Concubine Chen felt as if everything was about to come to an end. The events that had taken place within these tall palace walls flashed by like fleeting clouds. She let out a sigh.
Xiao Hanzhi noticed a look of loss on his mother's face. He quickly asked, "Mother Concubine, are you reluctant to part? Do you still love Father Emperor?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? In this man - eating imperial palace, how can the word 'love' even exist?" Concubine Chen immediately retorted when she heard her son's question. But after the retort, she seemed a bit regretful and then explained lightly, "After all, I've been here for over 20 years. It's only natural that I have some lingering feelings."
Hearing his mother say this, Xiao Hanzhi suddenly thought of Shen Miao. It seemed that they had some feelings for each other, but unfortunately, Shen Miao might have already died in the dungeon of the Tian Ce Mansion.
Some time ago, Helian Shu obtained an oral edict from the emperor and was able to visit this once - future Fourth Princess Consort in the dungeon of the Tian Ce Mansion. Now, no one knew where Shen Miao's body had been thrown, perhaps into some unmarked grave.
Thinking of this, Xiao Hanzhi felt a twinge of pain in his heart. Maybe it was just sadness and sorrow for Shen Miao's fate.
"Mother Concubine, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
After Xiao Hanzhi left, the noble concubine was supported by her maids and walked out of the Qingyou Pavilion.
"Today, let's go and see how the Empress is doing. The Empress has fallen seriously ill because of her longing for the emperor. Currently, I'm the only one in the harem who can shoulder this responsibility. Naturally, I have to go and take a look." Concubine Chen gracefully swayed her waist, stepped on the back of a servant, and sat into the sedan chair.
The Qingyou Pavilion was still some distance away from the Empress's Chengqian Palace. They had to pass through a section of the imperial garden on the way. The gentle breeze blew the curtain of the sedan chair, making the people inside faintly visible, presenting a somewhat unique view.
When they arrived at the Chengqian Palace, the guards at the door saluted the noble concubine.
"I wonder how the Empress's illness is now? As her younger sister, I've come specially to take a look today." The noble concubine knew that at this moment, the Empress must be in her small Buddhist chapel without anyone's guidance.
Her voice came before her figure appeared.
The originally quiet small Buddhist chapel was suddenly filled with a bustling crowd of servants and maids following the noble concubine.
"Why has my younger sister come to this humble place?" The Empress was kneeling in front of the Buddha statue, motionless. Her closed eyes did not open, and only her lips were moving as she spoke.
Nanny Gui, who was beside the Empress, felt indignant for the Empress when she saw the noble concubine's arrogant attitude. But without the Empress's order, Nanny Gui didn't dare to make any other moves, for fear of causing trouble and implicating her mistress.
Concubine Chen was supported as she walked in. "I've been free these days, so I came to see how you're doing, Sister. I've been really worried since you've been ill for so long."
"You don't need to worry about me." The Empress was constantly twirling a string of Buddhist beads in her hand. Her words were very cold. She knelt straight in front of the Buddha statue, her body not moving at all.
The noble concubine picked up three incense sticks from the side, lit them on the fire, then knelt in front of the Buddha statue, bowed, and inserted the incense into the incense burner.
"Sister, do you believe in the Buddha?"
"What's the point of believing or not believing?"
"Of course, there's a point. I've heard that the highly - respected monk Taixu, who has been wandering around, is going to stay at the White Horse Temple for a few days. Since you're so eager to pray for the emperor, why don't you accompany me to the White Horse Temple for a few days? If we can see the great monk Taixu, it'll be a blessing."
The Buddhist beads that the Empress had been twirling in her hand suddenly stopped. Her beautiful eyes suddenly opened, and a sharp look shot out from her gentle eyes as she stared at Concubine Chen.
"What on earth do you want?" The Empress was very close to Concubine Chen. She gritted her teeth and spoke in a low voice.
Concubine Chen pretended to look innocent. "I'm naturally thinking about the emperor. Sister, you'd better think it over carefully." As she said this, she gently patted the Empress's shoulder to get closer.
She whispered to the Empress in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "I'd advise you, Sister, to agree. After all, I've heard that the Fifth and Ninth Princesses aren't living very well in the Yao'an Palace and the Ninghua Palace. They've also been complaining to me that they miss you."
The threat in her words was undisguised.
"You're trying to threaten me." The Empress fell out with the noble concubine because of this.
"I'm just giving you a suggestion, Sister. Why are you so angry? If you get yourself angry again, it won't be worth it." Concubine Chen felt that the smell of incense in this small Buddhist chapel was too strong and a bit stale. The air didn't circulate well, making it feel a bit stuffy. After telling the Empress this, she swaggered out.
Although the Empress was the mistress of the palace, the Yao'an Palace and the Ninghua Palace were surrounded by Xiao Hanzhi's men. As a result, the lives of the two little princesses were now in Concubine Chen's hands.
The next day... The Empress got on the carriage going to the White Horse Temple, and Concubine Chen accompanied her.
The common people knew that this trip was to pray for the emperor. For a while, people were praising the deep affection among the emperor, the noble concubine, and the Empress.
But only they themselves knew the real story behind it.
As soon as they arrived at the White Horse Temple, they felt the coolness of the mountain. The abbot of the White Horse Temple came out from afar to welcome the two noble ladies from the palace.
As soon as Concubine Chen got off the carriage, she hurriedly asked the abbot, "Is the great monk Taixu here?"
The abbot bowed slightly and replied, "Your Highness, my senior brother is in meditation. You won't be able to see him for the time being."
"It doesn't matter. We've come here just to pray for the emperor. It'll be a blessing if we can see the great monk Taixu. If not, it just means our fates aren't aligned." The Empress stepped forward and spoke gently to the abbot.
For a moment, the difference between the two was clearly shown.
...
At this time, Han Yue still hadn't left the Dongling Kingdom.
In the middle of the night, the patrolling guards of the Night Shadow Division caught a little thief who was trying to break in. The commotion woke up Shen Li.
Shen Li was helped up by Jiaoyue. "What's going on outside?"
"Miss, it's just someone trying to break into the Night Shadow Division. A nobody thief isn't worth your concern." Jiaoyue placed a soft cushion behind Shen Li.