scene, hesitated for a moment before urgently calling out, “Summon the Imperial Physician—”
Consort Xian deserved to die, but watching her cough herself to death was still too much to bear.
The Empress was even more anxious than Emperor Jingming, urging her trusted servant, “Quickly, summon the Imperial Physician!”
Consort Xian, seeing the Empress’s urgency, had a glimmer of laughter in her eyes, but her coughing became even more severe. Suddenly, a jet of blood spurted out, and she fell straight to the ground.
As her head hit the cold jade bricks, Consort Xian could no longer feel the pain. As darkness enveloped her, a tear slid down the corner of her eye.
In that instant, many images flashed before her eyes like a kaleidoscope.
There were her mother’s teachings and expectations from her youth, the flutter of her heart when she first saw the Emperor upon entering the palace, followed by long-term numbness, the joy of giving birth to her eldest son, and the struggles and patience endured throughout her long life in the harem.
At this moment, as the warm blood left her body, everything dissipated, along with her resentment, regrets, and a thread-like sliver of hope.
Zhangʼer, Mother can no longer help you…
By the time the Imperial Physician arrived, he dared not show any shock at the scene. After examining Consort Xian, he bowed his head and reported, “Your Majesty, Consort Xian has passed away.”
Emperor Jingming stared at Consort Xian’s corpse for a long while before calmly saying, “Take her away. The Clan Ji has committed grave sins by plotting against two princesses. Demote her to commoner status and deny her burial in the imperial tombs…”
Afterward, the Emperor and Empress faced each other in silence for a long time.
The candles in the room flickered, having burned through most of their length.
Emperor Jingming broke the silence first: “If Mother Empress inquires, just give her a brief explanation to ease her mind.”
The Empress lowered her gaze and asked, “Should we explain the details to Duke Anguo’s household?”
“I’ll arrange that. Summon the Fourth Prince to the palace tomorrow to see Ji Shi one last time.”
The Empress nodded slightly, coldly watching as two palace servants dragged away Consort Xian’s body. She pursed her lips and asked Emperor Jingming, “Does Your Majesty truly believe that Consort Xian… Ji Shi harmed Fuqing out of jealousy because the Seventh Prince was registered under my name?”
“What else could it be?” Emperor Jingming stared intently at the Empress, his gaze burning. “Who does the Empress suspect?”
He paused, then asked, “The Empress Dowager?”
The Empress’s eyelashes trembled. She wanted to nod, but reason ultimately stopped her.
“I wouldn’t dare… But doesn’t Your Majesty find it strange that Fuqing’s misfortunes have repeatedly been linked to Cining Palace?”
Emperor Jingming’s expression darkened. “I also believe traitors are hiding in Cining Palace, but before the matter is fully investigated, the Empress must not make wild guesses. It would hurt Mother Empress’s feelings and put me in a difficult position.”
The Empress tried to hold back but ultimately couldn’t resist asking, “When does Your Majesty think this can be clarified? Fuqing has been harmed repeatedly, and the Fifteenth and Fourteenth Princes have died unjustly. Are we to allow the palace to remain in such chaos?”
“Does the Empress still believe Ji Shi’s harm to Fuqing is related to Cining Palace?”
The Empress replied coolly, “I only know that where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”
“You—” Emperor Jingming felt a mix of shame and anger.
The Empress met Emperor Jingming’s gaze without backing down.
“I will have people keep a closer watch on Cining Palace. The Empress should not indulge in wild speculations!” With that, Emperor Jingming stormed off angrily.
The Empress sat down, angrily slapping the table and cursing, “Foolishly filial! Obstinate! Old fool!”
As she was cursing, she saw Emperor Jingming return.
The Empress’s voice caught in her throat.
Emperor Jingming had heard half of the Empress’s curses. To save face, he pretended not to have heard and said with a dark expression, “This is Yangxin Hall!”
It was his territory, after all. Why should he be the one to leave? If anyone should leave, it should be the Empress.
The Empress stood up, maintaining a stern face as she curtsied slightly to Emperor Jingming before leaving with a swish of her sleeves.
If she had to go, so be it. Did he think she cared to stay here?