Song Xizhi tried to pull her hand away from the man's, but the man was as stiff as a stone, almost completely still.

So Song Xizhi closed his eyes and continued, "Actually, I feel that the Marquis's mansion is not suitable for me at all. He Yunce and Song Ruoan have now received their due retribution. I am very tired."

She didn't want to think about how many fake identities the man in front of her had, or how many escape routes he had prepared for himself.

All she knew was that even now, he wouldn't tell her a single truth.

Song Xizhi slowly withdrew her hand, letting it cool down as it was warmed. All around her was silence, but she could almost hear the occasional chirping of insects in the forest.

Amid the intermittent chirping of insects, she heard a man's low, husky voice say, "Okay."

...

The mountains and forests behind Huaqing Pool were quiet, but when Consort Liang and Princess Jingyue were dragged out by several eunuchs, they made a hysterical scene.

Even though Consort Liang had been taken away, she still held Princess Jingyue tightly in her arms and did not let go.

But the head eunuch of the Imperial Clan Court sneered and forcefully separated the two.

“Consort Zhao, it’s late and the dew is heavy now, so please don’t bother. Let this lady go where she should go.”

Consort Liang looked at the sycophants and snobbish people before her, her teeth chattering with rage: "His Majesty's decree hasn't been issued yet. We're still in the temporary palace, not the main palace. It's not time yet..."

"Your Excellency, please let Jingyue stay by my side for the last few days. After she returns to the palace, your Imperial Clan Court can deal with her as well... Please consider our past relationship, okay?"

Consort Liang forced a smile at the head eunuch in front of her. At this moment, her hair was disheveled, her makeup was ruined, and she was in a more disheveled state than ever before.

But the eunuch didn't care about past feelings and just flicked the dust off his hands: "Consort Zhao, do you still think you're the lady who used to be in charge of the six palaces?"

"Now that Prince Yu has fallen and become a county prince, and the princess has been deposed and become a village lady, you are even worse off than those without blood ties. You are nothing now!"

After saying this, he waved his hand and ordered his men to drag Princess Jingyue away.

Consort Liang stood there blankly, watching the figures of several people dragging the unconscious Princess Jingyue further and further away until they disappeared from sight.

Consort Liang's beautiful face suddenly turned sorrowful. Her hands, hanging by her sides, clenched into fists so tightly that her nails almost dug into her flesh, drawing blood.

No one knew how long she stood there until her nanny cautiously reminded her, at which point Consort Liang turned and walked back to her palace without looking back.

When she returned to the palace, she saw that many eunuchs were already moving her things. After all, a minor noblewoman was not worthy of living in the main hall, even though it was just a temporary palace.

But at this moment, Consort Liang no longer cared. She simply waited silently for the sycophantic servants to take away all her belongings, and then dismissed all the servants around her.

She picked up a pen and paper and wrote two letters.

One letter was for Prince Yu, and the other was for Zhao Qingshu.

Her eyes seemed to hold a fierce glint when she wrote the letter.

After she finished writing the letter, she secretly had someone send it out.

Consort Liang has survived in the palace for so many years, and even though she is now down on her luck, she still has connections.

These two letters were eventually delivered to Prince Yu and Zhao Qingshu without anyone noticing.

Having experienced such a thing today, Zhao Qingshu sat at his desk almost all night without sleeping, and by the time he received Consort Liang's letter, it was already nearly dawn outside.

After he finished reading the letter, he clenched his fist tightly, almost crumpling the letter into a ball, his face contorted with anger.

Zhao Qingshu sat at his desk, his eyes dark with thought, for a long time. Then he took a deep breath, as if he had made a difficult decision.

He immediately instructed his servants to summon Zeng Yaxian that very night.

Zeng Yaxian's assassination attempt failed. She had just changed into night clothes and returned to the mansion, her face showing extreme guilt and fear.

Zhao Qingshu stood up from his desk, gripped Zeng Yaxian's hand tightly, and said softly, "You don't need to feel guilty for killing that bitch. Yaxian, you're avenging yourself!"

After he finished speaking, his tone became even gentler, as if he were coaxing someone: "But now I have a better way, which can not only avenge your Dark Shadow, but also ensure that you live a life of comfort and endless wealth and luxury, allowing you to do what you love most."

Zeng Yaxian's hand trembled slightly, but she still obediently raised her head, "Husband, what do you want me to do?"

"I don't want wealth and fame, I just want to be by your side."

Zhao Qingshu smiled with satisfaction, then leaned down and whispered in Zeng Yaxian's ear.

After Zeng Yaxian heard Zhao Qingshu's words, her pupils suddenly contracted, and the hairs on her body stood on end: "Husband...? You..."

Zhao Qingshu said nothing more, but simply nodded at her: "If you understand, you can start doing it now."

Zeng Yaxian nodded stiffly, opened the study door, looked at the pale dawn on the horizon, and took a long breath.

Song Xizhi and He Jingyan also left the imperial palace by carriage at dawn.

Neither of them spoke during the journey. Once Song Xizhi was seated in the carriage, He Jingyan immediately mounted the horse.

When Song Xizhi returned to the Marquis of Anding's residence, the man in front of the carriage had already disappeared.

The servants, seeing the awkward atmosphere between the two, wanted to speak but didn't know what to say.

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