the court and didn't know much about the civil and military officials. He could only barely recognize their ranks and positions.He couldn't remember their names, only that they were from the Hanlin A..."Yes, Your Majesty," Yi Zuo quickly replied, rushing to push open the inner chamber door. He pressed a certain spot under the bed and then took out a small box, deftly handing it to the Emperor.

The Emperor opened it himself. Inside the box were incense sticks wrapped in oiled paper, a full hundred or so...

The Consort could no longer hold on, slumping onto the ground with a pale face.

Master Yi once again opened the palace gates and beckoned in one direction. Immediately, two guards dragged a white-haired old woman over.

The old woman was dressed very well, with a golden hairpin in her hair. It was clear that she was highly valued by the empress.

But at this moment, she was being escorted by guards like a rabid dog, her face still contorted with rage and tremors, her eyes fierce, as if a thousand rebellious thoughts were swirling within them.

"Your Majesty, the Noble Consort is devoted to you with all her heart and serves you diligently. You cannot treat her this way just because of someone's slander! The Noble Consort must be innocent!"

The emperor chuckled, “Yes, she truly serves me with all her heart and soul!”

He slammed the box in front of her and shouted, "This is how she serves!"

Grandma took a glance at the box and her knees went weak. She looked at the Noble Consort in fear, bewildered how she had been exposed.

You have to know, this matter was personally arranged by her for Consort Zhang, absolutely no mistakes were made!

Yi Zong was afraid they would anger the Emperor again, after all, he had just been drinking medicine before they came.

At this moment, he stepped forward and said, "Noble Consort, long ago, everything in the Rong Hua Palace has been under surveillance. Where the incense materials come from and who handles them are all crystal clear.

"Don't even try to make excuses, just confess quickly and beg the Emperor for leniency."

The noble consort remained silent, her fingers pressing hard against the brick seam, her ears visibly reddening, whether from anger or anxiety.

After a long while, when she finally lifted her head, her face had returned to its usual composure and calmness.

She raised her hand, smoothing down her hair carefully. Then she stood up and straightened the wrinkles in her skirt before sitting down in the chair opposite the Emperor.

"Since Your Majesty is already aware, this humble servant will not waste any more effort."

The emperor snorted coldly, “It’s just like this anyway, it saved me from the embarrassment earlier. A noble consort like you, looking like a shrew from the market, what a disgrace!”

Having said that, he waved his hand and General Yi immediately ordered the guards to take the old nanny away.

Grandma probably still wanted to speak, but the guard quickly removed her jaw with a swift hand. She could only drool and make gurgling sounds in her throat, her face full of discontent as she disappeared at the door.

For a time, only the Emperor, the Noble Consort, and Yi the Head Steward remained in the room.

To prevent the Consort from making any further movements, Yi the Grand Steward stood behind the Emperor.

Perhaps knowing today was the day she met her demise, the Noble Consort unexpectedly relaxed. She played with her golden nail caps studded with precious gems, nonchalantly asking, "When did Your Majesty discover the poisoning If this concubine's guess is correct, it was during the Third Princess's night terror, wasn't it"

"This servant knew those two dead girls would cause trouble, always on guard against them. Sadly, there was no way to get rid of them."

"Especially that girl from the Li family, Princess Three was originally incredibly naive, so easy to scheme against. But after that girl from the Li family entered the palace, she somehow managed to make her more intelligent! Hmph, lucky girl!"

The Emperor suppressed his anger and replied, “Speaking of it, you are to blame for being greedy. You prescribed too much medicine, making me visit your palace every day. Otherwise, I wouldn't have discovered it.”

"Perhaps one day you will die, and you won't even know it was the person beside your bed who did it. But think about this: I have always treated you well, showered you with affection, something everyone in the Heavenly Martial Empire knows.

"It's the second prince. This Emperor has always loved and protected him, never neglecting him. But why did you have such malicious intentions and act so hastily"

"Hahaha!" Even the Noble Consort was heard laughing uproariously, her laughter gradually turning manic.

