In the past couple of days, Noble Princess Consort Rong’s condition had finally improved somewhat, but upon learning that her two sons had hanged themselves at the Royal Mansion, she immediately vomited blood and fainted. When she woke up, it was already a day and a night later.

The first thing she did upon waking was to confirm whether her two sons had truly hanged themselves. Once it was confirmed that her two sons had indeed hanged themselves, she fainted again. Fortunately, this time she did not remain unconscious for long and soon woke up.

When Noble Princess Consort Rong awoke once more, she saw the emperor sitting by her bedside and tearfully asked, "Your Majesty, why..."

The emperor’s face was full of guilt: "I’m sorry, I didn’t watch over them properly."

Noble Princess Consort Rong threw herself into the emperor’s arms, her hands tightly clutching the clothes on his chest as she wept bitterly. Due to extreme sorrow coupled with her frail body, she cried herself into unconsciousness in the emperor’s arms.

The emperor held Noble Princess Consort Rong, gently patting her back, then had her lie down on the bed. Seeing her haggard and pale face, her swollen eyes, and disheveled hair, a pang of pain flickered in his heart.

He sat by the bed watching Noble Princess Consort Rong for a while, then got up and instructed Jin Mei, "Take good care of the noble consort."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The emperor still had matters to attend to and could not stay long in Yongxin Palace. Upon returning to the Imperial Study, he did not immediately review the memorials.

Sun Kui brought a cup of hot tea, "Your Majesty, please have some tea first."

The emperor accepted the teacup, took a sip, and then sighed quietly, "Sigh..."

"Your Majesty, the noble consort will recover," Sun Kui assumed the emperor was worried about Noble Princess Consort Rong’s health.

The emperor’s thumb gently caressed the rim of the teacup, his expression unfathomable, "She won’t recover."

"Didn’t the Imperial Physician say that the noble consort’s condition was improving?"

"The second and ninth died; it was a huge blow to her. She won’t recover." The emperor sighed deeply again, "I’ve failed her."

"Your Majesty, the two princes hanged themselves; it’s not your fault." Sun Kui could never forget the emperor’s reaction upon learning of Prince Dai and Prince Yue’s deaths; the emperor was stunned, then remained silent for a long time. He just sat quietly at the imperial table, his back suddenly curved, and his entire being exuded a strong aura of sadness.

In that instant, Sun Kui felt the emperor seemed to age quite a bit.

The emperor remained silent, then picked up the memorials and began reviewing them.

Sun Kui quietly withdrew, leaving the Imperial Study.

Sun Doudou saw his master come out and hurriedly reported, "Master, the Empress has gone to Yongxin Palace."

Hearing this, Sun Kui’s brow immediately furrowed.

"Master, the Empress must be going to kick someone when they’re down." Sun Doudou whispered, "It was the Empress who first went to Yongxin Palace to inform Noble Princess Consort Rong about Prince Dai and Prince Yue’s deaths." Previously, Prince Dai and Prince Yue were degraded to commoners for rebellion. However, in the past two days, they were restored to their princely titles and buried as princes.

"Didn’t the emperor order that no one was to disturb the noble consort’s rest?" Sun Kui frowned, "Noble Princess Consort Rong’s body is too weak to withstand any agitation."

"What should we do now?"

"I’ll report to the emperor," Sun Kui hurried into the Imperial Study to inform the emperor about Empress Xie going to Yongxin Palace.

The emperor, upon hearing the news, angrily slammed the memorials onto the imperial table and then strode away.

Sun Kui hurriedly followed.

When the emperor arrived at Yongxin Palace, he heard Empress Xie mocking Noble Princess Consort Rong.

Noble Princess Consort Rong’s face was flushed with anger, her eyes glaring at Empress Xie as if poisoned. She pointed at Empress Xie, wanting to say something, but was too furious to speak a word. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"You..."

Empress Xie wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by the emperor.

"Empress, what are you doing here?"

Upon hearing the emperor’s voice, Empress Xie shivered in fear, then turned around and bowed her head in salutation.

"Your Majesty, I came to visit Noble Princess Consort Rong."

"Have I not said that no one is to disturb Noble Princess Consort Rong’s rest, Empress you’re treating my words as air?"

"I wouldn’t dare." Empress Xie had none of her earlier arrogance in taunting Noble Princess Consort Rong, "I take my leave."

The emperor said coldly, "Do not set foot in Yongxin Palace again."

"Yes." Empress Xie leaned on the palace maid’s hand, trembling as she left Yongxin Palace. Just outside, her legs went weak, nearly causing her to fall to the ground, but the palace maid caught her in time.

Inside Yongxin Palace, Noble Princess Consort Rong lay on the bed, her eyes sharply glaring at the emperor, coldly questioning, "Your Majesty, the Empress says it was you who ordered Yi’er and Yue’er to hang themselves, is that true?"