The furrow between Ye An's eyebrow deepened when she heard how frail the Empress Mother's normally authoritative voice was.
"Your Majesty! You've woken up! You need to take this medicine now." The royal physician was thrown into action at the sight of the elderly royal returning to her consciousness.
"Leave us." The Empress Mother reiterated more forcefully. But the brittleness in the Empress Mother's voice was still evident. "I'll take the medicine later."
The royal physician eyed both royals before leaving. "Yes, of course. Your Majesty. Your Imperial Majesty."
When she heard the doors close behind the royal physician, the Empress Mother finally addressed Ye An. "Why do you look so troubled?"
"Why didn't you tell me about your condition?"
"Because it wouldn't have made any difference. I will still die in the end."
Ye An gave out an unamused laugh. "So this was the reason why you suddenly gave the Dragon Throne up and passed it on to me. I should have known that there was a reason for the sudden abdication."
The Empress Mother only stayed quiet at Ye An's outburst.
"Am I the only one who doesn't know about your condition? Did General Shao know?"
"Yes, he does. He's by my side all the time. It would be difficult for him not to know about it. I suspect it is like that with you and Lieutenant Yun as well."
"Don't-" Ye An seethed but made an effort to tamp it down seeing as how sickly the Empress Mother was looking. "-compare us with you and General Shao."
"I accidentally hit a nerve, I see." The Empress Mother said faintly. Before Ye An could guess what other venomous words she would utter, the Empress Mother unexpectedly apologized. "I apologize for that slip of my tongue."
Ye An's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "This is unlike you, Your Majesty. I don't think I've ever heard you apologize for anything."
"Well, I'm already a step away from my deathbed. What's an apology or two?" Ye An knew that if she had the energy, the Empress Mother would have worded that with more petulance.
But the statement that the Empress Mother so haphazardly let out about her numbered days was like a sobering slap on Ye An's face which brought out the tumultuous emotions in her.
"And speaking of apology. I guess there is something more that I should be apologizing for. Something which I should've apologized for a long time ago." The Empress Mother took in a shaky breath as if even that short sentence took too much of her before she continued. "Ye An, I'm sorry that I named you as a male heir and made you lived a life that you probably felt was never truly yours. I apologize for making you live a lie. A selfish lie. My selfish lie."
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THE NIGHT EMPEROR: 夜安王 【The Night Emperor Book 1】| ✔️
Historical Fiction☑ COMPLETED "There are enough bad things in life, hold on to whatever it is that gives you joy." For the past 22 years, the Empress Mother has held onto the Dragon Throne that was rightfully Ye An's. Now, Ye An has finally ascended to the throne. Bu...
Chapter 45 Truth
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