The next morning at dawn, Luoshen arrived at Jiankang.

It was still early, the morning light dim. Accompanied by a heavy creaking sound, the two tightly closed city gates slowly opened before her.

This unremarkable small blue felt carriage passed through the gates, traveling on the empty streets toward the imperial palace.

Her arrival, like her departure before, was silent and unnoticed, disturbing no irrelevant people—except for that group now standing on the imperial avenue leading to the palace’s main gate.

That group was naturally not irrelevant.

Before the fifth watch when the sky was still dark, they had successively come here, eagerly awaiting the arrival of that small carriage.

Among them was Liu Hui’s figure.

Times had changed. The change of dynasty was already a foregone conclusion. Even Gao Yin had tacitly accepted the Yingtian Army’s actions. This already tottering dynasty had thus lost its final support.

Though Feng Wei had returned last night without saying a word, his ashen expression conveyed everything.

The end had arrived.

With anxious and fearful hearts, they desperately wanted to declare their position—this was the perfect opportunity.

As daylight brightened, the expected carriage never appeared.

This group gradually lost patience, sending people to inquire constantly, only then learning that just before dawn, the carriage they awaited had changed route and entered Jiankang Palace through the Ximing Gate.

Luoshen walked along the palace path. The early-rising palace servants recognized her approaching figure in the morning light, showing surprised yet respectful gazes, then kneeling by the roadside to bow to her.

She came to Taichu Palace.

After the rebellion was quelled, Gao Yongrong had returned to the palace and still lived here.

After the young emperor’s sudden death and hasty burial, the court had recently held a proper funeral according to protocol. Though traces had vanished elsewhere, this palace alone seemed still immersed in enormous grief, unable to extricate itself. White banners remained unremoved, fluttering forlornly in the morning breeze.

The hall was dimly lit. Under the flickering candlelight, Luoshen saw Gao Yongrong supported by two palace maids on either side, sitting withered beside the spirit tablet, her back hunched like a clay statue.

A palace maid approached, bowed down, and quietly announced her arrival.

Gao Yongrong slowly turned her face. Her eyes were swollen, her complexion dark and haggard—she looked much older.

She stared fixedly at Luoshen. Slowly, tears welled up and spilled from her eyes.

“A’Mi—you finally came…”

She said tremblingly, struggling to rise from the prayer mat. Her body swayed and she collapsed forward onto the ground.

Luoshen hurried forward and, together with the palace maids, carried the unconscious Gao Yongrong to the rear hall and laid her down. Just as Luoshen was about to call for an imperial physician, Gao Yongrong’s eyelids fluttered. She awakened and reached out to grasp Luoshen’s arm.

Her palm was clammy with cold sweat, slippery where it touched.

“Sister knew that after such a great incident, you would surely return. You wouldn’t abandon this place…”

She murmured, tears streaming from her eyes again.

Luoshen took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, saying softly: “Sister, I heard you’ve been gravely ill and sleepless every night. Continuing like this, your body won’t be able to bear it.”

“I’m reciting penitential mantras for Deng’er… I dream of Deng’er every night… I truly hate myself—why wasn’t it me who died then…”

“…I’d rather it had been me… He was still so young, yet suffered such cruel treatment…”

She released Luoshen and covered her face with both hands, tears flowing through her fingers.

Luoshen fell silent.

Regarding Deng’er’s death, she had also heard the details. It was said that the Empress Dowager, unable to bear Rong Kang’s oppression, had conspired with several ministers intent on resistance to poison Rong Kang. Unexpectedly, not only did they fail, but Rong Kang retaliated. As revenge, Rong Kang killed the young emperor on the spot with extremely cruel methods.

“A’Mi, I was also helpless then…”

She wept, constantly choking with sobs.

“Rong Kang’s evil deeds were outrageous. All the ministers were cowardly and useless. I was determined to eliminate the treacherous villain, never expecting things to go wrong…”

“That evil thief forced poisoned wine down Deng’er’s throat. I pleaded desperately for him to spare Deng’er, willing to give my life instead. But the villain wouldn’t listen. To revenge himself on me, he killed my Deng’er right before my eyes…”

She wailed again in grief. Overcome with sorrow, unable to catch her breath, she collapsed back onto the pillow.

A cool breeze silently emerged from some deep corner of the hall, stirring the candle flames and casting dancing shadows throughout.

Luoshen urged her to moderate her grief.

She wept bitterly for a long time before her mournful cries finally subsided. She slowly reached out again to grasp Luoshen’s hand.

