If she hadn't come to this deep palace, would she already be with her cousin?

I wonder how my cousin is doing, and if he's still waiting for her?

Thinking of this, Peony felt even more distressed, and her tears flowed even more freely.

After seeing that Peony had left, the Empress immediately summoned Huanyun, who was hiding in the shadows.

Huan Yun clasped his hands in a fist salute to the Emperor and said in a deep voice, "Your subordinate greets Your Majesty the Empress and pays respects to the Emperor and Your Majesty."

The Empress composed herself, smiled gently, and beckoned to Huanyun with her finger.

Although Huanyun found her sudden change in attitude strange, she still obediently went over.

You said that after Shihua left, the Empress often made him do some of the things that Shihua had done before, and she would often talk about the time when she found them.

Therefore, Huanyun now almost completely obeys her.

She felt that apart from serving the Empress, she had no other reason to live.

Thinking of this, Huanyun's attitude became even more docile.

The Empress felt a sense of satisfaction looking at her attitude. She remembered that when she first took them in, Huanyun was the most rebellious and the one who liked to fight against her the most.

Now she is as docile as a kitten, which greatly satisfies the Queen's ego.

She reached out and took Huanyun's hand, asking earnestly, "Huanyun, do you know how he feels about you?"

Huan Yun froze, her movements stiffening as well.

How could she not know who the Empress was referring to?

Do you have feelings for them?

Is it a lie to say there isn't one?

After all, they had spent so much time together.

Moreover, after Nian Shihua left, it was Nian Shihua who accompanied him through that period.

The Empress smiled even more kindly when she saw Huan Yun hesitate.

She patted Huanyun's hand and spoke like a loving elder sister: "It's not easy to find someone who truly likes you, Huanyun. After all, you've been with me for so long, so I won't make things difficult for you. If you help me accomplish one more thing, I'll let you both leave together and give you some money so you can live the life you want. What do you think?"

Huan Yun's eyes flickered, and she tentatively looked up at the Empress.

His eyes lit up slightly when he saw the seriousness in the Empress's eyes.

Seeing that she was interested, the Empress continued, "I am actually very envious of you. I envy that you can truly love each other. Look at me, although I have reached the position of Empress, what have I gained? I admit that I am not a very good person, but I am not so wicked as to be unforgivable. Yet the Emperor never even comes to look at me once."

As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief and began to wipe away her tears.

Huan Yun couldn't help but feel sorry for her when she saw her like this.

Although she didn't like the Empress, she had grown up under the Empress's care for many years, and everything she had was indeed given to her by the Empress.

If it weren't for the Empress taking them in back then, they would probably be dead somewhere long ago. Anyway, she saved their lives, so we might as well just return the money to her.

She already knew what the Empress wanted her to do.

"Yes." Huan Yun nodded, then resolutely looked up at the Empress: "Your subordinate obeys."

"Go." The Queen patted his hand and then let go.

Huan Yun stood up and glanced towards the basement before resolutely turning and leaving. Her departure might...