"There’s such a commotion outside, what on earth is going on? Doesn’t anyone know I’m dealing with state affairs and need peace and quiet?" The Emperor’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, looking as though someone owed him a great debt.

Zhao Yin vanished after causing trouble for him, and the common people outside were cursing him as an incompetent ruler. The Emperor wanted to clear his name, but there was no way to start, his heart was filled with anger.

These past few days, in the Imperial Palace, he would berate whoever he caught, and even Noble Consort Wang, who constantly flattered him, no longer came to visit.

She’s avoiding the storm; to confront the Emperor in such a fury would be seeking death, wouldn’t it?

Noble Consort Wang wasn’t that foolish!

The Little Eunuch’s heart quivered, and he whispered, "Your Majesty, the Empress has come, she seeks an audience with Your Majesty."

The Imperial Edict had just been posted, and the Empress came right away. It goes without saying she was here to plead for the Fourth Prince.

The common people were cursing the Emperor, and he himself was in a precarious state. He needed to use the situation with the Fourth Prince as a respite, so naturally, he did not want to see the Empress.

The Emperor frowned slightly and said, "Tell the Empress that the state affairs keep me busy, I have no time to see her. Let her return for now, and after a few days when I’m less busy, I’ll personally go to Fengyang Palace to accompany her."

The Little Eunuch bowed his head and replied, "I said as much, but the Empress refuses to leave."

In recent days, the Empress has been kneeling daily in front of the Imperial Study Room, wanting to meet the Emperor, but each time, he sent her away with various excuses. Today, however, the Empress, unlike her usual docility, argued with the guards at the door, determined to see the Emperor.

The Emperor forcefully smacked the Dragon Desk and said, "Tell the Empress to stop making a fuss, or I will deal with her along with this disturbance."

The Little Eunuch jumped in fright, realizing that the Emperor was truly angry!

"Yes, I will immediately go and persuade the Empress to leave."

After speaking, the Little Eunuch hurried to the door, conveying the Emperor’s displeasure to the Empress.

Seeing the Emperor’s heartlessness, the Empress couldn’t help but burst into tears, crying out loudly while weeping, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten our past affections? Today our son is in danger, yet you coldly refuse to save him, sending him to his death with your own hands. How could your heart be so cruel? You’ve forgotten all our beautiful hopes and now your heart holds only the vixen spirit, forgetting us mother and son."

After speaking, she wept softly.

The Emperor was angered upon hearing this and shouted loudly, "Xiao Shunzi, Xiao Shunzi, get in here immediately."

"Yes, this servant is here!" The Little Eunuch’s forehead was slick with sweat. The Empress hadn’t been persuaded to leave, and the Emperor called for him; surely, he was blamed for being ineffective. The Little Eunuch felt bitter in his heart!

Yet, ordered by the Emperor, he could not avoid entering to await his command.

"Your Majesty, this servant is here, what do you wish to command?" The Little Eunuch discreetly raised his arm, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

The Emperor: "Summon the Empress inside."

The Little Eunuch: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Scared to death, it was fortunate the Emperor called him not to blame him.

Hearing that the Emperor finally agreed to see her, the Empress was overjoyed, hurrying into the Imperial Study Room without even wiping her tears away.

"This concubine greets Your Majesty, wishing Your Majesty’s eternal health and happiness." After entering, the Empress first performed a courtesy to the Emperor. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Seeing the haggard face of the Empress, a flash of disgust appeared in the Emperor’s eyes.

The Empress had been quite beautiful in her youth, but now she had aged and lost her luster. All her former charms vanished, leaving only sagging skin. Especially these past few days, after the incident with the Fourth Prince, the Empress seemed to have aged ten years, looking even worse.