At dusk, the Empress Dowager awoke hazily from her slumber.

Glancing at the sky outside, the Empress Dowager was dazed for a moment before coming to her senses. “A Chen…”

At this call, Matron Chen, who had been keeping watch outside, immediately turned and entered. “Empress Dowager, you’re awake?”

The Empress Dowager nodded, allowing Matron Chen to help her up and change clothes. She then walked slowly to the warm chamber and sat down. “Ah, how did I sleep until dark? How long has Wan girl been gone?”

Matron Chen smiled. “The Princess left over two hours ago. She waited until you were asleep before leaving.”

The Empress Dowager nodded gently. “I haven’t seen Yan Ze enter the palace these past two days. I wonder what he’s been doing.”

Matron Chen replied, “The other day, Princess Yongning mentioned that the Yi Prince Manor is crafting a golden Buddha. The Young Master has lit an eternal lamp at Fahua Temple outside the city for the Yi Prince Consort. To fulfill a vow, he’s also preparing to craft another golden Buddha for Fahua Temple. He’s been busy with this these days. The Young Master is filial – he surely wants to oversee these matters personally.”

The Empress Dowager nodded. “Yes, Yan Ze is very filial.”

Matron Chen poured tea for the Empress Dowager, who took a few small sips before suddenly asking, “What day of the month is it?”

Hearing this, Matron Chen smiled. “The seventh. Empress Dowager, you must be waiting for the Princess’s wedding day?”

The Empress Dowager nodded, murmuring, “The seventh… time has passed so quickly…”

Matron Chen laid a thin blanket over the Empress Dowager’s legs. “Indeed it has. The year is almost over. The first time we met the Princess was at the beginning of the year. Back then, who would have thought she and His Highness would end up together? Their mutual affection leading to marriage is truly rare and precious.”

The Empress Dowager wore a gentle smile, then slowly said, “Zhen’er must have reached Northern Wei by now?”

“Yes, yes. The Northern Wei Crown Prince was going to meet the Princess at the border – he must have received her by now. The Northern Wei Crown Prince is also of good character. Fifth Princess will have a good life there, you can rest assured…”

The Empress Dowager smiled bitterly. “You know her temperament – how can I not worry?”

Matron Chen sighed. “Which young lady isn’t spoiled at home? But after marriage, knowing they’re no longer in their own home, none would dare act as before. Fifth Princess isn’t foolish. Don’t worry about her. In a few days, once Fifth Princess reaches the Northern Wei capital, we’ll receive news.”

The Empress Dowager sighed without speaking. Just then, a young palace maid approached from outside, peering around the doorway, obviously looking for Matron Chen. The Empress Dowager saw her and gestured. “Go ahead, it must be something urgent.”

Matron Chen hurried out. Upon seeing her, the young palace maid urgently said, “Matron, something’s happened at Changxin Palace.”

Matron Chen frowned. After hearing the palace maid’s full report, her expression changed slightly. “Keep this quiet for now. If the Emperor doesn’t know yet, let it be. Wait here – I’ll take some people to check. Have the Imperial Physician wait at Changxin Palace first…”

After giving rapid instructions, the palace maid left. Matron Chen composed herself before going back inside.

“What happened?” the Empress Dowager asked upon hearing footsteps.

Matron Chen smiled. “Nothing much. They say the Ninth Prince is refusing to sleep. I said I’d go check on him later.”

Matron Chen’s words were steady and composed, but upon hearing them, the Empress Dowager smiled. “Little Nine only refused to sleep when he first came to Shoukang Palace. Since then, it’s never happened again. Wan girl visited today – he’s probably practicing calligraphy now. What happened?”

Matron Chen’s smile became unsteady. After a moment’s hesitation, she had to say, “It’s Changxin Palace. The Noble Consort has gone mad from serious illness and injured a palace maid. She’s also slightly injured herself. The Emperor is currently in discussion with Commander Lin and others and doesn’t know yet, so the servants came to us.”

The Empress Dowager frowned. “Gone mad?! Mad from a serious illness? Didn’t the Cheng Prince have someone perform rituals before? Why is there trouble again now?”

Matron Chen shook her head. “I don’t know the details yet. Don’t concern yourself with these matters – I’ll go take a look.”

The Empress Dowager’s frown deepened. “What’s wrong with everyone? Some leaving the palace, others going mad!”

The more they spoke of it, the more uneasy the Empress Dowager felt. Her lips tightened as she said, “Prepare the palanquin. I’ll go see.”

Matron Chen hurried to say, “It’s too cold outside. Please wait here – aren’t you assured with me going to look?”

The Empress Dowager shook her head. “These matters are too strange. When the Empress was here before, I didn’t manage inner palace affairs. I thought with the Empress presiding over the palace, everything would be in order. But who knew the Empress herself would act so foolishly, and now Noble Consort Feng is like this – how can I not be concerned?”

As Matron Chen tried to speak again, the Empress Dowager waved her hand. “Say no more. Prepare to go.”

Matron Chen sighed deeply. “Ah, very well. I’ll prepare now.”

The palanquin was quickly ready. Matron Chen helped the Empress Dowager dress in multiple layers before assisting her into the palanquin. They proceeded slowly. When they reached Changxin Palace, they found palace servants kneeling everywhere, terror written on every face.

The palanquin stopped before the main hall. All the servants performed deep bows. Matron Chen helped the Empress Dowager down and looked around, focusing on a familiar-looking maid. “What’s your name? You look familiar. Come forward and tell us exactly what happened…”

The maid rose fearfully and approached the Empress Dowager. “This servant is Bao Yue, a first-rank palace maid of Changxin Palace. Noble Consort’s illness has been worsening these days. She keeps having nightmares and can’t sleep. The medicine hasn’t helped, and these days she’s been speaking nonsense. Noble Consort has been wanting to see the Cheng Prince, saying she fears he’ll meet with disaster. But Sister Bao Die, the head palace maid of Changxin Palace… received orders from Prince Cheng not to announce visitors and kept comforting Noble Consort, saying Prince Cheng was too busy. Tonight, Noble Consort suddenly flew into a rage and took up the sword the Emperor had given her before, stabbing Bao Die…”

Matron Chen’s expression changed. “Where is Bao Die? Where is the Noble Consort?”

Bao Yue quickly knelt. “Bao Die… has already passed away. Noble Consort’s appearance was too frightening just now. This servant… this servant had no choice but to work with several matrons to pin her down with blankets and temporarily tie her to the bed. This servant is guilty – please punish this servant, Empress Dowager.”

The Empress Dowager stared straight at the pool of blood in the center of Changxin Palace’s main hall that hadn’t been cleaned up yet. The bloodstains stretched from the direction of the inner chamber. The Empress Dowager could almost see the heavily wounded Bao Die stumbling out from the inner chamber, finally collapsing in the center of the main hall.

The Empress Dowager said nothing, but her grip on Matron Chen’s supporting hand was extremely tight. After a moment, she slowly said, “You did well. Lead the way – I will see your mistress…”