The empress dowager stumbled in, surrounded by a large group of eunuchs and maids. The flower banquet was canceled at the last moment, and the young ladies from different families were sent away. Seeing Lin Haihai lying on the floor like a lifeless piece of wood struck the empress dowager with sorrow. She struggled to breathe and ended up losing consciousness.

Lin Haihai panicked. The old lady wasn’t in her best health and should avoid strong emotions. She immediately returned to her body and squeezed out the water in her stomach, coughing it out. The maids hurriedly helped the empress dowager away.

Everyone in the room took a collective sigh of relief, and Yang Shaolun felt as if he’d been crushed by something heavy. He was finally able to relax, but a numbing pain prickled all over his body. He watched as his imperial brother held Lin Haihai tight in his arms. If this is the price to pay to ensure her safety, I’ll accept it gladly.

Soon, Lin Haihai was lifted to a bed. She heard an imperial physician murmur, “Your Majesty, the handprints left on Consort Lin’s clothes tell us that the culprit must be a woman!”

Lin Haihai sighed. Consort Zhuang had been careless, leaving such obvious clues on her clothes.

Veins popped out of Yang Shaolun’s forehead,...