The female guard brought the letter before Han Ying, then stepped back two paces to await orders.

Han Ying unfolded the letter, glanced at it, and frowned.

“Your Highness, what does the letter say?” the female guard asked.

“It says they’ve found traces of the Third Prince, and His Majesty wants me to keep close watch on the Night Prince.” Han Ying crushed the letter in her hand.

The letter in her grip instantly turned to ash and drifted to the ground.

“Send someone into the palace to give His Majesty a verbal message — today, the Night Prince and I are going to the imperial mausoleum.”

“Yes!” The female guard cupped her hands in acknowledgment, turned, and strode out.

At the hour of shen, a carriage left the Night Prince’s manor.

Inside sat Feng Li and Han Ying. The driver was one of Han Ying’s own people, while He Zhongnan rode behind on horseback.

At the same time, Feng Jiu’er received a summons from the Empress and entered the palace together with Jian Yi.

Feng Jiu’er hadn’t planned to go out today, but since it was the Empress who had summoned her, she went anyway.

What she hadn’t expected was that, upon meeting again, the Empress had fallen ill and was lying in bed.

“Your Highness the Empress.” Feng Jiu’er leaned against the couch and took hold of the Empress’s hand.

Her long fingers settled on the Empress’s pulse.

The Empress said nothing, only watched her quietly, those eyes even more listless than before.

After a while, Feng Jiu’er released the Empress’s hand, stood, leaned in closer, and lifted the Empress’s eyelid.

“Your Highness, you’ve been poisoned.” She sat back down again on the blanket beside the couch.

Feng Jiu’er took the Empress’s hand and asked gently, “Your Highness, what exactly happened?”

The Empress shook her head, still saying nothing.

Feng Jiu’er went over, poured a cup of water, came back, and helped the person on the bed sit up.

“Your Highness.” She drew out a small bottle from her sleeve and shook out a pill.

“This medicine can cure a hundred poisons. Fortunately your poisoning isn’t deep — try taking it.”

The Empress said nothing, only opened her mouth and took the pill.

As she looked toward the cup of water, a hoarse voice sounded. “Is this water poisoned?”

Feng Jiu’er lowered her gaze, sniffed it, and shook her head. “No poison.”

Only then did the Empress open her mouth and gulp down the entire cup of water.

Watching this, Feng Jiu’er was left stunned.

“Your Highness, they said you hadn’t eaten or drunk anything all day — was it because you were afraid someone would poison you again?”

“Mm.” The pitiful woman nodded. “Since the night before last, this palace has felt something wrong with her body.”

“Later the imperial physician came, and I drank the medicine, but things only grew worse.”

“Just as you can see — even if this palace died of illness, His Majesty wouldn’t come to look at me even once.”

The Empress began to cry, tears falling one drop at a time.

“This palace has three children, but aside from the third, the other two rarely come to speak with me.”

“The eldest is a man of few words, the second is timid and fearful of trouble. In the past both of them used to care about this palace’s affairs, but these past two years, they’ve both changed.”

“The eldest says nothing at all, but this palace knows that among the three of them, the eldest is the one who most wants to become the heir.”

“The second, ever since he fell gravely ill last year, has also learned to strive and compete — he comes to see this palace less and less.”

“Poor third — I don’t even know what he did to offend His Majesty. He was exiled.”

“Little Feng, everyone says the third colluded with foreign rebel forces to usurp the throne. I don’t believe it.”

The Empress took hold of both of Feng Jiu’er’s hands, gazing at her with tear-filled eyes.

“Little Feng, the third isn’t that kind of person. He isn’t! No one else understands him — but I do. He isn’t that kind of person.”

“But His Majesty won’t believe me. Aside from himself, he trusts no one else at all.”

“Little Feng, I miss the third. I miss him.”

The Empress fell into Feng Jiu’er’s arms and broke down in tears.

Feng Jiu’er held this woman of such bitter fate, not knowing how to console her.

Once she had cried herself out and grown quiet, Feng Jiu’er gently rubbed her back.

“Your Highness, as long as the Third Prince is still alive, the two of you will surely have a day to meet again.”

“But — will you tell me how this poisoning happened? Has no one investigated it at all?”

“It was Noble Consort Ya.” The Empress released Feng Jiu’er and lightly wiped her cheeks.

“Little Feng, you needn’t worry too much about me. My people’s troops have already entered the palace.”

“As for Noble Consort Ya poisoning me, my people have already gathered evidence. Tomorrow the matter will be handed over to the Imperial Clan Court.”

“Then we’ll see how this woman manages to clear herself.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at her, brows furrowing. “Then why did Your Highness refuse to eat or drink?”

“Didn’t I just drink?” The Empress curled her lips slightly. “Go and have someone prepare me something to eat — as quickly as possible.”

Feng Jiu’er let out a soft sigh and stood.

“Your Highness deliberately hid herself away, hoping to catch Noble Consort Ya completely off guard?”

The Empress reached a hand toward Feng Jiu’er, who helped her sit up.

“Even so, Your Highness shouldn’t punish herself like this.”

“And besides — isn’t Your Highness worried that I might actually be Noble Consort Ya’s spy?”

“You’re not.” The Empress shook her head. “This palace has eyes to see with.”

“Oh?” Feng Jiu’er helped her over to the mirror. “Then what does Your Highness see?”

The Empress sat down and waved a hand. “Go have someone prepare food first — I’m about to starve to death!”

“Yes.” Feng Jiu’er let go of her, bowed slightly, turned, and went out.

This Empress — had she held back her tears for so long that she just wanted someone to cry it all out with? And here she’d felt a bit sorry for her only a moment ago.

Soon, Feng Jiu’er returned, followed by a military officer.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Empress.” The officer knelt on the ground. “This subordinate has urgent matters to report.”

“Your Highness.” Feng Jiu’er looked at the Empress’s back and bowed slightly. “Since you have urgent matters to discuss, this servant will step aside.”

“No need.” The Empress turned and looked at the person kneeling on the ground. “General Yao, speak plainly.”

“Reporting to Your Highness, according to our scouts, the Third Prince has been spotted in Wutong Town.” The officer looked up at the Empress and spoke.

“Outside Wutong Town, we have thirty thousand troops stationed. Your Highness, should we help the Third Prince escape?”

Feng Jiu’er’s heart pounded rapidly, but she kept her expression well under control, showing no change.

She hadn’t expected to hear this news here, of all places, in the Empress’s chambers.

The news had been deliberately spread by them — and Third Brother truly was in Wutong Town.

This was the ploy Third Brother had devised to lure the tiger from the mountain — he hoped to draw Feng Qiongcang’s attention to Wutong Town, to buy them a chance to flee.

“Has His Majesty also received this news?” the Empress asked.

The officer cupped his hands and replied, “He should have received word by now. It’s said the Eldest Prince has already been given orders and is preparing to lead troops there to search.”

“Your Highness, His Majesty has spoken harsh words — he wants the man alive or dead, we must…”

“If the Eldest Prince hasn’t yet left the palace, have him come see me — tell him I’ve been wrongfully framed and poisoned with a deadly toxin.” The Empress cut off the officer.

“Yes.” The officer cupped his hands and stood.

“This subordinate will go at once.”