Chapter 15

Qi E fell ill.

The imperial physician said it seemed like his heart disease had worsened, but also a bit like poisoning.

I kept vigil by Qi E’s bedside for several days, crying until my eyes were dry.

The imperial physician couldn’t come up with a way to save him.

Li Xingzhi was even more anxious than I was; not only did she find some doctors from among the common folk, she even invited Daoist priests to perform rituals.

But no matter what method was tried, Qi E did not wake up.

She, however, was dragged into the Cold Palace by a single word from the Empress Dowager for believing in witchcraft and sorcery.

That night, all the imperial physicians in the hall withdrew.

All the palace servants waited outside the bedchamber; inside, only Qi E and I remained.

The wind howled outside the window.

The Empress Dowager walked in slowly.

She still wore that kindly, benevolent expression; the traces of time had added a touch of gentleness to her beautiful face.

“In the end, it’s come to this day.” She stood beneath a candle’s glow, her voice as hoarse as the flickering flame.

I turned my head to look at her: “Was it your medicine that was poisoned?”

“Everyone says you’re slow-witted, a fool.” She took a few steps forward, gazing at me with a deep look. “Yet I never expected that only your pure heart could make him lower his guard.”

“Did you really think that if you didn’t give him the medicine, nothing would happen?” She laughed, the kindness on her face cracking to reveal a hint of cruelty. “You made him greedy; with you, he wanted to live even more. As long as there’s desire, there’s a weakness.”

I collapsed to the ground: “Why do you treat him like this? He’s your child too!”

“He’s not!” she retorted sharply. “He is misfortune, shame, the punishment Heaven has visited upon me.”

My tears, which had already run dry, welled up again; I hurried to cover the ears of the person on the bed.

But that thick bitterness still appeared.

Qi E opened his eyes, his thin, pale lips moving slightly: “So you want to kill me?”

The Empress Dowager hadn’t expected this turn of events and stumbled back two steps in fright.

“You…”

Qi E sat up, his gaze coldly falling on her: “So after I received praise from Father once, you gave me a poisoned sugar cake? So after I killed all the obstacles for Qi Cong, you let Qi Cong take the throne and had him kill me first?”

The Empress Dowager pointed at him, furious: “You’re not worthy to mention Cong!”

Qi E laughed.

I looked at him with aching heart, seeing his eyes rimmed red, as if blood could drip from them.

“You don’t think you’ve hidden it well, do you?” His voice was like the cold snow of midwinter. “Did you think that with Li Xingzhi entering the imperial palace, the Li Family wouldn’t show some sincerity?”

The Empress Dowager was stunned for a moment, then realized something: “What did you do!”

“You watch me day and night, wishing I’d die sooner, but you’ve forgotten what kind of people your own family are, haven’t you?” He spoke each word slowly. “For the empress’s position, the Li Family would do anything. Have you forgotten how you entered the imperial palace back then?”

“What did you do to my Yan!” The Empress Dowager muttered in disbelief, turning to leave.

Qi E said with a smile: “Naturally, just like his father, he accidentally fell into the lake.”

“Drowned.”

At these words, the Empress Dowager collapsed to the ground, looking at Qi E in a daze: “You devil! I should have strangled you back then!”

“Compared to Mother, I’m still lacking.”