He told me that the Third Prince Rong Jue intended to rebel, and there were already rumors in the palace saying that I had a secret relationship with him.

He also said that if there was truly nothing between us, I should kill this ’obstacle’ after he ascends the throne. If he saw Jue walk out of Yonghua Palace alive the next day, he would conclude that the Su family’s legitimate daughter had an affair with the Third Prince, and he would personally kill Jue and then punish the Su family.

That day is something Su Zhixue would never forget in her lifetime. Every scene lingered vividly in her mind, piercing her heart like a knife in the middle of the night.

Since marrying Rong Jing and becoming his Crown Princess Consort, she had never seen Rong Jue in private again, except for Miaoyan, who perhaps due to childish nature or some father-daughter instinct, loved to cling to her "Third Uncle" since childhood. And with Rong Jue’s gentle disposition, it was only natural for children to like him the most.

Yet despite this, she was still framed, and Rong Jing was still unwilling to spare Rong Jue.

Jue regarded him as a brother, but he... only saw him as an obstacle to his ascension!

Listening to this, Gu Lan suddenly remembered the first time a long time ago when she heard Rong Heng speak of Rong Jue and Su Zhixue’s story, there was an inexplicable feeling of familiarity in her heart.

Now, she finally understood why she felt this familiarity.

Su Zhixue and Rong Jue are simply the reincarnation of Huanhuan and the Fruit Raccoon.

As if to confirm Gu Lan’s feelings, Su Zhixue took a deep breath and choked, saying:

"Gu Lan, regardless of whether you believe it or not, that night, Jue swapped two cups of wine and died in my arms... I didn’t even have time to tell him that Miaoyan was his daughter.

Before Jue died, he only asked me to forget him and to be a good Empress of Dayan. If possible, take care of Wu and Lu’er... and this is the truth you wanted to know."

Su Zhixue recalled Rong Jue’s fair and handsome face. He looked at her tenderly as she cried uncontrollably, comforting her, saying that Miaoyan was a very good child, and telling her that, in his heart, she would always be his only wife.

And what she didn’t say was that she felt the same way.

As for what truly happened then, probably only Su Zhixue knew, but Gu Lan believed what she said.

That man named Rong Jue spent his whole life losing, choosing willingly to die in the arms of the woman he loved deeply, and when he died, his only concern was for his younger siblings.

Gu Lan silently processed this, her eyes ached, and she couldn’t quite describe her feelings, only that her hatred for Rong Jing became more concrete.

For over a decade, Su Zhixue lived in this cold and empty imperial palace like a walking corpse. The person she loved had already left, yet she couldn’t even bring herself to end it all, because she was the Prime Minister’s daughter, the Empress of Dayan, and she still had to live for her young and dependent daughter.

As she said, she was merely Rong Jue’s... widow.

The innocent children who were killed by Su Zhixue might be better off blaming their mothers for their ambitions to rise through their children;

But those mothers who lost their children were just another group of pitiable souls buried in this palace.

No one knew how long it had been when Gu Lan called Lin He, who was on watch outside, back. Su Zhixue then composed herself and left with Lin He’s escort.

"Your Majesty, there’s your palace up ahead, I’ll take my leave." Lin He bowed and took his leave after escorting her to the entrance of Yonghua Palace.

"Thank you."

Su Zhixue lifted her head and saw Yonghua Palace not far away.

The night was so deep, making this palace look like a monstrous beast lurking in the dark, devouring people’s hearts, ferocious and bloody.

Over these years, aside from palace banquets or accompanying Miaoyan, she spent most of her time residing in the Buddhist Hall. After last year when Miaoyan moved to the Princess Mansion outside the palace, she seldom returned here, only because seeing this palace reminded her of the scene when Rong Jue died.

But tonight, it was more convenient to return to Yonghua Palace, as tomorrow she would secretly go to Xiefang Palace to retrieve the poison Young Master Gu had told her about.

Even though Su Zhixue had long broken ties with the Su family and had no power or influence in the palace, after all, she had been the Empress for ten years, and there were still a few trusted confidants by her side. Tonight, after meeting Gu Lan, she left a confidant to guard the palace.

However, she was indeed too weak, so weak that she could only struggle in the shallow quagmire of the inner palace, not even as capable as her daughter Rong Miaoyan.

Su Zhixue sighed softly and walked into her sleeping chamber.

The silence was deafening, but in the next moment, Su Zhixue’s expression changed, and she stood dumbfounded where she was.

"Miaoyan, you, why are you here?"