That Imperial Concubine is both wicked and cunning! Your Majesty, wake up!

"Your humble servant takes his leave!" Having achieved his goal, Imperial Physician Li hurriedly grabbed his medicine chest and ran outside.

The Emperor is terrifying!!

Once outside the hall, a cool breeze blew by, and he touched his head.

call.

That was close.

The head is still intact.

Li Fuquan glanced around the hall and asked worriedly, "Judge Li, what has happened?"

Judge Li sighed. Even if he had a hundred heads, he wouldn't dare reveal the truth.

He shook his head, looking at Li Fuquan with pity, "Good luck to you."

Li Fuquan exclaimed "Ah!" So the good days are over? Is he about to start another period of anxiety and fear of losing his mind?

Good heavens.

Inside the hall.

The emperor sat dejectedly amidst the chaos, his former majesty completely gone.

From dawn to dusk.

From the bright light of dawn to the deep twilight.

The candlelight in the hall flickered until only a tiny flame remained, swaying in the silence and illuminating his lonely figure.

He sat there for almost half a day, his body already numb.

It was as if his soul had been ripped out, leaving only an empty shell.

He replayed the past year or so with Song Shuangning in his mind, frame by frame.

She said, "This concubine loves Your Majesty very much."

She said, "In my heart, the Emperor is the most important person."

She said, "If we get soaked in the snow together today, we can consider ourselves to have grown old together in this life."

as well as,

At first, she repeatedly feigned reluctance, mastering the art of playing hard to get, only saying that she did not wish to serve him in bed.

During the autumn hunt, Song Shuangning didn't hesitate for a moment and stepped forward to block him.

Upon learning of the contraceptive soup, she asked him with a look of despair, "Can I... trust Your Majesty?"

……

Everything is fake.

Those words and images that once warmed his heart now resemble a shattered mirror, reflecting the most glaring light and leaving him nowhere to hide.

Those sweet memories he cherished were wrapped in a thin layer of sugar, concealing a deadly poison pill.

He was overjoyed the other night.

He assumed that Song Shuangning, like him, longed for their child.

However, it was all an illusion.

It was all just an elaborate deception, and he was the most foolish and pathetic victim.

Only those closest to you and whom you trust most know which way the sword will hurt the most.

Therefore,

Every moment of intimacy felt like a knife being ripped into his heart.

How ridiculous.

How tragic.

Perhaps, she wasn't deceiving herself?

Perhaps Ningning also had her own difficulties.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yan stood up, but because he had been sitting for too long, he almost fell when he stood up.

All those sweet memories, all those experiences—boating, the summer palace, the assassination attempt in the hunting grounds…

If it weren't for plants and trees, it would surely be moved.

"Trust her one more time."

Xiao Yan spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Li Fuquan, come in."

"Your servant is here!"

Li Fuquan rushed into the hall, but when he saw the mess inside, he couldn't help but gasp.

The emperor's condition was worse than he had imagined.

Xiao Yan said, "I wish to bathe and change my clothes."

"Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will immediately have it prepared."

Li Fuquan breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Half an hour later.

Xiao Yan changed into a black casual outfit, his eyes as deep as a cold pool, or as if shrouded in a layer of mist, dim and without light.

The imperial carriage stopped in front of Yaohua Palace.

Xiao Yan alighted from the imperial carriage and stared blankly at the plaque of Yaohua Palace.

He hesitated, and he was also afraid.

He murmured, "Ningning, don't disappoint me."

And don't make me sad.

Upon receiving the news, Song Shuangning was about to go out to greet her when she heard Lu whisper in her ear:

"This servant went to inquire before the Emperor. His Majesty summoned Imperial Physician Li today, and has not seen anyone since. He seems to be in a bad mood."

Remind her to be careful.

Song Shuangning nodded, "I understand."

She went out to greet him, but bumped right into Xiao Yan at the palace gate.

When Xiao Yan saw her, he slowed his pace.

As usual, Song Shuangning affectionately took the Emperor's arm, her face adorned with a charming smile.

However, Xiao Yan remained seated, offering no response.

She simply lowered her eyes slightly, her gaze fixed intently on him, her expression complex and unreadable, as if scrutinizing him, or perhaps suppressing something.

Song Shuangning noticed his unusual behavior and asked with a smile, "Is there something on my face? Why is Your Majesty staring at me?"

"No, Ningning is so beautiful, she has mesmerized."

Song Shuangning smiled sweetly: "Has Your Majesty eaten some candied fruit? Your words are so sweet!"

Xiao Yan looked at her smile.

He wanted to pretend that nothing had happened, and that he knew nothing about the contraceptive pill.

But even the simplest breath hurts so much.

He couldn't pretend that nothing had happened.

Song Shuangning observed Xiao Yan's expression, which seemed to indicate that he had something on his mind.

She asked, "Is Your Majesty troubled by something?"

Xiao Yan smiled faintly: "It's nothing."

Something's definitely wrong.

But Xiao Yan didn't want to talk about it, and Song Shuangning couldn't get the information out of him.

Song Shuangning sensed Xiao Yan's indifference.

But every time she panicked, Xiao Yan would pull her into his arms as before.

Song Shuangning was even more certain that something must have happened.

Xiao Yan was 90% acting strangely.

Tonight, after each of them took a bath, they went to sleep fully clothed.

Song Shuangning glanced at Xiao Yan.

Is she planning to live a life of abstinence?

Song Shuangning poked Xiao Yan's chest. "Is Your Majesty tired?"

Normally, Xiao Yan would have already pounced on him.

But today, I remain unmoved.

LOL, she didn't really think about it.

Frustrated and angry, Song Shuangning turned her back to him.

At this moment, Xiao Yan hugged her from behind.

"Ningning,"

He wanted to tell her, "Stop drinking that contraceptive soup, let's have a child, okay?"

I wanted to ask her if she could be completely honest with me from now on, without holding anything back.

I want to ask her, all along the way, has she ever had even a shred of genuine affection for me?

His throat felt blocked by something; the words swirled on his tongue, but he couldn't utter a single one.

All the questions and expectations turned into a barely audible sigh.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, his voice terribly hoarse, "Go to sleep."

Song Shuangning's hopes were dashed, and she suppressed her agitation. She found a comfortable position in his arms and closed her eyes.

Xiao Yan tugged at the corner of his lips; he hadn't slept all night again.

*****

The following evening, Physician Zhang had just left the Imperial Hospital.

It's not his shift today, so he can go home and rest early.

As soon as he returned to the place where the imperial physicians were resting, he sat on the edge of the bed and took off his boots when he saw several guards hiding in the shadows.

Doctor Zhang was startled and quickly put on his boots. "Who are you?"

The head guard asked without answering, "Imperial Physician Zhang, didn't you ask for leave to visit your family for three days? Please come in."

Physician Zhang's heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself: When did he ever say he would leave the palace to visit his family for three days?

"I didn't leave the palace to visit my family, are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"

The lead guard kicked over the flower stand beside him, the sound of shattering porcelain was ear-piercing, and his tone was frighteningly fierce.

"If it's there, it's there; if it's not, it's not. Let's go."

Physician Zhang's face turned deathly pale, and his body went cold. He could only tremble as he followed in their footsteps.

He was led all the way to the prison of the Imperial Prison, where the heavy iron door slammed shut behind him.

This is the imperial palace, who would dare to be so bold?

Except for the Emperor.