Chapter 88 Awakening: Your destiny is in your own hands
Defei looked in the direction where Zhangpin left, her fingertips slightly curled up, and a hint of uneasiness revealed between her brows.
The bedroom was silent, with smoke rising from the incense burner, but it failed to dispel the worries surging in her heart.
She turned around and looked at Shen Xingwan, her eyes slightly gloomy. Finally, she sighed and spoke slowly.
"Princess Shen, your words just now did force Concubine Zhang to retreat, but is she a pushover?"
"If you offend her like this, you will offend the Queen Mother and the Crown Prince."
Concubine De frowned, her eyes filled with worry.
"You know, they have always been intolerant of those who disobey them. I'm afraid they won't let this matter go."
Her voice trembled slightly, as if she thought of the cruel methods of the Queen Mother and the Crown Prince, and her expression became more panicked.
Concubine Zhang has always been arrogant. She will definitely not accept being suppressed in public by Shen Xingwan today.
What's more, she is related to the Queen Mother and the Crown Prince. If she goes back and exaggerates the matter, the Queen Mother will definitely be angry and may even find a reason to retaliate against her immediately.
Defei was in a state of confusion, and couldn't help but think of how she had been tolerant and cautious over the years, but had never been able to gain a peaceful life.
She has always been cautious and prudent, and knows that the struggle in the harem is like walking on thin ice. Therefore, she is careful in everything and dares not make any mistakes.
But even so, her only daughter was still sent by them to marry barbarians far away, and she almost died in a foreign land.
Her lips trembled slightly, she clenched the handkerchief in her sleeve, and a struggle flashed in her eyes.
Shen Xingwan sneered and looked at her coldly.
"My lady, are you afraid of their revenge?"
She took a few steps closer slowly, speaking in an unhurried tone.
"If you're afraid of retaliation, and you give in on everything, shouldn't you just kneel down and admit defeat? Let them humiliate you by squeezing you flat and twisting you into a ball?"
"My Lady, you have yielded and endured for all these years, but have you ever earned their mercy?"
She chuckled, her smile full of sarcasm.
"Has the Queen Mother ever felt pity for your obedience?"
"Did the prince let your daughter go because you bowed your head?"
"My lady, you live your life carefully, but they never give up because of your tolerance."
"Instead, they went even further, sending the princess to a barren land without hesitation, leaving her to fend for herself."
She walked slowly to Concubine De, and her sharp eyes pierced Concubine De's heart.
"Do you think that forbearance can bring you a peaceful life?"
Shen Xingwan sneered, "My Lady, your current situation is the best answer."
"There has never been true mercy in this palace. Only the strong have the right to speak."
Shen Xingwan stared into her eyes and said word by word, "Your destiny must be in your own hands."
Defei stared at her in a daze, her heart trembling as if it were hit by a thousand-pound hammer.
She knew that what Shen Xingwan said was true.
But she was used to forbearance, used to using obedience in exchange for a chance to survive.
But Shen Xingwan's words were like a heavy hammer, completely shattering her last bit of luck.
Yes, she endured it for so many years, but what did she get?
She lost her child, her former dignity, and even everything she could rely on.
In the end, she could only survive in this deep palace.
Like a bird imprisoned in a golden cage, even the courage to resist is completely wiped out.
Her eyes were red, her breathing was rapid, and her slender body was trembling.
Shen Xingwan's voice became increasingly low and cold, "My Lady, if you don't fight back, you will just have to wait for them to push you into a desperate situation step by step, and eventually you will become dust under their feet."
Defei clenched her sleeves with trembling fingertips.
A tear rolled down her cheeks, and Concubine De suddenly raised her head and looked deeply at Shen Xingwan.
There was no more confusion in her eyes, only determination.
She slowly reached out her hand and held Shen Xingwan's hand firmly, "Princess Shen, you are right."
She closed her eyes gently and took a deep breath, as if she had made an extremely difficult decision.
"I am willing to form an alliance with you."
Shen Xingwan's eyes darkened, the corners of her lips slightly raised, she held her hand tightly, and said in a calm voice: "My queen, you will not regret this decision."
A breeze blew outside the palace, blowing up the petals in the courtyard and making them fall.
Shen Xingwan stood quietly for a moment, his eyes slowly sweeping over the mother and daughter in front of him.
Wei Liyue snuggled up to Concubine De's side, the tears in her eyes had faded, leaving only determination in her eyes.
The same was true for Concubine De. The forbearance that usually appeared in her eyes completely disappeared at this moment, and was replaced by a sharp edge that was rarely seen among the women in the deep palace.
Shen Xingwan glanced at the sky and said gently, "Your Majesty, Princess, today's events have probably alarmed the Queen Mother. Princess Liyue's identity may have been discovered."
"I'd better send her back to the Shen Mansion to avoid the limelight for a while, and then make plans after the storm subsides."
Wei Liyue suddenly raised her head, her brows knitted tightly, her eyes stubborn, "I won't leave."
She spoke in a resolute tone, tightly grasping Concubine De's hand, "I finally got back to Mother. If I leave, how will Mother deal with the revenge of the Queen Mother and the others alone?"
Her voice trembled slightly, but she showed no sign of backing down.
Shen Xingwan was slightly startled and was about to speak to persuade her when she saw Concubine De gently patting the back of Wei Liyue's hand.
"You want to stay, how could mother not allow you to do so?" Her eyes were gentle, yet filled with an unprecedented determination.
