The door was gently closed, and Xiao Rou stood outside looking innocent, with aggrieved tears welling up in her eyes. She was concerned about her mistress, yet her mistress not only failed to appreciate her care but also scolded her. Since entering the palace, her mistress had become somewhat strange, but her kindness had never changed. She couldn’t understand why she was treated this way today and wondered if her mistress no longer liked her.
Mei Siyu, huddled in the blanket, was crying sadly. Her light makeup was wet with unstoppable tears, her face looking like a dyed board. She tried not to make a sound, suppressing her cries to only soft sobs.
She blamed him for his lack of understanding. Her opposition to becoming Empress was not because of feelings for her third brother, but because she didn’t want to be confined in the deep palace for life! She knew he loved her, giving up the three thousand beauties of the harem and favoring only her. He even dared to argue with the Empress Dowager for her sake. These actions deeply moved her, but they couldn’t change her mind about staying in the palace, living in constant fear and intrigue.
She was never meant to be here, unable to bear the complexity and unwilling to share a husband. Choosing to love the Emperor was her willing choice, and she understood the hardships. Yet she still hoped that one day he would give up everything for her, accompany her wherever she wanted to go, and live a simple, happy life!
Now, she had to consider Wan’er’s sisterly affection. It was clear that Xia Wan’er loved the Emperor, and Ming Lengchen probably loved Wan’er too, otherwise he wouldn’t have stayed overnight in the Phoenix Ceremony Hall! What ruler could set aside three thousand harem beauties and favor only one? She had hoped he might be an exception, but now realized this was beyond her ability to change.
