She raised her hand and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The back of her hand, though full of wrinkles, still revealed the youthful slenderness of her younger days.
"When the Great Zhou Dynasty first established its capital, the court was unstable, with various forces eyeing it covetously, and enemy states surrounding the flock. He rode a tall horse to my residence to propose marriage, promising me the honor of being the mother of the nation. On my wedding day, the ten-mile-long red procession was the envy of all the noble ladies in the capital. My grandfather, father, and brothers all devoted themselves to the Great Zhou, exhausting all their efforts to stabilize the court and achieve the Great Zhou's prosperity. I gave birth to a son, the eldest son, who from the day of his birth was seen by the court officials as the future ruler. He is skilled in horsemanship and archery, learned in many subjects, and excels in both literary and martial arts, always striving to be the best."
As she spoke, her fingers slowly clenched.
She gripped the dressing table tightly, her fingertips turning white, her wrinkled face gradually contorting her features.
"The high platform I have built will not be allowed for anyone else to ascend. A mere orphan girl, a vixen with some sorcery, dares to think she can sit on equal footing with me, and even wants to surpass my son to become the future ruler. How presumptuous! How presumptuous!"
She slammed her hand hard on the table.
Just then, a black pigeon silently landed beside her hand.
A small bamboo tube was tied to his left leg.
Granny Gui quickly took the bamboo tube down.
"The news from the Ghost Sect seems to indicate that they have found Bai Shuo."
She respectfully handed the secret letter to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager looked at her own face in the mirror and felt utterly disgusted.
"That damned Bai Shuo! I've raised him for years, yet he hasn't accomplished a single decent task. Now that he's been brought back, I'm determined to..."
As they spoke, the secret letter was opened.
There was only one sentence on it.
"Bai Shuo is dead, and the treasure has been obtained by the Ninth Prince."
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