The demands of the former Empress were truly unreasonable.

The result was, of course, a ruthless refusal by Long Xiyuan.

Long Xiyuan, along with Bai Zhi’er and the others, left the Cold Palace and arrived at the long-sealed Changle Hall.

The former Empress had lived here during her lifetime.

Since her passing, apart from daily cleaning, the Palace Attendants dared not touch the things she had played with while alive.

So the furnishings in the hall were almost the same as they were during her lifetime.

Long Xiyuan gently stroked the windowsill and the desk.

"She used to love writing here. If not for Prince Li Zheng, she was indeed a qualified Empress."

Calm and well-mannered.

Today’s sunlight was not bright, like a candle about to extinguish, only faintly illuminating the room.

Through the dust swirling in the air, Bai Zhi’er saw everything from the past.

Long Xiyuan recounted the events once more.

After being rejected by Long Xiyuan, the former Empress naturally would not give up.

So she pleaded several times, and whenever Long Xiyuan came to visit her, she would mention the dominance of Princess Consort Liang.

"Now I lie ill on the bed, while Princess Consort Liang manages the affairs of the Six Palaces. Many concubines have come to visit me, saying that Princess Consort Liang acts unjustly."

The former Empress leaned against the bed, coughing incessantly, with a sickly pale complexion.

She looked at Long Xiyuan: "Emperor, the harem should not meddle in politics, I do not comment on Princess Consort Liang’s father and his conduct in the former dynasty."

"But Princess Consort Liang is so brazen in the harem, doesn’t the Emperor think she deserves a lesson?"

Long Xiyuan originally held a bowl of medicine.

He hadn’t intended to come today, but upon hearing from the Empress’s palace Servant that the Empress wasn’t sleeping well and refused to take her medicine properly,

Out of the last bit of concern, Long Xiyuan came to see her after all.

But after hearing her words, anger slowly rose in Long Xiyuan’s heart.

He placed the bowl heavily on the table.

"Princess Consort Liang punished concubines in the harem who didn’t follow the rules, what’s wrong with that?"

"The Empress seems to bear a grudge against Princess Consort Liang, losing all sense of tolerance."

The former Empress had a violent coughing fit, and at the end, when she looked up, there was a trace of blood at the corner of her lips.

Long Xiyuan was originally angry.

But seeing her like this, he felt a bit of reluctance.

He waved his sleeve: "Rest for now, I will come to see you again another day."

But the former Empress suddenly called out to him.

"Emperor! Does the Emperor truly believe that I say these things out of jealousy?"

The palace Servants all retreated consciously and closed the door.

Long Xiyuan turned around, looking at the pale and frail form of the former Empress.

He pressed his thin lips: "Even if it’s not for jealousy, it’s for your teacher, Prince Li Zheng."

"I know, Princess Consort Liang’s father impeached Prince Li Zheng for corruption and bribery, which made him anxious, so he found you to persuade me, didn’t he?"

The Empress’s eyes were momentarily dazed.

However, she smiled bitterly.

"My teacher did indeed come to me and mentioned this matter, but I did not agree to him."

"I wish for the Emperor to punish Princess Consort Liang because she indeed oversteps her bounds."

"She manages the harem but secretly withholds resources from those less favored concubines."

Long Xiyuan frowned: "Is this true? I will have the eunuch check with the Imperial Affairs Bureau."

The former Empress shook her head: "Princess Consort Liang has long erased all the evidence, how could the Emperor see it?"

"If the Emperor wants to know the truth, he can ask those concubines who have been deprived by Princess Consort Liang, and he’ll know I’m not lying."

However, at this moment, Long Xiyuan could no longer trust her.

Because behind the former Empress stood Prince Li Zheng.

He was a traitor attempting to seize power and overthrow the throne.