Meng Jiangming sensed a scrutinizing gaze upon him. He remained kneeling, motionless, yet only he knew the pain that had begun to throb in his back.
Suddenly, a pair of hands helped him to his feet. “駙馬, why are you doing this? I haven’t said I don’t believe you.”
Meng Jiangming rose and replied, “Your Majesty, I thank you.”
Xue Tianyue gazed into the distance and said, “You may withdraw. I wish to be alone for a while.”
Meng Jiangming bowed and retreated.
Xue Tianyue extended a hand, stroking the side of the bed where someone sat, their expression somewhat downcast.
“Someone,” Xue Tianyue called out towards the door.
Soon, someone entered. “Your Majesty, I am here.”
“Go and summon Xiao Yue. I wish to see him,” Xue Tianyue said.
Xue Xingyue looked at the attendant before her, a sense of surprise stirring within her. Xue Tianyue wanted to see her?
“Xiao Yue, His Majesty is still waiting,” the attendant said.
“I understand. Lead the way!” Xue Xingyue replied.
Arriving at the room where Xue Tianyue was staying, the attendant said, “His Majesty is inside.”
“Thank you!” Xue Xingyue glanced at the closed door, her gaze chilling for a moment. However, as she pushed the door open, her expression softened.
“Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty,” Xue Xingyue knelt on the ground, kowtowing.
A gaze fell upon her. After a long pause, a voice, both strange and familiar to her, broke the silence, “Look up.”
Xue Xingyue slowly lifted her head. The youth before her was as she remembered him from when she left – exceptionally handsome, very much resembling her imperial brother in memory, yet he lacked her brother’s gentleness.
“Are you General Xie’s person?” Xue Tianyue asked.
Xue Xingyue replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Why have I not seen you?” Xue Tianyue inquired.
Xue Xingyue faltered. Had she not seen her? Had Xue Tianyue visited Zhen Wu Guan?
When had he gone? Why was she unaware?
“This servant has been in Qi for a long time and was only recently recalled by General Xie,” Xue Xingyue stated.
Fortunately, she and Xie Yunliu had discussed her identity, anticipating such questions.
Nothing else was suitable; indeed, everything was traceable. Only as a spy would she be untraceable. After all, in Qi, who would investigate the identity of a spy in Qi?
She mused that her past caution had saved her, allowing her to speak without hesitation, even when facing Xue Tianyue, despite her deep hatred.
Xue Tianyue narrowed his eyes, clearly considering the truth of her words.
But, as she had anticipated, a spy was untraceable, especially one operating in Qi.
“Today, the 駙馬 took a whipping for you. Xiao Yue, do you know your crime?” Xue Tianyue asked coldly.
Xue Xingyue quickly lowered her head and kowtowed. “This servant knows her crime. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness. I did not know the 駙馬 would take a whipping for me. Had I known, I would never have let the 駙馬 take it for me.”
As she spoke, she kowtowed with great force, the sound of her head striking the ground audible.
Xue Tianyue felt an inexplicable sense of unease. He angrily commanded, “Get out…”
Xue Xingyue started. At that moment, someone entered and said to him, “You may go.”
Xue Xingyue dared not delay and quickly withdrew.
Only upon returning to her room and sensing she was no longer being followed did she finally heave a sigh of relief.
She closed the door and approached the water basin. Her reflection stared back from the water, a large swelling on her forehead.
She looked at the lump with a blank expression. After a moment, she pressed a cold, wet cloth to the swelling.
Xue Xingyue knew that the innocent, carefree youth of the past was gone.
The youth who used to call her Imperial Aunt had vanished.
From now on, any encounters would be between enemies, bound by a deep-seated animosity.
Xue Tianyue gazed out the window, remaining still for a long time.
A nearby servant observed, “Your Majesty, it is getting late. You should return to the palace. Otherwise, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager will worry.”
Xue Tianyue heard this, withdrew his gaze, and said, “Mother has always cared only for the court. She does not care about me.”
“Your Majesty, you must not say such things. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager does care for Your Majesty.”
Xue Tianyue sneered. “Care for me? She cares only for this imperial throne. She cares for nothing else.”
“Your Majesty…”
“Enough. Do not say another word. I will stay at the Duke of Ning’s mansion tonight. Go and report this,” Xue Tianyue waved his hand and said no more.
The servant had no choice but to retreat.
Ci He Palace
“He would rather stay at the Duke of Ning’s mansion than return. I say he has had enough of being emperor,” the Empress Dowager stated coldly.
“Your Majesty, His Majesty is merely throwing a small tantrum. He will come around once he thinks it through,” the head palace maid, Zi Luo, advised.
“Zi Luo, Tian Yue is a person who, once set on something, will not let go.”
“Your Majesty, perhaps I should go and personally invite His Majesty back to the palace?” Zi Luo asked.
“Never mind. If he wishes to stay at the Duke of Ning’s mansion, let him stay. Now, I am an eyesore to him. He does not wish to see me or anyone associated with me.”
“Your Majesty, please do not think that way. You are His Majesty’s mother. His Majesty is simply unable to come to terms with things.”
“Unable to come to terms? It has been over two months, and he still cannot?”
“Your Majesty, His Majesty is sentimental. You know this. Therefore, you must give His Majesty some time.”
“Enough. You may all withdraw. I wish to be alone for a while.”
Zi Luo bowed upon hearing this. “Yes, your servant takes her leave!”
Looking at the now empty sleeping quarters, she stood up and walked to the table. Seeing the half-finished portrait of a woman, she sighed. “Xue Xing Yue, you must hate me, mustn’t you? I became Empress Dowager, and Tian Yue became Emperor, but you should be grateful to me. At least I protected this place, protected the Xue Kingdom. But I know, you must hate me intensely. I took everything from you.”
She suddenly reached out and grasped the portrait, her gaze turning stern. “Hate me. I regret nothing of what I have done. If given the chance again, I would do the same.”
“Because, what I have always desired is to be above all others.”