Lonely soul

Outside the window, the galangal flowers, oblivious to the sorrows of worldly people, continue to bloom brilliantly.

Upon hearing Xie Xiangsi's question, Zhou Yanzhi was at a loss for words. He simply looked into her eyes and remained silent for a long time.

After a long pause, he slowly spoke: "In order to expose the henchmen behind Consort De and the Fourth Prince, they set up a trap, and the Xiao family was the bait."

As Zhou Yanzhi finished speaking, time seemed to freeze.

The person next to him froze for a moment, even the slightest tremor stopped, and their breathing was so light that it was almost inaudible.

An eerie silence fell between the two.

"...bait?"

After a long while, a very soft sound rang out, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Xie Xiangsi slowly raised her head, her eyes already brimming with tears that were about to fall. After a long while, she spoke incredulously, "So, what you said earlier about them knowing that the Xiao family was innocent, is... is that what they knew?"

Knowing full well that the Xiao family was innocent, that they were blameless, and that it was all a conspiracy, he could only watch helplessly as the Xiao family fell into an abyss of no return. Of the entire family of loyal martyrs, only his elder brother remained.

All of this was merely to draw out Zhou Yu'an and Consort De's cronies.

Is this the kind of ruler that the Xiao family is loyal to?

It's absolutely... ridiculous!

Feeling her breath tremble, Zhou Yanzhi's Adam's apple bobbed. He gently raised his hand and stroked her back, looking at her with an unprecedented softness and hoarseness: "I know you can't accept this, you..."

"Why?!"

Before she could finish speaking, tears welled up in Jie Xiangsi's eyes and spilled onto her clothes like broken beads, spreading a dark stain. Her throat was incredibly dry: "Why? Why did you use my Xiao family as a pawn? Why?"

Zhou Yanzhi couldn't bear it and pulled her into his arms. She stiffened at first, then let out a sob, burying her head even deeper, her broken cries finally becoming uncontrollable.

"Zhou Yanzhi, why, why did they do this to my Xiao family? Why..."

“We did nothing wrong…we did not betray our country…”

Feeling his clothes soaked with tears, Zhou Yanzhi sighed silently, then slowly spoke, uttering a thought that even he himself found absurd.

"The Xiao family has gone through several dynasties, producing outstanding talents one after another. Military power has been concentrated to an unprecedented degree. In recent years, the people's protection of the Xiao family has reached an unprecedented level."

"For those in power, national security is a good thing, but it must be based on the supremacy of imperial power."

He paused, then pulled Xie Xiangsi from his arms, gently wiping away her tears, and said cruelly, word by word, "The Xiao family wields too much military power and their achievements threaten the emperor; therefore, they must be eliminated..."

Upon hearing the phrase "merits that overshadow the ruler," Jie Xiangsi blinked blankly—thinking of the numerous scars her father and brothers had accumulated after each battle over the years, and of the ever-increasing number of ancestral tablets in the Xiao family ancestral hall, she felt a chill creep up her spine, inch by inch, until it reached her very heart.

Clearly... clearly, the ancestors of the Xiao family repeatedly requested to resign, and it was only through the personal intervention of successive emperors that the Xiao family was preserved.

If it weren't for the unwillingness to betray the trust of the monarch and the love of the people, who would be willing to stay away from their family all year round and risk danger to fight the enemy?

But in the end, all of this became proof that their achievements overshadowed their superiors?

Suddenly, she tugged at the corners of her mouth, took a deep breath, looked directly into Zhou Yanzhi's eyes, and said very calmly, "Zhou Yanzhi, tell me, since the Xiao family is this bait, is there any hope of ever being exonerated?"

Hearing her tone, Zhou Yanzhi tightened his grip on her shoulders, speaking each word with utmost seriousness, as if making a promise: "Yes, definitely."

Their eyes met, and the sound of the wind outside the window gradually faded away, leaving only Zhou Yanzhi's voice echoing in their ears.

"Xiao Yan, the Xiao family will not be wronged, you can believe me."

Every word carries immense weight.

...

The horse-drawn carriage rumbled along the long street.

Outside the car window, the surviving commoners whispered among themselves about the palace coup—"...His Highness the Crown Prince has ascended the throne...The Fourth Prince's cronies have all been imprisoned..."

These sounds seemed to come through a layer of fog, hazy and indistinct. Jie Xiangsi closed her eyes, feeling as if each word was another handful of ironic yellow earth sprinkled on the tombstones of the entire Xiao family.

The Xiao family is truly a pawn; no matter who wields the pieces, the Xiao family will lose the entire game.

The back of her head kept hitting the carriage wall due to the bumps. Just as the back of her head was about to hit the carriage wall again, a hand with distinct knuckles stepped in to cushion the back of her head.

"Doesn't it hurt?" Zhou Yanzhi asked.

Jie Xiangsi opened her eyes, but her gaze swept straight past him, looking through the slightly transparent carriage door at the palace gate that was getting closer and closer, a gate that seemed to be incompatible with her.

Three days have passed since the palace coup. The Fourth Prince's henchmen have all been imprisoned, but Consort De and Dao Ying... have yet to appear.

And she will soon be hearing the trial in the Zichen Palace under the identity of "Xiao Yan".

“Cousin,” she suddenly spoke, her voice soft yet firm, carrying a sense of distance and unfamiliarity that made Zhou Yanzhi feel, “If things don’t go as we wish, I hope you won’t stop me.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanzhi's eyes darkened slightly. He reached out and grasped her cold and trembling hand, feeling that all comfort seemed too pale and powerless at this moment.

He remained silent for a moment, then finally said in a deep voice, "I'll stay with you."

