Cining Palace summoned an Imperial Physician, which scared everyone half to death. Empress Dowager Wang hadn’t really recovered since falling ill—only after changing prescriptions and taking two days of medicine had she improved a bit and felt lighter in body. And now the moment Princess Consort Ji entered the palace, she angered her so badly they had to call for an Imperial Physician—who wouldn’t panic, who wouldn’t be furious?

Truly, she’s grown quite capable.

Princess Consort Min also had a splitting headache. She had been wrong; turns out this mother-in-law of hers was actually just stupid.

Princess Consort Ji was kneeling in the hall, feeling wronged while also a bit panicked, afraid that Empress Dowager Wang really might be angered into something serious. If that happened, even with the late Emperor’s gold medal sparing her from death, she would likely still have her title stripped and be expelled from the Royal Family.

Fine, she really shouldn’t have strutted around showing off.

Princess Consort Ji shifted her knees, which were aching from kneeling, and heard footsteps approaching. She turned her head for a look, and her face instantly went pale.

The Emperor had come.

No matter who it is, seeing the Emperor, the Supreme of the Nine and Five, there’s no way not to feel flustered and full of awe; even an Imperial Concubine of high rank is the same.

Especially someone timid like Princess Consort Ji, who was of humble birth to begin with and had never had any noble upbringing or family education. Even after being a respected Imperial Concubine for decades, deep down she still carried a trace of a tiny commoner’s mindset—she feared him, dreaded him.

Particularly right now, Emperor Chu was dressed in a bright yellow Dragon Robe, his imperial majesty not the least bit restrained, making people feel a fear and trembling that rose straight from their bones.

Emperor Chu’s eyes swept over and met Princess Consort Ji’s. That sharp, icy gaze, carrying an unmasked aura of ruthless severity, made Princess Consort Ji’s whole body turn cold. She shook like a sieve, as though plunged into an ice cellar.

Inside Cining Palace, there was a rustle as everyone dropped to their knees.

Emperor Chu went straight into the bedchamber. Chief Imperial Physician Lu had just lifted his hand from Empress Dowager Wang’s wrist; upon seeing him, he immediately wanted to kneel.

"Dispense with the formalities. How is my honored mother?" He looked at Empress Dowager Wang with concern. Seeing that aside from a slight pallor she showed nothing else alarming, he relaxed a little inside.

Imperial Physician Lu said, "The Empress Dowager suffered an acute angina brought on by a sudden surge of anger. Aunt Lian Qiao has already fed her a Calming Pill, so there is no more danger. For the sake of stability, however, she must rest quietly and avoid great grief or great rage."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chu immediately turned to Eunuch Zhou. "Convey Our decree: Princess Consort Ji has committed the unpardonable crime of overstepping her station. Have her remove her hairpins and bracelets and kneel outside the hall of Cining Palace. She is not to rise until Mother says she may."

Eunuch Zhou answered with a loud "Yes," bowed, and withdrew.

In no time, the sobbing and whimpering of Princess Consort Ji could be heard, gradually receding into the distance.

Imperial Physician Lu went down to write a prescription, while Emperor Chu sat down beside the phoenix couch, his face full of concern as he looked at Empress Dowager Wang. He said, "Mother, why get into a temper with her? Wearing yourself out and making your body uncomfortable is a loss outweighing the gain."

Empress Dowager Wang took a deep breath and said, "So you already know what she’s carrying on her? It’s a Death Exemption Token, bestowed by your damned father."

Emperor Chu: "..."

It was only because Empress Dowager Wang had once lived among the common folk and learned some village talk from Song Ci that she could even say words like "damned" about him, right?

It sounded more than a little disrespectful.

Emperor Chu simply ignored that and said, "Your son knows. But a mere Death Exemption Token isn’t worth anything compared to your health."

"I know that. What I’m angry about is not that she’s waving that little thing in front of me to throw her weight around. What really angers me is your father." Empress Dowager Wang said through gritted teeth, "First there was a posthumous edict, and now there’s this token. What’s next—will they pull out something saying your father actually left another will stating that ’an unrighteous ruler may be deposed and the throne passed to his younger brother,’ or something of the sort?"

Emperor Chu’s eyelid twitched. He said, "You’re overthinking it. There is absolutely no such thing. I have already investigated everything thoroughly."