"Lingyao, little sister! It's you, it's really you!"
The Second Prince was flustered, his arms outstretched but not daring to touch her. "How could this be? How could this be? Has heaven heard my prayers and brought you back? You've truly returned."
Just moments ago, he had been sitting by the lotus pond, lost in thought, imagining the Divine Might General rescuing his little sister. The next instant, Lingyao appeared before him.
She was as cute and beautiful as before, no, she was even more beautiful, and had grown a bit.
"It's me, Second Brother."
Lingyao, crying and laughing, pressed her middle finger against her index finger and tapped the Second Prince's forehead: "Sting you."
This was a game they played as children. Scorpions sting. Phoenix Palace was always quiet. When the Second Prince was attending lessons outside, he learned small games from the sons of ministers who accompanied him, then ran back to Phoenix Palace to teach Lingyao to play together.
Of course, this was all a long time ago. As they grew older, they stopped playing such childish games.
"Little sister! Little sister—" The Second Prince hugged her and sobbed uncontrollably.
Lingyao quickly shielded her belly. Her abdomen had already begun to swell, but it was not visible due to the loose-fitting cloak she wore. The Second Prince, lost in his grief, naturally did not notice.
Such a commotion quickly attracted the other current mistress of Phoenix Palace—Feng Lingxi.
She was followed by six maids, dressed much more luxuriously than before. The jeweled hairpins and ornaments on their heads were all from Lingyao's former treasure chest, top-tier treasures collected by the Emperor. They wore brocade robes woven with golden threads, which shimmered in the sunlight.
Such opulent attire was common in Phoenix Palace, each piece taking months for artisans to complete.
Each was worth a fortune, requiring immense time and effort. Lingyao occasionally wore them in the past, but more often she preferred simple and comfortable everyday clothes.
Lingxi's appearance was of an elegant and gentle type, much like the Empress. She had a round face, kind eyes, and carried herself with grace and dignity, considered a sign of good fortune by the common folk. In terms of beauty, she was only average, completely different from Lingyao's bright, soul-stirring beauty.
"Why have you returned?"
Her first words were a question. She was young and lacked the Empress's composure. At this moment, her eyes held a hint of arrogance, marring her otherwise kind countenance.
The royal children, besides the First Prince who was a few years older, the Second Prince, and Lingyao, were all born on the same day as Lingxi. It was for this reason that the auspicious clouds and phoenix cries on their birth day were attributed to Lingxi by the newly appointed sorcerer.
The Second Prince instantly flew into a rage at Lingxi's obvious displeasure.
He had suffered for a year, longed for a year, and finally, his little sister had returned. What did Lingxi mean by this? Did she still wish for Lingyao to never return?
"Lingxi! You have already taken Lingyao's position as Divine Maiden, and you are still not satisfied?"
"What do you mean 'taken'? This was mine all along! She impersonated me!" Lingxi harbored a deep animosity towards her.
Lingyao did not quite understand. She had no conflict with Lingxi. As she recalled, her visits to Phoenix Palace with her noble concubine aunt were infrequent, and only permitted with her father's consent.
Lingxi rarely spoke, obediently staying by her aunt's side, a quiet girl.
Frankly, Lingyao was not familiar with her, had no affection for her, let alone any hatred. So, what did she mean by this?
"No one is competing with you for the Divine Maiden position. If you want to be it, then be it, as long as your legs can bear it."
Lingxi had entered the divine altar. The divine altar was not easily accessed; it was filled with intricate mechanisms, and any slight mistake could result in injury from malevolent energy. Judging by her gait just now, her legs were indeed injured. The malevolent energy of the divine altar, once it injured, was incurable, only slowly festering until death.
Therefore, Lingxi was not long for this world.
She truly had no need to take her anger out on her. They were both innocent people; who was more wronged than the other!
Lingxi subconsciously moved her leg, her brow furrowed. "My legs are naturally fine. As long as I cultivate the 'Immortal's Crossing' well, I can open the divine altar, avert disaster for Jing Country, and pray for the people!"
"Lingxi, when was the last time you saw Noble Consort Mother? If you have the chance, you should go see her!"
If not soon, there might be no chance.
"You don't need to worry about it! Phoenix Palace is mine. Go wherever you want, but you are not allowed to enter the main hall!"
Why did she look so indifferent? She had lost her Divine Maiden position, lost her father's favor, and was even sent to the Turks to suffer hardship. She should have a weathered face, filled with sorrow and misery.
Why was she still stunningly beautiful, still high and mighty, speaking to her, the Divine Maiden, with a condescending pity!
She had only injured her leg, what was there to pity! She, Feng Lingyao, was the one who should be pitied, a discarded, worthless wretch!
"Feng Lingxi! You are a damned Divine Maiden! You are not worthy of being a Divine Maiden!"
The Second Prince cursed fiercely at Lingxi's retreating back. His fair face turned red. He had been raised with strict discipline, and could not utter more vulgar words, only gasping for breath in his anger.
"Second Brother, don't mind her. Let's go into the side hall. I'm a bit cold."
"Alright, let's go in quickly. Don't worry, Second Brother will have the side hall tidied up perfectly."
Prince Ruan had made thorough arrangements. Soon, several palace servants arrived and tidied up the side hall perfectly. The brazier was lit, and only then did Lingyao heave a sigh of relief, stretching her cold limbs.
This was once the residence of Qing He and the four head maids. She used to come here often, so she felt no discomfort, but rather more at ease.
"Fortunately, we still have Uncle. Father doesn't care about anything now, hiding in the Taiji Hall to recuperate all day, not even seeing me. As for Mother, she also stays indoors. If it weren't for Uncle, who knows how rampant that Lu fellow would be!"
The Second Prince's words conveyed his dissatisfaction with his father and his complete trust in Prince Ruan.
This greatly surprised Lingyao.
"I heard Father is ill."
"Ill with what! He was perfectly fine during court sessions. He has changed. He heartlessly sent you away back then, and even locked me up. If Uncle hadn't released me later, he intended to let me perish in prison! Little sister, emperors have always been heartless. I thought our family was different, but it turns out I was too naive..."
The Second Prince gave a desolate smile, his handsome face etched with sorrow.
"He is not a diligent and benevolent emperor. He has become tyrannical and heartless. Even Eunuch Bai Xi, who served him for a lifetime, was almost beaten to death, simply because the porridge he served was a bit too hot."
"Noble Consort Aunt is under house arrest, Mother has sealed the palace gates, and he has truly become a solitary figure, spending his days in the hall researching the art of longevity, seeing no one except those charlatan Taoists."
"Second Brother, who told you this?" Lingyao was greatly shocked. She hadn't expected her Second Brother to be so thoroughly deceived by those people.
She recalled what her elder brother had said about them. Both siblings had grown up showered with affection, but when disaster struck, it was his most beloved child who first lost faith in the Emperor.
How heartbroken Father must be!
"Second Brother..." She wanted to tell him the truth, but after glancing at a few sweeping palace servants, she fell silent.