Feeling the icy penetration of the blade into her body, Gu Shengyin slowly crumbled to the ground.
However, Huang Mingge let go of her hand as if burnt by its touch.
She looked at her injured self, smeared in fresh blood with some confusion. She intended to enact a ploy of self-injury, so why couldn’t she resist the impulse to wish for Huang Changge’s disappearance just now?
Lowering her head, she gazed at the unconscious Huang Changge, her heart filled with complex emotions.
What should she do? Having entered Qinghuang Palace was no secret, and now that Huang Changge had ended up in this state, everyone would suspect her.
She needed a plan, yes, a plan would present itself...
She even cast a somewhat sinister glance at Huang Changge, who lay comatose on the ground: now was an excellent opportunity, if Huang Changge never woke up...
"Your Highness, the Immortal Dew Flower Tea you previously ordered to be prepared..." The palace doors opened, and Huang Changge’s Senior Palace Maid Bi Xin walked in carrying a tray.
The scene in the hall made her pause.
The tray in her hands dropped to the ground, and the crisp sound of the porcelain cup hitting the floor resonated.
"Your Highness! Someone, come quickly..."
Huang Mingge panicked, realizing that the best moment had now passed.
Hustling and bustling footsteps surrounded her, along with voices speaking; she could faintly hear a commanding female’s strict interrogation.
Gu Shengyin felt rather irritated. She wanted to open her eyes but felt so weak that she couldn’t move a muscle.
Darkness engulfed her, and she slipped into deep sleep once more.
At the same time, the elaborately dressed woman who had been keeping vigil by the bedside turned from her motionless eldest daughter and sharply inquired the Imperial Physician, "Didn’t you say Changge was out of danger? Why hasn’t she awakened yet?"
The addressed Imperial Physician, a slender middle-aged woman, responded, "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is indeed out of danger. The reason for not yet awakening could be excessive blood loss..."
Cold sweat ran down her back as well; that blade had struck a vital spot, and at that time, all Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau had been summoned by the raging Your Majesty Phoenix Emperor.
"If my Changge doesn’t wake up, then you shall all accompany her in what lies below!"
Fortunately, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was blessed by the heavens, having miraculously pulled through a near-certain death ordeal.
Yet not awakening... The Imperial Physician also inwardly moaned, fearing that if the Crown Prince didn’t wake soon, she might be torn to pieces by the infuriated Your Majesty Phoenix Emperor.
Upon hearing the Imperial Physician mention the excessive blood loss, a cold glint flashed in the Phoenix Emperor’s slender, phoenix-like eyes.
Outside the Heavenly Phoenix Palace, the Eighth Prince, Huang Mingge, was still kneeling.
She cast a glance at her eldest daughter lying on the bed, pale and bloodless, then coldly commanded the Palace Attendants and the Imperial Physician to take good care of her, before standing up to visit the mistress.
By this time, Huang Mingge had been kneeling outside for two days and nights, and countless palace attendants and ministers had passed by the Heavenly Phoenix Palace every day. Huang Mingge knew that those people might all be secretly gossiping about her.
She felt utterly humiliated, yet she dared not stand up.
That day, upon receiving the news, the Phoenix Emperor hurried over. As she tried to walk over and defend herself, the infuriated Phoenix slapped her face directly.
"You shameless, unruly thing, go kneel outside the palace! Reflect on yourself properly!"
The burning sensation on her face was intense as she watched Huang Changge being personally carried by her Imperial Mother, surrounded and escorted by everyone into the Phoenix Emperor’s Heavenly Phoenix Palace.
I will remember today’s humiliation well!