Upon hearing this, Jie Xiangsi gave a soft "hmm," then raised her hand to smooth the only white jade hairpin in her hair, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.

...

The carriage stopped as it approached the palace gate.

Zhou Yanzhi got out of the carriage first and turned around to reach out his hand to Xie Xiangsi. She took his hand and landed steadily. Before she could stand still, two Imperial Guards stepped forward. The commander in the lead bowed respectfully to Zhou Yanzhi, but his eyes were fixed on Xie Xiangsi.

"Lord Zhou, Miss Xiao." The commander's voice was steady, yet carried an undeniable authority. "By order of His Majesty, the Zichen Palace is an important place for political discussions. Miss Xiao's identity is special, and to avoid gossip, a routine inspection is required, and... her personal belongings must be temporarily removed."

His gaze swept over the single white jade hairpin in her hair, seemingly casually.

Feeling that gaze, Jie Xiangsi unconsciously dug her fingernails deep into her palm.

Zhou Yan stepped forward, shielding Xie Xiangsi behind him. His tone was indifferent, yet authoritative without anger: "Commander Li, the Xiao family is full of loyal martyrs, their blood feud remains unresolved. His Majesty summoned us today to ascertain the truth and to provide relief to the orphans of loyal officials. Is this 'routine inspection' His Majesty's intention, or has someone... misunderstood His Majesty's will?"

The commander's expression changed slightly, and he was momentarily speechless.

For a moment, an eerie silence fell over the scene.

Suddenly, Jie Xiangsi made a move—she raised her hand and easily removed the white jade hairpin, her black hair cascading down like a waterfall. She gently placed the hairpin in Zhou Yanzhi's hand, her gaze remaining calmly fixed on the commander.

"It's just a hairpin. My cousin can keep it for me." Her voice was cold and flat, without a trace of emotion, as if she weren't the one being wronged. "As for the body search..."

A faint smile curved her lips as she walked forward step by step until she was only three steps away from the Imperial Guard. Then she spoke slowly, “My innocence is not on my person, but on the one hundred and thirty-two memorial tablets in the Xiao family ancestral hall.”

After saying that, a hint of mockery appeared in her eyes: "Commander, would you like to go there and investigate?"

"This..." Commander Li froze instantly.

Seeing the sarcastic smile on Jie Xiangsi's face and the movement of her lips, he ultimately didn't dare to respond.

Zhou Yanzhi stepped forward at the opportune moment, gently placing the white jade hairpin back into Xie Xiangsi's hand, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "His Majesty is still waiting. Commander Li, if the inspection is complete, please lead the way."

...

The palace path is long and secluded. As you walk along it, all you can see are red walls and green tiles, square and isolated from all outside sounds.

Jie Xiangsi raised her eyes and walked, step by step, her steps steady, only the brownish-red finger marks on her palms in her sleeves betraying the turmoil in her heart.

Zhou Yanzhi walked half a step ahead of her, his shoulders and back straight, shielding her from countless scrutinizing gazes, both overt and covert, along the way.

...

Inside the Zichen Palace, the fragrance of incense wafted, yet it could not suppress the invisible pressure emanating from within.

As Jie Xiangsi stepped into the palace, a man covered in blood and grime was dragged out by two Imperial Guards. Out of the corner of her eye, Jie Xiangsi's heart trembled slightly—it was Zhou Yu'an.

Before she could see clearly, the announcer's voice came from inside the hall—"Summon, Xiao Yan, daughter of the Marquis of Jin'an, to an audience!"

She composed herself, straightened her clothes, and stepped inside. The new emperor, Zhou Shouji, sat upright on his throne, his face veiled by a crown, obscuring his expression.

On both sides of the main hall, high-ranking officials stood solemnly, their piercing gazes all fixed on Xie Xiangsi as she slowly walked into the hall.

Upon reaching the Emperor, Xie Xiangsi bowed in accordance with etiquette. Despite still bearing the title of the daughter of a disgraced official, her back remained ramrod straight: "This commoner, Xiao Yan, pays her respects to Your Majesty."

The hall was silent, with only her clear, cold voice echoing inside.

After a long pause, a voice came from the throne, steady yet scrutinizing: "Raise your head."

Jie Xiangsi looked up as instructed, her gaze calmly meeting the upward gaze.

At that moment, the new emperor on the throne and many old ministers in the hall were all shocked—those eyes were very much like those of the late General Xiao Yunyan, calm as water, yet possessing the air of a warrior.

"I am aware of the injustice done to the Xiao family."

The new emperor spoke slowly, carefully choosing his words, "The Xiao family is full of loyal martyrs, and to be framed like this is truly a tragedy for the nation. Now that the mastermind has been brought to justice, I am deeply saddened and will certainly restore the Xiao family's innocence and provide them with generous compensation."

This was the expected official language, both a gesture of favor and a way to appease.

Xie Xiangsi bowed again, her voice clearly penetrating the hall: "Your Majesty, the Xiao family dares not ask for relief, but only begs Your Majesty to answer this commoner's question."

As soon as he finished speaking, the courtiers murmured slightly. Zhou Yanzhi stood among the ranks of courtiers, his hand clenching slightly in his sleeve.

"speak."

"The mastermind, the Fourth Prince, and his cronies have been imprisoned by His Majesty and are awaiting trial. Consort De is also being pursued. However..." She paused slightly, raised her eyes and looked directly at the person on the throne, her words sharp and incisive: "How should we judge the Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty who tacitly approved this scheme, using the entire Xiao family as bait, and watched helplessly as my Xiao family was brutally murdered?"

"boom--"

These words shocked the entire hall!

"presumptuous!"

An old minister stepped forward and shouted, "How dare you speak ill of the Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty?!"