“The young master is asking you a question. Hurry up and confess the truth, or you’ll only suffer more physical pain.”

Kang Luhai kicked Bao Juan hard, as if kicking the person he once was.

“Young master… I…”

“Bao Juan, I know you. You would never treat me like this. Is someone forcing you to do this?”

“If that’s the case, tell me. I will ask the Emperor to speak on your behalf and have him be lenient with you.”

“Yes, it’s the Emperor…”

Just as Bao Juan was about to reveal the truth, the Empress and Jian Qiu rushed in.

“Emperor what? Were you going to say the Emperor, or me?”

The Empress explained that she had originally come to visit An Lingrong but had overheard Bao Juan’s words outside the door.

Bao Juan, already terrified, looked up and saw Jian Qiu’s threatening gaze, and she immediately fell silent.

Jian Qiu had once warned her—

If anyone found out, she would have to bear the consequences alone.

If she spoke, not only would she be finished, but her family would also be implicated.

Bao Juan knew she could no longer escape her fate.

From the moment she chose to betray An Lingrong, this outcome had been inevitable.

At first, she had been swayed by resentment, thinking that if she aligned herself with the Empress, she would have a bright future.

But in this ruthless palace, people like her were just pawns for the powerful to use to achieve their goals.

No one would ever see her as a human being with flesh and blood.

Now, only realizing this, it felt a bit too late.

Once Bao Juan had accepted the truth, she no longer felt as fearful.

She bowed deeply to the ground:

“It was the Emperor and the Empress’s kindness that allowed Bao Juan to stay by the young master’s side.”

“But ever since Ju Qing arrived, the young master no longer trusts Bao Juan as before. The reason I did what I did today is because I’ve been harboring resentment toward the young master…”

Having said this, she took the poison from Kang Luhai’s hands and drank it to end her life.

The Empress, seeing this, feigned sorrow, sighing:

“She really couldn’t handle it. Why would she do something so heartless?”

“The Empress is truly kind-hearted. To think she would betray me… It really hurts,” An Lingrong said, her voice carrying a hint of pain.

Although she loathed Bao Juan’s betrayal, part of her still felt a pang of regret, after all, Bao Juan had been by her side since she first entered the palace.

But when it came to the Empress, she truly felt nothing but disgust.

Jian Qiu looked disdainfully at Bao Juan’s lifeless body: “Someone, quickly take her out, so she doesn’t disturb the Empress and An Changzai.”

The eunuchs, hearing her orders, swiftly carried the body away.

Looking at the blank expressions on their faces, it was clear they were accustomed to such tasks.

To them, a dead body was no different than the carcass of an animal.

Like all the other dead palace maids, Bao Juan’s body would be dumped at the mass grave.

“Ugh…”

Thinking of this, An Lingrong felt an overwhelming sense of disgust.

The Empress suggested bringing in the Imperial Doctor, but An Lingrong said she was simply tired and wanted to rest for a bit.

The Empress, with false sympathy, gave a few words of advice before leaving with Jian Qiu.

“Your Majesty, look at An Changzai’s frightened demeanor. How could someone like that make a difference?” Jian Qiu whispered, just loud enough for her and the Empress to hear.

The Empress smiled as usual:

“Whether she amounts to anything doesn’t matter. What matters is the one inside her…”

“Your Majesty is right.”

Qingliang Hall.

Hua Fei, having received the news early that morning, shed her previously despondent demeanor and smiled brightly as Song Zhi helped her get dressed.

Song Zhi, also with a joyful expression, helped Hua Fei put on her armor, while saying:

“Today is quite rare. Even Dunqin Wang is coming to plead on the Empress’s behalf. He’s always been so arrogant, he doesn’t even care about the Emperor.”

But what Song Zhi didn’t know was that Dunqin Wang had every right to be arrogant!

His birth mother, Wen Xi Gui Fei, was the younger sister of Empress Xiao Zhao Ren, and the current Empress Dowager had once been Empress Xiao Zhao Ren’s personal maid.

Back when the Ninth Prince fought for the throne, his allies, the Tenth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Princes, had all been demoted.

Only Dunqin Wang kept his princely title. As the Emperor ascended the throne, how could he not feel resentment?

Dunqin Wang, with his noble background, had once worked alongside Nian Gengyao and the Fourteenth Prince to handle Qinghai matters, so he had some connection with Nian Gengyao!

The only reason he helped Hua Fei today was to return a favor to Nian Gengyao!

Once Song Zhi finished helping Hua Fei get dressed, she playfully curtsied:

“It doesn’t matter who helps the Empress, as long as she wins back the Emperor’s favor, I’ll be happy.”