Colorful curtains with flying phoenixes, pearls and jade gleaming brilliantly—on the jade-smooth floor of Changle Palace, a person knelt trembling. The gray prisoner’s clothes had been soaked through with blood, the body so emaciated that bones protruded sharply. In just a few short days, she had been tortured almost beyond human recognition.
Nanny Yu was suddenly brought from the grim imperial prison to this warm pavilion of fragrant softness, leaving her momentarily dazed. But when she clearly saw that noble figure behind the curtain, her eyes immediately shot forth rays of desperate hope—the final struggle of someone who knew death was certain yet still grasped for life.
She knocked her head against the jade floor with resounding “bangs,” completely ignoring that the wound on her forehead was already bleeding, crying out loudly: “Long live the Empress Dowager! Please save this servant’s life!”
The person behind the curtain let out a disgusted cold snort. Ruby-encrusted nail guards scraped lightly across the velvet cushion as red lips parted slightly: “Having made such a mess of things, you still have the nerve to see me.”
Nanny Yu’s heart turned cold, but she continued kowtowing and wailing: “This servant is wronged! This servant did everything according to Your Majesty’s instructions—encouraging Hua Qingyue to replace Princess Ruizhen, controlling her every move in the marquis residence. All these years, this servant dared not be careless about anything. It’s just that this servant never expected things to be exposed so quickly. But rest assured, now that Hua Qingyue is dead, she never knew until death that I was Your Majesty’s person. In the Ministry of Justice prison, I haven’t uttered a single word. Please, Empress Dowager, considering this servant’s loyal devotion all these years, spare my life!”
As she spoke, she prostrated herself on the ground sobbing. The smooth jade reflected her face twisted with fear. The Empress Dowager merely laughed mockingly: “You think rather too highly of yourself. Do you really think I’d fear you revealing anything? Not to mention who would believe such absurd claims—don’t forget, the lives of your entire clan are in my hands.”
She slowly rose and parted the curtain to emerge. After taking just a few steps toward where Nanny Yu knelt, she noticed the blood on the ground was about to stain her skirt hem. She immediately frowned and stopped: “Enough, you needn’t protest your innocence. Now tell me clearly, detail by detail, exactly what they’ve discovered. Don’t miss a single word! Speak well, and perhaps I’ll consider sparing your life.”
Nanny Yu was stunned, then quickly recounted everything that had happened at the marquis residence these past days. When she finished describing how she had been tortured in the Ministry of Justice prison, the Empress Dowager glanced at her impatiently and interrupted: “Enough. You’re saying Xiao Du has already begun suspecting his origins?”
Nanny Yu nodded in confusion: “He seems to have discovered that Hua Qingyue wasn’t his birth mother, but he still hasn’t found out who that woman living in Jianghan Courtyard really was.”
The Empress Dowager curved her lips, toying with the jade bracelet on her wrist, suddenly drawling lazily: “Would you like to know who his birth mother really was?”
Nanny Yu’s heart jumped in alarm, quickly kowtowing and trembling: “This servant doesn’t want to know, doesn’t want to know.”
The Empress Dowager’s smile grew even broader, as if thinking of something that improved her mood. Rolling her eyes upward, she slowly said: “Actually, it doesn’t matter if I tell you. His birth mother was…”
Upon hearing this, Nanny Yu’s face showed an expression of terrified despair. Her entire body began shaking uncontrollably, teeth chattering “clack-clack-clack.” Before the words by her ear were even finished, a black shadow had fallen beside her. She didn’t even have time to make a sound before collapsing like a dead fish.
The Empress Dowager covered her nose with her fingers, looking with disgust at the bloody mess on the ground, sternly addressing the shadow: “Insolent! Who told you to act here? Quickly find someone to clean this up—you’ve truly defiled my palace!”
The guard was so frightened he immediately knelt, then swiftly carried out Nanny Yu’s corpse and called palace maids to clean the interior.
The Empress Dowager gracefully returned behind the curtain. When the commotion outside gradually subsided, she spoke to a screen embroidered with dragons and phoenixes: “You heard everything clearly, didn’t you? Xiao Du must already know his identity. Given the current situation, you can’t afford to be soft-hearted anymore.”
A sigh came from behind the screen, followed by a voice: “Mother wrongly accuses your son. How could I be soft-hearted? It’s just that north of Yunchang Commandery, several strong enemies still watch us like tigers. If the Xiao Family Army develops divided loyalties, Great Mu’s realm will be in grave danger. Without a foolproof strategy, I cannot move against him.”
The Empress Dowager laughed coldly: “Foolproof strategy? By the time you devise your foolproof strategy, your throne will probably have changed hands. You needn’t make more excuses—this Xiao Du must be eliminated! The sooner the better.”
The voice replied solemnly: “Yes, your son will certainly follow Mother’s teachings!” Then a bright yellow robe disappeared from behind the screen, and the Empress Dowager removed the nail guards from her hands, coldly thrusting them deep into the furnace ashes.