She raised her eyes to look at Shen Xingwan, "Princess Shen, I know you are concerned about Liyue's safety, but this time, I will never let her be in danger again."
Shen Xingwan frowned slightly, "Your Majesty, do you know that if Princess Liyue stays in the palace, it will be very risky?"
"Concubine Zhang has already become suspicious today. The Queen Mother and the Crown Prince will definitely not give up. How can Your Majesty protect her?"
However, Defei smiled and narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Princess Shen, do you really think that all I have done in the palace over the years is endure humiliation and give in?”
She sighed softly, "In the past, I thought that giving in would buy me peace, but I was wrong... so wrong."
She looked down at Wei Liyue, her fingertips caressing her hair lovingly, "Princess Shen, you are right, we should control our own destiny."
She paused, her eyes growing darker, "I will never let anyone step on us, mother and daughter, again."
Shen Xingwan raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at her quietly.
The corners of Concubine De's lips slightly raised, and she slowly said: "My mother's family is not a soft persimmon that can be squeezed by anyone."
"Over the years, I have been forced to hide my edge because of the Queen Mother's power."
She smiled gently, with a hint of sharpness in her smile, "It's time to remove the spies that the Queen Mother has planted in Changchun Palace."
Shen Xingwan's eyes flashed with surprise, and she turned her eyes slightly to look at Wei Liyue, "Princess, do you really want to stay?"
Princess Guang'an nodded, "Yes, I will stay with my mother. No matter what the outcome is, I will face it together with my mother and never separate again."
Shen Xingwan was moved. She took a deep breath and smiled. "Okay, since you have made up your mind, I won't say anything more."
She looked at Concubine De and solemnly instructed: "In this case, I hope Your Majesty can protect Princess Liyue and yourself well."
Concubine De nodded gently, her eyes firm, “Princess Shen, don’t worry.”
Shen Xingwan said no more, slowly took a step back, bowed slightly, then turned and walked out of the hall.
The palace door slowly closed, and the wind blew through the courtyard, blowing off a few magnolia petals.
Shen Xingwan looked back at Changchun Palace, a look of relief appearing on her face.
She walked away with steady steps, her figure fading away.
She knew that after today, Changchun Palace would no longer be as quiet as before.
When Shen Xingwan returned to the Regent's Palace, the moon had already risen. Silver light fell on the eaves of the Regent's Palace, and the stone steps in front of the palace gate were shining with a cool luster.
Shen Xingwan walked slowly into the palace, still thinking about the matters in Changchun Palace. However, the next moment, when her eyes fell on the small figure in front of her, she couldn't help but pause.
The soft lighting in the front hall illuminated the boy's slightly immature face.
The long-missing Fourteenth Prince Wei Zihui was now standing upright in front of the hall.
There was less childish innocence in his features, but more of the calmness and restraint rarely seen in young people.
He was dressed in plain and elegant brocade clothes, not showing any ostentation, but with the noble bearing of a person of royal blood.
He saw Shen Xingwan approaching, slowly lowered his head, and said in a clear voice: "Greetings to the Regent Princess."
Shen Xingwan was stunned for a moment, then his eyes rolled slightly, and he understood something in his heart.
Yan Jinghuan has always been cautious. The fact that he personally brought Wei Zi back to his house shows that the situation outside is already very tense.
She nodded slightly, without asking any further questions, and only said with concern: "Since Your Highness has arrived at the palace, please feel free to stay here. If you need anything, just let me know."
Wei Zihui replied softly, "Thank you, Princess."
Shen Xingwan looked at him carefully for a moment and found that although he was still young, his brows already showed calmness and forbearance, and his emotions were not revealed on his face. His character was far beyond the reach of ordinary princes.
She sighed in her heart and was about to send someone to arrange a place for him to live when she saw Wei Zihui hesitate for a moment. Finally, he asked her softly, "Princess... the cook of the Shen Mansion, is her little daughter, Xiao Lingling, doing well now?"
Shen Xingwan's eyes moved slightly, and an unexpected smile appeared in his eyes.
Small bell...
Do you still remember her?
She looked up at the young man in front of her and smiled knowingly.
"Of course she is fine. Since Your Highness is concerned about her, I will let her come to the palace with the cook. From now on, Your Highness's food and drink will be taken care of by them and her daughter."
Wei Zihui was slightly startled when he heard this.
He lowered his head to hide the emotions in his eyes, his tone still respectful and steady: "Thank you, Princess."
Shen Xingwan smiled faintly, without saying anything more, and just instructed Feiyun beside him: "Go back to the Shen Mansion and bring the cook and her daughter here."
"yes."
Feiyun retreated in response, while Wei Zihui remained standing where he was. Although his expression was indifferent, the fingers on his sleeves were slightly curled up, as if he was trying to hide the turmoil in his heart.
Shen Xingwan looked at him, but did not point it out. She just nodded slightly and ordered the steward to arrange a good residence for him.
After settling all matters concerning the Fourteenth Prince, Shen Xingwan slowly returned to his room.
As soon as he stepped into the room, Xing Zhou, who was standing quietly in the dark, came up quietly and knocked on the door lightly.
"Come in." Shen Xingwan ordered.
Xing Zhou pushed the door open and walked in with a calm expression. After she sat down, he silently handed her a secret letter.
"General Shen sent this, please have a look, Princess."
Shen Xingwan took the letter, his eyes were slightly cold, and after unfolding it and reading it carefully, his fingertips gradually clenched into fists.
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