The Sinful Woman's Golden Branch: The Jade-Faced Yama is Actually Me (Twenty-Six...)
Pei Yu certainly didn't think Guan Xianzhi wouldn't recognize him. He knew that Guan Xianzhi, who had left the Pei family in such an extreme way, must have harbored a lot of resentment towards the Pei family.
So he didn't say anything more, and bowed to Guan Xianzhi: "Miss Guan may not recognize me, but I still feel that I owe Miss Guan an apology."
"The feud between the Guan and Pei families back then had nothing to do with Miss Guan. It was Pei who lost his sense of justice because of his resentment."
"Oh?" Ye Xiqing looked up meaningfully: "Ah, I remember now, it's Lord Pei."
"Then Lord Pei's apology seems somewhat insincere. Even a rough man in ancient times would carry thorns on his back to apologize. Did Lord Pei come empty-handed?"
Pei Yu: ...
Guan Xianzhi seems to have changed.
With the rapid rise of Dengzhou, Ji Siyin and her ruthless bodyguard have gradually become known to everyone.
"He easily exterminated four clans and killed countless people."
Everyone was spreading her infamous reputation. Because she was a woman, her ruthlessness was even more unacceptable to the world. As a result, her fame had somewhat overshadowed that of him, the emperor's henchman who was also a ruthless killer.
When Pei Yu heard this, he was still somewhat unable to accept it and could not believe that the Guan Xianzhi in the rumors was really the Guan Xianzhi he thought she was.
Upon seeing her today, I realized the rumors were true; Guan Xianzhi had indeed changed.
Pei Yu felt a pang of pain in his heart. He didn't know if Guan Xianzhi's current state was related to him.
There was no word in their conversation; they could only lower their heads and say, "I'm sorry."
"Hahaha." Ye Xiqing couldn't help but laugh.
The male lead is so much like a human being, she doesn't even have the heart to retaliate.
The system seized the opportunity to pop out: "Really?"
"Fake."
If apologies were effective, she would say them countless times after he died.
You want to repay the harm you caused her without paying the same price?
Let's talk about it when she changes her name to Yuantouqing!
...
Ye Xiqing has already started criticizing everything and everyone, including the AI, while Ji Siyin is still silently shedding tears.
Li Wenyuan really didn't want to see her pathetic state, and her calm voice came through the gauze curtain: "What are you crying for? I'm not dead yet."
Ji Siyin wiped away her tears and walked step by step into the gauze tent. Li Wenyuan did not refuse her approach, and Ji Siyin then saw her mother's current appearance.
Even beauty pills couldn't hide her decay; this great emperor could no longer leave her bedchamber.
Ji Siyin wanted to hug her as before, but found that she had come in wearing armor.
My mother's body was so fragile at that moment that even a cold, lifeless object could not withstand it.
Ji Siyin's tears welled up again. She was really sad and needed someone to comfort her.
Li Wenyuan really couldn't take it anymore. Even though she was the one who was paralyzed in bed and couldn't move, her daughter seemed to need comfort more than she did.
With a deep sigh, she thought, "My children must be a debt from my past life." Helplessly, she reached out her hand and said, "Sit here and let your mother see you."
Ten years of honing his skills have given Ji Siyin a touch more fierceness.
Although she is described as being skilled in both literature and martial arts, she is actually more proficient in martial arts.
Li Wenyuan was in good health when she was young, but she gave birth to more than just Ji Siyin and the Prince of Nankang.
Only these two remain because they are the only two still alive. Excluding these two, she still has three princes who did not survive.
Giving birth to five children in a row took a devastating blow to her body, and she was no longer as strong as before.
Therefore, she liked Ji Siyin very much. Whenever she saw her little daughter, who was like a little pony, running in and calling her "Mother Queen", she seemed to see her own youthful and energetic self.
She loved her son too, but only her daughter resembled her so much, as if she were another expression of her life.
Looking at her grown-up daughter, her heart miraculously calmed down, and she said with a smile, "You can cry in Mother Queen's palace now, but when you go out later, you must not take your tears with you, understand?"
