“This dowager remembers that when the First Prince was gravely ill, Your Majesty also summoned the Marquis Guanjun’s wife into the palace.”

Emperor Taixiang shook his head repeatedly: “That was different. How could I let a minister’s wife know of your grandson’s hidden ailment?”

Empress Dowager Yang’s expression darkened slightly: “Your Majesty, is face more important than your offspring?”

Emperor Taixiang remained resolute: “Imperial grandmother, not to mention that the Marquis Guanjun’s wife would most likely be powerless to help—even if she truly could cure your grandson, how could your grandson ever hold his head up before her again?”

Empress Dowager Yang stared at Emperor Taixiang steadily, then said unhurriedly: “Is Your Majesty still afraid of being unable to hold his head up before a dead person?”

Emperor Taixiang’s entire body trembled. He stared blankly at Empress Dowager Yang for quite a while before saying, “Imperial grandmother, what do you mean by this?”

“Your Majesty’s ailment is a tremendous secret that naturally cannot be known by outsiders. Regardless of whether Marquis Guanjun’s wife can cure you or not, her life naturally cannot be spared.”

“But, but she is the Marquis Guanjun’s wife!”

Empress Dowager Yang looked at Emperor Taixiang with a half-smile: “Is the Marquis Guanjun not Your Majesty’s subject?”

Emperor Taixiang panicked and randomly grabbed a teacup to take a drink.

His imperial grandmother didn’t know the Marquis Guanjun’s capabilities, but he certainly did. He had encountered danger twice and both times relied on the Marquis Guanjun to preserve his life. How could he move against the Marquis Guanjun!

“Could it be that Your Majesty dares not offend the Marquis Guanjun?”

Dares not?

Emperor Taixiang blinked, feeling the embarrassment of having his thoughts guessed by Empress Dowager Yang.

He indeed dared not to some extent.

He was too afraid—afraid of that overwhelming despair when river water engulfed him, and even more afraid of the raging fires covering the mountains at Qingliang Mountain.

Having finally ascended to this position with great difficulty, he never wanted any more upheavals.

Although sometimes he also felt regret, this regret became especially obvious when he favored his guards.

If only the Marquis Guanjun were just an ordinary guard…

“What is Your Majesty thinking about?”

Emperor Taixiang snapped back to attention and coughed awkwardly: “Imperial grandmother, we still need the Marquis Guanjun to guard the north. Your grandson has only recently ascended the throne and has no sons. It would be unwise to easily move against important court ministers.”

“There are many ways to take someone’s life. If the Marquis Guanjun mistakenly believes his wife died by accident, Your Majesty’s concerns would be resolved.”

Emperor Taixiang couldn’t help but be moved.

His current reckless behavior stemmed from despair over having no hope of offspring. If there were even the slightest possibility, he would naturally be willing to try.

Taking a step back, regardless of whether Marquis Guanjun’s wife could cure him, if she died, Marquis Guanjun would surely be heartbroken. Then he could comfort him well…

Thinking of certain possibilities, Emperor Taixiang’s heartbeat accelerated.

“New Year’s Day is approaching. The wives of external officials will come to pay respects to this dowager and the Empress. This dowager will find an excuse to keep the Marquis Guanjun’s wife behind, and Your Majesty can have her examine you during the interval when officials are paying court respects.”

Speaking to this point, Empress Dowager Yang’s expression turned cold: “If she has a way to regulate Your Majesty’s health, we’ll spare her life for now. If not, on the journey back in this bitter cold, an accident would not be surprising…”

Soon, New Year’s Day arrived, with heavy snow falling like goose feathers.

Shao Mingyuan tucked an exquisite small enamel hand warmer into Qiao Zhao’s hands. Only after watching her board the carriage did he mount his horse and follow alongside at a leisurely pace toward the imperial palace.

Upon reaching the palace gates, the two finally separated, each following the guiding eunuchs to their respective destinations.

This year’s court respect from the wives of officials differed little from previous years. After Empress Dowager Yang received several dukes’ wives, she summoned Qiao Zhao. After exchanging pleasantries, she said, “Currently, the palace has only the Grand Princess as a child, making it quite lonely. Since Lady Marquis rarely enters the palace and is also the Grand Princess’s aunt, go see her. The Grand Princess will surely be delighted to see Lady Marquis.”

