A woman's intuition is sometimes remarkably accurate.
After several days of difficult circumstances, the Empress couldn't shake the feeling that the entire world was conspiring against her.
So, upon seeing Shangguan Hong, whose face was once again filled with schadenfreude, the Empress couldn't help but wonder if he was there to mock her.
Or perhaps, did he have some other scheme in mind?
"Empress, your words to me have truly wounded my heart," Shangguan Hong sighed.
"Wounded? Heh, in my opinion, you must be quite pleased. The Crown Prince is gone, and no one will be able to suppress you anymore, isn't that right?" the Empress sneered.
"Regarding the matter of the Crown Prince, I express my deepest regret," Shangguan Hong lowered his eyelids.
The Empress remained silent.
Shangguan Hong continued, "These past few days, I have been busy with other matters and couldn't return. When His Highness the Crown Prince met with his misfortune, I was away and unable to assist. This is my negligence."
As he spoke, Shangguan Hong deliberately put on a show of regret and frustration.
The Empress glanced at him, almost swayed by his expression.
However, she still looked at him hesitantly, "Aren't you an immortal? Can't you even save the Crown Prince's life? You promised to help the Crown Prince ascend to the throne; were you lying to me?"
"Absolutely not. My intentions towards you, Empress, and towards the Crown Prince were sincere. Not a single word I speak is false," Shangguan Hong stated.
"Whatever you say now, the Crown Prince is already gone. Your words mean nothing," the Empress turned her gaze away.
Shangguan Hong's expression turned solemn, "Perhaps, the Crown Prince can still return."
The Empress started, "What did you say? The Crown Prince… can still return?"
Shangguan Hong nodded, "Indeed. As long as you believe me, Empress."
The Empress nodded vigorously. Shangguan Hong's lips curved slightly upwards, and he clapped his hands.
From outside the door, a person actually walked in. Judging by his appearance, who else could it be but the Crown Prince!
"My son? My son, is it really you?" The Empress's eyes welled up with tears as she looked in disbelief at the Crown Prince standing before her.
That day, in the Emperor's study, she had personally witnessed the Emperor plunge a sword into the Crown Prince's chest.
At that time, a few drops of blood splashed from the Crown Prince's body onto her face, warm and sticky, breaking her mother's heart.
She had thought they were separated by the realms of life and death, yet to meet again at such a time, the Empress could not tell if she was astonished or overjoyed.
"Naturally, it is His Highness the Crown Prince, genuine and true," Shangguan Hong curled his fingers and tapped the table. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, won't you pay your respects to the Empress? After such a long time, don't you miss your mother?"
The Crown Prince turned his head, glancing at Shangguan Hong. Their eyes met, and he paused for a moment.
Then, the Crown Prince turned to the Empress, his eyes reddened, and said, "This son is unfilial, causing Mother to worry."
Shaking her head, the Empress rose and rushed forward, embracing the Crown Prince, embracing her son.
She said, "No, it is this Empress who is useless, unable to protect you properly. If this Empress were more capable, you wouldn't have died. It is all this Empress's fault."
The mother and son, each blaming themselves, wept together in a flood of tears.
Shangguan Hong, naturally, rolled his eyes with extreme impatience at such an overly sentimental and melodramatic scene.
"Empress, with this, you still refuse to believe me? I have resurrected His Highness the Crown Prince for you," Shangguan Hong stated calmly.
"I believe, I believe," the Empress released the Crown Prince from her embrace and turned to Shangguan Hong. "Young Master Shangguan truly possesses divine skills and unparalleled magic. What I said earlier was out of anger; I beg you not to take it to heart."
Shangguan Hong smiled, "I am not someone with such a narrow mind."
"Indeed," the Empress wiped her tears, pulled the Crown Prince along, and sat with him at the table.
Shangguan Hong said, "I have come to see you today because there are some matters that I need to inform you of."
The Empress nodded slightly, quickly regaining her composure. "Please speak, Young Master."
Shangguan Hong stared at her for a moment, then shifted his gaze. "Seeing how famished you are, you should eat something first. Otherwise, no matter what I say, you won't remember it."
"But… those palace servants are incredibly bold, and they refuse to send me any food," the Empress lowered her eyes.
"Aren't I here?"
As Shangguan Hong finished speaking, a table full of food, all of the Empress's favorites, suddenly appeared on the previously empty tabletop.
She looked at Shangguan Hong with astonishment, but his expression was calm, as if this were a trivial matter, nothing special for him.
"Eat, and after you've finished, I will tell you what you need to do for me."
The Empress nodded and no longer stood on ceremony, picking up her chopsticks and bowl.
Having been starved for many days, even the food she had received was bland and watery, devoid of any grease.
Therefore, she quickly finished the entire table.
After eating, the Empress took out a handkerchief and gently and elegantly wiped her mouth, smiling at Shangguan Hong. "Young Master, please speak. What do you need me to do for you?"
In front of Shangguan Hong, she no longer referred to herself as "this Empress."
She believed that Shangguan Hong was no ordinary person, and their relationship was long past that of master and servant.
In her eyes, if Shangguan Hong wanted to kill her now, it would be as easy as crushing an ant.
Therefore, to preserve herself, she had to make Shangguan Hong value her and recognize her worth.
"Empress, I said I would support your good son in ascending the throne. This promise still holds true, please rest assured," Shangguan Hong said.
The Empress's eyes brightened. "Your words reassure me greatly, Young Master Shangguan."
Shangguan Hong continued, "Most matters will be handled by me, but there is one crucial task that, without you, Empress, would be practically impossible to achieve. And it happens to be an extremely important matter."
"Please speak, Young Master. No matter what it is, I will do my utmost," the Empress replied.
"It is very simple: you must keep a close watch on the Emperor, and when necessary, take some decisive action," Shangguan Hong said.
The Empress immediately understood what he meant.
She smiled. "Young Master, please rest assured. As long as I can leave this cold palace, killing the Emperor will be a matter of moments."
After so many years of marriage, the Empress knew the Emperor too well. Killing him would be as easy as breathing.
Shangguan Hong smiled and nodded. "Then it's settled."
Ye Qingcheng was not in Shangguan Hong's residence in the same way she had been in the Regent's manor.
Xiao Wangye kept a very strict watch on her, often saying, "I'm grounding you," confining her to a single place. Shangguan Hong, however, did not restrict her movements; she could go wherever she pleased.
Yet, Ye Qingcheng had been in a constant state of daze and rarely ventured out.
But last night, Ye Qingcheng dreamed of Bi Xi.