"The past two days, my temper was too fiery, so I came personally to visit Consort Shu. You won't be angry with me, will you?" Shangguan Hao said softly. Ximen Xinyue raised her eyebrows suspiciously. She saw the face before her, smiling warmly, so sincerely, as if he cared about her.
But she only felt a chill in her heart. The gentler this man smiled, the more vicious his actions would likely be.
A shiver ran down her spine. Her hand subconsciously touched her belly. She spoke calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Xinyue is very happy."
If he didn't expose it, she wouldn't ask. She truly feared it might be a cruel matter.
However, Shangguan Hao had little patience to waste with her. He was like a startled bird, only focused on finding a solution, not caring about anyone else's feelings.
"Do you know that Hua Lige was abducted today? The princess was robbed in broad daylight on her wedding day, my alliance was ruined, and that person was rescued. What do you think, can I not be worried? All of this was caused by that woman."
By the end, Shangguan Hao's face contorted, his pupils becoming fierce. Gritting his teeth, he shed his usual gentleness, making him seem terrifying. She wondered why she had ever found him handsome and elegant; he was simply an ugly devil.
"So?" Ximen Xinyue continued his words, her voice raising a few decibels.
Her palms were covered in sweat. The torment she endured in such a short time felt like hundreds or thousands of years, so difficult to bear. Were these days truly her punishment from heaven, punishing her for being too greedy, too vain?
Upon hearing her question, Shangguan Hao stared at her with malevolence. "Only you can help me now, Xinyue. Help me once, and I promise I will not treat you unfairly. If I can secure the throne forever, I will certainly make you Empress."
Ximen Xinyue's gaze deepened. She remembered that it was precisely because of this position that she had become neither human nor ghost, and had caused Lianyan to lose her life.
Her current life was agonizing. She couldn't help but give a bitter laugh. Shangguan Hao gripped her hand with all his might, his force causing her fingers pain.
"Tell me, even if there were no Empress's seat, I would still help Your Majesty."
She no longer had the right to refuse. She had not forgotten the Ximen family behind her. Her father was so old, and there were still people in the mansion. They were all innocent.
"Good," Shangguan Hao's expression finally showed a hint of joy upon hearing Ximen Xinyue's words. He loosened his grip slightly, leaned closer, and whispered something into Ximen Xinyue's ear.
Ximen Xinyue's face instantly turned as pale as paper. Her lips trembled, and her body swayed several times. She forced herself to slowly slide to the side and knelt down, tears falling like rain.
"Your Majesty, I beg you, spare this child. Your Majesty, even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs. He is your own child. Besides him, you have no other children."
Shangguan Hao's expression turned icy. He reached out and grabbed Ximen Xinyue's collar, speaking sinisterly.
"I asked for your help, not for you to lecture me. As long as I am firmly on the throne, do you think I won't have children? I can have as many as I want. And as long as you obediently listen, I will still allow you to conceive, and I will return a child to you."
"No!"
Tears streamed down Ximen Xinyue's soft, delicate, and frail face. She covered her mouth with her hand, preventing herself from screaming out loud, preventing herself from wishing she could rush forward and tear this man's face apart.
He was truly shameless. The world said tigers don't eat their cubs, yet he wanted to destroy his own child with his own hands. Why was there such an evil man?
Even as Emperor, he merely didn't love her, but he had never humiliated her like this before. This was too painful. If Lianyan were gone, and the child were gone, how could she live?
"Your Majesty, I beg you, think of another way. This concubine will definitely help you accomplish it. Your Majesty, I beg you, he is your child."
Shangguan Hao's patience was exhausted. Looking at the woman weeping at his feet, he sneered inwardly, truly a woman who could not achieve greatness. Without sacrificing the cub, one could not catch the wolf; she lacked any spirit to achieve greatness. He spoke with bloodthirsty cruelty.
"You have two choices: one, sacrifice the child to protect the Ximen family; two, sacrifice the Ximen family to protect the child, but I will settle accounts with you for harboring that person. If I don't see any movement from you within three days, I will know your answer."
Shangguan Hao left without looking back. The voice of the eunuch Xiao Linzi was heard outside the door: "His Majesty is returning to the palace."
Above the grand hall, Ximen Xinyue collapsed on the ground, her body prostrate. Tears flowed from her hairline all the way to the floor. She even wished for death.
Living now was just torment. If Lianyan were still here, she could at least console her. But now, no one paid her any attention.
When the palace staff saw her dishevelled state, who would serve her diligently? If this matter angered the Emperor, she would likely not have a good ending. Therefore, even though her heart broke from crying, no one came to visit her.
The empty grand hall was like a lonely soul weeping.
Although she was heartbroken, and so desperate that she wished she could die, she knew that there was only one path left for her to choose: sacrifice the child to protect the Ximen family.
If she sacrificed the Ximen family to protect the child, that man would still come to settle accounts with her. She would have nothing left to protect. Therefore, from beginning to end, she had no choice but one path.
Ximen Xinyue, tired from crying, vaguely touched her belly.
"Child, I am sorry. Mother Consort is not good. Mother Consort cannot protect you. Do not hate me, nor hate anyone. Reincarnate, and next time, do not be born into a family of emperors or generals. Be born into an ordinary family."
After she finished speaking, she actually fainted. The empty Jianyang Palace fell into a deathly silence.
In the inner hall of Fengluan Palace, the bedchamber echoed with murmurs.
"Your Highness, everything has been taken care of."
Qingyao leaned against the bed and slowly put on her clothes, sitting up. Two small sparks flickered in her eyes. She asked softly, "Is he alright?"
Mochou knew she was asking about the Emperor. She quickly replied respectfully, "Your Highness, please rest assured. He is fine. The blood clot in Mingyue's brain will be removed soon."
Qingyao nodded. Her heart finally felt a little better. As long as the blood clot in his brain was removed, he would regain his memory. Once his memory recovered, they would go to Mount Tianshan to find his master to heal him. By then, they would surely deal with Shangguan Hao and Ximen Xinyue.
"Well, that's good. You two follow me. I'm afraid we'll have to endure some hardship next."
"It's fine, Your Highness." Mochou and Bingxiao immediately spoke. Qingyao sighed lightly, thinking that the two of them were getting old. She couldn't help but sigh.
"When everything is settled, I will marry you two off. You are not young anymore."
"Your Highness," the two maids felt touched. In such circumstances, their Highness was still thinking of their affairs. Even if they had to lay down their lives, they should repay such a master.
"We are not in a hurry. Your Highness should rest early. You need to conserve your energy now, otherwise, you won't have the strength to deal with the coming storm."
"Well, that's true. You two take turns resting, don't stay up together."
"Okay," the two nodded. Mochou went to serve her mistress, while Bingxiao went down to rest first.