Chapter 1139: Chapter 1139: Alas! Alas!
Because this palace is not far behind Changle Hall, where the Empress resides.
Ordinarily, Fu Xiru would send someone to clean it.
Thus the courtyard was only quiet, but not desolate or messy.
Bai Zhi’er seemed to see a mother’s meticulous care.
Jin Lian went to lay the yellow paper in the basin.
Fu Xiru couldn’t withstand the wind, so Bai Zhi’er accompanied her inside the room, and together they folded ingots.
"Thinking back to the days when I first entered the palace, it seems like a dream. Back then, the Emperor treated me so well."
"So good that every day I wondered how to repay this Emperor’s love, how to live up to the great expectations and trust he bestowed upon me."
Bai Zhi’er listened as she slowly recounted the past, with Fu Xiru occasionally coughing.
"But later events, Zhi’er, you must have heard something about them. Prince Li Zheng was my teacher, he wanted me to follow his words."
"At the time, I still didn’t understand how to balance the relationship between being a teacher and a husband; they weren’t just family, but ministers and the Emperor."
"Gradually, the Emperor began to suspect me and also saw through Prince Li Zheng’s ambition. Prince Li Zheng turned the situation around, using me as a target in the harem."
"The Emperor also thought that Prince Li Zheng and I were closely associated. Sometimes, unable to sleep, I would wonder, why had things come to this?"
At this point, her eyes reddened, and she coughed more violently.
Bai Zhi’er quickly patted her on the back.
Fu Xiru composed herself: "Zhi’er, if someday I am no longer here, ask the Emperor to let you and A Ce leave the palace."
"This small favor, he will still grant me."
Hearing this, Bai Zhi’er was already in tears, crying even more mournfully than Fu Xiru.
"Lady...I deceived you, I’m not from the Cold Palace, I am..."
Before she could finish, Fu Xiru gently shook her head.
Fu Xiru smiled with extreme tenderness: "Perhaps you are a fairy, or perhaps, a God who descended after hearing my heart."
"Your arrival indeed made my life much better. When I was young, I had a dream."
"I dreamt of a goddess adorned in splendid garments; she said her daughter would come to meet me and help me overcome difficulties."
"I think, that must be you?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Zhi’er felt disoriented.
Was each step she took already anticipated by her mother?
Before she could dwell on it, Fu Xiru had already started coughing violently.
This time her coughing did not stop, but grew progressively worse, until she coughed out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Bai Zhi’er was astonished: "Lady!"
Jin Lian also rushed in: "I’ll go find the Imperial Physician!"
Bai Zhi’er supported Fu Xiru, helping her onto the bed nearby.
Blood froth slowly trickled from Fu Xiru’s lips.
She murmured, "Zhi’er, do you think Long Xiyuan...really remembers we once had a child?"
Bai Zhi’er held her hand, gradually transferring spiritual power to her, hoping to prolong her life.
However, it was in vain.
After all, this was a dream, no more than an illusion.
Bai Zhi’er cried, "Of course! He certainly remembers!"
Suddenly, Bai Zhi’er realized something.
She hurriedly wiped away her tears: "Lady, hang in there a little longer, the Emperor is coming soon!"
With that, Bai Zhi’er lifted her skirt and ran outside.
She ran all the way to Princess Consort Liang’s palace, where the Imperial Guard was stationed at the door, led by Feng Fuce.
"Brother Fuce, I understand now, I understand the Empress’s deepest wish!"
She simply wanted her husband to join her in mourning their child.
Even if it was just once.
