When the Empress Dowager saw the Empress and Concubine Ru walking out of the winding corridor, she stepped forward to greet them. "Empress, didn't you hurt your foot? How can you walk around?"
Ji Feiyu saw it was the Empress Dowager and quickly flashed a smile. "It's just a minor injury. It's nothing."
The Empress Dowager took her hand, looking pitying. She stroked Ji Feiyu's little hand and said, "Originally, I wanted to ask you to enjoy the snow with me. But thinking about your injury yesterday, I gave up the idea. Unexpectedly, I met you here."
Ji Feiyu said obediently, "If Mother wants to watch the snow, I'll accompany you!"
But the Empress Dowager shook her head. "It's better for the Empress to rest and recuperate."
Ji Feiyu smiled sweetly. "I've already said it's nothing. Look, Concubine Ru has let me accompany her for such a long time, and I don't feel uncomfortable at all. Could there be a problem just because I accompany Mother?"
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager immediately glared at Concubine Ru. "Doesn't Concubine Ru know that the Empress hurt her foot?" Concubine Ru's face suddenly changed when she saw the Empress Dowager blaming her for not taking good care of Ji Feiyu. She didn't expect Ji Feiyu to stab her in the back at this moment. Just as she was about to explain, she heard Ji Feiyu say with a smile:
"Mother, don't blame Concubine Ru for being ignorant. It was I who told Concubine Ru that I was fine and then came out. I also wanted to see the snow myself."
Concubine Ru's face turned even worse after hearing this.
The Empress Dowager frowned and waved her hand at Concubine Ru. "Forget it. I won't argue with you about this today. You may withdraw."
Hearing this, Concubine Ru still wanted to say something, but was pulled by the senior maid beside her. Then she reluctantly withdrew.
And Ji Feiyu continued to accompany the Empress Dowager in the boundless snow scene.
When they walked to the rose garden area, the Empress Dowager finally patted Ji Feiyu's hand and sighed deeply. "Alas... I've already heard about the marriage alliance. The Emperor has no heir, and the only princess is Ran Wei... But Ran Wei, she..."
Hearing this, Ji Feiyu couldn't help sighing. She suddenly remembered the sword Ran Wei had stabbed many years ago. It was so cold and heartless, shining like a god.
That year, Yong Yaxuan hadn't ascended the throne yet. Ji Feiyu, he and his first love were wandering outside the palace.
Ran Wei loved to play, so she disguised herself and went out of the palace to find them. Unexpectedly, she met her fateful enemy, Xiao Yuchuan.
Xiao Yuchuan was originally a good friend who accompanied Yong Yaxuan. But no one knew why he rebelled during an assassination when Yong Yaxuan was about to take Ji Feiyu back to the palace. He almost killed Yong Yaxuan. His first love came to protect him, but was killed by Xiao Yuchuan's sword while trying to save Ji Feiyu. Seeing her beloved elder brother die so miserably, Ran Wei was extremely anxious and raised her sword against the man she loved.
That sword strike was cold and heartless, catching Xiao Yuchuan off guard. Xiao Yuchuan died on the spot.
After that, a political coup took place in the court. Yong Yaxuan led the troops of his first love, returned to the court, beheaded the traitors and villains, and ascended the throne. Ji Feiyu followed him into the deep palace. Ran Wei was also recalled by the Empress Dowager, but she never recovered.
Thinking of the once lively girl who was now so silent, Ji Feiyu sighed deeply.
Seeing Ji Feiyu looking a bit melancholy when recalling the past, the Empress Dowager said, "This marriage alliance will probably be extremely difficult. What's your strategy, Empress?"
Sure enough, in such matters, even a mother didn't want to be the bad guy. She could only push her daughter - in - law out to handle it. It seemed that it was really not easy to be a wife or a daughter - in - law. Ji Feiyu couldn't help sighing again.
Seeing Ji Feiyu like this, the Empress Dowager said nervously, "Does the Empress have no solution? Then why did you agree to those sons of the foreign tribes?"
Ji Feiyu shook her head. Seeing the Empress Dowager looking a bit disappointed, she smiled faintly. "Since this matter has been entrusted to me, Mother doesn't need to worry about it. Since I've agreed to the marriage alliance, I will surely give everyone an explanation."
Hearing Ji Feiyu's answer, the Empress Dowager was relieved. Maybe she was also looking forward to the marriage alliance being a turning point in Ran Wei's life.
After all, with Ran Wei's personality, since that sword strike, even if there was no marriage alliance, she would probably spend the rest of her life alone in the palace. Ji Feiyu knew very well about the so - called love of the young people. When love reaches its depth, the heart turns to ashes...
...
After seeing off the Empress Dowager, Ji Feiyu returned to her Qiwu Palace. She changed from her formal dress into a casual one. After taking a rest for a while, she went to Jifang Hall with a heavy heart. Jifang Hall was the residence of Princess Ran Wei.
This time, there were no more colorful butterflies in Jifang Hall. There were only green vines and deep, secluded grass.
Ji Feiyu stepped in gently. Seeing no one in the main hall, she asked a few maid - stewards and finally found Ran Wei in the snow pavilion in the back courtyard.
At this moment, she was dressed in plain white, standing gracefully in the pavilion, almost blending in with the snow scene behind her. The gentle breeze slowly blew up the corners of her clothes and fluttered her black hair. Even standing in the desolate scenery, she had a touch of vividness.
"Ran Wei." Ji Feiyu stepped forward slowly and called out softly.
"Sister Empress?" She was a bit puzzled. She suddenly looked back. Her bright eyes were already dim, and there was a desolate look in the corners of her eyes.
"Ran Wei!" Ji Feiyu quickly stepped into the snow pavilion and supported her. But in a moment of emotion, Ran Wei sat down with her. Her face showed joy. "Sister Empress, why did you come?"
Her smile was just a disguise. Ji Feiyu felt a bit sad when she saw it, but she still smiled with her. "It's been some years since I last came. I don't know how you've been."
After she returned to the palace that year, Ji Feiyu had looked for her several times, but she refused to meet. It was not until a year later that Ji Feiyu finally saw her. She said that seeing Ji Feiyu would make her think of many things when they were outside the palace. There were happy things as well as sad ones, but she couldn't bear those stimuli anymore.
Ji Feiyu understood what she meant. Except on necessary occasions, she no longer came to disturb her. She just ordered people to take care of her secretly and add whatever was lacking. She didn't expect that so many years had passed in a flash.
After these years, she had become even thinner. Ji Feiyu felt a bit heart - broken and couldn't help stroking her face.
She smiled at Ji Feiyu and said, "Over the years, I've been well taken care of by sister. I'm very sorry that I missed Mother's birthday because I accidentally caught a cold. Sister, did you come here for something?"
Looking at her appearance, Ji Feiyu hesitated for a moment and then made up her mind to say, "After all these years, has Ran Wei figured out the way of love?"
She shook her head and smiled. Looking at her, Ji Feiyu remembered the lively and cute girl from that year.
"Actually... I came this time to find a new path for you." Ji Feiyu looked at her, sounding a bit lacking in confidence.
She asked, "What path?"
Ji Feiyu took a deep breath, stood up slowly, and turned her back to her. "I hope you can leave the palace and get out of this cage."
Ran Wei seemed a bit puzzled.
"Do you really want to spend your whole life alone in this deep palace? The former you wanted inner freedom and openness and would never be bound by anything. Now there's such an opportunity in front of you..."
Ran Wei slowly stood up behind Ji Feiyu. "Sister Empress means..."