Chapter 282 (2/2)

Wenyuan was extremely happy. She began to lay out a pillow on the bed for him to sit. Yet, Yan Xun pulled a chair over and sat right facing Nalan Hongye. The servants had all left, leaving only the two of them. He sat there quietly while she slept deeply.

It seemed that he had never seen her like this before. In his memory, Nalan Hongye had always been dressed impeccably, with just enough make-up and accessories. She would always be smiling, exuding the aura of royalty. She was never so weak, so wrecked, so frail like now. She had really slimmed down. Looking at her now, it was rather difficult for him to connect that she was that Princess of Song.

Time was indeed the quietest assassin. With just a blink of an eye, so many years had passed. He did not say anything and left after a while of sitting. Yet, this moment of quiet sitting was enough to turn the mood jubilant. Wenyuan ecstatically ran up and down at the outer place, settling all kinds of issues. That was because as the Emperor left, he said that he would return the next day.

Just as the gates to the Dongnan Palace closed, Nalan Hongye opened her eyes. She was so thin, and her eyes were sunken in. Yet her gaze was always so sharp and calm, filled with the intelligence that was honed from all these years.

That chair was still by her bed, empty. There was a carving of two dragons on the chair, coiling around.

It has been so many years. Nalan Hongye, have you ever felt regret?

In the weak candlelight, she asked herself.

Finally, she smiled weakly as she closed her eyes.

Life in the palace went on as usual, as the weather started to get colder and the usage of the fireplaces started to become ubiquitous. Yet, Nalan Hongye's condition did not turn any better. Almost half of the imperial doctors had took up residence within the Dongnan Palace to look over the Empress.

On this day it was another school day. Yushu brought along Yong'er to visit Nalan Hongye, bringing along some supplements along. Sitting in the warm bedroom, they chatted with Nalan Hongye.

After some small talk, and seeing that Nalan Hongye was rather tired, Yushu was just about to bid farewell as she suddenly asked, ”Tomorrow is the anniversay of King Xuan's death, right?”

Yushu was slightly taken aback. For some reason, she was suddenly put on alert, as she quietly replied, ”Yes.”

Nalan Hongye nodded, as Wenyuan presented a small box. Nalan Hongye calmly said, ”Your husband was a great man, having contributed greatly to the society. I am not in the best shape, so I would be impossible for me to go anywhere. Please help me to bring my wishes over.”

The warm bedroom suddenly felt a tinge of coldness. Starting from Yushu's finger, the coldness trickled to her finger tips. Stiffly she received the box while biting her lower lips, before bowing her head down in reverence, ”This servant thanks Your Highness on behalf of my deceased husband.”

Nalan Hongye shook her head, and was just about to speak when servants entered from the outside. Whispering to Wenyuan, even Wenyuan was taken aback as she turned to look at Nalan Hongye.

Yushu immediately informed her of their departure. Seeing that, Nalan Hongye did not attempt to hold them back either.

The sun was so bright, and Yushu's palms were completely wet. With all her strength, she clenched on her shirt. It was as though she was trying to grip some thoughts to death.

Suddenly, a group of eunuchs rushed to the west side, distracting Yushu who casually asked her servants, ”What happened? What are those people doing?”

The maidservant had lived in the palace for a long time, and with her social abilities she walked over and asked about the incident. As she returned, her face was too in a panic as she said, ”Lady, Lady Yuan of the West Cold Palace commited suicide.”

”Lady Yuan?” Yushu was stunned, as she asked in surprise.

The maidservant licked her lips and said, ”She was originally Lady Chu.”

”Yuan Shilan?” It was Yushu's turn to be astonished.

Lady Chu, her original name was Yuan Shilan, and was the most legendary lady in the short history of the Great Yan Empire.

She was initially just a clothes washing girl. Once she committed a mistake was about to be sent for eternal imprisonment, yet she knew some basic martial arts. She injured the old maidservant who was watching over her at night and escaped the jail. As she ran away, she had no way to run, and crashed into the Emperor's carriage. After being hurt by an arrow, she smashed her head on a palace gate, rather dying than to be captured.

She was then successfully revived. The Emperor liked her attitude, and quickly promoted her. In half a year, she was the only love of the Emperor, and was eventually titled Lady Chu. This had undoubtedly raised doubts in the court, but the Emperor did not care at all.

Yet three months ago in a rainy night, there was a huge turbulence. Lady Chu was suddenly demoted. In three days, she was demoted to no better than how she was initially.

No one knew what happened that night. Rumors had it that Lady Chu argued with the Emperor, and in her rage she destroyed her own face, turning herself into a hideous mess. Seeing that, the Emperor was enraged.

As the other ladies spoke of this, they were naturally caustic. Firstly due to her popularity with the emperor, she was particularly prideful and had not talked much to the other ladies. In addition, traditionally the ladies had always been entertaining the Emperor by their looks. Ruining her looks herself was something unthinkable and would not win anyone's pity.

”Lady? Lady?” The maidservant was rather scared as she asked a few times.

After snapping back to reality Yushu immediately instructed, ”Let us head out of palace.”

After exiting from two gates, the carriage slowly inched forward as it was accompanied by the crows. A wave of cold wind swept up the veils, as several black feathers fell. Waving, fluttering, these feathers landed in this lonesome palace.