"There's no turning back, sister."
Concubine Jin's voice was calm, but it was full of regret. If they had known that everything would be like this, they would never have continued like this.
"Even the poisoning of the prince can be forgiven. If Concubine Dong doesn't die this time, I'm afraid no one in the harem will be able to control her."
The Queen held Concubine Jin's hand and patted it gently, but the sadness in her words could not be dispelled.
"Just now, Ah Kai told me that Concubine Dong will not die. She may not have been poisoned." This is what Murong Kai said to Concubine Jin after Murong Zheng left. After that, he advised Concubine Jin: "When I am better, mother, please return to Qingqiu Palace. Compared with the reunion of mother and son, I hope mother will live well."
The queen looked at Concubine Jin in surprise, but she understood in an instant.
Both were poisoned by Zui Beichun. Murong Kai fell into a coma soon after being poisoned, while Concubine Dong ran to Ruyi Palace after being poisoned. She was still energetic after all the ordeal and did not look like she was poisoned at all.
The two looked at each other and could only smile bitterly.
“Since you have come out of Qingqiu Palace, sister, please take good care of Akai. What I, as his stepmother, have done is really…” Thinking of how Murong Kai had brushed shoulders with death twice in just two days, she was filled with guilt.
Back then, when Concubine Jin trapped herself in front of Qingqiu Palace, she begged her to take care of Murong Kai on her behalf. That year, when the Empress Dowager left the palace, she also asked her to take care of Murong Kai as if he were her own child. She agreed, but she broke her promise.
"Sister, you have raised Ah Kai very well. I know everything about him. Concubine Dong's actions were beyond our expectations. So, it's no wonder, sister. Who would have thought that after so many years, she would have the vicious idea of getting rid of the prince."
Although she had been trapped in Qingqiu Palace for these years, she was not completely ignorant of what was happening outside, especially Murong Kai's affairs. Although she could not educate him personally, she knew everything about him. The Queen did what a mother should do for him, and she had no reason to blame the Queen, especially when it came to Concubine Dong.
"The Empress Dowager sent a letter the day before yesterday, saying that Ah Kai's marriage has come."
This was the reason why the Queen rushed over. She heard in Zhuoyao Palace that Concubine Jin had come out from Qingqiu Palace. She was so happy that she wanted to tell Concubine Jin the news.
"The Empress Dowager said that Akai's fate was predetermined and she couldn't do anything about it."
"Is it the girl who sent the antidote to Akai?" Speaking of Murong Kai's marriage, Concubine Jin couldn't help but think of the girl who threw the medicine bowl away in front of Murong Zheng. She was decisive, neat, and straightforward. She didn't even hide her likes and dislikes. She was as bright as the sun, warm and proud, and as fiery as the clouds.
"In the middle of the night, she broke into my bedroom holding the Empress Dowager's jade pendant and asked me only one question: Murong Kai was on the verge of life and death, should I, as his stepmother, save him?" The Queen whispered to Concubine Jin about what happened in her palace not long ago, and Concubine Jin listened without blinking.
"I didn't know Akai was poisoned at the time, so I quickly sent someone to inquire about it. After I knew that there was no cure for Akai's poisoning, I couldn't think of anything else and just told her that I wanted to save him. She asked my people in Zhuoyao Palace to set fire to him because Akai urgently needed an antidote. I didn't bother to ask anything and agreed to her request. I didn't expect that she actually got the antidote and sent it to me."
"Later I found out that the emperor had threatened her with Ajie's life, but she didn't give in."
“This time, it’s all thanks to that girl.”
Having seen too many shady tactics used in the harem, the queen admired A'man's open strategy very much. Although he was born in the harem, he acted in an upright manner.
"This child is too bold."
The Queen praised Ah Man, and Concubine Jin disagreed in her heart, but she didn't say anything. But when she thought about her son marrying such a woman, she couldn't help feeling a little... awkward.
(End of this chapter)