Chapter 266 ...Who Wants to Be Your Friend
The flickering candlelight illuminated the narcissus's serene profile.
She dismissed all the palace servants and sat alone by the window, her fingertips gently twirling the secret report that had been handed to her by Tinglu.
On the plain white paper, Lin Shuren's somewhat hurried handwriting was vague and unclear.
"A secret about her background..."
Narcissus repeated those four words in a low voice, a serious look passing between her brows.
She wasn't entirely without a premonition.
The Empress Dowager repeatedly tolerated Liu Simin, even insisting on saving his life after he was deposed...
As the imperial family's clan, the Liu family displayed an inexplicable sense of arrogance towards Emperor Zhaoheng at certain crucial moments...
Countless subtle clues rapidly connected in her mind, piecing together a blurry yet chilling outline.
Emperor Zhaoheng's background is probably not as simple as it seems, that he was simply born to the late emperor and the empress dowager.
Is this secret about bloodlines? Or does it involve some unknown secrets of the late emperor's harem?
If Liu Simin were to recklessly expose this, what impact would it have on Emperor Zhaoheng's throne? Would it shake the legitimacy of his imperial authority?
Her heart stirred slightly, but she quickly suppressed it.
Regardless of the truth, at this moment, she is Emperor Zhaoheng's empress, the wife he personally helped onto the throne and proclaimed to the world.
Upholding his dignity is also upholding her dignity and rights.
"Listen to the dew."
Her voice was not loud.
Tinglu stepped forward and bowed, "Your Majesty."
Shui Xian handed over the secret report, her gaze calm: "Take a look at this. The deposed empress seems restless even in the cold palace."
Tinglu quickly glanced at the note, her expression slightly tense.
She hesitated for a moment, then cautiously spoke: "Your Majesty, if this matter truly concerns the Emperor's lineage, it is of great importance. Should we... find a way to inform the Empress Dowager at the temporary palace? After all, the Empress Dowager is the Emperor's birth mother, and..."
"No."
Narcissus interrupted decisively; she had already planned this out in her mind.
But in the end, they gave up.
Her eyes gleamed with a calm, analytical light. "There are three risks."
She stood up, walked slowly to the window, gazed at the dark sky outside, and spoke in a very low voice, each word clear:
"Firstly, His Majesty himself may not know about this matter. If he does not know, and I rashly reveal it, what will he think as a son and as an emperor? Knowing the secrets of the imperial family is sometimes a sin. My relationship with His Majesty is very close now, and I must not let this cause any rift."
"Secondly, although the Empress Dowager is in the temporary palace, she must have spies inside and outside the Cold Palace. Any action we take to pass messages to the temporary palace may be seen by her as an indication that I know the secret. If her intention is to suppress this secret forever, then my actions are a provocation and coercion."
"Thirdly, this matter concerns the very foundation of the Emperor's rule. As the Empress, my primary duty is to safeguard the Emperor's dignity and stability. Before the truth is clear and the benefits and harms are discerned, I must not act rashly, lest I give others a handle to use against me and put myself in danger."
She turned to Tinglu, her conclusion clear: "Right now, it's better to remain still than to act. Strengthen surveillance, but do so discreetly. I want to see how the imperial palace reacts to this."
Hearing this, she understood immediately, her eyes revealing admiration: "Your Majesty's considerations are thorough, this servant understands."
The next few days passed calmly on the surface.
Everything in the imperial court and the inner palace remained as usual. Emperor Zhaoheng continued to handle state affairs every day, occasionally coming to Lihe Palace for meals, playing with his two children, and looking at Shuixian with gentle and trusting eyes.
There was no movement from the Empress Dowager's residence, as if she were indifferent to everything that was happening in the capital and the Cold Palace.
But Shui Xian still couldn't believe that the Empress Dowager really didn't know about the deposed empress's plans.
This excessive calm only made Shui Xian more certain that the Empress Dowager must already know about Liu Simin's movements.
This woman, who had served two dynasties and held the position of Empress Dowager, was now observing coldly from the sidelines in the imperial palace.
Perhaps, it was also a wait, a wait for how she, the new empress, would deal with this undercurrent that could capsize the ship.
That afternoon, Lin Shuren's secret report was once again delivered through clandestine channels.
This time the content is more detailed: Liu Simin harassed and pressured Consort Liu day and night, and even threatened to kill herself.
Empress Dowager Liu was already old and frail, and after this ordeal, her illness became truly severe, leaving her exhausted and on the verge of death.
As Shui Xian read the letter, her fingertip paused for a moment on the words "Consort Liu's illness is serious".
She couldn't wait any longer.
From an official standpoint, if Consort Liu were to die at this time, the secret would only be known to Liu Simin. It would either be buried with Consort Liu, becoming a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads forever, or it might be twisted and used by Liu Simin, causing endless trouble.
On a personal level, she was clear about her grudges and favors. She had indeed shown some kindness to Consort Liu in the past. As the Empress, caring for the Consort Liu in the Cold Palace was both her duty and a way to demonstrate her benevolence and solidify her reputation.
