Feng Xie was stunned. Liu'er wasn't a princess of the previous dynasty; she was a child of the Su family. He remembered the Su family. There was a remarkably beautiful uncle who frequently visited his home back then.
Every time he came, he would bring him gifts. He especially loved to cling to him. He never expected Liu'er to be a child of the Su family, and that his own father, the Emperor, had killed his sworn brother's entire family to seize the throne. This was too terrifying.
No wonder he wanted to enfeoff Liu'er as Empress. It was not an exaggeration to give the entire empire to the Su family. His father had killed over a hundred members of the Su family back then, and now he himself had killed Liu'er's child. This was truly a sin.
His face instantly turned paler than a sheet of paper. His eyes shot towards his Empress Mother like a sharp arrow. If his mother had told him about this that day, he would never have done such a foolish thing.
"Mother, is all of this true? Why didn't you make it clear that day?"
Feng Xie's accusations and Wu Yang's stunned silence were met by the Empress Dowager, who had long since lost her voice and was weeping uncontrollably, "It's all my fault. Who knew you had made such a decision in your heart."
The autumn wind turned bone-chillingly cold, and the imperial chambers were filled with weeping. The coldness was as if they were frozen by ice, never to thaw.
Liu Liu's pain became unbearable, and she let out a soft moan. Feng Xie immediately shifted his gaze and said anxiously, "Liu'er, I knew nothing of all this. Please forgive me. From now on, I will never do such a supremely foolish thing again."
To see an Emperor so humbled, Liu Liu looked at the man, who was as beautiful as a god when they first met, through her tear-filled eyes. He had walked into her heart back then, along with his disdainful gaze that constantly entangled her.
She had initially thought she had no feelings for him, but after the red birthmark receded, she realized he had always lived in the depths of her heart. Looking at his expression now, she felt that everything from the past had faded away. Constantly being hurt, her heart had grown weary, and she had become numb.
She only wished to find a haven of peace, far from this man and far from the imperial palace.
Her hand gently brushed across her fair cheek. The red birthmark was wiped away by her sleeve, revealing a face of unparalleled beauty, so captivating that flowers would blush, fish would wag their tails, and the moon would lower its gaze. Such a peerless beauty was thus presented before everyone's eyes. "Liu'er."
"Do you know what that red birthmark is?" she asked softly, her head beginning to swim. Perhaps, before long, she would lose consciousness, and everything that followed would be Nan Gongyue's concern.
Since he had promised her, he would take her away. This feeling was so strange; why did Nan Gongyue bring her a sense of peace and trust?
"This birthmark is called the 'Heartless Mark.' If I fell in love, this mark would recede. So, I fell in love, and yet I received this kind of treatment. Do you think anything could be more hurtful than this?"
She struggled to utter her last sentence, and then her entire body went limp. Her serene face was like a flawless cloud on the horizon.
"No, Liu'er," he roared like a wolf. What had torn his heart to shreds? He himself had ruined everything. "Wake up, wake up! Quickly summon the imperial physicians."
Cui'er, standing nearby, walked over and said with a sob, "Imperial Physician Nan Gong said just now that the Empress's heart has already died, and there is no hope."
Cui'er understood that her mistress would not be in any grave danger. Since Imperial Physician Nan Gong had decided to help her, it was likely she was feigning death. However, to prevent the Emperor from becoming suspicious, she knelt down and cried.
The imperial chambers were filled with wailing. Princess Wu Yang and the Empress Dowager wept even more sorrowfully. What was all this for? The wind stirred the window curtains, and the entire room was filled with desolation.
Feng Xie refused to believe Cui'er's words. He did not trust Nan Gongyue. Was he trying to trick him again? He had been deceived by him once before when Liu'er was sent out of the palace. This time, he would not let him succeed. He immediately shouted towards the outside, "Immediately summon the imperial physicians!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Two or three imperial physicians carefully entered the imperial chambers. They saw the Emperor's pair of sinister eyes glaring at them with terrifying intensity, causing them to immediately fall to their knees. "Your Majesty, please place the Empress down."
