Half true, half false
A dying man's words are often kind. Zhao Lingying was pierced through the chest by her sword and was already beyond saving.
Consort Chen continued, "It's not just Sister Huaying, Azhao can't bear to punish you, and I believe His Majesty will feel the same way when he wakes up."
All these years of fighting side by side, all these years of sharing life and death, were they all just a lie?
Regardless of our past identities or motives, the years we spent together were real.
If Zhao Lingying were alive and well, the worst-case scenario would be that the child would still be alive, and Zhao Lingying would intend to betray Xie Lang and support the child. However, Zhao Lingying is already a dying woman, and all she wants is the outcome she had back then. Xie Lang would not be so heartless.
Moreover, judging from Consort Chen's words, Zhao Lingying is not entirely without leverage. The fact that she guaranteed the two great shamans' safe return to Wu even if the plan failed shows that Zhao Lingying is not gambling everything.
Zhao Lingying slowly said, "Then do you have a way to let His Majesty see me one last time?"
Judging from her tone, it wasn't a plea, but rather a direct demand.
Consort Chen didn't find anything wrong with her words. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Then, it can only be in the Heavenly Prison."
Zhao Lingying laughed and said, "Do you think I can hold out until then?"
Consort Chen quickly replied, “He needs someone’s help. His Majesty’s mind is severely injured at the moment, but the Junior Tutor’s innate true energy has always had a healing effect on his injuries. Although the Junior Tutor is not here at the moment, the Grand Musician is the Junior Tutor’s direct disciple. I will quickly summon her to the Cloud Dragon Palace to suppress His Majesty’s injuries, and then I will come to… the Heavenly Prison to see you.”
When A Qiu heard them mention her, she felt a chill run down her spine. She thought she had to get out of there quickly, lest she be found out when they were looking for her.
Zhao Lingying lazily stretched out her hand on the ground and sneered, "Then we'll have to hurry."
Without hesitation, Consort Chen gestured towards the end of the corridor before quickly leaving.
At the end of the corridor, two female guards dressed in the colors of the Vermilion Bird Palace appeared. It was not unusual for Consort Chen, who managed the inner palace, to have her own personal guards.
A female guard stepped forward and whispered, "Disrespectful to Consort Zhao." She then produced a pair of gleaming shackles and fastened them to Zhao Lingying's outstretched hands. Another guard immediately carried Zhao Lingying on her back, and the two of them, one after the other, left the area. Presumably, they were taking Zhao Lingying to the imperial prison.
Everyone dispersed, and the place became completely silent, as if nothing had ever happened.
Only after confirming that everyone outside had left did Shangguan Yuqi say, "You must hurry back to Jinlingtai now, okay!"
Right before her eyes, A Qiu swayed, and then, uncontrollably, he slumped softly towards her.
Shocked, Shangguan Yuqi helped Aqiu up, first checking her breathing and then her pulse, and said in surprise, "With her skill, how could she have fallen victim to that sorcerer's magic? What should we do?"
Chu Yuan sat cross-legged on the ground and sneered, "There are only two possibilities: either she took it too seriously, or she was also a player in the scheme back then, which is why she was lured into it."
Shangguan Yuqi said nonchalantly, "She's so young, she probably didn't even exist more than ten years ago. It's impossible for her to be involved. Most likely, it was the first time she saw this witchcraft being performed, and she was too engrossed in watching it. The bronze mirror also has the effect of amplifying the effect, so she fell under the spell."
Chu Yuanyi just sneered when he saw her say that.
Shangguan Yuqi suddenly said, "If we're talking about people from back then, Aunt, you were one of them too. I personally heard Uncle Xie mention your name when he was under control, so why didn't you enter the scene?"
Chu Yuanyi said irritably, "I am the person from back then, but my actions have always been upright and honest. I have never poisoned anyone or harmed anyone. The cause and effect of the matter are clear to me. I have no inner demons, so how could I be induced or controlled by someone to enter the country?"
Shangguan Yuqi's gaze sharpened as she stared intently at her, saying each word clearly, "Uncle Xie said that you hid the child here. So, you must also know where the child went afterward?"
Chu Yuanyi spat a few times and said sarcastically, "What, after Zhao Lingying left, you also want to investigate that child? It's a pity that even though I hid the child here, Xie Lang still found out and took the child away. I don't know what happened after that. If you don't believe me, you can take me to the prison and torture me severely to see if you can force out any useful information."
Seeing Chu Yuanyi's cunning expression and uncertain gaze, Shangguan Yuqi knew that his words were likely only half true. However, she couldn't press him for the truth any further. Firstly, she was proud and aloof, and had never personally subjected anyone to torture. Secondly, she couldn't hand Chu Yuanyi over to the imperial prison. If Xie Lang learned that she was a member of the Shangguan family and was investigating the events of that year, his anger would likely be directed at Chu Yuanyi.
She said in a deep voice, "If there really is such a child, then he or she would be my cousin. How could the Shangguan family allow their own bloodline to be scattered outside, without any clear explanation?"
Chu Yuan praised him, but his single eye flashed with a cunning light as he sneered, "You seem more decent than those men from the Shangguan family. When they heard about Shangguan Yanxiu's affair, they were so frightened that they couldn't hide in time and kept it a secret. Since Shangguan Jin left, the Shangguan family has indeed been without anyone, until you appeared."
Shangguan Yuqi asked in astonishment, "You mean my uncle, Shangguan Youyi, also knows about this?"
