Even Ning Hongze herself didn't expect that Su Yuan would choose to leave.

After that, there was no further news.

She seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Ning Hong touched her chin, finding it somewhat unbelievable. How could she have disappeared so easily? Su Yuan was the female lead, after all. How could she not stay and be in love with the male lead?

But never mind, too many men like her, she might just get kidnapped by some fanatic.

Since we're not going to see each other, then let's just leave it at that.

Anyway, it has little to do with him.

The most important thing now is to figure out a way to bring Changxi out.

He could no longer allow Changxi to remain in the palace.

Three days later would be the Empress Dowager's fortieth birthday.

The Empress Dowager didn't hold any celebrations last year or the year before, but this year, on her 40th birthday, she wants to have a proper celebration.

"I am already forty years old, and I don't know how many more years I have to live. I just want to have a big celebration."

Ning Hongze: "—"

Song Zhuo: "—"

This empress dowager is rather incomprehensible. She seems to always be dedicated to hindering the emperor, and making things difficult for him is probably her happiest moment.

Ning Hongze still remembers when he first entered the court, the late Empress Dowager was still alive. That Empress Dowager was particularly simple and honest, and she was willing to give everything for her son, the late Emperor.

She opposed all extravagant and wasteful behavior and never wanted to cause the late emperor any trouble.

Unfortunately, he passed away not long after the emperor was born.

The late emperor cried for three days and three nights.

Ning Hong had always wondered if the Emperor would shed tears if the Empress Dowager died.

However, despite the Empress Dowager's long deliberation, the birthday banquet ultimately could not be successfully held.

An assassin had infiltrated the song and dance troupe.

While everyone was enjoying the song and dance performance, they plotted to assassinate Song Zhuo.

Ning Changxi took a knife for him and died in Song Zhuo's arms.

Song Zhuo almost broke down.

If Ning Hong hadn't slapped him with red eyes, he would have almost gone crazy.

"Your Majesty, you are the emperor of all the people under heaven, you must be strong."

"Changxi is gone."

“I know, that’s my daughter, my only child—” Ning Hong pounded her chest with her hand.

"Changxi loves me; otherwise, why would he have shielded me from a knife?"

She likes him so much, but what has he done to her?

He lost his temper with her, refused to let her have children, and even banished her to the cold palace.

he--

Tears streamed down Song Zhuo's face incessantly. He wiped them away, only for them to fall again; he wiped them away, and they fell again—

In the end, he gave up too.

His whole body was trembling, and he sobbed.

"Aaaaaahh ...

Ning Hong watched him quietly.

His face was also wet.

Why are people so despicable?

We always chase after things that are illusory and unattainable, but forget to turn around and take a look at how many people and things around us are worth cherishing.

Ning Changxi was not buried in the royal mausoleum.

At Ning Hongze's insistence, he was buried in the Ning family cemetery.

Ning Hong then said that in the future, Song Zhuo will establish a new empress, at which point Changxi will be in an awkward position.

He didn't want Changxi to be squeezed together with other women.

"Duke of Wei, no, my tomb will only contain Changxi."

"Your Majesty, no one can guarantee what will happen before it even begins. This is my final advice to you. Do not make promises about the future lightly. After all, the future is unknowable; what will happen? No one knows for sure."

"Duke of Wei, are you leaving too?"

"I plan to return to my hometown. I only have one daughter—"

As Ning Hong spoke, her voice became hoarse and her eyes reddened.

This time, Song Zhuo did not stop him; he could find no excuse to keep him.

The higher you climb, the colder it gets; in the end, he was left all alone.

The palace maid Xiao Xi also went home with Ning Hongze.

Xiao Xi was found by Chang Xi when she was a child, and she named her herself using her own name.

The original owner of this body had considered changing the maid's name, but Ning Changxi refused. In her opinion, she had taken the maid in, so she naturally had the right to name her.

So Xiao Xi stayed by her side, never leaving her, whether she was living a life of glory or a miserable existence in the cold palace.

In what seemed like just a few days, Xiao Xi lost a lot of weight and looked extremely haggard.

"If you wish, you can stay in the palace to live out your old age." Xiao Xi had served Chang Xi since she was a child, and her presence would make him feel that Chang Xi was still alive.

"This servant is unwilling," Xiao Xi shook her head.

"Her Majesty is gone. This servant truly does not wish to remain here; it is too heartbreaking to be here—"

On the day Xiao Xi left with the Duke of Wei, Song Zhuo stood on the city wall, staring intently in the direction the carriage had gone.

From then on, the capital city no longer had Su Yuan, no longer had the Duke of Wei, and no longer had Chang Xi.

He was truly all alone now; on this day, he felt all his happiness had vanished.

Is this God's punishment for him?

The carriage swayed along the road for a day and a night, only slowing down after it had left the capital.

"Phew, I almost suffocated."

Ning Changxi slowly exhaled.

Playing dead is something no human would do. Luckily, the medicine her father gave her was effective enough; when she woke up, she was already at the Ning family's house.

If you woke up in a coffin, you'd probably end up actually dead even if you were pretending to be.

"Finally out."

"Yes, Your Majesty, we've finally escaped." Xiao Xi also looked delighted.

When she first heard that her mistress had passed away, she almost followed her in death, but luckily she was quick-witted and thought it over.

Otherwise, if the Empress had used the elixir of feigned death and could have been brought back to life, she would have truly perished.

"Thank goodness you finally used your little brain correctly this time." Ning Changxi rubbed Xiaoxi's head. "Don't call me Your Majesty anymore, just call me Miss."

It was also a spur-of-the-moment decision for her.

When she saw someone trying to assassinate her, she immediately thought of the fake death pill her father had given her.

She immediately waved to her father, then quickly stood in front of Song Zhuo, and then, concealed by her sleeve, swallowed the fake death pill.

She died for the Emperor.

He had no reason to make things difficult for her father.

After that, she was free to travel as far as the mountains and rivers allowed.

"Dad, Aunt, let's go to Hangzhou. I've heard that the scenery in Suzhou and Hangzhou is absolutely stunning. Let's go and see it."

"good."

Ning Hong had no objections, and neither did Ning Zixi.

Seeing that both elders agreed, Ning Changxi smiled and lifted the curtain, looking at the scenery receding behind her. This scenery was probably gone forever, so she might as well take a few more glances—

She can finally leave.

Goodbye, Beijing.

Goodbye, palace.

Goodbye, Song Zhuo!