"Consort Rong."
The two words made Chu Qianli stiffen instantly, like stone.
"I know what you are thinking right now."
The Empress, having put on her clothes, had already regained her calm and composed demeanor.
"With your status now, any prince who cooperates with you would find it extremely beneficial. Therefore, I naturally hope you can be with He'er."
"However, I know what kind of person you, Chu Qianli, are. If I were lying, I wouldn't be able to fool you for long."
"Therefore, I have no need, nor am I so bored, to tell you things that are baseless."
Chu Qianli remained silent, her already not-so-pleasant expression now turning as cold as ice.
The Empress continued, "Consort Rong is the birth mother of Prince Xuan. I believe His Majesty is also very aware of this. As for whether His Majesty can still be with Prince Xuan without any reservations, that is His Majesty's own affair."
"But at least I know that Consort Rong and Long Xiyue did not have a good relationship back then. Later, Long Xiyue died in Beiming. Whether Consort Rong had anything to do with this matter can only be verified by His Majesty himself."
The Empress stood up and looked at her, "I have told you all I can say. Then, as for this illness of mine..."
"I'll say it again, I don't have the testing medicine on me right now. After I go out and come back, I will give the Empress a clear answer."
Chu Qianli walked towards the door, "Empress, please."
The Empress was somewhat angry, having thought that after telling her everything, Chu Qianli would reveal the situation of her illness.
She did not expect the outcome to be the same!
"You and Prince Xuan may not be enemies. If you think I am lying, then investigate it yourself!"
She walked out the door quickly, with a huff.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out, she was violently pushed to the ground by a force coming from the front.
"You!" The Empress's eyes widened in shock.
This man in white...
Feng Dingchu walked up to Chu Qianli. Although he said nothing, his stern expression made Chu Qianli realize he was angry.
"Alright, alright, I'm leaving now, leaving immediately."
"Mother!" Feng Qihe, who had been walking behind Feng Dingchu, quickly went forward and helped the Empress up. "Mother, how are you? Are you injured?"
The Empress shook her head.
The mother and son looked at the man in white together.
Chu Qianli, however, pulled Feng Dingchu behind her and said lightly, "Empress, Prince He, I am really leaving now. If there's anything, we'll discuss it after I return. Farewell!"
She pulled Feng Dingchu and left.
"Mother..."
"It's nothing!" The Empress looked at Feng Dingchu's retreating back, her brow furrowed even deeper.
This person was rude and disrespectful, pushing her to the ground.
Yet, she was not angry. Instead, she looked shocked.
It seemed, it really seemed...
"Mother, what were you thinking just now?"
After getting into the carriage, Feng Qihe still looked suspicious.
His mother seemed to have lost her soul and hadn't recovered yet. What was going on with her?
"He'er, do you think that man in white who was walking with Chu Qianli..."
"Mother also finds his figure very familiar?"
Especially his back! That back really looked like someone she had seen somewhere before.
Very familiar, but the memory was very vague, as if from many years ago...
"But... it's impossible."
The Empress shook her head, her fingertips slowly tightening.
"He should have died more than ten years ago. It's impossible... it can't be him."
"Mother, who are you talking about?" Feng Qihe felt as if the answer was about to be revealed!
The Empress looked up, meeting his gaze, and said haltingly, "...Prince Jiu."