After speaking, the Emperor returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation alone. On his way back, he kept reflecting on himself, but then he remembered his niece's words: "Instead of reflecting on yourself, it's better to put pressure on others." With this thought, the Emperor felt much clearer about his mind.
*
prison
Meng Dan had been waiting in the prison for a while. When he saw the guards escorting Xiao Jian over, Meng Dan didn't even raise his eyes. Only after the guards left did Meng Dan look at Xiao Jian, whose face was ashen.
Xiao Jian seemed to have suffered a major blow. He sat blankly to the side without saying a word, his eyes fixed on one spot, like a soulless puppet, his eyes not even moving.
Meng Dan didn't care about any of that and couldn't wait to ask, "What exactly is going on? Why are there so many experts lying in ambush at Baoyue Tower?"
Xiao Jian had warned him from the beginning that as the Emperor's newly favored concubine, Hanxiang would definitely have people guarding her. However, Meng Dan was still too confident in his martial arts skills, thinking that those people were just insignificant soldiers and good-for-nothings, and certainly no match for him.
He had swaggered in so confidently that he was caught off guard and immediately apprehended. Meng Dan was still somewhat resentful of Xiao Jian for not planning more thoroughly; otherwise, he could have escaped the palace with Hanxiang.
Xiao Jian merely glanced lightly at Meng Dan, that idiot, without saying a word. He was already heartbroken and didn't want to say anything more. He just wanted to quietly wait for death to come.
If he could see his younger sister one last time before he died, he would have no regrets. Unfortunately, that was ultimately impossible.
Meng Dan was still fantasizing that one day he would break out of this prison, rush to Baoyue Tower to rescue Hanxiang, and then they would wander to the ends of the earth together.
Xiao Jian saw through Meng Dan's thoughts and mocked him for overestimating himself. That princess could figure out his plan step by step, so how could he let Meng Dan escape from here? Wasn't that too naive?
Out of his last bit of kindness, he decided to remind Meng Dan, "Don't even think about escaping. If Hanxiang is willing, she will plead with the Qing Emperor for you. When that happens, go as far away as possible and stop thinking about Hanxiang and Beijing. Don't keep thinking that she's willing to wander the world with you. You see, she's a favored concubine; she has everything."
“Here, the Qing Dynasty can not only help the Hui people avoid the suffering of war, but also provide them with a good living environment. Why should they follow you to wander the world and make their home wherever they go?” Xiao Jian can now persuade others with great eloquence, but when it comes to himself, his mind is like a rusty machine that can’t turn, as if his brain is full of mush.
Meng Dan looked at Xiao Jian with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean by 'not you'? Didn't you say you would help me rescue Hanxiang? Why aren't you saying anything now? Is that Qing emperor a dog emperor? How come he was drugged with a soul-separating drug in the palace?"
Xiao Jian closed his eyes briefly and decided to let it go. Why bother with so much? Other people's fates were none of his business.
Afterwards, Xiao Jian closed his eyes to rest, no longer watching Meng Dan's foolish actions, respecting the fate of others.
*
Shufangzhai
Jin Suo was originally waiting for her mistress to finish the ceremony and then take her away from the palace to return to the Fu family, where they had lived for a long time.
Although the palace is nice, there's no freedom there. One is forced to be a slave, summoned and dismissed at will. She's at the very bottom of the social hierarchy; a noble could kill her as easily as crushing a grasshopper.
She truly didn't want to live a life of constant fear in the palace. Now, she had fulfilled her mistress's and madam's wishes, escorting her all the way from Jinan to the capital and helping her find her father. Logically, she could now leave her mistress and find someone she loved to live with.
Jin Suo, having grown accustomed to a comfortable life, felt that if she were to marry someone of poor character, she might be better off serving as a maidservant to her mistress.
For the other palace maids and eunuchs in Shufangzhai, today was their last shift. After all, their mistresses had all married off, so these servants were essentially useless and would naturally be reassigned to other palaces.
Xiao Zhuozi had already packed her bags. "Have you all packed yet? Which palace are you all going to?"
The little mosquito stared blankly at the swing outside, "I haven't figured it out yet. There are so many palaces in this palace, it doesn't matter where I go?"
