Chapter 63

Ever since Pei Yun went on a rampage at Changmen Palace that day, he hadn't shown his face for several days. Without having to deal with him, Xi Xiao was happy to have some peace and quiet, and enjoyed a few rare days of tranquility.

Inside the palace, her favorite cold incense burned, and she turned page after page of storybooks. Only occasionally, rumors of turmoil in the court would drift in, like undercurrents beneath the surface of water, faintly emanating from the depths of the inner palace, bringing a sense of unease.

But this slight unease did not significantly disrupt the tranquility of Zhaoyang Palace. On this day, Xi Xiaogang picked up a newly acquired folk tale book, and a palace maid gently combed her long hair. When she read an amusing passage, she couldn't help but clutch her stomach, laughing so hard that her whole body trembled. Her hairpins swayed slightly, and a rare genuine smile appeared in her eyes.

"Miss!" Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps sounded from outside. As they approached the palace gate, they seemed to force themselves to suppress their cries and resume their orderly rhythm.

The beaded curtain was lifted, and Xiangmo hurried in, her forehead beaded with sweat and her expression anxious. Seeing the cheerful laughter and chatter in the hall, so out of place with her own presence, a hint of grievance and anxiety crept into her eyes. She frowned, hesitated for a moment, and finally walked to Xixiao, looking preoccupied and hesitant.

Xi Xiao's laughter gradually subsided. She paused for a moment, then gently waved her hand, signaling all the palace servants in the hall to leave.

Only when the footsteps outside faded into the distance and no further sound could be heard did Xiangmo kneel down before Xi Xiao with a thud, her voice trembling uncontrollably: "Miss! Something terrible has happened! Today... today in court, Lord Wu... for some reason, actually confronted His Majesty in court, speaking vehemently and committing treason... In a fit of anger, His Majesty actually... actually..."

No matter what she said, she couldn't bring herself to say, "His Majesty drew his sword and stabbed Lord Wu to death in the Golden Palace." Xiangmo trembled like a leaf in the autumn wind. The words rolled in her throat several times before she finally managed to squeeze them out with a sob: "His Majesty's headache has flared up severely. He is currently in the Hall of Mental Cultivation and refuses to see anyone. We servants have no other choice! Miss, please go and see him!"

Upon hearing this, Xi Xiao showed no shock whatsoever. Instead, she glanced at Xiang Mo with a half-smile, as if Pei Yun's act of executing a minister in court was perfectly normal. "You said it yourself, he won't see anyone," she said coldly, with a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm. "What use would it be for me to go?"

Xiangmo seemed completely oblivious to the sarcasm in her words, and suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with almost blind hope: "How could you be just anyone, Miss! You are different! Even if His Majesty doesn't see anyone, as long as... as long as you go, no matter what, His Majesty will definitely... will definitely be willing to see you!"

As if to confirm the oppressive atmosphere, the bright midday sunlight suddenly faded, and the sky was quickly covered by a large patch of heavy dark clouds. The sky darkened instantly, making the originally beautiful purple-leaf plum tree outside the window look listless and colorless.

A glint flashed in Xi Xiao's eyes, then she looked at the delicate petals swaying helplessly in the wind through the window frame with feigned melancholy. She lowered her head and chuckled softly, a laugh that was light and airy, yet carried a fearless chill: "I'm afraid... right now, the person your Majesty least wants to see is me."

Xiangmo looked up in confusion, not yet understanding the deeper meaning in her words, when suddenly a series of chaotic and heavy footsteps came from outside the hall!

Immediately afterwards, a group of eunuchs and nannies dressed in dark palace attire, with solemn expressions, filed in. Their movements were swift and silent, like the tide in the dark night, and they surrounded the entire main hall of Zhaoyang Palace without saying a word, instantly lowering the atmosphere to freezing point.

"How dare you!" Xiangmo snapped back to reality, suppressing her fear, and immediately stepped forward, adopting the imposing manner of a first-class palace servant of Zhaoyang Palace, and shouted, "This is Zhaoyang Palace, the sleeping quarters of the Empress Dowager! How dare you trespass like this?!"

"The mother of the nation?" The head eunuch, with a pale face and no beard, spoke in a high-pitched, shrill voice. He stepped forward, his triangular eyes filled with disdain. With a wave of his hand, two burly old women stepped forward, grabbing Xi Xiao's arms on either side and forcibly dragging her up from her seat.

"Ha! His Majesty has decreed that, effective immediately, she shall be stripped of her title as Empress and banished to Changmen Palace! Now she is nothing but a lowly maid who has not even been granted a golden book or seal of office, her status is even lower than that of an ordinary palace servant who serves tea and water and warms the bed for His Majesty!"

Xi Xiao was roughly carried past Xiang Mo, who stood there stunned, pale-faced and unable to utter a word. Her steps faltered slightly. Seeing Xiang Mo's lost and bewildered state, Xi Xiao finally couldn't help herself. In the dead silence and amidst the cold gazes of the eunuchs and maids, she spoke with an unusual calmness: "Xiang Mo, don't follow me anymore. Go back."

Go back? Go back where?

Xiangmo seemed to be suddenly awakened by these words. She looked up blankly and around, but there was no sign of Xi Xiao anywhere. There was only the empty palace gate and the increasingly gloomy and oppressive sky outside the window.

