"Daughter" Su Shunyan got up and was about to walk over when a voice came from inside, "Let her in."

  Not only did Su Shun Xian hear it, but also Su Jing Xian heard it.

  She got up and walked two steps, turned around and said, "You two stay here first, I'll go in alone."

  "Niang Niang" heard Yao was somewhat worried and wanted to follow along.

  Su Jingxiao didn't give her the chance, and stepped inside, turning a corner to see him lying on the couch, seemingly no different from usual.

  "I wish Your Majesty good health."

  "Get up," Zhong Zhengjin did not get up, "Just stay there, no need to come over."

  Su Jing withdrew her foot that was about to step forward and revealed a smile, "Is Your Majesty doing well?"

  "What does it matter to you whether I am good or not, my decree, you also do not listen to, is or is not, or are you saying that you simply do not put me in your eyes" Zong Zhengjin closed his eyes, thin lips lightly opened, word by word only saw coolness.

  Su Jingxi felt a bit wronged, but also knew she was being overly sensitive, so she knelt down and said, "Your subject knows her mistake, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

  She was wrong from the start, even if she worried about him, but the guilt she committed was no less, doing unjust things in the name of worry, completely unreasonable.

  Zong Zhengjin did not comfort her as usual, but instead ignored her apology thoroughly, and coldly snorted, "I see that you are becoming more and more reckless, I spoil you, but it's making you forget your own place."

  Every word and every sentence is an extremely cold and unfeeling remark.

  Su Jing didn't expect that last night he was still fine, but after a night of not seeing him, today he had completely changed into a different person, so unfamiliar that it startled her.

  Lips moved, but couldn't say a word, couldn't utter a single syllable.

  Actually, his coldness and shallowness are also the same towards himself.

  And this day came so suddenly, leaving her unprepared and caught off guard.

  "We hereby convey Our imperial decree: Zhen Shao Yi has repeatedly violated etiquette and spoken out of turn, offending Us. She is to be confined for three months as a warning."

  Three months should be enough, right?

  Su Jing choked back tears and said, "Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for his great kindness."

  After a brief moment of silence, Zong Zhengjin waved his hand and said, "You can withdraw now."

  Su Jing took a deep breath, stood up and walked two steps out, then thought of something and turned back, quickly running to him, standing beside his bed, the two of them staring at each other.

  He knelt down, wanting to hold his hand, but was struggled open by him, "Your Majesty, are you okay?"

  Seeing that he didn't respond, she turned her head away and ignored him, placing her hand on his arm and said stubbornly, "Your Majesty hasn't answered me yet."

  Zong Zhengjin sighed in his heart, "I'm fine."

  Before Su Jing could react, Zong Zhengjin suddenly got up and started vomiting in the other direction.

  The whole person looks like he doesn't have much spirit.

  Su Jing handed him a handkerchief from her body. Outside, Su Shun heard the movement and hurried in to collect it personally.

  "Is His Majesty still doing well?" Su Jing asked with some anger, even if he was ill, why did he have to hide it.

  Zong Zhengjin didn't look at her, "I'm fine."

  Su Shun's expression was calm but his heart was extremely bitter. He knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, you might as well tell Zhen that Imperial Consort."

  "Get out, all of you," Zong Zhengjin lay down again, closed his eyes and didn't want to talk.

  Su Jingxiu couldn't move her feet, and knelt down beside him, silently laughing, "Your Majesty didn't order me to be confined, so why not let me be confined by Your Majesty's side instead."

  "Hu nao" Zong Zhengjin said sternly, seeing her shrink back, his heart somewhat unbearable, yet he still said, "You go out first, don't stay with me."

  Even if I myself cannot live on, yet I want you to live.

  Heaven knows, how many times he had wanted to call her over when he was lying alone on the couch before, but when she really came and heard her voice inside, at that moment, he still softened.

  He was afraid, he couldn't bear it, she was still so young, how could she follow him to the Yellow Springs?

  Su Jing felt more and more that something was off, vaguely able to guess what it was, but couldn't be sure. "Your Majesty, just tell me directly, you always say I'm foolish, if you don't tell me, I'll definitely not be able to guess."

  "Heavenly Flower," Zong Zhengjin spat out two words coldly and continued, "I have contracted the Heavenly Flower."

  The last sentence, also unknown who is listening.

  In this dynasty, there was no such thing as vaccine prevention. If you contracted smallpox, it would almost certainly be a dead end with little chance of recovery.

  In the face of death, regardless of wealth, power, or money, all living beings are equal.

  The emperor is also like this.

  Su Jing was shocked in her heart and also couldn't control the expression on her face, "I don't believe it, why would she suddenly get smallpox?"

  Zong Zhengjin slightly hooked the corner of his mouth with a hint of sarcasm. He didn't want to believe it either, but that was the result of the imperial physician's diagnosis.

  Thousands of precautions, yet who would have thought that someone would lay hands on the late emperor's will. He personally touched it last night and later became weak all over, this morning he was vomiting non-stop, all symptoms match.

