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Qinglong watched helplessly as many of his companions were tortured to death by those people. He gritted his teeth and told himself not to give up, to hold on, and to strive to survive...
He did not want to recall the painful memories of the past, but how could he forget that the Old General had died not long ago on the battlefield, pierced through the heart by a rain of arrows? Why was he still alive?
Could it be that there truly exists a miraculous healing technique in this world?
Suddenly, he thought of the three Revival Pills he had on him, which had now turned into one. He instinctively touched his chest and immediately dismissed the thought.
It was impossible, absolutely impossible! That Female Master had clearly told him that this item was unique in the world, and only she possessed three.
It was crafted using a secret recipe passed down from her ancestors, and even if others obtained the recipe, the necessary ingredients would be extremely hard to find.
Yet, the Old General stood vividly before him. What could be the reason for this? Qinglong scrutinized the Old General carefully; there was nothing strange about him, yet a fog of confusion rose in his heart.
Night Star was kicked to the ground, a metallic taste filling his throat as he coughed up a mouthful of bright red blood.
Unexpectedly, the Old General showed no mercy and raised a nearby Cypress Stool high above him, smashing it down with a fierce expression. "Wretched child! How dare you speak such disrespectful words? How did you learn your poetry and etiquette? Do you think that if you do not agree with me, I cannot do anything to you?"
His voice was cold, piercing Night Star's ears like ice. It felt as though he had fallen into an icy cellar—so dark and cold. He did not evade; he took the hit squarely. In an instant, he felt no pain at all; his mind roared with noise as if he were trapped in a dream.
"You don't care about your beloved woman; does the emperor?" The Old General said coldly before turning and leaving. As he exited the ancestral hall, the door creaked open, letting in warm sunlight that dispelled the chill of the narrow dark room.
Suddenly, the entire room became bright and beautiful; tiny specks of dust danced in the air. Yet, the wounds of the heart could never be soothed or smoothed over by such scenery...
Meanwhile, in the palace, Li Ye was paying respects to the Empress Dowager. Her cold demeanor left him at a loss for words.
"Since you no longer recognize me as your mother, why must you pretend again?" The Empress Dowager's voice was icy and filled with suppressed anger.
Li Ye was stunned, momentarily at a loss for words. He firmly denied, "I have not! For all these years, I have remembered the Empress Dowager's nurturing grace. How could I act like a beast!"
The Empress Dowager let out a cold laugh, closed her eyes, and continued to manipulate the ancient wooden prayer beads in her hand.
"Empress Dowager, I only learned about this matter recently. I do not wish to believe it either, but the truth is right before my eyes. What am I to do?"
Li Ye's voice was filled with deep anguish; every word reflected his helplessness and pain. This feeling left him unsure of how to face the woman who had raised him for so many years, only to discover she was not his biological mother.
"Ha, the Emperor truly knows how to jest. If you held any regard for me as your Empress Dowager, why did you not tell me the truth sooner? I could have helped you strategize."
The Empress Dowager's voice was cold, laced with unprecedented sorrow—a pain that had been struggled with for a long time.
She could not understand; if the Emperor before her was not her son, then why did he resemble the Former Emperor so closely? She had once heard Mo Xier mention that two people living together for a long time might start to look alike.
But she did not believe it; it all sounded like twisted reasoning. If he were not her son, then where was her true son?
She still could not accept everything before her, yet the facts were undeniable; disbelief would not change reality.
That day, she had witnessed the blood of Old General merging with the Emperor's blood. Though it was mixed with water, it appeared so glaring and cold to her eyes that even breathing felt painful.
So cold and so despairing—it must be something like this.
She was alone and helpless; even her maternal family's influence had waned with the changing political landscape. In this frigid palace, she had climbed up bit by bit.
Her only relative was the Emperor, but at this moment, a clown suddenly appeared to tell her that her only spiritual support was a lie. The feeling of being plunged into an abyss made it hard to breathe.
"What should I do to prove that I have not betrayed you, Empress Dowager?"
The Emperor felt a sense of despair, as if he had fallen into the Yellow River and could never wash himself clean. The feeling of being misunderstood was especially terrifying, especially when the one misunderstanding him was his own mother.
The Empress Dowager let out a cold laugh, opening her eyes to look at the Emperor. The wooden Buddhist beads in her hand pressed against each other, and her icy gaze pierced through the Emperor's heart like a sharp sword.
She opened her mouth, "I want you to kill them."
"What?" The Emperor was stunned, momentarily unable to breathe as the blood in his heart surged rapidly.
"Can't you hear me clearly? I want you to kill them, wipe out everyone from the Night Family!" The Empress Dowager's voice carried a hint of excitement, her brows furrowed with a mad glint.
"No, that would throw the court into chaos. The Night Family already holds significant Military Authority. If disputes arise, it could spell disaster for both of us!" Li Ye exclaimed, stepping back three paces, his bright yellow robes wrinkling.
