Empress Dowager Xiaoxuan

Chapter 45

The Legend of the Sea Spirit (a fairy tale filled with warmth) ISBN: 161685

"The Homebody Vampire" (Vampire, author V's impression on me is that he has a habitual, leaping thought process) Book ID: 181435

"Jade Pendants Like a Song" (Palace Intrigue, Beautiful Female Lead) Book ID: 182868

Highly recommended: *The Ultimate Shopkeeper* (Book ID: 170899)

(A book you'll find very enjoyable if you take the time to read it carefully. The author's meticulous approach to writing is admirable. During a period of high recommendation, the author even rewrote the entire book because they were dissatisfied with the writing. Highly recommended... I think few people would not cherish this opportunity and allow a large number of readers to leave at this time, which shows how serious the author's attitude is.)

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 84 Attending the Banquet

Updated: 2008-09-20 16:54:23 Word Count: 3269

"You're talking nonsense! Do you believe I'll have your tongue cut out?" Xiao Xuan said, pointing a trembling finger at the maid.

"Your Majesty," the servant cried, kowtowing on the ground, "it's true! How could I dare to deceive Your Majesty? This morning, Madam instructed me to buy medicine, and I saw with my own eyes that Madam placed the medicine next to the wine pot that we would be drinking tomorrow."

"How dare you talk nonsense! Second Sister placing the medicine next to the wine pot was perhaps just a casual act, yet you've made such malicious assumptions..."

"Get out of my sight!" Yelü Xian interrupted Xiao Xuan and said to the kneeling maid, "Go back and tell your mistress that the Empress is unwell and unable to attend the banquet. I will attend in her place tomorrow. Also, if you dare to leak even a word of this, you will be in for it."

Watching the maid scramble out of the room, Xiao Xuan looked at Yelü Xian and said with slightly trembling lips, "Xian, she's lying, don't believe her."

Yelü Xian grabbed Xiao Xuan's shoulders and looked into her eyes, saying, "Yan Yan, wake up! Why do you think I suddenly appeared here? I was afraid that someone would be resentful and try something, so I planted spies all around the former Zhao Prince's Mansion. Before this maid came, someone had already told me about the people in the mansion buying poison! It's obvious that Xiao Yan wants to kill you. Stop lying to yourself."

"Impossible! My second sister is very good to me. She always follows the rules. How could this be!" Xiao Xuan cried out to Yelü Xian.

"Yan Yan," Yelü Xian looked at Xiao Xuan, who was shedding tears, and suddenly felt a pang of heartache. He immediately lowered his voice and asked softly, "I ask you, if one day I and my children were killed by someone else, what would you do? What would you think? Would you not have any thoughts in your mind?"

Hearing Yelü Xian's words, Xiao Xuan trembled, shaking her head while crying. She didn't know how to answer; she just didn't want this outcome.

"If you love me, you will definitely do something for me, won't you?" Yelü Xian said, "Xiao Yangan is the same. If she truly loves Xiyin, she will definitely not let us go so easily. After all, we are the ones who took away her husband and child. She helped Xiyin rebel in the past. Now she has nothing left. What do you think she will do? Alone and alone, does she really have no thoughts at all? She is no longer the second young lady of the Xiao family. Years ago she was the Princess Consort of Zhao, and she is still the Princess Consort of Zhao now, understand?"

"No, no!" Xiaoxuan cried. "She wouldn't do that. You're just guessing, right?"

Knowing she was only stubbornly holding on in her heart, Yelü Xian simply pulled her into his arms and whispered, "Anyway, don't think about anything. We'll know the outcome tomorrow. Tomorrow I will see Xiao Yangan, and I will attend the banquet in your place. Whether she invited you out of kindness or intends to harm you, we'll find out then." Gently patting Xiao Xuan's back, Yelü Xian said with great affection for the woman in his arms, "Don't cry. I hate it when you cry."

Hearing him say that, Xiaoxuan burst into tears in his arms: "Why did she do this? We're sisters, aren't we? She helped Dad arrange our marriage back then. Why was she so foolish?"

Sighing, Yelü Xian let her sob in his arms, knowing that there was no need to explain anything further; she needed to vent.

At night, lying in bed, he was still worried about her feelings.

In the darkness, a hand touched his chest, so he gently covered the back of that hand with his own.

"Xian, let me go tomorrow." Xiao Xuan said, while gently rubbing Yelü Xian's chest with her hand.

Closing his eyes and enjoying the warm caress against his chest, Yelü Xian said, "No, I absolutely forbid you from going. Who knows what that madwoman might do."

"Xian, can you call me? I want to see my second sister again."

After a moment of silence, Yelü Xian whispered, "If I send you, how can I be at ease?"

“I…love you,” Xiaoxuan said to Yelü Xian in a voice so low it could barely be. “So I believe you. You asked me what I would do if something happened to you and the child one day? I’ve thought it through, and maybe I would do the same.”

With those words, "I love you," Xiaoxuan spoke her heart.

Unable to lie still any longer, he rolled over, pinned her beneath him, and held her tightly. Yelü Xian's heart was breaking. She said it; she had just said she loved him.

