The hall was empty. Ye Qingtian's magnetic voice, slightly hoarse, rang out.
"Lanzhi, are you truly so heartless? Jingyi lost his own child, and do you really want to see him so distraught and uneasy?"
"Qingtian."
The Empress Dowager opened her eyes. Although the Emperor was unwell, hearing of his condition pained her greatly. After all, he was her beloved child.
Ye Qingtian walked to the Empress Dowager's side, took her hand, and said, "Lanzhi, we are both old. Let us hand over that person. Once Jingyi has stabilized the empire, we can leave this place."
A soft glow illuminated Ye Qingtian's handsome features, his eyes fixed on the Empress Dowager on the bed with deep affection.
The Empress Dowager opened her mouth but found herself unable to retort. Seeing this, Ye Qingtian knew she was wavering. He quickly sat beside her, drawing her into his embrace.
"I know you are tired, and so am I. This palace is truly suffocating. Let us leave."
"Me?"
Just as the Empress Dowager was about to speak, Ping'an, who had overheard the conversation outside, entered, fearing that her mistress might do something to harm the Crown Prince again.
Moreover, this Lord Ye was too despicable. If he had claimed to love her mistress deeply in the past, she would have believed it, but now, coming here to say such things was clearly deceiving her. Was his heart still as steadfast as before?
Men, by nature, were driven by desire. Seeing her mistress age and her beauty fade, Lord Ye might have grown weary. Now, he came with such affection, simply to coax her into revealing the Crown Prince's whereabouts?
Ping'an entered with a tray, her expression one of deliberate indifference. She spoke before the Empress Dowager could utter a word.
"Lord Ye is here. Her Ladyship has just recovered a bit. Lord Ye, please be careful not to upset her as you did two days ago. Her Ladyship cannot bear any more distress."
Upon Ping'an's words, the Empress Dowager recalled the events of two days prior. Annoyed, she sat up abruptly, pushing Ye Qingtian away, and said coldly,
"Go back. I am tired."
Ye Qingtian turned, fixing his gaze on Ping'an's retreating back. This wretched girl, why did she come now and not earlier or later? He couldn't discern the expression on her face.
"Fine."
Ye Qingtian spoke harshly, then walked out, casting a glare at Ping'an as he left.
After Ye Qingtian departed, Ping'an turned back and gazed at the Empress Dowager with a prolonged silence.
The Empress Dowager's heart trembled. She spoke softly, "Ping'an, what is it?"
"Her Ladyship truly disappoints Ping'an."
She uttered this, then lowered her head to prepare the meal, slowly approaching the couch. She was genuinely disappointed.
For her mistress had always been an intelligent and wise person. Now, she seemed muddled, unable to discern Lord Ye's intentions. Had it not been for her timely intervention, her mistress might have revealed the Crown Prince's whereabouts.
The Empress Dowager was stunned. She stared at Ping'an for a long time without speaking.
If Ping'an had said this in the past, she would have at least ordered twenty lashes. But now, she couldn't. After experiencing so much, she knew Ping'an genuinely cared for her. How many people remained by her side?
The man she thought loved her, the son she thought loved her, were all distant from her. Now, only Ping'an remained. If anything happened to her, she would have nothing.
The Empress Dowager looked up, tears welling in her eyes. She saw Ping'an approach and grabbed her hand.
"I have been foolish, Ping'an. Do not be angry. I will not hand over Yao'er."
Ping'an felt a slight ease of mind.
However, her mistress's mind was no longer as sharp as before. If Ye Qingtian were to coax her again, and she happened to be absent, wouldn't that put the Crown Prince in danger? Therefore, she needed to find the antidote as soon as possible and then devise a plan to send the Crown Prince out of the palace.
"Alright, Your Ladyship, eat something. Your health is paramount. At your age, why dwell on so many things? They are all bad."
Only Ping'an dared to curse the Emperor and Ye Qingtian; no one else would dare to speak so boldly.
"Yes, I am hungry."
The Empress Dowager got out of bed. Ping'an helped her to the table to eat. Neither wished to discuss these matters and changed the topic.
"I didn't expect Concubine Xian's child to not be saved. The Emperor must be very sad. Ping'an, should I go and see him?"
"Your Ladyship, he doesn't come to see you, so why should you go to see him?" Ping'an served the Empress Dowager, feeding her some soup with a spoon.
"You, my lady, should focus on recuperating. Don't concern yourself with trivial matters. Besides, this matter is likely not simple. Don't get yourself entangled in it and incur more anger."
As Ping'an spoke, the Empress Dowager paused and thought carefully, a realization dawning upon her.
"Are you implying that Su Xue had a hand in this?"
"This servant says nothing."
Ping'an lowered her head, staring at her hands, and remained silent. The Empress Dowager sighed and, after a few more bites, lost her appetite.
On one hand, she worried about the Emperor's unhappiness; on the other, she lamented her unborn grandchild. On a third hand, she was relieved that Ye Yuyun had no children. If she had a child, she would become Empress, and what would happen to the Ye family?
The Empress Dowager retired early, her sleep restless.
After the Empress Dowager fell asleep, Ping'an searched the area where her mistress had looked earlier but still couldn't find the antidote. It was truly strange; where could that medicine have been placed?
That night, the crescent moon hung in the sky like a scythe, its light cold and clear. The ground was covered in white dew, stretching out in a vast, misty expanse.
Yun Xiao, with her three subordinates, searched the Jingfu Palace. Only after confirming there were no anomalies did they return to Qingfeng Pavilion.
Combining her own investigation with Shangguan Yao's mysterious and conspiratorial demeanor, she finally reached a conclusion.
Shangguan Yao did not have anyone in his possession. Could Murong not be in the palace? Then what happened later that night?
Who took Murong away? Only someone with inside knowledge would know Murong was in the Xishan Mausoleum that night. Who could this person be?
The answer flashed in her mind: it must be the Empress Dowager.
Murong was in the Empress Dowager's hands and, as of yet, had not been handed over to Shangguan Yao. Yun Xiao finally breathed a sigh of relief. The person was in Changxin Palace. How could she infiltrate Changxin Palace?
Yun Xiao frowned, sitting in a corner of the flower hall, gazing at the night sky.
The moonlight was beautiful tonight. Suddenly, a myriad of pain welled up within her, like a dense, drizzling rain enshrouding her entire being, making her feel an urge to weep whenever she thought of it.
It turned out that the person one truly loved was etched so deeply that, at the mere thought of his suffering, she wished she could bear it all.
Perhaps she hadn't fully understood her feelings before, but now she was certain: Murong, I have truly fallen in love with you. You must be safe. I will definitely rescue you.
If anything were to happen to you, even the slightest bit, I would bathe this palace in blood, without hesitation.