"Hmm." The old lady hummed lightly, then returned to the ancestral hall and continued to kneel and recite scriptures.
Yuchi Yingyue cleaned up the dishes and walked to a nearby well to fetch some water for washing.
In the past, she didn't have to do such things herself.
She was abandoned by her parents when she was very young. It was the kind-hearted abbot of Shangyi Temple who allowed her to make a living in the temple.
Speaking of which, she was lucky. In the winter of that year, she fell into the water and was rescued by the former queen, now the empress dowager, who went out to worship Buddha.
The queen had no daughter at the time, and seeing her pitiful life experience and feeling that they were destined to be together, she raised her by her side.
This raising process lasted for ten years.
Those ten years were happy. Although the royal family was heartless, they provided her with the best food, clothing and other necessities. With the queen protecting her, she lived a good life. She also worked hard to learn the palace etiquette so as not to embarrass the queen. Her two brothers also treated her very well.
But she should never have fallen in love with the third brother, and she should not have done something wrong after knowing that the third brother had a loved one.
The prosperity of the Forbidden City had blinded her eyes and her heart. She was afraid that she would not be able to enjoy such splendor and wealth in the future, and she was also afraid that her third brother would no longer love her after getting married, so she did many bad things to her third sister-in-law...
After Xi'er was born, she was no longer the only princess in the palace, and she became even more afraid...
Yuchi Yingyue paused while washing dishes, lowered her eyes, and a bitter smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
By the time she repented, it was too late. Her second brother's children had died one by one on the battlefield, and her second and third brothers were also on the battlefield, their lives uncertain. Even Xi'er, as the Empress Dowager later said, was also missing.
She was the only one left in the palace, and the Empress Dowager was taken away by Xier. She also wanted to die to end it all. Just when she was about to jump into the lake, a young man appeared and told her that as long as she recited scriptures every day, she could atone her sins, but she could never enter the cycle of reincarnation and could only be trapped in a small world.
I can never take a step out of here.
After much hesitation, she chose to atone. The young man waved his hand and she arrived, but she did not expect to see the Empress Dowager here. The Empress Dowager just glanced at her and then knelt in the ancestral hall to recite scriptures.
The boy told her that the door could not be opened, but the crops grown inside were enough for them to survive.
She once asked the boy how her second and third brothers were doing. The boy just replied, "That's not what she should ask."
Then he left.
There are still four seasons in this yard, but there is no one to serve her anymore. Fortunately, she cooked and did some rough work when she was young, so she didn't starve to death.
But she found that here, it seemed as if time had not passed. She had not aged, and the Empress Dowager still looked the same as when she first came in. However, she had no idea what year it was outside.
Second brother, third brother...is Xier okay?
She thought, it must be good. A smart child like Xier will definitely live well even without the protection of her relatives.
Yuchi Yingyue cleaned up the dishes, dried her hands, walked to the side of the Empress Dowager, knelt down, and chanted scriptures with her.
When it was late at night, the old lady got up and moved around.
Yuchi Yingyue supported her, and the two of them walked to the yard and sat down. The old lady looked at the moon in this small piece of sky and earth, her weathered face full of sorrow.
When she left, Jiaojiao'er's whereabouts were still unknown, but the young man told her that as long as she recited scriptures every day, she could help Jiaojiao'er accumulate blessings and help Jiaojiao'er accomplish her great plan.
She didn't know what Jiaojiaoer was going to do, but if it was what Jiaojiaoer wanted to do, she would definitely help her complete it.
She still remembered that after Jiaojiao'er had settled her down, she had comforted her, "Grandmother, don't worry. I've left people here to protect you. I've also left some money, enough to provide you with food and clothing for the rest of your life."
"Grandmother, you must live well."
She held Jiaojiao'er's hand and asked her, "Jiaojiao'er, where are you going?"
Jiaojiaoer smiled at her and said, "Well, I'll go take them home."
"Go home... go home! The Empress Dowager will be waiting for you here."
She gently patted the back of Jiaojiaoer's hand, but she knew in her heart that Jiaojiaoer was in danger this time and might not be able to come back. However, her children in the Yuan Kingdom had never been cowards, and Jiaojiaoer had inherited her father's courage. At this time, she shouldn't persuade her to stay, because she was the little princess of the Yuan Kingdom.
But she should also persuade her to stay, let go of hatred and live a good life, because she is her darling.
Thousands of words finally converged into one sentence, "My darling, please be well."
Jiaojiaoer held her hand that was cupping her face and said, "Well, with the Imperial Grandmother behind me, I will be fine."
"I will protect you, just like you protected me."
"Don't worry, I will definitely bring them all back, no one less."
Jiaojiaoer finally left. On a night when she thought she had slept soundly, she stood in the dark, watching Jiaojiaoer's back getting farther and farther away, and finally blending into the night.
Just like when she watched her sons leave.
But she still stood straight, but her eyes were filled with tears. It was also at this time that she met the young man.
Showed her a clear path.
Why did she trust that young man? Because he knew Jiao Jiao'er, because he was familiar with the Yuan Kingdom's affairs, and because she had nothing left to lose...
Then why not give it a try?
But she didn't expect to meet Yingyue here.
Yingyue, she once loved her sincerely, but this child disappointed her in the end.
Yuchi Yingyue couldn't bear to see her like that. She walked over to the Empress Dowager, squatted down, and looked up at her, "Mother, I'm sorry."
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