Chapter 82 Xie Yu.

Lingyi asked in surprise, "Since you knew all along, why didn't you stop it sooner? Now even you aren't entirely sure?"

Given Qin Lie's personality, unless it was too dangerous, why would he willingly let her leave his side?

Qin Lie had been deliberately allowing the retired emperor to secretly collude with the ministers, but even many of his old subordinates were unwilling to follow him anymore. Only when the new land tax law was introduced, affecting the interests of too many people, did the retired emperor's lobbying efforts increase significantly. If he wanted to proceed cautiously, he could have taken a gradual approach, but Qin Lie, always ruthless, wanted to lure those people out and annihilate them in one fell swoop, thus he had to take the risk.

He said, "If I don't reveal any flaws, how can I provoke them to take action? If you are here, you will become the target of everyone's attacks. They will definitely try to use you to threaten me, which will only increase the danger."

Lingyi thought for a moment and said, "Send someone to send Huan'er, Lin'er and Sixteenth Sister away. I'll stay here with you."

Qin Lie laughed and said, "What? Is the princess so worried about me that she's willing to live and die with me?"

Lingyi said, "If you lose, someone will take my life. Why should I bother running back and forth?"

Qin Lie said, "To avoid distracting me, it would be best if the princess left first." He kissed her forehead and said, "Don't worry, I won't lose. It's just that Huan'er has to stay. Not only him, but the Crown Prince and Prince Gong can't leave either—if a prince who is always in the public eye suddenly disappears, it will definitely arouse suspicion."

Despite her unease, Lingyi had no choice but to accept the situation, given its gravity. Ultimately, she still believed that Qin Lie would not lose, and earnestly instructed him, "Then you must take good care of Huan'er... and also take good care of yourself."

Qin Lie's heart softened, and he said gently, "Don't be afraid, I'll bring you back in a few days."

When they returned to the cave, the table was gone, and it had returned to the way it was when they came a few years ago.

There was just extra boiled water, which Qin Lie diluted to lukewarm water for the two of them to wash up. By this time, the moon was high in the sky, and Lingyi felt sleepy, so she went to sleep on her own. This time, without her having to call him, he slipped in, and not only that, he pressed himself against her, waking her up. With dark eyes, he asked, "...May this humble subject kiss the princess?"

These words sounded familiar. Lingyi thought for a moment with a dazed mind before recalling that these were the words he had spoken when he attempted to do something indecent in the cave that day.

Now that he had copied it word for word, she was no longer fooled by him and said coldly, "No."

With a formidable enemy at hand, how could he still have such thoughts!

She gave different answers, and he responded differently.

"Then don't blame me for being disrespectful." He held her waist and leaned down to capture her red lips.

Lingyi knew he had brought her here specifically to relive their past romance, so she initially only offered slight resistance. However, when his hand slipped under her clothes and began to grope her, she grabbed it, saying, "It's not just...."

Her face flushed red, and she couldn't continue speaking.

"Only what? Kiss?" He laughed. "Does the princess truly have no idea how much I endured that day?"

Lingyi quickly covered his mouth, her voice extremely low, "This place really won't work. The cave has no door, and there are guards everywhere outside..."

How is this any different from sleeping under the open sky?

The more nervous and uneasy she became, the more excited Qin Lie became. He pressed her down and whispered in her earlobe, "In that case, Princess, please remember to keep your voice down later."

When Lingyi woke up the next day, Qin Lie was no longer there, only her personal maid was waiting by her side.

After she finished dressing and came down the mountain, she did not see anyone else.

"Where are Sixteenth Sister and the child?" she asked Qin Feng.

Qin Feng, now the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, replied, "Your Majesty, Lord Xie and Young Master Song are taking a different route and are not traveling with us."

"Different paths? Are you going to the same place?" Lingyi continued to ask.

Qin Feng said, "Although it's not the same place, it's still an extremely safe and secure location."

Lingyi suppressed her lip movements—no matter how compliant or affectionate she appeared, Qin Lie's vigilance towards her never wavered.

She boarded the carriage without making a sound. After traveling for less than half a day, the carriage suddenly stopped. She heard unusual noises outside, and then someone lifted the curtain. It was Xie Yu.

Behind Xie Yu, Lin'er was being held and was fast asleep, just like Qin Feng and the others.

Xie Yu carried Lin'er to the carriage, then sat in front of it, pretending to drive.

