The news that Emperor Taixiang had invited the Empress to select the crown prince quickly spread throughout the palace.

His Majesty was in his prime yet seriously ill and bedridden. In the entire harem, aside from Noble Consort Xian, who had given birth to the Grand Princess, none of the other consorts had even half a child. Thinking of their prospects painted a bleak picture, so they naturally envied the Empress immensely for having her future arranged by His Majesty.

At this time, many consorts secretly sighed: being a concubine was ultimately different from being a wife, even when that man was the emperor.

But it was too late for regrets now.

In Yufu Palace, Li Jiǎo curved her lips in a cold smile.

Excellent, she had finally waited until the emperor’s death.

She was so young and naturally unwilling to have only the Grand Princess as her daughter. But His Majesty couldn’t even function as a man anymore, and instead of showing her pity and love, he tortured and abused her daily. Such days were truly worse than death.

She was grateful that His Majesty was going to die before she completely broke down and committed regicide.

His death was good news. She was the only consort with offspring, so her future wouldn’t be too bad.

Hurried footsteps approached, followed by a palace maid’s report: “Your Majesty, Eunuch Wei has arrived.”

Li Jiǎo was startled, then delighted.

His Majesty had just made arrangements for the Empress. Was he now going to make arrangements for her?

Yes, she was the Grand Princess’s birth mother, and the Grand Princess was His Majesty’s only child.

Although for the sake of imperial succession, he had no choice but to adopt an imperial clan member as crown prince, when it came to true affection, His Majesty naturally loved his flesh and blood.

In the time it took for her to be lost in thought, Wei Wuxie had already entered, followed by two inner attendants.

Li Jiǎo came to her senses. Before Wei Wuxie, the chief eunuch who had served two emperors and was Director of the Eastern Depot, she dared not put on airs. She rose with a smile: “Eunuch Wei has come. Xiao Tao, quickly serve tea to Eunuch Wei.”

“No need for tea.” Wei Wuxie sighed and stepped aside, revealing the attendants behind him.

The two inner attendants each carried a tray. One tray held white silk, the other held poisoned wine.

Li Jiǎo’s eyes suddenly widened.

“Noble Consort Xian, please choose one.”

Li Jiǎo’s eyes opened even wider as she backed away repeatedly: “Why? I want to see His Majesty!”

After speaking, she ran around Wei Wuxie toward the door, only to discover when she reached it that it was locked from the outside.

“Open the door, open the door, I want to see His Majesty!” Li Jiǎo pounded forcefully on the door.

“Noble Consort Xian, if you make such a scene and attract others to watch, it won’t look good.”

“Why?” Li Jiǎo stared at Wei Wuxie with wide, beautiful eyes, her face full of unwillingness. “Can Eunuch Wei tell me why?”

Saying this, she suddenly shuddered and cried out: “Could it be that His Majesty wants me to be buried with him?”

Wei Wuxie’s face immediately darkened as he sneered: “Your Majesty jests. His Majesty has boundless longevity—why would he need you to be buried with him?”

This Noble Consort Xian, His Majesty was still alive, and she was already talking about burial sacrifice. Wasn’t she afraid of bringing disaster upon her family?

Wei Wuxie couldn’t help but recall Emperor Taixiang’s words: Make it clear to her that I don’t need her buried with me. I simply want her dead.

“Then, then what does this mean?”

Wei Wuxie straightened his expression and said solemnly: “By His Majesty’s decree, Noble Consort Xian has improper thoughts and has failed in caring for the Grand Princess. She is now demoted to commoner status and ordered to die, forbidden from burial in the imperial mausoleum—”

Li Jiǎo staggered backward, shaking her head repeatedly: “Impossible, impossible. How could His Majesty order my death for such a reason? I don’t believe it. I want to see His Majesty!”

She rushed to the door and began pounding it forcefully again: “Let me out, I want to find His Majesty and ask for clarity!”

