Yan Qing looked at Nan Zhiyun sitting opposite her, her head tilted, seemingly lost in thought. It was unclear what her mindset was, but perhaps her interactions with Nan Zhiyun today had given her a more childlike perspective, which was why Yan Qing always treated Nan Zhiyun with a certain air of childlike innocence.
"What is Your Majesty thinking about? Are you bored again?" Yan Qing asked her.
"I was thinking about what you just said, that someone in the palace is helping Luo Yuncheng. I was wondering who that person could be?" Nan Zhiyun must have had a pleasant time with Yan Qing today, otherwise she wouldn't have addressed him directly as "I".
Yan Qing smiled upon hearing this: "Has Your Majesty guessed it?"
"No, there were too many people, so it was a bit hard to guess. Besides, His Majesty doesn't allow me to handle these things myself." Nan Zhiyun picked up a glass of water in front of her and drank it down.
"That's because His Majesty doesn't want His Highness to be corrupted by those filthy things. His Highness just needs to be happy and carefree every day, just like now," Yan Qing told her.
"I think so too. Those things are too complicated for me to understand, so I think you're really amazing to be able to manage so many things." Nan Zhiyun got a headache just thinking about having to do all of this.
"I've been learning since I was little." Yan Qing seemed a little melancholy.
"So do you know who that person is?" Nan Zhiyun has been very curious about everything lately.
"His Majesty has good reason for not allowing the Empress to come into contact with these things. After all, some of these things and methods are too dirty. The Empress is pure and beautiful, and His Majesty cannot bear to see her defiled." Yan Qing seemed to have no intention of saying anything more.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty... has actually done a lot for you." So that you can always remain the way you are now, so that you can always live like a little sun, always pure and innocent. Even if you don't understand anything, he won't deliberately make you learn. It's not that he doesn't want you to grow and become stronger, but he has used his abilities to create an environment for you where you never need to grow up.
Two days ago, Yu Jingchen sent someone to tell her to get rid of all the remaining women in the harem. What he wanted to give Nan Zhiyun was... the only one.
At first, she felt sorry for Nan Zhiyun, after all, Nan Zhiyun had indeed suffered a lot. But later, she truly envied her, because Nan Zhiyun ultimately got what she had always wanted most. Compared to most people, no matter what they did, their final fate was always tragic.
Not everyone can possess what they dream of. What is not yours, no matter what you do, no matter how much you pay, no matter what price you pay, will never belong to you in the end. Nan Zhiyun may be unfortunate, but... she is also lucky.
Years of hardship were exchanged for a lifetime of companionship. Perhaps in some past life she didn't know, Nan Zhiyun lived a desolate and painful life, but in all the future lives, she will surely be happy.
Reconciliation is the best option after weighing the pros and cons, because it can still bring benefits. If the two people are not separated by vast distances, but by long and arduous journeys, or if the restored mirror has lost its value and no one uses it anymore, then... there is no need to go through the trouble of gluing the broken mirror back together.
If emotions could truly be described using a mirror, could you find a mirror without any flaws?
If love truly has no end, can you find a mirror that will never break?
Mirrors will eventually shatter, but will people really eventually drift apart as well?
The shattered mirror represents my numerous wounds, but you don't know that these wounds are all because the mirror broke, causing the cuts...
When Yu Jingchen arrived, Nan Zhiyun was still eating. When she heard someone outside calling that Yu Jingchen was coming, she even dropped the grapes she was holding.
"Your Majesty!" Nan Zhiyun stood up and immediately snuggled into Yu Jingchen's arms upon seeing him.
Yu Jingchen caught her in his arms, and as Nan Zhiyun ran towards him, his heart nearly jumped out of his chest. What if she fell? This girl had absolutely no sense of propriety for a pregnant woman…
Tsk tsk, I wonder who it was that thought that person was so well-behaved just a while ago...
"Don't you know how to be careful? What if you fall?" Yu Jingchen picked up Nan Zhiyun, his tone full of undisguised doting affection.
Yan Qing also came over: "Your Majesty, I greet you." She gave a proper bow.
"Get up," Yu Jingchen said coldly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Yan Qing looked at Yu Jingchen, who was holding Nan Zhiyun. The fact that the two of them acted as if no one else was around proved that Yu Jingchen openly favored Nan Zhiyun, and that Nan Zhiyun was fearless because of Yu Jingchen's love.
"How are you today? Are you angry? Are you unhappy? Have you been wronged? Shall I take you back to the palace?" Yu Jingchen asked, holding her in his arms.
Yan Qing: "..." I can't bear to look.
"No, the Imperial Concubine is a very nice person, and the stories she tells are better than His Majesty's." Nan Zhiyun said, not forgetting to put down the other person as well.
"Okay, then come here whenever you're bored, she'll tell you stories." Yu Jingchen said, giving Nan Zhiyun a peck on the cheek.
Yan Qing: "..."
"Have taken care of the matters I assigned you. I'm taking the Empress back with me." Yu Jingchen glanced at Yan Qing.
Yan Qing: "...Yes." So I'm just a tool, sigh~
Yu Jingchen carried Nan Zhiyun back to Fengyin Palace. Yan Qing watched them leave, a hint of loneliness flashing in her eyes, but it was only for a moment.
Yan Qing quickly returned to her usual demeanor, dignified and composed: "Summon Bai Xiuyuan to see me," Yan Qing said.
"Yes..." The intricacies of the harem are almost over...
That very night, Consort Yuan was murdered in the Cold Palace. Yan Qing then delivered evidence of Bai Yusheng's crimes: colluding with the traitor Luo Yuncheng, he secretly helped him break into the palace with the intention of assassinating the Empress. He also framed Consort Yuan for plotting against the Empress, drugged the First Prince, and then pinned the blame on Consort Yuan. Finally, to eliminate any future threats, he ruthlessly murdered Consort Yuan in the Cold Palace. For these multiple crimes, he was sentenced to death by caning!
General Bai accepted bribes, abused his power for personal gain, and failed to properly educate his daughter. He was stripped of his generalship, all his military power was revoked, all his family's property was confiscated, and he was beheaded in the autumn. The Bai family was exiled to a harsh, desolate place, never to return to the capital, and their descendants were barred from holding official positions.
Yu Jiangyan plotted to harm the Empress during his spring hunt, colluding with Jianghu forces—a crime deserving of death. Princess Yu, with her malicious intentions, plotted to harm Prince Yu—an unforgivable crime. However, considering her royal status, she was granted wine.
Luo Yuncheng harbored treacherous intentions, plotted to murder the Grand General of the Nation, Nan Su, secretly entered the palace to murder the Empress, and colluded with traitors. His actions were heinous and he was sentenced to death by a thousand cuts.
Liu Yi of the Duke of Liu's mansion was guilty of conspiracy, but considering his ignorance, he was spared his life, given fifty strokes of the cane, and the Duke of Liu dismissed him from his post, sending him home to reflect on his mistakes.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
