“It’s quite a coincidence, we met at a…” Si Zhan began, but his gaze drifted, lost in memories, a faint smile on his lips. Just as Ning Wanwan was about to listen closely, he suddenly stopped. The light in his eyes dimmed, and he sighed, “Forget it. It’s just an unbearable memory. Since you don’t remember, let’s not mention it.”
Feeling disappointed, Ning Wanwan saw that Si Zhan did not want to discuss it further, likely due to its painful nature.
The Empress Dowager looked displeased, glancing at Si Zhan and Ning Wanwan.
She picked up her teacup and warned, “Zhan’er, as a prince, continuing the royal lineage is a major matter. You cannot neglect this due to personal preferences.”
Zi Zhan scoffed and raised his head, speaking self-mockingly, “Mother is joking. Continuing the royal lineage is the matter of my brother and the crown prince. My body has no connection to offspring. So now, I…”
He paused and looked at Ning Wan Wan with tender eyes, “I only want to live a peaceful life with my princess consort.”
Ning Wan Wan understood that Zi Zhan was signaling to the Empress Dowager that he had no interest in imperial power and only wished to live peacefully, hoping she would spare them.
The Empress Dowager’s gaze darkened, silently observing Zi Zhan.
At that moment, a young eunuch burst into the hall, shouting, “Empress Dowager!”
The Empress Dowager frowned, reprimanding, “What impropriety is this?”
“Forgive me, Empress Dowager,” the eunuch prostrated himself.
The Empress Dowager took a sip of tea, set down her cup, and asked, “What is it?”
The young eunuch replied, “Supervisor Xu encountered Pure Consort on the way to Bao Ci Palace while looking for Snow Ball. For some reason, she suddenly fainted.”
Zi Zhan’s pupils shifted slightly as he lowered his eyes, maintaining a calm demeanor.
Si Suo abruptly stood from the throne, “What did you say? Pure Consort fainted?”
The young eunuch turned and kowtowed, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“How is she now? Where is Supervisor Xu?” Si Suo and the Empress Dowager asked in unison.
The young eunuch hesitated before responding, “Reporting to Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, Wan Shun has taken Supervisor Xu to Rui’en Hall to treat Pure Consort, so Supervisor Xu won’t come to Bao Ci Palace for a while.”
