I'm having EMO, can you help me die?

It's not like this hasn't happened before, but something seems to have changed recently...

"Your Majesty, tomorrow is your birthday, and His Majesty will definitely come. You..."

Behind the screen, Shen Wanqing wiped the silver bracelet, its two sides intertwined like vines, the silver light reflecting in her eyes.

Was she being too greedy? Imperial love is fleeting, yet the memories of yesterday still linger. The vows made—the plum blossoms and bamboo—the tokens of their love, had he already forgotten them?

"Your Highness, this is medicine specially prepared by His Majesty for the Empress to nourish her body. Her Highness would be kind enough to do it for her."

Mo Jing took the medicine and waved his hand to indicate that he understood.

His mother's expression would soften slightly when it was time to deliver the medicine, and she would sometimes show concern for him.

"Mother."

Seeing the medicine Mo Jing was holding, Shen Wanqing's complexion improved considerably, and her words became slightly gentler. "Give it to me."

"These days, the weather is getting cold, so please prepare some more clothes for Your Highness."

Xiao Xiang took the medicine pot, put down the wooden tray that held it, and poured it into the bowl. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Mo Jing stood to the side, unsure whether he would be able to dine with his mother today, unable to bring himself to ask.

His mother's health was too weak, and she needed to rely on medication every day. Even her diet required extra care, so he hadn't eaten with her for a long time.

"Mother..."

He mustered his courage to ask, but before he could even utter the question, Shen Wanqing fell off the chair.

"Mother!"

"Mother!!"

Shen Wanqing was pale and weak in her limbs. "This medicine is poisoned..."

"Your Majesty, please hold on! I'll call the imperial physician right away!"

Xiao Cui ran out in a panic, shouting, "Help! Someone help!"

"Summon the imperial physician! Her Majesty the Empress has been poisoned!"

Inside the palace, Mo Jing nervously held Shen Wanqing's hand. Although his mother was indifferent to him, she was the only one in the world who truly cared for him, and he couldn't lose her.

Is that you?

Shen Wanqing remained calm, muttering as she coughed.

"No, Mother."

So nervous, Mo Jing even forgot to change how he addressed her.

"Not you? You've been the one delivering these past few days."

"Mother, don't you believe your son?"

"No, it wasn't me..."

Tears streamed down his face, his eyes filled with grievance, as if he didn't understand why his mother doubted him.

"Are you on her side too? You don't want me to live either, am I in your way anyway?!"

She suddenly lost control of her emotions, and all the bitterness she had kept inside her was revealed today.

"No, that's not it..."

Mo Jing shook his head. He only wanted his mother's care and had no intention of harming her.

"Isn't it you?"

He nodded, his eyes red and swollen, kneeling on the ground, his hair a mess from being pulled by Shen Wanqing.

Her eyes gradually cleared, as if she had come to her senses, but her gaze returned to its previous coldness. "Jing'er, do you know?"

Mo Jing looked up, his eyes filled with doubt.

"Do you know who the Empress Dowager hates most in this world?"

"His Majesty?"

He didn't know that his mother always kept everything related to His Majesty carefully, but would throw it away just like trash.

"No...the person Mother hates the most is you..."

Shen Wanqing smiled, a gentle smile. She cupped Mo Jing's face in her hands, her fingernails tracing across his delicate skin, leaving a bloody mark near his eye.

His small body stiffened, his mouth agape, staring incredulously at his "gentle" mother, unsure of what expression to make.

"Do you know why? After you came into his life, His Majesty changed. He no longer loves me..."

What did I do wrong?

"The only mistake I made was giving birth to you..."

She grabbed Mo Jing's neck and slowly tightened her grip until Mo Jing couldn't breathe, then she let go.

"Mother?"

Shen Wanqing was exhausted and could no longer recognize the person in front of her. However, the seven-tenths resemblance made her happy.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't... I shouldn't have given birth to you..."

A tear rolled down her cheek, and the hand that reached out to touch her fell into her arms, but Shen Wanqing was already motionless.

"Mother?"

"Mother, wake up. Is there anything else you want to say to your son?"

"The imperial physician has arrived!"

Mo Jing knelt on the ground, looking bewildered and at a loss, tears streaming down her face without stopping.

"Imperial Physician, is this my lady?"

Xiao Xiang frowned, her hands clenched together. His Highness is still so young, His Highness cannot be harmed.

The imperial physician shook his head.

thump--

"My lady..."

"The Queen..."

Tomorrow is your birthday, and I'll be able to see Your Majesty, why... why...

Why is fate so unfair to you...?

In the third year of the Yuan Dynasty, the Queen of the Mo Kingdom passed away. The funeral bells tolled, and the court was filled with solemnity as everyone wore plain clothes. The streets and alleys were abuzz with discussion, and incense smoke swirled in temples and monasteries.

Mo Jing, as the Empress's only son, had to observe three months of mourning.

The emperor did not investigate the poisoning incident further, but rumors circulated in the palace that the third prince, the empress's only son, had murdered his mother.

[Ding-dong! Task Two: Accompany Mo Jing through the mourning period and fill the void left by the loss of her mother.]

Early in the morning, Shen Qingqing, who was eating steamed buns, was startled when she heard about the mission.

The Empress has passed away. Why didn't anyone tell her? The Prime Minister's residence does look a bit quieter than before. I don't want to think about it anymore. I guess it's because she's a child and no one told her.

Do you know the way?

【do not know. 】

[Unreliable.]

Isn't it a system? It doesn't seem very smart.

[Host, your expression betrays you.]

Enraged, it transformed into a black cat, jumped into Shen Qingqing's arms, and scratched at her clothes with its claws.

It doesn't hurt.

You are a host who understands anger, but I have a large temper, so I won't stoop to your level.

"Mother, I'm going out to play."

The private school has been on holiday for the past few months, so I'm happy that I don't have to go to school.

She was determined to ask her grandfather if she could stop going to school. School was too tiring, and she was always sleepy. Shen Qingqing felt that this feeling was very familiar. Had she gone to school before, for many years?

If I've already attended school, then I won't go again; school is exhausting.

(This assumes the student has already attended school; those who haven't should attend at least one school.)

"Qingqing, slow down and watch where you're going."

"Okay, mother."

Fortunately, Yan Li came to see her today, so she could take the opportunity to ask him.

"Qingqing, where shall we go to play today?"

On weekdays, the two would go out for a stroll, and if they came across a fun place, they would stop and play there for a whole day before finally going home.

But that was the old Shen Qingqing; the current Shen Qingqing doesn't like going out to play.

Even lying at home and sleeping feels tiring.

"Jiaofang Palace".

That's a mourning hall now. What would my dear Qingqing be doing there?