"I know when this happened, Princess Xiyue was still a child and didn't understand anything. As for you, you hadn't even been born yet."
Therefore, Wei Qiong couldn't blame Long Xiyue, nor could she blame Chu Qianli.
However, the Empress of Dingguo had indeed made a mistake.
The Third Prince had been loyal to the Empress of Dingguo his entire life. She was truly a good prince.
As for the current Empress Long Ziyue, she was benevolent and, as Empress, would never mistreat her people.
"Do you think I've come to you to reclaim the Empress's throne?"
Chu Qianli felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
She knew Wei Qiong meant no ill will, but in this world, how many people could truly understand her?
No one could truly empathize with another.
"I just want an answer."
She stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at the vast, desolate night.
"Grandmother, what was the reason for reaching that point back then? Are there still many things we don't know?"
No one wanted to believe their grandmother was a sinner.
But if that were the case, she wouldn't blame anyone.
"I don't covet the Empress's throne. I never wanted it, but..."
But she hoped to clear her grandmother's and mother's names.
However, she had never met her grandmother and, in the end, didn't know what kind of person her grandmother truly was.
Perhaps not good, perhaps not bad. Maybe she had acted according to the circumstances back then, or maybe...
"Regardless of whether she made a mistake or not, at least the Emperor of Dingguo was a good emperor when he was alive."
Wei Qiong also stood up, looking at Chu Qianli's solitary figure.
At this moment, she suddenly felt a touch of sadness.
She had originally thought she would follow Chu Qianli for a lifetime.
Who would have thought that Long Ziyue would be the Empress now?
The world changed so quickly, it was almost overwhelming.
"But at least, Empress Ziyue will definitely not be a bad Empress, do you understand?"
Chu Qianli remained silent, understanding everything.
She even understood that Wei Qiong's heart now belonged only to Empress Ziyue.
So be it.
The so-called truth might not be the truth, and pursuing it might not yield any good results.
As long as Ziyue was a good Empress, perhaps everything now was the best outcome.
At least, Ziyue would definitely love the country and its people...
"You're leaving?" Seeing her hand rest on the windowsill, Wei Qiong's heart suddenly ached intensely.
It was as if she had a premonition that after Chu Qianli left this time, they might never have the chance to see each other again.
But perhaps not seeing each other was also a good thing.
After all, Chu Qianli was still a sinner in Long Teng's eyes.
It was better not to meet.
If they were both well, that would be enough.
"Leave then." Wei Qiong stared at Chu Qianli's increasingly gaunt back, suppressing the sadness she felt.
She said, "Leave Long Teng, and leave Beiming. Start your own life anew. Don't... get entangled with anyone in the court anymore."
The court's currents were unpredictable. Since she could leave, it was better to go far away and live freely.
Staying here, unable to fathom people's hearts, would ultimately lead to no good end.
Too many people wanted her life.
"I still have some things to do. After I finish, I will leave."
Chu Qianli glanced back at her. With just that one glance, Wei Qiong felt a gust of wind blow in from outside the window.
She narrowed her eyes slightly. When she opened them again, Chu Qianli was nowhere in sight.
Chu Qianli had left.
However, she hadn't expected that as soon as she left the Great Wei Palace, a silver light, carried by the breeze, would sweep towards her.
The voice of the newcomer was deep and powerful, ringing like a bell: "Trying to leave? It's not that easy!"