What did the Empress Dowager mean? That day, when Mama Chang hinted she should come to pay respects, was indeed not simple…
“Virtuous Consort, you understand that you and Prince Qi have fallen out of favor with the Emperor, perhaps even to the point of disgrace.”
The Virtuous Consort couldn’t sit still. She rose from the stool, her face pale, “I’m slow-witted. Please, Your Highness, speak plainly.”
“Speak plainly?” the Empress Dowager asked.
The Virtuous Consort nodded, “Your Highness is kind and generous. There must be a deeper meaning to your words. I’m too foolish to understand, so please explain clearly.”
The Empress Dowager smiled, “I have a task I want you to carry out for me.”
The Virtuous Consort’s heart skipped a beat. She lowered her gaze, “It would be my honor to serve Your Highness. What are your instructions?”
The Empress Dowager slowly sipped her tea twice, then set the cup down on the table. She spoke unhurriedly, “I want Fuqing’s life.”
The Virtuous Consort’s teacup fell from her hands, shattering into pieces. But this was nothing compared to her extreme shock.
She stepped back twice, staring at the Empress Dowager in disbelief as if seeing this woman at the top for the first time.
Had she heard wrong?
“What’s the matter? Are you frightened?” The Empress Dowager glanced at the Virtuous Consort, her tone cold.
The Virtuous Consort opened her mouth, “I—”
The Empress Dowager sneered, “I thought you had nothing left to lose and would be fearless.”
“Your Highness, I don’t understand—”
“You don’t need to understand. I’m only asking if you’ll do it.”
The Virtuous Consort, pale-faced, hesitated to answer, keenly detecting a murderous glint in the Empress Dowager’s eyes.
She suddenly realized: that since the Empress Dowager had said these words to her, if she didn’t agree, she might not live long after leaving Cining Palace.
Realizing this, the Virtuous Consort bit her lip and said, “Fuqing is the legitimate princess, the apple of the Empress’s eye. I’m afraid it would be difficult to find an opportunity… Even if I had the chance, escaping unscathed would be nearly impossible—”
The Empress Dowager smiled, “I only want Cining Palace to remain uninvolved.”
The implication was clear: she didn’t care whether the Virtuous Consort lived or died after carrying out the deed.
The Virtuous Consort was utterly astonished.
The Empress Dowager tapped the table lightly, her voice tinged with pity, “Your health, I fear, is like a lamp running out of oil, isn’t it?”
The Virtuous Consort trembled, staring intently at the Empress Dowager.
She had sealed the Imperial Physician’s lips. How did the Empress Dowager know about her condition?
In the past, she would complain about minor ailments to gain the Emperor’s sympathy and attention. But now that she was truly unwell, she only wanted to hold on for as long as possible, forcing herself to appear well in front of others.
The aged voice spoke again, sounding almost unfamiliar, “Using the last bit of your dying light to help Prince Qi—don’t you think it’s worth it?”