With red, swollen eyes, she raised her gaze to Luoshen’s face and said hoarsely: “A’Mi, now I know who is loyal and who is treacherous. Sister deeply regrets this. I shouldn’t have listened to Liu Hui and those people’s slander, becoming suspicious of brother-in-law, forcing him away and causing you to be compelled to leave Jiankang, unable to return home. It’s all sister’s fault…”

She choked up again, gazing at Luoshen.

“A’Mi, sister admits her wrong to you. Can you forgive sister?”

Luoshen met her gaze. After a moment, she smiled slightly and slowly nodded.

Gao Yongrong showed relief, smiling through her tears.

“I knew that family is still family. That you can understand sister makes me truly happy. A’Mi, rest assured—sister will never listen to outsiders’ words again. From now on, brother-in-law remains our Dayu’s chief minister, the pillar of the state. Court affairs must rely heavily on brother-in-law…”

Luoshen remained silent, quietly watching her speak endlessly.

Gao Yongrong stopped, glanced at Luoshen, as if remembering something. She turned her head toward the unseen direction of the mourning hall, her eyes reddening again.

She wiped the tears from her eyes, composed herself, as if finally reaching a decision, then turned back: “A’Mi, after this calamity, sister has lost heart for court affairs. If I could withdraw and spend my remaining years in quiet retirement, that would be the greatest fortune. But with people’s hearts unsettled now, sister cannot escape this position. Recently, ministers have repeatedly memorialized that the nation cannot be without a ruler for a day, urging sister to choose worthily from the imperial clan to adopt as heir. Sister has thought it over—for the realm’s sake, this is the only way. Prince Guang’an has a son of suitable age, exceptionally intelligent. Sister intends to adopt him. What do you think?”

Luoshen’s gaze lifted from the half-hand visible beyond her sleeve cuff—unconsciously clenched tight with pale knuckles—to focus on her face, then nodded.

“If sister has a suitable person to adopt as son, that would naturally be good.”

A flash of relief passed through Gao Yongrong’s eyes. She immediately grasped Luoshen’s hand tightly: “With this word from you, little sister, what cannot be accomplished? Sister is reassured. Sister will immediately summon the ministers to proclaim the imperial edict, quickly announcing to the world that our Dayu will soon have a new emperor ascend the throne to pacify the hearts of all people under heaven.”

Having spoken, she turned and loudly called for someone to enter. After calling several times with no response, she frowned and was about to raise her voice when she heard Luoshen say: “Sister, you didn’t understand my meaning. Just now I meant that since sister has painfully lost her beloved son and grieves deeply, if she could gain an adopted son to replace Deng’er in bringing joy to her remaining years, that would indeed be good. As for other matters…”

She slowly rose from the edge of the bed.

“As for other matters, sister yourself just said you have no heart for court affairs, so in the future you needn’t trouble yourself—just rest and recover peacefully. Sister needn’t worry about court affairs anymore.”

Gao Yongrong paused slightly, slowly raising her head to look at Luoshen’s face.

“A’Mi, what do you mean by this?”

She murmured, her eyelids twitching slightly, a forced smile on her face.

“I mean that in future court affairs, sister needn’t interfere.”

“And moreover, I’m afraid sister won’t be allowed to interfere anymore.”

Luoshen looked at her, speaking word by word.

The smile on Gao Yongrong’s face seemed suddenly frozen.

She stared at Luoshen, her lips gradually trembling as she said shakily: “What did you say? Say it again! How dare you speak to me thus? I am the reigning Empress Dowager!”

“Sister, we’ve been sisters for over twenty years. You wanted to see me, so I came from Chang’an to see you. I understand your meaning. But it’s too late. At this point today, leaving aside family matters, with the state having changed to this degree, ask yourself—is what you’re thinking still possible?”

“I advise sister: rather than clinging to yesterday, better to calm your heart. Li Mu isn’t one to exterminate completely, especially given that we’re sisters. As long as you’re willing, I can guarantee that hereafter your title, status, and stipend will be no less than before.”

Gao Yongrong held her head stiffly upright, staring fixedly at Luoshen, her face growing ever paler.

Suddenly, she let out an angry shriek. Like a great bird spreading its wings, she lunged at Luoshen. Losing her balance as she leaned forward, she tumbled from the bed edge and fell to the ground.

She raised her head—no longer showing the tender affection from before. Eyes wide with rage, she pointed at Luoshen and shouted: “Where is your conscience? When you were young and stung by poisonous bees, if I hadn’t risked myself to save you, you would have died long ago! Is today’s treatment your repayment to me?”

Luoshen looked at her sitting on the ground in uncontrollable rage—a sight never seen before, completely strange.

She suppressed a wave of melancholy rising in her heart, said nothing, and turned to leave.

“Stop right there! You little wretch!”

“Sister!”

