Xiao Yuan frowned slightly.
He was so busy today that he had almost forgotten about the woman.
Su Xuerong stated her request: "...Since she helped you in this coup, you should give her a suitable position."
Xiao Yuan thought for a moment and said, "How about we just give her the title of Lady Marquis?"
Su Xuerong nodded slightly, looking at his handsome features, and asked softly, "Did she... poison Xiao Shiyan?"
Otherwise, Xiao Shiyan wouldn't have died so insanely.
Xiao Yuan looked at the woman in his arms, who was close at hand. Her watery eyes shimmered with a subtle light, but they reflected his image.
It was as if her eyes were filled with nothing but him.
He snorted softly, "That's right."
Su Xuerong didn't speak again and lowered her eyes.
Soon, her chin was lifted up, meeting a pair of deep eyes filled with displeasure.
"What? Are you feeling sorry for him?"
Su Xuerong was so angry she laughed: "What nonsense are you talking about!"
"I was just feeling a bit sentimental..." She nestled her head against his shoulder, "You must never let Yuan'er know about this in the future..."
Xiao Yuan smiled and hugged her tightly: "Yuan'er is already my daughter, and in the future she can only recognize me as her father!"
Su Xuerong stopped talking and gently began to draw circles on his chest with her hand.
Xiao Yuan gave a soft snort, then rolled over and pinned her down...
The next day, when Su Xuerong woke up, it was already bright daylight, and no one was beside her.
As Xiuchun helped her change her clothes, she said, "When His Highness left, he told you to have lunch and go to the Imperial Study. He will then take you to the Imperial Prison."
Su Xuerong nodded, warmed herself by the fire in the heated room, and looked at the snow scene outside the window.
After lunch, Feng Bao came to pick her up.
Su Xuerong then realized that Funing Palace was very close to the Imperial Study; it would only take less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to get there by sedan chair.
When she went inside, she saw that there were still people in the imperial study.
Ling Qingxue.
As she slowly walked in, he happened to turn around and look at her.
Su Xuerong quickly lowered her eyes to avoid meeting his gaze.
Then they heard Xiao Yuan's voice from ahead: "Feng Bao, take the Empress to the next room."
Feng Bao hurriedly bowed and led Su Xuerong past Ling Qingxue to a side room.
Su Xuerong immediately felt two gazes on her back, and felt a little uncomfortable.
Ling Qingxue watched Su Xuerong walk into the side room next to the Imperial Study before turning her gaze away.
As soon as she looked up, she saw Xiao Yuan's mocking gaze.
"I will temporarily overlook your rudeness for now, considering your merit in recapturing Shu this time," Xiao Yuan said with a cold laugh.
Ling Qingxue hurriedly replied, "Your subject dares not!"
Although their relationship was closer than that of a typical ruler and his subject, he knew that Su Xuerong was Xiao Yuan's weakness.
Even if he was reluctant to part with Su Xuerong, he couldn't act impulsively at this moment.
Xiao Yuan said, "After I ascend the throne, you may return. Under no circumstances should the King of Chu be allowed to harbor any ill intentions!"
Ling Qingxue gave a bitter smile to herself.
When Xiao Yuan said "go back," he meant for him to return to Shu.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."
When Ling Qingxue walked out of the imperial study, she looked up and glanced at the side room next to her.
The gate was tightly closed, and nothing could be seen.
Just now, when that graceful figure stepped into the hall, he suddenly felt as if he had returned to the time on the passenger ship, like a ray of light appearing in the darkness.
This light clearly belonged to him, yet he gave it to Xiao Yuan...
Ling Qingxue felt extremely bitter, a bitter smile appeared on her lips, and she slowly walked down the steps.
Perhaps when he sees her again, she will already be the mother of a nation, and at that time he can only look up to her from afar, no longer able to harbor any thoughts of disrespect...
You have to swallow the bitter fruit you've sown.
Ling Qingxue suddenly realized the real reason why he lost to Xiao Yuan.
He cared too much about Su Xuerong's past identity.
Although he didn't say it, he still held a grudge against her for having been with other men in the past and having children with them.
Xiao Yuan, however, did not care about her past at all, and even kept everything about her past a secret, directly bestowing upon Yuan Jie'er the title of Princess, so that no one could find Su Xue Rong's weakness.
He had tried to find out about Su Xuerong's past, but discovered that her entire life in Suzhou had been deliberately erased.
Even if someone knew that Su Xuerong had been a widow in the past, no one knew who she had married.
Xiao Yuan went to such lengths for her just to put her mind at ease.
Ling Qingxue felt a pang of sadness.
He thought he loved her, but he never managed to put her at ease; instead, he caused her to suffer so much criticism.
Ling Qingxue closed her eyes tightly and boarded the carriage leaving the palace.
After noon, Xiao Yuan took Su Xuerong to the Heavenly Prison.
The entire Xu family was imprisoned on the third underground level, separated from the other prisoners.
Xu Wanjing was even locked in a solitary cell.
As Su Xuerong walked over, she heard a series of frantic screams.
"I am the most beautiful woman in the world, and you are all blind!"
"Hahaha, you're all jealous of me, jealous of my face! You all deserve to die!"
"Once I get out, I will tear you all to pieces!"
...
As Su Xuerong walked in slowly, she saw the woman in the cell who looked like a madwoman.
Her face was terrifying; it was swollen and covered with bloody scratches that oozed yellow pus, and her bloodshot eyes gleamed with madness.
Su Xuerong was utterly astonished.
What kind of terrible poison is this that has poisoned Xu Wanjing's face like this!
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