CHAPTER 654: CHAPTER 654: YOU’RE NOT WORTHY

"I know, I know it all!"

The Empress wasn’t scared anymore; she tilted her head up and looked straight at the Emperor.

"I know you don’t like me, and that marrying me was just the Late Emperor’s wish! But I haven’t done anything wrong, have I! Why can’t you tolerate me!"

The Empress’s tone was filled with endless helplessness.

It started with the Favored Noble Consort, whose favoritism was boundless, so much so that she herself almost had nowhere to stand. She felt bitter in her heart but had always endured it. Now, after barely managing to bring down the Noble Consort, along came Consort Xian Pin. The Noble Consort, lacking a child, could see her influence in the harem fade easily. But Consort Xian Pin was different; she had a child. Even if she fell out of favor, her son remained the Crown Prince. Even if only for her child’s sake, she would never truly suffer in this life.

Remembering this made the Empress’s heart ache.

"Emperor, why can’t I have my own child! I’ve seen the Imperial Physician; I’m not ill!"

But even if I’m not ill, if the Emperor doesn’t touch me, isn’t it all futile?

Zhao Junyao finally understood what the Empress meant. His gaze sharpened suddenly as he bent down, drawing closer to her. He grasped her chin fiercely with his fingers and scoffed, "I thought you had some serious grievances, but it turns out... it’s all about matters of the bedchamber!"

The Empress felt as if her chin was about to be crushed, her eyes slightly reddened.

"Emperor, you know very well that without a child in the Central Palace, the court is unstable, yet you still sideline me! I originally thought, if I waited a bit longer, perhaps you would show some pity for my years of dedication and grant me a child! But... I waited and waited, and yet..."

The Empress spoke with deliberate pauses, her gaze firm and unflinching.

I’ve endured for so many years; if not for merit, I at least deserve credit for my hard work. I should receive the Emperor’s respect and recognition. The Emperor should pity me, give me a child.

But the Empress didn’t know how childish and laughable all her efforts seemed in the Emperor’s eyes.

Zhao Junyao’s grip tightened. Finally, he too stared into the Empress’s eyes and answered her, word by word, "You want a child? But in my eyes, your actions make you utterly undeserving!"

"HMPH!"

Zhao Junyao forcefully pushed her away and strode off, his sleeves fluttering behind him.

The Empress was left alone, sprawled on the ground, struggling to process everything that had just happened.

"HA-HA?"

"HA-HA-HA?"

The Empress staggered to her feet, a mess of tears and laughter.

Sister Ji and Yu Lan rushed over. Seeing her kneeling on the ground, they quickly helped her up. Shaking, the Empress pushed their hands away and dashed out.

"HA-HA, I am undeserving? The Emperor said I am undeserving!"

The Empress was somewhat mentally shaken.

Yu Lan and Sister Ji were both stunned and quickly summoned the Imperial Physician.

The Imperial Physician hurried over, took her pulse, and declared it an extreme outburst of rage, but nothing serious. With proper emotional care and a few doses of medicine to regulate her system, she would be fine.

Yu Lan and the others heaved a great sigh of relief.

「The next morning」

The Empress woke early. She lay in her canopy bed but had no desire to rise. I slept poorly last night; my complexion must be terribly wan. Not wishing to be seen in such a state, she directly ordered Yu Lan, "No need for morning salutations today. Just say... I am not feeling well!"

Yu Lan was very worried but still curtsied and left.

Sister Ji came in, her face full of concern.

"Your Majesty!"

The Empress sighed and turned her face away, saying nothing.

But Sister Ji spoke up, "Your Majesty, you should never have gotten involved in these troubled waters!"

The Empress let out a cold laugh. "In the Emperor’s heart, whether I get involved or not makes no difference. The Emperor has long lost any interest in me!"

He was never satisfied with me; no matter what I did, he never took notice. I’ve persevered for so long, lived the way the Emperor supposedly liked for so long, and still, I haven’t earned a shred of his sympathy. I’m tired. I don’t want to persist any longer.

Sister Ji was still worried. "Your Majesty, life must go on. We... we cannot compare ourselves to the Empress Dowager!"

The Empress Dowager was the Emperor’s birth mother. She could act out, do as she pleased, and the Emperor wouldn’t do anything to her. But it was different for the Empress. If pushed too far, there was still the option of deposing her! What if... alas, the implications are too great. Sister Ji dared not think any further.

The Empress let out another cold laugh. "Sister Ji, what’s the use of saying this now? What’s done is done!"

Truly liberating! It’s no big deal that Consort Xian Pin wasn’t killed; venting some anger was good too. Otherwise, holding too much inside is just too uncomfortable.

"Sister Ji, you may leave first. It’s still early, and I’m tired!"

Sister Ji curtsied in acknowledgment and withdrew.

Word spread throughout the harem that the Empress had fallen ill. Since no one was allowed to pay their respects, everyone was secretly speculating about what had happened. The recent events in the harem were far from peaceful! Consort Xian Pin had encountered a ghost, and now the Empress had fallen ill too. Some, who were cowardly and ignorant of the truth, thought some supernatural entity had been offended and scrambled to offer last-minute prayers. Those who had a slightly better understanding of the situation simply chose not to leave their quarters. After all, the Mid-Autumn Festival had passed, a couple of autumn rains had fallen, and the weather had grown quite cool.

Xia Ruqing paid no attention to the assassination attempt.

This matter isn’t simple. It’s just a pity that my reach isn’t long enough to extend outside the palace, let alone to Jiaofang Hall or Ningshou Palace. I don’t know what the Empress Dowager is scheming, and the Empress isn’t innocent either. I’m no match for these two deep palace ’Bosses’. Moreover, such dirty affairs of the deep palace shouldn’t be recklessly publicized. So, why should I concern myself? It’s better to leave everything to Zhao Junyao to handle fully. Zhao Junyao never suffers in silence, so he’ll definitely do everything he can about this. As for what can’t be done... if even the Emperor can’t do it, I’m certainly incapable, so there’s no regret.

Xia Ruqing put aside her troubles and returned to her brazenly happy life.

The poisoning incident, for her, was merely a minor episode, already forgotten.

But for Zhao Junyao, this was simply... Simply too damn frustrating. The Empress cannot be deposed; it hasn’t come to that. The Empress Dowager is my mother; I can neither criticize nor scold her. But... for the Empress Dowager and the Empress to touch my most beloved concubine right under my nose is even worse than a slap in my face. Is this something I can tolerate?! Setting aside my genuine affection for Qingqing and my desire to seek justice for her, just as the Emperor, if I can’t handle even this trivial matter, wouldn’t I be a laughingstock, unable to protect my own favored woman?

Therefore, Zhao Junyao made up his mind: this issue must be dealt with harshly. This grievance must be vented!

The Empress couldn’t be touched (there was no particularly justifiable reason to depose an Empress, as the marriage had been decreed by the Late Emperor). The Empress Dowager also couldn’t be touched—that needed no explanation; she was his own mother.

So... Zhao Junyao pondered and, in the end, his sights fell on the Shih Family and the Fan Family.

Although Noble Consort Shih was still in the palace and Shih Jieyu had given birth to the Third Princess, it didn’t matter. Once they entered the palace, they were his women, with no connection to the outside world.

Thus, when Zhao Junyao began to clean house, he felt absolutely no psychological pressure at all!