Chapter 8, The ripples do not cross the path along the horizontal pond

After saying these words, the emperor left Shoukang Palace and went separate ways with the empress, riding on the dragon carriage and returning to Qianren Palace. He leaned heavily on the back of the chair of the dragon carriage, lost in thought about the letter that was delivered to the palace by Shang Baiwen early this morning.

I have lived in Huopo Guan for twenty days, and due to the birthday banquet of the Empress Dowager Zhang Yi, my life in the Peach Blossom Spring has come to an end, which truly fills me with regret. The Emperor has issued an edict, ordering me and Yue'er to return to the palace immediately

Shang Wanjiao, upon hearing this assurance, felt relieved and boldly said: "My sixth brother has been physically inadequate since childhood, which is why my father does not favor him and does not take him into battle. He had no choice but to follow Brother Heng in a civil capacity."

She nodded slightly and suddenly lowered her voice, saying, "I want to talk to you about my brother. Do you want to know?" Seeing that I did not respond immediately, she pointed at Fu Xiang and asked me, "She won't go around telling others, will she?"

I wonder if Shang Wanquan has noticed the guilt in my eyes, or if she has seen me trying to avoid her gaze. After all, she is the younger sister of Shang Baiwen, and ever since I became close to Shang Baiwen, I have been avoiding her.

Shang Wanjing was taken aback by my question, and after hesitating for a moment with a rather sorrowful expression, she said: "A few years ago, there was one, but it was stillborn"

The emperor repeatedly contemplated the details, suspecting that the King of Yue and the queen had sent someone to monitor Hua Fei and Shang Wanquan, and he let out a cold laugh in his heart

I felt a quiet urgency in my heart as I looked at Yue'er, wanting her to firmly refuse as soon as possible. Yue'er noticed my gaze and turned to me, smiling. Normally, this smile would seem quite ordinary, but in this situation, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something deeper behind it.

It is indeed laughable that the Emperor and the King of Yue, despite their mutual disdain for each other, behave in the same absurd manner, being entangled with their own brothers' wives in such an unclear manner

Princess Zhang Yi did not respond to the Emperor, but instead, with a provocative smile, continued to gaze at the moon, waiting for her to answer

The smile of the moon carries a hint of mockery, "In any case, I have grown tired of staying in this palace. This is a perfect opportunity for me to leave. Even if I am killed by the Empress Dowager Zhang Yi after exiting through the East Huamen, I do not care."

On that night, I declined the emperor's decree for me to share his bed and stayed in the Chengqian Palace, thinking to spend my last moments with the moon. In the future, with the mountains of Pengshan looming ahead, it would be difficult for me to see her again in this lifetime. Although she is not yet a deposed consort, once she leaves the palace, she will never return. The person known as "Consort Hua" will either be reduced to a mere title, replaced by later generations, or become a cold, lifeless name in historical records: "Consort Hua of the Su Clan".

a few years ago

It turns out that she wanted to completely sever ties and destroy everything from the past

However, Shang Wanwan made me feel extremely disgusted! Yue suddenly pushed the emperor. If it weren't for a quick hand with a string of beads, the emperor would have definitely fallen to the ground. She still knelt, but her eyes were fixed on the emperor, repeating word by word, "dis , gust , ing."

Fu Xiang, upon hearing this, took a step back and reported to us: "Your Highness, the Empress, and Your Highness, the Princess, please wait a moment. I will go and fetch some pastries to present to both of you." After saying this, she left the sleeping quarters on her own.

It seems that he is concerned that Gu Wan might have some unexpected actions before the birthday banquet, which could inadvertently harm me and Yue'er, hence he had us go to Huopo Temple first. Now that we are returning to the palace, it should be a foolproof plan

Your Majesty, I beseech you to grant me this request. " Yue'er suddenly pointed at the seemingly detached Princess of Yue, Shang Wanquan, her voice trembling, " For the past ten years, there has been a hurdle in my heart that I have never been able to overcome, and it will likely never be resolved in my lifetime. You clearly know that I detest the Shang family, yet you arranged for me to leave the palace and live with her. I can no longer endure this.

I returned to the Chengqian Palace after changing out of my ceremonial dress. Moon sat in her bedroom for a long time. She sat in front of her dressing table, and I sat on the beauty couch opposite the dressing table. We sat in silence facing each other. Perhaps it was not that we had nothing to say, but that we did not know how to say it.

