As she left, Cang Yue expressed her concern, “I’m very worried about my lady.”
Xu Qiu’er awoke near noon, feeling inexplicably good. She chose a pink dress and asked Ning’er, “Go invite the Imperial Consort Ye.” Then she turned to Cang Yue, asking, “Do you believe I will take Xu Qing’er’s life today?” Cang Yue and Guan Yue exchanged glances.
Cang Yue replied, “This servant thinks my lady would not want Concubine Xu to die so quickly.”
“Hehe…” Her gaze was clear, her expression calm. “Cang Yue truly understands me. Indeed, I want to torture her slowly, starting with her son. How about that?”
Cang Yue was shocked by Xu Qiu’er’s laughter.
Guan Yue was not an ordinary woman; her strength exceeded that of average women. She beat Xu Qing’er until she was dizzy. After regaining consciousness, Xu Qing’er shouted, “Xu Qiu’er, just wait until the prince returns, I will definitely tell him about you and Hao Li…” Her expression changed as she turned to Xu Qiu’er, who coldly said, “Should this palace send something to your son?” She pondered this, seemingly troubled.
“If you have the guts, come at me, don’t touch my son,” Xu Qing’er angrily spat at Xu Qiu’er.
“My lady.” Cang Yue stepped forward and handed a handkerchief to Xu Qiu’er, who took it and gently wiped her face.
“Let Xu Liang’s concubine see the so-called harem rules.” She sat down.
Ah…
Xu Qing’er gathered her strength, trembling as she tried to get up, wanting to escape. Her body ached, and she stubbornly tried to crawl forward. Bing’er covered her mouth and cried, “I want to find the prince; how can you treat my lady like this…”
Xu Qiu’er sneered, “Since you care so much about your mistress, come along.” She continued sipping her top-grade Dahongpao tea without looking up.
After a pause, her expression calmed, a layer of icy frost covering her beautiful face, making the palace servants shudder.
As the wind rose, plum blossoms fell with the snow, brushing against her face. “My lady, she has passed out.”
Xu Qiu’er showed no reaction, reclining on the soft couch. “Wake her up, continue.”
A slap echoed, causing Xu Qiu’er’s teacup to shatter on the ground. She moved to Xu Qing’er’s front and pressed down on her body, porcelain shards sinking into her knees. The pain was sharp and vivid. Xu Qing’er screamed, crying miserably. Xu Qiu’er watched the blood flow from Xu Qing’er’s knee, remarking, “Look, this way we’ve even saved water.”
Despite the bone-piercing pain, Xu Qing’er tried to avoid it, but Xu Qiu’er dragged her forward, laughing softly, “Does it hurt?” The shards scraped fiercely, causing Xu Qing’er to tremble, but she bit down and swallowed the pain.
Xu Qiu’er looked at Xu Qing’er with confused eyes, forcefully pressing her down again, recreating that night’s scene. “You know, Xu Qing’er, you shouldn’t have told the Old Buddha. Hao Li is dead, and today I’ll make you accompany him in death.” Her heart hurt so much that she needed to vent.
Guan Yue and Cang Yue exchanged glances and stepped forward to pull Xu Qiu’er away. In the panic, her hand was cut by fragments, and blood flowed down. Guan Yue skillfully bandaged her while saying, “My lady, if you continue like this, Xu Liang will die, and your plan will have to stop.”
Xu Qiu’er’s expression began to shift.
“Consider yourself lucky, continue.”
“Yes.”
The day had grown short, and after court ended, it was already evening. The setting sun cast a twilight that enveloped the entire imperial palace. The last trace of sunlight brushed against Xu Qiu’er’s figure, creating a blurry, dreamy scene. A slight evening breeze caused her white clothes and black hair to intertwine, as if momentarily detached from the mortal world.
Hao Li, I have already become a demon, and I cannot change.
As night fell in the Autumn Hall, Xu Qiu’er suddenly sat up.
