The Emperor glanced towards the palace doors, a slight curve to his lips. "Here she comes again..."
"Your Majesty, I shall send her away at once!" Eunuch Zhao said.
"No need!" The Emperor snorted, stroking the memorial in his hand. "Everything has a beginning and an end. Today, it's time to settle this."
With that, the Emperor looked at Eunuch Zhao. "You may go now. You don't need to come tonight!"
Eunuch Zhao: "..."
Your Majesty, you're going all out.
Your complexion is so poor, yet you still intend to deal with Consort Xian. What if you fall into her trap?
"Then... then I shall stand guard outside the hall!" Eunuch Zhao said, full of worry.
The Emperor said nothing, lowering his head to continue reviewing the memorials.
A moment later, Consort Xian entered with a food box. Seeing the Emperor's pale face, dark complexion, and occasional cough, she knew his time was nearing its end...
It seemed this slow-acting poison was indeed potent, capable of turning a healthy person into a cripple within half a year.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty!" Consort Xian stepped forward and curtsied gracefully.
The Emperor grunted and asked, "Bringing soup again?"
This was likely the last bowl of fish soup he would ever drink...
Consort Xian smiled and said, "Yes, Your Majesty. Today, I had the palace maids purchase some fresh crucian carp. This is very delicious stewed into soup. Your Majesty, please try it while it's hot!"
Saying this, Consort Xian opened the food box and ladled a bowl of steaming crucian carp soup for the Emperor...
The Emperor sniffed, his expression unchanged. "You've worked hard. Among so many concubines in the harem, only you truly care for me. No matter how cold the weather, you insist on bringing me soup every day!"
Hmph, the more you drink, the more you'll die.
The most venomous heart belongs to a woman. Although the Emperor knew Consort Xian's intentions, he still had to play along with some of the charade...
Consort Xian smiled upon hearing this. "Oh, Your Majesty, why are you being so polite with me? As long as Your Majesty likes it, I am willing to serve you soup three meals a day!"
The Emperor: "..."
You can stop that. When you were rolling around with Prefect Gao, you didn't say such things, did you?
A few days ago, Kong Xingzhuo secretly entered the palace and handed the recorded video to the Emperor.
Seeing Consort Xian's debauched behavior, the Emperor was so angry he almost died on the spot...
This woman was not only wicked but also unfaithful to him, having gotten involved with Prefect Gao.
The Emperor suppressed the urge to strangle Consort Xian, forcing a smile. "How many good deeds must I have done in my past life to have married such a good concubine in this life? Cough, cough..."
It should be said, how many bad deeds did I do for heaven to send this venomous woman to my side.
Consort Xian felt a wave of nausea upon hearing this.
Enough, I've served you, old man, for long enough. Today, I'll send you on your way.
The doctor said that as long as the Emperor drank this bowl of fish soup, the medicine would take full effect, and even a celestial being couldn't save him then...
"Your Majesty, please drink the soup!" Consort Xian smilingly handed him the bowl.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes, picked up the bowl, and drank it down in one gulp.
Eunuch Zhao stood outside the hall, peering inside, his heart burning with anxiety...
"I hope nothing happens, I hope nothing happens!" he prayed silently.
Inside the hall, Consort Xian stood behind the Emperor, massaging his shoulders, her beautiful eyes filled with a chilling coldness.
Suddenly, the Emperor's throat felt dry. Just as he was about to take a sip of water, he hunched over and began to cough violently...
"Cough, cough, ugh, cough, cough!"
The Emperor clutched his chest, a cold sweat beading on his forehead. His brows were tightly furrowed, and he looked extremely pained.
"Cough, cough, I... why does my stomach hurt so much? Xian, Consort Xian, quickly call for the imperial physician, cough, cough!" the Emperor commanded.
Consort Xian saw this, quickly supported the Emperor, and felt an immense surge of excitement, though her face was filled with worry. "Your Majesty, what's wrong? Don't scare me..."
"Quickly go call the imperial physician, hurry!" The Emperor pushed Consort Xian away and, with a "噗" sound, vomited a mouthful of blood.
He then slumped onto the chair, his face extremely haggard.
Consort Xian almost burst out laughing, already envisioning Jin Feng ascending the throne...
All her painstaking efforts over the years were finally paying off today.
"Your Majesty, don't worry, I'll go call all the imperial physicians right away. Please wait a moment!"
Consort Xian took out a handkerchief, wiped the blood from the corner of the Emperor's mouth, and then walked out without looking back...
Eunuch Zhao stood at the door, faintly hearing some commotion inside. Just as he was about to rush in, Consort Xian blocked him.
"Your Highness, what happened to His Majesty?" Eunuch Zhao asked urgently.
Consort Xian's face was cold, and she said indifferently, "His Majesty is tired and resting in the inner chamber. Eunuch Zhao, if there's nothing else, please go back. It's quite cold outside!"
Eunuch Zhao: "..."
Why did he feel something was amiss?
According to the Emperor's habits, after reviewing memorials, he would spend the night with the Empress and would not stay alone in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Consort Xian saw that Eunuch Zhao was not moving and reprimanded him in a low voice, "Eunuch Zhao, why are you still dawdling here? If you disturb His Majesty's rest, can you bear the consequences?"
Truly ungrateful, a servant is just a servant, utterly lacking in perception...
Eunuch Zhao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, glanced into the hall again, and then dejectedly withdrew.
Watching Eunuch Zhao's retreating back, Consort Xian narrowed her eyes, turned back into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, closed the door tightly, and sat down beside the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, you've sat on this throne for too long. It's time for you to rest well..."
Consort Xian wiped the Emperor's sweat while sneering, "This is the era of the young. You can't be so stubborn, thinking that once the Crown Prince is established, your other sons are nothing. Think about it yourself, have you ever truly acknowledged Jin Feng all these years? He is also your son, why couldn't you be fair?"
The Emperor had completely "fainted" and was slumped weakly in the chair, looking frail and gasping for breath...
But the weaker he appeared, the more pleased Consort Xian felt.
"Your Majesty, the times are changing. This is a historical trend that no one can alter. When you reach the Western Heaven, don't blame me. It's all your own doing!"
Upon hearing this, the Emperor's throat suddenly moved, and his voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum. "Did... did you call the imperial physician? Cough!"
"Imperial physician? Hahahaha!" Consort Xian threw her head back and laughed, then slapped the Emperor across the face. "Your Majesty's fate is sealed. Even if the imperial physicians come, they won't be able to save you. Here, I'll feed you another bowl of soup. After drinking it, rest in peace!"
With that, Consort Xian ladled another bowl of fish soup and brought it before the Emperor...