Chapter 91 Your Highness, I said I would repay what I owed you...
The distant mountain range stretches out like a dragon, surrounded by moist air carrying the fresh scent of earth and vegetation.
Lying on the warm white marble, Chu Yueyuan closed her eyes contentedly and couldn't help but sigh, "Ah, how could I have forgotten to come here and enjoy myself before?"
Looking back carefully, during the early days of her reign as Empress Dowager, what she feared most was the men around her. Every time she went to the Qin Zheng Hall to attend court assemblies, she felt as if she had lost her parents, just like Xiao Yun getting out of bed in the dead of winter to go to the Zi Shan Hall.
After finally figuring out the man's temperament, she unexpectedly learned the secret of Xiao Yun's background. From then on, she told one lie after another to the man, not only unwittingly winning his heart but also getting herself involved.
While in the palace, Chu Yueyuan was always worried that Xiao Yun's true identity would be discovered, and she desperately wanted to find his biological father, but each time she came up empty-handed.
After leaving the palace, she didn't think about it for a long time.
Pei Muwei picked up the woman's wet hair, twirled it around his index finger, and played with it, his tone seductive:
"If you like this place, and don't give me a proper status sooner, you can come and go as you please."
Pei's words made her sound like a promiscuous young widow who would deny everything once she had taken advantage of him. Chu Yueyuan turned her face to the side and snorted softly, "Lord Pei, don't try to seduce me with your power. I'm an experienced woman, I won't fall for it!"
The woman's fair face glowed pink and smooth in the steam, like a hibiscus flower glistening with morning dew, exuding an indescribable charm and allure.
Pei Muwei's lips curved slightly upward. He leaned down and kissed the woman's rounded shoulder with his thin lips, then slowly moved along the beautifully shaped shoulder blade. His voice was low and husky: "Since power cannot win your favor, then I can only serve you with my beauty."
Chu Yueyuan quickly opened her eyes, turned around, and used her palm to stop the dragon lord who was about to use his beauty to please her. She said in a serious tone, "Ahem, this humble woman is not only uninterested in power, but also... utterly indifferent to handsome men..."
Steam rose from the pool, shrouding the man's handsome face in a misty haze. Fine water droplets clung to his long, thick eyelashes, making his dark eyes appear like ink jade immersed in a spring, shimmering with tender affection.
Faced with such a stunning appearance, she sounded a little less confident in the latter part of her speech.
Pei Muwei stared at the woman's serious, flushed face, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. If the mountain road hadn't been so difficult to traverse, he would have wanted to punish this heartless woman who had turned her back on him so severely that she couldn't get out of bed.
He gently pinched her pointed chin with his long fingers and said softly, "The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works has submitted a memorial stating that the new waterway connecting the capital to Yangzhou has been repaired and the timeframe has been shortened from thirty days to fifteen. Aren't you thinking of visiting your mother's hometown? Once the official business is a bit less busy, I'll take you to Yangzhou for sightseeing, shall we?"
Chu Yueyuan's watery eyes lit up. She hadn't expected that the man would keep the matter she had casually mentioned in his heart.
She tentatively asked, "Then...can I bring Yoona with me?"
Pei Muwei raised an eyebrow. He naturally didn't want to bring along the little emperor as a burden, but seeing the woman's clear eyes looking at him expectantly, he couldn't help but soften his heart.
It would be good to take the young emperor along, to awaken the woman's maternal instincts, and he would stop taking the medicine. In the future, "the father's status will rise with the son's," and he could then ask her for a proper title.
Chu Yueyuan was happy for a while, but then she remembered the current situation, frowned and sighed softly.
During her stay at the Prince's Mansion, the Xie family treated her exceptionally well. Xie Yu was witty and talkative, and Zhu Niang treated her with utmost care, as if she were her own sister. She often brought her young son to visit, and the young Xie son was intelligent and sensible, even supervising Xiao Yun's studies at Zishan Hall.
The once harmonious Xie family mansion has recently been shrouded in dark clouds, shrouded in gloom.
Chu Yueyuan said softly, "Last night, the Princess Consort came to me and said that in recent days, Prince Chun was furious because Princess Nianyi had agreed to the marriage alliance. He even said that if the princess insisted on going to the marriage alliance, he would sever his brother-sister relationship with her. The Princess Consort hoped that I could persuade the princess properly this time."
