Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite-Chapter 371 Extra Two: Directing the Heart Towards the Bright Moon, The Bright Moon Shines Over the Canal (Part Three)
Then continued to ask.
"What exactly happened?"
Lin Wan Zhou ground her teeth in hatred, then began to surmise.
"That position of Empress, she wasn’t meant to have it! So she was very afraid. Since I entered the palace, I’ve always been favored by the Emperor, so I was the first to become pregnant! Unfortunately, that child was not kept, allowing Mrs. Xu to take advantage and successfully give birth to the legitimate eldest son!"
"So over the years, I’ve been conditioning my body to bear another son for the Emperor, giving both the Prime Minister’s Mansion and Prince Zhan’s Mansion something to look forward to. But after this pregnancy, Mrs. Xu suddenly started sending nourishing meals and precious medicines daily to strengthen my body, making the child grow too large."
"Seeing that it was intentional to kill me and my child, she even pretended to tell the midwife to save me first! That midwife followed her instructions and twisted my belly on purpose. Had I not acted decisively, I might not be here talking to the two of you now!"
Talking about the sad parts, she couldn’t help crying again.
Mrs. Wang felt sorry for her daughter’s suffering but didn’t want her to keep crying.
"You just gave birth, stop crying, be careful with your eyes!"
Then she used a handkerchief to wipe her tears, but Princess Rongkang’s face sank upon hearing this.
"Besides this, is there anything else?"
Lin Wan Zhou thought for a moment, then said.
"The delivery was quite urgent, and naturally, in the middle of the night, no one was sent to notify the family, but I did send someone to invite the Emperor, although he never came for some reason."
"Hmph, do you even need to ask? The Empress must have interfered!"
Over the years, Princess Rongkang developed a habit.
Always thinking the worst of people.
She often thought this way about others, so she believed others would treat her the same way!
Lin Wan Zhou, having grown up with her, naturally learned this temperament unknowingly.
Pitifully, Empress Xu aimed to help Lin Wan Zhou but ended up with such an outcome.
Truly, "My heart was pledged to the bright moon, but the moon shines upon the ditch"!
Just then, Qin Liu walked in.
Princess Rongkang then instructed them.
"Since Lady Min has given birth, you and Qin He have done excellent. Rest assured, this Commandery Princess will care for your families well. In the future, just devote yourselves to serving the Lady and Princess well in the palace, and I’ll handle the rest!"
"Yes!"
Hearing Princess Rongkang’s words, Lin Wan Zhou gradually calmed down.
With grandmother making decisions, why worry about dealing with that vile Mrs. Xu?
She must be brought down from her position as Empress!
And let her taste the pain of losing a child!
After leaving the palace, Princess Rongkang did not return to the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
She went alone to Prince Zhan Mansion; what she conspired with Prince Zhan was unknown.
Only it was known that shortly after Princess Ming Ruo’s hundred days, Empress Xu’s eldest prince fell into icy water while playing.
Struggled for a long time without anyone to rescue him.
When finally pulled up, he was already comatose.
Burned with high fever for several days, and nothing the Imperial Physician did worked.
Poor child, so young, suffered such misfortune.
Those accompanying him were all executed for their negligence.
Despite Empress Xu’s day and night care, she couldn’t save the child.
Until February in the 13th year of Yuanhe, Eldest Prince Yu Wenyan passed away.
Suddenly, the entire Chengqian Palace was overwhelmed with grief.
But no matter how sorrowful the cries, it couldn’t bring back the life of the Eldest Prince!
Empress Xu, unable to bear the blow of losing her child, fell ill immediately.
This illness came like a landslide, leaving like silk drawn out.
Dragging on for half a year without improvement.
One day, she had just taken medicine when palace maid Changle rushed in.
Red-eyed, she knelt immediately upon seeing her.
"Lady, Lord has passed away."
"What!"
Her already unwell body couldn’t withstand the impact.
She blacked out and fainted.
Terrifying everyone in Chengqian Palace.
"Quick, call the Imperial Physician, call the Imperial Physician!"
Chief Palace Maid Chang Yao shouted urgently.
Chaos ensued within the palace, just like chaos gripped the Xu Family outside.
The Xu Family in the court was highly powerful.
With Lord in the court, Empress Xu in the harem, holding the Emperor’s legitimate eldest son.
Seemingly a full hand of good cards.
But now, not half a year after losing the Eldest Prince, Duke Xu also passed.
Such successive blows, how could the Xu Family withstand them!
Thus came a thought.
"The Empress is gravely ill and might not have much longer to live. To ensure continued prosperity for the Xu clan, we must send another promising Miss Xu into the palace for support."
This suggestion, once spoken, was promptly settled among the old clansmen.
Once someone was chosen, they went into the palace to discuss with Empress Xu.
Pitifully, before Duke Xu’s body was cold, Xu clansmen began to trouble Empress Xu.
Already left with her last breath, Empress Xu laughed three times upon hearing this.
Saying, "Pitiful, lamentable!"
Then suddenly spat blood.
Frightening those Xu clansmen who came to persuade.
Causing them to flee.
The Emperor was reviewing memorials.
Having been ruling for just six years, many things were still out of his grasp.
Only through diligence could he break through.
Thus spending most of his time alone in Qian’an Hall.
Dong Yuzhong hurried to report, surprising the Emperor.
"Emperor, you should go see the Empress, she seems..."
Before finishing his sentence, the Emperor immediately paused his pen.
Then hurried to Chengqian Palace.
Along the way, he asked.
"Wasn’t it said to have improved in recent days? Didn’t I see her drink a small bowl of fish porridge just a couple of days ago? How could she suddenly worsen?"
"Probably news of Duke Xu’s death worsened the Lady’s condition, also... also heard servants say Xu Family chose a new person intending to send her into the palace. Perhaps this matter upset the Empress..."
Hearing this, the Emperor felt a wave of discomfort.
Unfortunately, before he arrived, Empress Xu had already passed away.
Leaving behind her dying words not to let Xu Family participate in the selection anymore.
The Emperor, losing the wise Empress Xu suddenly, felt deep pain.
Also resentful of Xu Family’s heartlessness, the last straw forcing Empress’s death.
Thus ordered the Xu Family to return to Dengzhou, withdrawing from the court, only securing their life’s peace.
One hundred days later, Empress Xu’s phoenix coffin entered the Imperial Mausoleum.
Meanwhile, at Linzi Palace, Lin Wan Zhou played with her daughter Princess Ming Ruo, expressing a triumphant smile.
