"Your Majesty!" Zhaoxia was the closest one, having caught a glimpse of something, and she hurriedly stepped forward to support her with a look of unease.
"There's no need." The Empress sighed. She opened her eyes to look out at the courtyard once more, then closed them weakly and murmured, "This palace is a little tired. All of you withdraw..."
"Do not follow. Let this palace rest in peace for a while!" With that, the Empress turned and walked away. The moment she turned, tears burst from her eyes.
Zhaoxia had not heard what the young eunuch said. Seeing the Empress turn away and forbid anyone from following, a sense of unease stirred in her heart. However, she had served the Empress for a long time and knew well that though the Empress seemed lenient, she never hesitated at critical moments, so she dared not follow.
"Is Her Majesty in a bad mood?" A female official walked over, watching the Empress's figure vanish into the inner hall, and asked Zhaoxia in a low voice.
Zhaoxia pressed down the unease at the bottom of her heart, but only said, "Perhaps she hasn't rested well. The Empress has been coughing a few times every night these past few days, which truly worries people."
"Tonight, let the imperial kitchens prepare some throat-soothing broth. Do not serve any spicy food these past few days, so as not to make Her Majesty even more uncomfortable."
At these words, everyone's attention was drawn elsewhere.
They spoke one after another of recent matters, as if the days were no different from usual.
"There is indeed some lingering spring chill lately. You and I must also pay more attention. We mustn't fall ill and end up implicating Her Majesty." A female official reminded them after they stopped.
Those