Chapter 501: Chapter 501: Please Follow Me This Time

The Emperor felt both pain and urgency in his heart, but he did not dare to raise his voice to Concubine Jin. He could only patiently say, “Concubine Jin, you should rest first. We can talk about anything later.”

Concubine Jin glanced at him: “I’m about to die, what’s there to talk about later?”

The Emperor was greatly pained: “Concubine Jin, don’t talk nonsense, you’re fine!”

Concubine Jin’s face was pale, and she spoke in a hoarse voice, “Your Majesty, people always speak the truth before death. After all these years, just indulge me this once and let me speak privately with my son.”

The Emperor was so heartbroken that he couldn’t speak.

He stood up, glared fiercely at the people around him, including the Empress, Princess Consort Jiang Ning, and the other palace attendants, and then quickly walked away.

The Empress waved her hand to everyone else, motioning for them to leave.

Jiang Ning immediately followed suit.

By the time Li Hongyuan looked back, he could only see her back as she stepped out of the room.

She ran away so quickly.

As if she was afraid of being implicated.

Li Hongyuan walked to the bedside and looked down at the unrecognizable face of Concubine Jin.

“Sit down,” said Concubine Jin, struggling to raise her hand and pat the edge of the bed.

Li Hongyuan obediently sat down.

Concubine Jin whispered, “It’s been a long time since the last time our mother and son sat this close.”

“How long?” Li Hongyuan asked.

“…” Concubine Jin hesitated, then laughed, “You’re right. I never got close to you since you were born. You were raised by your nanny and wet nurse.”

Li Hongyuan’s expression didn’t change.

The deprivation of maternal love in his childhood was not something a few words could resolve after growing up.

Suddenly, Concubine Jin furrowed her brows and panted rapidly.

“What’s wrong?” Li Hongyuan asked.

“I can’t catch my breath… My chest hurts as if it’s being sliced…” Concubine Jin spoke in a hoarse voice, falling limp onto the bed and taking short, rapid breaths.

Li Hongyuan hurriedly said, “I’ll call the Imperial Physician!”

“Don’t go!” Concubine Jin’s hand tightly gripped his wrist, “I’m fine, I’m fine now…”

Li Hongyuan frowned.

Concubine Jin lay on the bed like a beached fish, gasping for breath for a long time, her pale face flushed red.

It seemed like she wouldn’t get better.

Suddenly, Li Hongyuan had this feeling.

“How exactly were you poisoned?” He couldn’t help but ask.

Concubine Jin looked up at him and asked hoarsely, “Don’t you understand?”

“Understand what?” Li Hongyuan frowned.

“Today, besides drinking tea, I only ate the food that you sent.”

“You think I poisoned you?” Li Hongyuan frowned.

“Of course, you wouldn’t harm your own birth mother. But what about others?”

“The Princess Consort would never harm you either. She would have had plenty of opportunities to do so if she wanted, instead of waiting until today. Moreover, she has no motive.”

“I’m not talking about her.”

“Mother Concubine, please speak directly, otherwise I’m afraid you won’t last long enough.” Li Hongyuan said coldly.

Despite his cold demeanor, Concubine Jin didn’t react and only shook her head, “I really can’t hold on much longer. I know my own body, and now I’m just reaching my limit.”

“Do you know who harmed you?”

“It’s the Jiang Family.” Concubine Jin coughed a few times, then whispered, “The Jiang Family used the Princess Consort.”

“Do you have any evidence?” Li Hongyuan asked calmly, “From what I can see, the Jiang Family has no reason to harm a concubine like you who does nothing.”

Leaning against the pillow, Concubine Jin gasped for breath before uttering a shocking statement, “What if I told you that the Jiang family has thought about rebelling?”