Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 658

Chapter 658: Chapter 655: Give an Inch, Take a Mile_1

In the empty hall, Lady Qiu’s low sobs resonated. The Emperor gazed at Lady Qiu’s tearful eyes full of concern. He ultimately couldn’t bear it, gently patting Lady Qiu’s hand to comfort her: "Alright, don’t cry anymore... I will protect you."

Soon, Gao Demao, who was ordered to deliver the white silk to the Empress, stepped into the hall with small steps. After respectfully saluting the Emperor, he cautiously reported: "Your Majesty, I have taken the Imperial Physician and the white silk to the Empress’s palace as ordered. Before the physician could examine her, the Empress admitted to her fake pregnancy. Clad in her ceremonial phoenix robe, she requested poison for a dignified death, stating that as the Empress, she should not hang from the rafters, leaving unsightly marks on her neck."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor’s chest heaved violently, and his breath became labored.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, calm down!" Lady Qiu hurried to soothe him, "Your health is paramount!"

"Dignity?! She still dares to ask for dignity from me!" The Emperor furiously overturned the spittoon at the bedside table. "Allowing her a complete corpse is already a great dignity! She dares to ask for more!"

The eunuchs and palace maids in the hall trembled and knelt, and even Lady Qiu hastily knelt and kowtowed.

The Emperor’s skeletal hands trembled as he supported himself, his face filled with venomous anger: "Go and tell that venomous woman! If she doesn’t end her life, I will have her strangled to death! Go!"

Gao Demao quickly acknowledged and hurried to the Empress’s palace with the white silk.

The night was deep, and the Empress sat serenely on the phoenix throne, gazing at the faint palace lanterns before the hall’s door.

Inside the hall were the sorrowful cries of her nanny and palace maids, kneeling and begging her to plead for forgiveness from the Emperor.

The wind blew, and the palace lanterns flickered, dimmed for a moment, then brightened again.

The Empress heard the approaching footsteps of the guards, the sound of their armor and swords growing louder. She straightened up and placed her hand on the armrest of the phoenix chair.

Gao Demao, accompanied by the eunuch guards, entered the hall once more. After respectfully saluting the Empress, he said, "Empress Dowager, the Emperor commands... if you do not end your life, he will have someone do it for you! Please..."

The Empress lightly placed a hand on her abdomen, a cold smile forming at the corner of her lips: "I thought the Emperor would at least give me poison for the sake of our years together. If he is unwilling, then so be it..."

Raising her head arrogantly, the Empress called, "Gao Demao!"

Gao Demao stepped forward and bowed, "What are your orders, Empress Dowager?"

The Empress’s voice carried a slight tremor, "How does the Emperor plan to handle the body of my son, King Xin?"

"Your Majesty has not yet issued a decree, but the merciful Crown Prince has already ordered King Xin’s body to be sent back to his residence," Gao Demao replied, eyes lowered.