The emperor, feeling somewhat helpless, placed one hand behind his back while tightly clenching the other into a fist. After a moment, he spoke in a deep voice: "Since you have made up your mind to leave, I shall grant your wish. Ultimately, I owe you too much. I will still retain your title as consort, but the children cannot go with you."

At that moment, I noticed that the queen seemed to be looking at me. I immediately returned her gaze and found her smiling very happily. Her smile was filled with a profound and inscrutable meaning, sending a chill down my spine. I had never found the queen so terrifying before, yet that did not prevent me from still wanting to rush forward and take her life.

"Your Highness, I will help you escape the palace!" Shang Wanquan interrupted my words, and her unexpected declaration caught me off guard.

"It is truly disgusting." Both Yue'er and I said in unison

The moon turned around to face me, her eyes swollen and red, with clear tear stains on her face. She took a deep breath, walked up to me, and I immediately stood up to hold her hand. She gripped my hand tightly and said, "In a few hours, I will be leaving this place forever. Xiaoxiao, please bless me quickly"

I agreed so readily and kept my word; Xiao Xunbi must be secretly laughing with King Yue

Shang Wanquan raised her hand to touch the plum blossom and mountain bird painting on the screen: "I suppose it is you who changed him. Since that day, I have never opposed you again. Of course, my opposition was insignificant to begin with; my sixth brother would not listen to me anyway." A smile returned to her face as she looked at me and said, "Thank you, Empress Zhao."

I am somewhat perplexed: "Yes."

I do wish to, but I fear that Empress Zhang may not be able to bear it, which might shorten her lifespan. The Emperor did not openly express his anger towards King Yue, but merely refused to yield in his words. After all, tonight is the birthday banquet of Empress Dowager Zhang, and the main events will follow in succession; thus, there is no need to rush at this moment

"Your Highness, please wait." Just as I was about to take a step, I heard Shang Wanquan's urgent voice from behind.

Only then did the moon rise from her seat, walk up to the emperor, and perform three kneelings and nine prostrations before him. She then composed herself and said: "Your Majesty, I wish to accompany the Empress Dowager to Fengtai Mountain for cultivation. I humbly request your permission." After speaking, she performed three kneelings and nine prostrations again.

He has always felt very inferior and did not want his wife to pity him because of his inherent shortcomings, which is why he has not yet started a family. It is evident that Shang Wanshan is indeed very saddened by this matter, her eyes have become considerably melancholic. After a moment of pause, she continued, "That day he took the initiative to save you and carried you to my lively view, I knew then that he had already developed genuine feelings. Even if you do not like him, he will not stop."

I repeatedly savor these words in my heart, increasingly feeling that this child belongs to the emperor. Strangely, I am not surprised at all in my heart.

Subsequently, the emperor pretended to casually glance at the attendants beside King Yue, then beckoned to the empress, saying: "Consort Hua is not in the palace, Empress, you should go and meet with the officials of the Palace Affairs Bureau and make proper arrangements." Xiao Xunbi was very puzzled by the emperor's unusual behavior, a sense of alertness rising in her heart. However, feeling it was inconvenient to refuse, she could only give Gu Wan a glance and then took her leave.

This question is one I have always been reluctant to contemplate, so when Shang Wanquan inquired about it, I could only shake my head. Moreover, compared to the difficulty of meeting again, the more pressing concern is whether the Emperor will find out. Just like that day when Shang Wanquan asked Shang Baiwen, it is uncertain whether this matter could bring misfortune to the entire family.

Shang Wanquan said: "Your Majesty, since you and Gu Wan have been living apart, you have been in correspondence with me, and we have even shared a bed at Huopuguan. For the past fifteen years, has it not been the case that you spend three days each month outside the palace to pray for blessings? I suppose no one in the palace knows that the location of your prayers is Huopuguan."

Upon seeing a beautiful couch in my chamber, Shang Wanquan unceremoniously sat down and said with a smile, "Your Highness, the Zhaoyi, this place is truly delightful. It is neither as luxurious as the Kun Ning Palace nor as dull and gloomy as the Shou Kang Palace. You are indeed a blessed person, Your Highness."

Queen Xiao was somewhat alarmed, and immediately stood up from her chair, retreating to the side. Her eyes were fixed on the ground, not daring to raise her head to meet the Emperor's gaze

I understand everything. You need not worry about me; this journey is fraught with danger, and you must be careful. At this moment, I am least inclined to listen to her incessant chatter about my affairs. We are at a critical juncture, yet she shows no concern for her own situation, which truly makes me anxious.