"Are you reluctant, Emperor?" The Empress Dowager sneered, snorting through her nose with intense jealousy and anger—an emotion that only arises when a woman is pushed to the brink of hatred.
"That's not it!" The man standing on the ground had a handsome face and an imposing demeanor but exuded an air of despondency.
Seeing him like this felt like a blow to the Empress Dowager; it only fueled her anger further, as if something she cherished had been taken away from her. That was her entire faith and reliance!
This feeling had surfaced once before during the time of the Former Emperor when he favored Consort Hua above all others, showering her with extreme affection!
Back then, her son could still be her entire hope, but what about now? What hope did she have left?
Truly, as one ages and approaches the twilight years, they are left with nothing but exhaustion and despair.
"Empress Dowager... Son swears by heaven that I have never thought of betraying you even in the slightest, not even for a moment."
The handsome Emperor stood firm on the ground, extending his long, fair fingers towards the sky as a witness. His voice was sincere and unwavering. "Heaven above and earth below bear witness; if I lie in any way, may I be struck down by lightning!"
The sincerity in the Emperor's tone was evident as he looked at the elderly woman seated above him with determination etched on his face.
The Empress Dowager's heart was slightly moved, yet she maintained an air of indifference. For some reason, at that moment, she found it hard to believe; deep down, she still felt a strong sense of unease.
Just as he was about to say something, a hurried report suddenly came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, an urgent letter!"
"Bring it in!" The Emperor's voice was cold. He glanced at the Empress Dowager who was sitting with her eyes closed and hesitated for a moment before commanding. The vast hall was empty except for the two of them, making it feel desolate and silent.
Zhang Zehai walked in from outside and presented a sealed letter to him.
The Emperor reached out to take it and, in front of the Empress Dowager, opened it. In an instant, his expression changed dramatically; his face turned pale, and a hint of panic appeared on his handsome features. The Empress Dowager was surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Who sent this?"
The Emperor swallowed hard, staring intently at the Empress Dowager, his voice slightly choked, "The Night Family."
"What does it say?" The Empress Dowager asked coldly, her tone suddenly sharp and perceptive. The Emperor waved his hand at Zhang Zehai, signaling him to pass the folded letter back to the Empress Dowager. Then he added, "You may leave now. Do not let anyone come near here."
Zhang Zehai felt puzzled but dared not ask further. He could only comply and respectfully closed the door behind him.
"What is this? Do they intend to use this to threaten you?" The Empress Dowager's voice was calm and indifferent, tinged with a hint of disdain.
In her eyes, Mo Xier was hardly worth mentioning. She couldn't understand why the Emperor placed such importance on this woman who seemed utterly unremarkable.
"But..." In an instant, the Emperor's expression changed again; he hesitated.
"Nonsense! Are you joking about the Li Family's Empire! Have you lost your mind? Even if you are not a member of the Li Family, you were raised as a child of the Li Family royal family! How can you be so ungrateful!"
The Empress Dowager reprimanded coldly, her slender Willow Brows arching in anger without losing their authority.
Her eyes were already narrow; every frown or smile carried an exquisite charm and grace. However, when she was angry, she became exceptionally terrifying.
Her narrow eyes narrowed into a slit, filled with raging fire, like a fox ready to pounce on its prey, as if it could unleash its sharp fangs at any moment.
Seeing the Empress Dowager like this, even though the Emperor felt extremely reluctant inside, he did not dare to show it on his face. In the past, he would have boldly expressed his thoughts without hesitation, but at this moment, he could not do so.
This is a critical moment, and the Empress Dowager is already filled with suspicion towards him. If he reveals anything unusual, he fears that the Empress Dowager might do what was done in the previous dynasty, which is to stage a coup.
Although the Empress Dowager's maternal family is no longer present, she has climbed to her current high position, which indicates that she is not an ordinary person. He firmly believes that there must be hidden forces at play around the Empress Dowager.
If the Empress Dowager chooses to stage a coup, everything related to the Night Family and the world will become a mere joke.
"I understand, and I can distinguish between what is important and what is not," he said. "The Empress Dowager has worked hard today; I will not disturb her rest and will take my leave first."
The Emperor bowed slightly and clasped his hands, maintaining the usual humble demeanor without a hint of false pretense.
The Empress Dowager watched him and felt somewhat reassured, but reason told her that the Night Family must be eliminated; otherwise, it would lead to endless troubles in the future. But would the Emperor agree?
Thinking this, she waved to Green Wisteria, who was slowly approaching her. "Convey my decree to summon Li Qingfeng to the palace immediately."
Green Wisteria did not know what had happened; the Emperor looked tense, and the Empress Dowager's expression was unfriendly. She was unaware of the details but vaguely felt that everything was related to Mo Xier...
In the darkness, she listened to the faint sound of footsteps. Each step was different—some light, some heavy, and others dragging as if reluctant to move.
Yet none of them were the familiar footsteps she longed for. She caught a whiff of lingering incense on herself and recognized it as rosemary.
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