Little Mosquito was reminiscing about the time when Xiao Yanzi was a princess in Shufangzhai. She loved that swing back then and always sat on it.
Mingyue and Caixia carefully looked around at everything. After all, this was the best place they had ever been, and they really couldn't accept leaving now.
"Alright, don't be sad. Everyone, think of your own way out." Little Table was naturally a little sad too, especially since those of them were now being assigned to different palaces, which naturally made them uncomfortable. But what could they do? It wouldn't change anything.
Jin Suo overheard this and secretly curled her lip. "Ha," she thought, "their young lady just got married, and these people are already eager to find a backer. They're just like Xiao Yanzi."
Just then, Ziwei suddenly returned, still wearing her wedding dress, looking distraught. The sedan chair behind her did not come back with her; she walked back alone, lost in thought. The guards at the gate stood at their posts again.
Jin Suo keenly sensed that something was wrong with Ziwei's condition, so she quickly stepped forward to support her young mistress and led her into the house.
As soon as Ziwei returned to her room, she swept everything off the dressing table and onto the floor. The commotion startled everyone else in Shufangzhai.
"Good heavens, what's going on?"
"I don't know. Wasn't Princess Ziwei getting married to Fu Erkang today? Why did she come back by herself?"
The others were also completely baffled, since they hadn't gone to the front to see what was happening and had no idea what was going on.
"Now that Princess is back, does that mean we don't have to leave anymore?" Mingyue asked out of the blue.
Mingyue's words pierced Xiaozhuozi's heart. Xiaozhuozi had already made his decision to join the family, and once he left Shufangzhai, he would be assigned to work at Yongshou Palace.
Although Consort Wen there was somewhat short-tempered, she treated her servants extremely well and was very considerate. She would also give her servants some silver during festivals and holidays, making it a rather lavish place.
But now all of that is ruined. Xiao Zhuozi was a little frustrated and let his arms hang down in dejection. The bundle in his arms fell to the ground with a thud.
The little bug knew what the little table was planning, and simply patted the little table's shoulder reassuringly. It sighed helplessly; there was nothing they could do, this was their fate as servants.
"Miss, what's wrong?" Jin Suo didn't dare to step forward rashly at first, but seeing Ziwei's red eyes and the way she was crying in front of the dressing table, she still went up to ask.
"Jin Suo and Er Kang would never commit regicide, right?" Ziwei gripped Jin Suo's arms tightly and shook them violently. Her eyes were fixed on Jin Suo, making her look somewhat frightening.
Jin Suo was speechless with shock at Ziwei's words. What? Fu Erkang actually wanted to commit regicide? What would happen to her young lady?
"Miss, are you sure? Is Young Master Erkang really going to commit regicide?" Jin Suo was also a little anxious. If that was the case, they really couldn't go to the Fu family anymore. They had to sever all ties with the Fu family and have no connection with them whatsoever.
Freedom is important, but it can't compare to life.
Ziwei immediately deflated, her arms falling naturally to her sides, no longer clutching the golden lock tightly. "It was Father Emperor who said it himself. Father Emperor also said that he would be executed in a few days." As she spoke, Ziwei broke down, clutching her head tightly with both hands.
Jin Suo visibly breathed a sigh of relief, even subconsciously patting her chest. It was alright, it was alright, thankfully their lives were spared. If the Emperor had suspected these acts of treason were connected to Shufangzhai, then the entire Shufangzhai would probably have been…
Unfortunately, Ziwei was so engrossed in her own grief that she didn't notice Jin Suo's reaction at all. Jin Suo quietly slipped out, wanting to give her young mistress some time to calm down.
After all, this is a heinous crime of treason; it's best to avoid getting involved now. Stepping out of Ziwei's room, Jin Suo took deep breaths of the fresh air, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight on her skin. Only then did she feel truly alive.
Then, as soon as she turned around, she bumped into Little Swallow at the corner. Little Swallow was sweeping the floor with a blank expression, as if something was missing.
Jin Suo no longer dared to be arrogant, fearing that the emperor would remember her young mistress and execute her along with her. "Miss Xiao Yanzi is back. Go to her room and see her. I'll go and cook some porridge for her."
