"It’s my fault she got involved..." Lady Liang would rather endure the schemes of the Empress and Noble Princess Consort Rong herself than see anything happen to Pan Cairen. Pan Cairen was innocent.
Over the years, Pan Cairen had lived cautiously within Kunde Hall. She was timid and never dared to step outside. She had no great ambitions in life, only hoping that she, Lady Liang, and Zhao Yao could all live well. When she grew old, she wanted to leave the palace with Lady Liang, live in Zhao Yao’s residence, and help care for Zhao Yao’s children.
"I thought I could protect her... I never expected that in the end, because of me, she would die." Although Lady Liang and Pan Cairen were not sisters by blood, over the years, living together in Kunde Hall, they had long regarded each other as family.
For the first time seeing Lady Liang so heartbroken, Gui Xing and Gui Tao were at a loss, not knowing how to fort her.
Because Pan Cairen hanged herself before the New Year, it was a major taboo in the palace and considered highly inauspicious. Moreover, no funerals could be held before or during the New Year, so Pan Cairen was not entitled to be buried in the Imperial Mausoleum. Furthermore, she was demoted to a moner, no longer considered an Imperial Concubine.
Lady Liang pleaded with the Emperor to allow Pan Cairen’s body to be sent back to the Liang family so that they could arrange her funeral. Liang Run did not mind the inauspiciousness of her death, but no funeral could be held before or during the New Year. So, for the time being, he arranged for Pan Cairen’s coffin to be placed in a nunnery, asking the nuns to perform rites and recite scriptures. After the New Year, he would give Pan Cairen a grand funeral.
Since Pan Cairen hanged herself two days before the New Year, Empress Xie blamed Lady Liang for not keeping a close eye on Pan Cairen and wanted to punish Lady Liang according to palace rules. Her intention was to demote Lady Liang’s status, but the Emperor did not agree. Instead, the Emperor ordered Lady Liang to be confined, and without his decree, no one was allowed to enter or leave Kunde Hall to visit her.
Seeing the Emperor confine Lady Liang, Empress Xie said no more. However, she still tried to coerce Lady Liang. If Lady Liang agreed to the matters she had proposed before, she would plead with the Emperor to lift her confinement.
The Emperor learned that Lady Liang was heartbroken over Pan Cairen’s death, refusing to eat or drink, and felt both pained and worried.
That night, the Emperor "secretly" came to Kunde Hall, continually forting Lady Liang.
"She couldn’t see things through and it has nothing to do with you; you don’t need to blame yourself." The Emperor held Lady Liang, gently stroking her face with great tenderness, "If there’s anyone to blame, it’s that rascal Yao Yao. It’s all the trouble he’s caused you."
"How can it be Yao Yao’s fault? It’s because I didn’t take good care of Sister Pan that she got involved because of me." Lady Liang’s eyes were red and swollen from crying, and her voice was hoarse.
"It’s not your fault; she was just too timid." Seeing Lady Liang cry so much, the Emperor’s heart ached as if it would break, "She hanged herself to avoid implicating you. If she knew you were mourning her so deeply, she wouldn’t find peace in the afterlife."
Lady Liang leaned silently into the Emperor’s embrace, tears endlessly flowing.
"Xiao Xiao, you need to think about that rascal Yao Yao," the Emperor said, lifting Lady Liang’s face with a solemn expression, "You should know that things targeting Yao Yao are about to begin."
Upon mentioning her son, Lady Liang’s heart tightened, "I understand."
"If you want that rascal Yao Yao to peacefully do what he wants in Lingnan, you, as his mother concubine, will need to be more attentive." The Emperor didn’t want Lady Liang to drown in sorrow over Pan Cairen’s death, "Prince Dai and the others won’t let him go easily."
"I understand." Lady Liang grasped the Emperor’s meaning, "For now, we must not tell Yao Yao about Sister Pan’s death." If Yao Yao heard about it, he would undoubtedly rush back to the capital from Lingnan. If he returned, Prince Dai and Prince Jing would certainly not spare him easily.
"Promise me you won’t cry anymore, and I won’t tell that rascal a thing."
Lady Liang raised her hand to wipe away her tears, "I won’t cry anymore."
The Emperor bent down and kissed Lady Liang, "Good, I won’t tell that rascal a thing."
"Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve; you should hurry back."
"Don’t you need me to stay with you?" The Emperor was worried about leaving Lady Liang alone, "I could stay and keep you pany."
"I’m alright now, you have to rise early tomorrow, so it’s best you go back to rest."
"I’m afraid that once I leave, you’ll cry alone." The Emperor gently stroked Lady Liang’s swollen eyes from crying, "If you keep crying, won’t it ruin your beautiful eyes?"
"I won’t cry anymore, really." Lady Liang gently touched the Emperor’s face, "You should go back."
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