Emperor Tai’an steadied himself and lifted his foot to walk inside.

Deep in the night, at the Empress Dowager’s age she should have long since gone to bed. Yet at this moment, the palace lanterns in Cining Palace still burned bright. The Empress Dowager sat upright on the couch, watching Emperor Tai’an walk in.

Mother and son looked at each other, neither speaking for a time.

After a long while, a palace lantern sputtered, breaking the silence in the room.

The Empress Dowager spoke first, her voice aged like the candle flame about to burn out. “Silang has come. Sit.”

This form of address made Emperor Tai’an’s eyes sting.

Yes, he was Mother’s Silang.

But Mother didn’t have only one Silang…

After a long silence, Emperor Tai’an asked hoarsely, “Mother, is bloodline truly so important?”

Important enough that she would rather drive him from the dragon throne and take his life.

After an even longer silence, the Empress Dowager asked in return, “Is it not important?”

Emperor Tai’an’s lips moved. Though he had prepared for everything long ago, when the moment came to tear away all warmth and face reality, he still felt his heart twist with pain.

“Back then, when you led troops into the capital and seized your elder brother’s throne, did this dowager have no mother-son affection for your elder brother? Yet this dowager still came forward to help you stabilize the situation, because you too are this dowager’s son. This dowager had one son disappear without a trace in that chaos—she couldn’t lose another son…”

The Empress Dowager’s tone wasn’t agitated, yet one could see the restrained suppression beneath the calm surface.

“So Mother has always resented me.”

The Empress Dowager looked deeply at Emperor Tai’an, her emotions stirring. “This dowager did resent you, but this dowager also hoped you would be well—healthy and long-lived, brilliant and wise, passing down the empire your father built from generation to generation.”

“Hasn’t your son… always been doing just that?”

“To whom do you plan to pass the throne?” The Empress Dowager stared fixedly at him. “Prince Ning’s son? Prince Jing’s son? Or Prince Ding’s son?”

“Prince Ning, Prince Jing, Prince Ding—they are all Father’s sons, my brothers—”

The Empress Dowager suddenly stood, her long-suppressed emotions finally erupting. “But they are not this dowager’s sons, and their descendants have nothing to do with this dowager!”

She had defeated Noble Consort Gui, defeated Virtuous Consort De, defeated all those who wanted to compete with her, allowing her eldest son to smoothly ascend the dragon throne.

Her youngest son had ambitions and seized his brother’s position. Though she was angry, after venting her anger she let it pass—both were her flesh and blood, and in her heart she even loved her youngest son more.

But now? Her youngest son actually wanted to adopt Noble Consort Gui’s grandson, Virtuous Consort De’s grandson, Elegant Consort Li’s grandson…

Everything she had guarded with such difficulty would ultimately benefit others. She thought she had laughed last, but it turned out she was the biggest joke of all.

“Mother—” Emperor Tai’an’s face turned pale as he completely understood the Empress Dowager’s thoughts.

Yet this was precisely the point that had no solution.

He couldn’t possibly reinstate his eldest son to bring disaster upon the empire. The birth of his youngest son had made him give up all thoughts of having more children. As for Elder Brother’s son, if he truly adopted him, there was no doubt he would meet a bad end in the future.

The Empress Dowager looked at her son whose illness was hard to conceal and said softly, “Moreover, you are ill.”

He wasn’t young anymore either. He had possessed everything he should possess. The eldest son had several sons—what was wrong with selecting the most suitable one?

Emperor Tai’an’s heart ached, and his haggard state became even more apparent.

Having spoken to this point, it seemed mother and son had nothing more to say.

He fell silent, but the Empress Dowager had a question. “When did you become aware?”

All along, they had seemed like a loving mother and filial son in perfect harmony. She had acted for her eldest son’s sake, while he had gone along with the plan, already prepared. Thinking about it, hadn’t the palace always been like this? She was old and had lost.

Emperor Tai’an’s throat felt itchy, but he forcibly held back from coughing.

Setting other matters aside, his illness was real.