Ji Siyin is no longer the child she once was; she understands this principle. She sniffed hard and took the handkerchief that Shangguan Lanyi handed her.
Perhaps this is how it is for mothers and daughters in the imperial family: no matter how many emotions they have, they must bury them behind careful planning.
Ji Siyin wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and looked earnestly at Li Wenyuan: "Mother, you summoned me from Dengzhou. Is there anything you need Yongning to do?"
Her words were not only resounding but also carried a powerful sense of confidence, and she certainly had the ability to quell the chaos.
Li Wenyuan never imagined that one day she would need to draw strength from her daughter, and couldn't help but smile: "You probably guessed it, what else could it be that I called you back at this time?"
"We're going to have to ask that question again. The Queen Mother has asked many people already, and now she wants to ask you."
"If the Empress Dowager were to designate a crown prince to become the next emperor, who would you prefer?"
Before entering the palace, Ye Xiqing had prepared countless answers for this essential exam question for her lord.
Ji Siyin always listened to Ye Xiqing's advice without hesitation.
But this time, she didn't use any of Ye Xiqing's standard answers. Instead, she looked up at her mother and said firmly—
"Mother can choose whomever she wants to be the heir. Yongning only swears to you that no matter who you choose, Yongning will help you fulfill your wish!"
...
Ji Siyin emerged from the palace with not a trace of tears on her face, riding back to her residence in high spirits.
For so many years, even when she was not in the capital, Li Wenyuan had been sending people to help her maintain the princess's residence, and all the furnishings were exactly the same as before.
But Ji Siyin had already gotten used to Dengzhou Prefecture. The furnishings of the Princess's Mansion were both strange and familiar. Apart from making her feel like she was in another world, she could no longer find the feelings she had for the past.
Ji Siyin followed the familiar road to find Ye Xiqing, and sure enough, she had already lain down, but for some reason, she was not asleep.
Who would dare to sleep then? Even if they did, you'd still wake them up.
Ye Xiqing endured the journey and arrived at the small courtyard where she used to live in the princess's mansion. Finally, she could relax and get some peace of mind.
But she was willing to bet that Ji Siyin would look for her immediately upon returning from the palace.
Sure enough, she arrived.
Seeing Ji Siyin's silent expression, Ye Xiqing, as her trusted advisor, still had to fulfill her duty: "Princess, how did your talk with His Majesty go?"
Ji Siyin:...
"It might be a little different from what you imagine."
Ye Xiqing became interested: "How is it different?"
Looking at Ye Xiqing's frail and haggard body, Ji Siyin felt a pang of heartache.
But Ye Xiqing's indifference to her feelings made her very angry.
Over the years, she had gotten used to telling Ye Xiqing everything whenever she asked, regardless of her mood, and this time was no exception.
With a sullen face, he reported all the matters in the palace to Ye Xiqing and waited for her judgment. His face was so dark that it seemed as if water was about to drip from it.
Sure enough, Ye Xiqing smiled with satisfaction: "This answer is perfect, much better than I expected. The princess is making more and more progress."
Ji Siyin was not flattered and glared angrily at Ye Xiqing: "I'm not giving a perfect answer. I really mean it. As long as Mother Empress is alive, I will fulfill all her wishes!"
“What difference does it make? His Majesty’s wishes can only be fulfilled by Your Highness. It has never been a conflicting option, but because of Your Highness’s sincerity, His Majesty’s heart naturally leans towards you.”
"I didn't say that to get my mother to side with me!"
"That's even more wonderful, because Your Highness and His Majesty travel together and swear allegiance without needing to use false words. Choosing like-minded people as allies is the advantage, isn't it?"
"I don't want to hear this! My mother is very ill and may pass away any day. Do you even know how I truly feel?!"
"It is precisely because I know that I cannot share in Your Highness's sorrow."
"Everyone will pass away one day, no matter who they are, I am no exception."
“We will all leave before Your Highness. Your Highness’s sorrow is the last gift that those who go before you leave behind.”