She lifted the hem of her skirt and took three steps, then two more, to come beside me, smiling as she said, "I wish to visit Your Highness's Luan Yi Palace for a conversation. May I ask if Your Highness could grant me the favor of allowing me to accompany you?"

"Alright." I understand the pain in Yue'er’s heart, and after agreeing with her, I said, "Shang Wanquan mentioned to me before that she wanted to help me leave the palace, but I do not know what her intentions are."

Life in the palace appears to be sweet and glorious, seemingly invincible; however, little do people know that behind the scenes, it is a mixture of honey and bitter herbs, with the bitterness lingering long after.

How does the princess know that His Majesty is doing this for these reasons ... ... I still do not understand, but now I am more concerned about where Shang Wanyuan learned this from

The letter states that although the lively view is specifically located in the mountains, there have recently been numerous farmers dressed as such working in the surrounding area. Within a radius of ten miles from the lively view, there are very few residences, making the sudden appearance of so many farmers quite suspicious. Shang Baiwen also mentioned that two women had even engaged him in conversation, inquiring about who was in the view and why he always went there

After speaking, the two of us exchanged a knowing glance, both amused by this statement

His eyes were already bloodshot, and his heart must be in great turmoil. Perhaps the emperor can manipulate the world at will, but only the moon can render him helpless.

As it was still early, after discussing with Yue'er, we decided to return to our respective chambers to wash up and groom ourselves, taking a short rest.

I opened my mouth, unsure of what to say. Perhaps the idea of leaving the palace had lingered in Yue'er’s mind for a long time. She had felt reluctance towards the Emperor, struggled with her relationship with him, and had experienced softness and compromise regarding their children... Various reasons intertwined, leading her to finally make a firm decision today

Yue Er said: "After I leave, Shang Wanquan will eventually enter the palace. Whether it is waiting for King Yue to be punished before she remarries, or Gu Heng impatiently changing her name and bringing her into the palace right now, there will come a day when you meet in the palace. She holds your weakness in her hands, and regardless of whether she truly intends to help you and Shang Baiwen, you must be wary of her."

"The pitiful moon lingers above the building, surely illuminating the dressing table of the parted lover." After a long silence, the moon finally spoke, then rose to open the window behind the dressing table, gazing at the moon obscured by mist in the sky. She had her back to me, yet I could sense that she must be crying. Even without uttering a sound, through years of tacit understanding, I still knew that at this moment, after years of repression had been shattered, she could no longer endure.

The atmosphere at the banquet was already tense, with the Emperor standing before Yue Er, his gaze shifting back and forth between Shang Wan Wan and Yue Er, seemingly making a difficult decision. The King of Yue and his mother had somehow joined the Empress, and although their faces still bore expressions of shock, there was more of a sense of gloating.

The moonlight guided me to her bedside, where she crouched down and dragged out a square sandalwood box measuring one foot on each side from beneath the bed. She removed her favorite goldfish hairpin, inlaid with rubies, from her head and used it to unlock the box. As she opened it, she said: "There is nothing particularly rare here, just the treasures bestowed upon me by the Emperor when I entered the palace, which I cherished and was reluctant to wear. If you have the chance, please burn them for me; if that is inconvenient, then throw them into the dry well in the Imperial Garden." As she continued to open the box, she reiterated: "There is nothing particularly rare here, just the treasures bestowed upon me by the Emperor when I entered the palace, which I cherished and was reluctant to wear. If you have the chance, please burn them for me; if that is inconvenient, then throw them into the dry well in the Imperial Garden."

What Yue'er said was truly astonishing, leaving everyone present speechless, including the Emperor, Shang Wanyuan, as well as the Dowager Empress Zhang Yi, the Empress, and the King of Yue. What do the Empress and the King of Yue amount to? The Emperor and the Princess of Yue have been entangled for over ten years; if it were not for Yue'er exposing this publicly today, it is likely that only a few people would have known. Upon reflection, Shang Wanyuan's willingness to assist me probably relies on the Emperor's consideration for her, hoping he would spare her brother.

I also feel angry in my heart. How can Shang Wanquan be such a selfish person, even plotting against her own brother? Does she not fear that I and Shang Baiwen might escape and be discovered, thus harming Shang Baiwen?

