âHow could this happen?â It seemed as if the Emperor had heard Li Hongyuanâs words, but also as if he hadnât. He merely muttered to himself, âWasnât she getting better? How did she suddenly die?â
The Empress said, âYour Majesty, please restrain your grief. Concubine Jin looks truly unsightly like this. Let someone come in and clean upâ¦â âUnsightly?â The Emperor suddenly grew angry, glaring at the Empress. âNo matter what, Concubine Jin is always beautiful!â
âYes, Concubine Jin has unrivaled beauty,â the Empress lowered her gaze.
âEmpress, are you jealous of Concubine Jin, so you harmed her?â
The Emperorâs hidden suspiciousness and doubt underneath his amiable and kind exterior were now undoubtedly revealed.
The Empress knelt down immediately, tears flowing with every word, âI have been married to Your Majesty for decades, diligently managing the harem in fear and trepidation. I dare not mistreat any of Your Majestyâs children. Yet, I cannot even earn a bit of Your Majestyâs trust⦠In that case, my position as Empress is in vain!â
She stood up and moved to hit her head against a pillar.
The Emperor didnât seem to react.
Jiang Ning was close by and, without thinking, grabbed the Empressâs arm.
In the time it took for this brief intervention, several servants had already rushed over to hold the Empress.
The Empress cried loudly, claiming she wanted to die.
The Emperor shouted in fury, âIf you want to die, go die somewhere else! Donât make a scene here at Concubine Jinâs place!â
And with that, the Empressâs cries came to an abrupt halt.
With a sorrowful face, she stood up, holding onto a palace maidâs hand, and left in silence.
Concubine Jin had been in the palace for twenty years, receiving constant favor from a young girl to the present day.
No, it could almost be said she was the only one who enjoyed exclusive favor.
Even as new women kept entering the harem, among everyone coming and going, Concubine Jin was the most special, unique existence.
The Emperor spent more than half of each year with her, even disregarding the rule to reunite with the Empress on the first and fifteenth days of the month.
One could only imagine the extent of the Emperorâs love for Concubine Jin.
For all these years, everyone believed that Concubine Jinâs favor was due to her resemblance to Lin Zizi.
And indeed, it was true.
Initially, the Emperor was heartbroken over Lin Zizi, so some sycophants, in order to please the Emperor, went out of their way to find women who looked like Lin Zizi and sent them into the palace.
Concubine Jin was not the only woman sent into the palace for this reason.
However, she was the most favored one.
As the master of the six palaces, the Empress was completely overshadowed by her.
She had struggled, but to no avail.
In the harem, having the Emperorâs love was equivalent to having everything.
And Concubine Jin had it all.
Yet now, Concubine Jin had been poisoned.
And her death had been terribly tragic.
Not only did the Emperor drive the Empress away, but he also drove everyone else away.
That included Crown Prince Li Hongyuan and Princess Consort Jiang Ning.
Li Hongyuan and Jiang Ning went outside, looking at the door of the Splendid Palace, the atmosphere somewhat oppressive.
âHis Majesty truly loved Concubine Jin,â Jiang Ning said.
âShe was just Lin Ziziâs substitute,â Li Hongyuan replied indifferently.
His calmness made Jiang Ning unable to believe that he was a person who had just lost his mother.
Jiang Ning did not agree with his idea.
âPerhaps it started that way, but after all these years, His Majestyâs feelings for Concubine Jin have grown genuine. She is no longer a substitute for anyone,â Jiang Ning said. âYouâll see if Iâm right.â
âIâm not interested in such matters,â Li Hongyuan glanced at her. âJiang Ning, I will only ask you this question once. Did you harm my concubine mother?â
âNo!â
âGood..â Li Hongyuan fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, âDo you think Iâm cold-blooded for showing no grief over my concubine motherâs death?â