Before Qiao Zhao could speak, Empress Dowager Yang urged, “Lai Xi, accompany Lady Marquis.”

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Qiao Zhao had no choice but to stand up, curtsy to Empress Dowager Yang and the Empress, and follow Lai Xi toward the back.

The snow grew heavier, falling densely on people.

Qiao Zhao tightened her grip on the hand warmer. After walking for a while, she stopped.

Lai Xi also stopped: “Lady Marquis?”

“Eunuch, this shouldn’t be the direction to Yufu Palace, should it?”

Eunuch Lai Xi looked at Qiao Zhao with surprise.

This Lady Marquis seemed never to have been to Yufu Palace—how would she know the direction to Yufu Palace?

Qiao Zhao naturally wouldn’t enlighten Lai Xi and stood in place waiting for an answer.

Heavy snow quickly settled on her hair and brows, even dyeing her eyebrows white, making her jade-like skin gleam with luster in the snow light.

Lai Xi sighed and lowered his voice: “Lady Marquis, His Majesty is feeling somewhat unwell and wishes you to examine him. Considering your status, we used the pretext of visiting the Grand Princess.”

Being in the palace, refusing at this point was impossible. Qiao Zhao calmly nodded: “Then please lead the way, Eunuch.”

Seeing that Qiao Zhao didn’t object violently, Lai Xi breathed a sigh of relief and showed a smile: “Lady Marquis, this way please.”

The door creaked open, and Emperor Taixiang, who had been waiting inside, turned around.

“Lady Marquis has arrived.”

“This subject’s wife greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty have a prosperous new year.”

“Lady Marquis, please rise.” Seeing Qiao Zhao, Emperor Taixiang felt somewhat guilty, but upon reflection that the woman before him spent her days intimate with the Marquis Guanjun while he could only mess around with guards, that bit of guilt disappeared.

“I have been sleeping poorly with many dreams lately. Lady Marquis, please examine me.”

Qiao Zhao nodded and placed her fingers on Emperor Taixiang’s wrist, gradually frowning.

Emperor Taixiang intended to test Qiao Zhao. Seeing her frown, he asked: “Is there something wrong with my health?”

Qiao Zhao withdrew her hand and looked deeply at Emperor Taixiang, her heart turning ice-cold.

His Majesty’s physical condition hadn’t developed in just a day or two—he couldn’t possibly be unaware of it himself.

Yet he had summoned her to diagnose such a hidden ailment, clearly harboring thoughts of silencing her.

Qiao Zhao’s mind was sharp. In an instant, she understood the stakes involved, and her expression became even more composed.

Regardless, given Marquis Guanjun’s influence, they couldn’t possibly act within the imperial palace.

“Lady Marquis, how is my condition?”

Qiao Zhao glanced at Emperor Taixiang and spoke concisely: “Impotence?”

Emperor Taixiang opened and closed his mouth.

Was this woman being too direct?

Qiao Zhao sneered inwardly.

Since they were planning to kill and silence her, did she still need to be tactful?

After quite a while, Emperor Taixiang finally recovered and asked awkwardly: “Does Lady Marquis have any remedy?”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “Your Majesty overestimates this subject’s wife. As a mere woman, I have no research in such matters.”

Having failed to follow medical advice back then, even if Grandfather Li were here, he would have no solution for this condition, let alone for her.

Taking ten thousand steps back, even if she truly had a method, given the imperial family’s habit of killing to silence people, she didn’t want to get involved.

“I see, heh heh heh, then I’ve truly troubled Lady Marquis.” Emperor Taixiang laughed dryly, becoming increasingly embarrassed.

He shouldn’t have listened to his imperial grandmother. Physician Li had said from the beginning that if he couldn’t endure for one year, all efforts would be wasted, and even immortals would be powerless. Yet he refused to give up hope, only to end up letting a woman see his humiliation.

“Cough, cough, I still have matters to attend to. Lady Marquis should also return.” Emperor Taixiang fled in embarrassment with a darkened face.