As dawn broke, news of Consort Xian’s confession spread like wildfire through the palace.
Consort Ning, who had eaten a whole roast chicken late at night and struggled to sleep due to indigestion, was in deep slumber when her palace maid woke her.
“My Lady, wake up quickly! Something has happened!”
Consort Ning opened her eyes with difficulty, letting out a chicken-scented belch before jolting awake. “What is it?”
The palace maid’s face was alight with excitement: “Consort Xian has confessed. It was she who harmed the Princess—”
“Wait, Consort Xian confessed?” Consort Ning rubbed her temples, eager for more details.
The maid continued animatedly: “They say Consort Xian talked in her sleep at midnight, revealing how she harmed the Princess. The night-duty maid overheard and reported it to His Majesty…”
Consort Ning was stunned.
Confessing in her sleep? How bizarre does that sound?
Reflecting on her reckless chicken-eating the night before, Consort Ning patted her full stomach.
Indeed, life is unpredictable and full of unexpected joys and sorrows. One must live in the moment.
“Help me get ready,” Consort Ning said, feeling refreshed. She added, “For lunch, tell the imperial kitchen to add a plate of roast goose for Chunhua Palace.”
The maid quickly agreed: “Yes, My Lady.”
Last night, watching her mistress eat roast chicken, she had thought the Consort was stressed and fearful. Now, she realized how fortunate it was that the Consort had trouble sleeping due to the chicken. Otherwise, if she had spoken inappropriate words in her sleep like Consort Xian—the consequences would have been unimaginable!
After getting ready, Consort Ning hurried to Kunning Palace to pay respects to the Empress (and gather intelligence).
When Prince Qi received the news, he was completely dumbfounded. He followed the eunuch into the palace in a daze.
Entering Yangxin Hall, Prince Qi mechanically greeted Emperor Jingming: “Son greets Father—”
Disgusted by association, Emperor Jingming couldn’t bear to look at Prince Qi. With his back turned, he coldly said: “Go see Madam Ji, then leave the palace immediately. Do not linger.”
Prince Qi trembled and lowered his head: “Yes, Father.”
Prince Qi followed the eunuch, stumbling towards Yuquan Palace. Though the path was familiar, it now felt strangely alien.
The vast Yuquan Palace was nearly deserted, with only the wind and swaying flower shadows for company.
This once vibrant and ornate palace now seemed suddenly lifeless and desolate.
Prince Qi wanted to question the eunuch, but the guide kept his head lowered, showing no intention of speaking.
He had to swallow all his questions until they finally reached a secluded room where he saw Consort Xian.
It was a temporary morgue.
Consort Xian lay stiff, her appearance withered, her face deathly pale, all signs of life gone.
“Mother—” Prince Qi fell to his knees, grasping Consort Xian’s hand.
The icy touch made Prince Qi acutely aware that the mother who had always protected and loved him was truly gone.
Gazing at Consort Xian’s face, Prince Qi murmured: “Mother, what exactly happened? How did you leave so suddenly—”
Naturally, there was no response.
The eunuch reminded him from the side: “Your Highness, you must hurry. Madam Ji will soon be sent out of the palace—”
Prince Qi turned sharply to the eunuch, anger in his voice: “How dare you address her as Madam Ji?”
The eunuch lowered his gaze and explained: “Your Highness may not know yet, but Madam Ji has been demoted to a commoner for conspiring to harm Princess Fuqing and the Fourteenth Princess. She will not be buried in the imperial tombs—”
This information had been approved for disclosure to Prince Qi.
“What?” Prince Qi was shocked, staring at the lifeless Consort Xian in disbelief.
The face was still familiar, always representing love and care throughout his life. But at this moment, Prince Qi felt a sense of estrangement, followed by a hint of resentment growing from within.
Had Mother gone mad? Why would she harm Thirteenth Sister and Fourteenth Sister for no reason?
They were just princesses, what benefit could harm them bring to him?
Mother’s actions would only make Father despise him more, leaving him without any chance.
Losing the Emperor’s favor was a heavy blow for a prince who aspired to be Crown Prince but was not the eldest son. This explained why, after the Emperor had dealt with officials close to Prince Qi, many who were considering supporting him chose to wait and see.
Not being the eldest son meant no officials would argue with the Emperor to support the rightful heir. Without the Emperor’s favor, no official would risk supporting him.
This was why Consort Xian had taken such a risk, willing to be used by the Empress Dowager, hoping for a rebirth from the ashes. She knew clearly that a son who had fallen out of the Emperor’s favor had no chance unless backed by a powerful external force.
But Prince Qi didn’t understand this. At this moment, he felt only confusion and resentment towards Consort Xian.
“There must be some mistake. My mother was kind-hearted, she wouldn’t even step on an ant. How could she harm anyone?”
The eunuch scoffed inwardly.
Kind-hearted? How many kind-hearted people could survive in this cut-throat harem? They had thought Consort Xian was one of the good ones, but now it seemed there were truly no exceptions.
“Your Highness, Madam Ji confessed this herself.”
Prince Qi stared at the eunuch in disbelief. After a while, he covered his face and wept: “Mother, you were so foolish. It’s my fault. If I had visited you more often, you wouldn’t have gone astray…”
The eunuch waited a moment before reminding him: “Your Highness, it’s time for you to leave.”
Prince Qi, still crying, kowtowed to Consort Xian a few times before rising to leave.
Upon exiting Yuquan Palace, instead of following the eunuch out, Prince Qi, with reddened eyes, insisted on seeking Emperor Jingming to beg for forgiveness.
“Your Highness, you’d better leave the palace soon. The Emperor is in a foul mood right now—”
Prince Qi persisted: “If Father wants to beat or punish me, it’s deserved. If it can vent his anger, I’ll accept anything.”
Today, Emperor Jingming was in no mood to handle complex affairs of state and had retreated to the rear hall of Yangxin Palace to brood.
Jixiang, seeming to sense its master’s poor mood, was hiding far away, nibbling on dried fish.
Emperor Jingming glanced at the increasingly plump white cat, his mood worsening.
This cat was useless. His mood was so bad, yet it didn’t know to come over and let him stroke its fur.
Staring at the dried fish in Jiaxing’s mouth, a thought occurred to Emperor Jingming: perhaps in Jiaxiang’s heart, he, the master, wasn’t as important as that piece of dried fish.
Pan Hai approached: “Your Majesty, Prince Qi has arrived.”
Emperor Jingming raised his eyes slightly, his gaze cold: “Wasn’t he told to go back?”
“Prince Qi has seen Madam Ji and has come to beg for forgiveness. He’s kneeling outside now.”
“Then let him kneel.”
Prince Qi knelt for over an hour.
Pan Hai approached Emperor Jingming again: “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests your presence.”
Emperor Jingming nodded slightly and walked out of his chambers, immediately spotting Prince Qi kneeling outside.
Under the blazing sun, Prince Qi knelt in the heat, his face flushed red, his thin clothes soaked with sweat.
Emperor Jingming glanced at Prince Qi and strode towards Cining Palace.
Prince Qi swayed slightly, lowering his gaze to hide the despair and resentment towards Consort Xian in his eyes.
Upon arriving at Cining Palace, Emperor Jingming saw the Empress Dowager’s haggard face.
“Mother, did you not sleep well last night?”
The Empress Dowager smiled bitterly: “With such a major incident yesterday, how could I sleep well? Today, I heard from the Empress that it was Madam Ji who caused the death of the Fourteenth Princess…”