When the matter was mentioned, Pei Muwei's smile faded: "It was only after hearing about this that I issued an order to the Prince's Mansion to separate the brother and sister temporarily so that they could both calm down."
Chu Yueyuan could understand why Prince Chun was so determined to stop this marriage alliance.
Princess Nianyi's previous marriage was a sacrifice of her own happiness to protect her clan. Therefore, Prince Chun has always felt guilty towards his sister, and he strives to gain a foothold in the court so that he can find her a suitable husband.
Now that Nianyi is about to make another sacrifice for the greater good of the nation, Prince Chun, as the elder brother of his beloved younger sister, must be extremely unwilling.
"I don't understand..." Chu Yueyuan lowered her eyes, her slender white fingers gently touching the warm pool water, stirring up ripples.
"Five years ago, the Xie clan was stranded in Jingzhou and bullied by local tyrants like Governor Chen. They were isolated and helpless, and Princess Nianyi had no choice but to marry Prince Chen. But things are different now. With you and Prince Chun backing her up, she clearly has a choice. Why would she agree to a marriage alliance?"
Pei Muwei's brow twitched slightly.
Since the Great Qi and the Canglang Kingdom formed an alliance, neighboring countries have worried that the Great Qi and Canglang are too friendly and that they will join forces to annex the weaker countries. As a result, envoys from various countries have been flocking to the capital, bringing tributes that are ten times more abundant than in previous years.
Recently, he has been engrossed in political affairs and has been summoning envoys from various countries one after another. In between, he learned about what happened at the Prince's Mansion. Although he was surprised by Xie Nianzhi's choice, he did not delve into the reasons behind it.
In his heart, Xie Nianzhi was his cousin who had grown up with him. He was grateful for the kindness of the former princess and General Xie, and was willing to protect her and rescue her from the Chen family. However, this marriage proposal should be advised by his elder brother, Xie Yu.
After a long pause, Pei Muwei spoke in a low voice: "Nianyi's temperament is very similar to General Xie's. Once she has made up her mind, she will not easily change it. She must have her own reasons for agreeing to go for the marriage alliance."
Chu Yueyuan, however, did not think so.
That day, if Xie Nianzhi hadn't taken the initiative to help her out of the predicament, she wouldn't have been noticed by Erhe.
She stared at the ripples on the surface of the pool, a look of guilt appearing in her eyes. The Xie family had treated her so well, yet she had dragged Xie Nianzhi into the water.
"Weijin, will you come with me to see Princess Nianyi and see if we can persuade her to change her mind?"
Pei Muwei raised his hand to smooth the shallow crease between the woman's eyebrows and eyes, and said gently, "Okay, I'll go with you."
————
There are 36 hot spring pools of varying sizes on Mount Li. Due to the different water quality, they have different effects. The largest pool at the top of the mountain has a light milky white color and is said to have the effect of nourishing and beautifying the skin. There are also several small hot spring pools hidden in the mountains and forests with light yellow water, which are said to have the effect of strengthening the body.
Princess Nianyi was in poor health, so the Imperial Household Department specially arranged a quiet courtyard for her. It was surrounded by bamboo groves, and sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Several palace maids dressed in crimson palace robes squatted in the bamboo forest, digging something in the ground with hoes in their hands.
"Princess, please be careful not to soil your clothes. Let us do these rough chores."
"It's alright, being closer to nature is good for my health." Xie Nianzhi refused the handkerchief offered by the palace maid. She was wearing a moon-white brocade wide-sleeved ruqun, with two straps hanging from her neck to tie her sleeves. She put the grass she had just dug up into a wooden box and sealed it.
Just as the palace maid was about to put the wooden box away, she saw the handsome man and beautiful woman standing in front of her and quickly bowed, saying, "This servant greets the Regent."
Xie Nianzhi raised her head upon hearing the voice, a slight smile on her face. She curtsied to the two of them in turn, her voice soft and clear: "I did not know that my cousin and Sister Chu would be coming. I am truly sorry that my clothes are soiled."
Although she addressed Chu as "sister," she performed the grand ceremony of paying homage to the Empress Dowager. Her skirt still had specks of mud on it, but this did not diminish her dignified and elegant demeanor.
Chu Yueyuan stepped forward to help her up, glanced at the busy palace maids in the woods, and asked curiously, "What is the princess doing?"
