Gu Wei led the Emperor to the Second Princess's bedchamber and closed the door behind them.
The Second Princess stood facing the window, her thoughts adrift, presenting the Emperor with nothing but a tall, slender silhouette. Gazing at that back, as beautiful as their daughter’s, the Emperor let out a few coughs and called out, "Mother of my child."
In truth, the Second Princess had already wept bitterly upon reading the third note. Now, hearing those words—"Mother of my child"—from the Emperor’s own lips, she could no longer restrain herself. Her shoulders heaved, and she began to sob.
Chapter 258