The Imperial Palace.
The Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The sounds of sheng and bamboo flutes filled the banquet, but could not mask the somber atmosphere of the entire palace. Beneath the seemingly gentle and peaceful surface, undercurrents were surging.
Xie Changling knelt on the ground, bowed three times and kowtowed nine times, performing the grand ceremony of a subject to the emperor: "Your subject Xie Changling greets Your Majesty."
Xiao Jin did not let him get up, his eyes were dark and unfathomable, and the atmosphere froze instantly.
An ordinary person would have already been unable to bear it, and would have been trembling with fear, wondering if they had done something wrong to displease the emperor.
But Xie Changling knew that Xiao Jin's intentions were not good, and he even knew that the entire banquet was aimed at him alone.
After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Jin finally spoke, but instead of telling him to get up, he simply said two words: "Take him down—"
The soldiers rushed forward and surrounded him with their swords, trapping him in a maze of blades, unable to move. If the sharp blades accidentally touched him, they would leave a bloody mark.
"Hahahaha, Your Majesty is so impatient? It is truly an honor for this subject."
Xie Changling did not struggle, but suddenly burst into laughter, appearing insane and like a madman.
Xiao Jin just stared at him coldly, without saying a word, and his expression was not good. No matter what Xie Changling said, he ignored him and looked in the direction of the main gate.
The irregular tapping of his fingers on the table revealed that she was not entirely at peace either.
Xie Changling was unaware of all this, and continued to laugh wildly, his expression tragic, which made everyone sigh.
After he finished laughing, he looked back at the main gate, but still couldn't see the person he wanted to see. He closed his eyes in regret and charged headlong into the blade in front of him!
At that critical moment, a hurried female voice rang out: "Stop—"
...
Upon seeing the newcomer, Xie Changling paused, and all the soldiers knelt down to pay their respects. Even Xiao Jin stepped forward from his seat.
The woman was dressed in a bright yellow phoenix robe, with large swaths of gold thread outlining phoenix patterns. As she walked, the gold shimmered, as if reflecting a patch of starlight.
Various gold hairpins also tied up the woman's hair, revealing her snow-white neck, which was slender and long, making her face even more radiant and beautiful, exuding nobility.
Song Lingxi's stunning beauty stunned everyone. She was as beautiful as a fairy from heaven, untouched by any dust, breathtakingly beautiful, and captivating.
She looked hurried and anxious, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling with starlight. Upon closer inspection, her eyes were red-rimmed, evoking a sense of pity in those who saw them.
Some of the soldiers present had seen the Empress before, but they recognized her by her robes and were all stunned by her beauty!
A collective gasp filled the hall, causing Xiao Jin's face to darken instantly.
What made him even more upset was not this scene, but the fact that Xie Changling and Song Lingxi were staring at each other.
Even though they didn't speak to each other, there was an inexplicable aura between them.
Xie Changling stared intently at Song Lingxi. Her complexion was rosy and her figure was slender, clearly indicating that she was doing very well. The worry that had been weighing on his mind for the past few years gradually eased.
He figured he was going to die anyway, so he might as well take one more look at her, just one more look, so he could rest in peace after he died, without any regrets.
Song Lingxi looked at Xie Changling kneeling on the ground. There were several fresh bloodstains on his face and neck, which were obviously caused by the sword formation.
Seeing Xie Changling's new and old wounds intertwined, her eyes suddenly reddened. An indescribable feeling, bitterness and resentment, brewed in her heart at the same time.
Xie Changling seemed to understand her tears, her blame and resentment, and silently uttered three words: "I'm sorry."
In that instant, Song Lingxi's soul seemed to have been struck by something, but after calming down, a sense of relief appeared in her eyes.
Of course, to others, this scene would appear as lingering feelings and a renewed connection.
...
For example, Xiao Jin was greatly stimulated.
Xiao Jin immediately clenched his hands at his sides. He knew that Xi'er wasn't completely without Xie Changling in her heart!
He felt increasingly uneasy and finally chose to gradually approach Song Lingxi instead of staying in the same place and waiting for her to leave him.
"Xi'er, what brings you here today?"
Finally, Xiao Jin took Song Lingxi's hand, holding that small hand tightly, refusing to give her a chance to leave.
In the past, Song Lingxi would have obediently followed his force to leave. After all, he was the emperor, representing supreme authority, and Song Lingxi would not have struggled or reacted.
But what did Xie Changling do wrong?
If she had arrived a moment later, Xie Changling would have been hacked to death here, and the great general would have fallen silently.
Song Lingxi shouldn't have acted so impulsively. Instead, she should have waited obediently in Fengyi Palace, waiting for Xiao Jin to "accidentally" reveal these things to her, and waiting for her to calmly accept them.
But suddenly she didn't want to do it anymore. She knew that Xiao Jin was always worried about Xie Changling, but she didn't expect that it had become a source of anxiety for him.
Xie Changling has just returned from the border; he's a top-tier meritorious official. If Xiao Jin were to kill him so recklessly, what would the military generals think? What would the common people think?
Thinking of this, she knelt down directly in front of Xiao Jin.
"Your Majesty, General Xie has rendered meritorious service to the country, and the people are grateful for his kindness. If Your Majesty were to execute him, it would surely incite resentment among the people!"
"Although I am a woman and the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics, I cannot stand idly by and watch the Emperor wrongly kill a virtuous minister, be cursed by future generations, and ruin his wisdom."
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
Song Lingxi said so much in one breath, and then kowtowed again. Although she was so thin, she seemed to have boundless courage.
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