Chapter 980: Chapter 980: The Unchanging Goal_1 Chapter 980: Chapter 980: The Unchanging Goal_1 Jiang Ning couldn’t help but feel disheartened. “Those who have passed are gone, but those who live carry on. You have Concubine Zhu now. Can’t you regard her as Concubine Jin?”

The Emperor remained silent.

After a long time, he seemed to awaken suddenly and beckoned the Crown Prince to converse with him.

“Crown Prince, after I leave, please bring Concubine Zhu, Concubine Ya, and Concubine Ye here.”

“…” Li Hongyuan was shocked.

Is he implying that several young concubines should be buried with him?

The Great Sheng Dynasty has no such precedent!

Jiang Ning thought to herself, this old man has grown into a tyrant. Even before his death, he wants to drag three young concubines into his grave.

Jiang Ning subtly nudged Li Hongyuan’s waist, indicating he should agree for the time being.

Once the tyrant died, he couldn’t dictate any longer.

If Li Hongyuan were to defy the Emperor’s command now, the Emperor might order the three concubines to be killed out of anger, and that would be quite troublesome.

Understood Jiang Ning’s intentions, Li Hongyuan verbally agreed to the Emperor’s request.

Jiang Ning couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty, when you meet Concubine Jin, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for her to see you with three young concubines? Aren’t you afraid of upsetting Concubine Jin?”

The Emperor ignored her, waved his hand to dismiss them, and then summoned the Empress.

Not long after Jiang Ning and Li Hongyuan left, they saw the empress entering the Crystal Frost Hall from afar.

“I wonder what they will discuss this time,” Jiang Ning mumbled. “This empress is as mysterious as a priestess. People should never be too idle; idle minds breed mischief.”

“What are you mumbling about?” asked Li Hongyuan.

“I want to go back and eavesdrop.”

“That’s the Crystal Frost Hall, not your personal garden. You can’t just come and go as you please.”

“Then we just ignore it?”

“What’s there to worry about?” Li Hongyuan asked indifferently.

Jiang Ning looked at his expression and was taken aback.

For Li Hongyuan, the Emperor’s death means his immediate coronation.

This world would be his.

They had been together for so long that Jiang Ning had almost forgotten that since the day she met Li Hongyuan, his aim had always been to claim the throne of the Emperor. That goal never changed for a moment.

When the concubines of the harem heard that the Emperor intended to have some of them buried with him, they were all trembling in fear, thrown into chaos.

The older, less attractive concubines weren’t worried, nor were those who had children. The ones who were scared were the young concubines who hadn’t borne any children.

Especially the most favored Concubine Zhu, Concubine Ya, and Concubine Ye.

They hurriedly came to Jiang Ning for help, begging her to save them.

Which young and beautiful concubine wants to die with the old Emperor?

Jiang Ning and Li Hongyuan’s plan could only be speculated in their hearts. Until the Emperor breathed his last, it could not be revealed.

For now, she could only reassure them.

Unexpectedly, some concubines couldn’t bear the pressure and committed suicide.

Jiang Ning had no choice but to quickly comfort the others and hint to them that she would surely protect their lives. The concubines, weeping and wailing, finally dispersed.

On the twenty-seventh day of the first month, the Emperor’s illness took a turn for the worse.

The Empress and the concubines gathered in the Crystal Frost Hall to tend to him.

The concubines were weeping and wailing as if they were in mourning, yet the Empress remained tranquil.

Everyone thought that the Emperor wouldn’t make it through the New Year month. However, he did survive to February, around the time when Jiang Mubai and the Prince of Zhao returned to court with a victorious army.

Upon receiving the joyful news, the Emperor seemed to recover significantly. He even had people help him sit up to greet Jiang Mubai and Prince Li You personally.

“You have achieved great victories!” The Emperor joyfully declared.

Seeing the Emperor in such a state of illness, both Jiang Mubai and Li You were taken aback.