Madam Wen breathed a sigh of relief and, as if fearing Empress Wen might change her mind, quickly said: “Your Majesty, this subject overstepped. This subject deeply feels that His Majesty speaks truly. With the protection of the golden-armored divine being, His Majesty’s brilliant wisdom and martial prowess, and the diligent guardianship of our Great Zhou’s civil and military officials, Great Zhou is now prosperous and flourishing. The Northern and Western kingdoms are no longer a concern!”

Other ladies also said: “Yes, Your Majesty the Empress, you should emerge to preside over the rear palace affairs.”

“Your Majesty the Empress, with the realm at peace, Your Majesty should also come out to meet and chat with us subjects.”

…

The ladies spoke animatedly. Empress Wen kept smiling throughout. Suddenly, she looked toward Princess Jin’s wife and asked: “Sister-in-law, I remember when we used to drink wine and make merry together, we promised to hold lotus banquets together every year. Later, you and Sister Liu and the others continued to gather intermittently by the lotus pond with laughter and joy, while I could only yearn from the deep palace. How quickly time passes – Sister Liu and the others have long since turned to dust. Only we two remain, barely living in this world.”

Princess Jin’s wife’s expression suddenly became agitated, with tears glimmering in her eyes: “Xiaoqing, it really is…” She stopped here, not saying the “you” that should have followed.

Quickly, Princess Jin’s wife continued: “…really so fast! Sister Liu has been gone for many years, alas! And I too am growing old! Only you, Xiaoqing, still vaguely resemble your appearance from those years. Back then, I said that you, Xiaoqing, had the best fate. Now, doesn’t it fulfill what I said then?”

Empress Wen nodded: “Sister-in-law, you are still the best. With children and grandchildren around your knees, enjoying your twilight years in peace – who could be as broad-minded and optimistic as sister-in-law? When I was sad in the deep palace, I would think of sister-in-law’s perseverance and strength. Sister-in-law could always give me much enlightenment.”

Prince Jin died early, and Princess Jin’s wife served as both father and mother, raising two sons and two daughters who all became accomplished – which was extremely difficult.

Princess Jin’s wife quickly waved her hand: “Xiaoqing, you’re being modest. If not for your strong character, you couldn’t have persisted all these years.”

During their casual conversation, the noble ladies had no more doubts that Empress Wen was indeed Wen Xiaoqing.

After a while, Emperor Delong exchanged a few pleasantries and left.

Once Emperor Delong left, Empress Wen smiled even more brightly, and the ladies became even livelier, eating delicious delicacies, appreciating graceful dances, and exchanging amazed looks – quite a lively scene.

Though Qin Shuying and Luo Meixiang were both fourth-rank noble ladies, they could participate in the banquet because Liang Zhe was the heir and Liang Yunshan was a great general. However, they sat in remote locations and naturally had no opportunity to speak.

Luo Meixiang had recovered her usual noble demeanor. Liang Qiong had come home several times recently, continuously talking about the sordid affairs between Prince Huo Luo and that wet nurse while constantly encouraging Luo Meixiang to seize power.

Liang Qiong was right – though she held a fourth-rank title, she was still the great general’s wife. Among all the civil and military officials in Great Zhou, how many great generals’ wives were there?

Therefore, Luo Meixiang smiled as she chatted with the ladies, constantly promoting her two sons. Unfortunately, while many ladies praised Liang Yuan and Liang Jie, not one agreed to discuss marriage arrangements with Luo Meixiang.

Empress Wen sat for a while, chatted with Princess Jin’s wife and several other older, more senior ladies, then rose and left.

Thus, Consort De once again became the leader here. However, her face had stiffened to the point of numbness.

After working so hard for so many years, she had ultimately just been treated as a chess piece. The stale breath in Consort De’s chest felt ready to explode her stomach.

Barely enduring until the banquet ended, Consort De supported herself on a palace maid’s hand, quickly walked outside the hall, got into her sedan chair, and closed her eyes.

She couldn’t wait any longer!

Time was of the essence – it was now or never!

Returning to Delin Palace, Consort De immediately sent someone to summon Fifth Prince to the palace. However, the person she sent had just reached the palace gate when Princess Fuping intercepted them.

“Mother, are you sending someone to call Imperial Brother to the palace?”

Consort De was extremely irritated, her eyebrows furrowing: “Why are you here again?”

Princess Fuping had her own palace and hadn’t been seen coming to Consort De’s place daily before, yet recently she had been here almost every day. Those who didn’t know might think she had deep mother-daughter affection with Consort De, but Consort De knew that Princess Fuping was monitoring her.

Princess Fuping ignored Consort De’s rage: “Mother, you can’t summon Imperial Brother to the palace. The banquet just ended, and if you immediately have someone call Imperial Brother to the palace, people will inevitably think too much.”

Seeing the mother and daughter speaking about such sensitive matters, the palace servants immediately scattered completely.

With no one present, Consort De’s fury immediately erupted: “Whose daughter are you really? Who promised you what benefits that you keep helping others everywhere? Fuping, my patience is limited. If you continue being so foolishly selfish, I won’t recognize you as my daughter anymore!”

Princess Fuping’s expression went blank.

Won’t recognize you as my daughter anymore…

Many, many years ago, Consort De had once said these same words to her. In that previous life, things were completely different from this life.

In that life, Empress Wen had never appeared until now.

Consort De was determined to conquer the realm, and Imperial Brother had more resources than now. In that life at this time, Sixth Prince and Seventh Prince were already at a disadvantage, while Fifth Prince was full of confidence, pointing at rivers and mountains with flying spirits.

In that life, she had been extremely proud and had a very good relationship with Liang Qiong. Liang Qiong had married Fifth Imperial Brother, and they as aunt and sister-in-law had always helped Fifth Imperial Brother from behind.

But the following year, when she was fifteen, Consort De betrothed her to someone she never wanted to mention again in this lifetime – Chen Zhiyan.

At the time, Fuping couldn’t believe Mother would do such a thing. Mother should have known she already had someone in her heart – how could she still betroth her to another person?

But Mother and Fifth Imperial Brother both earnestly persuaded her, using various benefits to convince her that she couldn’t be willful but must marry Chen Zhiyan.

Princess Fuping brushed past power struggles every day, so naturally she knew why Mother and Fifth Imperial Brother acted this way. Because Chen Zhiyan was Elder Chen’s legitimate eldest grandson! Winning over Elder Chen would obviously benefit Fifth Imperial Brother’s ascension to the throne.

But she didn’t like Chen Zhiyan, such an ordinary-looking, unremarkable man!

She was a noble princess, her mother was Consort De, Imperial Brother was shrewd and capable – didn’t she even have the right to choose her own husband?

But Consort De told her that the other man had already been betrothed to someone else as well.

Princess Fuping was thunderstruck and immediately cried and made a scene, even clamoring to leave the palace to find her beloved.

But how could Consort De let her go?

At that time, Consort De had said exactly this – if she continued making trouble, she wouldn’t recognize her as a daughter anymore.

In this life, she heard these words again.

In both past and present lives, Mother had been deeply obsessed with power, never considering her daughter’s feelings.

Princess Fuping’s eyes instantly moistened, and the piercing pain and sorrow from those hundreds of days and nights surged up again.

Could she still not escape fate?