Yong Yaxuan now understood why Concubine Ning had chosen to visit the imperial physician privately and why she had emerged from the imperial physician's chamber. She must have been set up.
"When did you lose your accessory?"
Concubine Ning's gaze grew distant. "It was probably when I was following the imperial physician..."
Yong Yaxuan asked, "Why did you come out of the imperial physician's chamber on the day he died?"
Concubine Ning sank into memories. "Because the imperial physician told me that he had a crucial piece of evidence that could prove Concubine Zhen wasn't pregnant, but he needed me to come and get it in person."
Yong Yaxuan asked again, "Then why did you believe he would definitely give you the evidence?"
Concubine Ning smiled. "Because I threatened the imperial physician and told him this was his chance to atone for his sins. If he cooperated with me, I could spare his life."
Concubine Ning's eyes widened, as if she had been possessed. "I was investigating Concubine Zhen's false pregnancy case because I couldn't stand her domineering behavior in the harem. If she hadn't provoked me, I would have let it go. But she dared to insult me."
Yong Yaxuan sighed. "Concubine Ning, your straightforward temper hasn't changed at all."
Concubine Ning composed herself and retorted, "Then why doesn't Your Majesty favor the concubines and establish an heir as soon as possible?"
Yong Yaxuan frowned slightly. "Who said I haven't favored any concubines?"
Concubine Ning sneered. "It was just a show. Why bother mentioning it? The only ones who don't know the truth are the court officials and the queen in the harem. If people knew about your actions, they might even say you're impotent."
Yong Yaxuan felt embarrassed and said, "At least Concubine Xin's child is real."
Concubine Ning mocked, "Concubine Xin must have drugged you. She's really bold. Didn't Your Majesty feel humiliated?"
Yong Yaxuan was truly annoyed. He blushed with anger and said, "How do you know everything? You seem more concerned about my harem affairs than the queen."
Concubine Ning said in a somewhat crazy tone, "Because I'm waiting for you to establish an heir."
Yong Yaxuan couldn't help but sigh. "Why do you sound just like the court officials?"
Concubine Ning looked serious. "Because I value the Jiangshan that Prince Chengxuan entrusted to you. It was also what my father fought to protect with his life!"
"So you think you're justified in killing and harming others?" Yong Yaxuan laughed sardonically.
Concubine Ning scoffed. "I do have my own motives. I can't get over my feelings for Prince Chengxuan. Sometimes, I really admire her. She managed to move on."
Yong Yaxuan sighed. "So, she really tried hard, but I never understood her. And for me, how could I ever forgive myself? Chengxuan was my most respected elder brother and the most suitable heir to the Great Yong Dynasty. If I could, I would rather have taken the bullet for her and died. Maybe she would have remembered me for the rest of her life."
Concubine Ning shook her head in confusion. "Your Majesty, you're really obsessed. What's so special about her that you brothers are so infatuated with her?"
Yong Yaxuan said, "You don't understand. Just like I don't understand why you married into the palace when you were in love with Chengxuan."
Concubine Ning raised her eyebrows. "It was my parents' order. What could I do? They taught me how to be the emperor's woman since I was a child. They didn't care who the emperor would be in the end. If Prince Chengxuan hadn't died, entering the harem would have fulfilled my wish."
Yong Yaxuan whispered, "Chengxuan would have handled these things better than me. Maybe he wouldn't even have a harem..."
Yong Yaxuan said, "Your family has already received the glory bestowed by me. Don't say you had no choice but to enter the harem."
Concubine Ning laughed sarcastically. "Yes, it's all about interests. How many women these days can make their own choices?"
Yong Yaxuan seemed tired and didn't want to argue with her anymore. He said, "Anyway, I'm really heartbroken that you attacked the queen, and I can't forgive you. Since you've done these things, you must pay the price."
"I knew it when Your Majesty came to see me," Concubine Ning said calmly with a smile. "Everyone will die someday. Since I've been banished to the cold palace, my father will have no support in the future. I'll end my own life and won't damage the relationship between you and him."
Yong Yaxuan finally sighed and said, "Concubine Ning, you're a reasonable person."
Concubine Ning smiled. "Don't thank me. I'm doing this for my family. Compared with harming the imperial heir, assassinating the queen is a more serious crime. I'm just using the strategy of retreating to advance, forcing you not to expose my crimes."
Yong Yaxuan was helpless. "Some things are better left unsaid. Why do you have to mention them?"
Concubine Ning looked at Yong Yaxuan seriously and gave her last advice. "I know you want to get justice for her, but she's already gone. Since she left, it shows her intention. Please let go of your obsession and start anew, Your Majesty."
Yong Yaxuan showed a painful expression and said strugglingly, "If it were that easy to let go, it would be fine. Losing her, my heart aches like being wrung. I feel so empty. This feeling is indescribable. I'll be in pain for the rest of my life."
Concubine Ning shook her head. "Your Majesty is really ridiculous. You only dare to show your true feelings to a dying person. If you love her, why did you lie to her? If you hadn't favored other concubines, why did you hide it from her alone? Don't you know your fickleness would hurt her?"
"I'm the emperor. I have no choice," Yong Yaxuan closed his eyes, looking tired. "The country is unstable, and the court is in turmoil. Several factions are divided for interests. The way of heaven is the way of balance, the balance between the emperor and his officials, and the balance between officials. I have too many things to consider. Sometimes, I end up hurting the people closest to me."
Concubine Ning mocked, "Your Majesty probably thinks that the people closest to you will never leave no matter how much you hurt them."
"I've done too many things like pushing away the close and getting close to the distant. I even only dare to say some things to you," Yong Yaxuan said self - deprecatingly.
Concubine Ning knew her time was up. Thinking that Yong Yaxuan was still hard to change, she felt a deep sadness. She knelt down in the most pious posture and bowed deeply to Yong Yaxuan. She said loudly, "I'm a dying woman. I have no other wishes after hearing Your Majesty's true words. I only hope that after my death, Your Majesty can reflect on your mistakes and prevent future problems. Let's keep today's conversation a secret. After Your Majesty leaves, I'll go to the underworld alone to fulfill Your Majesty's wish."
Since Concubine Ning had said all she wanted to say, Yong Yaxuan knew there was nothing more to say. He turned around and left, not wanting to see the final determination in Concubine Ning's eyes.
That night, the news of Concubine Ning's death spread. Yong Yaxuan closed his eyes, and a myriad of emotions welled up in his heart.
The next day, there was news that Concubine Ning's death was related to the attempt on the queen's life, but this news was quickly suppressed.
Eunuch Wang, after learning the news, knew that he had caused Concubine Ning's death. Overwhelmed with grief, he also committed suicide.
During this period, what did Concubine Li and Concubine Zhen do? They simply arranged for the cold palace to be located on the path that Eunuch Wang had to pass by every day, so that he would hear the miserable cries from the cold palace every day and night, making him restless. Then they pushed Eunuch Wang out to the emperor. They knew that harming the imperial heir was not enough to kill Concubine Ning, but assassinating the queen definitely was. Concubine Ning's miscalculation was that they caught her little tail of attempting to assassinate the queen. They were supposed to be on the same side against a common enemy, but they could turn against each other at any time. Then they spread the rumor that Concubine Ning had attempted to assassinate the queen.
Perhaps because of Concubine Ning's death, a shadow fell over the harem.
Yong Yaxuan looked at the gloomy sky and thought of the suppressed rumor. His expression darkened. Just then, a secret agent reported, "The list of the imperial city's medical clinics is ready. When will Your Majesty go with me to investigate?"