I fulfilled the female supporting role's wish and I succeeded

The dark and damp room was filled with a musty smell and a faint medicinal fragrance.

Concubine Nian tightly grasped a handkerchief, her knuckles turning white, and stared intently at the trembling old nanny in front of her.

"Are you sure?" Nianpin's voice was low and filled with a hint of disbelief. "The child that Fujin gave birth to back then...died at birth?"

The old lady was trembling, fear written all over her wrinkled face, tears welling up in her cloudy eyes.

"I dare not lie to you, Madam," she replied in a trembling voice, "that child... was covered in bruises, lifeless..."

The old lady still felt a lingering fear when she recalled the scene, as if the baby's purple face was right in front of her.

"At that time...Fourth Lady cried heartbreakingly..."

Nianpin took a deep breath and tried to calm the surging emotions in her heart.

"Who have you told about this?" Concubine Nian stared at the old nanny with a sharp tone.

"No... no," the old lady shook her head in horror, "I have never mentioned this to anyone..."

"Very good," Nianpin raised a sinister smile at the corner of her mouth, "Remember, if anything about today's events is leaked, your family..."

She didn't continue, but the threat was clear.

The old lady was so frightened that she trembled all over and kowtowed repeatedly, "I understand, I understand..."

Concubine Nian waved her hand, signaling the old nanny to leave.

After the old nanny left, Concubine Nian immediately called Songzhi.

"Songzhi," Nianpin's voice was filled with excitement, "go find a trustworthy doctor from outside the palace."

Songzhi hesitated for a moment, "My Lady, but..."

"Remember," Nianpin interrupted her, "this matter must not be made public, especially not to the Queen."

A stern look flashed in Nianpin's eyes, "The Queen is very thoughtful, we must be careful and cautious."

"I understand," Songzhi took the order and left.

The atmosphere in the Hall of Mental Cultivation was solemn.

The emperor frowned, holding a secret report tightly in his hand.

Longkodo, his uncle and the Empress Dowager's old lover.

This name, like a shadow, hung over his heart.

He felt nauseous, as if he had swallowed a fly.

"I have been kept in the dark for so many years!" the emperor roared, his voice echoing in the palace.

He felt extremely ashamed that his mother had an affair with a minister and had cuckolded the emperor.

But he, as the emperor, knew nothing about it.

This feeling of being deceived made him furious.

"Xia Ge!" the emperor shouted sternly.

A black-clad secret guard appeared silently in front of him and knelt on one knee.

"Investigate Longkodo thoroughly!" the emperor gritted his teeth. "I want all the evidence of his crimes!"

There was a cold murderous intent in the emperor's eyes.

Inside Shoukang Palace, the air is filled with the scent of sandalwood.

The Queen Mother sat back on the phoenix chair, her face pale and her expression haggard.

Longkodo knelt in front of her, his eyes full of worry.

"The Emperor... suspects you." The Queen Mother spoke with difficulty in a trembling voice.

Longkodo smiled bitterly, "I know."

He understood that the emperor would discover their secret sooner or later.

"Go away," the Queen Mother closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, "the farther you go, the better..."

Longkodo felt a pain in his heart, he understood that it was the Queen Mother protecting him.

"I...can't bear to leave you..." Longkodo choked.

The Queen Mother suddenly opened her eyes, her eyes filled with pain and determination.

She picked up a glass of wine and handed it to Longkodo.

"Drink it," the Queen Mother's voice trembled, "This is... the only way..."

Longkodo looked at the wine glass in the Queen Mother's hand, his heart filled with confusion and uneasiness.

But he didn't hesitate, took the glass and drank it all.

As the wine entered my throat, a bitter taste spread.

He felt dizzy and everything in front of him began to blur.

He looked at the Queen Mother, his eyes filled with confusion and pain.

The Queen Mother hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry..." the Queen Mother whispered in his ear, "This is... for you... for the Emperor... for the Qing Dynasty..."

Longkodo slowly closed his eyes and his body slowly fell down.

The Queen Mother hugged his body tightly and cried bitterly.

A few days later, news came that the Queen Mother fell ill.

Inside Shoukang Palace, the air was stagnant and filled with a strong smell of medicine, which intertwined with sandalwood, creating a suffocating atmosphere.

The Queen Mother was half lying on the sickbed, breathing weakly, like a candle in the wind.

Her face was pale, without a trace of blood, and her lips were cracked like a withered rose petal.

Zhuxi knelt beside the bed, tears streaming down her face, holding the empress dowager's hand tightly.

The Queen Mother's hands were cold and bony, as if they would dissipate at any moment.

"Bamboo Breath..." The Queen Mother opened her mouth with difficulty, her voice hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against her.

"I'm here." Zhuxi choked with sobs, and tears fell on the empress dowager's hands.

"Go... to the Yangxin Palace... to find the Emperor..." The Empress Dowager uttered a few words with great effort, and every word seemed to exhaust all her strength.

"Empress Dowager..." Zhu Xi looked at the Empress Dowager worriedly. She knew that the Empress Dowager's current physical condition could not withstand any hardship.

"Go quickly..." The Queen Mother held Zhuxi's hand tightly, her eyes full of anxiety and expectation.

"I'll go right away." Zhuxi wiped away her tears, stood up, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself down.

Zhuxi walked quickly out of Shoukang Palace, passed through the numerous palace gates, and headed straight for Yangxin Palace.

Inside the Yangxin Palace, the emperor was reviewing memorials with a furrowed brow and a solemn expression.

The death of Longkodo hung like a dark cloud over his heart.

He felt angry, sad, and a deep sense of powerlessness.

"Your Majesty, Aunt Zhuxi from Shoukang Palace requests an audience." A young eunuch bowed and reported.

The emperor raised his head and said, "Let her in."

Zhuxi walked into the Yangxin Palace and knelt down, "Your servant pays homage to the Emperor."

"How is the Empress Dowager?" The emperor put down the memorial in his hand, his tone filled with anxiety.

"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother...wants to see you." Zhu Xi lowered his head, not daring to look directly at the Emperor.

The emperor was silent for a moment, "I understand. Go back and tell the Queen Mother. I will go later."

Zhuxi kowtowed and said, "I'll take my leave."

After Zhuxi left, the emperor stood up and paced back and forth in the hall.

His heart was full of contradictions and struggles.

On the one hand, he was the emperor of the Qing Dynasty, shouldering the heavy responsibility of the country.

On the other hand, he is also the Queen Mother's son and cannot give up his family ties.

"Go to Shoukang Palace." The emperor finally made a decision.

In Shoukang Palace, the empress dowager, despite her illness, was waiting for the emperor's arrival.

When the emperor walked into Shoukang Palace, the empress dowager struggled to get up.

"Emperor..." The Queen Mother held the Emperor's hand tightly, her eyes full of anticipation.

"What instructions does your mother have?" the emperor asked with concern.

"I... want to see the fourteenth prince..." The Queen Mother spoke with difficulty, her voice weak but extremely firm.

The emperor's expression instantly darkened. "Mother, this is impossible."

"Emperor, I know you always blame him..." The Queen Mother sighed, "But, he is also my son..."