The Empress Dowager had remained silent all along, but... when Gu Yin asked her again, she suddenly lifted her head, looked at Gu Yin, and said seriously, "Do you truly not understand?"
"Gu Yin, I am the Empress Dowager. No matter how many times I am reborn, my identity remains the Empress Dowager!" the Empress Dowager's voice rose considerably.
"And what of it? That has never been a reason," Gu Yin refused to concede.
"Precisely because I know, it is the outcome," the Empress Dowager became more earnest.
What kind of answer was this? It was because she knew, yet did not respond, that it was the best rejection.
"Nan Yin..." Gu Yin called her name, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by the Empress Dowager.
"Gu Yin, I am unworthy. I am sorry. Please return. I wish to be alone for a while." The Empress Dowager walked straight inside, leaving Gu Yin no opportunity.
Gu Yin looked at the empty room, his expression darkening slightly. Then... Gu Yin clutched his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Looking at the blood on his hands, Gu Yin gave a bitter smile. In the end, nothing had gone as he wished. Time was indeed something one could not force. Had he, in his many years, been defeated solely by time? Gu Yin left Cih'an Palace without alerting anyone.
The events here did not stir up much of a commotion, remaining confined to the two of them. However, the outside world was different. The selection of new consorts had been decided, and the chosen ladies had now entered the palace.
The new consorts had all arrived at Xiling Palace, and from today onwards, they would formally begin learning palace rules and etiquette. Bai Yusheng and Yu Yan were, needless to say, the most outstanding among this batch of consorts. However... besides them, there was one more person.
"Hey? Seeing this county princess, don't you know to pay your respects?" Yu Yan said condescendingly to a girl dressed in the attire of a consort candidate.
"Please excuse me, County Princess. I was merely thinking that since we are all consort candidates now, our statuses should be equal. If you still consider yourself a county princess, then why have you entered the palace?" The person gently lifted her head, a slight smile gracing her lips, her delicate eyebrows slightly raised. Facing Yu Yan's arrogance, she showed no fear, nor concern about offending her.
"Su Qianyan, you are merely a concubine's daughter. You are far too presumptuous!" Besides Bai Yusheng, this woman before her was the one Yu Yan detested the most.
Su Qianyan, the eldest daughter of the Left Prime Minister. Unfortunately, she was born to a concubine. Previously, she had little presence in the Prime Minister's mansion. But for some reason in the past two years, she had suddenly gained the Prime Minister's favor, even surpassing that of the legitimate daughter.
Among this selection of consort candidates, apart from herself and Bai Yusheng, it was this ungrateful Su Qianyan who was constantly vying for attention with her. The more Yu Yan thought about it, the angrier she became. In the next moment, she swung a slap at her. Su Qianyan was not one to be trifled with, and she directly grabbed Yu Yan's wrist.
"County Princess, the positions between us may not be settled yet. Must you be so forceful now? Leaving no room for negotiation?" Su Qianyan questioned, her eyes turning somewhat fierce.
"You are merely a concubine's daughter, and you think you can rise above me?" Yu Yan was dismissive and directly flung Su Qianyan's hand away.
"Su Qianyan, I warn you, do not provoke me. You are forever unqualified. Bai Yusheng is at least a legitimate daughter, and what are you? Just a concubine's daughter, a mere servant, in plain terms. Do you think you are worthy of competing with me?!" Yu Yan glanced at her coldly, then disdainfully departed.