Chapter 722

"I...enter the palace?" Qu Ling's throat felt like it was blocked by something; just a few words made her throat feel incredibly sore.

Madam Qu nodded: "Given the current situation, only if you enter the palace will there be a glimmer of hope."

"Does Mother know His Majesty's age...?"

Qu Ling had barely begun to speak when Madam Qu impatiently interrupted her: "So what if His Majesty is older? He is still His Majesty! The most honorable person in the world!"

"If Dun'er hadn't had this accident, he would naturally have become our pillar of support in a few years, without you having to make any sacrifices. But now, you've ruined everything and even harmed Dun'er like this!"

Madam Qu's voice was filled with undisguised resentment: "You've seen what those illegitimate sons in the family look like now. If you don't go to the palace, Dun'er and I will be torn apart alive by them! Are you just going to stand by and watch?!"

Qu Ling panicked: "Is...is there really no other way?"

Let her serve someone who could be her father...

Qu Ling simply couldn't get over that hurdle in her heart!

“It used to exist,” Madam Qu said coldly, “but you’ve ruined it.”

Qu Ling opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word. Then, as if all her strength had been drained, she leaned weakly against the back of the chair.

Madam Qu stood up, walked slowly to her side, reached out and pinched her chin, lifting her face up.

Madam Qu's gaze lingered on Qu Ling's face for a moment, as if she were scrutinizing a piece of merchandise. Then, her brows relaxed, and the gentleness that Qu Ling used to know returned to her eyes.

"You're absolutely right about one thing: His Majesty is getting old, and there haven't been any new women in the harem for a long time. Even if His Majesty doesn't say it, I'm afraid he's been longing for the taste of young women for a long time."

Madam Qu's hand brushed across Qu Ling's face, her nails like a sharp knife, carving a bloody wound in Qu Ling's heart.

“You are young. You just need to calm down and you will definitely win His Majesty’s favor. Then, Dun’er and I will be able to survive outside.”

“You're the one who shattered what was a perfectly good situation. What you're doing now has nothing to do with me or your brother. You just need to atone for your sins, understand?”

Qu Ling's body trembled slightly.

Madam Qu's hand finally landed on Qu Ling's shoulder, patting her gently twice: "You don't need to go to your brother's place anymore. Take good care of yourself. When you enter the palace, you must make sure to impress His Majesty."

"......yes."

Only after Qu Ling's distraught figure disappeared did Madam Qu withdraw her gaze and sigh.

A maidservant standing nearby couldn't help but say, "Madam, you must also be reluctant to part with the young lady, right?"

“After all, I am her mother, how could I not feel sorry for her?” Madam Qu said, “but she is that man’s daughter, so it doesn’t matter.”

How could that person's children be more important than herself?

The maid sighed inwardly and dared not say anything more.

——

The sun rises and sets, and another new day begins.

Day after day, Huo Zhao's wedding dress was gradually completed.

The bright red silk shimmered with a soft sheen, adorned with various jewels and jades, and a phoenix embroidered with gold thread spread its wings as if about to take flight. Huo Zhao was stunned the moment he saw this wedding dress.

Zhong Jie smiled and gave each of the embroiderers fifty taels of silver.

The embroiderers were overjoyed and said a lot of auspicious things. In the end, each of them received an extra twenty taels.

Let the embroiderers who have worked hard for several months go back and rest well. Zhong Jie held Huo Zhao's hand and said softly, "I have already prepared your dowry. On that day, there will be a grand procession of red bridal procession. After you enter the Marquis's mansion, you don't have to worry about being wronged."

She prepared a dowry of 128 loads for Huo Zhao, not including the property deeds and land deeds that came with the dowry.

With such a generous dowry, Huo Zhao could live in the Marquis's mansion without having to consider anyone's feelings.

If the Marquis's mansion dares to act recklessly, their Prince's mansion will not be trifled with either.