Imperial Consort De and the others knelt on the ground in confusion, looking at the earth before them while feeling the bone-chilling coldness in Emperor Delong’s words.

After a long while, Emperor Delong suddenly seemed to smile and said: “Xiaoqing, look at your subjects, look at your sisters—see how they treat your kindness?”

Instantly, the faces of Imperial Consort De, Lianpin, Mu Tianxiang, and Qin Shuying all changed.

Xiaoqing—Wen Xiaoqing. This was Empress Wen’s name.

Since Emperor Delong spoke this way, it meant that…

Imperial Consort De and Lianpin gaped in shock, even forgetting their fear as they looked at each other, exchanging expressions of extreme surprise and disbelief.

Emperor Delong seemed very weary. After a moment of silence, he said to Zhao Quansheng: “Quansheng, personally go to Phoenix Coming Palace… Never mind, let’s go there ourselves. After all these years, it’s time to let the Empress meet you all in person.”

With that, he stood up and called to Imperial Consort De and Lianpin: “You all come along.”

Imperial Consort De and Lianpin shakily rose to their feet, as if walking on clouds, following behind Emperor Delong.

Mu Tianxiang and Qin Shuying also involuntarily followed.

The distance between the Cold Palace and Phoenix Coming Palace was considerable. With Emperor Delong walking personally, no one else dared suggest taking sedan chairs. They obediently followed behind Emperor Delong in silent procession to Phoenix Coming Palace.

The people at Phoenix Coming Palace saw the large group approaching from afar, and someone had already gone inside to report. Nanny Yao quickly came out to greet them: “Respectfully welcoming Your Majesty!”

Emperor Delong waved his hand dismissively, climbed the steps, and walked inside.

Phoenix Coming Palace remained very quiet, but suddenly many palace maids emerged and respectfully lined the path in welcome.

Nanny Yao bowed at Emperor Delong’s side: “Your Majesty, Her Majesty is currently painting in the rear courtyard.”

“Mm.”

Nanny Yao said nothing more, continuing to respectfully accompany Emperor Delong.

Soon, the group turned past the spacious and quiet palace halls and reached the rear courtyard.

At this moment, the rear courtyard was resplendent with flowers, their fragrance wafting everywhere. A woman dressed in white sat among the flower clusters with her back to everyone, concentrating on her painting.

Seeing her silhouette, Emperor Delong revealed a smile: “Xiaoqing.”

Hearing Emperor Delong’s voice, the woman did not turn around but gently waved her left hand twice, signaling Emperor Delong not to disturb her painting.

Emperor Delong clasped his hands behind his back, strolled forward, and stood beside the woman to watch her paint.

Imperial Consort De and the others naturally dared not approach, remaining where they stood, each one dumbstruck.

Just from the woman’s silhouette alone, she clearly possessed the soft, graceful curves of a young maiden.

She wore a snow-white robe, her three thousand strands of black hair casually flowing down. Nothing adorned or pinned her hair, yet this somehow evoked countless romantic fantasies.

This woman must surely be devastatingly beautiful with unparalleled looks.

This woman must surely have skin like snow and features like flowers, beauty that could make fish sink and birds fall.

After standing for an unknown length of time, the woman set down her brush and looked up at Emperor Delong: “Your Majesty, do you think I painted well?”

Qin Shuying’s eyes flickered slightly. This was indeed Empress Wen’s voice—the same voice she had heard three times before.

However, from their angle, they could not see Empress Wen’s face.

Emperor Delong carefully critiqued the painting while Empress Wen listened quietly to his evaluation. Only after Emperor Delong finished did Empress Wen rise and turn to face Imperial Consort De and the others.

Instantly, Imperial Consort De, Lianpin, Qin Shuying, and Mu Tianxiang were all stunned.

The woman before them appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen years old. She was indeed very beautiful and dignified, though not quite devastatingly so, but the elegant composure in her every gesture was clearly not achieved in a single day.

If this was Empress Wen, or Lin Yuan, they would be nearly sixty years old. No matter how well-preserved, they couldn’t possibly look like this.

Yet the woman before them appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen years old. This…

Seeing everyone’s bewilderment, Empress Wen smiled gracefully and said to Emperor Delong: “Your Majesty, please have them all sit down to talk.”

Emperor Delong looked at her with a smile: “The Empress asks you all to sit down and talk.”

Imperial Consort De and the others sat down like wooden statues. Qin Shuying was quickest to react, saying: “Thank Your Majesty the Empress for granting us seats.”

The others then offered their thanks for the Empress’s gracious seating.

Empress Wen looked at Qin Shuying: “Madam Liang, we meet again.”

Qin Shuying quickly stood up: “Your Majesty, for this subject’s wife to be fortunate enough to see Your Majesty is truly this subject’s wife’s good fortune.”

Empress Wen sat side by side with Emperor Delong. Very casually, she waved her hand: “No need for excessive courtesy. Please sit and talk.”

Qin Shuying sat back down. Empress Wen asked Emperor Delong: “Your Majesty, what happened today? You know I don’t wish to see them, so why did you bring them here?”

Emperor Delong sighed: “Isn’t this all for you to decide? I originally wanted to have them all killed, but I feared you would be angry.”

Imperial Consort De and Lianpin’s faces immediately turned deathly pale.

They hadn’t expected that Emperor Delong had actually wanted to kill them just now!

Empress Wen smiled gently, her tone soft and casual: “What exactly did you few do to anger His Majesty? His Majesty is most merciful—you must have done something extremely excessive.”

After the extreme shock from earlier, Imperial Consort De was first to regain her composure and respectfully said: “Your Majesty the Empress, it’s all because this subject failed to manage the six palaces strictly, actually allowing palace maids to privately gossip about Your Majesty. This is truly unforgivable, which is why His Majesty became angry. This cannot be blamed on His Majesty—it’s really because this subject was too careless and failed Your Majesty’s trust.”

Empress Wen looked at Imperial Consort De with a bright smile and said to Emperor Delong: “Since I don’t manage the affairs of the inner palace, thanks to Sister Imperial Consort De’s help, the inner palace has remained so stable. Your Majesty, even if Sister Imperial Consort De has no merit, she has worked hard. Could Your Majesty perhaps forgive Sister Imperial Consort De?”

Imperial Consort De: …You look a full generation younger than me, you know.

Emperor Delong’s gaze toward Empress Wen was full of indulgence, his tone gentle: “All as you say.”

This… please don’t display such affection so openly.

All four women lowered their heads in unison.

“Well then, Madam Liang, please tell me the whole story of this matter.”

Qin Shuying repeated Mu Tianxiang’s earlier account. Empress Wen maintained a faint smile throughout, and only after listening to everything did she look toward Mu Tianxiang, saying softly: “You are the Sixth Prince’s consort?”

Mu Tianxiang didn’t know why, but ever since entering Phoenix Coming Palace, she had been extremely nervous. Now she was truly trembling, completely different from her deliberate act in front of the Cold Palace earlier.

“Yes, this subject is indeed the Sixth Prince’s consort.”

“Raise your head so I may have a look.”

Mu Tianxiang respectfully raised her head, but she dared not meet Empress Wen’s gaze directly, instead lowering her eyes and even holding her breath.

In Mu Tianxiang’s perception, Empress Wen seemed to examine her thoroughly, then laughed softly: “Your Majesty, it seems the Sixth Prince’s consort harbors deep doubts about my identity.”

Emperor Delong said indifferently: “Anyone who has doubted your identity has never come to a good end. It seems that despite all her scheming, the Sixth Prince’s consort ultimately seeks nothing more than death.”