Even Yue Er couldn’t hold back, pestering Crown Prince Chen every day to tell stories from the front line.

She could listen three or five times in one sitting without getting bored.

Just as the Capital City was full of joy and prosperity, with a lively atmosphere inside and outside the palace.

Only one person wished they could cry every day the whole day, heartbroken with grief.

Who is this person? Answer: Empress Dowager Zhen.

Although Fifth Master was not her most beloved son.

He was still her biological son, whom she carried for ten months and gave birth to.

Raised with much effort to his twenties, he already had a wife and children.

Now she has to accept the loss of him at her old age, which is devastating.

After having her grandson brought to her side.

She no longer cared for food or drink, drowned in tears, seeking medicine to the point of chaos.

To Empress Dowager Zhen, in fact.

Zhao Junyao and Xia Ruqing could understand her, the pain of losing a child is unbearable.

Besides, Fifth Master was still their half-brother.

So even though Fifth Master wasn’t martyred for the country but was stabbed to death by his own wife.

Zhao Junyao still overruled the objections and posthumously conferred on him a Prince’s Peerage.

Also, he was buried in the Prince’s Mausoleum, which only those with the prince’s title could avail of.

This was already a great honor.

But Empress Dowager Zhen was not satisfied.

She continued to cling to her little grandson, wailing inconsolably in the palace every day.

Fainting today.

Chest pain tomorrow.

Headache the day after.

Calling for doctors left and right, causing a city-wide uproar.

As if the Royal Family had mistreated their clan.

Zhao Junyao was quite helpless, with such women being unreasonable and uncooperative, he was at a loss.

For a while, he didn’t know what to do.

Actually, it wasn’t that he didn’t know what to do.

It was just that bickering with his father’s concubine was too embarrassing, he was too dignified for it.

Upon understanding the situation, Xia Ruqing volunteered.

"Emperor, how about... I give it a try?"

Zhao Junyao was surprised.

"You?"

He looked her up and down, somewhat doubtful.

"Are you capable?"

Xia Ruqing patted her chest.

"Finding the cause is key to resolving the problem!"

"Though I may not solve the problem, perhaps I can find the cause for the Emperor!"

Understanding what she truly wanted could make resolving it easier, no?

Zhao Junyao thought about it and agreed.

Early the next morning.

After dressing and grooming, Xia Ruqing set off for Ninghe Palace with her attendants.

Upon entering.

Xia Ruqing could hear Empress Dowager Zhen’s cries.

From a distance, she cried and cursed simultaneously.

Appeared to be cursing herself, or perhaps cursing Hai Feng, or even... cursing the Emperor?!

The Palace Attendants nearby wanted to announce her arrival but were stopped by Xia Ruqing.

"Do not go!"

The Palace Maids stood there not daring to move.

Xia Ruqing adjusted her attire and gracefully strolled over.

Empress Dowager Zhen’s cursing became clearer and more frenzied.

"Damn harlot!"

"You killed my son! I’ll have your life!"

"Damn fool of an Emperor, my son never went to the battlefield, yet you sent him to such a dangerous place!"

"Stab, stab, stab! I’ll stab you to death!"

"Damn Empress, fox spirit reborn, mesmerizing the Emperor and taking away our souls, die! Stab you to death!"

"None of you shall live!"

She appeared menacing, holding something in her hand, seemingly pricking it madly.

Beams of sunlight shone from behind onto her face, making her look wild and grotesque.

"What are you doing?"

A clear, forceful voice pierced through the murky air.

Every corner of the room could hear it.

Empress Dowager Zhen heard the voice and suddenly looked up.

"Empress! You..."

Her pupils contracted sharply, her hands hurriedly hiding something under a blanket.

She was terrifyingly expressive, her body trembling violently.

"Why have you come?"

"Why was there no announcement?!" she shrieked.

Then realized it was inappropriate, quickly stood up.

Forcibly calming her wildly beating heart, she pretended composure, ordering Palace Maid to serve tea and snacks to the Empress.

But Xia Ruqing had no time for tea at this moment.

She stepped forward coldly, unabashedly lifting the randomly covered blanket on the couch.

She asked calmly, "Imperial Noble Consort, what are you doing?!"

The Empress is the head of The Six Palaces.

Even if the Imperial Noble Consort was of a higher seniority, she had to remain courteous upon meeting, avoiding any clashes.

However... Empress Dowager Zhen could care less.

She rushed recklessly to stop Xia Ruqing.

Desperately grabbing a few items from under the blanket, holding them tightly in her arms.

Her hairpins and jewelry were knocked askew and fell, her hair coming loose and draping over her shoulders.

Looking like a madwoman with a manic episode.

Xia Ruqing couldn’t be bothered to look at her.

Her sharp gaze kept sweeping over what she held in her arms.

A bit puzzled.

What on earth were those things? Why so anxious?

She hadn’t noticed that Zi Yue and Zi Su beside her already looked very different.

"Go check, what exactly is that?" Xia Ruqing furrowed her brow and instructed.

Zi Yue was completely stunned, and Zi Su was also taken aback for a long time before coming to her senses.

"I’ll go!"

Seeing Zi Yue frightened, Zi Su volunteered to step forward.

Empress Dowager Zhen, terrified, kept retreating.

Zi Su signaled the Palace Attendant nearby to come and help.

Everyone united efforts to take the items from Empress Dowager Zhen’s arms.

Zi Su roughly looked them over, then relaxed slightly.

"Madam, it’s nothing, just three dolls!"

"We thought it was something else, turns out it’s just kids’ stuff."

Xia Ruqing took the items and looked them up and down.

They were indeed three cloth dolls.

But... something seemed off.

While flipping the dolls, she saw numerous needle marks by chance.

"Huh? What’s this?"

"It feels hard inside, has something been hidden?"

Zi Su laughed carelessly.

"It’s cotton inside, Madam!"

Xia Ruqing felt thoughtful.

Suddenly, Zi Yue fell to her knees with a ’thump’.

"Madam, throw it away!"

"Huh?"

Xia Ruqing didn’t hear clearly at first.

Zi Yue repeated, "Throw it away!"

Xia Ruqing, frightened, immediately threw the items aside.

"What’s happening?!"

"That’s... that’s... Witchcraft and Gu..." Zi Yue’s voice quivered.

Xia Ruqing didn’t understand.

"Innocent? What innocent!"

Zi Yue: "..."

Zi Su: "..."

It took Xia Ruqing a while to finally react.

Wasn’t this like those modern dramas, where they make a doll, write the birth details, and curse it by pricking?

But this one... didn’t have anything written on it?

Just as she spoke.

Her gaze fell onto a doll toppled over.

A small piece of cloth was sticking beside it, densely covered with writing.

The doll’s eyes seemed to be staring right at her.

Xia Ruqing shuddered, with every hair standing on end.

"Oh my god!"

She exclaimed and jumped up, cold sweat running down her back.

"Madam, watch out!"

"Madam!"

The two spoke in unison.

Xia Ruqing was quite embarrassed.

After all, she was a modern soul, and skepticism should prevail over superstitious stuff!

But the unexpected shock just then had indeed frightened her.