Ye Suxue stood respectfully, not daring to be the least bit presumptuous.
The Empress Dowager at the head sighed. She was, after all, her own relative. Even if she was angry, it was at her for not striving, and she couldn't truly be angry for long. She waved her hand, "Come and sit down."
"Yes," Ye Suxue breathed a sigh of relief. She could tell that the Empress Dowager's tone had softened. She became even more well-behaved and docile, walking to the side and sitting down obediently.
The hall was cold and empty, completely silent.
The stillness was oppressive. Ye Suxue looked up at the woman at the head. She saw that her usually charming and beautiful face was now marked by gloom, her eyes flickering as she sized up Ye Suxue.
Ye Suxue was startled and immediately stood up, speaking cautiously.
"Mother, has your concubine done something to anger you? If you tell me, your concubine will definitely correct it and never repeat it again."
The Empress Dowager sighed, her expression softening slightly. She spoke slowly, "Suxue, you have truly disappointed me. The Ye family has prospered without decline. What is it that we rely on? It's strategy. But you?
You oppose me everywhere. Have you forgotten that you and I are both from the Ye family? Only when we prosper will the Ye family in the future prosper."
As the Empress Dowager finished speaking, Ye Suxue, startled, immediately knelt down with a thud. She didn't know what mistake she had made to provoke such emotion from the Empress Dowager.
Most importantly, she understood the implication behind the Empress Dowager's words, sensing her dissatisfaction.
"Mother, your concubine dares not."
"Dares not? Why did you go and provoke that fool? Haven't I told you not to provoke that fool? If you weren't my niece today, do you think you would still have the ability to stand here and defend yourself?"
The Empress Dowager spoke coldly. Ye Suxue suddenly understood that her mother was angry because she had set a trap for that fool. She hadn't expected it to reach the Empress Dowager's ears.
Indeed, there was nothing in the palace that could be hidden from her. Ye Suxue's eyes dimmed, and she quickly spoke.
"Reporting to Mother, your concubine knows her mistake. Your concubine did not trouble that fool. At that time, a palace maid named Xiao He requested an audience with your concubine and said that the Empress was feigning madness and was not actually foolish. That is why your concubine invited His Majesty to investigate the truth.
Please forgive your concubine, Mother. Your concubine knows her mistake."
"And what was the result? She is still not a fool. Do you think I don't know your intentions? Being so impatient, what great thing can you achieve?"
The Empress Dowager reprimanded in a cold voice, appearing quite troubled. Her willow-like brows were furrowed, and her deep eyes gazed at the kneeling woman. She was beautiful and lovely, but her mind was still too immature.
"After something like this happened, you should have reported it to me immediately. Instead, you reported it to His Majesty. Do you not know what kind of person His Majesty is?"
"Your concubine knows her mistake."
Ye Suxue could only admit her fault. She could already hear the impatience in her aunt's tone. If she argued further, it would only annoy her more. Admitting fault was the only way.
"Mother, please give your concubine another chance. Your concubine will be careful in everything she does from now on and will report everything to Mother first."
"Good, then. Do not play any tricks in front of me. If there is a next time, the Ye family might be ruined by your hands."
The last sentence was a cold remark, sharp as a blade, piercing through layers of the heart, bloodthirsty and ruthless.
Ye Suxue trembled slightly, not daring to say more, kneeling motionlessly. The Empress Dowager saw her pale face and the fine beads of cold sweat on her beautiful countenance. A trace of pity arose in her heart, and she softened her tone.
"Get up. In the future, use your head more for everything. Can I harm you? You and I are one. If it weren't for me holding him back, do you think His Majesty would have conferred the title of Empress upon you?"
The last remark struck home. Ye Suxue was stunned, lost in thought. Yes, if not for the Empress Dowager's suppression, His Majesty might not have made her Empress. Such a bloodthirsty, cruel, and domineering person might not have conferred the title of Empress upon her.
She absolutely could not let the Ye family decline under her.
The position of Empress was a must-have. A gleam flashed in her eyes, and she spoke respectfully, "Mother, please rest assured. Your concubine will obey Mother's words from now on."
"Good, then," the Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction.
The chief eunuch, Lin An, entered and glanced at the De Consort standing by the hall, wanting to speak but hesitating. The Empress Dowager looked at Ye Suxue and said faintly, "Go back. I have other matters."
"Yes, Mother," Ye Suxue nodded, taking the order and retreating. Outside the grand hall, a person was waiting, the chief imperial physician of the Imperial Hospital, Zhang Zhaode. Upon seeing Ye Suxue, he respectfully said, "Greetings, De Consort."
"Mm, Lord Zhang, please rise."
This Zhang Zhaode was still the Empress Dowager's attending imperial physician and the foremost official in the Imperial Hospital. Although he was just an imperial physician, Ye Suxue dared not be careless and maintained an extremely gentle attitude.
As they spoke, Lin An emerged and bowed, "Lord Zhang, please follow me. The Empress Dowager summons you."
"Thank you, Eunuch," Zhang Zhaode bowed to Ye Suxue and followed Lin An into the hall.
Outside the hall, Ye Suxue's slender dark eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and a light flashed in her eyes. The Empress Dowager summoning an imperial physician so early in the morning was likely related to His Majesty's furious outburst last night. She wondered what had happened to His Majesty last night.
Although Ye Suxue wished to hear what was being said in the hall, she dared not be presumptuous. She led her personal maid and several eunuchs from Zhaoyang Palace back.
They didn't say much on the way.
Yue Mei looked at her mistress strangely and asked with concern, "Your Highness, did the Empress Dowager make things difficult for you?"
Ye Suxue shook her head. She didn't take the Empress Dowager's reprimand to heart. She was more curious as to why His Majesty had been so furious last night, drowning Consort Liu in the lake and sending Zhao Cai Ren to the cold palace.
This palace was too treacherous. She still needed to be more careful. Ye Suxue shivered and said urgently,
"Let's go back. It's nothing."
"Mm," the group headed towards Zhaoyang Palace in a grand procession.
Inside Changxin Palace.
The chief imperial physician, Zhang Zhaode, stood respectfully at the lower seat, awaiting the Empress Dowager's inquiry. After a long while, he heard the Empress Dowager's chilling voice, "What exactly happened to His Majesty last night?"
Zhang Zhaode looked up and scanned the eunuchs standing in the corner of the hall, wanting to speak but hesitating. The Empress Dowager waved her hand, and Lin An immediately led all the eunuchs out.
In the silent space, only the Empress Dowager and Zhang Zhaode remained. Zhang Zhaode looked solemn and spoke cautiously.
"Yesterday, His Majesty was drugged, causing him to lose his male function, which is why he erupted in such a furious rage."
"What?"