Lingyi asked with a smile, "What is my brother-in-law doing? Are you planning to elope with me?"

Xie Yu ignored her sarcasm and said only, "I came here only to give you your freedom. Huan'er is trapped in the hunting grounds, and I am powerless to help her. You can take Lin'er away. I will find you a secluded paradise where there will be no more of this turmoil."

Lingyi asked, "If you let us go like this, what will happen to you and your sixteenth sister?"

Xie Yu said, "Third Sister is waiting for you up ahead. I have made all the arrangements and will shift all the blame onto the rebel army."

Lingyi said, "I believe you will make the arrangements very well, but you forgot to ask me if I wanted to leave."

Xie Yu didn't say anything more, just watched her quietly.

Lingyi looked up at the sky. It was a beautiful autumn day, and a flock of wild geese was flying south.

They have wings and soar through the sky, but they also have to follow the changing seasons and leave their homeland year after year.

Humans eat grains and have their feet on the ground, so how can they talk about freedom?

When Xie Yu spoke again, his tone was cold and stern, "Lingyi, what exactly are you trying to achieve by staying by his side?"

Lingyi smiled and asked, "Aside from the position of Empress, I have already achieved the pinnacle of womanhood. What else could I possibly want besides worldly stability? That elusive freedom?"

During the years when Xie Yu was just beginning to experience love, he watched, listened to, thought about, pondered, guessed, and speculated about her every smile, frown, word, and action, day after day. Therefore, he didn't believe a single word she said.

He stated bluntly, "I don't believe you've forgotten the grudge against the former crown prince."

Having served two dynasties, for them, the former crown prince was the only one. Lingyi's smile faded. "And what about you? Your brother, the crown prince, regarded you as a confidant and treated you like a brother. Haven't you forgotten that too?"

Xie Yu's face showed pain as he explained, "You are different from me. I carry my grandfather's last wish to uphold the country and bring glory to the Xie family. Now, only Qin Lie can do these things."

Ling Yi said, "You have your path, but don't I have mine? Am I still just Qin Lie's plaything in your eyes?"

“Lingyi, you are different from me.” Xie Yu sighed, “At least I don’t hate him—I can’t bear to see you suffer like this.”

Lingyi also sighed softly, "Brother Xie Yu, now that things have come to this, talking about love and hate is too much of a luxury for me. I am no longer able to struggle, and I don't want to suffer anymore. I just want to live this life in peace. If you still care about our past feelings, why did you use the late Crown Prince to force me?"

Xie Yu remained silent for a long time before saying, "I still don't believe what you're saying, but I desperately hope it's true. More than anyone else, I want you to live a peaceful life. Otherwise, that momentary lapse in judgment when we were betrothed would become a sin I can never atone for. Along this journey, I've almost forgotten what I used to look like, but one thing will never change: no matter what you do, I will always stand by your side. That was true in the palace, that was true in Zhuozhou, and that will remain true now and in the future."

.

This unrest has lasted longer than expected.

The retired emperor's old subordinates, the maternal relatives of several princes, the remnants of the former crown prince, nobles dissatisfied with Qin Lie's new policies, former court officials who were not given important positions, and some people who wanted to take advantage of the chaos, all got together and not only raised an army at the hunting grounds to kill Qin Lie, but even occupied the palace for a time.

It was said that during those days, even the water flowing into the river from the sewers in the capital was red.

Half a month later, Qin Lie sent people to bring Lingyi back. The streets in the southern city where high-ranking officials and nobles gathered, once filled with the newly rich, were now mostly empty. However, they would soon be filled again by new rulers, as common and eternal as the rising and setting of the sun and moon, never stopping for a moment. Lingyi sighed inwardly and lowered the carriage curtain.

She did not return to Chonghua Palace, but went directly to Qianqing Palace, where Qin Lie was sitting behind his desk reading memorials.

From a distance, Lingyi was almost unrecognizable. It wasn't that he had changed his appearance, but rather that the murderous and violent aura emanating from him was so strong that it almost made people overlook his face.

When he looked up, his slightly reddened eyes softened with tenderness the moment he saw her again, and a smile appeared on his face. He stood up to greet her, saying, "I should have come to pick you up myself, but I had too many things to do and couldn't get away."

His killings were excessive, and nearly half the people were absent from the morning court session, naturally making everything complicated.

Lingyi let him hold her hand and sit down on the couch. Before she could speak, he suddenly pressed her down on the couch and kissed her fiercely.