Moreover, she also needed to personally meet with Liu Simin to investigate the true nature of this deposed empress and see what kind of bargaining chips she held.
Having made up her mind, Shui Xian did not immediately set off to visit the Cold Palace, but instead made arrangements for Shui Xiu first.
Although her trip to the Cold Palace was part of her plan, the turbulent situation in the harem meant that no one could guarantee that everything would go smoothly.
My younger sister, Shui Xiu, is pure of heart. If she stays in the palace, it's hard to guarantee that she won't become a target for some people or be affected by the upcoming turmoil.
She had to ensure that Shui Xiu was absolutely safe.
"Listen to the dew."
Shui Xian summoned her trusted confidante, her expression solemn. "Make arrangements immediately. Find a safe pretext. Say that I am concerned for my sister's homesickness and will send the Second Miss back to her residence for temporary accommodation. Assign plenty of reliable guards, and the news must not be leaked until she leaves the palace safely."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Knowing the risks and benefits, Tinglu accepted the order without hesitation and left.
As Shui Xian watched Ting Lu's departing figure, the tenderness and determination in her heart, born of her family, became even clearer.
Her parents and younger sister are the driving force behind her rebirth and her desperate struggle to climb upwards, but they are also the very things she must never touch!
Only by ensuring that Shuixiu is away from the whirlpool can she face the upcoming storms without distraction.
Outside the palace gates, the long street was deserted.
Shui Xiu, escorted by several unassuming yet capable palace servants, was preparing to board the carriage.
Although she was a little puzzled as to why her sister suddenly asked her to come home, her trust in her sister since childhood made her not ask too many questions, and she just thought it was a normal visit to her family.
Just then, the crisp sound of horses' hooves approached from afar.
Shui Xiu subconsciously turned around and saw a person and a horse galloping towards her in the pale morning light.
The young general on horseback, dressed in a black military uniform, could not hide his tall and heroic figure. The former playboy air between his brows had been tempered by the wind and sand of the border into a calm and sharp edge. He was none other than Marquis Yixin, Yuan Chiyu.
"Young Master!"
Shui Xiu's eyes lit up, and a bright smile instantly bloomed on her face. Without any hesitation, she lifted her skirt and ran over, asking, "Why did you suddenly come to the palace?"
Yuan Chiyu reined in his horse, his gaze falling on her radiant smile. His handsome face, which had been slightly tense due to military duties, subconsciously softened.
However, in a flash, her clear and frank words, "We are good friends," from when they last parted flashed through his mind, and a strange tightness gripped his heart. The corners of his mouth that were about to turn up were forcibly suppressed, and only a faint "Mm" escaped from his throat.
His gaze swept over the carriage and guards behind her, and his brow twitched almost imperceptibly.
Shui Xiu, oblivious to his complex thoughts, looked up at him with sincere admiration in her voice: "I heard from my sister that you, young marquis, have made another great contribution in the Northwest! You must be going to the palace to see the emperor. You are truly amazing!"
Her words were like feathers, gently scratching Yuan Chiyu's heart, causing an indescribable itch.
The awkwardness caused by "good friends" dissipated instantly, and a tiny, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips, which he quickly suppressed, replying indifferently, "It's my duty."
Seeing Shui Xiu turn to get into the carriage, he tightened his grip on the reins, but couldn't help asking a question, his voice deliberately calm.
"You... you've already left the palace? When will you come back in?"
Shui Xiu turned around, smiled sweetly at him, and waved casually, "I don't know, let's see what my sister decides! Young Marquis, I'll be going now, goodbye!"
After saying that, she deftly took the hand of a palace maid and boarded the carriage.
The carriage curtain fell, separating the inside from the outside.
Yuan Chiyu reined in his horse and watched the carriage slowly start and eventually drive away, leaving only faint ruts on the bluestone slabs.
A faint blush rose uncontrollably to the tips of his ears, and a vague sense of loss lingered in his heart. He muttered to himself, a hint of annoyance mixed with a hidden concern that he himself was unaware of.
"...Who wants to be your friend?"
Inside the Lihe Palace, Shui Xian had received news that Shui Xiu had safely left the palace, and felt somewhat relieved.
She got up and walked to the bronze mirror.
The mirror reflected a stunningly beautiful face, with eyebrows like distant mountains and eyes like autumn water. Her demeanor was calm and dignified, having long since shed the timidity of her days as a maid, leaving only the elegance of an empress.
"Change your clothes."
She gave the order casually.
She allowed the palace servants to adjust her clothes, her eyes calm and still, except for a sharp glint in the deepest recesses of her gaze.
Everything is ready.
"Prepare the carriage," Narcissus's voice was not loud, but carried a hint of wariness, "to the Cold Palace."
The imperial carriage slowly began to move, heading towards the palace garden on the west side of the palace, a place that symbolized despair.
Deep within the palace walls, the morning light filters through the gaps, casting dappled shadows.
Narcissus sat gracefully in the carriage, her fingertips gently tracing the cool embroidery on her sleeves.
Liu Simin, Consort Liu...
What do they know? And what are the secrets about Emperor Zhaoheng's background that they mentioned?
She's here...
...
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