Jiang Xiu Yi clutched her stomach, speaking each word deliberately, "I am carrying the flesh and blood of the Duke of Ning. If Your Majesty the Empress Dowager lays a hand on me, then I shall have no choice but to take this child and myself to join the Duke of Ning."
"You..."
"If Your Majesty the Empress Dowager does not believe me, you may summon an imperial physician to examine my pulse."
The Empress Dowager's face darkened for a long while before she said coldly, "Go and summon an imperial physician."
Half an hour later, Imperial Physician Li stated, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, she is indeed with child, less than a month."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager commanded, "Go and prescribe some calming medicinal soup. Ensure the child in her womb remains unharmed."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Imperial Physician Li received the order and departed.
The Empress Dowager looked at Jiang Xiu Yi on the bed, her expression grim. Jiang Xiu Yi opened her eyes and met the Empress Dowager's gaze, "Your Majesty, I did not lie!"
"Does the Duke of Ning know?" the Empress Dowager inquired.
Jiang Xiu Yi paused for a moment before shaking her head, "I have not yet had the chance to inform the Duke."
The Empress Dowager sighed, "You should have told him."
Jiang Xiu Yi turned her head away, "Does Your Majesty the Empress Dowager not find this ironic?"
"There is no irony," the Empress Dowager stated coldly.
"Your Majesty..."
"You shall rest assured and carry your pregnancy here. The Duke of Ning's estate has nothing to do with you. Jiang Xiu Yi, this is the promise I can give. As for anything else, do not give it any further thought."
Jiang Xiu Yi opened her mouth but ultimately remained silent.
Jiang Xiu Yi was arranged by the Empress Dowager to stay in a side hall. In the main hall, she had all the palace attendants withdraw. She sat before the desk and suddenly said, "Ask whatever you wish to ask!"
A figure appeared before her like a ghost. She looked at the familiar face, tears welling up in her eyes, "Xing Yue, I am sorry to you, and I am sorry to the late Emperor."
Xue Xing Yue looked at her, her expression cool, "Does saying this now serve any purpose? Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager started, then laughed self-deprecatingly, "You are right. If it serves no purpose, however, are you willing to hear me finish this story?"
Xue Xing Yue sat opposite her and replied, "Did you not dismiss everyone else precisely to tell this story? If that is the case, then I shall listen. What is so different?"
The Empress Dowager smiled at this, her smile no longer laced with power and desire, but with a smile of relief.
"Xing Yue, you know, I was with the late Emperor when he passed."
Xue Xing Yue's gaze turned icy upon hearing this. She looked coldly at the Empress Dowager, "What exactly happened then?"
Seeing her intense concern, the Empress Dowager glanced into the distance, her voice carrying a touch of desolation, "At that time, only the late Emperor and I were in the chamber. The late Emperor had everyone else sent away. I was wondering then what matter required all the palace attendants to be dismissed. Only after I heard the late Emperor's words did I realize that those words were indeed not suitable for others to hear."
"Imperial Brother... what did he say?" Xue Xing Yue thought that after so many events, she could discuss her Imperial Brother calmly. Yet, in reality, she still could not accept it with equanimity.
The Empress Dowager chuckled softly, "Perhaps Xing Yue will not believe me, but everything I have done today originates from the late Emperor's entrustment."
"What did you say?" Xue Xing Yue frowned, looking at the Empress Dowager with disbelief.
The Empress Dowager stated calmly, "I said that everything I am doing today, at this very moment, was entrusted to me by the late Emperor."
"You're talking nonsense..." Xue Xing Yue stood up from her chair, looking coldly at the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager chuckled softly, "Xing Yue, please do not be hasty. Will you allow me to finish?"
Xue Xing Yue looked at her for a long time, then finally sat back down, her voice somewhat hoarse, "Speak."
The Empress Dowager cleared her throat and slowly began, "The first words the late Emperor spoke were to ask me, 'Jia, do you think Tian Yue is suitable to be Emperor?'
I replied to the late Emperor, 'He is not suitable.' The late Emperor asked me why, and I told him, 'Because he does not have the blood of the Xue family in him.'"
Xue Xing Yue trembled, "Imperial Brother, he..."
The Empress Dowager nodded, "Imperial Brother believed that Tian Yue was not suited to be the Emperor of the Xing Chen Kingdom."
Xue Xing Yue fell silent. Her Imperial Brother had never spoken these words to her.
"Imperial Brother, he..."
"The late Emperor was truly intelligent, but fate was cruel. The late Emperor's body could not fulfill his wishes."
"Imperial Brother was indeed very intelligent," Xue Xing Yue admitted.
"I asked the late Emperor, since the throne was not intended for Tian Yue, why did he make Tian Yue the Crown Prince? Now that the Crown Prince harbors ambitions to seize the throne, he will surely attempt to usurp it."
"What did Imperial Brother say?" Xue Xing Yue asked.
The Empress Dowager glanced at her and slowly replied, "The late Emperor said that dynastic change is an inevitable occurrence. He could not prevent Tian Yue from seizing the throne, but he knew that Xing Yue would not stand idly by either. He wished to leave Xing Yue a prosperous land, rather than leaving Tian Yue, the strongest enemy, for Xing Yue."
She paused for a moment, then continued, "I asked the late Emperor, if Tian Yue were to become the new Emperor, he would absolutely not allow Xing Yue to grow powerful. The late Emperor then asked me, 'Are you willing to help me do something?'"
She lowered her gaze and slowly said, "This was the first time the late Emperor asked me, and the first time he implored me. Xing Yue, do you know? I accompanied the late Emperor for many years, and this was the first time he asked me for a favor. It was not for himself, but for you, Xing Yue."
"So, everything you have done is because of that instruction from Imperial Brother?"
She nodded, "Yes. Perhaps you do not believe me, but that is the truth. Xing Yue, I have fulfilled the late Emperor's entrustment. Soon the reign will change, and you can ascend the throne again."
"I have no interest in that position," Xue Xing Yue refused directly.
She smiled and said, "The late Emperor told me that Xing Yue would certainly not agree. He instructed me to tell you at this time that he had always hoped you would emulate Mother Emperor, unify the land, and become an Empress."
Xue Xing Yue trembled and looked at her, "This is Imperial Brother's wish?"
She nodded solemnly, "Yes, this is the late Emperor's dying wish."
"Tell me, what is your next move?"