"Let's go, Master."
"Alright, let's go," Qingyao turned back, looking at Xiao Yu'er behind her. The little girl was gazing at her with worry. She tugged at her lips faintly, wanting to offer them some comfort, but the smile turned out more like a bitter one.
The group majestically left the swamp pool and came ashore. At the edge of the shore, Mu Rong Liu Zun had already prepared two carriages. One was for the children, and the other was for himself, Yao'er, Xiao Yu'er, and the others. Mo You and his men followed behind on horseback.
Wúqíng Valley was located at the border between Huangyuan Kingdom and Xian Yue Kingdom. Therefore, after traveling for a large portion of the journey, the group reached the border of Huangyuan Kingdom. The defenses were not too strict, as it was a time of peace and they had not received any warnings of war. Consequently, the border guards were rather lax.
The two carriages passed through the border grandly, entering Xian Yue and heading towards the imperial capital of Xian Yue, Lin'an City.
Their group attracted considerable attention along the way. However, Emperor Xian had already disguised himself as Yin Xuan. Coupled with their low-profile actions, eating and staying in small places, they did not cause any major trouble. But on the tenth day, as they were nearing Lin'an City, something happened.
Early one morning, a scream from Xiao Yu'er echoed from the inn. Her delicate little face was filled with disbelief. She pointed a small finger at Qingyao, whose beautiful face was now covered in red spots. The red spots were particularly noticeable upon waking up in the morning, appearing even more vibrant, as if they were about to bleed, making them look even more hideous.
"Mother, your face."
Mo Chou quickly looked over, her hand holding a basin of water dropping to the ground with a clatter. She moved her lips a few times, "Master, these red spots have reappeared. What's going on?"
Qingyao sat upright on the bed, her expression suddenly turning cold. She quickly reached out and took a bronze mirror from the dressing table beside her. She saw that the mirror did not reflect the woman's pretty face, but only a large area of red spots spread across it, looking rather terrifying.
Qingyao's face was dark and indifferent, her entire being enveloped in ice. It was clear that Hua Wenbo had only employed a delaying tactic. He had not given Emperor Xian the true antidote but a delaying medicine. Calculating the time, exactly one month had passed, indicating that the medicine's effect only lasted for a month, hence the reappearance of the red spots.
In the corridor outside the room, Mo You asked worriedly, "Mo Chou, what happened?"
Mo Chou froze, unsure how to answer. Besides Mo You, the Emperor himself was likely outside. Qingyao calmly put down the bronze mirror and said slowly, "Let them in."
"Yes, Master." Since things had come to this, there was no point in hiding it. She pulled open the door, and Mu Rong Liu Zun strode in, asking in a deep voice, "What happened?"
Xiao Yu'er quickly pointed at Qingyao's face, "Mother's face?"
Mu Rong Liu Zun had already seen half of Qingyao's face, covered in red spots and flushed with blood, obscuring her original unparalleled beauty. She looked quite terrifying at the moment.
If someone timid encountered this for the first time, they would likely be startled. However, Mu Rong Liu Zun had seen these red spots before, so he felt no aversion.
On the contrary, he now felt enraged, incandescent with fury, wishing he could immediately rush to Danfeng Kingdom to settle accounts with that insidious and cunning man.
Emperor Xian clenched his fist and struck the washbasin stand beside him. The wooden stand immediately turned to dust, scattering in wisps. Chang Ting and Duan Hun were startled to see the Empress like this, but as they were always expressionless, it was hard to tell.
"What do we do now?"
Xiao Yu'er anxiously cried out. The more she thought about it, the more indignant she became. That man not only harmed Gongzi but was now not letting her mother off.
Just as Gongzi had said, as long as he was alive, he would not escape that man's control. Unless he could ruthlessly kill him, and since he could not kill him, he could only kill himself.
"It's nothing. It's just a bit ugly. I don't mind," Qingyao said calmly.
Her ethereal and graceful words made her appear even more noble, her demeanor elegant. Any ordinary woman would have been wailing and lamenting in such a situation, let alone displaying her composure and calmness, with a composed countenance.
Qingyao was not without her sadness. Every woman likes to be beautiful. But since this had happened to her, what else could she do?
She could only accept this reality. Moreover, it was not realistic to turn back to Danfeng Kingdom now. The corners of her lips curled into a cold, sinister smile. The next time they met, it would not be so amicable.
Her gaze was as deep as an abyss, chilling one to the bone.
"Alright, we can enter Lin'an City today. We're finally home."
Qingyao thought of her Prime Minister father, whom she had not seen in over a year, and the sisters Mu Qingxiang and Mu Qingzhu. She wondered how they were doing.
As she neared home, she felt a bit timid. Although she herself did not mind, she truly feared that they would see her ugly appearance, which would make them sad. She recalled how she had ostentatiously divorced Emperor Nan Jing, and now, in such a wretched state, she was returning to the capital, resembling a stray dog.
However, now that she was at her doorstep, there was no reason not to enter. Moreover, she would not enter the palace.
"Alright, let's get ready to enter Lin'an City. Your Majesty, please send someone to escort us to the Prime Minister's Mansion."
As soon as Qingyao finished speaking, Emperor Xian's dark eyes, black as ink, gazed at her without blinking, "Yao'er."
"Alright, send me back to the Prime Minister's Mansion. We are nothing now. If Xiao Yu'er misses you, she can go to the palace to stay for a few days, but I will not enter the palace again. Please send us back to the Prime Minister's Mansion.
"Our current relationship is one of cooperation. I am helping you, not willingly returning to your side, but to repay you for saving me twice.
"Furthermore, I need to make plans for Fengchen Palace. Martial arts sects, without royal backing, are ultimately insignificant. Therefore, I will choose to align myself with one side in this chaotic era, and you are my best partner at the moment. First, I can repay your kindness, and second, I can strengthen Fengchen Palace. Why not? But there will be nothing else."
Qingyao spoke decisively. Setting aside the fact that she had no such intentions, just her current appearance made her unsuitable to be the Empress, the mother of the nation.
When she finished speaking, Emperor Xian's dark eyes were clear and tranquil. It was false to say he wasn't sad hearing her speak so distantly, but thinking that she was so close to him, he still felt warmth in his heart. Moreover, at such a time, he dared not mention the word "love."
If heaven gave him a chance to retreat safely after pacifying the seven kingdoms, he could offer her a completely new self. No matter the hardship, or whatever she wanted him to do, even if she did not accept him, he would stay by her side, never leaving her, for all eternity.
But he had not forgotten his own destined tribulation. If their relationship deepened, and he were to face his doom, it would be another blow to her. His inevitable death would already be a wound to her, and he did not wish for her to experience such a scene again.
"Alright, I will send you back to the Prime Minister's Mansion."
His voice, warm like aged wine, rang out. His demeanor was composed, seemingly different from the overbearing and conceited man he once was.
Qingyao narrowed her eyes slightly, observing him. His brows and eyes still carried the domineering and ruthless aura she was familiar with, but within that dominance, there was now gentleness and humanity.
"Thank you."
She spoke. The fact that he did not force her was the most reassuring thing to her. Who knew what the future held? For now, they were cooperating partners.
After the two decided on their destination, Emperor Xian led his subordinates out. Mo You also withdrew, and Mo Chou quickly attended to her master to get up and wash.