Chapter 503: Chapter 503: The Most Favored One

“How could this happen?” It seemed as if the Emperor had heard Li Hongyuan’s words, but also as if he hadn’t. He merely muttered to himself, “Wasn’t she getting better? How did she suddenly die?”

The Empress said, “Your Majesty, please restrain your grief. Concubine Jin looks truly unsightly like this. Let someone come in and clean up…” “Unsightly?” The Emperor suddenly grew angry, glaring at the Empress. “No matter what, Concubine Jin is always beautiful!”

“Yes, Concubine Jin has unrivaled beauty,” the Empress lowered her gaze.

“Empress, are you jealous of Concubine Jin, so you harmed her?”

The Emperor’s hidden suspiciousness and doubt underneath his amiable and kind exterior were now undoubtedly revealed.

The Empress knelt down immediately, tears flowing with every word, “I have been married to Your Majesty for decades, diligently managing the harem in fear and trepidation. I dare not mistreat any of Your Majesty’s children. Yet, I cannot even earn a bit of Your Majesty’s trust… In that case, my position as Empress is in vain!”

She stood up and moved to hit her head against a pillar.

The Emperor didn’t seem to react.

Jiang Ning was close by and, without thinking, grabbed the Empress’s arm.

In the time it took for this brief intervention, several servants had already rushed over to hold the Empress.

The Empress cried loudly, claiming she wanted to die.

The Emperor shouted in fury, “If you want to die, go die somewhere else! Don’t make a scene here at Concubine Jin’s place!”

And with that, the Empress’s cries came to an abrupt halt.

With a sorrowful face, she stood up, holding onto a palace maid’s hand, and left in silence.

Concubine Jin had been in the palace for twenty years, receiving constant favor from a young girl to the present day.

No, it could almost be said she was the only one who enjoyed exclusive favor.

Even as new women kept entering the harem, among everyone coming and going, Concubine Jin was the most special, unique existence.

The Emperor spent more than half of each year with her, even disregarding the rule to reunite with the Empress on the first and fifteenth days of the month.

One could only imagine the extent of the Emperor’s love for Concubine Jin.

For all these years, everyone believed that Concubine Jin’s favor was due to her resemblance to Lin Zizi.

And indeed, it was true.

Initially, the Emperor was heartbroken over Lin Zizi, so some sycophants, in order to please the Emperor, went out of their way to find women who looked like Lin Zizi and sent them into the palace.

Concubine Jin was not the only woman sent into the palace for this reason.

However, she was the most favored one.

As the master of the six palaces, the Empress was completely overshadowed by her.

She had struggled, but to no avail.

In the harem, having the Emperor’s love was equivalent to having everything.

And Concubine Jin had it all.

Yet now, Concubine Jin had been poisoned.

And her death had been terribly tragic.

Not only did the Emperor drive the Empress away, but he also drove everyone else away.

That included Crown Prince Li Hongyuan and Princess Consort Jiang Ning.

Li Hongyuan and Jiang Ning went outside, looking at the door of the Splendid Palace, the atmosphere somewhat oppressive.

“His Majesty truly loved Concubine Jin,” Jiang Ning said.

“She was just Lin Zizi’s substitute,” Li Hongyuan replied indifferently.

His calmness made Jiang Ning unable to believe that he was a person who had just lost his mother.

Jiang Ning did not agree with his idea.

“Perhaps it started that way, but after all these years, His Majesty’s feelings for Concubine Jin have grown genuine. She is no longer a substitute for anyone,” Jiang Ning said. “You’ll see if I’m right.”

“I’m not interested in such matters,” Li Hongyuan glanced at her. “Jiang Ning, I will only ask you this question once. Did you harm my concubine mother?”

“No!”

“Good..” Li Hongyuan fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Do you think I’m cold-blooded for showing no grief over my concubine mother’s death?”