  After a thousand calculations and ten thousand plans, it was not easy to ascend to the throne, but after working diligently for the people, in the end, he ended up with an unfortunate demise.

  No one can face death so calmly, especially him, with too many regrets and unfulfilled wishes, how could he be willing to die peacefully just because of a path?

  Su Jingxiao saw that he didn't respond, and didn't want to entangle this issue further. His expression didn't seem fake. She grasped his hand, "Does the Emperor want to give up then?"

  He didn't answer, Su Jing didn't mind, somewhat despondent, "The Emperor has given up, what should I do then?"

  Zong Zhengjin felt a little down, but he thought she was just scared, and even he himself was scared, so how could he blame her? She's just a little girl, silly and lovable.

  "I have already made arrangements for you. I will send someone to protect you and your mother, leave the palace, wherever you want to go, as long as you don't return to the capital, you will be safe for the rest of your life."

  Although it's hard to give up the throne that I've fought so hard for, but in order to stay alive, these are not things that can't be given up.

  Su Jing's tears slid down her cheeks, but the corners of her mouth curved upwards. "What is Your Majesty saying? If Your Majesty were to leave, I, your concubine, would not live alone either."

  If he were gone from this world, what would be the point of her living?

  Before, she thought that if she was willing to die for Zong Zhengjin, she could also live for her own children, but all of that was just her own imagination.

  It wasn't until this moment that she realized how difficult such a decision was.

  But she was clearer than ever that if he were gone, she would absolutely have no courage to live on.

  Not even for a moment.

  Zong Zhengjin was moved in his heart, but he didn't show it. He scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about? Juan'er is still so young, do you want him to lose his mother at such a young age? Don't say anything more, tonight, I will send someone to escort you out of the palace."

  Even if he wanted to be with her again, he couldn't be so selfish.

  Su Jingxi leaned back, lying in his arms, letting him pull and pull, tightly hugging his waist, refusing to leave. "Where there is no emperor, I will not go anywhere. If the emperor dies, I will die too."

  If possible, I would like to share a blanket with you in life and a coffin in death.

  It's not that I've lived a life of ten years, with no thoughts or worries, yet unable to forget. A lonely soul, thousands of miles away, with no one to share my sorrow. Nor is it the pomegranate tree in our courtyard, which my wife planted with her own hands in the year she passed away, now towering above like a canopy. But rather, it's that we've shared life and death together, with love and devotion that never wavered.

  On the road of the Yellow Spring, how can I bear to let you walk alone?

  Zong Zhengjin sat up and held her in his arms, her tears wetting his clothes and also wetting her heart. "How can you still be so willful?"

  Su Jing did not answer him, but instead said, "Your Majesty, why don't we let the imperial physician come and diagnose the treatment?"

  It is almost incurable, not completely incurable.

  Maybe he's an exception.

  Maybe nothing will happen to him.

  Maybe nothing will happen after all.

  Seeing him nod, Su Jing didn't wait for him to speak and said, "I'm not feeling well, would you please trouble yourself, Imperial Eunuch Su, to go and invite the imperial physician over for me?"

  Su Jing raised her hand to smooth out his furrowed brow, smiled and said, "Your concubine has been in contact with Your Majesty like this, perhaps it's already the same as Your Majesty."

  Zong Zhengjin felt a lump in her throat, she had known all along, but she still did it anyway.

  It's hard to describe what it feels like, I patted her head and hooked the corner of my mouth, "How are you still so silly."

  "So, Your Majesty must get better. If you're not around, many people will bully me and I'll have no one to rely on," Su Jing said, squeezing his hand tightly.

  Zong Zhengjin didn't say anything, the two of them quietly stayed together, perhaps both had something on their minds and not speaking didn't feel awkward, or maybe nobody noticed this.

  In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, both Zhang Taifu and Liu Taifu arrived. This morning, Zhang Taifu had secretly come to treat the Emperor, so he already had some understanding of the Emperor's condition.

  Having seen one more person, he didn't show too much surprise.

  Su Jing moved aside, making it convenient for him to take her pulse.

  In a moment, the two men took turns feeling the pulse and exchanged a couple of sentences. Zhang Taishi stepped forward on his knees and said, "I report to Your Majesty that my conclusion is the same as it was this morning."

  "This palace has heard that even if it's a heavenly flower, there is still a way to cure it," Su Jing asked hastily after he finished speaking.

  "Your Majesty, Your Highness, there is indeed a possibility of recovery, but the chance is extremely slim."

  Su Jing cut him off before he could finish, "Since there's a possibility, I'll trouble the two imperial physicians. Before the Emperor recovers, you don't need to return either. Let's prioritize the Emperor for now, what do you say?"

  His gaze was gentle, yet as heavy as a thousand pounds, filled with majesty. Zhang Taishan's back broke out in cold sweat, from the moment he entered the Zi Shen Hall, he had made up his mind to leave his life here.

  If His Majesty has even a single misstep, they will also inevitably perish.

  In that case, why not give it a try and see what happens.

  Palace Concubine (Yi Shu)

  Gong Shu