"What follows is a journey you will walk alone, Your Highness. Have you thought about how you will embark on this path alone?"
Ji Siyin:...
Although people know that death exists, they only truly realize it when the death of a loved one occurs.
Ji Siyin had always been a child under her mother's protection, and only now has she begun to grow up in a daze.
She was in real pain, but Ye Xiqing not only didn't comfort her, he also threatened her with his own death!
Ji Siyin wailed and pounded her chest to relieve the suffocating feeling that was everywhere.
She seemed to have exhausted all her strength, tears streaming down her face, and said, "I will definitely fulfill all of Mother Queen's wishes, I will!"
What is Li Wenyuan's wish?
At another court assembly, her wish was revealed.
After suspending court for several days, Li Wenyuan finally appeared before everyone, this time making no attempt to hide her paralyzed legs.
Seeing her like this, the ministers in the court were instantly reassured; it was truly time for a change of dynasty.
The Li family members were very anxious. Li Wenyuan had used half a carrot to keep them hanging for half their lives, but it always seemed like something was missing.
Ji Shi was actually more confident, but she couldn't rule out that Li Wenyuan had other intentions. This woman was too attached to power!
Li Wenyuan looked at everyone below her and said calmly, "I'm sure you all have a plan in mind when I summon you here."
"I am not feeling well these days, and I am also getting old. In order to ensure the continuation of the empire, I have specially discussed with my ministers the establishment of a crown prince."
"Before summoning all the ministers, I discussed with the old minister whether it would be better to establish the son of the Li family or the son of the Ji family as heir?"
"The old master told me that one should establish a close relative rather than a distant one."
"As for establishing a marriage alliance, naturally the Prince of Nankang is the closest to me, being my own flesh and blood."
“But I know my son. The Prince of Nankang is kind and benevolent, but lacks strategic thinking and is physically weak. He is not capable of shouldering great responsibilities.”
"If I make him the crown prince, I do not know whether he can shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the country."
"Therefore, I would like to ask my ministers: when establishing a crown prince, should we choose a relative or a virtuous and capable one?"
The entire court was immediately thrown into an uproar, and Ji Shi looked up in shock.
Even after the elder has said all this, does Li Wenyuan still insist on establishing a son of the Li family?
Li's son was overjoyed.
Yes, if the Prince of Nankang is established, the country will return to the Ji family lineage, wouldn't Li Wenyuan's efforts have been in vain?
They benefited from sharing the same surname and clan as Li Wenyuan, so they might not be without a chance!
As a result, the imperial court was thrown into chaos once again.
Princess Nankang paced back and forth in her house, stamping her feet and cursing, "Has the old lady gone mad?! How can she not give the family property to her son and nephew!"
The King of Nankang was indeed in poor health, so the planning of such important matters had become the responsibility of the Queen of Nankang and her children.
The Prince of Nankang held his mother down: "Mother, you can't be so impulsive. You offended Auntie before because of your reckless words and actions, which made Grandmother quite critical of you."
"The power is still in the hands of the Empress Dowager. We can't do anything to anger her. Every little detail will affect the final outcome. Even if there are many disagreements, you still have to act like a good daughter-in-law and a good sister-in-law, understand?"
Although Princess Nankang had a bad temper and was easily angered, she was the one who listened to her son the most.
Her anger subsided slightly, and she smiled: "Alright, alright, Mother understands. Even if those two trample on my dignity, I will still treat them with respect and a smile!"
The Crown Prince of Nankang smiled, put his arm around his mother's shoulder, and comforted her. Princess Nankang was quickly coaxed into smiling.
The mother and son were so harmonious, but someone couldn't stand it. Princess Yuzhen, the second daughter of the Princess of Nankang, sneered: "Aren't you happy too soon? Still thinking about pleasing this person and that person? Did they even give you a chance? You're already trying to please them?"
"If you fall into a ditch once, it's considered that you're blind. But if you fall twice, does that mean you've lost your brain?"
"What exactly is different about what the Empress Dowager said in court today compared to when she pretended to make Father the Crown Prince ten years ago?"
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