Indeed, if Imperial Consort Chen had lived, the Seventh Prince would have become a thorn in the Emperor’s side due to association. But with her suicide in prison, the Emperor would only feel moved – a mother sacrificing her life for her son’s future. Given the Emperor’s fondness for the Seventh Prince, he wouldn’t blame him. Instead, he would show more care for the young prince who lost his mother so early.

Imperial Consort Chen opened her mouth in agony. She had schemed for years, taken many lives to clear obstacles from the Seventh Prince’s path. Yet she never imagined she would become a stumbling block herself, nor that the Seventh Prince would ruthlessly cast her aside. This was the son she had given birth to! “Beast!” she managed to spit out.

She writhed in pain on the ground, but in the vast prison, not a single guard came to check. The Seventh Prince must have made thorough preparations – even if she died here, no one would come! Imperial Consort Chen had never felt such despair. Physical pain was nothing compared to the psychological devastation. She couldn’t understand how the son she doted on could do this to her.

The Seventh Prince watched her struggle, his expression complex: “Royal Mother, if you lived and I became Emperor, how could I have a mother known for disrupting the palace and being unchaste? How shameful it would be in the historical records.”

Imperial Consort Chen laughed weakly, coughing blood. Too pained to speak, her heart filled with infinite desolation. Disrupting the palace? Unchaste? If she had the strength to stand, she would have slapped him hard. It was the Seventh Prince who had told her to use her birthday banquet to frame Han Yan. Her failure led to Fu Yun Xi’s revenge and her current situation – wasn’t it all for him? And what did she get in return? A cup of poison and accusations of being disruptive and unchaste! Blood gushed from her mouth, staining her entire face.

The Seventh Prince watched silently as she convulsed until she used her last strength, her legs twitched, and she lay still. The pale moonlight through the iron window illuminated her corpse. The once radiant beauty now looked like a demon, blood trickling eerily from her lips. “Royal Mother, as a ghost, remember it was Fu Yun Xi who ruined you,” the Seventh Prince said softly before leaving the prison. This night was destined for sleeplessness.

When Han Yan heard of Imperial Consort Chen’s suicide, she paused for several seconds before asking Ji Lan: “Who did you hear this from?” Ji Lan stuck out her tongue: “I passed by the courtyard and heard the Prince’s guards talking about when the Prince would enter the palace.” Han Yan frowned. She couldn’t believe Imperial Consort Chen would take poison. For someone in power so long, falling from grace would make them think of ways to recover, not end their life. Imperial Consort Chen’s arrogant nature especially made suicide unlikely. Could she have been murdered? Han Yan first thought of Fu Yun Xi but quickly dismissed it. He was always clean and decisive in his actions – if he wanted Imperial Consort Chen dead, he wouldn’t use poison or fake a suicide. If not him, then who?

Could it be the Empress Dowager? Han Yan sat on a small courtyard chair. The Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort Chen were allies, and surely Imperial Consort Chen knew many of her secrets. With Imperial Consort Chen’s fall from power, the Empress Dowager might want to silence her.

But the Empress Dowager was under scrutiny now – she wouldn’t act so rashly. Han Yan vaguely felt this matter wasn’t simple; someone unseen seemed to be manipulating everything. The more she thought, the more troubled she became, her brow furrowing deeper.

Ji Lan noticed her mood change and quickly said: “Miss, the Spring Festival is coming soon.”

Spring Festival? Han Yan was surprised. The Spring Festival was an annual religious ceremony that the Emperor personally attended, with masters performing rituals for national prosperity. Afterward, there would be many festivities. Han Yan hadn’t seen these celebrations for many years.

Firstly, after the bandit incident, she rarely left home. Secondly, no one thought to bring her to the Spring Festival. Hearing this familiar yet strange term from Ji Lan, Han Yan felt nostalgic and uncertain. She smiled and asked Ji Lan: “Would you like to see the Spring Festival?”

Ji Lan looked at her eagerly: “Yes.”

Han Yan said: “Then let’s go.” Given a chance to live again, she should enjoy what she missed before and cherish life. After some laughter, Ji Lan suddenly exclaimed “Oh!” and frowned: “But Shu Hong can’t go…”

Since taking that strike from Zhuang Han Ming, Shu Hong had been bedridden. Though she insisted she was fine, Han Yan felt pained seeing her. These two maids thought only of her, yet she could only bring them trouble. Ji Lan seemed to notice Han Yan’s mood dropping and quickly said: “It’s alright, Miss. With the Prince’s stone guard accompanying her, Shu Hong won’t be too bored.”

“Stone guard?” Han Yan thought for a moment. “Mu Yan?” When did Shu Hong and Mu Yan become so close? Mu Yan usually seemed unapproachable. Ji Lan covered her mouth and giggled: “That stone seems to have feelings for Shu Hong, he goes there every day… hahaha.”

Han Yan’s lips curved up: “They do make a good match.”

Ji Lan quickly added: “Indeed! Though he’s cold-natured, he’s handsome and mighty. Shu Hong wouldn’t lose out on being with him!”

Han Yan teasingly scolded: “Such a young lady, not knowing shame, already judging men by their looks! I think Mu Feng is handsome too, and lively – perhaps you and he…”

“No, no…” Ji Lan waved her hands repeatedly. “That fellow never has a kind word to say, always teasing me. I don’t want to be with him.” She made a disgusted face. Han Yan laughed heartily but had some thoughts. Seeing Shu Hong and Ji Lan grow up, they would reach marriageable age in a few years. In this life, besides them, she couldn’t easily trust others. If she let them marry, who would replace them as her maids? But keeping them by her side would be selfish.

“Miss.” Seeing Han Yan lost in thought, Ji Lan called anxiously: “Miss?”

Han Yan smiled at her: “It’s nothing.”

Meanwhile, in the palace…

The Emperor had ordered Imperial Consort Chen’s burial, this consideration given only because she had borne him a son. Being unchaste, she couldn’t be buried in the imperial tomb. The Chen family cried bitterly, but only Madam Chen grieved sincerely – the others mourned losing their family’s powerful backing. While Imperial Consort Chen lived, their family had risen steadily. Now that their supporter had perished, the Chen family would inevitably decline.