“Your Highness…” Cang Yue lowered his head, not daring to look at her. Xu Qiu’er stood, swaying slightly, as Xiao Rong stepped forward to support her.
Xu Qiu’er descended the steps weakly. “Go to the Crown Prince’s palace.”
Seven months later –
“Your Majesty…”
Fuqiu Hall –
“Your Majesty…”
Xu Qiu’er took a deep breath and asked, “How is it?”
Cang Yue leaned in and whispered to Xu Qiu’er, “The Emperor and Empress have gone, and the items the Consort instructed me to put away are in place.”
Xu Qiu’er awaited her son’s arrival. Twenty-eight years ago, the most favored concubine was the Noble Consort, whom the Emperor doted on. When the Empress and the Noble Consort gave birth simultaneously, the Empress’s hatred for the Noble Consort became evident. She bribed the imperial physician to ensure the Noble Consort’s child was stillborn. However, the Empress underestimated the Noble Consort’s aunt, who was not ordinary; she was the Empress Dowager’s niece, aware of the Empress’s intentions. Even if the child survived, threats remained. The Noble Consort, perceived as gentle, had the backing of the Empress Dowager, who couldn’t allow her grandchild to die.
As the Empress watched the Noble Consort’s belly, the Empress Dowager devised a plan. On her birthday, the newly delivered Princess of Ping entered the palace by imperial decree to chat with the Old Buddha. In the chaos, Nurse Liu secretly swapped the swaddled Hao Li with the Princess of Ping’s child. Unexpectedly, news soon arrived that the Noble Consort had hanged herself.
The Empress Dowager sighed deeply, realizing the child had been saved. Initially, she hadn’t intended to support Hao Li, merely preserving a life. However, as Long Hanjie grew, she recognized he was not from her family. At this moment, she recalled Hao Li, who also learned about his background.
Xu Qiuer had recently saved the Noble Consort. She believed the Empress wished to watch the Noble Consort live out her misery and reflected that the Empress would die before the Noble Consort.
Long Hanjie was busy, his inner grief unspeakable. Qing Ya saw this and felt pain in her heart.
“Your Highness… The Crown Princess has given birth to the Third Prince.”
Fuqiu Hall –
