Ming Yu dismounted from the carriage, only to discover it was just a manor.
The man in black didn't spare her or Chang Yu a glance. He walked straight up, knocked on the door, and it was opened by a woman. Seeing the man in black, she said, "You're back?"
"Is the master here?"
The woman nodded, "Yes."
The man in black nodded, "Tell the master I've brought the person."
The woman nodded, "Let them come in!"
The man in black stepped aside, looking at Ming Yu, "The master wishes to see you."
Ming Yu frowned, her heart filled with suspicion. Was the master the man in black spoke of the Empress?
However, dwelling on it was useless. She had to see for herself to know.
Upon entering the manor, the man in black vanished. The woman led her and Chang Yu through a corridor and into a garden.
Ming Yu's eyes immediately fell upon the woman seated on a stone bench in the garden. She didn't know how to describe her; it was as if all things in heaven and earth had vanished, leaving only the youthful maiden seated there.
Her features were as exquisite as a painting, her expression exceptionally cool and aloof.
Perhaps sensing their footsteps, the maiden turned her head. Her countenance was peerlessly beautiful, her gaze clear and bright, like the vast, unclouded sky on a clear day, without a trace of impurity.
An aura of majesty, possessed only by royalty, emanated from her entire being.
She is the Empress.
This thought flashed through Ming Yu's mind, and then she heard the woman beside her say, "Are you not going to pay your respects to His Majesty?"
Ming Yu's legs went weak, and she nearly fell to the ground. It was Chang Yu, who stood beside her, who promptly supported her and said coldly, "Ming Yu has never seen the Son of Heaven. Such rudeness is understandable. Why are you so aggressive?"
The woman was about to speak when Xue Zi Ning stopped her, "Xue Yan, go prepare tea."
Xue Yan left with evident reluctance.
Chang Yu glanced at Ming Yu and whispered, "Don't be afraid."
Ming Yu nodded, stepped forward, knelt, and kowtowed, "This commoner pays her respects to His Majesty."
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "Rise?!"
Ming Yu was taken aback. She had expected the Empress to make things difficult for her, but she hadn't anticipated being told to rise and speak so readily.
She dared to look at the Empress. It wasn't her fault to be curious; in her more than ten years of life, she had never seen the Son of Heaven.
She felt as if she had stumbled into a clear gaze, like a vast blue ocean. She was a drifting boat on the sea, seeming as though it could be overturned and submerged at any moment.
"Ming Yu?"
Ming Yu jolted, realizing she had been staring at the Empress for a long time. She quickly lowered her head, "This commoner was disrespectful. I beg His Majesty's forgiveness."
"Ignorance is not a crime," Xue Zi Ning said.
"Do you know why I wanted to see you?"
Ming Yu blinked, staring blankly at the Empress before her. After a moment's thought, she asked, "Is it about the Flower King?"
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "Who told you about the phoenix destiny?"
Ming Yu's gaze faltered, and she lowered her head.
Seeing this, Xue Zi Ning said calmly, "Even if you have the destiny of a phoenix, this is not your fault. Ming Yu, destiny is shaped by human action."
Upon hearing this, Ming Yu thought for a moment and replied, "It was Minister Shen."
"Can you tell me in detail about what happened that day?"
Ming Yu nodded and recounted the events of that day. Hearing this, Xue Zi Ning said, "According to what you've said, the Flower King didn't actually intend to rebel?"
Ming Yu quickly said, "Your Majesty, I know that no matter what I say, Your Majesty may not believe me. However, may I ask, Your Majesty and the Flower King once shared affection. Do you not trust him either?"
Xue Zi Ning looked at her and said slowly, "He betrayed me once."
Ming Yu's body trembled, "Your Majesty, you..."
"However, I do not wish to kill innocent people. I will investigate the truth of the matter. Until things are clarified, Miss Ming Yu will need to stay here."
Ming Yu blinked, "Is Your Majesty intending to imprison this commoner?"
Xue Zi Ning smiled, her eyes filled with a cool detachment, "If Miss Ming Yu wishes to think so, that is acceptable."
"Your Majesty, may I also be involved in this matter?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Zi Ning looked at Ming Yu and asked, "Why?"
Ming Yu bit her lower lip and said, "I have someone I wish to protect. I do not want such a person to be wrongly accused. I..."
"I agree."
Ming Yu was stunned. Xue Zi Ning said, "Why does it seem like my agreement was not within your expectations?"
Ming Yu quickly shook her head. She had a feeling that the Empress was actually waiting for her to say this.
"Actually, Your Majesty also wants to clear the Flower King's name, doesn't she?" Ming Yu boldly spoke her mind.
Xue Zi Ning looked at Ming Yu with admiration, "Miss Ming Yu is indeed intelligent."
Leaving the manor, Xue Zi Ning got into the carriage. Xue Yan, who followed her in, saw that her mood hadn't improved much and couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, why are you still unhappy?"
Xue Zi Ning sighed, "Everyone strives for the highest power they desire, but who knows that the heights are lonely?"
"Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven, the one chosen by the people. You are different from them."
"How am I different? If I didn't have the Xue family's bloodline, if I didn't bear the surname Xue, then all of this would be different."
"Your Majesty, what is wrong?" Xue Yan couldn't help but ask.
Xue Zi Ning shook her head. She suddenly felt a bit weary. Sitting here, although she could overlook the mountains and rivers and hold the territory in her hands, she felt a sense of unease.
The carriage stopped. Xue Yan made an excuse to buy her some peach blossom cakes. When someone else arrived, the entire aura changed.
She looked up and saw the person who had arrived and smiled, "Why have you come?"
Xue Jing Yun embraced her and said softly, "Ah Ning, I miss you. We've only been apart for half a day, yet it feels like a very long time. I can't bear it, so I've come to find you."
"Yan Zhao, I'm a little tired." She was truly a little tired. For the first time, she wished she wasn't an empress. She could have lived in seclusion with the one she loved, in a simple life filled with the scent of cooking smoke.
"If you're tired, let it go. Leave it to me..."
She looked up at this refined and handsome face and nodded, "Alright."
Upon returning to the palace, she truly ceased to concern herself with anything else. Apart from attending court daily and reviewing memorials, she devoted all her other time to being a mother.
Xing Yue was lively and intelligent, while Xing Chen was experienced and wise, which brought her great comfort.
In the evenings, Xue Jing Yun would come to be with them, sharing laughter and play. Xue Zi Ning no longer asked any questions about Hua Yun Jin.
This continued until one day, Hua Yun Jin came to bid her farewell.
In the sleeping quarters, this was the first time Xue Zi Ning had seen Hua Yun Jin in recent years, besides returning to the past in the imperial mausoleum.
"Your subject pays his respects to Your Majesty." Hua Yun Jin bowed.
"Rise, and be seated!"
After speaking, Xue Zi Ning turned to Xue Yan, "Xue Yan, all of you may withdraw!"
Xue Yan looked at her with concern. Xue Zi Ning smiled, "Go. Feng Wu is here."