Lan Miao felt a warm current in her heart as she listened.
Xue'er's dependence on her had in turn fostered her own reliance on Xue'er. Looking at her lively and cute daughter in front of her, an idea flashed through Lan Miao's mind.
Originally, she had thought that Lady Qin had been really excessive and aggressive today. But when she thought that Lady Qin was also a mother, the anger in her heart gradually subsided.
"Good. Xue'er will never leave Mother. Come, eat more meat to grow strong."
"Okay..."
Outside, the wind was still howling. In the distance outside the courtyard, a figure was silently gazing at the dim yellow warm lamp in Xiangsi Pavilion.
The mother and daughter inside must be hugging each other by now.
Suddenly, he didn't want to go in and disturb them.
Emperor Jingxiang stood there silently for a while.
Then he turned around and left. "Let's go."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
An He had thought that since His Majesty had learned that Lady Lan was the person from five years ago, he would be eager to recognize her and make things right for them.
Did His Majesty have other thoughts now?
An He didn't understand and couldn't guess. He could only follow Emperor Jingxiang.
At night, Lan Miao slept with Xue'er. She felt extremely at ease. Looking at Xue'er's peaceful sleeping face, she thought of Lady Qin, who was also a mother.
Lady Qin was indeed detestable.
But the fact that Lan Xin had been imprisoned in the palace was really strange. It was even an order personally issued by His Majesty, and he hadn't come to tell her about it in the past two days.
What exactly had Lan Xin done to offend His Majesty?
Lan Miao couldn't figure it out.
With this question in mind, Lan Miao slowly fell asleep under the moonlight.
The winter moon was cold and the moonlight seemed boundless.
There was a thin layer of frost on the red walls and black tiles, making the palace more desolate. In Concubine Jia's Anle Palace, the weak cries of the Third Prince were mingled with the wind.
Concubine Jia paced back and forth in the empty main hall.
Bailu came out of the Third Prince's sleeping chamber, looking troubled. She whispered to Concubine Jia.
"Your Ladyship, the Third Prince is in great pain. How about using a little of the anesthetic powder prescribed by the imperial physician? Otherwise, it will be difficult for the Third Prince to fall asleep."
Concubine Jia frowned.
"No. It's already been a day. Why is he still in pain? We can't use the anesthetic powder. I know how powerful that stuff is. Using it will damage Mingye's brain. He's still so young. If his brain is damaged, how can he inherit the throne?"
"But... Your Ladyship, the imperial physician said that just a little bit can relieve the pain and won't harm the Third Prince's body..."
Bailu pleaded earnestly.
She had spent the most time with the Third Prince and really couldn't bear to see such a young child suffer from the burn.
"No, not even a little bit. If he becomes stupid, His Majesty will like him even less. The Second Prince is already a fool. As long as my Mingye can outshine him, the world will be his in the future. A little pain is nothing."
Concubine Jia shouted sternly.
Her eyebrows and eyes were usually charming, but now when she was angry, she looked hideous and terrifying.
Bailu didn't dare to say anything more. She could only go into the chamber to comfort the Third Prince. The cries were like a kitten scratching at people's hearts.
"Cry, all you know is how to cry..."
Concubine Jia paced back and forth in the hall, looking anxious. "This time, we mother and son have been framed. Even if we want to cry, we should cry in front of His Majesty. His Majesty doesn't even come to take a look. He's really heartless."
Maybe the Third Prince inside heard Concubine Jia's scolding or maybe he fell asleep. The cries gradually died down.
The howling wind in the palace also weakened.
All was quiet.
"Hanlu..."
Concubine Jia took a few steps and then called out several times.
A maid who looked similar to Bailu quickly came in from outside and bowed to Concubine Jia. "Your Ladyship is well. What does Your Ladyship want to order?"
"I'm asking you. How is the situation in Chenxi Palace?"
