"As the Emperor arrives," with the cry of a eunuch, Beichen Xiao swiftly entered the Xifeng Palace, his robes fluttering behind him. Passing through the magnificent Nine Turns Corridor and the enchanting gardens, many palace maids and eunuchs knelt outside the Qifeng Hall. Beichen Xiao paid no attention to them and walked into the inner hall. He slightly bowed to a woman in her fifties with elegant grace, her black hair streaked with strands of gray.

"Son, pay your respects to the Empress Dowager," Beichen Xiao lowered his gaze and calmly spoke.

The Empress Dowager waved her hand impatiently, indicating that she acknowledged his presence.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects," Empress Lin, standing anxiously on the side, stepped forward and bowed to Beichen Xiao.

"No need for formalities, Empress. Please rise," Beichen Xiao's words held warmth, but his actions showed no hint of tenderness.

However, the Empress Dowager, sitting on the main seat, was displeased witnessing the interaction between her son and daughter-in-law. Her dissatisfaction reached its peak, and her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.

Upon hearing Beichen Xiao's cold words, the Empress's heart felt heavy. She understood that the imperial family was heartless, and as the Empress, what more could she expect?

Standing in the Qifeng Hall was the most powerful figure in the Beichen Kingdom, the one who should have brought harmony and joy to the family. However, at this moment, the atmosphere was unusually silent, akin to the calm before a storm.

"Your Majesty, the rumors among the common people have been spreading lately. And Your Majesty has not visited the Empress's chamber for many days. I wonder how Your Majesty intends to explain this to me?" The Empress Dowager spoke with a stern expression, devoid of any smile.

The Empress trembled upon hearing the words, her body unable to remain still. She lowered her head slightly and glanced at the Emperor standing beside her, her heart filled with anxiety.

"Mother, rumors among the common people are just rumors after all. Didn't you also say that you heard them? It's not reliable. As for not going to the Empress's place for many days..." Beichen Xiao paused for a moment, causing the Empress Dowager to furrow her brows and the Empress to grow even more uneasy. He continued, "I have been busy with state affairs and neglected the Empress."

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow and said, "Your Majesty, although I have been devoted to Buddhist cultivation for many years, it does not mean that I am unconcerned. I have long heard that you brought back a woman from the northern region three years ago. You were infatuated with her and used a large number of people and resources. It became widely known, and I also know that emperors throughout history have been passionate. But as time passed, it faded. However, since that woman entered the palace, you have not bestowed your favor on any other concubines. Is this how an emperor should behave? You have been on the throne for a long time now and have no heirs. Can you fulfill the expectations of the late Emperor and the ancestral teachings? The heir to my Beichen Kingdom should come from noble blood, not from a woman with an unknown background," the Empress Dowager calmly finished speaking, gesturing with her eyes towards the Empress standing opposite, indicating that she was the best candidate.

This made the Empress even more anxious. If it weren't for the quick action of her maidservant, she might have collapsed to the ground in her weakened state.

"Mother, who will be the mother of your imperial grandchild in the future is a matter that I will handle," Beichen Xiao understood in his heart that his mother could allow him to love Jing'er, but he could not break the rules of the harem for her, nor could she have his offspring.

"Mmm," the Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction and lightly pressed her temple. Weary, she said, "Alright, I'm tired. Empress, why don't you accompany the Emperor for a walk?"

"Yes, I will comply with your orders," the Empress's eyebrows furrowed, her face filled with sorrow.

"Son, take your leave," Beichen Xiao said helplessly.

After leaving the Xifeng Palace, Beichen Xiao walked ahead in a charismatic manner. The Empress followed slowly behind, gazing at the Emperor she had been infatuated with since childhood. She recalled the union they had formed four years ago and the time they spent deeply in love. Unfortunately, did it end too soon? Or should she blame the Concubine Jing who had snatched the Emperor's favor?

The Empress, gentle and virtuous by nature, couldn't bring herself to blame a woman with an unfortunate background. She didn't ask for much, just a little bit of tenderness from the Emperor.

Both of them were filled with their own concerns as they walked slowly. The splendid scenery around them failed to capture their attention as they pondered how to broach the topic.

