The Enchanting Imperial Concubine (Book 2)

Chapter 367 - Last Glimmer Before Death

Outside the palace, everything was progressing slowly. Inside the palace, the health of Tai Guifei suddenly improved.

At her age, after being ill for so long, her sudden recovery felt like the phenomenon of "the last glimmer before death."

However, the imperial physicians didn't dare to say such a thing, so they continued to prepare medicinal tonics for her to drink with every meal.

Yet, it seemed that Prince Ping and his consort had been quietly informed of the situation.

The implication was that if she could survive this winter, it would be fortunate; if not, it would be the end.

Tai Guifei had endured a lifetime in the palace. She gave birth to a son and was conferred the title of Guifei, but her son was unworthy and could not elevate her to the position of Empress Dowager.

Later, her niece, Yao Xiang, entered the palace—intelligent, beautiful, ambitious, and strong-willed—becoming Tai Guifei's new hope and aspiration.

But things didn't go as planned. Yao Xiang also failed, and with her, the entire Yao family fell into decline.

When she was first titled as Guifei, she had secured a marquisate for her elder brother. Now, all of that was gone.

Everything she had valued—the honor of her family—was utterly destroyed, along with any hope for the future.

When a person loses their belief, their spiritual support vanishes. How could she survive after such a severe illness?

Inside Ci'an Palace, the smell of medicine lingered in the inner chambers.

"Has the prince left?" Tai Guifei coughed weakly.

Li Momo, her personal attendant, tucked the blankets around her. "He just left. After all, His Highness is a man, and it's not proper for him to linger in the inner palace."

"Indeed, this imperial palace now belongs to the Third Prince and Chen Shi. How could Hao'er remain?" Tai Guifei closed her eyes, her voice frail and weak.

Li Momo gently corrected her, "Your Highness, Chen Shi is now the Empress Dowager, and the Third Prince is the current Emperor. You mustn't misspeak."

Cough cough cough "Send a message—tomorrow, have the Princess Consort come to attend to my illness. Tell her to bring the children. I want to see them," Tai Guifei sighed deeply. "The world now belongs to the Empress Dowager and her son. At the very least, I should be allowed to see my own grandchildren."

Li Momo nodded, helped Tai Guifei lie down, and then left to make the arrangements.

Prince Ping was a bit surprised—why would she suddenly want to see the grandchildren?

However, considering that his mother might not have long to live, he couldn't refuse her request, so he agreed.

That night, Tai Guifei dreamed of many things.

From being selected to enter the palace, staying by the emperor's side, to giving birth to a prince and maneuvering her way up to the position of Guifei, everything went as planned—until the late emperor's decree conferring the title of Crown Prince to the Third Prince, Ning Chen, shattered all her hopes.

It was only at that moment she realized that the late emperor had never truly loved anyone in the harem.

His affection and support for her had been nothing more than a tactical move to curb the power of Empress Zhang, who had been too influential at the time.

Prince Ping had mediocre talents, unlike her or the former Emperor in temperament. His excessive benevolence made it inevitable that he wouldn't be able to keep his throne steady. The Fourth Prince, Ning Rui, looked like he could die at any moment, and it was as if the Chen mother and son had picked up a huge bargain for nothing.