"Where is the Emperor?"

"In the Qianqing Palace."

"Let’s go, I want to see him."

"Mother..."

"Let’s go."

The Empress was helpless.

In fact, for the past year, the Empress Dowager’s health hasn’t been right.

Neither of these two knows who will send off whom.

The Empress’s mind... no, she can’t break down, she must rise up!

The real test has come; she must stand with her son!

The Empress Dowager took a soft sedan and went with the Empress to see the Emperor.

"Mother, your son is busy with state affairs, you’ve labored your mind for me."

To speak of it humiliatingly, he was indeed busy, but more than that: his health was failing, he was afraid Mother would see he wasn’t well, afraid she would worry.

Unexpectedly, Mother would come to see him.

"Son, while state affairs are important, you must also take care of your health."

Looking at her son’s body, how could the Empress Dowager not understand?

"You’re raising so many courtiers who take salaries and do no work, what’s the use of keeping them?"

"Mother, your son understands."

It’s not that they’re not working, it’s feared they’ll cause trouble.

His time was running short, many things had to be straightened out for the Crown Prince, some obstacles needed to be removed, he couldn’t leave too much trouble for the Crown Prince.

"Cough, cough..."

The Emperor coughed, the Empress Dowager was coughing too, the Empress... this isn’t an easy mother-son pair!

She repeatedly reminded herself to stay steady!

"Mother, your son still has some state affairs to deal with." The Emperor steadied himself and said to the Empress: "Zitong, see Mother back to her palace for rest."

"Yes, I take my leave!"

The Empress escorted the Empress Dowager back to the Cining Palace.

"Empress."

"Your son is here."

"Prepare what needs to be prepared." Tears rolled down the Empress Dowager’s eyes: "Include my portion as well."

"Mother..."

The Empress was shocked, but inwardly felt moved: In the harem, women who laugh until the end are not simple!

She actually saw everything clearly!

"In the end, everyone takes that step." The Empress Dowager sighed: "But, this great responsibility falls on the Crown Prince’s shoulders, Empress, in the year when the Late Emperor passed away..."

The Empress Dowager seemed to be chatting idly, but in truth, she was imparting her experience.

The Empress listened seriously, pondered carefully, and felt very grateful.

It’s said that mothers and daughters-in-law always have conflicts, and this is true in civilian life as well as in the harem.

However, the Empress Dowager, as a mother-in-law, was a bit closer to her; they lived harmoniously since she ascended to the Eastern Palace.

There weren’t so many disputes.

Moreover, because the Crown Prince was weak and sickly, she helped suppress some troublesome fools, so over the years, she felt very grateful to her.

Unexpectedly, such a good mother-in-law had come to today’s point.

Returning from the Cining Palace, the Empress leaned on the couch and thought for a long time.

"Someone summon Madam Hou to the palace."

Madam Hou is the Empress’s biological mother.

At such critical moments, what is needed is the support of the maternal family.

Madam Hou entered the palace, the Empress gave such orders.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will arrange everything properly."

There are many things to deal with next.

First is the Crown Prince’s wedding, if it weren’t set early, the Empress would wish to advance it.

She truly feared that one of the mother-son pair couldn’t endure, and if the Crown Princess Consort couldn’t enter the palace on time, then they would have to wait three years, no, it’s deep mourning, and a grandson’s mourning requires one year, which would be four years, four years would bring unpredictable changes!

With the Crown Prince’s wedding, the court naturally had all kinds of thoughts.

Some thought the Crown Prince’s grand Empress would eventually take in concubines, as daughters raised in families finally had a chance; some thought about the Crown Prince’s wedding, and that person...

Sure enough, during the Crown Prince’s wedding, the Emperor only attended for a short while before excusing himself to handle state affairs and didn’t appear again.

The Empress Dowager did the same.

The palace was about to undergo upheaval!

After attending the Crown Prince’s wedding banquet, Mrs. Xia returned and shared her conjecture with Xiao Chunyu.

"Prepare what needs to be prepared, so you won’t rush around frantically when the time comes."

"Yes, Mother."

If something really happens in the Imperial Palace, as a second-rank official, the General Mansion naturally has to mourn and participate in the rituals. Xiao Chunyu instructed embroidery workers to prepare white cloth, and even ordered one tailored for Panpan according to her height, because she was the Emperor’s adopted daughter now, a Princess!

In such situations, she couldn’t avoid it even if she wanted to!

Early in the morning, Panpan ignored the nanny’s objections and rushed to the He Yun Courtyard.

"Mother, mother, Panpan wants to enter the palace."

"Panpan, it’s so early, you don’t need to attend morning court, enter the palace later."

"No, Mother, Panpan wants to enter the palace, I must."

Panpan didn’t say why she wanted to enter the palace.

"Alright, Mother will arrange for a carriage."

Not only a carriage, but also guards had to be arranged.

Panpan’s movements couldn’t escape Mrs. Xia’s informants, which led to her pause when informed.

"This child never acts without reason, fearing that someone in the palace isn’t well."

The nanny was stunned upon hearing this.

Is that so? They haven’t received any news?

"Nanny, listen, what sound is that?"

"It’s the sound of a bell."

Morning drum and evening bell, it’s not time for bell ringing.

Mrs. Xia and the nanny together... no, all the people in the Capital were counting the bell tolls, one, two, three... twenty-seven.

"The Empress Dowager has passed away!"

Mrs. Xia imagined if Panpan entered the palace based on the hour, she wouldn’t be there to send off the Empress Dowager!

At that time, she had likely only reached the palace gate.

At the palace gate, Panpan’s carriage was stopped.

"Guard, this is Princess Anping, she has urgent business in the palace."

The maid handed over a waist plaque, the Imperial Guard inspected the plaque and checked the carriage, then respectfully let her pass.

Though the Princess is young, she enters the palace unrestricted.

Even now, with the Empress Dowager newly deceased... wait, she was wearing mourning clothes!

Yes, as the bell tolls marking the Empress Dowager’s passing fell silent, Princess Anping in mourning clothes was entering the palace to mourn: truly filial!

No wonder she’s liked by the palace nobles.

The Empress and Crown Prince were busy, hearing of Panpan entering the palace was quite surprising.

"Panpan, why have you come to the palace?"

The Empress hurriedly asked.

"Mother, your child wants to accompany Father, Father is leaving."

Panpan spoke straightforwardly, startling the nearby maid into hastily covering her small mouth.

"Let her go." The Empress glanced: "Crown Prince, take Panpan to your father’s chamber."

"Yes, Mother."

The Crown Prince was also shocked, could it be that Panpan’s words are true?

Grandmother had just passed, yet Father couldn’t even muster the strength to leave the dragon bed.

Grandmother’s passing was also a blow to him, perhaps which...

"Father, Panpan came to see you."

Panpan walked straight to the dragon bed as she entered: "Father, take care, don’t worry about Panpan."

The Emperor’s hand struggled to caress her head, then glanced at the Crown Prince.

"Father, your child will definitely guard the ancestors’ kingdom, take good care of Mother, protect Panpan."

"Good." As the Emperor voiced the word, his eyes rolled back, the sound in his throat slipped away, and the hand on Panpan’s head fell downward.

"Emperor..." Mr. Fu screamed desperately, kneeling: "The Emperor has passed away..."