Chapter 43 Struggle
Inside the Shou'an Palace, the Empress Dowager was already waiting in the hall. She lit three incense sticks in front of the Buddha shrine and prayed devoutly.
She heard Liu Xi's footsteps and said calmly.
"The princess has finally gotten what she wanted."
Liu Xi knelt down, lifting her skirt, "I beg Your Majesty to forgive my unscrupulous crimes."
"If the princess shows mercy at the last moment and repays evil with kindness, then I will truly punish you."
The Empress Dowager turned around and walked slowly toward Liu Xi.
"I value you because I admire your decisiveness. If you had been born a man, the position of crown prince would surely have been yours."
She helped Liu Xi up with both hands, her eyes filled with appreciation and satisfaction as she looked at her.
"Xi'er, are you really going to the Northern Sect for a marriage alliance?"
Liu Xi suddenly broke free and knelt on the ground again, pressing her head to the ground and refusing to get up for a long time.
“Grandmother, your grandson is unfilial and unable to serve you properly. I have come here today to beg for your forgiveness.”
"Good child, what are you doing? Get up quickly."
"No, please let your grandson finish speaking, Grandmother."
Liu Xi pursed her lips nervously, then revealed her entire plan in one go.
"My grandson wishes to die as Princess Liu Xi, the fourth princess of the Heavenly Dynasty, change his name and surname, and live in seclusion, so that he will never have any connection with the Heavenly Family again!"
"What?"
The Empress Dowager exclaimed in surprise, her outstretched hands pausing in mid-air. "Xi'er, are you serious?"
"Grandmother, your unfilial grandson knows that this is not only a crime of deceiving the emperor, but also has the potential to ruin the peace between the Celestial Empire and the Northern Three Kingdoms for many years to come. However, your grandson truly does not wish to marry into the Northern faction, to marry someone he does not like at all, or even someone he does not know."
"I am not as resilient as Princess Ning'an, nor do I have the courage to sacrifice everything. I can only run away, but the whole world belongs to Father Emperor. Only by dying can I completely break free from the control of the imperial family."
Princess Ning'an is a pain that the Empress Dowager can never forget. To be honest, she liked Liu Xi from the bottom of her heart. When she heard that she was going to follow in Ning'an's footsteps, she was more heartbroken than anyone else.
Therefore, she disregarded all consequences and allowed Liu Xi to carry out her revenge plan, watching helplessly as the He and Song families fell.
The Empress Dowager was deeply moved that Liu Xi was willing to die rather than marry into the Northern faction.
"Good child, get up quickly."
The Empress Dowager choked up, and a single, crystal-clear tear fell from her eye.
"What does Xi'er want me to help you with?"
"Grandmother, you...you've agreed?"
The Empress Dowager sighed softly, "I have already lost one daughter. If I have to lose another beloved granddaughter, I would rather you leave in the way you prefer."
Liu Xi rushed forward and hugged the Empress Dowager tightly. "Grandmother, since my mother passed away, you are the only family member in this world who loves me."
"If there is an afterlife, your grandson will stay by your side no matter what, and dedicate his life to repaying your kindness."
"Silly girl, you really are a silly girl."
Fake death is not actually difficult, but as a princess who is about to be married off, Liu Xi's death will inevitably lead to the deaths of many innocent people as an explanation from the Celestial Empire to the Northern Faction.
The Empress Dowager simply told Liu Xi to relax, that everything would be handled by her, and that she would bear all the consequences.
Liu Xi returned to Yi Huai Pavilion, her heart filled with mixed emotions. There was joy at the prospect of escaping the palace, but also confusion about the unknown future.
She was so engrossed in thinking that she didn't notice that the Yi Huai Pavilion was now completely empty.
Liu Xi had just stepped into the palace gate when she was immediately knocked unconscious by a palm strike, without even seeing who the attacker was.
When she finally awoke in agony, Liu Xi was already locked in an unfamiliar bedroom.
She was dressed in a bright red wedding gown, her hands and feet were bound with hemp rope, and even her mouth was stuffed with a wad of cloth.
The door creaked open, and Liu Yu, also dressed in his wedding attire, stepped into the room. He sat down next to Liu Xi and reached out to affectionately stroke her cheek.
"Sister, wait a little longer. If we just wait a little longer, those people who are trying to stop us from being together will all be gone."
Liu Xi struggled in vain, trying to speak but her mouth was tightly blocked, and she could only let out helpless sobs.
"Does my elder sister know what happened in the palace while you were asleep?"
"Huo Lin thought that you had mentioned being sent to the Northern Faction by the Emperor, so he secretly sent troops to fight on the border of the Northern Faction."
“Father is furious right now. Even if Huo Lin comes back alive, Father will certainly not forgive him.”
Liu Xi whimpered angrily, her eyes bloodshot.
Liu Yu tenderly stroked her eyes with her thumb, "Sister, don't be sad. When we ascend to the throne, I will definitely find a capable minister like Huo Lin to serve you."
"I'd be happy if he were willing to die for you."
After saying that, Liu Yu suddenly burst into laughter, shook his head and stood up, turning his back to Liu Xi.
"Sister, please wait patiently for me to return. I have said that no one can take you away from me, not even Father."
Liu Xi watched helplessly as Liu Yu left the room, the door closed again, and an eerie silence fell over the room.
She lay in bed, tears streaming down her face. She had thought that she would be able to improve herself in this second life, but she never expected to be betrayed by the people around her in the end.
What saddened her even more was that she would have to die with Huo Lin in this lifetime.
Is this her destined fate?
Is she just going to accept her fate like this?
No, absolutely not!
Liu Xi closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, only unwavering determination remained.
She struggled to twist her body, scraping her wrists and ankles with the rope, but she still moved forward with all her might.
With a thud, she fell off the bed onto the floor.
She braced her head against the corner of the table and kept banging it against it. On the table sat a pair of brightly burning dragon and phoenix wedding candles, which swayed precariously as the table shook.
Liu Xi's forehead was bruised, and bright red blood ran down her cheek, but she felt no pain at all. She gritted her teeth and mustered all her strength, suddenly moving the corner of the table away. The wedding candles on the table rolled to the ground with a thud.
The flames licked at the tablecloth, and Liu Xi immediately tore the tablecloth off with her teeth, directing the fire to the bedside. In an instant, the room was engulfed in flames.
Despite the fear of death and the pain of the flames burning her skin, Liu Xi forced herself to burn through the ropes binding her hands and feet, breaking free of her restraints.
The palace servants outside screamed and shouted that the fire was burning, and people came one after another with buckets of water to put out the fire.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Liu Xi burst through the back door and ran quickly toward the Empress Dowager's Shou'an Palace.
Aunt Wen was surprised to see Liu Xi burst into the palace. Without asking where the princess had gone during the days she was missing, she hurriedly woke up the Empress Dowager.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