"Your Majesty," it was ultimately the Empress who spoke, "the scenery in this imperial garden remains unchanged."

Beichen Xiao's back stiffened, and he turned to look at the Empress's elegant and noble face. He faintly remembered their childhood figures chasing each other, and the past affection. But now he had found his true love, and for her, he only felt pity and remorse.

"I do not seek favor from Your Majesty, I only hope that you remember our past bond. Please give me a child," the Empress softly made her request, silently adding in her heart, "Xiao, even if you no longer love me, can you give me your child so that I have someone to rely on in the future?"

Beichen Xiao never expected that the seemingly gentle Empress would make such a request in person. He was taken aback and replied in a deep voice, "Empress, I know that I have neglected you for these past three years. But I have found true love now, and I'm afraid I cannot fulfill your wish."

"Your Majesty, it is true that you want to favor Concubine Jing, and that is understandable. However, Concubine Jing is, after all, a woman of unknown origin, as the Empress Dowager just mentioned. She will not agree. Does Your Majesty intend to defy the Empress Dowager's wishes?" The Empress pleaded helplessly.

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"Empress, do you think I would fear the Empress Dowager?" Beichen Xiao narrowed his eyes dangerously, staring at the pale-faced Empress.

The Empress trembled, biting her lower lip with her beautiful teeth. Fear glimmered in her eyes, and tears fell like broken pearls. After a moment, she spoke softly, "Your Majesty, are you asking me to live in the palace without any position? The Empress is supposed to be the head of the Six Palaces, responsible for managing the affairs of the harem. Now that Concubine Jing has received favor, which has become widely known, if she conceives a child early, what position will I have in the palace? I will only have the name of the Empress without any real power."

Knowing how much he owed the Empress, Beichen Xiao fell silent. He looked up at the sun shining brightly and his chest heaved. He turned away and said, "I will grant you a child. This is my greatest concession."

"Thank... you, Your... Ma... jes... ty..." the Empress said with a mix of joy and sadness.

Beichen Xiao closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, the previous helplessness was gone, as if he no longer cared about the sobbing figure behind him. He quickened his pace and headed towards the place he longed for in his heart.

Tears continued to fall, but she could no longer receive his tenderness. Once inside the palace, it was as deep as the sea, where the emperor's heart was the most ruthless. You are not heartless, Your Majesty, you have given all your affection to her. If I say I don't hate her? No, I truly hate her. I wish I could kill her with my own hands, but I know that doing so will only push you further away from me. In the harem, there are countless people waiting for an opportunity to bring me down from the position of the Empress. In order to be with you, I can only resort to this plan. Everything I do is for you. I just want to stay by your side and look at you.

"Wu..." The Empress cried mournfully, completely devoid of her usual grace and elegance.

"Your Majesty, let's return to the palace," her close maid, Qiaolian, who had seen the Emperor leave from a distance, finally approached slowly. Seeing her mistress crying and collapsed on the ground, she felt sorry for her but couldn't find a reason to console her. She could only gently bend down, softly embracing her mistress, who was crying so hard that she couldn't make a sound.

The most prosperous places in the Northern Frontier are Qi City and Chen Capital. Qi City is located on the edge of the Qi Cheng Kingdom, while Chen Capital is near the North Chen Kingdom. Since the turmoil three years ago, the Qi Cheng Kingdom has gradually stabilized after Qi Aotian's bloody purges. However, Qi Aotian was most heartbroken by the death of Po Jun and couldn't believe that he would never see her again. Under Qi Yuntian's management, Qi City thrived even more and, through intentional or unintentional cooperation between the two countries, the border areas of the Northern Frontier were free from bandits. This greatly facilitated trade between the two countries.

In a exquisitely beautiful palace courtyard, a man in white stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the bright moon in the sky. His handsome face showed no other expression, and if one didn't look closely, they might mistake him for a lifeless statue. This statue-like figure was none other than Qi Yuntian, who had traveled to the Northern Frontier with Po Jun three years ago.

