QT: TPE Chapter 46.2

“Your Majesty, have you completely forgotten me? Forgotten our past affection? Does he only care about Xu Shi now? Why?!”

Even at this point, Li Shi still harbored feelings for the Emperor and cared about his favor.

Xu Lingyi felt that she was stupid, foolish, and pitiful.

No, she wouldn’t pity her; to pity the enemy is to be cruel to oneself.

After this incident, Li Shi suffered not only physical problems, but also psychological trauma.

She had always thought that her daughter would be the Emperor’s only child in his life. After all, the Emperor was getting old. As long as Princess Minghua pleaded for her, and given enough time, Xu Shi would lose favor and, considering Princess Minghua’s feelings, she would definitely be released, and she would be able to leave the Cold Palace.

But now, she asked herself: did she still have hope?

Even Li Shi herself was unsure, and the belief that had sustained her collapsed.

Without Xu Lingyi administering the medicine, Gui Fei fell ill on her own, and her condition was extremely serious.

The Emperor and Empress Dowager soon learned of this news.

“Is she ill?” The Emperor asked the imperial physician.

The imperial physician nodded: “Your Highness, she has been ill several times before, and now she is also suffering from accumulated resentment. Perhaps her days are numbered.”

The Emperor was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. Although he disliked Gui Fei’s ruthlessness, she had given birth to a daughter for him. He still remembered the joy he and she shared when he learned of her pregnancy.

“You may leave. I understand.”

Xu Lingyi was also nearby, and, of course, she couldn’t remain indifferent.

She took the Emperor’s hand and comforted him, “Your Majesty, are you alright?”

The Emperor shook his head: “I am fine. She has brought this situation upon herself.”

Despite saying that, the Emperor still summoned Chief Eunuch Zhang: “Send a few more imperial physicians over there to take good care of her.”

“My beloved concubine, do you think I should go and see her?” The Emperor asked.

Just now, a palace servant came to say that Li Shi kept calling out ‘Your Majesty’, and she stubbornly said that she wanted to see His Majesty.

In the past, the Emperor would not have visited her, but even a night of marriage can bring a hundred days of kindness, and besides, Gui Fei is now in a state beyond medical help.

The Emperor hesitated instead.

Xu Lingyi nodded. Since Gui Fei was about to die, she would naturally be magnanimous and understanding.

“Your Majesty, why don’t you go and see Sister? Perhaps she has some unfulfilled wishes.”

After Xu Lingyi’s persuasion, the Emperor made up his mind: “Very well. I will not accompany my beloved concubine to lunch.”

The Emperor went to the Cold Palace to see Li Shi, who was lying in bed at the time.

The Emperor was somewhat surprised to see her; the Gui Fei he remembered was completely different from the one he saw now.

“Your Majesty!”

The frail Li Shi, lying on the bed, saw the Emperor, and her eyes flickered with emotion. Her thin hands tightly gripped the Emperor’s clothes.

“Your Majesty! You…you’ve finally come to see me? I…am not dreaming?”

The Emperor was slightly moved; perhaps he had been too heartless toward her.

She may have had many faults and harmed many people, but she did give birth to his child, and her heart was full of him.

He had always known in his heart how much she cared for him and how much she loved him.

“Yes, I’ve come to see you.” The Emperor reached out and took her hand.

Li Shi, lying on the bed, said with tears in her eyes, “Your Majesty, I was wrong. Please don’t despise me.”

The Emperor nodded and said gently, “I won’t, don’t worry. Is there anything you want?”

Li Shi’s voice was hoarse; she wanted to speak, but kept coughing.

The Emperor gently patted her back.

After a while, she calmed her breathing and spoke slowly and weakly, “Your Majesty’s visit to see me makes me feel that I can die without regrets. Cough, cough… My only concern in this life is Your Majesty and the Princess. Could Your Majesty allow the Princess to enter the palace? I know my days are numbered, and I want to see my daughter one last time before I go.”

The Emperor hesitated for a few seconds before nodding: “Alright.”

After Princess Minghua enters the palace, he will increase the number of guards around Xu Lingyi’s side to ensure that Princess Minghua cannot get close to her.

 

*****

Translator’s Comment:

Oh, it’s getting exciting!

What do you think will happen?

 

 

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