The sky gradually brightened, and mottled light streamed through the window, spilling onto the floor, the bed, the screen, and onto Song Chuyi’s face as well. Through this hazy light, she looked at the Crown Prince and suddenly felt there was nothing worth saying to this man.

She had originally wanted to seek justice for Zhou Weizhao, but the Crown Prince was someone she had encountered in her previous life as well—just like Shen Qingrang, people like them had no one in their hearts except themselves. The joys and sorrows in their hearts were far more important than others’ lives, even more important than their own children’s lives. As the Crown Prince had said, what cannot be abandoned, who cannot be killed? What could she possibly hope to get from their mouths?

She gave a self-mocking tug at the corner of her mouth, left the Crown Prince behind, and strode briskly toward the exit. Princess Duanhui and Princess Rongcheng were waiting under the corridor. When they saw her coming, they both turned around in unison. Princess Rongcheng pressed her lips together and beckoned to her. She walked a few steps toward Princess Rongcheng, then heard her ask softly, “What did he say?”

As soon as the question left her mouth, even Princess Rongcheng herself laughed. What could she possibly expect her mad brother to say? A person like him—would he even know how to write the word “regret”? Seeing her laugh, Song Chuyi also shook her head: “He said nothing.”

There was no need to say anything more. Princess Rongcheng fell silent, exchanged a glance with Princess Duanhui, and led Song Chuyi toward the side hall.

Empress Lu was speaking with Imperial Physician Yan, who had already been busy all night long. His head had just touched the pillow when someone pulled him from his bed. He had thought the Crown Prince had suffered some new mishap, but who would have known it was the Empress who summoned him. What surprised him even more was that the Empress’s opening words were not about how the Crown Prince could recover or live a few more years—her very first question was: “Is there any method to keep him alive while preventing him from causing more trouble?”

The drowsiness that Imperial Physician Yan had been feeling instantly vanished without a trace. Disregarding protocol, he looked up at Empress Lu in utter shock, doubting whether he had heard correctly. He actually wasn’t particularly willing to save this Crown Prince—the dangers they had faced all the way back from Yangquan and Jinzhong were all courtesy of that favored consort of his. He had nearly died several times because of the Crown Prince and had been exhausted half to death. He really couldn’t muster much goodwill toward this Crown Prince who indulged his favored consort’s arrogance and tyranny. Moreover, he later followed Zhou Weizhao, and thanks to Zhou Weizhao, he had opened a medical clinic, found disciples, and passed on his medical knowledge to his son. The Crown Prince repeatedly struck viciously at his own son, and he, who followed in the Crown Prince’s own son’s footsteps, also felt aggrieved on Zhou Weizhao’s behalf. He hesitated for a moment, his peripheral vision catching a glimpse of Princess Rongcheng and her party who had just entered. He gently cupped his hands: “After the Crown Prince regains consciousness, the remaining poison must still be cleared. At that time, if the needles are placed even slightly off target, he could easily suffer a stroke.”

A clever man with excellent medical skills—no wonder Song Chuyi had placed him at Zhou Weizhao’s side. Empress Lu gave an affirmative hum, and after a moment of silence, nodded at him: “He has already awakened now. We must not delay—in order not to hold up his treatment, discuss it with Court Healer Hu, and begin the needle treatment as soon as possible.”

All these years of forbearance had now become heavy stones pressing on her heart, finally crushing all her patience and tolerance. She closed her eyes: “When the time comes, this palace will personally plead with His Majesty. You will have done your best. Crane’s crest red is an extremely potent poison to begin with—to survive with his life is already a blessing amid misfortune.”

Princess Rongcheng lowered her head without making a sound. She truly didn’t know what to say. If only the Crown Prince had known to restrain himself after the incident with Yang Yunyong last time, he wouldn’t have come to this pass. She remembered the Crown Prince brother who had doted on her when she was young, but she also couldn’t forget all the disasters caused by the Crown Prince’s reckless behavior over these years.

Empress Lu watched Imperial Physician Yan leave, and her gaze finally fell upon Song Chuyi. The young woman was also looking up at her, her eyes as clear as a pool of water. She was open and forthright, neither dodging nor avoiding, which instead dispersed the last bit of hesitation in Empress Lu’s heart completely: “Well then, are you satisfied or not?” she asked. “He wanted to kill his son, and now I have killed him in a roundabout way. Are you satisfied or not?”

It was as if her decision to take action against the Crown Prince was entirely to vent the grievances of Crown Prince Zhou Weizhao and Song Chuyi. Hearing this, Princess Duanhui’s legs felt somewhat weak. She looked at Song Chuyi with concern. The Empress’s words clearly still carried some resentment toward Song Chuyi. She looked at Song Chuyi, wanting to speak some words on her behalf.

But Song Chuyi had already spoken before her: “He doesn’t just want to kill his son—he also wants to kill his brother. In the future, he might also kill the prince consort and princess who depend on his son, as well as his wife. When his courage grows even greater, perhaps—”

She didn’t continue, but Empress Lu’s face turned deathly pale. She knew Song Chuyi’s words were absolutely not groundless. The trace of anxiety that had risen in her heart disappeared without a trace. She leaned back against the chair, as if she had lost all strength: “Before his brother was born, he was raised in my arms as well. He was my first child.”

The first child always holds a particularly different meaning for a mother, but unfortunately, the Crown Prince himself couldn’t see this point clearly.

Empress Lu quickly adjusted herself. In the end, the Crown Prince had said one thing correctly—being born into the imperial family, anyone could be killed, anything could be abandoned. She collected her emotions and once again became that lofty Empress: “How did he come to be poisoned? Do you know?”

Princess Rongcheng stepped forward to stand beside her, crouched down to hold her hand, wanting to comfort her but not knowing where to begin.

“I don’t know.” Song Chuyi shook her head honestly: “Your Majesty might ask Prince Gong. He should know.”

If Song Chuyi hadn’t mentioned it, Empress Lu really didn’t want to connect these two matters. One Crown Prince had already left her mentally and physically exhausted. She looked at Song Chuyi, wanting to say something, but in the end said nothing.

News came from the main hall that the Crown Prince’s condition had worsened. Imperial Physician Yan, Court Healer Hu, and others were doing everything they could to save him. Empress Lu rose with a panicked expression, stumbling as she ran toward the main hall. Princess Rongcheng and Princess Duanhui both hurriedly followed, but Song Chuyi remained where she was without moving.

She ran very urgently, presumably as worried and anxious as she had been during any of the Crown Prince’s previous illnesses. She waited for Emperor Jianzhang in the corridor, and her tears began falling like broken pearls: “Your Majesty, Ahong, he’s not well—”

Emperor Jianzhang grasped her hand. He was still more composed than Empress Lu, consoling her in a deep voice: “Don’t panic! Court Healer Hu and Imperial Physician Liang are both masters of miraculous healing. They will surely find a way.”

Empress Lu nodded, but in her heart she knew more clearly than anyone that there would be no more solutions. He was beyond saving.