Holding the script, I want to give up.

"Oh my god, I heard that the old nanny has angered the Empress and is going to be beaten to death."

"It was a maid who was tidying up the flowers and leaves when she was pulled over to watch," said one of the maids.

"If she hadn't kept saying things that stirred up trouble, she wouldn't have ended up like this!"

Another palace maid, who loved watching the drama unfold, was eating melon seeds as she spoke.

"That's right, this is just Her Majesty the Empress warning us to behave ourselves and not to have any improper thoughts."

An old nanny watched the nanny being beaten, her heart aching, but she had nothing to say. Survival in the palace was already difficult enough; why should she care about the life or death of others?

"quiet--"

An old man shouted in a high-pitched voice. The whispering crowd fell silent, watching quietly as the old woman was beaten.

"Ah-ah-ah!"

The old woman's shrill screams pierced the entire torture chamber, sending chills down one's spine.

Inside the Tangxi Pavilion in the Crown Prince's Palace.

"Well, what did Her Majesty the Empress say?"

The maid who had been watching Shangguan Zitong felt uneasy when she saw Le Qi arrive with a group of people, fearing that something might go wrong.

"We will proceed according to His Highness's last wishes."

Looking at Shangguan Zitong lying on the recliner, never to wake up again, Leqi spoke sadly, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She waved her hand, signaling the group of people behind her to carry Shangguan Zitong to the crematorium for cremation.

"Aren't you going to change clothes and put on makeup?"

The maidservant guarding the funeral saw that Shangguan Zitong's attire was too plain white and wanted to change her into a more formal outfit and makeup before the burial, so that she could pass away peacefully and with dignity.

"No need, Her Highness prefers simplicity! You can't take it with you when you die. There's no need for burial items."

After Leqi finished speaking, she and Shangguan Zitong were lifted up together on the cool chair and headed towards the crematorium.

A few days later, Mu Rongyi and Shangguan Zitong returned to the Dongchuan Imperial Palace.

"Congratulations, host! Mission complete!"

Rewards are being distributed; please wait patiently!

Liu Yunwan looked at the interface on the virtual screen, and swiped to change to the next scene.

"Ah."

She calmly watched the scene on the screen as Shangguan Zitong passed away peacefully, a nameless sorrow rising in her heart. Her grand ambitions and bold pronouncements ultimately couldn't save her. She was merely a part of the bigger picture.

"Wanwan, are you... going back in the end?"

Is there nothing in this place that can keep you here? Can't even I keep you? Mu Rongyi saw her touching something in the air and assumed that she had completed her mission and was preparing to go back.

"Well, the system hasn't been issued yet; it might take a few more days. After I leave, you must govern this country well! I believe in you."

Liu Yunwan spoke with great ceremony, but she herself didn't know if she could truly leave.

"Could you please not leave and stay with me? Or you could take me with you?"

"The child is so young, she can't lose her mother! Can you... stay a few more years, until the child grows up, until I've governed the country well before you leave?"

Mu Rongyi spoke cautiously, he was so afraid of losing her, yet he couldn't lock her up, and his eyes were already unconsciously reddening.

"I...we'll talk about it later!"

"You can't trap me now!"

Seeing his aggrieved expression, Liu Yunwan hugged him and gently patted his back, but said nothing. Parting is always so painful; she couldn't find the words of comfort she needed—they all seemed too pale and powerless.

"I know, I just want to keep you here."

"If you want to leave, I won't hold you back."

Mu Rongyi buried her face in her neck and gently kissed it, trying to comfort herself that she was still there. Tears welled up in her eyes involuntarily, flowing down Liu Yunwan's back and into her heart.

"Hey~ Don't be so sad, I'll think about it carefully!"

Liu Yunwan sighed. She knew the water droplets on her back were his tears, and she was sad too! But she had to say it in advance, in case the system sent her back one day.

"Okay, what would you like to eat?"

"I'll have the imperial kitchen staff make it!"

Mu Rongyi let go of her and pulled her towards the imperial kitchen.

"Life is too hard, so let's have some dessert."

Liu Yunwan watched as he held her hand even when they went to other places, and she couldn't easily let go. Afraid that he would overthink things, she decided to let him do as he pleased.

......

Inside the Nanning Imperial Palace, Shangguan Nuoyou sat listlessly in the hall.