"Sigh..." a barely audible sigh escaped Qi Yuntian's lips as he thought about what he had heard from Mie. He couldn't comprehend the existence of another person who looked exactly like her in this world. And now, that person was in the palace of the North Chen Kingdom. If it truly was her, how could she be in another country? Qi Yuntian recalled the scene from years ago when he saw her fall into the Beichuan River while protecting Mei Niang. He arrived too late to save her as Mei Niang's life was in danger, and could only watch her disappear in the turbulent river with a heart full of anguish.

"Master, that person has no internal strength. And..." Mie, hidden in the shadows, hesitated in his cold voice.

"Go on," Qi Yuntian gestured for Mie to continue.

"I can't be sure if that person is the same as her. I wanted to bring her back along with the person, but the Emperor of North Chen appeared just in time. I was afraid of wasting time, so I returned first," Mie spoke when no one could sense his presence. The courtyard was empty except for Qi Yuntian looking up at the moon.

"You did the right thing," Qi Yuntian had been seeking medical treatment for Mei Niang's injuries throughout these three years, but he couldn't cure her. He watched as her once beautiful face withered day by day, and it was impossible not to feel heartache. After all, she had paid a great price for him. If it weren't for her timely acquisition of evidence against her father's rebellion, the Qi Cheng Kingdom would have suffered another catastrophe. The stability of the Qi Cheng Kingdom today could be attributed to her.

"Mie, closely monitor everything about that person. If it is confirmed that she is the one and if she poses a threat to our country by manipulating the Emperor of North Chen, show no mercy!" Qi Yuntian suppressed the sense of oppression in his heart and issued a ruthless order.

"Yes," Mie always regarded Qi Yuntian's commands as holy, as in his consciousness, Qi Yuntian was the one he would serve his whole life. Qi Yuntian would always make the right decisions.

Just like he had come, Mie disappeared silently into the night. Qi Yuntian looked at the captivating moonlight in the night sky and reminisced, "Po Jun, if you were still alive today, how should I treat you?" His voice carried deep helplessness, and it was heart-wrenching to hear.

Qi Yuntian could be described as a cold-hearted person. He knew of Po Jun's affection for him, but he knew it even earlier than Po Jun herself. However, what he wanted was a general who could bring peace to the world, and he couldn't let a strand of sentimental attachment ruin that. Regarding Yang Mei Niang, he was aware of her intelligence and calculations. She was extremely scheming, but he also understood her unwavering devotion to him. At the same time, he had used her unwavering devotion to eliminate the malignant tumor that threatened the stability of the kingdom.

Looking at the "Snow Fragrance Pill" in his hand, the image of Po Jun's dignified face reemerged in Qi Yuntian's mind, and he smiled bitterly. It turned out that she had truly taken root in his heart, but this love was destined to be unfulfilled in this lifetime.

"Prince, the Princess wishes to see you." Xiao Lian, dressed in a light green palace maid's attire, stood by the lotus pond and softly conveyed the message from the Princess.

Without paying any attention to the maid, Qi Yuntian ignored her and turned around, leaving the North Garden. As he left, Xiao Lian lifted her head and watched Qi Yuntian's departing figure. This kind of man was worth everything the Princess was willing to give for him. But if he were to discover that it was the Princess who had meticulously plotted the destruction of the talented general he had nurtured, she would probably regret her decision.

"Cough... cough... cough..." The sound of coughing that caused pain in one's chest continued to come from the mouth of a wan and pallid woman. This woman was none other than Yang Mei Niang, Qi Yuntian's wife. However, why did the former first beauty of the Qi Cheng Kingdom look so haggard today? Mei Niang weakly lay on the bed, her hollow eyes staring at the ceiling without focus, softly calling out to her beloved husband.

The attending imperial physician, seeing the Princess' deteriorating condition, couldn't help but sigh. Truly, heaven is envious of beauty. If the people sent by the Prince to find the medicine didn't succeed, the Princess might not survive tonight.

"Prince," the palace maids, seeing Qi Yuntian enter the bedroom, quickly put down what they were holding and bowed respectfully.

Qi Yuntian merely nodded in acknowledgment, waving his hand for them to attend to their tasks. His figure approached the bed, and he looked at Mei Niang's fading beauty. In a deep voice, he asked, "Has the Princess' condition stabilized today?"

"Replying to the Prince, the Princess is afraid that she won't make it through tonight," the physician said while feeling the beads of sweat forming on his back