Imperial Physicians hurried to Lingxue Hall.

A large crowd surrounded Consort Liu.

Her view was blocked by the crowd. She could no longer see Prince Zhao.

She knew Prince Zhao was unwilling to grant her request.

It wasn’t surprising, really.

He had always been like this—cold and ruthless, never showing a shred of sympathy for others just because they were weak.

Consort Liu couldn’t help but think of the Emperor.

Since she had been imprisoned, the Emperor hadn’t come to see her even once.

’Even though I made a mistake, we shared a bed for so many years. I even bore him a son. Could our long history together truly be wiped clean in the blink of an eye?’

In some ways, Prince Zhao and the Emperor were very similar.

’No wonder they were father and son.’

The Heavenly Family is heartless.

Once again, Consort Liu felt the profound weight of those words.

An Imperial Physician’s panicked cry rang in her ears.

"The Noble Consort is fading fast!"

Li Ji stood alone near the doorway, coldly observing everything before him.

From outside, an old nanny’s startled cry rang out.

"Fifth Prince, what are you doing here? You cannot enter without the Saint’s permission! Please leave at once!"

"Out of my way!"

The next moment, Li Yan appeared at the doorway.

He leaned on a cane, shoving aside the arms of those who tried to stop him as he limped into the room.

At almost the exact moment he entered, Consort Liu breathed her last.

The Imperial Physicians all froze.

The atmosphere in the room dropped to a freezing point.

Li Yan sensed something was amiss, and a powerful sense of dread washed over him.

He moved as fast as he could, forcefully shoving aside everyone who stood in his way.

He saw Consort Liu lying on the bed. Her eyes were shut tight, her face was ashen, and a trace of crimson blood lingered at the corner of her lips. Her hands hung limply at her sides, and her chest was utterly still.

"Mother..."

Li Yan dropped his cane and stumbled to his knees beside the bed.

He reached out with a trembling hand and tightly grasped Consort Liu’s right hand.

Her fingers were as delicate and smooth as always, but they were frighteningly cold, devoid of their usual warmth.

The Imperial Physicians’ voices reached his ears.

"The Noble Consort has passed away. Fifth Prince, please accept our condolences."

It was as if Li Yan had gone deaf. He heard nothing. His eyes saw only his mother before him.

He called out to her again and again.

"Mother... Mother, please wake up..."

But no matter how he cried and pleaded, he couldn’t get her to look at him one last time.

Finally, he could hold it in no longer, and hot, heavy tears streamed down his face.

...

「In Moon Viewing Pavilion.」

The Emperor was cooing at the swaddled Seventh Prince.

The tiny baby was cradled in his arms, his skin fair and soft. His eyes were dark and bright, completely pure.

When the Emperor deliberately made funny noises, the baby would break into a toothless grin, giggling and waving his arms and legs in delight.

Seeing the baby laugh, the Emperor laughed along with him.

He sighed contentedly. ’Babies are wonderful. All you have to do is make a little noise to send them into fits of laughter. They’re so easy to please—not like those grown-up bastards of mine, each one more trouble than the last.’

Hua Qingqing was still in her postpartum confinement.

Since she had delivered the Seventh Prince prematurely, she had endured a difficult labor.

Her complexion looked rather pale, and she had grown much thinner. She couldn’t even produce enough milk for the baby.

Fortunately, two wet nurses took turns feeding him, or the baby would have gone hungry.

After playing with the baby, the Emperor handed him over to a wet nurse.

He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the pale, slender Hua Jieyu, saying with affection,

"You bore me the Seventh Prince, and I will not treat you unfairly. The Holy Decree promoting you to Zhaorong has already been drafted. On the day of the Seventh Prince’s one-month celebration, I will have the matter announced to the entire harem." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Hua Qingqing smiled gently. "It is my honor to bear children for Your Majesty. I would not dare ask for any reward."

The Emperor took her small hand, placed it in his palm, and held it tightly.

"I know you’ve never been one to vie for favor, but I will not withhold a single thing that is rightfully yours."

Hua Qingqing knew there was an unspoken addendum to his words—

’And what is not rightfully yours, you must not covet.’

She leaned against him and whispered, "I only wish to serve Your Majesty well. I care for nothing else."

The Emperor smoothly wrapped an arm around her slender waist. "Why are you still so thin? Haven’t you been drinking the nourishing broths I had the Imperial Kitchen prepare for you every day?"

Hua Qingqing replied, "How could I possibly spurn Your Majesty’s kindness? Of course I drank them all."

The nanny beside them chimed in at the perfect moment.

"The Imperial Physician said that the Concubine’s body cannot be restored too aggressively, lest the rich tonics overwhelm her weakened system. She must be nursed back to health slowly and carefully. It will take a great deal of time before she fully recovers."

Hua Qingqing glanced at her and said mildly, "You talk too much."

The nanny immediately dropped to her knees, bowing her head.

"I spoke out of turn. I deserve death for my impertinence."

Hua Qingqing whispered to the Emperor,

"Please don’t listen to my nanny’s ramblings. My health is perfectly fine. You, however, are busy with state affairs all day and must be exhausted. You are the one who truly needs to rest and take care."

The Emperor was moved by her thoughtfulness.

’She intentionally shares only good news to keep me from worrying. Unlike the other women in the harem, who scheme and fight for my attention, she genuinely cares for me, even if it means she has to suffer in silence.’

This thoughtfulness and tenderness touched the Emperor deeply.

He smiled gently. "My health has always been robust. But you, on the other hand, have gotten so much thinner since the birth. My heart aches just looking at you."

Receiving his concern, Hua Qingqing beamed with satisfaction, like a child who had just been given a sweet.

"As long as I can be by Your Majesty’s side, I can endure anything."

The Emperor stroked her head and said with a fond sigh, "Silly girl."

His gentle coaxing made Hua Qingqing blush, and her smile became sweeter than honey.

She said to the nanny, "There is nothing more for you here. You are dismissed."

"Yes."

The nanny withdrew with the utmost respect.

’She knew her lady was always docile and never vied for favor, nor would she ever speak plainly to the Emperor about her troubles. That was why she had taken the initiative to speak up just now.’

’Although she had been chided by the Concubine, it had made the Emperor’s heart ache for her all the more.’

’And so, it had been worth it.’

Just as the Emperor and Hua Jieyu were sharing a tender moment, Zuo Ji rushed in.

He dropped to his knees with a THUD and announced in a panic,

"Your Majesty, Consort Liu has passed away!"

The Emperor and Hua Qingqing were both startled.

「In Lingxue Hall.」

Li Yan was pulled away.

An Imperial Physician slowly draped a white sheet over Consort Liu’s body.

Li Ji averted his gaze and was about to leave when Li Yan’s sharp voice stopped him.

"Prince Zhao! You murdered my mother, didn’t you?"

On his way here, Li Yan had heard the servants whispering.

Consort Liu had suddenly vomited blood while she was alone with Prince Zhao, and the Imperial Physician had just declared that she died of poisoning.

’If you put the two together, doesn’t it mean Prince Zhao poisoned Consort Liu?!’