Upon hearing Ziwei's name, Xiaoyanzi's eyes immediately regained their usual sparkle, but her grip on the broom tightened, and she subconsciously asked, "Wasn't Ziwei going to marry Erkang? Why is she back?"
Jin Suo was instantly speechless. How could she possibly answer that? Not to mention, there were several people behind her craning their necks, eager to hear her reply.
Jin Suo snatched the broom from Xiao Yanzi's hand. "Why can't we sweep the floor anytime? Don't you treat Miss like one of your best friends? She's in her room, heartbroken. Why don't you go and comfort her?"
After saying that, Jin Suo started sweeping the floor on her own, no longer paying attention to Xiao Yanzi's every move. Hearing the footsteps behind her, Jin Suo suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing the few people peeking around, Jin Suo shoved the broom into Xiao Zhuo's hand with a huff, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and clean the yard!" After saying that, Jin Suo stormed off to the kitchen.
Her words to Xiao Yanzi weren't just empty talk; after all, the young lady hadn't eaten much since morning, and her stomach was probably growling with hunger. She decided to cook some light porridge and some simple side dishes.
Xiao Zhuo stared blankly at the broom being shoved into her hand, then cursed and punched Jin Suo's back as she walked away, "It's because she just snatched the broom from someone else's hand. Now that they're gone, she's showing her true colors."
But no matter how much she cursed Jin Suo, it wouldn't hear her, and Xiao Zhuozi still had to obediently go sweep the floor. Mingyue and Caixia exchanged a glance and also started cleaning.
They also took down all the red silk ribbons in the courtyard. No matter what, since the princess had returned, there must have been some problem with the marriage, so there was no need for these red silk ribbons.
Xiao Yanzi lingered outside the door for a long time, listening to Ziwei's muffled sobs coming from inside. She didn't know how to comfort Ziwei, and just kept pacing back and forth at the door.
Ziwei heard the commotion outside the door and came out, opening the door. "Little Swallow, what are you doing here?" Ziwei's eyes were red, like a rabbit that had stayed up all night.
Seeing Ziwei so broken and distraught, Xiaoyanzi couldn't help but rush forward and hug her tightly. Just as Ziwei had given her strength before, she was giving Ziwei strength in return.
Feeling Xiao Yanzi's kind gesture, Ziwei couldn't help but shed tears. She told Xiao Yanzi everything the Emperor had said to her and about the Emperor's execution of Fu Erkang.
Xiao Yanzi was stunned. She hadn't expected Erkang to have such audacity as to murder the emperor and seize the throne.
The little swallow of today is no longer the little swallow she once was. After experiencing so much, she has weathered many storms and gained a new understanding of such matters.
However, Ziwei's state was somewhat off at the moment, and it wasn't appropriate to say such things to her. Instead, Xiaoyanzi silently patted Ziwei's back and went along with what she was saying until Ziwei leaned on her shoulder and cried herself to sleep. Only then did Xiaoyanzi help Ziwei to bed, quietly cover her with the blanket, and considerately close the door for her.
Ziwei slept straight into the next day. When she learned that Erkang would be executed that day, she rushed out without even changing her clothes or washing her face.
Jin Suo and Xiao Yanzi chased after her, but Ziwei couldn't care less about anything else right now. She just wanted to see if there was any way to save Erkang.
Ziwei kept saying in her heart, "Wait for me, wait for me."
It turned out that after returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Emperor, fearing that delays might lead to unforeseen complications, immediately brought forward Fu Erkang's execution. After all, he had committed such a heinous act of treason; he was going to die sooner or later anyway. The Emperor didn't mind him leaving sooner.
When the Empress Dowager heard about the Emperor's execution of Erkang in the Cining Palace, she fainted again.
After this incident, Fu Lun seemed to have aged decades; his back was somewhat hunched, and he had a lot more gray hair at his temples.
The Emperor specially granted them permission to inspect and escort Er Kang. Fu Lun knew this was the Emperor's way of giving him a warning, as a deterrent. But it was an imperial order, and he had no choice but to obey.
So, Fu Lun forced his wife to watch Er Kang's execution. Just as Er Kang's head was about to fall, Zi Wei rushed over, looking disheveled.
Upon seeing this scene, Ziwei suddenly fell to the ground.
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