Xie Nianzhi took the handkerchief and wiped the mud off her fingertips. She smiled and explained, "Lishan is full of exotic flowers and herbs. I saw some Sedum sarmentosum in the bamboo forest, so I picked some and sealed it in a box. When we come to the Canglang tribe, we can sow the seeds of these flowers and herbs in the soil there and see if they can take root and sprout."
When talking about future plans, the woman's eyes lit up.
Chu Yueyuan was taken aback. Looking at the mud spots on the woman's skirt, she sincerely praised, "The princess has far-sighted plans and the benevolent heart of Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs. I, on the other hand, only know how to soak in the hot spring and enjoy myself. I am truly ashamed!"
“Sister Chu is too kind. Cultivating one’s character is also a form of spiritual practice.”
Xie Nianzhi turned to look at Pei Muwei, as if she had guessed the purpose of their visit, and said calmly, "Since you and Sister Chu are here, why don't you come in and have a cup of tea?"
In the tea room, Xie Nianzhi brewed three cups of tea.
"Cousin, can you still tell what kind of tea this is?"
Pei Muwei picked up the teacup and took a small sip. His eyes narrowed slightly as he pondered, "This is General Xie's favorite tea, Yunhua Yinhao, produced in Beiyuan, Jianzhou."
"My cousin still remembers." Xie Nianzhi held a teacup, and in the rising steam, a faint smile graced her beautiful face.
"Not only did my father like it, but Emperor Wu also praised its unique aroma. Unfortunately, the production of Beiyuan Imperial Tea was extremely limited, only two catties a year. I remember one year there was a great flood in Jianzhou, and the imperial tea offered as tribute the following year was less than one catty. Emperor Wu bestowed it all upon my father, and as a result, my father was impeached by the remonstrating officials for overshadowing the emperor. However, Emperor Wu did not care. From then on, nearly half of the imperial tea offered as tribute each year was sent to the princess's residence..."
When Emperor Wu was alive, the princess's residence was magnificent and unparalleled. Even the lowly servants who swept and cleaned the residence would only nod slightly when they saw officials of the seventh rank or below, without having to bend their backs even slightly.
Chu Yueyuan could imagine what a proud and favored woman Xie Nianzhi must have been back then, surrounded by admirers.
However, the higher you are praised, the harder you fall.
After Emperor Shang ascended the throne, the glory of the princess's mansion vanished. Furthermore, because Xie Yu and Pei Muwei became close, Emperor Shang became suspicious of them, and the entire Xie clan was forced to leave the capital. The once radiant and proud princess also fell into the mire.
Xie Nianzhi placed the teacup on the table, called a maid to bring a brocade box, and opened the lid to reveal a beautifully embroidered picture of a hundred children playing in spring.
"I fear I will not have the chance to attend your wedding in Canglang Kingdom on your journey to marry into the royal family. This painting of a hundred children is something I embroidered to pass the time in Jingzhou. I present it to you, Sister Chu, today, wishing you and your cousin a harmonious marriage, a life of mutual respect, and many children and grandchildren."
After saying that, she pushed the brocade box to the other side.
Looking at the adorable child depicted on the embroidered face, Chu Yueyuan couldn't help but speak up: "Princess, you've only met Erhe a few times and don't know his character. Why are you so determined to go for a marriage alliance? The two tribes don't speak the same language and have different customs. You're physically weak; if you get a headache or fever there, you'll only be able to rely on a shaman's prayers for healing..."
"Besides, Erhe has many wives and concubines and doesn't care about the possibility of a marriage alliance with the Great Qi. He's calculated that Prince Chun will definitely object, so he can take the opportunity to renegotiate the alliance and gain more advantages..."
“The princess need not make any sacrifices for this. The court will surely come up with a compromise to make Erhe give up the marriage alliance on his own initiative.”
She said a lot in one breath, hoping that Xie Nianzhi would change his mind.
Xie Nianzhi had gentle features and a faint smile on her face.
"Actually, after parting ways with Sister Chu that day, I did not go to Cunxiang Pavilion, but went to Sifang Pavilion and took the initiative to suggest to the Great Khan that he choose me to go for a marriage alliance."
Chu Yueyuan was stunned for a moment.
Pei Muwei's face darkened, and his tone became serious for the first time: "Nianyi, why did you do this?"
