My father, Li Shimin, requests Your Majesty to become the Retired Emperor.

Li Shimin leaned back in his chair and said, "I'm a little tired. Go and see the Empress for me. I'll visit her another day when I have time."

After hearing Li Shimin's words, Xu Hui decided not to force the issue.

She hurried to the Lizheng Hall.

When Xu Hui arrived at the Lizheng Hall, she saw Empress Zhangsun lying on the couch, her face pale and her eyes closed, her expression one of great pain.

The maid Cai Xiang served him from the side.

When Cai Xiang saw Xu Hui arrive, she quickly came over and bowed to her: "Xu Jieyu, you've come?"

"How is the Empress?" Xu Hui asked with concern.

"She just vomited blood and then fainted."

She has just woken up and is still very weak.

"Has the imperial physician come to see you?"

"However, they were helpless regarding the Queen's condition."

"I understand. You can go and rest for a bit. I'll take care of things here."

"Yes!" Cai Xiang replied and went to brew the medicine.

Xu Hui came to the bedside and softly called out, "Empress, please wake up!"

Empress Zhangsun heard Xu Hui's voice and slightly opened her eyes: "Consort Xu, is that you? Why hasn't His Majesty come?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Hui felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

She thought to herself that the truth was that Li Shimin didn't want to visit Empress Zhangsun.

However, she didn't want to upset Empress Zhangsun.

So she lied and said, "Tonight, His Majesty drank a few too many cups of wine and has already gone to sleep."

"Oh, I see. I have advised him many times that as an emperor, he should not drink alcohol and should always remain sober, but he will not listen."

People often say that it's not the wine that intoxicates, but the person themselves; perhaps he simply doesn't want to come see me.

"Your Majesty, you are overthinking it. His Majesty is indeed drunk. He will definitely come to visit you once he sobers up."

"This is an old problem of mine, you don't need to be too nervous," Empress Zhangsun said casually.

Xu Hui took Empress Zhangsun's hand: "Empress, you've looked so haggard these past few days!"

Empress Zhangsun struggled to sit up, leaned against the headboard, and sighed: "This pregnancy is the seventh child of the Emperor and me."

I feel that this pregnancy is different from the previous ones.

"I often feel palpitations, shortness of breath, and dizziness; it's probably because I'm getting old."

Xu Hui laughed and said, "Your Majesty, what are you saying?"

You're just over thirty, in the prime of your life.

Empress Zhangsun waved her hand and gave a wry smile: "I'm getting old. You can't deny getting old."

I remember when I was first pregnant with Chengqian, I would eat three bowls of white rice in one meal.

"Now I can only eat half a bowl of porridge per meal. If a person can't eat properly, how can their qi and blood be strong?"

"Your Majesty, since you understand this principle, why don't you eat more?"

"I can't eat. So much has happened lately: Chenggan was deposed, and he's fallen out with his father, the Emperor."

His father was determined to hunt him down, and would not let him go no matter where he fled.

Tell me, how could I possibly eat after something like this happened?

Upon hearing this, Xu Hui understood. Mother and son are of one heart; Empress Zhangsun was worried about Li Chenggan and couldn't rest easy.

Empress Zhangsun devoted a great deal of effort to Li Chengqian, in order to cultivate him.

Empress Zhangsun was also extremely worried.

People think Empress Zhangsun is lucky to have such an outstanding son, but little do they know how much effort she put into educating and raising Li Chenggan.

However, no one expected that it would end like this, so how could Empress Zhangsun be willing to accept it?