The Empress's face, contorted with pain, was now hideously twisted.
Mentioning Consort Rong, she was filled with extreme hatred.
It was evident that the two were irreconcilably opposed, reaching a point where it was a matter of life and death.
Yet, despite her intense hatred for Consort Rong, the Empress could do nothing about her.
Consort Rong's background was indeed not to be underestimated.
"How could she be a commoner?"
The Empress gritted her teeth, clenching her fists, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Her hatred was so profound that she almost forgot her own pain.
"Then what is her background?" Chu Qianli narrowed her eyes, her voice whispering into the Empress's ear, "Who exactly is she..."
"Your Majesty!"
Outside, the sounds of palace maids and eunuchs paying their respects suddenly echoed.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"Empress Dowager, His Majesty has arrived!" a young palace maid quickly reported.
The Empress, on the verge of losing her sanity, her eyes flew open, and she turned her head, glaring fiercely at Chu Qianli!
This wretched girl, trying to pry out unspeakable secrets while she was disoriented!
What a wicked girl!
"Mother, Father has arrived!" Feng Qihe turned, glanced through the screen, and immediately went out to personally welcome him.
The Empress glared at Chu Qianli, "Today... I owe you a favor, and I will repay it another day. However, there are some matters you had best not inquire about further, lest you endanger your own life!"
As she spoke, His Majesty arrived in the courtyard.
Feng Qihe's voice, neither loud nor soft, was still clear enough for those in the room to hear.
"Father! Mother is unwell, and the physician is treating her. It would be inconvenient for her to see you, Father. Please forgive her."
His Majesty frowned, "I heard that the Empress was feeling unwell and came specifically to check on her."
His Majesty's health had improved slightly recently, but from his voice, Chu Qianli could tell his vital energy was depleted.
It seemed his underlying illness had not yet healed.
Yu Linglong had treated him before, but judging by the prescriptions, the medicine was only a temporary fix.
Chu Qianli looked at the Empress, her fingertips holding two silver needles, "It's very painful."
The Empress's fingers instantly tightened their grip on the bedsheet.
She was already in great pain, but if it were to become even more agonizing, she didn't know if she could bear it.
Chu Qianli said calmly, "Your child was stillborn. If it wasn't properly treated back then, the residual matter has remained in your body for over a decade and has now severely festered."
"Furthermore, you have very severe cervical erosion. I mentioned needing a few days because I intended to use medication to test whether it was benign or malignant."
"You likely won't understand this, so I'll explain it simply: benign means it can be cured, but malignant means even immortals cannot save you."
"Then am I..." The Empress's face changed, her fingers gripping the bedsheet even tighter.
"Benign."
Upon hearing this, the Empress let out a sigh of relief.
"But this benign state is temporary."
Chu Qianli was not trying to scare her, merely stating the facts, "The residual matter has been in you for too long. No one knows when it will turn malignant."
Benign also had stable and unstable classifications, but she didn't intend to explain these. It was too tiring.
"Therefore, this matter must be expelled. However, I currently lack the conditions for a curettage. If we are to forcibly expel it using medication and acupuncture, then the medication and needles used must be the most potent and aggressive."
She looked at the Empress, "But at least, it can be a permanent solution. Do you accept?"
...
His Majesty had heard that Chu Qianli had been received into the Empress's chambers.
He had his own private intentions for visiting the Empress tonight.
But at this moment, Feng Qihe blocked him at the door.
Just as Duke Qing was about to speak, no one expected the Empress's scream to suddenly erupt from within: "Ah..."