On the cold winter night, Cining Palace was brightly lit, and the Empress Dowager suddenly fainted and urgently summoned the imperial physicians, alarming the Emperor.
A little eunuch, due to the loudness of his footsteps, was reproached by the Emperor for being heartless and disrespectful to the Empress Dowager. With a single decree, he was beaten to death, and swiftly lost his life.
Everyone was as silent as cicadas in winter, wishing to tiptoe to avoid provoking the Emperor and being dragged away for execution.
Several imperial physicians came, and their unanimous diagnosis was of anger attacking the heart, needing quiet recuperation. After the physician acupunctured the Empress Dowager, she awoke but appeared fragile and wan, alarming everyone.
Emperor Yan, witnessing this, felt irritated with indescribable emotions, dared not speak to the Empress Dowager, merely instructing others to take good care of her, and abruptly departed.
The clamorous Cining Palace quieted down.