“That day when you came to see me, I slept for a very long time. The next day when you came again, I slept even longer. I felt something wasn’t right and called the National Preceptor and Imperial Physicians to examine me…”

Emperor Tai’an didn’t say what they had discovered. Mother and son looked at each other, both understanding.

Wasn’t it from that time?

The Empress Dowager wanted to ask.

If he had always trusted her wholeheartedly, how could he have become suspicious just from sleeping a bit longer?

The Empress Dowager ultimately didn’t ask.

Wasn’t she the same? After her son had given Princess Yuliu the Prince Consort of Yi’an without consulting her, dissatisfaction had taken root in her heart.

The parents, brothers, and sisters of the imperial family couldn’t tolerate rifts, yet rifts would inevitably arise. Most would end in tragedy.

The Empress Dowager fell silent.

Emperor Tai’an sat quietly for a while, then stood. “Your son should return. There are still many matters to handle.”

The Empress Dowager looked deeply at Emperor Tai’an, her voice aged and peaceful, as if the confrontation between mother and son just now had never happened. “Go then. Don’t exhaust yourself.”

Emperor Tai’an’s steps were slow. He walked step by step to the doorway, then suddenly turned around and kowtowed to the Empress Dowager. “Mother, then your son will take his leave.”

The Empress Dowager’s eyelids trembled. She silently accepted Emperor Tai’an’s bow.

The familiar figure disappeared from the doorway. The familiar footsteps gradually faded. The Empress Dowager remained like a clay sculpture, completely motionless.

Her trusted matron knelt at the Empress Dowager’s feet, her voice choked with tears. “Empress Dowager, the Emperor is still filial to you. As long as you speak—”

“What’s the point?” The Empress Dowager lightly interrupted the matron’s words. “This dowager has enjoyed a lifetime of honor and respect. What this dowager wanted was never merely to live.”

She could shed a few tears and indeed continue living in luxury and comfort, but from then on she would no longer be the Empress Dowager deeply respected by the Emperor—she would be a prisoner in this palace.

Such days—she couldn’t endure them even for a moment.

That night, the candles in Cining Palace never went out. When dawn arrived, countless suppressed cries rang out.

Day broke. The news that Prince Ping had colluded with Imperial Guard Commander Zhang Ze to break into Qianqing Palace at night shocked the court and countryside. Not long after, word spread that the Empress Dowager had died of fright during this palace turmoil, causing the officials and nobles’ already frightened hearts to tremble once more.

Zhang Ze was the Empress Dowager’s distant maternal nephew. Upon close examination, whether the Empress Dowager had truly died of fright or had committed suicide after the failed palace coup—that couldn’t be said clearly.

Regardless, officially the Empress Dowager had definitely died of fright, and the Emperor wouldn’t allow other rumors to arise.

Various households once again admonished their younger generation to behave properly in recent days. For example, Prince Jing immediately grabbed his younger son and gave him a thorough scolding, treating it as his own way of calming his nerves.

Treason was a grave crime. Prince Ping’s entire family was granted white silk, except for Qi Ming.

Emperor Tai’an summoned Qi Ming in Yangxin Hall.

Upon seeing Emperor Tai’an, Qi Ming didn’t speak but only silently performed a bow.

Emperor Tai’an glanced at him, his heart complex. “I heard you were bound to a bed post. Why weren’t you together with your father?”

Qi Ming hadn’t yet had time to change his clothes. Though his external appearance was disheveled, it couldn’t conceal his bearing like the bright moon. Hearing these words, he smiled. “Whether we were together at that time doesn’t actually matter to you, does it, Fourth Uncle? White silk isn’t expensive—just grant your nephew one piece.”

Emperor Tai’an studied this nephew who so casually sought death and shook his head. “I have always been clear about rewards and punishments. Since he said back then that you weren’t his son, you shouldn’t be implicated now. Qingyuan is secluded and quiet—very suitable for you. Return there.”

Qi Ming smiled. “Since I’m not his son, how can I live in Qingyuan?”

“Then what do you plan to do?”