Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
I never expected Mei Ru's background to be so complicated. If she hadn't revealed the truth to Yun Kong this time, who would have thought that such a seemingly weak and understanding woman could possess such a venomous heart and grand ambitions?
To become the ruler of the Eastern Kingdom and replace the Jiu Rang Family is not something that an ordinary woman from a noble family could comprehend. It's laughable that the Eastern Kingdom has long been playing with fire; if it weren't for Mei Shuang's sudden prophecy about the turmoil in the Eastern Kingdom, which prompted them to be vigilant and prepared, they might have already been thrown into chaos...
Undoubtedly, human plans cannot compare to heaven's arrangements. Mei Shuang's actions were likely something Mei Ru never dreamed of...
In a corner of the palace lies the Heavenly Prison.
Due to the occasional arrival of palace maids being dealt with, most enter alive and are dragged out dead, making this dilapidated place feel even colder and more sinister.
Mei Ru sat in one corner, indifferently surveying the cramped space.
The beams were covered in spider webs, the tattered bedding was unrecognizable, and the rotten straw made everything feel both strange and familiar.
Just a few days ago, she stood here adorned in a phoenix crown and splendid attire, radiant and full of life. Now, however, she had become a prisoner at their feet. Looking at her black night cloak, stained with dirt and blood, it was utterly filthy.
Mei Ru chuckled bitterly to herself; despite all her calculations, she never anticipated ending up here, facing the same fate as Mei Shuang.
Suddenly, clear footsteps echoed from outside the Heavenly Prison.
With her keen hearing, she immediately recognized those footsteps as strangely familiar but felt too lethargic to move.
When Xiao Luo appeared inside the Heavenly Prison, Mei Ru was already sitting on the ground with her knees hugged to her chest, her disheveled hair framing a face as pale as snow.
Upon seeing the Sovereign of the Great Qin Empire, she merely raised her eyes slightly, her expression indifferent. After glancing at Xiao Luo's face, she shifted her gaze away and quietly stared at the palm-sized skylight above her head. She neither spoke nor made any move to bow.
It had been some time since Xiao Luo last saw Mei Ru, and she was taken aback by how disheveled Mei Ru appeared upon their reunion. Xiao Luo couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise; where was the gentle demeanor and dignified presence of the former Empress?
As the saying goes, one reaps what one sows. After a brief moment of astonishment, Xiao Luo's gaze hardened.
At that moment, even Li Gonggong beside Xiao Luo felt that life was exceedingly unpredictable. The once resplendent Empress, adorned in a phoenix crown and flowing robes, had now become a prisoner in this place, her image utterly ruined, her grace completely lost. It was ironic that she had followed in her sister's footsteps.
Seeing Mei Ru remain seated and indifferent even in the presence of the Emperor, Li Gonggong stepped forward and scolded, "Why aren't you kneeling to pay your respects to the Emperor?"
Mei Ru withdrew her gaze and turned towards Li Gonggong.
As soon as Mei Ru's eyes landed on Li Gonggong's face, and they made eye contact, Li Gonggong couldn't help but shiver. Despite being reduced to a prisoner, this Empress still exuded an intimidating presence. Her gaze was sharp and cold, with an underlying fierceness; just that one look was enough to send a chill rising from one's heels.
Li Gonggong dared not hold her gaze any longer and hurriedly looked away towards the Emperor.
Noticing the fear in Li Gonggong's eyes, Mei Ru bit her cracked lips and spoke up. Her voice was somewhat hoarse, and her tone was as cold as frost, laced with extreme disdain. "Put away your arrogance! Li Gonggong, you're nothing but a dog by the Emperor's side. The Emperor hasn't even spoken yet, and here you are barking first!"
"You!" Li Gonggong was left speechless with anger; no one had dared to speak to him like that before.
"Step back!" Xiao Luo said calmly while standing with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Yes." As Li Gonggong bowed and retreated, he gritted his teeth inwardly, thinking to himself that he would make sure she paid for this!
In the Heavenly Prison, only Xiao Luo and Mei Ru remained.
Mei Ru still did not move, staring fixedly at Xiao Luo with a proud gaze.
Xiao Luo was unfazed by Mei Ru's provocative stare.
Times had changed.
When he did not understand her, he thought she was just an ordinary woman; but now, for a woman with the iron will to unify a nation, her courage and determination were not surprising.
This must be the true Mei Ru.
Xiao Luo quietly gazed at her, their eyes meeting. Gradually, there was a change in Mei Ru's eyes.
In the past, here, she stood alongside the Emperor of the Great Qin Empire as the newly appointed Empress, basking in glory and honor.
It was this cold Emperor who had once called her "Empress" in front of Mei Shuang, making her heart feel like it was bathed in spring breeze, utterly comfortable. In that moment, she truly had the illusion that even if she and this cold Emperor could not last forever, at least they would have a long future ahead. At that time, she believed she would be the most dignified and happiest woman in the world. She even fantasized that with her intelligence and wit, one day she could move him to give up everything for her and live peacefully as an Empress in the palace...
