General Teng Cheng implements his plans

The empress's mental health kept declining as the days passed, waiting for any news of the Noble Consort's pregnancy after three months has passed. Her maid had sent for several physicians in secret but the only diagnosis they had received from them was paranoia. The symptoms always got worse at night when she wanted to sleep so they had started giving her sleeping pills in order to curb her mental illness.

"She is still refusing to take over the harem affairs?" Prince Yi Huixian, formerly known as Wen Yating watched the empress from the door with her maid as she laid on the bed motionlessly. His heart ached at her despair even as he kept his emotions well hidden.

"Yes, Your Highness. Some consorts who support her have come to visit her so many times but she refused to see them. I really don't know what to do anymore." The maid replied nervously holding the second medicinal soup of the day on a wooden tray.