Xu Qiu’er closed her eyes as she felt the ripping of fabric, her heart pounding. Clutching the fur blanket beneath her, she felt powerless.
The sunlight filled the hall while she bit her lip, struggling to hold back tears. His kiss felt more like the bite of a blood-sucking demon as he pried open her mouth, painfully torturing her until he felt satisfied.
Barely able to move without pain, she cried as tears dripped down her face. Long Hanjie’s face bore a mix of colors. “Does my favor disgust you so much?” he snapped, sweeping away with a flick of his sleeve.
After resting briefly in her chair, she struggled to get up and dressed herself using a set of clothes from the side cabinet. She discarded the torn clothes into the incense burner and let her hair down, hiding the bruises on her neck before calling out in a hoarse voice.
Cang Yue entered first, frozen and speechless as she pointed at Xu Qiu’er’s exposed skin. Xu Qiu’er didn’t want to think any further.
Although she hadn’t obtained Long Hanjie, she needed to find a way to lower his guard.
She looked sideways as Guan Yue entered. Cang Yue Nian’er hadn’t allowed anyone else in. Nian’er reached out to support her, pausing at the sight of her swollen, blood-stained lips. “Your Majesty, this servant has prepared a fragrant bath for you in the Eastern Warm Hall.”
“Mm.” She responded, appreciating the suggestion. She sighed softly, then said, “Throw this chair away. The pattern is too gaudy.”
“Yes,” Cang Yue responded, a tear dropping onto the hand supporting Xu Qiu’er. Stunned, Xu Qiu’er softly said, “Don’t let me see this again.” She hadn’t shed any tears herself and didn’t want her servant to cry for her. There was nothing to cry about.
The next day, Xu Qiu’er was to pay respects to the Empress Dowager at Shouspring Palace. She wore a vibrant blue dress with pink-blue cloud patterns, wide sleeves, long lapels, and 108 pink gold crystal decorations sewn into the flowers. Underneath, she wore a blue-gray silk shirt with an oblique collar over a layered floral skirt, complemented by a purple-blue tassel belt.
Her hair was styled in a double-winged fallen bun, decorated with a blue sapphire peacock screen and a pink blue silk Udumbara flower, which delicately touched her neck. A light pink blue three-petal cherry blossom adorned her forehead, enhancing her captivating eyes.
Looking in the mirror, she smiled, feeling especially satisfied—elegant, noble, and unique. After finishing her makeup, she bit into a green olive, enjoying its sour yet fresh taste. Cang Yue supported her as she went out, riding a light carriage to Shouspring Palace.
Shouspring Palace, located in the southeast of the Eternal Forbidden Palace, was surrounded by walls and housed the Empress Dowager and imperial concubines.
The palace included a Buddha hall where the Empress Dowager practiced Buddhism in peace.
As the Empress Dowager’s long phoenix eyes swept over Xu Qiu’er, she saw her kneeling and hummed, “Rise.”
“Thank you, Empress Dowager.” Xu Qiu’er glanced back, and Cang Yue presented a brocade box. Xu Qiu’er reached out to take it and asked, “Does this meet Your Majesty’s approval?”
The Empress Dowager reclined halfway, not even looking up as a palace maid approached, presenting a box to her. With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the maid.
The Empress Dowager then said, “If you had used this thoughtfulness on the Crown Prince, you wouldn’t have been left out of the Tangshan Temporary Palace.”
Xu Qiu’er fell silent. Before she could respond, the Empress Dowager continued, “Yesterday, when the Crown Prince went out, all concubines saw him off. Where were you?”
Stunned, Xu Qiu’er knelt down, saying, “This concubine knows her fault.” She couldn’t explain that she was in no condition to appear.
The Empress Dowager sighed, “You just need to soften your stance. The Crown Prince was willing to take the first step; why are you standing still?”
Xu Qiu’er bit her lip, unable to respond. She knew she couldn’t soften her stance after what Long Hanjie had done to her.
Seeing Xu Qiu’er’s trembling eyelashes adorned with tears, the Empress Dowager shook her head. “Don’t think about things you shouldn’t. Don’t you know why Hao Li died?!”
Sometimes, you can’t fight head-on with certain people; instead, wait for the right moment.
Revenge is a calculated matter. If you want to harm someone, don’t injure yourself in the process. Sacrificing yourself for revenge is foolish.
Not all emotions are indifferent, and not all warmth is illusory. One might desperately want to protect such tenderness. Yet, the lives of others are not her concern; she observes their joys and sorrows coldly.
She said, “I’m not a good person. If I’m heartbroken, why not make the entire world cry with me?”
A seven-year-old walked emotionlessly through the corridor, her face expressionless and her eyes coldly vigilant.
Green trees lined both sides, with wisteria winding around the corridor pillars. Sunlight filtered through the gaps, creating halos on the glazed roof tiles. The surroundings were silent, with only occasional birds flitting between the trees.
Her small, frail shoulders moved quickly, head unturned, eyes downcast, as if everything around her simply did not exist.
As she passed through the archway and circled the pond, laughter grew louder. The child’s feet did not stop, continuing her silent walk.
She reached a clearing surrounded by peach blossoms, where children of various ages chased a colorful embroidered ball, playing joyfully.
The child lowered her head, quietly walking past them.
Under the peach trees, pink petals fluttered and scattered. A peach blossom touched the child’s long, curled eyelashes, trembling and falling on her rosy lips. Her eyelashes quivered, her eyes shifted, and a hint of a smile escaped her tightly pressed lips, brighter than the peach blossoms. It was as if a silent lake suddenly had a gentle breeze, rippling with life, willows swaying, flowers falling like rain—everything coming alive.
“Your Highness…” Cang Yue stopped and followed Xu Qiu’er’s gaze to Chang Xi. Xu Qiu’er looked at Chang Xi without speaking. Ning’er sighed; this was someone raised by the Empress, and there might still be an emotional connection.
“Your Highness needs this servant…” Xu Qiu’er gestured to stop Ning’er from speaking. Chang Xi, standing nearby, clearly saw Xu Qiu’er, and a fleeting hatred crossed her eyes, almost imperceptible, but Xu Qiu’er caught it. In this world, no matter how much you give, you gain only a tiny fraction.
“Bitch,” a low voice reached Xu Qiu’er’s ears.
Ning’er almost dropped everything she was holding. This little bastard should remember that without the Empress, she would not have her current good life. Ning’er was about to step forward, but Xu Qiu’er lowered her eyes. “Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
The three followed, leaving one after another.
“Did you see?
The three senior female officials by the Crown Princess are key to serving her,” the palace maids whispered. In recent years, the Empress had not managed palace affairs, and the Old Buddha paid excessive attention to the Crown Princess, who had become the de facto mistress of the palace. Apart from these three senior officials, no one could approach her.
A putrid smell hung in the air.
Rats crawled along the wall, occasionally crossing someone’s foot—after all, someone had been sitting motionless here for decades, and even vermin had become accustomed.
This was a sealed stone chamber, with almost no light except for a tiny ventilation hole at the top, where daylight was scarce. In the corner, a human figure remained completely still.