Seeing the expression of King Yue turn ashen as he wished, the Emperor smiled and said: "Before the hour of Wu today, Consort Hua, Consort Yue, and Wanwan will all enter the palace to attend the birthday banquet, so the Empress should prepare well."

"I originally disliked you very much, fearing that you would harm him," Shang Wanyuan said with a bitter smile. "But ever since that day he saved you, he has completely changed. He is no longer so gloomy, nor so silent; he is like a different person. Do you know that he rarely smiled in the past?"

I had thought that the atmosphere of this banquet would continue until its conclusion, but unexpectedly, the noble Consort Zhang Yi suddenly descended from her seat, approached Yue'er, and offered her a toast, saying: "Noble Consort Hua, I shall set out for Fengtai Mountain tomorrow. Would you be willing to accompany me? You possess considerable wisdom; if you devote yourself to cultivation, you will surely receive enlightenment from the Buddha."

Fu Xiang was helping me put on my outer robe when she heard Shang Wanquan mention her. She awkwardly assured Shang Wanquan, "Your Highness, please rest assured. Although I am not the maid brought from your family, I will never betray you."

I thought for a moment and said: "Your departure is simply a boon for Shang Wanyuan, allowing her to monopolize His Majesty and even bear three cheap children. However, it is for the best; this place is indeed very disgusting, and outside is a vast expanse of sky and sea"

The moon gazed up at the emperor before her and smiled broadly, saying: "Do you think I am unaware? You and she share a romantic bond, and you even have a child outside the palace. There are letters exchanged every three days; I am fully aware of all this. Do you think I am paranoid, grasping at shadows, and making unreasonable accusations against you?"

We had been silent for a long time, and in the end, it was she who took the initiative to change the subject: "Your Highness, it is getting late, let us quickly tidy up and prepare to go to the Ci'an Palace for the banquet."

Regardless of whether Yue'er knows about this matter, how could I possibly show her a good face when she dares to compete with my Yue'er for a man

As the moon closed her eyes, two lines of clear tears flowed down in an instant, as if she were releasing all the suffering she had endured in her life. She softly said: "Thank you, Brother Heng. Brother Heng, do not speak of abandonment again, and strive to have more meals."

Congenital deficiency? I am somewhat astonished, as Shang Baiwen appears to be no different from ordinary people, yet he actually suffers from a congenital deficiency.

My heart is filled with mixed emotions, countless feelings swirling around. Shang Wanquan's sudden gratitude leaves me somewhat at a loss. For the first time, I realize that the Shang Baiwen I have seen is not his usual self; he has treated me differently from the very beginning. After being stunned for a while, I finally said: "I am the one who is truly fortunate; I originally thought I would live my life this way until I met Shang Baiwen..."

The emperor was shocked by Yue'er’s words. He hurriedly walked around his seat to stand in front of Yue'er, intending to lift her up, but Yue'er was resolute, and he was unsuccessful. Frustrated and anxious, he simply squatted down to face Yue'er and said, "Hua Fei, are you threatening me?"

Subsequently, the Palace of the Imperial Concubines specially arranged a soft sedan chair for Shang Wanwan, and the two of us boarded our respective sedan chairs to head to the Luan Yi Palace. I originally intended to settle Shang Wanwan in the side hall, Qing Luan Hall, of Luan Yi Palace, but she insisted on sitting in my sleeping quarters for a while. As a guest, and since I could not refuse her, I had no choice but to allow her to accompany me into the sleeping quarters

Yue'er closed the lid of the wooden box with her foot and coldly remarked, "What good intentions can there be? It's merely an attempt to please me while feeling embarrassed, so they resort to indirect means, thinking to help you ease the relationship between her and me." Yue'er, still feeling indignant, kicked the wooden box under the bed with her foot

I have long known that the day of returning to the palace would inevitably come, and no matter how unwilling I am, it is ultimately beyond my control

The moon seemed to want to speak but hesitated, looking at me, pondering for a long time, and finally said: "Alright"

Shang Wanjiao expressed great approval of Fu Xiang's actions: "The Lady Zhaoyi is truly fortunate to have been able to train me to such a degree." She then quickly redirected the conversation, "I wanted to ask you, now that you have returned to the palace, Brother Heng will surely not allow you to leave easily. What do you plan to do?"