Feng Xie placed Liu Liu on the ivory-inlaid, gold-carved bed. He stood to one side and roared violently, "Come and treat the Empress immediately. If anything happens to the Empress, you will all be buried with her."
The imperial physicians trembled uncontrollably, wiping the sweat from their brows. They walked over with quivering steps to feel Liu Liu's pulse. Her pulse was almost imperceptible. Their faces changed dramatically, and without daring to say a word, they fell to their knees.
The other two imperial physicians also stepped forward to examine her pulse, and followed suit, kneeling down. They spoke in unison.
"Your Majesty, the Empress is likely beyond help."
Upon hearing the imperial physician's words, Feng Xie kicked him, causing the elderly physician to vomit blood. The other two were already paralyzed with fear. The Emperor no longer paid them any attention. He quickly scooped up Liu Liu from the bed and commanded in a low voice, "Liu'er, I command you, wake up immediately."
However, the person in his arms showed no reaction, remaining deeply asleep, utterly unresponsive to his voice.
Feng Xie felt a heart-wrenching pain at that moment. Like a wounded wolf, he roared within the imperial chambers. He channeled his internal energy, condensing it into a powerful airflow that enveloped Liu Liu's crown, coaxing her repeatedly.
"Liu'er, I have broken the seal for you. As long as you wake up, I will let you leave. I will let you leave the palace, alright? Liu'er, do you hear me? I will let you leave the palace."
Feng Xie released Liu Liu's internal energy, but the delicate figure showed no response, naturally unable to reciprocate him. He held her body tightly, "Liu'er, I was wrong. Please wake up."
The Empress Dowager was terrified watching the Emperor like this. She never expected the Emperor to love Liu'er so much. Then why did he do so many things to hurt her? Was it truly a case of cherishing what was lost? Although she felt immense pity for Liu'er, she prayed that the Emperor wouldn't be foolish. What would happen to this vast nation?
"Your Majesty, immediately send someone to invite Prime Minister Liu, Madam Liu, and Ting'er. Perhaps Liu'er will hear their voices, come to her senses, and forgive Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager's words were like a beam of light in the endless night. Feng Xie immediately shouted excitedly towards the outside, "Quick, immediately bring Prime Minister Liu's family into the palace. Do it quickly!"
Ri Ying acknowledged and rushed out swiftly, not daring to delay. He rode without stopping to the Prime Minister's mansion and brought Prime Minister Liu's family into the palace. That family still did not know what had happened, only seeing Ri Ying's extremely grim expression.
Upon entering Wei Yang Palace, they realized their daughter was in trouble. Liu Ting wished he could devour Feng Xie alive and snatch his sister from his grasp. Feng Xie refused to let him have her, holding her tightly and not letting go.
Liu Ting, in his rage, landed a punch that struck Feng Xie squarely on the nose, causing blood to flow. At this moment, looking at the Emperor, there was no part of him—his body, his hands, his clothes, his face—that was not stained with blood. He was in a wretched state, but he paid it no mind, only concerned with keeping Liu Liu close.
Madam Liu ignored it, weeping heartbrokenly, calling out "Liu'er" repeatedly. The vast imperial chambers once again echoed with crying. But no matter how they pleaded or called out, Liu Liu remained completely oblivious.
Her breathing grew weaker. Those who loved her had their hearts shattered. Only she was unconscious. If she were conscious, perhaps she would not have been able to be so resolute.
Feng Xie stayed by her side day and night without sleep. No persuasion worked. He did not attend court, eat, or sleep. Everyone felt both hatred and pity for him. If not for his overbearing selfishness, would all this have happened? Could all this have occurred?
Liu Ting, who loved his sister dearly, went mad. The two men fought violently in the imperial chambers for Liu'er. In the end, Liu Ting was struck unconscious by Ri Ying and Jian Ying and sent back to the Liu residence, and the matter finally subsided.
However, Madam Liu and the Prime Minister stayed by Liu Liu's bedside, but Liu'er still did not wake up.