Chu Yuanyi said disdainfully, "Back then, he was just a greenhorn, a mere armchair strategist. Even if he knew, what could he do? We can't blame him!" She then sneered, "Originally, the royal family arranged a marriage with the Shangguan family hoping that if anything happened to the royal family, they would have a powerful maternal family to support them. However, since Shangguan Jin retired, your family has declined day by day and has no time to meddle in the Sima family's affairs!" Her words were extremely sarcastic.
Knowing that she couldn't get any more information from her, Shangguan Yuqi stopped talking and simply carried Aqiu on her back, intending to leave the place.
Chu Yuanyi then became anxious and said angrily, "Girl from the Shangguan family, where are you taking Aqiu?"
Shangguan Yuqi asked curiously, "She is a fellow courtier of mine, so naturally I would take her back to Jinling Terrace and try to wake her up as soon as possible in preparation for a summons from the palace. She has no grudge against me, so how could I possibly kill her while she is unconscious?"
Chu Yuanyi breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at them sideways, and said awkwardly, "It's rare to find such a kind person in the Shangguan family."
Shangguan Yuqi was both amused and exasperated. She hadn't initially paid much attention to the relationship between Chu Yuanyi and A Qiu, but recalling the last time she drew her sword to kill A Qiu at Qiwu, Chu Yuanyi had also been frantic, trying to save her—something she would never normally do. Tonight, Chu Yuanyi had initially been at odds with her, seemingly irreconcilable, but the situation eased considerably after A Qiu entered, and he was even willing to engage in a back-and-forth exchange with them—a truly rare occurrence.
She was naturally insightful and detached, and by this moment she knew that Chu Yuan had a special concern for A Qiu. However, she could never bring herself to exploit someone's weaknesses or blackmail them, so she replied, "If Aunt has no further advice, I will take her away."
Chu Yuanyi became anxious again and shouted, "Let go of my passage! If you leave, I'll be sitting here alone. Those people are already suspicious and might come to investigate again. Wouldn't I be walking right into their trap?"
Shangguan Yuqi then glanced at her, a half-smile on her face, and said, "Auntie's martial arts are superb. I'm afraid if I release you, you'll fight me again and alarm the palace."
Chu Yuanyi remained silent. Seeing that Shangguan Yuqi was about to leave again, he finally said, "If you let me go, I won't fight you."
Shangguan Yuqi smiled and said, "Auntie, you must keep your word. I am carrying the Grand Musician on my back right now. It would be very inconvenient for me to fight with you. I'm afraid that if something happens to me, she won't be able to escape either."
Chu Yuan became anxious and said in a hoarse voice, "You girl seem so smart, but you're actually a fool! I was worried you'd hurt her while you were carrying her, so why would I fight with you?"
Shangguan Yuqi thought about it and realized it made sense. She chuckled and stepped forward, flicking her snow-white sleeve to release Chu Yuanyi's pressure point.
Chu Yuan stood up, stretched his limbs, and said to himself, "You should send her to Jinling Terrace immediately. If anything goes wrong on the way, I will not allow it."
Shangguan Yuqi picked up Aqiu and was about to leap out. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly turned back and said, "Auntie said that even after experiencing what happened back then, she has no inner demons. I don't think so."
This time, it was Chu Yuanyi's turn to be stunned, and he asked, "Why do you say that?"
Shangguan Yuqi looked around the secret room again and said, "If Aunt didn't have any unresolved issues, why would she come here alone in the middle of the night and wander around? There must be some old memories that have triggered your recollections."
Chu Yuanyi muttered, "It's not what you think. I came here simply to reminisce about the days I spent with Empress Dezong, and also..." She stopped abruptly and snapped, "Go on! What are you babbling about!"
Shangguan Yuqi smiled slightly, and as she had said, she picked up A Qiu and darted out of the corridor.
A soft, melodious song drifted into my ears, so tranquil and warm.
As A-Qiu listened, she felt drowsy and listless, as if she had returned to the gentlest embrace, where she could rest peacefully.
But a certain will compelled her to open her eyes and observe her surroundings.
Before me stood a well-arranged table and chairs, with painted beams and pillars. Bright silver candles burned high on exquisitely carved phoenix candlesticks, and long white silk curtains hung from the four corners of the bed, swaying in the breeze.
The curtain blocked her view, but she could still see the tall, slender figure of a woman standing there, the tassels in her hair swaying and occasionally making a tinkling sound.
Even from the silhouette of her lowered gaze, one can sense her delicate features and elegant charm.
That soft, lingering singing voice came from her lips.
The melody was one that A Qiu knew all too well, the "Midnight Song" that he had practiced countless times.
"Who can think without singing, who can go hungry without eating? As the sun sets, I lean against the door, filled with sorrow and longing."
Her singing voice was so sweet and beautiful, but when A Qiu listened to it, she felt inexplicably sad and even heartbroken.
She already knew who the woman was.
The girl who had appeared in her dreams from childhood to adolescence has now grown into an adult, with her hair tied up in a high bun and adorned with pearl hairpins.
She used to tell A-Qiu that her name was A-Xiu.
Now A Qiu knows that she is none other than the Empress Xining, the talented woman of the Great Huan Dynasty, whom many people have missed and who has been passed down by word of mouth, Shangguan Yanxiu.
Ah Qiu just couldn't understand why, out of so many people, she specifically chose to come to him in her dream.
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