The master of the Chengqian Palace, Consort Hua, is set to depart for Fengtai Mountain tomorrow at dawn, accompanying Dowager Consort Zhang Yi. Although the Emperor has retained her title as consort, everyone is well aware that Consort Hua will never return. The servants in Chengqian Palace are bustling about, assisting Yue'er in packing her belongings to facilitate her journey tomorrow, while her three children with the Emperor have just been taken away by a group of attendants led by a string of pearls from the Emperor's side.

The King of Yue was much bolder, indifferently bowing to the Emperor and inquiring about his well-being, then said: "Your Majesty has come here to meet my mother, the Empress Dowager, hasn't he?" The use of the term "meet" in front of the Emperor illustrates just how audacious the King of Yue was. Since he expanded his armed forces in his fief, his ambitions have grown day by day, and today he already commands fifty thousand elite troops. When he is in a bad mood, he hardly regards the Emperor at all.

With utmost politeness, fearing even the slightest deviation or mistake

The emperor looked astonished, seemingly unable to accept what Yue'er had just said. He grasped Yue'er's shoulders and spoke softly, "That is because only at Wanwan's place is it the safest..."

When the illicit relationship between the Emperor and the Yue King's consort, Shen Wanjiao, was exposed before the public eye, the kind of unspoken understanding between them became less conspicuous to the onlookers

May I ask, Your Highness the Princess, do you have any children? I suddenly thought that since the Empress has given birth to a daughter for the King of Yue, does that mean that Shang Wanyuan and the Emperor might also have children? If that is indeed the case, it would be the greatest scandal in the royal family, and perhaps the Emperor would lose the support of many court officials as a result

Shang Wanjing noticed my slow reaction and said anxiously: "You should go into hiding and leave far away! Brother Heng never liked you; he only summoned you to take advantage of your father's power to bring down King Yue. You might as well leave with my brother."

In the years to come, as time swiftly passes by for hundreds of years, no one will ever know that this concubine, born into a family of officials and nobility, possessed such a temperament, having kicked the emperor who betrayed her.

The moon is so resolute, I naturally know that I cannot persuade her, nor will I say any more useless words, I simply say: "Once you leave the palace gates, you are on your own, so be cautious in everything."

Hearing this, I felt somewhat at a loss. Even though Yue'er may have longed to distance herself from the Emperor, my situation has provided her with just such an opportunity; however, I still feel uneasy. Once Yue'er arrives by the side of the Dowager Consort Zhang Yi, it is akin to a sheep entering a tiger's den. With the heavens high and the Emperor far away, if the Dowager Consort Zhang Yi harbors any ill intentions towards her, she would find herself in a situation where no one could help her.

I led Fu Xiang behind the screen to change clothes, deciding to first wear a casual and comfortable outfit for a nap, and to dress up again before the evening banquet. Hearing Shang Wanwan say this, I responded from behind the screen: "Your Highness, the Princess, is truly joking. Most of the ornaments in my palace were bestowed by Princess Hua, and when it comes to who is truly fortunate, it is Princess Hua who is the rightful one." In the past, I never liked to say such polite words, but now I am facing my lover's sister. She knows about my relationship with Shang Baiwen, and she is not as close to me as Yue'er, so I can only treat her this way. Most of the ornaments in my palace were bestowed by Princess Hua, and when it comes to who is truly fortunate, it is Princess Hua who is the rightful one. In the past, I never liked to say such polite words, but now I am facing my lover's sister. She knows about my relationship with Shang Baiwen, and she is not as close to me as Yue'er, so I can only treat her this way.

After the moon smiled, she raised her hand to wipe away her tears: "After I leave, besides worrying about my three children, the one I worry about the most is you, Xiaoxiao." She held my hands tightly, pressed her lips together, as if hesitating about something. After pondering for a moment, she looked at me and said, "Today, when we return to the palace, the Empress found me and said she has already investigated the matter between you and Shang Baiwen. She promised me that if I follow the advice of the Dowager Consort Zhang and leave the palace, she would not pursue the matter with you."

The King of Yue is quite bold! The Emperor suddenly visited the Shoukang Palace's Runyang Pavilion, catching both the King of Yue and the Empress off guard. They were in the main hall of the Runyang Pavilion discussing which suitable young man to choose as a husband for Princess Yining when the Emperor unexpectedly entered, holding a string of pearls. After saying this, he entered with a blank expression. However, he only stopped there and did not approach further.

