"Mother, who did you go to see so late at night?"

Rong Miaoyan stood in the center of the sleeping hall, her dark golden cloak trailing the ground. Her face was as beautiful and delicate as ever, yet exceptionally pale. Her dark eyes watched Su Zhixue intently, a slight reddening around her eyes.

Ever since she learned that Su Zhixue was actually forced into marriage by Rong Jing, and her thoughts went to her deceased third uncle, Rong Miaoyan had not called Su Zhixue "Empress Mother" but addressed her as "Mother."

Because Miaoyan knew that her mother was so disdainful of the Emperor and did not wish to be his Empress at all.

"I... I just returned from checking on the Yonghua Palace’s Buddhist hall, that’s all. Miaoyan, why did you enter the palace without informing your mother?" Su Zhixue instinctively lied, her gaze tightening as she saw her confidant standing respectfully beside Rong Miaoyan.

Yes, her confidant had witnessed how she treated Miaoyan and naturally wouldn’t keep anything concealed.

Rong Miaoyan shook her head, her gaze sharp, as if she had already seen through Su Zhixue’s heart.

"I just saw that Lin He, one of the commanders from the Inner Supervision, escorted you back, and as far as I know, Lin He is likely Wu’s man. In that case, you went to see Gu Lan."

Su Zhixue’s throat went dry, meeting her daughter’s deep and bright eyes in silence, and ultimately she could only nod.

"Yes, I did indeed go to see her. Mother learned that she disguised herself as a man and deceived you for personal reasons, and wanted to see who she was for herself. Now Mother understands she also has her own unavoidable struggles."

"Mother, you lied to me again. Although Gu Lan deceived me, she also revealed the Emperor’s secret to me, letting me know who I truly am. She is my friend, and I have clearly told you all this, so why did you have to go see her?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Rong Miaoyan spoke deliberately, her tone carrying a hint of interrogation.

"I... cough, cough..." Upon hearing these words, Su Zhixue’s already pale face turned even whiter, and she suddenly began coughing violently.

Miaoyan’s eyes reddened, and she quickly summoned Palace attendants to care for her.

Seeing Su Zhixue’s weak breathing, Miaoyan felt increasingly sorrowful in her heart.

She closed her eyes and reopened them, unwilling though she was, still asking each word clearly:

"When I learned of the Emperor’s affairs, I immediately told you, but what about you? You hide everything from me, not letting me know anything. Mother, I also have love, hatred, passion, and desires, the full range of human emotions; I am a living person too. I beg you, don’t only regard me as your child!"

Several Palace attendants nearby trembled, not daring to look directly at the grief-stricken Princess.

Su Zhixue stood helplessly before Miaoyan, her words struck like a heavy hammer on her chest, causing her immense heartache.

Suddenly, she remembered Young Master Gu’s words.

—"She certainly can go further, not because she is someone’s daughter, or has someone’s blood, but because she is Rong Miaoyan."

Su Zhixue came to herself, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Alright, Mother will tell you everything," she gently said, her brow soft as water, "Everything will be decided by you."

...

After sending away Su Zhixue, the night had deepened, and Gu Lan sank into a deep sleep.

She slept very uneasily this night, with dreams repeatedly featuring Huanhuan, Fruit Raccoon, and Rong Jue with Su Zhixue, the scenes shifting back and forth, with the only constant being the pitiful and wretched crying of little Rong Heng.

Wondering how Brother Hang would react after knowing these things, it’s likely she would have to coax him for a long time.

Gu Lan was startled awake two or three times during the night, each time due to the feeling of someone approaching.

Suppressing the urge to yawn, she squinted her eyes as she observed the Death Warriors dressed as palace maids busying themselves outside the curtains, seemingly arranging the palace for her.

It was the latter part of the night now, the watchguard had changed from Lin He and his men to a eunuch named Miao Ci, one of the four Red-robed Commanders.

Gu Lan glanced at the Tea Warrior removing a teapot in the dim candlelight and understood.

It probably wouldn’t take five days for everything to be over.

With that in mind, Gu Lan tried to ignore these people and turned over to continue sleeping.

When she was startled awake once more, a Death Warrior with a face mask over their nose and mouth had approached her bedside, placing a bent mosquito coil on the table beside.

No, it should be a substance like Soft Muscle Powder, with a scent of orchids.

But due to the professional training she underwent, these kinds of soporifics had no effect on her.

Unless it was fed to her—Rong Jing really couldn’t think of that.

Yet embarrassingly, the Death Warrior placing the soporific bent down, becoming very close to Gu Lan on the bed—she accidentally made eye contact with the Death Warrior.

Uh... Gu Lan intended to quickly close her eyes, but the Death Warrior just kept staring at her.

Gu Lan suddenly recognized the Death Warrior as one of the palace maids who previously came with Zhong Liang to deliver clothes.