Chapter 995 Previous Life (3)
Within the entire palace, only the cold palace was reduced to ashes. The mournful emotions, tearful accusations, deathly curses, and profound despair within it all vanished with the flames, leaving only the shocking embers and the rumors that were spread everywhere.
Empress Shen of Mingqi died.
After the Shen family was executed for treason, after the crown prince was deposed and committed suicide, and after Lady Mei was appointed as the new crown prince, Fu Sheng became the new crown prince's consort. Suddenly, a fire broke out in the lonely cold palace at night, burning the deposed Queen Shen to ashes.
This is truly a sad thing. The Emperor Mingqi was kind and, remembering the past love between the couple, did not let the Empress die with the Shen family because of their infidelity. He spared her life and only banished her to the cold palace. Unfortunately, this woman was not blessed and died in the fire.
History is written by the victors, and the same goes for the harem.
With the change of dynasties, all traces of Empress Shen's past were obscured. She left behind few belongings, all destroyed in the fire. The Shen family's main branch was now empty, a true end for the family, with no one left.
The new crown prince's mother, Empress Li, had changed from her former gentle and charming personality to become somewhat powerful. She wholeheartedly supported her brother and coaxed Fu Xiuyi into submission, even to the point where she seemed to be controlling the court.
It does seem like the power of foreign relatives is monopolized.
There were also court officials who vaguely sensed that something was wrong and wanted to secretly alert the emperor, but unfortunately, before they could act, they were either demoted or exiled for some inexplicable reasons.
Pei Lang watched everything coldly, but he felt a little tired in his heart.
In the short span of less than six months since Shen Miao's death, Ming Qi had practically turned the world upside down. He had indeed been right; Madam Mei and her brother were extremely capable. It was hard to say whether Ming Qi would eventually fall into Madam Mei's hands. He was loyal to Fu Xiuyi and should have warned him, but after several unsuccessful attempts, he stopped, even secretly feeling that he deserved it.
People's hearts are most easily changed. A wise ruler can become a foolish one, and a loyal minister can also become disloyal.
Every night when Pei Lang went to sleep, he would be awakened by a pair of eyes in his dreams. Those eyes were clearly black and white, without tears, but they made him feel more heavy-hearted than tears.
Those were Shen Miao’s eyes.
Pei Lang once thought that what he did was right. He followed the general trend, seeking benefits and avoiding harm. This was instinctive and the best choice. However, the longer time passed, the less he could deceive himself.
How could this be the general trend? He clearly didn't want Shen Miao to die like this.
When did he begin to develop other feelings for Shen Miao? Pei Lang himself didn't know. He was her teacher at Guangwen Hall. He had watched Shen Miao transform from a proud, ignorant, spoiled girl into someone who insisted on marrying Fu Xiuyi. He had watched her enter the Ding Palace, learn things she didn't like for Fu Xiuyi, become a princess, then a queen, and finally become a deposed queen.
She was actually a bit foolish, not particularly bright either. She was a slow learner, but possessed a frightening stubbornness. Even within the harem, she was unnecessarily kind. Pei Lang sometimes found Shen Miao ridiculous for her willingness to sacrifice for someone, but sometimes he envied Fu Xiuyi.
Later on, he would always pay more attention to her involuntarily. Even he himself did not realize that when facing Shen Miao's questions, he had to be extra patient when teaching.
But Pei Lang is a smart man, and smart people don't allow themselves to make mistakes.
So after he realized that his thoughts were becoming increasingly strange, he decided to stop this mistake. So when Shen Miao went to Qin as a hostage, it was he who suggested it. But five years later, Shen Miao returned, and his thoughts still hadn't changed.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