The emperor's gaze was filled with a mix of anger and urgency. Upon hearing the words of the Empress Dowager Zhang Yi, he was so enraged that he immediately slammed the table and pointed at her, saying: "Old woman Yang, do not overstep your bounds!"

The atmosphere of the banquet was exceptionally harmonious, with songs and dances in full swing, and fireworks dazzling the night sky. To those unaware of the truth, it would seem that the Emperor genuinely wished for the longevity of the Imperial Concubine Zhang Yi. At the banquet, cups were raised and toasts exchanged, with hosts and guests enjoying themselves thoroughly. Even the Emperor and Gu Wan appeared to be a pair of amicable brothers, displaying a harmonious camaraderie.

The Ci'an Palace has traditionally served as the residence of the Empress Dowager or the Empress Mother when both Empresses are in place. Since the Empress Dowager passed away before the Emperor ascended the throne, the Ci'an Palace has remained unoccupied and without residents. Due to the limited space at the residence of the Dowager Consort Zhang Yi for her birthday banquet, the Palace of Longevity and Nurturing was deemed insufficient. Therefore, the Palace Attendant Bureau ultimately reported to the Emperor and arranged the banquet in the western side hall of the Ci'an Palace, known as the Kangning Hall.

She let out a long sigh, wiped away the tears on her face, and smiled brightly like a blooming peach blossom. Turning to Shang Wanquan, she said: "You have won, Princess of Yue. Your love is truly earth-shattering. For the sake of Brother Heng, you can sacrifice yourself, marry the King of Yue, and endure loneliness while living a lively and pure life, with no desires or demands. Even if the child passes away, it does not matter; you are content as long as Brother Heng writes to you regularly. But I, I feel disgusted even living with you. I cannot compare to you, so I will give Brother Heng to you."

The unexpected visit from Princess Zhang Yi surprised everyone present, except for the Empress. The Empress openly covered her mouth and laughed, her gaze towards Yue Er filled with a clear sense of triumph. Noticing the change in the Empress's expression, I felt extremely displeased, wishing I could pull out the long hairpin from my head and rush over to kill her swiftly.

Shang Wanquan laughed out loud, and by the time she spoke again, she had quietly moved behind the screen, looking at me with a grin. To be honest, her smile was somewhat unsettling. She asked, "Is Fu Xiang someone you can trust?"

I put on an awkward yet polite smile and nodded: "Your Highness, the Princess, is indeed a distinguished guest at tonight's banquet. It is a blessing for me to have you accompany me."

Is that so? Upon careful reflection, I realize that in my memories, Shang Baiwen always smiles at me, and that smile is like a spring breeze caressing my face

The emperor placed great importance on our return to the palace and arranged for three large carriages to pick us up. Yue'er, Shang Wanquan, and I each took one carriage, proceeding in order. After swaying for two hours, at the first moment of the Wu hour, the three carriages entered the palace through the eastern side gate

For instance, today, he felt that the emperor had interrupted his important discussions with Xiao Xunbi, and thus he had little good to say about the emperor

The banquet for the birthday celebration will be held at the hour of Hai in the evening. It is said that this is because the Empress Dowager Zhang Yi enjoys fireworks, and this year marks her full birthday, so the Emperor has specially granted her a fireworks display. The timing has been arranged late to wait for complete darkness, allowing her to enjoy it to the fullest

What did she say? Help me escape the palace? I hadn't even thought of that. Her saying this really took me by surprise. I stared in astonishment at the determined Shang Wanquan, unsure of how to respond to her. It doesn't seem right to help me, this red apricot, to quickly climb over the wall.

This may be the most difficult night for the Chengqian Palace in the past ten years

The emperor sending her to the lively view of Shang Wanquan was a crucial step that touched her bottom line

Please grant your majesty's favor! The moon girl bowed several times until the flower ornament on her forehead became blurred by the dirt on the ground, or, please directly depose me from my position as the noble consort and give it to Yang Zhaoyuan

I already felt guilty, so at this moment, it was only right to do as she said. The two of us separated to get ready and then went together to the venue of the banquet, Cian Palace

I was greatly shocked by Shang Wanquan's words. For fifteen years, she and Gu Chang have exchanged countless letters. The more I thought about it, the more I felt something was amiss. It was truly unexpected that while the emperor despised his consorts for making a fool of him, he was secretly communicating with Shang Wanquan, who had already become the Princess of Yue. Initially, I felt somewhat embarrassed about her sudden assistance, but now I have no feelings of gratitude whatsoever.