I insist

Chapter 246: Find a way to save us

Although the Empress Dowager sent her male favorite away, she continued to send people to carefully check on his condition, fearing that the Crown Prince might find him.

As it turned out, her worst fears came true.

The Crown Prince, having somehow obtained the information, marched in a large entourage to the place where she had hidden her male favorite, driving him to suicide!

She was heartbroken, covered her face with her hands, and cried her heart out.

Her feelings for the Emperor had long since reached a limit, and could not go any further. Over the years, it was her male favorite who had been by her side, speaking tenderly and understanding all her inner turmoil.

Although the emperor treated her very well, he could never fully understand her own heart, and in the end, her male favorite was still the better choice.

But now that her male favorite was gone, the Empress Dowager harbored even more resentment towards the Crown Prince and the Empress. With a tearful face, she cried to the old nanny Hong beside her, "Why am I so unlucky! Now he's gone too!"

She finally met a man who understood her heart. Even though the Empress Dowager knew that what she was doing was wrong, she accepted it completely. She never expected that even so, they would not let her go!

Seeing this, Granny Hong sighed helplessly. She gently patted the Empress Dowager's back, handed the handkerchief in her hand to the Empress Dowager, and said in a low voice, "Isn't this something we can't do? But it's also my fault. I didn't hide the male concubine in time. If Your Majesty still has grievances, why not take them out on me?"

After calming down a bit, the Empress Dowager sniffed and realized that she couldn't blame Hua Mama entirely. After all, if the Emperor and the Crown Prince hadn't been constantly finding fault with her, her male favorite wouldn't have been discovered!

She held the handkerchief that Granny Hua handed her, her eyes slowly revealing calmness. The Empress Dowager said in a deep voice, "It seems that the Crown Prince must have just left his male favorite somewhere. Granny Hua, go and find out where the male favorite's body is."

"Once you find him, give him a proper burial. After all, I didn't treat him well while he was alive, so he should be given some dignity after his death."

Granny Hua fell silent, unsure of what to say. She nodded gently, acknowledging the Empress Dowager's words.

The Empress Dowager fell ill because of this incident. She lay weakly on the sickbed all day, listless. When the maid Hua at the door announced that the Emperor had entered, the Empress Dowager didn't bother to pay attention.

A series of footsteps approached, and based on the Empress Dowager's understanding of the Emperor, she knew without a doubt that the footsteps must have come from him.

She slightly opened her eyes, glanced weakly at the Emperor, and then silently closed them again.

The Emperor tenderly stroked the other's hair, then turned his head to look at Granny Hua standing to the side, and asked in a cold voice, "Have you found an imperial physician to examine the Empress Dowager properly?"

"Your Majesty, this servant has indeed consulted the imperial physicians, who have also examined the Empress Dowager's pulse. They said that the Empress Dowager's health is not good, and coupled with the recent troubles, this is why she has fallen ill!"

The emperor pursed his lips, feeling a slight doubt about what the other party had said, but he did not say anything.

He looked down at the Empress Dowager and saw her haggard appearance. His eyes were filled with heartache, but he didn't know what to say to her. He could only silently close his mouth and watch her fall asleep.

After the Emperor left, the Empress Dowager opened her eyes again. She looked at Granny Hua, closed her eyes, and whispered, "What's going on with the Han family?"

"Your Majesty, as soon as the Han family head heard what you said, he immediately sent Madam Han over, saying that Madam Han's arrival would not attract the attention of others."

The Empress Dowager nodded.

After a while, Granny Hua brought the person in. She strode to the Empress Dowager's side, helped the person up, nodded and bowed to the Empress Dowager, and then turned and strode away.

The Empress Dowager looked at Madam Han in front of her and said in a hoarse voice, "When you go back later, tell him that you must deal with the Crown Prince and the Empress in secret."

Madam Han knew that it was the Empress and the Crown Prince who had angered the Empress Dowager. She remained silent for a moment, then asked in confusion, "But what did they do to offend the Empress Dowager?"

The Empress Dowager glanced coldly at them, gritted her teeth, and said angrily, "They've touched people I shouldn't have! Isn't that enough?!"

The Han family has relied on the Empress Dowager for many years, so naturally they would grant her every request.

Furthermore, the Empress and the Crown Prince did indeed take action to resolve the situation, since if they continued to be allowed to continue, the Crown Prince would eventually inherit the throne.

They had been waiting for the Empress Dowager's belly to show any signs of pregnancy.

Within a few days, Madam Meng immediately went to the palace to ask for help. By this time, the Empress had already been released by the Emperor. She strode up to the Empress, and with a mournful face, bowed to her.

Seeing this, the Empress frowned deeply. Looking at the other person's appearance, she instantly had a bad feeling.

The Empress quickly rose and went to Lady Meng's side, gently helping her up. Looking at Lady Meng's appearance, the Empress asked softly, "What happened? Why do you look so haggard when you enter the palace?"

"Your Majesty! You must find a way to save us!" Madam Meng was practically kneeling down.

Seeing the other person's appearance, the Empress felt a bad premonition. She frowned and asked, "Has something happened at your residence?"

Madam Meng nodded, covering her face with one sleeve, and with a sob in her voice, told the Empress how they were doing.

"I don't know why, but the Han family keeps targeting us. Not only do they sabotage our business, but they also try to trip us up in the imperial court. My lord doesn't know what to do now!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress was furious. She never expected that her entanglement with the Empress Dowager would be dragged into a showdown outside the palace by the Empress Dowager!

Thinking of this, the Empress looked at Madam Meng's appearance with a troubled expression. "I will try my best to think of a solution. I am in a difficult situation right now."

Madam Meng understood the Empress's meaning. They had also heard that the Empress had just been released, and there were naturally some areas where she could not provide assistance.

She ran over to explain these things to the Empress, hoping that the Empress would do her best to help them. After all, they were the Empress's family. If they fell from power, even with the Crown Prince's help, the Empress would likely suffer greatly in the palace.

After seeing the man off, the Empress immediately went to the Imperial Study and told the Emperor everything about the Empress Dowager having a male favorite. "Your Majesty, please believe me this once. I am not lying!"

"Even so, I don't care at all." The emperor had naturally heard some rumors, but he didn't care at all.