Consort Mu stood before the ornately decorated window, her gaze piercing through the delicate paper-cut window decorations and reaching towards the distant horizon. Her heart, like the drifting clouds, flew towards the person she could never see again—her mother.
Despite knowing that this journey would force her to confront those agonizing memories once again, Consort Mu decided to leave the palace. She wanted to personally offer a bouquet of flowers and light an incense stick at her mother's grave to express her deep longing and respect.
Consort Mu began preparing her belongings. She selected the flower seeds that her mother loved most, intending to plant them herself beside her mother's grave. She also personally made a basket of her mother's favorite pastries, each one a token of her remembrance.
"Your Majesty, you truly hold a special place in His Majesty's heart! He even allowed you to pay respects to his mother." Zi Ling was overjoyed. After years of hard work and waiting, her mistress had finally risen above her circumstances. Whether through wisdom, opportunity, or the Emperor's favor, her mistress's status had gradually improved, gaining her more power and respect.
Seeing her master's success, Zi Ling felt immense joy and pride. Her master's glory was her own glory, and her master's achievements were her own achievements.
Accompanied by palace maids, Consort Mu embarked on her journey to her mother's grave. Her heart was filled with both deep longing for her mother and an inability to let go of that period of history.
Even if his own mother treated her badly, he shouldn't have left her at the mountain villa to die of illness!
This matter remained an insurmountable chasm in Ruan Yumu's heart.
This is why Qi Jingxuan repeatedly petitioned the ministers to appoint her as Empress Dowager, but Qi Jingxuan refused. She was not his mother at all, so naturally he was unwilling.
Upon arriving at the cemetery, Consort Mu stood silently before her mother's grave, her eyes filled with deep sorrow. She whispered a prayer, hoping that her mother's soul could find peace.
During the memorial service, Consort Mu was overwhelmed with complex emotions towards the Emperor. She knew that her mother's death was indirectly related to the Emperor, which filled her heart with contradictions and pain.
Ruan and Mu dismissed their entourage, leaving only Zi Ling and a few guards by their side.
She knelt down with a thud and kowtowed to her mother's tombstone.
"Mother! Your unfilial son has come to see you, Mother!"
This puzzled Zi Ling, who was standing nearby. Why would Consort Mu refer to herself as Xuan'er? Wasn't that how the old lady addressed General Qi when she was alive?
Her mind was racing, and she suddenly remembered that whenever she encountered danger or something, Ruan Yumu would always tell her that she was Qi Jingxuan, and that he would sometimes say these things in her dreams.
Could it be...?
Zi Ling shook her head. Impossible! Maybe she misheard. The person in front of her was clearly Ruan Yu Mu, the girl who had grown up with her since childhood!
Although things did seem to change drastically after she fell into the water, it's impossible for the harem not to be cruel. This only proves that Consort Mu has come to a realization!
She opened her eyes wide and looked again and again, and indeed the person in front of her was Ruan Yumu.
Consort Mu stood alone at her mother's grave, lost in thought, torn between her loyalty to the Emperor and her love for her mother. She knew that as a concubine, she had to abide by the rules of the palace, but her feelings as a daughter were difficult to quell.
In the deserted cemetery, Consort Mu finally allowed herself to vent her inner pain. Her tears fell on her mother's tombstone, expressing her longing for her mother and her dissatisfaction with the Emperor.
"Qi Jingxuan, you bastard!"
Upon hearing the disrespectful words directed at the Emperor from her mouth, Zi Ling immediately covered her mouth, saying, "Guards! Consort Mu is overwhelmed with grief and has started talking nonsense."
Ruan Yumu struggled to remove Zi Ling's hand, "I'm not crazy, I'm not!"
Upon seeing this, the palace maids stepped forward to comfort Consort Mu, their loyalty and concern offering her some solace.
After venting her emotions, Consort Mu gradually calmed down. She resolved to transform her personal grief into a better remembrance of her mother and a deeper understanding of the Emperor.
After the memorial service, Consort Mu, accompanied by her maids, prepared to leave her mother's grave. The tranquility around the grave was suddenly broken by the sound of horses' hooves.
A troop of northern frontier cavalry appeared like a whirlwind, dressed in foreign attire and wielding sharp blades. Before anyone could react, they had swiftly surrounded Consort Mu's entourage.
The palace maids and guards bravely resisted, attempting to protect Consort Mu and ensure her safe evacuation. However, the Northern Frontier people were well-trained and numerous, and the resistance of the palace maids and guards was gradually suppressed.
In the chaos, Consort Mu was captured by the leader of the Northern Frontier people. Although she was terrified, she remained calm on the surface, and her dignity and courage were demonstrated at this moment.
After their success, the Northern Frontier people did not linger and quickly retreated with Consort Mu. They appeared as suddenly as they did and soon disappeared below the horizon.
"Ziling, go back. Take care, Ziling!" Ruan Yumu hoped she wouldn't get hurt.
In the chaos, Zi Ling and several palace maids and guards managed to escape and immediately returned to the palace to report the disastrous news to Emperor Qi Jingxuan.
"Your Majesty, Consort Mu has been captured. It was the Rongdi who did the capture; they must be from the Northern Frontier!"
Zi Ling knelt on the ground, disheveled and dirty, her clothes in disarray, suggesting she had engaged in a fierce battle.
"This is outrageous! Where are the guards who went with us?"
Zi Ling shook her head. They had all sacrificed themselves and had not been able to save Consort Mu.
When Emperor Qi Jingxuan heard the news that Consort Mu had been captured by the people of the Northern Frontier, he was furious. He ordered the army to be organized immediately to pursue the people of the Northern Frontier and rescue Consort Mu.
The disappearance of Consort Mu caused great turmoil in the palace. Consorts, palace maids, and eunuchs all felt an unprecedented panic and unease.
A search and rescue team composed of elite soldiers quickly set off, and they began a difficult search and rescue operation along the route taken by the people of northern Xinjiang who had retreated.
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