"Xuan Ye, is it true?"

"My sister...she really..."

Shangguan Nuoyou couldn't believe it, and still couldn't bring himself to say that she was dead. She was such a lively and cheerful person, how could she... But everything made sense, and he no longer had a sister.

"Your Majesty, it's true!"

"According to the scouts, everything is true."

After Xuan Ye finished speaking these words with sadness, Shangguan Nuoyou's black hair turned white at a visible speed.

"I understand, I want to be alone."

"No need for words of comfort. You may leave."

Shangguan Nuo laughed as she looked at the drawing in her hand, covering her eyes with one hand, her helplessness unspoken.

"Yes, my subordinates know."

Xuan Ye, seeing that he hadn't asked Xuan Ye to stay with him, felt a pang of disappointment, realizing that he hadn't truly entered Xuan Ye's heart yet. It seemed understandable; Xuan Ye was the most honored person above all others, while Xuan Ye was merely a shadow accompanying him.

"Did you...hear everything?"

Xuan Ye retreated outside the palace and saw Zhou Jiyang eavesdropping. He lifted Zhou Jiyang by the back of his collar and looked him in the eye, his eyes revealing a faint sadness and helplessness.

"Yes, she's dead, and so is the other person."

"I will work hard to make our country stronger."

Zhou Jiyang's eyes were full of light, as if he was not afraid of any of the hardships in the world.

"Then you should stay away from His Majesty recently. He's in a bad mood, or you'll be the one who suffers."

After Xuan Ye finished speaking, he put him down and left in a bad mood, not caring whether the boy would go into the palace and court death.

Why is this happening? I only met her once. Do I really have to stay here?

"Little fox, tell me, should I leave? Their adult world is too complicated."

Zhou Jiyang left the palace where Shangguan Nuoyou was, found the white fox, and confided his innermost thoughts to it. The white fox lay in his arms and played.

"Forget it, I'll stay. They need me. I'm a citizen of this country too, and it's my duty to stand up for them."

After saying this, Zhou Jiyang felt he should stay, so he went to the training ground to train.

Upon hearing the news of Shangguan Zitong's death, Shangguan Jin, far away in Baihuai, asked for a few days off from his private school to compose himself. He drank alone in the plum grove, reminiscing about the past.

The sleeping quarters of Song Yao within the Beiji Imperial Palace.

"What did you say? His Majesty... has passed away?"

"How is this possible? He was perfectly fine before we left. No, there must be something wrong with the medicine they gave us!"

Song Yao fell to the ground, and Le Qi quickly helped her up.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty's only wish was to be buried with her. Please grant his wish!"

Hongjin clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "This is his last wish, and I will fulfill this simple wish for him."

"Ha! The only one? Buried together? He certainly left in a carefree manner! Well then, I will not do as he pleases."

"I cannot grant her wish. She has already been cremated and buried next to Yibai."

“Digging up graves is disrespectful to the dead. I advise you not to do it.”

Song Yao stood up and said sarcastically, "You left her with a mess, but you left so easily."

"But...this is His Majesty's only wish!"

Hongjin knelt down and performed a deep bow, trying to persuade them to try again.

"No, bury him next to her after cremation; that was her last wish."

"It can only be said that His Majesty and she are not meant to be!"

"Everything will proceed as usual, and the national mourning will be held as normal."

"Okay, everyone, please step aside."

Song Yao waved to them, and they all withdrew. She went alone to Huangfu Hongxi's bedroom and groped around under his bed.

"Ha! How ironic!"

"Huangfu Hongxi, did you... ever like me? Or even have a shred of affection for me?"

She's so precise in scheming against those around her, yet so soft-hearted towards the one she loves! Song Yao looked at the two imperial edicts in her hand with a cold smile, tears streaming down her cheeks and dripping to the ground.

"You've arranged everything so meticulously, did you plan this all along? Or did you anticipate this day would come?"

Song Yao wanted to ask Huangfu Hongxi about his heart, but he had died long ago and she couldn't find him at all! A decree was issued to appoint the infant prince as emperor and her as empress dowager. Before the child grew up, she could rule from behind the curtain.

It's ironic, isn't it? She can't get what she wants no matter how much she begs, but things she doesn't need are delivered to her without her even noticing! Song Yao was numb to it all.

......