Lady Wu was brought into the palace to recuperate, where the Empress Dowager arranged for her to stay in the Tranquil Heart Pavilion and ordered imperial physicians to attend to her without delay.
However, the poison had already seeped deep into Lady Wu's lungs, leaving no hope of recovery. She clung to life by the faintest thread.
When Concubine Lan learned that her mother had been brought into the palace, she rushed to the Empress Dowager's quarters without even pausing to dress properly, begging to see her. This time, the Empress Dowager did not refuse and permitted the visit.
The Tranquil Heart Pavilion was thick with the pungent scent of medicine, as palace maids brewed herbal concoctions in the small kitchen. Concubine Lan stumbled inside, her steps slowing as she gently pushed open the door.
