The Empress Dowager sat on the phoenix chair and sighed softly, "You had a dream, recalled your infancy, and then you remembered Lian Chun. Immediately, you came here to me.

Emperor, what exactly are you thinking in your heart?"

"Even I don’t know. When elder sister disappeared, I was still young. Mother, just tell me one truth—did you know about the incident where elder sister helped me catch the snake?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager stared at the Emperor with sharp eyes.

"Are you doubting me?"

The Empress Dowager’s voice carried a few notes of sharpness. She looked at the Emperor with unfamiliar eyes, feeling deeply disappointed. In her life, her father was neglectful, her mother unloving, her husband was flirtatious with many concubines. If everyone in the harem were set free, they could probably line up from one end of Vermilion Bird Street to the other!

Alright then!

With no close relatives to rely on, she shrank back into her own little corner, like a quail, not going out, not fighting or stealing, just desperately seeking to protect herself, wanting only to live out her life in peace.

Dying of old age in bed was her dream!

But unexpectedly, the courtiers caused a stir because His Majesty had no sons. They truly have their ways. They even knew that the Emperor hadn’t entered the harem in a year and a half. They wanted a crown prince, wanted an imperial son, and every day they submitted petitions, pressuring the Emperor.

In the end, it was the Duke who yielded his military power, so he entered Kunning Palace, and just that one night, he gave her a child.

With this child, she had hope. She devoted herself wholeheartedly, putting all her heart and soul onto him.

Not even when Emperor Yuanzhen died on a woman’s belly did she feel sad!

She had a son, and she was content to spend her life holding onto her son; but now, her son actually doubted her!

Empress Dowager Xiao was utterly disappointed.

Having spent half her life holding onto her son, in the end, not even her son relies on her. This life has been a complete failure.

"Mother!"

Seeing the look of disappointment in Empress Dowager Xiao’s eyes, the Emperor was a bit flustered. He wasn’t doubting the Empress Dowager; he was just trying to find an answer!

"I did not do this. Even if I wanted to harm Lian Chun, I wouldn’t joke with my own son!

Perhaps it was just a coincidence!

Or maybe someone was trying to assassinate you, and Lian Chun messed it up.

If that’s the case, then who was behind it?

You’ve grown up safely to this point and are still alive and well. There are only two possibilities in this.

One is that the person trying to kill you is already dead, and the other is that they willingly gave up or haven’t found the opportunity to do it again!"

After saying this, the Empress Dowager waved her hand and said to the Emperor.

"I am tired, Emperor, go handle state affairs first!"

The Empress Dowager, having said all she wanted to, dismissed him directly.

The Emperor felt inexplicably uncomfortable in his heart.

He opened his mouth and called again, "Mother."

But the Empress Dowager had already closed her eyes and ignored him.

The Emperor had no choice but to turn and leave.

As he put one foot out the threshold, the Empress Dowager called out from behind.

"Emperor!"

The Emperor’s foot halted abruptly, but he didn’t turn back.

The Empress Dowager spoke with her eyes closed.

"I remember, when you were just born, Lian Chun came to see you every day, without fail, come wind or rain, constantly.

But there was a period when she didn’t visit Kunning Palace for five or six days in a row. I sent someone to inquire, and the palace people reported back that she had caught a cold and, fearing to pass it on to you, stayed in her own Jingan Palace to recuperate."

At this point, the Empress Dowager said no more.

The Emperor stood there for a long time, confirming the Empress Dowager would say no more, then got up and left!

Nanny Xiao stood in the corner, watching the Emperor leave far away, not looking back again, then she approached Empress Dowager Xiao!

"Your Highness!"

Nanny Xiao gently wiped her tears.

"Why do you torment yourself like this?

You’ve kept this secret for so many years; it should be enough. His Majesty has grown up; he’s not a child anymore. Keeping this from him, in the future..."

"I’m not keeping it from His Majesty, I’m keeping it from Lian Chun, such a good child!

Even though he didn’t come from my womb, just for the fact that he was so good to my son, I don’t want him to know what kind of person his mother really was!"

"Consort Xian was once greatly favored by the late Emperor. She thought that having given the late Emperor one child, she definitely could have a second. If She had just... she would have had the chance to bear another prince. Then the Emperor would devalue the Empress, and she could become the Empress."

"What she should never have done was use Lian Chun, knowing that Lian Chun went to see the Emperor at that time. That was exactly when I was the least vigilant about the Emperor’s safety."