His movements were so hurried and almost reckless, so forceful, that they caused her a dull ache. She didn't speak, but simply looked at him tenderly, held him, and let him do as he pleased. After a long while, he finally calmed down. Her body was covered in marks, and he felt both regret and heartache, holding her and repeatedly apologizing.

She didn't say whether she forgave him or not, but gently asked, "Is His Majesty feeling any better?"

He stroked her smooth back, his eyes gazing into the void. "He was extravagant and lustful, and I indulged him despite my dislike for him. I built grand pavilions for him and gathered beautiful women for him, yet he remained restless, conspiring with those people to take my life." A shadow returned to his eyes, and he suddenly asked, "Does the princess know that I killed several of his sons?"

"How many?" Lingyi asked, following his words.

“Five. If you include my second brother, that makes six. The youngest is only sixteen, and he looks somewhat like me. He cried and called me third brother, begging me not to kill him.” He paused and said, “But I still had someone do it. I didn’t even have time to look closely. When I turned around, I heard a thud. When I came back, I found his blood had soaked the soles of my shoes… or maybe it wasn’t his, or it wasn’t just his.”

Humans are not plants or trees, how can they be without feelings? His speech became unusually fragmented.

Lingyi said slowly, "A person's life is as fragile as a candle in the wind. He was born into the royal family and enjoyed wealth that others could not enjoy, so he must bear the fate that he had to bear."

She smiled and said, "Even I, born into a noble family, am merely pushed along by the hand of fate. Although I was fortunate enough to be favored by the Emperor, if I hadn't lost my memory, I'm afraid I would have already turned into a pile of white bones underground."

Qin Lie was wary of her discussing such matters of life and death, saying, "With me here, nothing will happen to you."

Lingyi didn't speak, but looked at him gently with a knowing gaze.

Qin Lie understood her meaning, and this understanding only fueled his anger. His face darkened as he said, "Princess, there's no need for you to plead for Xie Yu. This time, I will not let him off!"

Who did Xie Yu take him for? Was he so arrogant that he thought he could deceive everyone and send the princess away?

“He is Sixteenth Sister’s husband, and also Lin’er’s adoptive father.” Lingyi nestled in his arms and sighed, “Besides, I haven’t left, and I won’t leave. Qin Lie, I don’t have many relatives left. If you really want me to live well, then spare him this time.”

She risked her life to plead for Xie Yu, which filled Qin Lie with resentment.

But... she really didn't leave.

Xie Yu's arrangements were meticulous, and even Qin Lie did not initially realize his intentions. If the princess had left, even if she had been brought back, who knew what the situation would be like now? He didn't even dare to think about it.

Is it possible that the princess made this choice not only for Huan'er, but also for herself in a tiny bit?

This thought instantly dispelled Qin Lie's anger, and a surge of heat rose in his chest. He said to her, "I can forgive him this time, but he must not stay in the capital again. As for that child... after Xie Yu leaves, you can take him to the palace to raise him."

Lingyi looked at him, her eyes filled with shock.

Although he was still somewhat reluctant, he said, "I possess the entire world, how could I still care about a dead person? Now that Huan'er is in the palace, I know that what you are most worried about is that child. As long as you are at ease, nothing else matters."

Lingyi thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Let's forget it. Sixteenth Sister has raised him very well. He has adoptive parents in the Xie family who treat him like their own son, as well as a group of brothers and sisters. These are the people he can rely on in the future. Once he goes to the palace, he will be living under someone else's roof. I certainly won't be able to take good care of him, and it will only make him more distant from his relatives. It will only backfire."

Qin Lie naturally disliked the child and wished he could go as far away as possible. Hearing Lingyi say this, he stopped trying to persuade him.

Unexpectedly, when Xie Yu left the capital, Lin'er was left behind, as was the Sixteenth Princess.

The sixteenth princess stayed behind voluntarily. After so many years and so many things, Xie Yu is still very important to her. He is the head of the family, the father of her children, and the husband she relies on, but he is no longer the Xie family's beloved Xie Yulang to whom she entrusted her heart.

Xie Yu was exiled to a remote county in the north to serve as a county magistrate, and he only took Miss Song with him on the journey.

Before leaving, he bowed deeply to the sixteenth princess, saying, "I entrust all matters of the household and the children to you, Madam."