She wiped away tears of laughter, sarcastically asking, “Yes, Your Majesty does indeed shower me with affection. But what is the reason for this affection Is it because I am close to the Empress Dowager and you want to use me to find out her movements”

"And you still have the face to mention the second prince! Since you love him so much, why didn't you make him crown prince You even used him as a shield and puppet for others!"

The Emperor was taken aback, quite surprised. “You actually know”

“Of course!” The Noble Consort’s expression grew even more resentful, “I’ve been in this palace for years. Even if I’m just surviving, I still have a little bit of cunning. The sudden appearance of a living person in Xilong Pavilion, and the Emperor doesn't know who the child is with, some wild woman! How could I possibly not know!”

"The Emperor is truly cunning, having deceived the Empress Dowager, the ministers, and Tian Wu for so many years! He has fooled everyone completely!"

"Who would have thought, your son has grown up to be such a thoughtful young man!"

The Emperor remained silent for a long time, and finally sighed, "No wonder you're like this, so it was because you knew about the matter of Xilong Pavilion."

"But that child is not mine with some common woman, he is...the eldest prince!"

"Impossible!" The Noble Consort was truly surprised this time, "Didn't the Crown Prince die long ago"

A gleam of triumph and complexity flashed in the emperor's eyes. "Back then, with the empress dowager's suppression and the chaotic court politics, I couldn't keep the eldest prince safe. I could only have him feign death and grow up outside the palace."

Fortunately, blessed by our ancestors, this child is intelligent and resilient. Not only is he studious and insightful, but he also possesses a keen understanding of the world. He is a rare talent indeed.

"With Heaven's might, and the armies united, if he inherits the throne, within two years, a prosperous era will surely arrive!"

"Haha," the Noble Consort laughed again, seemingly remembering something amusing.

The Emperor was interrupted from his thoughts, and he was quite displeased. He frowned and sneered, “What are you laughing at A person about to die, don't you fear it”

"Of course I'm afraid of death. But I can't help but laugh!" The Noble Consort said with a mocking face, "When Tianwu unified the rivers and mountains, it was thanks to Xin Ting Hou's contributions. His achievements will be remembered for millennia, and the people are grateful to him!

"A flourishing era is in the cards for the First Prince. After his ascension to the throne, he will undoubtedly become a legendary emperor who will be remembered throughout history."

"Later generations will only mention you as a waste who was suppressed by the Empress Dowager, a coward who was driven to the south by barbarians and hid there for years! "

"Haha, these have nothing to do with you. I really don't know what you're so proud of!"

Yi Zongtang gasped and knelt down, burying his head in his knees. He wished he could sew up the noble concubine's mouth shut.

This isn't just a stab to the heart, it's like ripping out one's soul. It's an utter humiliation of the emperor, a thousand cuts inflicted upon his dignity, then tossed into a frying pan until crisp and burnt.

The Emperor's eyes were bloodshot, and the unwillingness he had suppressed for so long finally erupted in this moment.

These days, he kept comforting himself. His cousin had supported him since childhood, loyal and steadfast. For over a decade, he had fought valiantly on the battlefield, enduring hardships and earning the praise of the people. Achieving such great feats was rightfully deserved.

The eldest prince was his son and heir, who later achieved a prosperous and peaceful reign. He was the pride of his father and could be said to have paved the way for the flourishing era with his own hands!

But only he knew, how many nights he sat on the dragon bed like a beast, roaring silently.

These should all be his!

He endured humiliation for many years, finally ready to rise and shine, but was betrayed by his closest companion, leaving him with only a few months to live.

A wish that was almost within reach, yet it felt just out of grasp...

Two updates today ~~s now working hard and striving to improve!Three was getting thoroughly worn out this evening, following the little master around every which way. It had become numb to it all.Between "dreams" and rea...