Cang Yue hurriedly dressed and rushed in, finding Xu Qiu’er sitting blankly on the bed, mumbling unconsciously. As Cang Yue approached, Xu Qiu’er suddenly jumped up and walked out of the hall with unfocused eyes. Cang Yue quickly followed, cautious not to disturb her.
Xu Qiu’er walked to the moon terrace, illuminated by the hazy moonlight. From there, she appeared to overlook the human world. Tilting her head, she reached out, whispering, “Hao Li…”
Seeing Xu Qiu’er about to fall, Cang Yue leaped forward to catch her, her heart racing. Holding Xu Qiu’er tightly, she commanded a nearby palace maid, “Go invite Lord Gongson to the palace. Use any method to bring him here immediately.” The palace maid, frightened, finally dashed out upon Cang Yue’s insistence.
Footsteps approached from behind; Cang Yue recognized it was Guan Yue and the others.
Sure enough, when she turned back, she saw Guan Yue and Ning’er running over without shoes. Cang Yue nodded to Guan Yue, who stepped forward and asked Xu Qiu’er, “What happened?”
Cang Yue replied, “My lady hasn’t been sleeping well. We’ve been using sleep-inducing drugs in the incense, which isn’t good for her health. She seemed to improve, but unexpectedly…” Guan Yue took Xu Qiu’er’s hand and accepted the shoes from Ning’er. She put them on Xu Qiu’er and draped her white inner garment over her. Ning’er exclaimed, “Guan Yue, you’ll catch a cold.” Guan Yue had given all her clothes to Xu Qiu’er, leaving herself with only a bodice.
Guan Yue comforted Xu Qiu’er, “Look, the entire sky of stars are the young prince’s souls, watching over you.” Xu Qiu’er raised her head.
Cang Yue urged, “Sister, let’s go to the palace to see the master. If this continues, the master will die…”
“Shut up…” Guan Yue roared.
Cang Yue retorted, “You’ve seen the master’s condition. If this continues…” Slap! Cang Yue looked at Guan Yue in disbelief. Guan Yue calmly said, “Cang Yue, do you want to kill the master?”
Cang Yue could only remain silent.
Guan Yue tried to comfort Xu Qiu’er and take her back to the palace, but Xu Qiu’er, like a child, refused to move. After a long time, Ning’er feared Xu Qiu’er might freeze. Suddenly, Xu Qiu’er pushed Guan Yue away, looked at her clothes, and handed her the thin outer garment. When Guan Yue tried to refuse, Xu Qiu’er insisted, “Wear it.” Guan Yue complied.
“Cang Yue,” Xu Qiu’er called, arms crossed.
“Yes?” Cang Yue approached.
“If someone were to push you down from a height, what would you do?”
Cang Yue was stunned. “Would you resist to the death or leap down?”
Cang Yue, confused, asked, “What is the master trying to say?”
Xu Qiu’er looked away from the night sky and replied, “Heaven wishes to make me bear great pain, watching me endure torture.” Her long hair swirled in the wind, her white clothes billowing. “I will show it that Xu Qiu’er will not be defeated. I want it to witness my downfall of this dynasty.”
“Master’s words…” Ning’er was frightened, nearly collapsing at the sight of the three madmen before her.
Xu Qiu’er smiled and lowered her eyelids. “Just joking.”
Ning’er didn’t believe her, realizing that her lady was no longer the same, and nothing she did would surprise her anymore.
Cang Yue supported Xu Qiu’er, saying, “It’s cold, let’s go back.”
At Fu Qiu Hall, Xu Qiu’er learned that Gong Sun was requesting an audience. “Let him in, Cang Yue,” she instructed. After Cang Yue acknowledged her command, Xu Qiu’er sighed. “Does Cang Yue know why I like you more than Guan Yue?” Only Cang Yue, Guan Yue, and Ning’er would die for her. Guan Yue was more loyal, yet Xu Qiu’er had a special fondness for Cang Yue.
“This servant does not know,” Cang Yue replied.
“Guan Yue is flawless in her actions, but Cang Yue, you are like someone…” She did not specify who. Cang Yue withdrew without further questioning.