The palace intrigues were temporarily contained within the palace walls, and the marquis residence finally enjoyed a period of peaceful tranquility. After Xiao Zhixuan’s coming-of-age ceremony, her injuries had completely healed. She began clamoring to go out and play again daily, returning to being that fun-loving, cheerful girl.
But having experienced so much, she had gained a trace of resilience and insight beyond her peers—like a pearl born within an oyster shell, only after enduring countless painful grindings in darkness could its brilliance finally be seen.
Yuanxi observed all her changes and felt genuinely happy for her. Now, seeing her storm in angrily, slamming the door, she couldn’t help laughing: “What’s wrong? Who made you unhappy this time?”
Xiao Zhixuan pouted indignantly: “Don’t even mention it! I ran into a scoundrel today. Such a wide street, yet he insisted I was blocking his path. So many shops, yet he had to compete for what I was looking at. I think he was deliberately trying to annoy me—he completely ruined my shopping mood. If I ever encounter him again, I’ll definitely teach him a proper lesson!”
Yuanxi helplessly shook her head, wondering what kind of person had angered her so. She quickly had An’he bring tea and refreshments to calm her down. After chatting a bit more, Yuanxi felt somewhat tired and couldn’t help yawning.
Xiao Zhixuan’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she grinned: “Getting sleepy in the afternoon—Sister-in-law, are you pregnant?”
She had only meant to tease, but unexpectedly Yuanxi’s face reddened as she lowered her head and said softly: “This month’s monthly cycle is indeed several days late.”
Xiao Zhixuan’s mouth fell open in delighted surprise, clapping her hands happily: “Really? That’s wonderful! Does Big Brother know?”
Yuanxi smiled and made a shushing gesture, saying softly: “Don’t get excited yet, and don’t tell anyone else. I haven’t had a doctor examine me yet. My monthly cycle has always been irregular, so I want to wait a few more days before telling your brother, in case he gets his hopes up for nothing.”
Xiao Zhixuan nodded in agreement, but her heart was already imagining what her future little nephew or niece would look like, unable to keep from smiling with joy. Seeing the conversation reach this point, Yuanxi took out a half-finished small quilt from a cabinet: “This is something I’ve been secretly making for a while now, but there are several places I can’t get right. Your needlework is excellent—come help me look.”
Xiao Zhixuan took it and examined it carefully: “If you’re with child, you shouldn’t be doing this kind of work. Leave it to me—I guarantee I’ll make it beautiful.”
But Yuanxi shook her head: “I appreciate your kind intentions, but though my hands are clumsy, I still want to finish this quilt myself. I want my child to know that all of this was made especially for her by her mother.” Having lost her own mother young, she hoped her child could feel the deep maternal love conveyed through these stitches from the moment of birth.
Xiao Zhixuan tilted her head looking at her, suddenly feeling touched, inexplicably experiencing some hidden pain. She smiled and handed the quilt back: “It’s fine, I’ll teach you. Sister-in-law is so clever, you’ll surely learn quickly.”
Outside the window, flowing clouds gradually drifted by. In the study, Xiao Du stood silently facing the wall for a long time before finally reaching up to take down the silver bow, slowly caressing it in his hands.
About that person, he could remember very little. During his time as a palace study companion, the few occasions they met, he had only felt the man was both distant and cold. Now he realized it was probably silent endurance to avoid exposing his identity. The only clear memory was when he returned triumphant from campaign—that man had personally bestowed this silver bow upon him. Looking up, he could see the eagerness and expectation in those eyes. Only now did he understand the deeper meaning in that gaze, but it was all too late. He had never even called him father.
At this moment, the door was gently knocked. Yuanxi entered carrying a bowl of lotus seed soup, smiling: “The weather’s getting hotter. Have some lotus seed soup to cool down.”
Xiao Du looked up at her smiling face and felt much of the melancholy in his heart disperse. He scooped up a spoonful of lotus seed soup and put it in his mouth. Looking up, he noticed Yuanxi staring at him with bright eyes. His heart stirred, and he frowned: “This lotus seed soup is too bland.”
Yuanxi raised her eyebrows in surprise, walking to his side to stare at the bowl: “I watched them prepare it—it shouldn’t be bland.” She casually scooped up a spoonful and tasted it, then said: “It’s perfectly sweet.”
At this moment, Xiao Du suddenly pulled her into his arms, then using her hand, scooped another spoonful into his mouth, grinning broadly: “Now it’s sweet enough.”
Yuanxi knew he was deliberately teasing her and couldn’t help glaring at him fiercely. Just then, someone at the door announced that a letter had arrived from the Chancellor’s residence.
Yuanxi stood up in alarm. Ever since she had left the chancellor’s residence that time, Father had never contacted her again. Why would there suddenly be a letter now? She quickly unfolded the paper and saw Father’s handwriting hastily written: “Your Seventh Concubine is gravely ill. Return immediately.”