Chapter 668: Female Sovereign’s Consort Selection 25

Tang Wan endured.

Even as Lan Xintong leaned against her, his full weight resting on her shoulder, she forced herself to remain steady. It wasn’t as though she could suddenly push him away or complain—if she did, with Tongtong’s already fragile self-perception, he might immediately assume she disliked him.

So she held on.

Quietly, stubbornly.

One arm braced against the side of the carriage, the other wrapped around him, trying her best to support his weight while maintaining the illusion of ease.

What she didn’t know—

Was that Lan Xintong was suffering just as much.

In order to make his “fatigue” convincing, he had deliberately leaned his entire body against her, making himself heavier than usual. Every shift of the carriage made his posture more awkward, his muscles tensing as he tried to remain limp and believable.

It was uncomfortable.

Extremely so.

But for the sake of her dignity—

He endured it.

—

By the time the carriage finally came to a stop at the Crown Princess’s residence, both of them silently let out a breath of relief.

Tang Wan subtly shook her arm the moment she could, trying to ease the numbness creeping through it. Yet her face remained perfectly composed as she turned toward him with a smile.

“Tongtong, we’re home.”

“Mm,” Lan Xintong replied, straightening himself.

As usual, Tang Wan stepped down first, then turned back to help him descend.

But the moment she lifted her right arm—

A sharp numbness shot through it.

She paused, then quickly switched to her left hand without a word, maintaining her calm expression as if nothing had happened.

Only she knew—

Her arm was completely useless for the moment.

—

Once inside, the two headed straight for the inner chambers.

They hadn’t been tired before.

Now, however—

They truly were.

After bathing and washing away the day’s exhaustion, both of them lay down to rest. The quiet of the room wrapped around them, soft and still, as their bodies finally began to relax.

But the peace didn’t last long.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached, followed by the anxious voice of a servant.

“Your Royal Highness! A message from the palace—the Empress has vomited blood. You are summoned immediately!”

Tang Wan sat up at once.

“What?”

Her expression sharpened instantly, all traces of fatigue gone.

Yet beneath the urgency, there was no real surprise.

According to the original course of events, the Empress was already nearing the end. Her condition must have been deteriorating for some time—only concealed until now.

If word had been sent for her—

It meant the situation had become critical.

“Tongtong,” Tang Wan said quickly, turning to him, “I have to go to the palace. Rest well at home.”

Before he could respond, she leaned down and pressed a brief kiss to his cheek, then rose and left in a hurry, her steps swift and decisive.

—

Inside the palace, the atmosphere was heavy.

The Empress lay on her bed, her face pale, her breath shallow.

At her side, Empress Feng sat quietly, a handkerchief in hand as he gently wiped the blood from the corners of her lips. His movements were careful, precise—yet his expression remained distant, almost indifferent.

The Empress reached out with visible effort, her trembling hand coming to rest over his.

“Cheng Cheng…” she said weakly. “All these years… you’ve suffered so much. I’ve wronged you.”

Empress Feng’s expression did not change.

A faint smile curved his lips, calm and restrained.

“Your Majesty speaks too seriously,” he replied softly. “I have not suffered. Your health will recover.”

The Empress looked at him, her gaze heavy with something unspoken.

Even now…

Even in this state—

He would not show her even a trace of warmth.

“Cheng Cheng,” she murmured, her voice tinged with regret, “you still refuse to forgive me…”

Once, long ago, they had made promises to each other—vows of lifelong devotion.

But later…

She had broken them.

The moment she insisted on bringing another man into the palace, everything between them had already begun to fracture.

She knew—

He had never truly forgiven her.

At her words, Empress Feng remained composed.

“I have never blamed Your Majesty,” he said calmly. “So there is nothing to forgive.”

His tone was steady.

But beneath it—

There was nothing left.

Long ago, when she had been willing to cast him aside for another, his heart had already died.

What remained now—

Was only his daughter.

The Empress’s lips trembled slightly, as if she wished to say more.

But at that moment, a voice came from outside.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Princess has arrived!”

The Empress’s gaze flickered.

“Let her in,” she said.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”