The sixteenth princess smiled and said, "Husband, rest assured, I will take good care of the child and manage the Xie family well until you return. As for Sister Song... I entrust her to you."

With Song Lin there, Miss Song naturally didn't want to leave. She had been drugged and stuffed into the carriage, leaving her with very little strength.

When Xie Yu got into the carriage, he saw her struggling and falling inside, her cheek pressed against the bottom of the carriage, with bloodstains on the corner of her mouth.

He gently helped her up, wiping the blood from her lips with his sleeve, and said softly, "I know you feel resentful because of Song Lin, but only if you go further away will he be safer. Do you remember when you told me that you had never left Zhuozhou since you were a child, and that you always wanted to see the mountains and rivers of the north and ride a northern horse? Deserts, ice fields, high mountains and pine forests—I promised you I would take you to see them all. I only ask that you not torment yourself anymore. Don't forget, our child is still waiting for you to come back."

Miss Song didn't speak, but tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she closed them.

The doctor in the capital once said that she had less than a year to live.

Perhaps it was being far from the capital and having all her hopes shattered that made her stop dwelling on the past, or perhaps it was the vast scenery of the north that opened her heart. She lived until the fifth year of the Tiansheng era, when she closed her eyes forever on her favorite snowy night.

The sixteenth princess sighed, "Perhaps she found some false happiness in her final days. But no matter how beautiful the North is, it is not a place where she can rest in peace. Xie Yu wrote in his letter that her last wish was to be buried next to her father and brothers after her death. However, her body is difficult to transport, so she has already asked someone to build a cenotaph next to the Song family ancestral graves in Zhuozhou."

After she finished speaking, she realized that Lingyi wasn't listening at all, but was focused on the memorial.

The Empress Dowager was seriously ill, and the Cining Palace, which had been closed for five years, finally opened its doors to Qin Lie. He had been attending to her in the past, staying by her side day and night for almost half a month. During this time, Lingyi had been reviewing memorials.

In reality, these memorials were all drafted by the cabinet. All she had to do was stamp them with the imperial seal. Occasionally, she would need to write a few words, and they would be accurate. Her imitation of Qin Lie's handwriting was so good that it was almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Unless you compared them carefully, you couldn't see any flaws at all.

If there is anything of great importance, then of course we must report it to the Emperor.

Even though it was just a formality, Lingyi took it very seriously.

But... upon seeing the few words she had just written, the Sixteenth Princess gasped, "You...you...this?!"

It was a memorial appointing officials, specifically several fifth or sixth-rank officials in the capital, the kind of memorial that only required a stamp.

Lingyi added two names to the list, but it was nothing compared to the unparalleled favor she enjoyed. In recent years, Lingyi only needed one note to appoint officials below the sixth rank.

But she had just added the names of two women, which is why the Sixteenth Princess was so shocked.

Throughout history, there has never been a case of a woman holding an official position!

If this memorial were to be sent out, it would inevitably cause a stir in the court. How could the Sixteenth Princess not be worried? She hurriedly advised Lingyi to cross out those two names.

Lingyi said nonchalantly, "They're just two minor officials. What's there to be afraid of, sister? I can imitate their handwriting so well that it's almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Who would bother to carefully examine the appointment documents for a few minor officials?"

Hearing this, the Sixteenth Princess felt much relieved. Nevertheless, she still wanted to offer a few more words of advice. After all, serving the emperor was like walking on thin ice. With her seductive charm, greed for money and bribes, arrogance and jealousy, Lingyi's reputation in the court was really too bad. If one day Qin Lie stopped protecting her, she would immediately become the target of everyone's criticism.

Before he could speak, Huan'er and Lin'er returned. The two of them had just gone to the back garden to see the elephants presented by Siam. Compared to Lin'er's excited face, Huan'er was clearly uninterested and only reluctantly accompanied him to see them.

It was already late when the Sixteenth Princess took her leave of the palace with Lin'er, leaving only Lingyi and her son Huan'er in Chonghua Palace.

Seeing Huan'er had lost weight, Lingyi said with heartache, "The Empress Dowager raised you, so it's understandable that you're worried about her illness, but you can't ruin your health."

Huan'er smiled and agreed, his gaze falling on the memorial. "Mother, I've never seen this memorial before. May I go and take a look?"

Lingyi smiled and said, "You may look if you wish. I need to go to the Empress Dowager's palace. Once you're done, just put it back where it was."