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墨書 Inktalez
Seeing the pain of the Empress Dowager, Liu Consort couldn't help but think of her own suffering.
The agony of separation was something she had personally experienced. The only difference between her and the Empress Dowager was one was a living separation, while the other was a deathly parting.
Noticing Liu Consort's sorrowful demeanor, a palace maid advised, "Your Highness, please do not compare yourself to the Empress Dowager and the Third Prince. The Empress Dowager and the Third Prince are eternally separated now, but you and the Sixth Prince have a long life ahead of you, destined for longevity!"
"Longevity?" Liu Consort murmured, a hint of confusion crossing her face.
In an instant, her expression turned resolute again. "What good is longevity? Fate is unpredictable; who can foresee what lies ahead? Some things must be done sooner rather than later to avoid future regrets."
After witnessing the Empress Dowager's situation, Liu Consort seemed to have gained some insight. She no longer wished to endure but wanted to reunite with Murong Xi and her son as soon as possible.
"Brother, I truly cannot bear it any longer," Liu Consort lamented. "Every day I see the Prince before me yet cannot hear him call me 'Mother.' My heart feels like it is being torn apart."
The joy of suddenly seeing her son, whom she thought had perished, was the greatest happiness in Liu Consort's life.
However, with her biological son so close at hand, she could only treat him as an outsider. Even a little extra care would be met with suspicion of ulterior motives.
This made it impossible for Liu Consort to control her emotions; each moment brought sadness over not being able to acknowledge Murong Xi.
Liu Chancellor watched his sister in grief and thought of his daughter who was lost to him. Now, even seeing her once had become a distant wish.
"Very well," Liu Chancellor said after some consideration. "The situation is now settled; it is time to reveal the truth to the prince."
Liu Consort rejoiced, "That would be wonderful! I will personally go and explain."
The two agreed on their plan and decided to seek out Murong Xi the next day.
The following day.
Early in the morning, Liu Consort woke up on her own. She had been feeling anxious for a long time, and the long-awaited wish was finally about to come true, which made her feel a bit timid.
"Is this rouge too bright? I wonder if Xi would dislike such a vivid color. Perhaps I should choose something lighter instead."
"This hairpin is too extravagant. Xi's chamber is decorated simply; he probably doesn't like overly ostentatious things. Let's change it!"
Liu Consort scrutinized every item, changing them several times without finding satisfaction, fearing that she might leave a bad impression on Murong Xi.
The maid helplessly said, "Your Highness, these are all your favorite items. You don't need to worry too much; a mother and son share a bond. The prince is your own son; is there really any need for concern? The bond of flesh and blood cannot be severed."
It wasn't Liu Consort who abandoned Murong Xi years ago; rather, it was Consort Shen who used cunning to swap the still-infant Murong Xi with the corpse of another baby, leading to the tragic years of separation between Liu Consort and Murong Xi.
"Your Highness, you have suffered so much for the prince over the years. Now that he has grown into an adult and is knowledgeable and reasonable, he will surely understand your pain and recognize you."
Liu Consort touched the hairpin on her head, gazing at her reflection in the mirror. It was her own image, yet it felt strangely unfamiliar for a moment.
For so many years, day and night, she had never stopped thinking about that poor child. He was her first child and her only one.
As a mother, she had watched her child being buried in the ground. That pain burned in her heart no matter how much time passed.
She absolutely could not allow such a thing to happen again! This time, she wanted to live an ordinary life with her son.
"Let's go." Liu Consort's resolve solidified; no difficulty would make her waver in this matter.
Meanwhile, upon hearing that Liu Consort was visiting, Murong Xi had someone invite her in.
"I pay my respects to Your Highness." Murong Xi greeted Liu Consort with a bow, his attitude neither warm nor cold. There was nothing inappropriate about his behavior, yet it lacked any hint of enthusiasm.
Fortunately, Liu Consort had already experienced his personality before and did not feel neglected because of it. Instead, understanding that his cold demeanor stemmed from the painful experiences of previous years made her heart ache for him even more.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Liu Consort wanted to bring up an important matter but kept hesitating, unable to find the right words.
Despite having prepared her speech repeatedly and being resolute, for some reason, she opened her mouth only to swallow her words again.
It wasn't until she noticed a hint of impatience on Murong Xi's face, as if he was about to dismiss her, that she steeled herself and decided to stop hesitating.
"Your Highness, I came to see you today because there is an important matter I need to inform you about." Liu Consort paused for a moment, observing Murong Xi's calm expression, which showed no intention of prompting her further. She had no choice but to continue.
"You may find it hard to believe at first, but the truth is this." Liu Consort took a deep breath and said, "Consort Shen is not your biological mother; I am your real mother!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Liu Consort fixed her gaze on Murong Xi's face, filled with both anticipation and fear of his reaction.
Murong Xi merely raised his eyes to meet hers and replied, "Oh? That's quite a surprising claim. If I am your child, then why did I grow up beside my mother consort? And over the years, I have never seen you show me even the slightest bit of affection."
Hearing this made Liu Consort's heart ache. She pressed her hand against her chest and recounted the events of that year to Murong Xi.
"That's how it was," Liu Consort said after revealing everything. Finally feeling a bit relieved, she realized that until Murong Xi expressed his thoughts, her heart would remain suspended in uncertainty.
After listening, Murong Xi remained noncommittal and simply asked, "Where's the evidence?"
"It's right here!" Liu Consort quickly handed over the prepared documents containing relevant information from that time. This included details about the infant's remains that Consort Shen had procured and notes from the Imperial Physician who treated Consort Shen for her miscarriage. The documents meticulously restored the dark conspiracy from that year.
Murong Xi lowered his head to examine them, his eyelids drooping. In the quiet room, one could hear a pin drop; the only sound was the rustling of pages as he flipped through them one by one.
To Liu Consort's ears, that sound was almost torturous. Yet she held back her emotions until Murong Xi finished reading and lifted his head.
"I have been kept in the dark by Consort Shen all these years, completely unaware that she had such malicious methods to separate us, mother and son."
Liu Consort felt regret for not having taken care of Murong Xi over the years, and for turning a blind eye while others bullied him. There were even times when she mistakenly believed he was the child of her rival, Consort Shen, and intervened in ways that made Murong Xi's life even more difficult.
"It’s all my fault, Mother. If I hadn’t been so foolish as to not recognize my own flesh and blood, I wouldn’t have fallen into Consort Shen’s trap, causing you to suffer so much at such a young age."
Liu Consort could imagine how Murong Xi had lived in the palace over the years. Even without deliberately inquiring, she knew that his life had been the complete opposite of that of a typical prince; he had hardly experienced any good days.
"Prince, I am deeply sorry for what I have done to you, and I do not dare to hope for your forgiveness. I only wish you could give me a chance for redemption, to let us reunite as mother and son and live a few peaceful days together."
Every night had been filled with nightmares for her, reliving the heart-wrenching pain of losing her child. She wished for those dreams to vanish forever and never return.
Liu Consort looked at Murong Xi with anticipation, but his expression remained unchanged throughout their conversation, as if he were listening to someone else's story, completely unmoved.
She began to feel anxious. What if Murong Xi refused to acknowledge her? The thought of losing her child again—this time being rejected by him personally—was a blow she feared she might not be able to withstand.
"Prince? Do you believe what I am saying?" Liu Consort asked nervously, her fingers twisting the handkerchief into a tight knot.
Murong Xi gazed at her until he noticed her eyes reddening once more; only then did he look away.
"The evidence is irrefutable before me; whether I want to or not, I cannot deny it."
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