Wei Wuxie sighed: “Noble Consort Xian, you should preserve some dignity for yourself. Choose one item from these two trays so that this servant can return and report. His Majesty is still waiting.”

“I must find His Majesty and ask for clarity!” Seeing the two attendants holding trays step forward, Li Jiǎo turned pale with terror and threw herself against the door.

Wei Wuxie’s face turned cold: “Send Noble Consort Xian on her way!”

The two inner attendants set their trays on the table and stepped forward to grasp Li Jiǎo’s shoulders.

“Let go of me, let go of me!” Li Jiǎo struggled. Seeing one attendant pick up the poisoned wine from the tray, she bit down on the other attendant’s hand.

Though the attendant felt pain, he was skilled in martial arts. This bit of pain was nothing—he merely frowned before breaking free.

Li Jiǎo was restrained and couldn’t move. Seeing the poisoned wine brought to her lips, she shook her head desperately: “The Grand Princess, I want to see the Grand Princess. I am the Grand Princess’s mother consort. How can His Majesty order my death for failing to care for the Grand Princess properly?”

Wei Wuxie watched Li Jiǎo’s death struggle and couldn’t help but sigh.

The reason for ordering Noble Consort Xian’s death was just an excuse. This Noble Consort was also foolish—others might not know where she had offended His Majesty, but didn’t she know in her own heart?

“Noble Consort Xian, both thunder and dew are imperial grace. Since this is His Majesty’s will, you should go with dignity.”

“Shut up! I don’t believe His Majesty would order my death!” Realizing she had no strength to break free, the string called reason in Li Jiǎo’s mind snapped as she screamed hysterically: “The Empress, you must have been sent by the Empress to harm me!”

Wei Wuxie rolled his eyes.

Such a stupid woman—no wonder His Majesty didn’t want to keep her around to harm the Grand Princess.

“What are you waiting for? His Majesty is waiting for a reply.” Wei Wuxie coldly urged the two attendants.

One attendant restrained Li Jiǎo—no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t break free. The other attendant grabbed her chin and poured the poisoned wine into her mouth.

“Mmm, mmm, mmm—” Large tears rolled down from Li Jiǎo’s eyes, but her struggles gradually weakened.

The poison in the wine was particularly vicious. After the attendant finished pouring the cup of wine, dark blood flowed from the corners of Li Jiǎo’s mouth.

Wei Wuxie nodded to the two attendants, who released their grip.

Li Jiǎo staggered forward two steps and collapsed to the ground.

She lay prostrate on the floor, unable to speak anymore. Pain made her entire body tremble, but her eyes stared fixedly at Wei Wuxie, filled with despair and unwillingness.

Wei Wuxie waited silently like this.

Until Noble Consort Xian drew her last breath, he couldn’t return to report.

“I, I—” Li Jiǎo’s lips moved, but her voice was muffled in her throat. The burning pain in her internal organs made it impossible for her to move even her fingertips.

She was unwilling and didn’t understand why this was happening.

After an unknown amount of time, the woman on the ground, still beautiful, finally stopped moving completely. Her wide-open eyes seemed to still be accusing something.

Wei Wuxie sighed and said to the attendants, “Remove any clothing and jewelry on Li Shi that exceeds commoner status. Wrap her in a mat and throw her out.”

He didn’t understand why His Majesty’s treatment of Noble Consort Xian was so cruel, but servants didn’t need to understand—they only needed to execute orders.

Emperor Taixiang, lying on his sickbed, received Wei Wuxie’s report and seemed to have settled another matter on his mind, rarely showing a smile.

He didn’t want that damned woman to be buried with him.

Just thinking that if he went underground, he would still have to face that wretched woman made him not want to die at all!

“Convey my decree: Consort Chen has followed me the longest and managed the princely residence for many years. I am deeply grateful, so I now bestow upon her the title of Virtuous Consort. Henceforth, the Grand Princess shall be raised by Virtuous Consort.”