Because the old Consort was once a concubine of the Holy Ancestor, she could not be buried in the late Emperor's mausoleum. The late Emperor also did not want her buried beside the Holy Ancestor, so he buried her in the mausoleum of Su Ma La Gu. Later, the late Emperor learned that the old Consort was not dead and was furious, ordering the mausoleum to be reopened. The person in the mausoleum was indeed not the old Consort, but the late Emperor never found her before his death. After the late Emperor's death, the Empress Dowager released the old Consort from the secret chamber of Yuhua Pavilion. She subjected her to all sorts of humiliation and torture. On the day the old Consort died, she wanted to die with the Empress Dowager, but the Empress Dowager was saved by Fang, the concubine of General Fu Heng. How could the Empress Dowager allow such a scandal to spread? She wanted to kill Fang to silence her. However, Fang was so frightened that she went insane and even tried to kill her own son, so the Empress Dowager gave up, not wanting to arouse further suspicion.
A window in Wanxiang Pavilion opened, and a red ribbon floated to the table in front of Yan Ning. Following the ribbon, she saw a stunningly beautiful young woman in the prime of her youth giving He Shen a shy smile. He Shen didn't even turn his head, his gaze fixed on the shocked Yan Ning.
Over the past decade or so, she had become accustomed to all of this; modern life seemed distant and unattainable to her. She couldn't even piece together a complete picture; the only thoughts she held in her heart were of her mother, Binli, and Jiajia—three dearest relatives who were an integral part of her life.
Yan Ning felt a pang of pity for the old nobleman. Turning from the young woman she had just spoken to, she looked at Heshen and asked, "Where did that old nobleman end up?"
Heshen gently shook his head. "The old noble lady often mentioned that she had an older sister named Qinghua. She painted many portraits in search of her hometown. Both the Holy Ancestor and the late Emperor sent a large number of soldiers to search for her, but to no avail. After her death, an old nanny in the palace said that the Empress Dowager secretly ordered someone to send her body to the mausoleum of Sumalagu. I have no idea about that!"
Yan Ning had already suspected that Qingyue was related to her by blood, so she wasn't too surprised that it had been confirmed that Qingyue was her aunt. She felt a warmth in her heart; there was indeed someone in the Qing Dynasty who was an anomaly like her. However, the matter of the old noblewoman left her wondering why her body emitted an unusual light. Yan Ning guessed that the old noblewoman probably never knew why her body emitted this unusual light, even until her death.
Although Heshen finished recounting the old noblewoman's story in just a few words, Yan Ning knew that without any written records about her in the palace, finding such information would take many years. Otherwise, Heshen wouldn't have waited nine years to tell her these things.
Feeling a pang of pity, she turned to look at the window of Wanxiang Pavilion from which the red ribbon had just flown. Perhaps the woman felt that her affections were unrequited, while Heshen's cold, unfeeling gaze remained unmoved, for the window had already been closed.
Heshen was puzzled as to why Yan Ning kept glancing at Wanxiang Pavilion today. He wondered to himself, "Could it be that General Fucha has shown his affections at Wanxiang Pavilion again?"
Yan Ning had no intention of joking with him, and looked at him seriously, asking, "Have you ever discussed anything with Fu Chang'an in this pavilion that you didn't want others to know?" He Shen nodded, "It's quiet here, and no one will disturb us!" Because of Yan Ning's serious expression, he stopped joking with her. Yan Ning knew in her heart that with someone like He Shen, there was no need to say anything too directly; a few words were enough. "Sometimes, too much quietness makes things more clearly heard. If it's put into words, then the paper can become a cage, or it can become a sharp arrow!"
Heshen's eyes narrowed as Yan Ning spoke, and he immediately turned to stare at Wanxiang Pavilion for a moment. Then he understood and said with a light smile, "No wonder General Fucha rarely comes to Wanxiang Pavilion. Now he has even entrusted his own brother's life to me!"
With everything clear and nightfall approaching, Yan Ning rose to leave. He Shen's earnest voice came from behind her, "I only hope you told me about the Wanxiang Pavilion because you were worried about me, and not as a transaction for me telling you about the old nobleman!"
Yan Ning stopped in her tracks. She had worried about him, but his fate was sealed regardless of her concerns. Rather than spending her days trying to change her destiny, she preferred to enjoy the power and status she now held, second only to the emperor.
Without turning around, she asked, "Aren't you afraid of me? My identity and origins are so mysterious." Upon hearing this, Heshen stood up and walked to her, looking at her with unwavering eyes. "More than fear, I care for you!"
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