"Thank you, Empress Dowager," Song Xiuyuan said with a bow, then pulled Xue Xingyue to leave.
"But I can't guarantee that you'll be able to escape once you leave my presence," the Empress Dowager called from behind them.
Xue Xingyue was surprised, not just a little. This old hag had threatened her and tried to harm her because of the Ninth Princess, and now she was letting them go. She found it hard to believe, yet she had to. After all, they had successfully left Taihe Palace.
Song Xiuyuan led her behind the rockery, where they quickly discarded their masks and shed their clothes.
Song Xiuyuan looked at her and said, "You go first."
She nodded, as their combined presence was too conspicuous.
After she moved away, Song Xiuyuan took out a porcelain bottle from his embrace and poured out its contents. Only a single drop of water fell, and as it landed on his clothes, it seemed to melt them instantly.
Finally, all that remained was a puddle of water.
He put away the porcelain bottle and emerged from the rockery, clad in an ink-and-white robe that swirled with his movements. A gentle breeze rustled the hem of his robe, and a fine jade pendant dangled from his waist. His dark hair cascaded behind him like silk. If not for his plain, unremarkable face, one might have mistaken him for an ethereal immortal.
Yet, even so, his innate elegance and nobility were undeniable.
Xue Xingyue watched Song Xiuyuan emerge from the rockery and had to admit that his refined demeanor was unmatched.
But in the next moment, his words shattered the picturesque scene. He walked towards her, his gaze no longer cool and distant but softened with a hint of tenderness. If he had been an ethereal immortal untouched by the mortal world before, he was now a relatable, earthly being. "Wife, don't you think your husband is wonderful?"
"Wonderful? What's so wonderful about you?" she retorted.
"You're in trouble, and I help you. You're trapped, and I assist you. Isn't that wonderful?"
His eyes, bright as stars, shone with an unconquerable brilliance, like a vast galaxy.
Honestly, she had never met anyone so shameless. He had completely ruined the good impression she had of him. "Is that so?"
"Isn't it?" Song Xiuyuan countered.
"I don't know!" She walked straight ahead, unwilling to say another word to Song Xiuyuan.
"Wife, wait for me." Song Xiuyuan's gaze softened, the starlight within him intensifying, bursting forth with brilliance.
Upon hearing that the Empress Dowager had been attacked, the Emperor flew into a rage and rushed to Taihe Hall with his men.
"Emperor, why have you come?" The Empress Dowager was quite surprised to see the Emperor. She didn't recall informing him, but then again, who was the Emperor? How could he not know what happened in the palace?
Thinking this, her heart felt somewhat at ease.
"Your son arrives late. Forgive me for alarming you, Mother," the Emperor said, bowing slightly.
"You need not worry, Emperor. This empress dowager is unharmed," the Empress Dowager said slowly.
"Were the assassins captured?" the Emperor asked the guards protecting Taihe Hall.
The guards immediately knelt. "Your Majesty, please forgive us. Your subject was incompetent, and the assassins escaped."
"Escaped? Then what use are you? You can't even protect the Empress Dowager. I think you all wish to die."
"Your Majesty, forgive us! Forgive us!" In truth, the imperial guards felt wronged and unjustly accused, for they could have captured the assassins.
But could they tell the Emperor that the Empress Dowager had forbidden them to act? Wouldn't that offend her?
"What use am I keeping you? Guards..."
"Emperor, it was I who told them not to make any rash moves," the Empress Dowager, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
Seeing that it was the Empress Dowager speaking, the Emperor quickly said respectfully, "Mother, these men are derelict in their duties and cannot be spared. You were alarmed, and your son will provide you with new guards."
"Emperor, I am accustomed to using them, so please do not trouble yourself on my behalf."
"Mother, what are you saying? You are my mother. Naturally, I must consider your safety. However, why did you allow the assassins to escape? I don't quite understand."
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager inwardly scoffed. Her son was good in all respects, except that he was too calculating. He probably intended to ask her why she let them go from the very beginning, but it had taken him this long to get to the point, which was truly difficult for him.
"Little Jiu is in his hands. Tell me, if it were I, what would you do?" the Empress Dowager asked the Emperor, word by word.
Upon hearing this, a fleeting light crossed the Emperor's eyes. "Mother, please calm your anger. Your son is merely worried about you."
"I know. Now that the Emperor understands the whole story, this empress dowager is tired. Emperor, you should return and attend to state affairs," the Empress Dowager waved him away.
Seeing this, the Emperor could only say, "Your son takes his leave!"
The Empress Dowager did not reply, simply leaning back on the soft couch and closing her eyes.
After a long while, she slowly opened her eyes and instructed the maid beside her, "Liu Chan, bring me my brocade box with the calligraphy and painting."
Liu Chan turned and walked towards the inner chamber, returning shortly with the brocade box.
"You may go," the Empress Dowager said to Liu Chan, taking the box.
Liu Chan curtsied and, along with the other maids, left the hall.
The Empress Dowager opened the brocade box. Inside was a painting. She took it out and unfurled it to reveal a young boy.
The boy appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen. He stood beneath a peach tree, dressed in snow-white robes, his face like fine jade, his eyes as brilliant as starlight.
She reached out to touch the young boy in the painting and sighed, "Xiao Wu, are you truly gone? I miss you."
"Imperial Grandmother..." a faint voice sounded. The Ninth Princess sat up, clutching her head.
"Little Jiu, how do you feel?" the Empress Dowager asked.
The Ninth Princess looked at the Empress Dowager. "Imperial Grandmother, why am I here?"
"This empress dowager also wants to ask you. Didn't you do as I instructed? Why have you fainted?"
The Ninth Princess covered her head. "I don't know. I only know that someone hit me from behind, and then I lost consciousness." As she spoke, her eyes suddenly flashed, and she cried out, "It must have been her! She must have knocked me out."