“Yes, your son does not know, just as your son does not know how you can disregard the life and death of countless people for the sake of an inexplicable oath. Mother Empress, you have always taught your son to harbor kind thoughts, but why is it that when you clearly have the ability to save people, you refuse to do so? When you could clearly assist Father Emperor in becoming a wise ruler, you refuse to do so? If you do not perform great acts of kindness, what use are countless small acts of kindness? Or is it that from the very beginning, all those words Mother Empress taught your son were false?”

A barely audible sigh came from ahead, followed by Xiao Shi’s voice once again reaching her ears, “No matter what you say, this palace will not break the oath. You may go back.”

Yunyi stubbornly said, “Your son has also said that unless Mother Empress agrees, your son will absolutely not rise!”

“As you wish.” After saying this, Xiao Shi left with Hong Li’s support, while Yunyi remained true to her word, kneeling on the cold golden bricks without rising.

Jixiang glanced at the westward slanting sun outside the window and whispered, “Princess, you have been kneeling for a very long time. Why don’t you rise first and come again tomorrow to petition the Empress?”

“Unless Mother Empress agrees, I will not rise.” Having said this, Yunyi continued, “If you are tired, you may return to Changsheng Palace first. You need not accompany me in kneeling here.”

Jixiang shook her head, “This servant is fine. This servant is only worried about the Princess.” After a pause, she said, “This servant has just learned that Young Master Li actually has shown you kindness.”

Yunyi nodded, “He has helped me greatly and once saved my life. This debt of gratitude, I must repay him.”

Ruyi did not ask further, only saying, “The Princess’s benefactor is also our benefactor. This debt of gratitude, we servants will help you repay together.”

Jixiang echoed, “That’s right. If the Empress refuses for one day, we shall kneel here for one day. If she refuses for two days, we shall kneel for two days. We believe we can surely make the Empress change her mind.”

Ruyi nodded, frowning as she said, “Speaking of which, it’s also strange. The Empress has always doted on the Princess, so why is it that once matters of the previous dynasty are involved, her attitude becomes so resolute? And why did the Empress make such a strange oath?”

“I also don’t know, but Li Shimin…” Yunyi’s gaze was determined as she said, “I must save him!”

Although it was already the warm spring of the third month, the night wind still carried a chill when it brushed against one’s body. Xiao Shi stood quietly in the palace courtyard, the night wind lifting her wide skirts like butterflies dancing in the night sky.

Hong Li walked to her side and said softly, “Your Majesty, it’s cold outside. Let’s go in.”

Xiao Shi gazed at the plum tree in the night, asking, “Has she risen?”

Hong Li knew whom Xiao Shi was asking about and shook her head, “Not yet. It seems the Princess is very serious this time.”

Xiao Shi turned her head, “Hong Li, is this palace being too heartless?”

“The Princess doesn’t know the suffering in Your Majesty’s heart, which is why she accused Your Majesty so. Your Majesty, please don’t take it to heart.”

Xiao Shi sighed, “This palace does not blame Yunyi. I just feel that fate toys with people. ‘Love brings separation, seeking brings disappointment’ – the things this palace experienced in the past are now repeating themselves with Yunyi. Yet this child, knowing there will be no result, still wishes to save Li Shimin regardless of everything. If this palace said she must trade her life for his, she would agree without hesitation.”

“The Princess is like you, both are people who value emotions deeply.” Faced with Hong Li’s words, Xiao Shi said bitterly, “The deeper the emotion, the deeper the hurt, even deep enough to never heal for a lifetime.”

“Hopefully the Princess will retreat when faced with difficulty.” With these words, the surroundings fell silent once again. Xiao Shi remained sleepless all night, and when Hong Li entered the next morning, her first words were to ask whether Yunyi had already left.

Hong Li set down the copper basin and helped Xiao Shi rise, saying, “No, the Princess is still kneeling there. This servant went to persuade the Princess, but she still refuses to give up. She also refuses to eat what this servant brought.”

Xiao Shi sat before the copper mirror and said in a low voice, “Does she really intend to keep kneeling?”

“It appears so.” Hong Li combed Xiao Shi’s long hair while saying, “This servant worries that if she continues kneeling like this, the Princess’s body won’t be able to bear it. Your Majesty, why don’t you… help the Princess this once?”

Xiao Shi looked at herself in the mirror without speaking. After washing and dressing, she rose and came to the side hall, where Yunyi and the two others were indeed still kneeling in the hall. A night of kneeling had made her face appear much more haggard.

Xiao Shi gazed at her silently for a long time before saying, “How much longer do you intend to kneel?”

Yunyi did not raise her head, only saying hoarsely, “Until Mother Empress agrees.”

“For the sake of one Li Shimin, you would force Mother Empress like this?” Faced with Xiao Shi’s words, Yunyi raised her head, looking with bloodshot eyes as she said, “Please forgive your son, but this debt of gratitude, your son must repay!”

Xiao Shi suppressed the heartache within her and said through gritted teeth, “Fine, then continue kneeling!” Having thrown down these words, she swept her sleeves and walked out. Upon reaching the doorway, she heard the exclamations of Ruyi and the other behind her. Looking back, she saw Yunyi had fainted to the ground. She hurried over to support Yunyi, urgently saying, “Quickly go fetch the imperial physician.”

Hong Li responded and hurriedly went to fetch the imperial physician. After examining Yunyi, he said there was nothing seriously wrong, only that she was somewhat weak and anemic. He prescribed some qi-replenishing and blood-nourishing medicine before leaving.

Xiao Shi sat on the bed’s edge, repeatedly stroking Yunyi’s pale cheek, lost in thought. Ruyi, standing to the side, endured the pain in her knees and knelt down again, “I beg the Empress to show mercy and agree to the Princess’s request.”

Jixiang also quickly knelt down, saying, “We servants understand the Princess’s nature. If you do not permit it, when the Princess awakens, she will surely kneel again. We beg Your Majesty to make an exception for the Princess this once.”

Xiao Shi said nothing, only taking the medicine the palace servants had prepared and carefully feeding it to the still-sleeping Yunyi. After setting down the empty medicine bowl, she rose and said, “You two take good care of the Princess here.”

Seeing that Xiao Shi was about to leave, Ruyi and the other pleaded again, but still heard no word of agreement from Xiao Shi, and could only watch helplessly as she departed.

After stepping out of the inner hall, Xiao Shi paused and said to Hong Li, “Go and ask Princess Yongfeng to enter the palace.”

Hong Li was startled, then immediately understood Xiao Shi’s meaning and asked in surprise, “Your Majesty, you intend to save Duke Tang and the others?”

“Does this palace have any other choice?” Xiao Shi smiled bitterly, “If Li Shimin truly dies, I’m afraid Yunyi will hate this palace for a lifetime. That girl truly leaves me with no alternatives.” Speaking thus, she waved her hand, “Go quickly.”

Hong Li responded with a complex expression. She knew better than anyone how difficult this decision was for Xiao Shi, and that only the Princess could persuade her mistress.

With spirit like autumn water and skin like ice and jade, like Yunyi, Princess Yongfeng Yang Ying was also a rare beauty. However, at this moment, this beauty’s brows were shadowed with light sorrow.

After the courtesies were complete and she was seated, Yang Ying said, “I wonder what instructions the Empress has for summoning me here?”