Deep within Changmen Palace, dappled light and shadow danced. Xi Xiao leisurely stepped into the hall, calmly dusting off non-existent dust from her plain sleeves, as if she had entered not a desolate palace, but an ordinary courtyard.

Since Pei Yun's outburst here last time, although the place has been hastily tidied up and has less cobwebs and dust, the old and broken tables and chairs and faded curtains still exude an inescapable sense of vicissitude and decay.

Upon entering the main hall, one is greeted by a scene of utter chaos, with tables and chairs overturned and broken pottery shards scattered everywhere, as if a storm had swept through the area.

Pei Yun, his black hair disheveled, sat alone in the center of the ruins, his dragon robe rumpled and his appearance disheveled. He remained motionless, like a stone statue, but his unfathomable eyes were fixed on the direction of the palace gate. Thus, as soon as Xi Xiao stepped in, she was directly confronted by his gaze, which was a mixture of madness and pain.

"The rumors in the palace and court are growing ever stronger..." Xi Xiao broke the silence first, her voice cold and clear, sounding particularly chilling in the empty hall. "They all say that His Majesty is imitating the former Regent Ling Zhouli, indulging in women, forcibly taking other men's wives, neglecting state affairs, and acting willfully. Now, to add insult to injury, he has executed a loyal minister in court... Your Majesty, what do you think is the best way to end this situation?" She slightly curled her lips, forming a cold arc, and met Pei Yun's almost murderous gaze without flinching.

Seeing her subtly provocative expression, Pei Yun chuckled softly, his hoarse laughter carrying an endless sense of desolation.

He slowly stood up and approached Xi Xiao step by step until he saw a crack appear in the forced composure on her face. He stopped and spoke almost to her ear, his breath hot yet cold: "Are you satisfied with this situation of turmoil and alienation between the emperor and his subjects?"

"Satisfied?" Xi Xiao glanced at him sideways. "I'm not quite satisfied yet. His Majesty is still standing here perfectly fine, isn't he? The blood debt you owed should naturally be repaid with a life for a life, that's the only fair thing to do."

Their eyes clashed in the air, like two sharp swords locked together, neither willing to back down even a step, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder.

Finally, Pei Yunxian looked away, as if he had exhausted all his strength. He staggered to a pile of broken porcelain, bent down, and searched through them with his bare hands, ignoring the cuts on his fingertips from the broken pieces.

A moment later, he picked up a small, purplish-red box, turned around, and slammed it heavily onto the dilapidated table in front of Xi Xiao. His face was contorted with rage, and his eyes were bloodshot. "A secret report from Beijiang! Ling Zhouling has returned safely! His subordinates, Ge Quan and his son, are now spreading rumors under the guise of 'purging the court of corrupt officials and punishing the tyrannical emperor,' all to create a pretext for Ling Zhouling to rebel! And you..." He suddenly pointed at Xi Xiao, his voice trembling with anger, "You secretly corresponded with him, and all the secret documents are here! How is this any different from treason?!"

"Then what is Your Majesty waiting for?" Xi Xiao showed no fear, instead stepping forward with a mocking tone, "Why haven't you killed me yet? What use is there in imprisoning me in this Changmen Palace?"

"Do you think I really wouldn't bear to kill you?!" Pei Yun gritted his teeth, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the letters he had taken from the box tightly.

Those letters not only detailed how to spread rumors and undermine the foundation of the nation, but also contained Ling Zhouling's seductive words, reminding him that the person he cared about most was being coveted by others! This enraged him more than any sword or blade.

Ignoring his almost fiery glare, Xi Xiao continued, "Of course His Majesty is reluctant. Hasn't His Majesty already noticed his poor health, and the Imperial Hospital has been treating him day and night but to no avail? His Majesty's tight control over the news is simply because he suspects I've done something wrong."

She raised her eyes, her mocking gaze piercing him mercilessly: "His Majesty still expects me to hand over the antidote or reveal a cure, so how could he easily kill me? Your previous attempts to feign humility and deep affection failed, and now..."

She slowly surveyed the dilapidated and gloomy palace, her gaze finally settling on Pei Yun's face, her contempt evident. "So you've resorted to threats and coercion? What's next? Will you cut off my food and water, or frame me for crimes, so that when I'm at my wit's end, His Majesty will descend like a god to lend a helping hand? Do you think that will make me grateful and once again a plaything in your hands, at your mercy?"

A sudden, unnatural flush rose on Pei Yun's pale face. He stared at her intently for a moment, then abruptly lunged forward, grabbing her arm so tightly it felt like he was crushing bones. His voice, laced with blood, was forced out through clenched teeth: "Regicide! That alone is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family! You're not afraid of death, but what about your loyal maid, Yunwu? Isn't she afraid too?!"

Xi Xiao struggled fiercely, her cheeks flushed red with anger and pain. She gritted her teeth, each word filled with hatred: "I knew long ago that you were no benevolent ruler who kept his promises! All you do is threaten and harm the innocent, Pei Yun, you'll never learn these despicable tricks!"

"Despicable?" Pei Yun laughed in anger, his eyes filled with a desperate madness and resolve. "Even if I die, I will drag you all down to hell with me! Let's see who will give up first!" He gave her a deep look, and a fleeting trace of bitterness and helplessness flashed across his cold, hard face. Then, he abruptly released her hand, turned around resolutely, and strode away.

On the dilapidated floor, a small, pale red plum blossom appeared, but before it could bloom, it was mercilessly covered and erased by the footprints that followed, as if it had never existed.