“Your Imperial Highness!” Lü Zhu realized the situation had spiraled out of control. The matter of the Noble Consort having been Prince Jin’s concubine before entering the palace had not been mentioned in the court for many years, as no one dared to test the Emperor’s wrath. But now it was the Noble Consort herself who had brought it up. The Emperor’s favor towards the Noble Consort meant she would be safe, but those who would suffer were the palace servants like them. 

“I won’t let Jia Yin enter the palace!” Chan Zhen looked at her father, tears streaming down her face, each word dripping with sorrow, “No one can replace my Zhao’er!” 

Having said that, she finally couldn’t contain the heat in her chest, a mouthful of blood spurted from her mouth, and her body collapsed. 

“Your Imperial Highness!” This time, Lü Zhu was truly panicked, “Quickly summon the imperial physicians!” 

The imperial physicians, who hadn’t closed their eyes for several nights, once again nervously stepped into the Phoenix Palace, and, as expected, their Emperor had arrived ahead of them, guarding the Noble Consort’s bedside. 

After taking her pulse, the chief imperial physician felt his own heartbeat falter in sync with the slow, silent pulse. The Noble Consort’s pulse… 

“How is the Noble Consort?” Chen Dingyao, having heard the news, rushed over halfway through his court duties, his court robes still unremoved. He had been on the throne for many years, holding absolute power, his aura at its peak. Although his face was slightly pale from worry over the Noble Consort, he didn’t appear tired. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his sharp eyes seemed to suppress a surging, overwhelming black tide, about to crash down on those around him. 

The chief imperial physician dared not meet the Emperor’s gaze and immediately knelt down with a thud, “Your servant is incompetent. The Noble Consort is beyond saving!” 

Then, everyone except the Emperor knelt down. 

The room fell silent, as if even the air had solidified. Everyone trembled, fearing the Emperor’s imminent fury. 

However, the Emperor seemed to be stunned. 

The moment he heard those words, he felt as if he had fallen into an icy wasteland. A howling wind swept past him, and snow began to fall on his heart, freezing the surging black tide. 

Then, a flash of red appeared in his vision, and he followed it, seeing the woman on the bed. 

Her eyes were closed, her face devoid of color, her small body sunk into the brocade quilt. Whether it was love or hate, surprise or fear, the eyes that had moved his heart would never open to look at him again. 

After a long time, he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his emotions had subsided, his eyes cold as ice. 

“What exactly happened?” He pointed at the Noble Consort’s personal maid, suppressing his anger, “When I left this morning, the Noble Consort was clearly improving. Why has she become like this in such a short time?” 

Lü Zhu was drenched in sweat; the Emperor’s gaze was as if he wanted to cut her into a thousand pieces. She tried her best to keep her voice from trembling, quietly explaining what had happened. 

Then Marquis Mu En met the Emperor’s almost devouring gaze. His legs went weak, and he almost couldn’t even kneel. “Your Majesty…” 

“You deserve to die!” Chen Dingyao, enraged, kicked him hard in the chest. He never imagined that the Marquis would be so audacious, daring to harbor such thoughts and even speak of them to the Noble Consort. 

He had practiced martial arts for many years and had even been to the battlefield before ascending the throne. In his rage, he used almost all his strength in this kick, sending Marquis Mu En sprawling. But he didn’t care about the pain; he quickly knelt back down, crawling to the Emperor’s feet, kowtowing and begging for mercy, tears streaming down his face, “Your servant knows his wrong. Your Majesty, please forgive me. Please forgive me for the sake of Her Imperial Highness the Noble Consort!” 

“You dare mention the Noble Consort.” Chen Dingyao laughed angrily. He pointed at Marquis Mu En and scolded, “I appointed you Marquis Mu En so that you would remember this was the Noble Consort’s grace. But not only are you ungrateful, you even dared to think of replacing the Noble Consort’s position! Excellent! Excellent Marquis Mu En!” 

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, spare my life!” Marquis Mu En could only beg for mercy. 

Chen Dingyao felt only disgust at his appearance. This was Chan Zhen’s father, an unloving, greedy, and shameless man. He should have had him executed long ago to avenge Chan Zhen’s years of suffering. 

“Bring him down!” He gritted his teeth, saying each word slowly, “If anything happens to the Noble Consort, I will have your entire Song family buried with her!” 

Marquis Mu En’s face turned pale, his voice filled with fear, “Your Majesty!” He didn’t expect the Emperor to be so enraged. The Song family was the Noble Consort’s maternal family! 

“If you dare to speak another word and disturb the Noble Consort’s peace, I will cut out your tongue.” Chen Dingyao bent down, grabbed his neck, and threatened coldly. Seeing that he had indeed shut his mouth, he flung him aside with disgust. 

Marquis Mu En was dragged away without resistance, only one thought in his mind. 

It’s over. Everything is over. 

Even the Noble Consort’s own father met such an end. No one else dared to make a sound, fearing they would be the next to suffer. 

Chen Dingyao’s anger burned within him. He couldn’t find an outlet, pacing restlessly in front of the window, looking at the kneeling imperial physicians and palace servants, feeling not only anger but also helplessness. 

Why, even though he was the Emperor with absolute power, was it still so difficult to keep someone? 

He recalled the first time he saw Chan Zhen kneeling on the ground, trembling, so fragile that it made him feel pity for the first time; he recalled her unintentional glance back in the hunting ground, that moment of stunning beauty; he recalled her accidentally bumping into him in the street when she was startled by a carriage, her eyes as innocent as a fawn when she looked up; and he recalled the sadness and despair in her eyes when he forced her into the palace. 

A heavy sense of powerlessness washed over him. What could he do to keep her? 

“Your Majesty.” 

A soft voice sounded, instantly offering him salvation. 

“Chan Zhen!” Chen Dingyao almost immediately rushed to her window and tightly grasped her hand. 

Normally, Chan Zhen would have shaken off his hand, but she was too weak now. Her gaze swept over the kneeling crowd, knowing that he must be furious again. He was an out-and-out tyrant, always having his way, and Chan Zhen didn’t want to cause more harm before her death. 

“Your Majesty, let them all go. Don’t hurt them.” 

He closed his eyes, suppressing his rising anger, trying to calm himself, “I’ll do as you say.”