In the eighth month, Song Lingsu had already gone to his hometown in Yu Hang to participate in the academy's examination, allowing the Prime Minister's Mansion to become more tranquil. Song Ci then returned to the mansion amidst the constant summons from Madam and others.
After all, she had been away from the mansion for a long time; furthermore, the baby in Niu Pan'er's womb was stable, and with the Autumn Festival approaching, it was natural for her to return home.
However, Song Ci had hardly been at the Prime Minister's Mansion for two days when she was summoned to the palace to meet the Empress Dowager Wang. The reason was that the Empress Dowager was ill and wished to see Song Ci.
Song Ci initially assumed the Empress Dowager Wang had caught a simple cold, a minor illness, but she was startled when she saw her.
"What has happened to you? Why do you look so haggard? What do the Imperial Physicians say?"
