Chapter 190 The Secret Chamber

In the center of the stone chamber was a single, enormous piece of crystal-clear, cold jade!

The cold jade was carved into a semi-open jade platform, like a lotus seat sculpted from ice and snow.

On the jade platform, a person lies quietly!

Xie Nuer and Zhi Xia's breaths stopped instantly, their hearts feeling as if they were being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand!

It was a woman!

She was wearing an extremely eye-catching bright red wedding dress!

Golden threads meandered and danced across the wedding dress, embroidering lifelike patterns of phoenixes and luan birds poised for flight, shimmering with an eerie yet noble cold light under the glow of the jade.

Above its head was a dazzling, nine-phoenix crown in red gold, inlaid with countless round pearls and brilliant gemstones. The phoenix's eyes seemed to be inlaid with the finest rubies. This was a phoenix crown!

Beneath the phoenix crown was a face so pale it was devoid of any color.

However, even in such extreme paleness, that face was still breathtakingly beautiful!

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her nose was small and straight, her lips were pale but beautifully shaped, and her long eyelashes, beneath her tightly closed eyelids, resembled still butterfly wings.

Her brows were relaxed, and her expression was serene, as if she had simply fallen into a long slumber.

Her skin, thanks to the effects of the cold jade, showed no signs of decay, as if time had stood still on her.

She clasped her hands together, placing them gracefully on her lower abdomen, like the most perfect bride waiting for her groom.

Xie Nu'er was stunned: "Godmother...this is my godmother..."

Although I have never seen Lin Ruyue in person, her face is so similar to Xie Sangning's!

She is truly a beauty rarely seen in this world...

After the brief visual shock, Xie Nuer was filled with rage!

Ten years! A full ten years! She was imprisoned in this dark, icy underground cave, dressed in a wedding gown, like a carefully preserved doll!

Anger and nausea made her almost vomit!

After confirming the details, Xie Nu'er dared not make a decision on her own and immediately left the dark room with Zhi Xia Yuanlu.

On their way out, the two erased all traces; in this respect, Zhixia was a professional.

Having done all this, the two dared not linger for even a moment.

After returning to the Imperial Study, Zhi Xia emptied the incense ash from one of the incense burners, put it into Xie Nuer's hand warmer, and quickly replaced it with new incense.

After doing all this, Xie Nuer walked up to the unconscious guard, kicked him, and when he still didn't react, she called for the people outside the door.

"Guards! Guards! What's wrong with this guard? Why has he fainted here? Is he trying to frame me?!"

Upon hearing the noise, Desheng and another guard at the door rushed inside.

Xie Nu'er looked furious as she glared at the two who had rushed in, and rebuked them, "If you're sick or tired, just ask for leave! What's the meaning of this charade? When the Emperor finds out, I won't be able to explain myself even if I have a hundred mouths!"

She clutched her chest, looking both furious and shaken. "Damn it! I dare not stay a moment longer! Lest I fall into someone's trap again!"

Having said that, she took Zhixia and, without even glancing at the person on the ground, turned and walked away. Her hurried steps and flowing skirt perfectly portrayed a concubine who was frightened, offended, and eager to leave this place of trouble.

"Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty!" Desheng and the guards quickly bowed in farewell.

Now it's up to Desheng to make his mark.

Desheng looked at the unconscious guard on the ground and said to another panicked guard, "There's only one way to save your life now. Nobody came here today, understand?"

The guard nodded subconsciously. If the Emperor found out... Eunuch Desheng would be fine, but the two of them would lose their lives.

"Today, Consort Ru did not set foot in the Imperial Study. The fool inside was dozing off on duty and accidentally bumped into the corner of the table and fainted. As for you, you were at the door the whole time, seeing and hearing nothing. If you want to live, remember my words."

"Yes! Yes! This servant understands! Understands!" The guard felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and with great effort, he dragged his unconscious companion away, staggering out of the room.

Consort Ru, Xie Nu'er, returned to Yuntang Palace, still clutching her pounding heart.

How should I tell the young lady this...? What will happen if I do...?

Xie Nu'er didn't dare to think about it too much, so she immediately wrote the information on a piece of paper and handed it to Zhi Xia.

"Go, the sooner the better, let the young lady know!"

Inside the Zhenguo General's Mansion, the lights were bright and the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air.

The grand welcoming banquet officially began.

In the front hall, amidst the clinking of glasses, Xie Sangyu, dressed in a brocade robe, moved confidently among the guests, entertaining visitors on behalf of her father.

The rear hall, or flower hall, was the domain of the women.

The tinkling of jade pendants, the fragrance of clothes and the swaying of hair.

Xie Sangning was dressed in a lake-blue brocade palace gown, her black hair styled into an exquisite flying fairy bun, adorned with several simple pearl hairpins, and a gentle and dignified smile on her face as she spoke with several noble ladies of high status.

She was elegant in demeanor and eloquent in conversation, managing the situation flawlessly and winning widespread praise.

"Miss Xie is truly intelligent and kind-hearted, managing the mansion so well. General Xie is very fortunate!"

"Yes, I like Sang Ning from the first glance. I wonder which son will be so lucky in the future..."

The compliments were endless.

Xie Sangning responded with a smile, but her eyes were always fixed on the entrance to the flower hall.

Finally, Ru Dong appeared at the door and nodded to her almost imperceptibly.

Xie Sangning gracefully apologized to the ladies, saying, "Ladies, please continue your conversation. I'm going to change my clothes and will be back shortly."

She rose, and accompanied by Ru Dong, walked briskly through the noisy corridor toward her Ruixue Tower.

The closer you get, the more the surrounding liveliness seems to be blocked by an invisible barrier, and the air becomes cold.

Stepping into the room, I closed the door behind me, shutting out all outside noise.

Xie Sangning's gentle smile vanished instantly.

Ru Dong silently presented an ordinary rouge box.

Xie Sangning took it, silently opened the rouge box, and took out the tiny folded piece of paper from the inner compartment.

She walked to the desk by the window and, by the bright candlelight, slowly unfolded the book.

The cool moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating her and outlining her straight back. Her gaze swept over the words on the paper, word by word.

When I see phrases like "phoenix coronet and embroidered robe," "jade platform," and "undying corpse,"...

"puff--!"

A mouthful of scalding blood gushed uncontrollably from Xie Sangning's mouth!

Her vision went black, her body swayed, and she almost fell to the ground!

"Mother...Mother..." Her tears burst forth uncontrollably.

Pei Yan…

Pei Yan!

Xie Sangning suddenly raised her head, her eyes now filled only with hatred and madness!

Blood trickled down between her fingers, but she was completely unaware.

"If I don't kill you... I, Xie Sangning, swear I will never be a human being!"