Xie Nianzhi looked at the man, her clear eyes flickering slightly: "Princess Wenxi of the previous dynasty went to the Turks for a marriage alliance, which brought two hundred years of peace. My father led his army to war and returned in triumph, but only gained ten years of peace. It is clear that fighting each other cannot solve problems in the long run. I want to go to Canglang for a marriage alliance, like Princess Wenxi did, to bring them classic medical books, skilled craftsmen, grain seeds... The way to stop plunder is not only killing, but also giving gifts."
Pei Muwei frowned and said, "This matter is not as simple as you think. Back then, the Turkic leader was deeply loved by the people and admired the culture of the Central Plains. He fully supported Princess Wenxi in promoting education. Although Erhe quelled the internal strife on the grasslands, many tribes still harbored resentment. As an outsider, you will likely face many obstacles and have little hope in promoting these things in the area."
"But how can we know the outcome if we don't even try?"
Xie Nianzhi's expression remained unchanged, and her tone was earnest: "My father lost his life to reclaim the lost territory, and he never wavered until his death. I am his daughter, so why should I fear these obstacles? As a woman, I do not have the strength to fight on the battlefield, but I have the belief to build bridges and pave roads for the people of both races and promote peace."
"Cousin, I want to give it a try. Even if I lose my life, I will not regret it!"
After a long silence, Pei Muwei nodded in agreement: "Alright, I will issue an order to the Ministry of Rites to prepare your marriage in accordance with the rites for Princess Wenxi. Nianyi, if you regret it in the future, remember to send someone to deliver a letter, and I will personally bring you back."
Xie Nianzhi's lips curled up slightly, revealing a relieved smile: "Nianyi thanks her cousin."
Stepping out of the courtyard, Chu Yueyuan looked at the palace maids busily gathering flowers and herbs in the bamboo grove. She frowned slightly and sighed, "I thought you would try to dissuade her."
Pei Muwei held her hand, his tone calm: "This is her choice."
Chu Yueyuan knew in her heart that Xie Nianzhi's words were well thought out, and she had already made up her mind.
In fact, as long as the Great Qi is rich and powerful, Erheding will not dare to neglect the princess who is sent to marry him. With her two elder brothers, Pei Muwei and Xie Yu, as her solid backing, even if she regrets it one day, she will not be without a way out.
Thinking about it this way, Chu Yueyuan felt a little better.
——
Princess Nianyi's marriage was scheduled for the last day of March, which was in the middle of spring.
The Ministry of Rites thoroughly consulted the classics and not only followed the regulations for Princess Wenxi's marriage, but also added over a hundred skilled craftsmen proficient in architecture and weaving, as well as several doctors skilled in identifying herbs.
On the day the princess got married, the sky was clear and cloudless, as if it were a good omen.
The Prince's mansion was decorated with red silk, creating a festive atmosphere. A pair of "double happiness" characters covered with gold foil hung high in front of the vermilion main gate.
Xie Yu stood in the front hall to greet the guests, wearing a luxurious deep purple brocade robe embroidered with golden lotus patterns, which made his face look gloomy and without any joy.
The sensible guests all avoided him.
"It's Nianyi's big day, don't keep a long face, smile."
Zhu Niang greeted the congratulatory guests with a smile, while secretly pinching her husband's lower back.
"I can't laugh..."
"You have to smile, even if you can't. It's the worst thing to not smile when your daughter is getting married. Even if you have to pretend today, you have to put on a happy face for Nianyi's future."
Xie Yu could only force a smile that looked more like a grimace, which startled the guests who were about to offer their congratulations, causing them to quickly walk around him.
After dealing with the congratulatory Countess Zhongyi, Zhu Niang turned to her husband and asked, "Will the Regent come today?"
Xie Yu was still forcing a stiff smile, shaking his head and saying, "The Wusun Kingdom in the north has some kind of audacity to dare to cross the border and plunder. It's causing quite a stir right now. I'm currently in the palace dealing with this matter, so I'm afraid I can't get away."
Madam Zhu understood her sister-in-law's thoughts best. Thinking of the imminent parting, yet the inability to see the person hidden in her heart one last time, how regrettable it would be. She sighed, "I'll go see Nianyi. Husband, please don't remember, and keep smiling!"
Xie Yu continued to force a smile, but the number of guests walking around him actually increased, as if they had seen a ghost.
In her boudoir, the bride-to-be, dressed in a fiery red wedding gown, sat gracefully behind her dressing table, her stunningly beautiful face reflected in the bronze mirror.