Gao Huan, who had accompanied Luoshen and waited outside the hall, heard the commotion and rushed in, immediately protecting Luoshen behind him while eyeing Gao Yongrong warily.

Gao Yongrong glared furiously at the suddenly intruding Gao Huan.

“Sixth Brother, she is your sister, but am I not also? I am the reigning Empress Dowager! Whatever she can give you, I’ll give you double! Come here!”

Gao Huan remained silent and motionless.

Gao Yongrong laughed coldly: “Another ungrateful wretch! All learned from following her, eh?”

Her gaze turned to Luoshen, staring at her.

What kind of look was that—filled with resentment and unwillingness.

“A’Mi, my dear little sister, I saved your life, protected you everywhere. Even when you betrayed me that day, I only detained you, unable to bear harming you. Now you’re ungrateful, treating me thus! For the sake of a man, you betrayed your surname and family, betrayed Dayu, and caused Deng’er’s death—”

“…Deng’er! My poor Deng’er…”

She suddenly became agitated, lunging at Luoshen with both arms extended, trying to grab her throat.

“Yes, my Deng’er! He was also killed by your conspiracy! If not for Li Mu bringing disaster, how would our Dayu suffer such calamity! How would he die so miserably!”

“Empress Dowager, conduct yourself with dignity!”

Gao Huan shielded Luoshen behind him.

Gao Yongrong lunged at empty air. Unable to stop her momentum, she fell to the ground, her forehead striking a pillar corner.

A streak of dark red blood slowly flowed down from her temple.

Her hair disheveled, blood streaming down her face, she lay on the ground gasping heavily. Though in wretched condition, she still fixed Luoshen with a vicious stare.

Luoshen slowly moved aside her brother’s protective arm and gazed down at Gao Yongrong on the ground.

“Sister, I know you hate me. Whether you admit it or not, both my father in the past and Li Mu gave you chances. Your virtue didn’t match your position—you failed the realm.”

“You keep saying you wanted to preserve Dayu. But Dayu was merely a fig leaf. What you can’t let go of is your own power and status!”

“Rong Kang’s disaster certainly included the accumulated weakness of previous dynasties, but as regent Empress Dowager, you had no tolerance for others. Blinded by greed, you were deceived and invited the wolf into the house. Precisely because of your high position and great power, the harm wasn’t limited to one family or clan, but to all the people and households under heaven!”

“Sister, you say that when Rong Kang poisoned Deng’er, you fought to die in his place. But how is it I heard that to preserve your own life, you let Deng’er be force-fed poison to death!”

She shook her head.

“Cherishing life is no crime. What’s laughable is that to gain my sympathy, you put on a pitiful act before me using poor Deng’er who died unjustly. As a mother, as mother of the nation, you’re unworthy of both! Even today, I truly don’t know where you get the audacity to still harbor ideas of adopting imperial clan children to the throne while continuing to govern behind the scenes?”

“Never mind that I can’t decide this realm’s fate—even if I could, even if you had saved me ten more times, I would never again entrust the nation’s destiny to someone like you!”

When Gao Yongrong heard her mention her son, she seemed pricked by a needle, her face suddenly turning deathly pale.

“You’re talking nonsense… shut up… get out…”

Though she clearly appeared weakened, her voice was piercingly sharp, ringing in Luoshen’s ears and making her eardrums ache slightly.

Looking at this person she had called sister for over twenty years, she said no more and turned to leave.

“A’Mi—A’Mi—sister was wrong! Don’t blame sister. I beg you, for the sake of sister having saved you, tell Li Mu not to kill me in the future—”

As she reached the hall entrance, she heard Gao Yongrong’s pleading voice behind her.

She felt a tightness in her chest, paused briefly without looking back, walked straight out, and stepped through the hall doors. Breathing the fresh air outside, she finally felt somewhat better.

“Madam, how are you? Are you unwell somewhere—”

The maid Qiongshu had been waiting outside. Seeing her finally emerge, she approached and, noticing her somewhat pale complexion, asked worriedly in a low voice.

“I’m fine. Let’s leave the palace now—”

Luoshen smiled at her and took a few steps before feeling dizzy again. Her body swayed slightly before Qiongshu caught her, frantically calling for help.

She steadied herself. When the dizzy spell passed, she suddenly thought of something. Having hoped for so long, she momentarily dared not believe it. Her heart pounded violently as her eyes shone with an unusual light.

“Sister, don’t be angry—be careful not to anger yourself ill. We shouldn’t have come here at all. I think she’s gone mad—”

Gao Huan looked worried, constantly comforting her.

“Take me to Bailu Zhou. I want to stay there and wait for your brother-in-law. Also, please call an imperial physician to check my pulse.”

Luoshen collected herself, forcefully suppressing her rapid heartbeat, and said with a smile.