"Your Majesty, I have met the Empress."
"Rise, call me Miss Yun. I am no Empress."
"Your Majesty, this?"
Ye Suxue looked up, her joy barely concealed. Yun Xiao watched her, amused. What was the point of fighting over positions at such a moment? With that man soon to be dethroned, what would become of them, the imperial consorts?
"Fine, I have no interest in this position. Rise. If you keep calling me 'Your Majesty,' you can return to Zhaoyang Palace."
Yun Xiao said, exasperated. Ye Suxue immediately stood up, her resentment towards Yun Xiao considerably lessened.
"Then what is Your Majesty's intention?"
"The Emperor has forbidden me from leaving the palace, but I will leave."
Yun Xiao said nonchalantly. As long as she found Murong, she would definitely leave. She wouldn't even come if she were invited.
"Mm," Ye Suxue nodded. Yun Xiao motioned for her to sit, ordered Xiuxiu to serve tea, and had everyone in the hall withdraw.
The two drank tea and chatted, a rare moment. Yun Xiao glanced at Ye Suxue as she drank her tea and said slowly, "I never expected Noble Consort to be so amusing. You didn't want to get pregnant, so why did you ask me for the abortion pill after taking medication?"
"What does Your Majesty mean?"
Ye Suxue nervously grabbed Yun Xiao's hand and cried out. Yun Xiao's expression turned cold, and she shook her hand off, standing up. "I told you not to call me 'Your Majesty.' Call me 'Miss Yun' if you must."
"Miss Yun, you said I took medication."
"Yes. Judging by Noble Consort's complexion, you must have taken a large dose of infertility medication. It will be difficult to get pregnant in the future, so save your Hundred Flower Marrow."
Yun Xiao continued to drink her tea. From Ye Suxue's complexion, she had already guessed that this was likely Shangguan Yao's idea. He didn't want Ye Suxue to conceive, wanting the Ye family to have the Empress, so he had drugged Ye Suxue.
She wasn't lying about this.
"How is that possible? I didn't take anything."
Ye Suxue was too shocked to blurt out her denial. She didn't even notice Yue Mei's meaningful glances, only hearing a buzzing in her ears. She was on the verge of madness. Suddenly, she stood up and yelled at Yue Mei.
"Let's go find Mother Empress. I demand an explanation. Why would she harm me like this?"
Yun Xiao laughed upon hearing this. She stood up and said slowly, "It's rare for me to return to the palace. Since the Empress Dowager is ill, I'll go see her as well."
"Fine. It's perfect timing to help me prove this to Mother Empress."
"Aren't you afraid I'm lying to you?"
Yun Xiao said indifferently. Ye Suxue suddenly froze, muttering, "You're lying to me, aren't you?"
"Let's go. I wouldn't joke about such a thing. You have indeed taken a large dose of infertility medication, and it will be difficult to conceive. Otherwise, summon the imperial physicians to examine you. They'll know at a glance."
Ye Suxue stopped speaking, her face clouded with sadness. If this were true, and Shangguan Yao truly intended to eliminate the Ye family to promote the Ye family, why was this happening?
What was her relationship with Ye Yuyun? He didn't even support his own uncle. Ye Suxue's hair stood on end, wishing she could kill Shangguan Yao with a knife to vent her anger. If she was truly beyond help, what should she do?
The two walked out together. Yue Mei followed her mistress, reaching out to support her. Ye Suxue was trembling violently, her complexion even more ghastly.
If she could no longer conceive, the blow would be too great. The Emperor was truly cruel, to do such a thing.
Even if he didn't want someone from the Ye family to be Empress, he should have said so directly, at least allowing his lady to conceive. He hadn't expected to tamper with her body while publicly stating that whoever bore the prince first would become Empress.
Ye Suxue clutched Yue Mei's hand, her own hands ice-cold, digging into Yue Mei's flesh.
Her heart felt as if it were on fire.
Shangguan Yao, if this is true, you will never have another child in this lifetime. You bring one, and I'll kill one. You bring two, and I'll kill a pair. You've forced my hand.
The group majestically entered Changxin Palace.
Upon entering Changxin Palace, Yun Xiao noticed the atmosphere was different from other places. The eunuchs guarding the entrance were not as deferential as usual; instead, their eyes were sharp. It was clear these were trained individuals. They were definitely not ordinary eunuchs. Had Shangguan Yao planted them here to monitor Changxin Palace?
Yun Xiao followed Ye Suxue into the main hall. The people inside were all attendants of Changxin Palace, with the head eunuch Lin An presiding. Ping An was nowhere to be seen. Lin An walked over respectfully.
"Greetings, Noble Consort."
Unaware of the events outside and with Yun Xiao standing behind Ye Suxue, Lin An paid her no mind.
"Where is Mother Empress?"
"Your Majesty is in the sleeping quarters."
After Lin An finished speaking, Ye Suxue rushed directly to the sleeping quarters. Lin An dared not say more. This Noble Consort was the Empress Dowager's own niece; he had no authority to speak to her.
However, when Ye Suxue walked past, she saw Yun Xiao. Lin An froze at a single glance, staring blankly at the retreating figure.
Who was this person? She looked so much like the foolish Empress.
Lin An, puzzled, led his people behind a group and walked inward. Catching up, he asked Xiuxiu, Yun Xiao's maid, "Who is this?"
Xiuxiu glanced at Lin An and said with a hint of amusement, "It's the Empress. Eunuch Lin, you can't not recognize her, can you?"
Lin An was stunned, as if struck by lightning, and froze in place, unable to move.
In the sleeping quarters, a cry rang out: "Mother Empress, you must help your humble subject!"
The Empress Dowager had been out of bed for a while today and was now reclining on a soft couch. Hearing Ye Suxue's cry from afar, she couldn't help but frown. She had just said this girl had become mature and steady, but why was she so flustered again?
Two graceful figures walked in from outside the screen. The others waited outside the hall.
Yun Xiao ignored the crying Ye Suxue and slowly bowed. "Greetings, Empress Dowager."
Her lowered eyes were veiled with a bloodthirsty killing intent. This woman deserved to die, for repeatedly harming Murong and imprisoning him in Changxin Palace. Now, it seemed, this person must be hidden within Changxin Palace, otherwise, the Emperor wouldn't be so vigilant.
"Who are you?"
The Empress Dowager frowned, staring intently at Yun Xiao. Yun Xiao slowly raised her head to look at her.
Her dark eyes reflected a sharp and commanding ferocity, emanating coldly. Just standing there, she inspired fear. Her entire being was like a sharpened weapon about to be unsheathed, radiating a chilling, extraordinary gleam...
Yun Xiao was as cold as ice, as deep as a secluded pool. The malevolent aura surrounding her was like a life-reaping Asura, arriving with the wind and rain.
With just a glance from the Empress Dowager, she felt a suffocating sensation and a cold sweat break out on her forehead. Trembling, she pointed a finger at Yun Xiao.
"You, how did you return?"