But there was not a trace of a smile on her face; it was like a beautifully painted mask.
Exquisitely beautiful, yet utterly devoid of life.
Zhu Niang lifted the curtain and entered. Seeing the woman's lonely figure, she felt a pang of sorrow and her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
She stepped forward, suppressing a sob in her throat, and asked, "In less than half an hour, the wedding sedan chair will be at the door. Nianyi, think carefully again, is there anything else that's important you should bring?"
The woman did not turn around; her exquisitely painted eyes stared into the bronze mirror, her flat voice revealing no emotion:
"I would like to trouble you, sister-in-law, to invite Sister Chu. I have a few words I would like to say to her."
———
Chu Yueyuan was somewhat surprised to learn that Princess Nianyi wanted to see her.
Today, the Prince's mansion was filled with guests, including many officials from the court. She could not show herself, so she stayed in Qiyun Courtyard.
Zhu Niang assured her repeatedly, "Don't worry, sister. I've dismissed all the idlers in the bridal chamber. We'll go through the side path and we won't be seen by anyone."
After a moment's thought, Chu Yueyuan agreed: "I have known the princess for a while, and now that we have parted, I don't know when we will meet again. It is only right and proper that I go to see her off."
Zhu Niang's arrangements were very thorough; from Qiyun Courtyard to Princess Nianyi's courtyard, they didn't encounter anyone along the way.
The once clear sky suddenly darkened, and amidst the piling up of dark clouds, a faint rumble of thunder could be heard.
"How can the Directorate of Astronomy be doing its job? It has never accurately predicted a single celestial phenomenon!"
Seeing the dark clouds gathering in the sky, Zhu Niang subconsciously frowned: "Your Highness, please go inside first. I will go to the front hall to take a look. Once Your Highness has finished speaking with Nianyi, you can simply go back the way you came."
"Okay, I've got it."
Watching the Princess Consort's figure disappear into the distance, Chu Yueyuan lifted her skirt and gracefully walked into the house.
This was her first time visiting Xie Nianzhi's boudoir. The room was decorated with festive decorations, with a picture of a hundred children hanging on the wall, paper-cut "double happiness" characters pasted between the window frames, and the gauze curtains swaying slightly in the breeze.
Chu Yueyuan lifted the curtain and entered the bedroom, where she saw a beautiful figure sitting quietly behind the dressing table.
It is said that a woman is most beautiful on her wedding day. Chu Yueyuan gazed at the beautiful and charming bride and couldn't help but believe that Erhe's decision to give up those cities was genuine.
The woman who used to always wear plain white dresses is now dressed in a bright and elegant red wedding gown with gold peony patterns. The radiant red color makes her snow-white skin blush, melting away the usual sorrow in her eyes. It makes people realize that the most beautiful woman in the capital has never really disappeared, but has just temporarily concealed her beauty.
Xie Nianzhi raised her head slightly, the golden tassels hanging from her headdress swaying gently, making her smiling eyes appear and disappear. She pointed to the rose-covered armchair beside her and said softly, "Sister Chu, please sit down and talk."
After Chu Yueyuan took her seat, she asked curiously, "I wonder what brings the princess to see me?"
"I received a genuine copy of the calligraphy by the Sage of Calligraphy of Langya from my sister the other day. I am very grateful, but I have been busy preparing for my wedding and have not had the opportunity to thank her in person."
Xie Nianzhi picked up the jade teapot from the dressing table, elegantly poured two cups of tea, and pushed one of them towards her, speaking calmly:
"After this parting, I fear we will never meet again. Since returning to the capital, I have been very grateful for Sister Chu's care in every way. It is a pity that I will never have the opportunity to repay this kindness. I can only express my gratitude with a cup of tea."
"Your Highness is too kind..." Chu Yueyuan picked up the tea in front of her and drank it all in one gulp without hesitation.
She put down her cup, looked at the beautiful bride in front of her, and sincerely praised, "Your Highness looks so beautiful in your wedding dress today."
Xie Nianzhi reached out, her fingertips gently touching the exquisite phoenix crown on her head: "Yes, this time the headdress is much more magnificent than the one for her last wedding, but..."
She suddenly looked up, her gaze through the gaps in the tassels extremely complex: "It must be far inferior to the nine-dragon and nine-phoenix crown you wore when you married the late emperor. Do you still remember the scene on your wedding day?"