However, she had overestimated herself and underestimated the wisdom and vision of this Sovereign before her. He had silently woven a meticulous web around her. Ironically, when she jumped into this grand net in a daze, she was still weaving her dream of becoming an Empress. After all, living a life alongside such a formidable man would not be in vain. Now looking back, weren't her past efforts and forbearance just a huge irony and joke?
Xiao Luo watched as tears gradually filled Mei Ru's large eyes, her body slightly trembling. He could naturally sense the turmoil and complexity within her; perhaps she was unwilling to accept failure so easily.
If she were an ordinary woman, perhaps her tears would soften his heart. However, Mei Ru's struggle only made him feel more disgusted by what he perceived as pretentiousness.
A shameless woman, a cold-blooded killer with a heart as venomous as a snake, it was hard for him to trust this woman he once had a faint fondness for.
In the midst of tearful shadows, Xiao Luo remained unmoved, indeed cold to the point of chilling the bones, devoid of any affection.
The tears were quickly forced back, and Mei Ru composed herself before coldly speaking, "Though a day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of affection, the Emperor is busy with state affairs. I doubt you came today out of longing for me..."
Xiao Luo's thin lips parted slightly as he coldly replied, "Very well, you still know you are the Empress of the Great Qin Empire..."
"May I ask if Your Majesty has deposed Empress Mei Shuang? If not, then I am still the Empress of the Great Qin Empire..." After a cold laugh from Mei Ru, her expression gradually fell into desolation under Xiao Luo's deep and indifferent gaze. Finally, she smiled sadly, "Actually, what use is this title of Empress to me? Even if I am called Empress, who am I really the Empress of? Has Your Majesty ever looked at me seriously?"
A flicker of disgust flashed in Xiao Luo's eyes.
The woman who appeared gentle and cultured was nothing short of a complete hypocrite; her outward purity concealed a shameless soul that had long been entangled with the false Left Chancellor Li Tang.
Thinking about all this made him feel sick. Who could see through her innocent facade to the shameless spirit hidden beneath? She was even worse than her sister Mei Shuang, who once bore the title of "harlot."
Xiao Luo spoke again, "Why would I not look at you? You know better than anyone else. Li Tang has already met his end; what more do you have to say?"
Upon hearing Li Tang's name, Mei Ru's heart plummeted from its high point straight to the depths. Even though she had previously learned about the current situation from Yun Kong and held onto a glimmer of hope, hearing it from Xiao Luo's lips forced her to accept reality—there was no turning back.
She closed her eyes and when she opened them again, her heart had returned to calmness. She stood up and slowly walked to Xiao Luo's side. Through the sturdy wooden fence, she lazily said, "I understand Your Majesty's intentions; even if I were perfect in every way, you might not even glance my way..."
A flash of anger crossed Xiao Luo's dark eyes; this woman was truly shameless beyond measure!
Mei Ru continued, "However, knowing the Emperor's feelings, even if he does not look at me, I will not be sad about it. I won't be foolish like my sister, who fails to recognize the truth. She knows that the Emperor only has eyes for that fallen family’s Chu Xiruo, yet she insists on competing with her. My silly sister truly seems to love the Emperor, but unfortunately, she loves the wrong person. So, what does it matter if she loves the Emperor? In the end, she still meets such a fate..."
Xiao Luo nodded, his tone heavy. "Well said. Your clever sister must have given Mei Shuang plenty of advice to end up in such a situation."
Mei Ru paused for a moment and then smiled lightly. "Yes... We are of the same age, from the same background, and possess similar beauty, yet she surpasses me in every aspect. In terms of status, she is the legitimate daughter; in terms of favor, she is Chancellor Mei's beloved; and even in temperament, she outshines everyone... She can live boldly while I can only tread carefully in her shadow. The only thing I have over her is that I'm not completely foolish. No matter how much she bullies me, she won't abandon me because she has come to rely on my ideas and feels secure only when she listens to me..."
At this point, Mei Ru sighed. "At first, I couldn't understand why Chancellor Mei liked my mother so much but was cold towards me. Later I realized that he liked my mother for a reason and despised me because we share no blood relation... Never mind, that's beside the point..."
Mei Ru pulled her thoughts back and frowned slightly as she exhaled softly. "I suppose these trivial matters are not what the Emperor wants to hear, so I won't mention them further. Anyway, that woman whom I detest so much won't have many good days left; discussing such misfortune..."
Xiao Luo's expression shifted slightly; he had come specifically for this matter.
Previously, Yun Kong had found a remedy from Mei Ru that merely addressed the symptoms rather than the root cause, which showed how meticulous Mei Ru's thoughts were. Today, her certainty suggested that Mei Shuang's poison had become urgent.
"How can we cure the poison in Mei Shuang?"
"What?" Hearing Xiao Luo's question, Mei Ru snapped back to reality from her thoughts, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes. "Is the Emperor going to save that wretched woman?"
Comment 0 Comment Count