His hands were clenched tightly together, veins bulging, a testament to his anger.
He never expected that everything would be fine in the morning, and that such a thing would happen in just a few hours.
"Someone, bring Consort Hui here." The Empress straightened her posture, looking every bit the head of the household.
Immediately, someone went out and soon brought in the trembling Consort Hui. As soon as Consort Hui saw the emperor, she immediately knelt down and cried out, "Your Majesty, please investigate! Your Majesty, please investigate! I only gave her a light push. How could the child be lost? I am truly innocent!"
Seeing the emperor's cold gaze fall upon her, she shivered, feeling a chill creep up from the back of her head.
Terrified, she grabbed Doctor Cui in desperation: "Tell me, why did she miscarry with just a gentle push? There must be another reason, right?"
Imperial Physician Cui lowered his head: "Your Majesty, Consort Xin's pregnancy was already unstable, so even the slightest stimulation could lead to a miscarriage."
Consort Hui's eyes lit up immediately: "Your Majesty, please listen, it's not my fault. It's her own health that's failing. The miscarriage can't be blamed on me; it's her own fault..."
"Boom—" The emperor raised his foot and kicked her hard in the chest. Consort Hui was caught off guard and was kicked far away. She fell to the ground like an autumn leaf, in a very disheveled position.
The emperor glared at her hatefully, truly regretting that he hadn't gotten rid of her last time, which had led to this mess.
"You vile woman! You wicked hussy! You still refuse to admit your mistakes at this point; you deserve to die a thousand deaths! Guards! Consort Hui is wicked and plotted to harm my offspring. Drag her out and execute her by being cut in half at the waist!"
He spoke each word with ruthless precision, and Consort Hui immediately crawled to his feet, pleading, "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! I truly dare not do it again! Please, grant me a chance to live..."
"Your Majesty, I argued with Consort Xin because I felt indignant on your behalf. Please, I beg His Majesty for me..." Seeing that pleading with the Emperor was useless, she turned to the Empress, now placing all her hopes on her.
The Empress took two steps back, her gaze sweeping over Consort Hui's tear-streaked face. She frowned slightly and said, "Sister, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that you..."
He shook his head awkwardly, turned his face away, and refused to look at her again.
"No, I don't want to die, Your Majesty... Empress..."
Immediately, someone dragged her out. Consort Hui kept shouting, her hoarse voice sounding especially cold and desolate in the quiet night.
The sound faded into the distance, and the group looked at each other, none daring to speak, for fear that the emperor's anger would be directed at them.
The Empress was the first to kneel down: "It was your concubine who failed to protect Consort Xin. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
The emperor closed his eyes briefly, his handsome face showing utter exhaustion. He turned and glanced into the inner room, then sighed softly, "All... withdraw."
He was heartbroken. He had hoped this child would be a princess; to have a princess in his old age would fulfill his lifelong wish, but...
Everyone withdrew, including Doctor Cui and his entourage, before the emperor entered the room.
The pungent stench of blood assaulted his nostrils, and the dim light made the room feel even more desolate. The room was eerily quiet; even breathing could be clearly heard. He walked step by step to the bedside, each step seemingly requiring the utmost of his strength.
Finally, he stood before the bed, gazing intently at the sleeping Consort Xin, then at her now flattened belly. The emperor closed his eyes. This child, in the end, was not meant to be with him!
*
It hurts, it really hurts. My body feels like it's been run over by something, and I feel pain all over my body.
I wanted to open my eyes, but I had no strength at all, as if I wasn't even myself anymore.
She frowned.
What's wrong with me?
Her thoughts drifted back to the scene before she fainted. She seemed to be in Chonghua Palace, and then Consort Hui argued with her, which made her angry. And then...
V74 Winter
Her thoughts drifted back to the scene before she fainted. She seemed to be in Chonghua Palace, and then Consort Hui argued with her, which angered her. And then...
Her thoughts suddenly froze, and she didn't know where the strength came from, but as she thought of this, she suddenly sat up from the bed. What came into view was a snow-white gauze curtain, layer upon layer, which looked completely unfamiliar.
Where is this?
"Squeak—" Just then, the door was gently pushed open, followed by a soft footstep. She looked up and saw the emperor's figure emerge from behind the curtain. Seeing that Consort Xin was awake, he visibly breathed a sigh of relief: "You're finally awake."
The emperor looked exhausted, his gaze falling on her with tenderness. Seeing her somewhat dazed, he stepped forward and asked, "Is there anything else that's bothering you?"
Consort Xin was momentarily stunned. Looking at the Emperor's worried expression, she asked, puzzled, "Your Majesty, what's wrong...?"
She felt something was wrong, but her thoughts were so chaotic that she couldn't quite make sense of them.
The emperor was taken aback: "You..."
Before she could finish speaking, Consort Xin had already thrown back the covers: "I remember I was in Chonghua Palace, but where am I now..." Her body suddenly froze.
Chonghua Palace, Consort Hui, the child...
She abruptly lowered her head, a jumble of confused thoughts rushing to her head. She had been pushed by Consort Hui, and then...
"Where's the baby?" She seemed stunned for a moment as she looked at her flat stomach, but her voice trembled.
The excruciating pain, the memories before she fell into a coma, and the stench of blood in her breath all pointed to the truth. She suddenly grabbed the emperor's robe: "Your Majesty, where is my child?"
Her eyes flashed with bloodlust, a truly terrifying sight, as she stared intently at the emperor, her eyes unblinking.
The emperor felt a pang of heartache at the sight. He raised his hand and stroked her pale, bloodless cheek, letting out a barely audible sigh: "I'm sorry, the child... could not be saved..."
Gaa--
A sound seemed to pierce the sky, and Consort Xin froze, as if she hadn't understood his words. "Your Majesty, what... what are you saying..."
She already knew the truth in her heart, but she refused to admit it, only holding tightly to the emperor's collar, her eyes glazed over.
The emperor closed his eyes, unsure how to begin. He had longed for this child so much, and so had she. Such a blow must be hard to bear.