Green Mountain-Chapter 688 - 545: Phoenix Crown and Wedding Robe

Your Majesty has rested.

The Empress stood in the moonlight of Kunning Palace, looking up at the distant late night, lightly laughing and teasing, "He rested quite early tonight... just like back then, whenever he does something guilty, he hides away, keeping his hands clean while letting others get blood on their hands for him."

Wu Xiu's expression changed dramatically, casting a sharp glance as the Jiefan Guard and palace servants retreated like a tide, leaving only four of the most trusted Jiefan Guards beside him.

"That person," the Empress's voice floated through the empty hall, light as if telling a story that had nothing to do with herself, "suspicious, capricious, jealous, cowardly... when he fell out with the Empress Dowager, he hid aside, waiting for Prince Jing to stand up for him. That year, the four of them snuck out to enjoy lanterns during the Lantern Festival, obviously he wanted to know my name, but let Prince Jing talk to me... time truly flies, in the blink of an eye, so many years have passed."

Consort Xue listened impatiently, covering her face with an embroidered handkerchief, reminding coldly, "Empress, now is not the time to reminisce. There's no wall that doesn't let wind through; there has been a scandal in the Empress's sleeping quarters involving an outsider. By noon tomorrow, an adviser will surely have died in remonstrance, and by evening, officials will be sitting silently outside the Imperial Palace Gate... tarnishing the dignity of the Heavenly Family and violating ancestral rites, even Official Hu may not be able to protect you. Most importantly, what about Prince Fu, what will happen to him in the future?"

The Empress ignored her and continued, "Back then, he would still diligently practice archery and horsemanship, and when drunk, he would raise his arms and call, 'When the sons of privilege are fighting cocks at the brothel, we shall go against them and march north.' Back then, he would cry in his brother's arms, saying the world failed him. Back then, he would secretly watch me."

Consort Xue said blandly, "Everything the Empress says is old history now; everything in this world changes."

The Empress looked at the moonlight and sighed, "Indeed, everything has changed. I remember when I first entered the palace, there wasn't a wrinkle on my face, and now there are crow's feet. I remember when you first entered the palace, so innocent and bright, holding a butterfly jar in the West Garden, smiling with eyes curved; but now your gaze is tainted with poison, becoming vicious and mean."

Consort Xue's face changed.

Not waiting for her to retort, the Empress laughed and said, "Sister Xue, some say an emperor's sword must be stained with blood three times in life: the enemy's, a friend's, and a lover's... now, he is truly an emperor."

Consort Xue was stunned.

"Sister Xue always competes with me," the Empress turned to look at Consort Xue, "you think exhausting your means will make him hang his heart entirely on you, what a pity, in this world, the heart of a great man only holds the country, it has no room for others, not even for himself. His thoughts are not on me, nor will they be on you."

Consort Xue was about to say something.

The Empress slowly straightened her back, regaining her cold majesty beneath the motherly dignity of the realm, haughtily, "Back down, this matter is not for you to meddle in. I will give the world an answer. There's no need to trouble Your Majesty; he does not wish to see me, knowing what I will do. As for you all... that person, having been constrained by filial piety and brotherly love for so many years in his youth, erected a Filial Piety and Brotherly Love Stele before Renshou Palace to constantly remind himself that relatives by marriage are not to be trusted. You Xue Family must be very careful."

Consort Xue's face changed again and again, eventually bowing in farewell, "Empress, take care, your servant takes leave."

The Empress then looked at Bai Li, her expression softening, holding Bai Li in her arms and whispering, "Now I cannot protect myself, I have to rely on the Marquis of Wuxiang County to rescue you out. His skills are great, and his forbearance surpasses mine, I'm sure he will rescue you."

Bai Li urgently said, "I can cast divination to ask for the Taoist Ancestor's manifestation, to prove Your Majesty's innocence!"

The Empress laughed, "No need, that person's mind is already made."

With that, she pushed Bai Li over the threshold of Kunning Palace, shadowed by Wu Xiu's Jiefan Guards.

As they were about to capture Bai Li, Bai Li surprisingly pulled at the knives on the waist of the four Jiefan Guards with a single fist.

The Jiefan Guards' faces changed dramatically, quickly pressing their palms down on the hilts to force the long knives back into the sheaths.

One of them darted forward, delivering a knife hand strike to Bai Li's neck, causing Bai Li to faint on the ground, tears flowing from the corner of his eyes, transforming into wisps of white smoke trailing in the night.

Wu Xiu glanced at Bai Li on the ground, "Please send a female servant from Kunning Palace to bring this lady back to Jingyang Palace."

Aunt Yuan Jin summoned a female servant to carry Bai Li, Wu Xiu cupped his hands to the Empress, "Empress, take care, the Court Minister takes leave."

Tiredly, the Empress waved her sleeve, "Go."

The door of Kunning Palace slowly closed, everything returning to silence.

...

...

The closed palace door hid the cool moonlight of the 16th of August, the 32nd year of Jaining.

Inside Kunning Palace, only candle flames flickered slightly, Aunt Yuan Jin whispered, "Empress, tomorrow morning as the palace gates open, I will send someone to inform the Lord, asking him to enter the palace and see the Emperor, there might still be a way." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The Empress bent down to pick up Wu Yun from the ground, gently stroking its fur, "Aunt Yuan Jin, there's no need, the more the Hu Family stirs, the more he fears."

Aunt Yuan Jin said solemnly, "Empress, you care most about your reputation, why watch them slander you, our Hu Family has endured too long..."

The Empress smiled, "Aunt Yuan Jin is mistaken, what I care most about is not reputation, it's Little Stone. If this matter is known throughout the world, what will become of him?"

Aunt Yuan Jin was stunned in place. Little Stone is Prince Fu's pet name, ever since he was titled Prince Fu, few have called him by that name, only Prince Fu's most intimate aging attendants and the Empress would refer to Prince Fu in such a manner.