Chu Yueyuan's expression faltered slightly; of course she remembered.
That day, she let the palace servants dress her in her wedding gown. On the surface, she looked radiant and beautiful, but inside she was like a soulless Mohele doll, numb and helpless, completely at the mercy of others.
When the palace coup suddenly broke out at night, the shouts of killing pierced through the heavy palace walls. She sat in the wedding tent in fear and unease. Amidst her fear, a glimmer of hope arose in her heart.
But when the blood-soaked King of Shu grinned and pressed down on her, that faint hope was instantly crushed.
The nightmare ended when the man's sword pierced the Shu King's chest.
From then on, she and he were bound together.
"Let me go! Let me go!"
A sudden cry rang out inside the room. Chu Yueyuan looked in the direction of the sound and saw an exquisite huanghuali birdcage hanging under the window frame. Inside the cage was a green-winged, purple-crowned parrot with a ring of jet-black feathers around its neck, as if it were wearing a black jade collar.
The parrot was flapping its emerald green wings, using its beak and claws to pull at the silver chain in its cage, its red beak opening and closing: "Let me go, let me go!"
Chu Yueyuan suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity with the scene, and a feeling of unease swept through her heart. But before she could figure it out, she heard the woman beside her say calmly:
"My sister is truly lucky, unlike me..."
Xie Nianzhi gazed into the woman's clear, untroubled eyes and smiled faintly:
"Does my sister know what it feels like to consummate your marriage with someone you despise? He smells awful, his breath is foul, and even though I tried my best to endure it, I couldn't help but vomit on my wedding dress the moment he touched me..."
She lowered her gaze to her magnificent wedding dress, a smile still playing on her lips, but her eyes gradually turned cold.
"But he didn't stop. In that filthy mess, he took me again and again... From then on, I could always smell that disgusting odor on myself, as if it had seeped into my body and could never be removed..."
"So, my sister is truly blessed, unlike me... no one rescued me from the mud that night..."
Hearing Xie Nianzhi mention this past event, Chu Yueyuan was deeply shocked. She couldn't help but wonder what she would have become if Pei Muwei hadn't been able to save her that night.
Just thinking about it sent a chill down her spine.
Chu Yueyuan leaned forward and gently covered the other's cold hand, her tone earnest: "Princess, now that you have escaped the quagmire, you should cherish the days to come. The Great Khan's wedding procession has not yet entered the gates, you still have a chance to back out. Do you... really want to leave your loving brother and sister-in-law, and leave this home?"
Xie Nianzhi stared at the woman's sincere and radiant face, a strange smile suddenly blooming on his own.
"My sister is wrong about two things. First, I am very satisfied with this marriage, after all, Erhe and I share the same goals. Second, those who walk out of the mire can never truly wash away the filth; only by dragging those perfect and lucky people into the mire can one avoid wasting their own filth..."
Chu Yueyuan's hand trembled, and she released the woman's cold hand.
The parrot in the golden cage seemed to sense the change in the atmosphere inside the room and began to hop around restlessly in the cage, repeating its sharp and piercing cries: "Let me go, let me go, help!"
Parrots can't speak; they can only repeat human speech.
In an instant, Chu Yueyuan understood everything. The color drained from her face, and at the same time, a chill ran down her spine.
"The person who framed Lin Yuzhen... is you..."
"It's me."
Xie Nianzhi picked up the cup the woman had just drunk from, his fingers slowly tracing the rouge stains remaining on the rim. His voice was icy: "It's a pity that Lord Shen went back on his word at the last minute, actually daring to try and bring you and him together. He's truly utterly foolish..."
She smiled slightly, her red lips curving upwards: "Fortunately, Erhe did not let my hard work go to waste."
Chu Yueyuan suddenly felt her tongue go numb. She wanted to shout, but no sound came out of her throat. She vaguely heard the voice of the Princess Consort outside the window. She then used all her strength to support herself on the table and stood up. She felt dizzy and fell down uncontrollably.
Xie Nianzhi raised her hand and brushed aside the gold tassels. Her gaze was fixed on the unconscious woman on the ground. The exquisitely painted mask seemed to suddenly come alive, a cruel smile appearing on its lips:
"Your Highness, I have said that I will repay all the kindness I have ever owed you..."
She had addressed her countless times as the High and Noble Empress Dowager, but at this moment, the Empress Dowager was the one who would determine her future destiny.
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