Chapter 116: The Emperor Regrets

Just as Minister Wu’s second daughter had said, the Emperor still held some lingering affection for the concubine he had favored for years.

When Consort Wu saw the Emperor arrive, she immediately dismissed the palace maids. Dressed in a sheer peach-colored robe, she gracefully approached him, her expression delicate and alluring. In a soft voice, she murmured, “Your Majesty, it has been many days since you last visited me.”

Seeing her frail appearance, the Emperor’s heart softened with pity. “I was only staying away because I was concerned about your health.”

Hearing this, Consort Wu blushed slightly and lowered her head, gently guiding the Emperor to sit on the edge of the bed.

As he sat down, the Emperor caught a faint yet distinct fragrance in the air.

He inhaled deeply and asked, “What is that scent? It smells wonderful.”

Consort Wu glanced at the incense burning in the censer and smiled. “Your Majesty, it is a new fragrance I recently acquired.”

The Emperor took another deep breath, savoring the aroma. “It is truly delightful. Next time, have some placed in my chambers as well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Consort Wu replied with a pleased smile, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. She thought to herself that the incense must be working.

Slowly, she moved closer, reaching out to untie the Emperor’s sash.

But just as her fingers touched the fabric, the Emperor suddenly grasped her hand and removed it. “You are still recovering. I only came to check on you—I will not be staying the night.”

Consort Wu froze for a moment but quickly composed herself, her smile unwavering. “Your Majesty, it’s alright. I am almost fully recovered.”

Wisps of white smoke drifted through the air, curling around the Emperor.

As he inhaled the scent once more, his mind was suddenly filled with memories of his late Empress.

Scenes from the past flashed before his eyes—her voice, her laughter, her gentle presence. A deep ache stirred within him.

Seeing him lost in thought, Consort Wu took the initiative, reaching once more for his sash.

But the Emperor felt her touch and abruptly stood up, shoving her away with force.

“Zhou’er! Zhou’er!”

Standing before Consort Wu, he looked utterly lost, calling out the Empress’s name as if possessed.

Consort Wu was stunned. “Your Majesty, what is wrong?”

The Emperor’s eyes darted around the room in desperation. “Where is my Zhou’er? Do you know where my Zhou’er is?!”

At the mention of the late Empress, Consort Wu’s face twisted with fury, her entire body trembling with rage.

“Your Majesty, have you forgotten? The Empress is dead! That cruel woman—you exiled her, and she died on the journey!”

SLAP!

A deafening crack echoed through the chamber.

The Emperor raised his hand and delivered a heavy slap to Noble Consort Wu. “Who allowed you to speak of her that way?!”

Noble Consort Wu clutched her now swollen, reddened cheek, frozen in shock as tears streamed down her face like falling pearls.

“Your Majesty, what’s wrong with you? You were the one who cast her into the Cold Palace! You were the one who banished her from the palace! You were the one who slaughtered her entire family!”

The Emperor stood still, stunned by her words. In that moment, clarity seemed to return to him, and his eyes turned red. “I was wrong… Everything was wrong. Zhou’er and I grew up together—she wouldn’t even harm an ant. How could she possibly have plotted against anyone? I must have made a mistake!”

He turned to look at Noble Consort Wu again. “Was it you?!”

Noble Consort Wu immediately fell to her knees. “Your Majesty, I truly did not harm the Empress! At that time, the evidence was undeniable—witnesses, proof—you saw it all yourself!”

The Emperor waved his sleeve angrily. “No! It must have been a mistake.”

With that, he turned on his heel, about to leave.

Noble Consort Wu grabbed the hem of his robe, pleading, “Your Majesty, the Empress is already dead. Why can’t you just forget about her?”

The Emperor forcefully yanked his robe free from her grasp and rushed toward the palace where the Empress had once lived.

Noble Consort Wu chased after him, but a group of eunuchs blocked her path.

She watched the Emperor’s hurried figure disappear into the distance, then collapsed onto the ground in fury.

A so-called incense that could make a man return to her? Ha! Yes, he had returned—but to another woman!

Furious, Noble Consort Wu stormed back into her palace and threw the entire box of incense away.

Meanwhile, the Emperor arrived at the once grand but now empty palace where the Empress had lived. Standing in the desolate courtyard, memories of their past love flooded his mind. Tears streamed down his face.

“Zhou’er… I was wrong. I should never have believed their slander. I doomed your entire Lu family! I caused you and Ruiyuan to perish without even leaving behind your bones…”

With those words, he stepped inside and slowly knelt beside the bed where the Empress had once slept.

The sound of his regretful sobs echoed throughout the deserted courtyard.

An elderly eunuch, unable to bear the sight any longer, approached him and whispered, “Your Majesty, the dead cannot return. You must take care of your health…”