Chapter 136 White Owl Breaks into the Palace
The next morning, a sliver of light shone through the window.
Su Luoxue woke up first, and as soon as she looked up, she saw the faint finger marks on Yuwen Che's cheek beside her. She quickly and quietly got up, put on her outer robe, and went outside the hall.
"Li Dehai," she called softly.
"Your Majesty." Li Dehai immediately bowed and stepped forward.
"Quickly fetch some blood-activating and stasis-removing ointment, one that works fast." Su Luoxue's tone was urgent. "His Majesty has to attend court later, so don't let the ministers notice anything amiss."
"Yes, this old servant will go right away." Li Dehai understood and hurriedly left. He returned shortly with a small white jade box and whispered, "Your Majesty, this is the Jade Skin Powder commonly used in the Shadow Pavilion. It has excellent effects."
Su Luoxue took the medicine box and returned to the bedchamber. Yuwen Che was still asleep. She sat by the bed, dipped her fingertips in the cool ointment, and carefully, little by little, applied it to the red marks on his cheeks.
The sensation of the ointment woke Yuwen Che. He opened his eyes and saw Su Luoxue standing close to him, gently applying the ointment. His gaze softened instantly, his voice hoarse from just waking up, tinged with uncertainty: "Xue'er..."
"Don't move," Su Luoxue gently stopped him, her fingertips still moving. "We need to apply the medicine, otherwise how will we face the ministers later?"
Yuwen Che let her do as she pleased, his gaze fixed on her face, filled with deep remorse: "Xue'er... I'm sorry... yesterday... yesterday I..."
“It’s all in the past,” Su Luoxue interrupted him, lowering her eyelashes and continuing to apply the ointment. “Ache, let’s not talk about it anymore, okay?”
She raised her eyes and looked at him earnestly: "I haven't been indifferent to you, nor have I been indifferent to Cheng'an and Ning'er."
She paused, her tone becoming softer yet more serious: "It's precisely because I care about you all and our family that I want to treat Hao'er better."
Yuwen Che frowned slightly, wanting to say something, but Su Luoxue gently pressed his hand and continued, "Think about it, he's still young. How will he feel seeing you always favoring Cheng'an and Ning'er? He's timid now, but deep down, your blood flows in his veins. I think his stubbornness is most like yours. What if he grows up and develops resentment because of being neglected for so many years, or even harbors thoughts of revenge?"
"Do you... really intend to... kill your child again?"
Seeing Yuwen Che's eyes deepen, she knew he had taken her words to heart, and continued, "Think about Cheng'an again. He was born weak, and for the past three years you've had people carefully tend to him, afraid he'd get cold or fall, wishing you could protect him under your wings forever, shielding him from any hardship. He's been protected too well, his heart is pure, and he doesn't know the wickedness of people. If in the future, Hao'er can remember this warmth from today and be willing to protect him, brothers united, wouldn't that be...why not?"
Yuwen Che listened in silence. He had to admit that Su Luoxue's words were all reasonable. She was planning ahead for their child and for the future of the country.
He took her slightly cool hand in his own, holding it tightly in his palm, and said in a low voice, "It was I... who misunderstood."
Seeing that he had taken her words to heart, Su Luoxue finally smiled faintly, withdrew her hand, and continued to spread the last bit of ointment evenly for him: "Alright, you can't tell anymore. It's getting late, time to prepare for court."
Yuwen Che sat up and looked at her deeply. His eyes were complex, containing apology, love, and a hint of deep thought after being awakened.
"Hmm," he responded, and called someone in to help him change.
Su Luoxue watched him put on his majestic dragon robe and crown, and it seemed that the decisive and ruthless emperor had returned.
Not long after Yuwen Che left, Su Luoxue finished changing her clothes and asked Fuling to go see the Crown Prince and the Princess first.
Suddenly, she heard a very slight noise from the window behind her. She turned around instinctively and saw a strange man in white standing silently in the room!
"Ah—!" Su Luoxue was so frightened that her soul almost left her body. Before she could scream, the man swiftly stepped forward and covered her mouth.
"Ugh...!" Su Luoxue stared wide-eyed in terror, struggling desperately as she looked at the strange man who had suddenly appeared in the palace.
Bai Xiao looked at the pale face of the woman in his arms and then suddenly realized what was happening.
—Oh no! He forgot that Su Luoxue didn't even know him! He, a grown man, barged into the Empress's palace like this, and... in this position! If Yuwen Che found out, he'd definitely chop him up with his sword!
"Don't shout! I'm not a bad person!" Bai Xiao quickly lowered his voice to explain, but his subordinates dared not let go. "I am one of Yuwen Che's... subordinates. My name is Bai Xiao."
Su Luoxue paused in her struggle, her eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty as she looked at him warily.
Bai Xiao looked at her gaze and felt a headache coming on: "What are you trying to say?"
Su Luoxue blinked hard and struggled a few more times.
Bai Xiao then realized that he was still tightly covering the other person's mouth, and quickly said, "I'll let go of you, but don't shout, okay? I'm really one of our own!"
Su Luoxue hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Bai Xiao then carefully released her hand, but remained vigilant and kept a close distance, ready to stop her from calling for help again at any time.
As soon as Su Luoxue was freed, she immediately took two steps back to distance herself from him. She tried to remain calm, but her voice trembled slightly: "You...who exactly are you? How dare you trespass into my bedchamber? Are you tired of living?"
Seeing that although she was afraid, she still maintained the dignity of an empress, Bai Xiao felt slightly relieved. He touched his nose and awkwardly reiterated his identity: "I already said, I am from the Shadow Pavilion, Bai Xiao. You know the Shadow Pavilion, right? The one directly under Yuwen Che's command."
Upon hearing the words "Shadow Pavilion," Su Luoxue's tense nerves relaxed slightly. She naturally knew about the Shadow Pavilion; it was A-Che's most secretive force, directly under his command, responsible for handling shady matters. But even so, for an outsider to barge into her palace like this was truly appalling.
She still frowned, her tone questioning: "Even if you are from the Shadow Pavilion, why are you acting so suspiciously? Is there something you can't tell us?"
Bai Xiao sighed, his expression turning serious. "This matter is of great importance and must not be discussed by anyone else. I entered while Yuwen Che was away at court, avoiding all eyes and ears." He looked around and lowered his voice. "I'm here to ask you some questions about Yuwen Che's recent... condition."
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