Xue Zhiyi waited until dusk.
In the main hall, the empress dowager was leaning against the wall while Chai Yue was gently massaging her legs.
She slowly opened her closed eyes: "Chai Yue, do you think I'm too unkind?"
Chai Yue only glanced outside the door with worry and said, "The Queen Mother has always been kind and benevolent."
The Queen Mother smiled and said, "I have brought this child to Jianzhang Palace, and although this has temporarily saved her life and future, the palace is full of twists and turns, unlike the outside world. If she is easily misled by someone today, or if she loses her temper right now, I'm afraid she is not suitable to stay in the palace. I must find another way out for her, so that she doesn't stay here and waste her life in vain."
Chai Yue smiled gently: "The Queen Mother is not only kind and tolerant, but also thoughtful and considerate."
The empress dowager sighed and wanted to sit up, and Chai Yue hurried to help her.
The Queen Mother said, "I am almost asleep now. Let her in."
When Xue Zhiyi was summoned in, his legs and feet were already sore from standing.
She knelt down and bowed to the Empress Dowager slowly and calmly, not showing any impatience due to the long wait. "Your servant, Xue Zhiyi, pays respects to the Empress Dowager."
Looking at Xue Zhiyi's steady and dignified appearance, although he was kneeling, he was still graceful and not depressed or timid.
Children raised in a family like the Shangshu Mansion would feel somewhat humble and self-pitying if they suddenly had to serve others when their family encountered trouble.
But Xue Zhiyi was a man who was not easily surprised by either praise or criticism, so his worries seemed unnecessary.
"No need to be polite."
Hearing this, Xue Zhiyi slowly stood up. She was still kneeling with her brows lowered and her eyes closed.
The Queen Mother looked kind and asked, "Did I scare you today?"
The family suddenly encountered a misfortune of such a magnitude, and suddenly found out about his own life experience. Let alone a child of this age, I am afraid that it would be difficult for an ordinary person to bear it.
Xue Zhiyi's face finally revealed a hint of sadness. "I thank the Queen Mother for her concern. If the Xue family has done anything unjust, it should be dealt with by Your Majesty and the laws of Dayong. Only in this way can we live up to Dayong and the people. Today, I have received the Queen Mother's mercy. I only remember the kindness of the Queen Mother and Your Majesty."
The Queen Mother sighed and said, "For you, this was an unprovoked disaster. You are very sensible to think this way. However, now that your life story has been revealed, I will remove your household registration from the Xue family in the next few days. Regardless of the Xue family's fate, do not mention it again in the future to avoid being exploited by those with ulterior motives."
Xue Zhiyi bowed again: "Yes, Queen Mother."
After that, the Queen Mother said to Chai Yue, "Go out first. I want to talk to Zhiyi for a few words."
There was a hint of hesitation in Chai Yue's eyes, but she still did as she was told and led all the servants in the hall out.
In the huge main hall, there were only Xue Zhiyi and the Queen Mother. Even Huo Wuyou might have been sent away by the Queen Mother on purpose.
The evening light was dim, and the ticking sound of the water clock was particularly obvious in the twilight and setting sun.
The long silence made Xue Zhiyi feel suffocated. She lowered her eyes and did not look into the empress dowager's eyes. She only felt that the scrutinizing gaze had an overwhelming majesty that was hard to resist.
An unknown amount of time passed before the Queen Mother slowly spoke, "Wuyou asked me to keep you here, but you must understand that I cannot protect you all the time. This is the Imperial Palace. If you make a mistake, any step could lead to a bottomless abyss. You must think carefully. If you feel scared now, I can let you go after the storm has died down."
But Xue Zhiyi showed no fear. She said, "I will never forget the kindness of the Queen Mother and the Marquis of Lin'an. I am willing to repay them with all my strength and dare not be afraid of death."
Xue Zhiyi was self-aware and understood that the Queen Mother was willing to protect her, the daughter of a traitor, at the height of the storm, not just because they had a good impression of each other.
She had to be useful, had to prove her loyalty to the Queen Mother, and had to give the Queen Mother enough reasons to keep her.
The Queen Mother's eyes moved slightly. She didn't expect Xue Zhiyi to understand what she wanted to say so quickly.
She chuckled softly, "I can see that you are a smart person. Otherwise, you wouldn't be so keen in discovering the secret of the Ebony Jar."
The Queen Mother was usually kind to the people below her, but she was the Queen Mother after all. The oppressive feeling she emanated made Xue Zhiyi feel a little stuffy in her chest, and she tried hard to keep herself awake and calm.
"I accidentally discovered the secret, and I don't know how to report it to the Queen Mother, so I can only inform the Marquis of Lin'an. I am deeply honored to have the Marquis of Lin'an's help."
Her palms were sweating... Now, she needed to make the Queen Mother feel that she was useful, and if she wanted to keep her, she couldn't let the Queen Mother think that she was a treacherous villain with ulterior motives.
She carefully considered every word she said at this moment.
"Wuyou has never asked me to do such a thing. The reasons he gave me are more than just an ebony jar." The Queen Mother's voice was calm, but it made Xue Zhiyi's back wet.
She clutched the hair ribbon at the bottom of her sleeve and said, "The tragedy at Yueling Pass has concerned the Marquis of Lin'an day and night. I hope that one day the truth will be revealed. I am willing to serve the Marquis of Lin'an and only ask for the Queen Mother's protection."
After she said this, she bowed again.
There was some risk in her telling the truth. After all, no one had dared to mention the Yueling Pass tragedy in front of the Empress Dowager for more than three years.
But the empress dowager is not someone who can be easily fooled. Instead of saying too many high-sounding words, it is better to tell everyone what she can do for Huo Wuyou. It is better for both of them to know each other than to be suspicious and wary.
Xue Zhiyi crouched down, and there was another long silence.
It was not until her back began to tremble with fatigue that she heard the Queen Mother say, "Get up."
Xue Zhiyi knelt straight, but then heard the Queen Mother say, "Look into my eyes."
His eyelashes trembled slightly, and Xue Zhiyi raised his eyes as he was told. He saw that the empress dowager's eyes were cloudy and deep. Although her expression was still gentle and kind, she seemed to be looking into a terrifying abyss.
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