Transmigrated Female Official

It is said that as people get older, they always like to reminisce about the past.

The same was true for the Empress.

Her health was not as good as before, so she simply handed over the basic political affairs to the Sixth Princess to handle, and she herself officially entered the mode of enjoying her old age.

But when she had more free time, the Empress would often reminisce about many people and events, and then sigh with emotion. However, she no longer had a good man by her side who could accompany her for a long time.

With Wu Yang gone and Rui An confined to the Cold Palace, the Empress inevitably felt a profound emptiness in her heart.

Fortunately, after court, Chu Qingluo would often visit Fengluan Palace to pay her respects and occasionally make some new things to amuse her, which helped pass the time.

This day happened to be a day off. The Empress, feeling bored again, took Chonghuan for a stroll in the Imperial Garden.

Suddenly, a servant guarding the Flying Immortal Palace came to report that the Eighth Princess was seriously ill and asked the Empress whether she should send a physician to treat her.

Without a second thought, the Empress ordered her attendants to immediately go to the Imperial Hospital to fetch a physician.

The Empress only imprisoned the Eighth Princess; she did not intend to kill her.

After returning from the Flying Immortal Palace, the physician reported to the Empress on the Eighth Princess's condition, saying that the princess had contracted a cough and needed to rest and take medicine for several months.

The Empress then dispatched several physicians to prepare medicinal meals for the Eighth Princess daily. Following the Empress's instructions, the physicians would report back on the Eighth Princess's condition every few days.

Human hearts are made of flesh and blood. After hearing that the Eighth Princess's condition had not improved for many days, the Empress could no longer sit still and went to the Flying Immortal Palace to visit her.

The Eighth Princess burst into tears the moment she saw the Empress step into the palace. Her mother, who had once doted on her so much, had finally failed to let her go.

After the Empress visited the Eighth Princess, perhaps the Eighth Princess found comfort in her heart, and her condition began to improve day by day.

However, once the news spread throughout the palace, it took on a completely different meaning.

Some say that the Empress's favorite was indeed the Eighth Princess.

Some say that the day when the Eighth Princess makes a comeback is not far off...

Chu Qingluo naturally heard these rumors as well. In her view, this was undoubtedly pushing the Eighth Princess into the eye of the storm once again.

She didn't like the Eighth Princess, but she didn't hate her too much either.

In the struggle for the throne, the Eighth Princess merely held a title, while many of the insidious schemes originated from Long Kui. It could be said that the Eighth Princess, lacking in cunning, was more like a puppet, while Long Kui was the true mastermind behind the scenes, determined to achieve imperial dominance.

……

Inside the Flying Rainbow Palace, the Sixth Princess was looking at Chu Qingluo with great interest and asked, "Did I hear that right? Qingluo was just pleading for Eighth Sister?"

“I’m not pleading for her,” Chu Qingluo replied calmly. “I’m just stating something that the princess is well aware of as well—Princess Xile is no longer a threat.”

Chu Qingluo knew that with the Empress regaining her concern for the Eighth Princess, the Sixth Princess would certainly not stand idly by. As the victor in this battle, the Sixth Princess was no simple character, and she would not allow the Eighth Princess to stand in her way again.

Since the Eighth Princess was placed under house arrest, although the Sixth Princess concealed it very well, Chu Qingluo, who was the head lady-in-chief of Guangrentang at the time, still noticed the unusual activity—the Sixth Princess had secretly asked the physician to prepare sterilization herbs.

It's obvious that the Sixth Princess wouldn't use this for herself.

The meals at Feixian Palace were delivered daily by special personnel from the Imperial Kitchen. All that was needed was to add herbal juice to the soup... Without anyone noticing, the Eighth Princess was no longer capable of conceiving...

Hearing Chu Qingluo's answer, the Sixth Princess frowned slightly and asked again, "I still clearly remember how Eighth Sister and Long Kui joined forces with Fifth Brother to trap us on a precipice... And what impressed me most was how they killed Gongsun Yu, causing you to lose him and suffer unbearable pain. Even so, do you still feel that joy and happiness are nothing to fear?"

Mentioning Gongsun Yu, Chu Qingluo couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of bitterness. "Princess, Longkui and the Fifth Prince are dead, and Longkui's henchmen have all been eliminated. Now there is no force in the court that supports Princess Xile. You should know this better than I do."

"...Qingluo, you really surprise me." The Sixth Princess gave her a deep look, then suddenly chuckled, "But you're overthinking it. I have no intention of doing anything to Eighth Sister."

Seeing that the Sixth Princess was not going to speak frankly, Chu Qinglu smiled and explained, "Please don't misunderstand, Princess. I absolutely did not mean to plead for Princess Xile. My original intention was actually for Princess Anyang."

"Oh?" The Sixth Princess raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.

"It is said that under the careful care of the physicians, Princess Xile's health has gradually improved, and rumors are circulating in the palace that the Empress intends to lift her confinement. If Princess Xile were to suddenly die at this time... or die suddenly in some other way... it would be truly detrimental to you, Princess Anyang. Rumors would say that it is because you, Princess, cannot tolerate your own sister."

"..." After hearing this, the Sixth Princess just stared at her silently without saying a word.

Chu Qingluo had no choice but to say again, "Princess, if you still consider Qingluo a trustworthy person, please allow me to tell you the truth."

"Of course, I trust you completely."

"Princess Xile's life or death makes no difference to Qingluo. If the princess is determined to get rid of her, I will not stop her. Please think it over."

The Sixth Princess thought for a moment and concluded that Chu Qingluo indeed had no reason to plead for the Eighth Princess, let alone side with her. So, she walked over and patted her shoulder lightly, saying, "I understand Qingluo's good intentions. Don't worry, I'm not that impulsive."

"The princess is wise."

Only after Chu Qingluo left Feihong Palace did the Sixth Princess breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Chu Qingluo wasn't an enemy; otherwise, eliminating her would have required considerable scheming and intricate planning…

……

Ji Qiran was quite surprised when Chu Qingluo mentioned this matter on the way back to the manor.

He never imagined she would go to the Sixth Princess specifically because of the Eighth Princess, so he asked, "Although it's ostensibly for the sake of Sixth Sister's reputation, you actually don't want to see Eighth Sister die, do you?"

"...Maybe, I don't know." Chu Qingluo herself wasn't entirely sure. After all, at this time, offending the Sixth Princess for the sake of the Eighth Princess would be a losing proposition and not a wise move. "It's just that His Majesty's health has deteriorated recently, and I can't bear to see her grieve so much for the loss of her loved ones."

For some reason, she found the Empress to be becoming more and more kind and approachable. Having shed her former majesty, she was just like an ordinary old woman, facing the mundane realities of birth, aging, sickness, and death.

"You're just too kind-hearted." Ji Qiran hugged her tightly from behind and said softly, "But I like it."

The woman he loved so deeply... always seemed so unbelievable. Whatever choice she made, he would unconditionally support her to the end.

Even if it means going against the heavens, he would do it without hesitation.