"I knew it the first time they poisoned me."

At that time, Su Han had just been demoted, and Su Xu could no longer hold back. He teamed up with Concubine Sun Gui to bribe the imperial physician and add ingredients to Emperor Shao Yuan's medicine.

"Today, I watched my father drink that bowl of deadly medicine without saying a word."

Su Bi hugged Ning Xihua tightly, seeking comfort from her like a child.

"Am I a bad person? Do you think I am cruel and selfish?"

The sound was still muffled, but one could still hear the caution in it.

He could have not told her. After all, most people would think that for a son to watch his father die without rescuing him is unfilial and too cold-blooded.

But when she asked him if he was sad, he suddenly felt that perhaps she was the only one in the world who could understand all the indescribable love, hate, pain, struggle, happiness and all the complex emotions in his heart.

He didn't want to hide it from her, even though it was the most shameful and selfish side of his heart, because she was the last and most honest bottom line for him to face himself.

Ning Xihua didn't react much after hearing this, she just said calmly, "Well, it's pretty bad."

There wasn't even a hint of inflection in his tone, as if he was saying that today's ice bowl was quite sweet.

Su Bi raised her head and looked at her, trying to find a hint of disgust or dislike in her eyes.

But, none of them happened. She still looked at him earnestly, with the charming gleam in her eyes that he loved the most.

"Will that displease me?"

His voice was soft, almost a whisper, as if he was afraid of disturbing something.

Ning Xihua reached out and stroked his head gently, combing his hair with her fingers intermittently.

He then obediently lay beside her neck, and under her warm fingertips, he slowly relaxed his tense nerves.

"No, I quite like it."

She chuckled and lowered her head to place a gentle kiss on his forehead.

Then, she used her hand inserted into Su Bi's black hair to help him raise his head, forcing him to lift his chin, and forcing him to only see her.

"Su Bi, you are very good. You may be selfish or cruel, but as long as you remain the same, with me in your heart and eyes, I will always love you."

He has always been nice.

After going through so much suffering, he was not blinded by hatred and resentment and turned into a madman bent on revenge, nor did he use cruel means to achieve his goals like Su Xu did.

Born into such a royal family, it is not his fault that he wants to take back what belongs to him and becomes selfish, vicious, ruthless, and profit-oriented.

Don’t encourage others to do good unless you have experienced their suffering.

Emperor Shao Yuan had never given him a single day of fatherly love, and she had no right to stand on the moral high ground and denounce him for disregarding the father-son relationship and watching someone die without rescuing him.

Maybe he was bad to others, but he was always the best to her. How could she stand in the position of others and blame him?

"So, don't be afraid."

Ning Xihua lowered her eyes, leaned over and kissed those thin lips, expressing her love for him with her actions and also soothing his emotions.

Su Bi hugged her and pushed her onto the couch.

He took the initiative and rubbed her lips, pouring all his tenderness into this kiss.

She said he was fine.

She said she would always love him.

He felt that the vine that had already taken root in his heart was now entangled with him, even causing a slight pain in his chest.

He knew that she could understand, understand all his fragility and insecurity.

But she not only understood him, she also gently covered up those tiny broken scars in her own way, becoming the soft protector of his heart.

All things are like clouds, but she is like the moon, hanging high in his heart, casting her gentle and clear light over every rough spot in his heart.

The two exchanged a long, passionate kiss.

The moon is above the willow branches, but it does not hinder the lovers from their love affair.

…

The next day, Ning Xihua moved into the palace with Su Bi.

According to the rules, Su Bi should live in Qianyuan Palace, and Ning Xihua should live in Yong'an Palace, the empress's bedroom.

However, Qianyuan Hall was the residence of Emperor Shao Yuan, and Yong'an Palace was the former residence of Empress Ruijia. Su Bi had some objections to both places.

In addition, he was unwilling to separate from Ning Xihua, so he randomly chose a palace next to Qianyuan Palace and took Ning Xihua to live there first.

"You are a little too willful. Aren't you afraid of being reprimanded by the historians?"

Su Bi, however, did not take it seriously. "It's OK. With the new emperor on the throne, they won't be so tactless now. I'm sorry for inconvenience you. I have already ordered the Ministry of Works to renovate and rebuild the Qianyuan Hall. You can move in in a few months."

Ning Xihua smiled and shook her head, and did not stop him.

After all, since it concerns the quality of her future life, she would not try to be virtuous and make herself miserable, only to end up hurting herself.

"The late emperor's funeral will be held the day after tomorrow, and the coffin will be held tomorrow. All the ministers and ladies of state will come to the palace to send off the coffin. I'm sorry to trouble you again."

Su Bi sighed. He knew that she didn't like the complicated etiquette in these occasions, but this time he couldn't let her stay out of it.

Ning Xihua smiled and said, "This is what a younger generation should do. You are overthinking it."

The dead are the most important. In an ordinary family, as the eldest daughter-in-law, she should also take care of the funeral affairs, not to mention that she is the future queen. One has to do his job and this is unavoidable.

"But if I'm tired, you'll have to give me a massage when I come back," she joked.

I don’t know if Su Bi had learned any tricks, but every time he could press on her sore spots, which relaxed her muscles and relieved her fatigue, making her feel so refreshed.

Su Bi was also amused, "I am happy to serve you, Madam."

…

On the day of the funeral, Ning Xihua was waiting at the mourning hall early.

On this day, all civil and military officials, princes, concubines, and wives of officials must be present.

The servants will put Emperor Shao Yuan into the coffin, and Su Bi will read the sacrificial text for the new emperor.

Ning Xihua's mission was to lead all the women of high rank in the inner court to mourn and send off the late emperor.

Fortunately, there were people around her who reminded her of everything, so apart from feeling a little tired from kneeling and her eyes a little sore from crying, she didn't feel any other discomfort.

But in this complicated ceremony, Ning Xihua still saw the fourth princess Su Yue.

She was dressed in mourning clothes, her eye sockets were sunken, and she looked much more haggard. There was no trace of the arrogant look she had when she yelled at her a few days ago.

When Su Yue noticed her staring at him, she simply lowered her head and eyes humbly, just like any other lady of honor.

Ning Xihua sighed.

Su Xu was imprisoned in the Tianlao, Concubine Sun was imprisoned in the Forbidden Palace, and now Emperor Shao Yuan has also passed away.

The once innocent and domineering fourth princess finally took off her gorgeous clothes and began to face this real and helpless life.

Ning Xihua turned her head and saw Qin Songya who was still dignified.

Unlike Su Yue, although Qin Songya was also dressed in white and had her hair in a bun, she exuded vitality and looked more like a pretty girl than when she was in Prince Rui's Mansion.

Ning Xihua felt slightly relieved.

Some people died innocently, but fortunately, some people were reborn.