Hanlu showed a thoughtful expression. "Your Ladyship, the Imperial Noble Consort in Chenxi Palace is still running a high fever. The imperial physician said that the Imperial Noble Consort's condition is not good."
"Humph, she deserves it!"
Concubine Jia closed her eyes. After hearing this news, she finally felt relieved.
"That shameless bitch. She harmed me and Ye'er. She really deserves it. If Noble Lady You is still alive in the afterlife, she must haunt her and kill her..."
Concubine Jia looked a bit crazy as she murmured the last few words.
Hanlu felt a chill run down her spine.
A cold wind blew in through the gap in the window and extinguished one of the candles in front of the hall. Suddenly, it got dark.
It seemed as if there was some kind of response to her words in the dark.
"Ah..."
Hanlu let out a scream.
Concubine Jia's eyes rolled around. In an instant, her face returned to normal. She gave Hanlu a disdainful look. "What are you panicking about? Just light the candle again."
"Yes, Your Ladyship."
Hanlu quickly went to light the candle in front of the hall.
The dim yellow warm light illuminated the empty main hall again.
"See, it's okay now. Even if Noble Lady You turns into a ghost, she shouldn't come after us..."
Concubine Jia stopped walking.
She slowly sat down, with her hair disheveled and her face pale. Leaning on the mahogany chair, she mumbled words that no one could understand.
Hanlu didn't dare to disturb Concubine Jia and backed out.
The moonlight shone into the hall. The light gauze fluttered, and a trace of desolation seeped out of the magnificent main hall.
Chenxi Palace.
"Ah... Ah... Don't come after me. It was His Majesty who gave the order, and it was all your doing. Your You family is finished. Don't come after me."
The Imperial Noble Consort was lying weakly on the soft bed. Her face was pale, and her forehead was covered in cold sweat. She kept mumbling.
She waved her hands in the air, as if trying to grab something, but she couldn't catch anything.
Her eyes were blank.
"Don't come after me..."
The Imperial Noble Consort murmured for a while and then suddenly shouted and screamed like a madwoman. "Suguo, my hands are dirty. Why are they so red? Quickly fetch some water for me to wash them."
"... Your Ladyship, your hands are clean. They're not dirty at all."
Noble Lady Xie, who was sitting in front of the bed, held the Imperial Noble Consort's hand and comforted her softly. She whispered in the Imperial Noble Consort's ear. "Your Ladyship, you've been kind enough to Noble Lady You. Anyway, she didn't want to live anymore. Sending her on her way with your own hands was also fulfilling her wish. She won't come after you. If she wants to come after someone, it should be the You family..."
Then, Noble Lady Xie gave Suguo, who was standing there stupidly, a look. "Cover Your Ladyship with another quilt."
"Yes, yes..."
Suguo took out another brocade quilt and covered the Imperial Noble Consort with it.
Noble Lady Xie comforted the Imperial Noble Consort a few more times. Gradually, the Imperial Noble Consort fell into a deep sleep. She sat up and personally lowered the gauze curtain on the bed.
The fragrant cloud gauze was stacked, and the shadows were swirling.
It was late at night.
After arranging the Imperial Noble Consort, Noble Lady Xie walked out of the hall. Just as she was about to ask Suguo to bring her a cup of tea, she saw the Second Prince sitting in the corner under the lamp, playing with a Chinese puzzle.
He was having a great time, smiling happily.
Just now, the Imperial Noble Consort had been running a high fever, but he didn't even come to take a look. Instead, he was hiding here playing.
Noble Lady Xie watched for a while and then sighed deeply. His mother was so sick, but he was still sitting there playing with toys.
What a good-for-nothing.
He had no conscience at all.
The Imperial Noble Consort had raised a son just to give herself trouble. If such a fool could become the emperor in the future, it would be a disaster for the whole world.
Noble Lady Xie held back the words on the tip of her tongue. In the end, she didn't ask Suguo to bring her tea. She left with the maids.