Yan Yan, I love you just as much.

"I love you too, so I can't ask you to go."

"I promise you, I will never touch anything in that mansion. If Second Sister really wants to settle things once and for all, then let me personally resolve our grievances."

Silence. There was only silence in the darkness. Yelü Xian's heart softened again. He knew he couldn't help it; he couldn't refuse her every time she pleaded with him so gently.

"I'll be waiting for you outside her residence. Remember we still have a child. For the sake of the child, you must come back safely," Yelü Xian said with a sigh in Xiao Xuan's ear.

Pressing her face close to his, Xiaoxuan whispered, "You're always so good to me. For you and the children, I'll come back safely."

The next morning, the two waited, anticipating the arrival of night. For some, the day was too short; for others, it was too long. Yelü Xian felt it was too long; he couldn't wait to go to Xiao Yangan and expose her scheme. Xiao Xuan, however, felt it was too short; she wished the night would never come, so she wouldn't see the outcome.

Night fell.

Outside the former Zhao Prince's Mansion, a luxurious carriage stopped, guarded by neat and solemn soldiers. Just as Yelü Xian was about to get out of the carriage, Xiao Xuan grabbed him.

"Xian, I'll go by myself. Can you let me go alone?"

"I am worried about you."

"Don't you trust me? If you don't trust me, don't you trust our children? We already have children. Even if I could abandon you, how could I possibly neglect our children? Do you think I would have no feelings for each and every one of my own children? Besides, I can't abandon you now."

Her soft whisper, as gentle as an evening breeze, reached my ears.

His body stiffened at that moment. Looking at her small hand gently tugging at his sleeve, Yelü Xian nodded and said, "Yes, I will wait for you here. Don't keep me waiting too long. You should know that I have never had the patience to wait for matters concerning you."

"Mmm," Xiaoxuan nodded, then prepared to get out of the car, but her sleeve was grabbed by him at that moment.

"I don't know whether I should trust you, Yan Yan. If you do something that I will regret, I..." Yelü Xian's hands trembled slightly, but he didn't know what to say. He couldn't bring himself to curse anything, so he could only say, "Have the guards stay with you. It will be safer that way."

Looking at him, Xiao Xuan finally understood the reason why the more you love someone, the harder it is to let go. She leaned in and gently kissed his cheek. Xiao Xuan said, "Wait for me, let's go back to the palace together."

Looking up at her retreating figure as she left the carriage, Yelü Xian felt a surge of emotion. She kissed me... She told me to wait for her, to return to the palace together... He let out a soft breath, his hand tightly gripping the small quilt spread out in the carriage, his heart filled with both sweetness and sorrow.

"Cough cough cough..." After a violent coughing fit, Yelü Xian felt a sweet taste in his throat, as if something had suddenly rushed up into his throat. He hurriedly covered his mouth with his sleeve, but spat out a mouthful of blood.

Looking at the blood on his sleeve, Yelü Xian felt dizzy. He weakly reached for the sedan curtain, wanting to call the soldiers to bring back his Yan Yan and have her come back to be with him. He was afraid he wouldn't make it... His hand rose weakly and then fell weakly. What he wanted was not for her to know, not for her to worry about him.

Xiao Xuan entered the old Zhao Prince's Mansion. The entire mansion had been cleaned and renewed. Led by Xiao Yangan, Xiao Xuan and Xiao Yangan arrived at the courtyard of the Zhao Prince's Mansion and took their seats at the banquet that had been set out.

"Sister, this matter has caused you a lot of trouble. Sigh, I don't want to say anything. Let's have a drink together first." Xiao Yangan said bluntly, raising his wine cup. The maid serving Xiao Xuan quickly picked up the wine pot in front of Xiao Xuan and poured her a full cup of wine.

Looking at the wine cup in front of her, Xiao Xuan pondered for a moment and said, "Someone, bestow this cup of wine of mine upon the lady."

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 85 Farewell

Updated: 2008-09-20 16:54:23 Word Count: 3338

Second sister, if you were still my second sister, you should drink this cup of wine safely.

Upon hearing Xiao Xuan's instruction, Xiao Yangan's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes betrayed her panic. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "Sister, do you not wish to drink with your elder sister?"

"What are you saying, Second Sister?" Xiao Xuan smiled slightly and said, "We sisters grew up together since we were little. No matter how great the storms, we are still connected by blood. I haven't seen Second Sister since Xi Yin took her to guard the border. I imagine it must be hard for her. This cup of wine should be offered to Second Sister."

Xiao Yangan smiled slightly, first downing the wine in his hand in one gulp, then looking at the wine that Xiao Xuan had bestowed upon him on the table, he said, "Someone, fill Her Majesty the Empress's cup. I want to drink this cup with Her Majesty the Empress."

The maidservant busied herself refilling Xiaoxuan's cup with wine.

Xiao Xuan smiled slightly, picked up her wine glass, looked at Xiao Yangan and said, "Second Sister, please."

"Sister, please!"

Xiao Xuan held her wine glass and looked at Xiao Yangan, while Xiao Yangan also held his wine glass and looked at Xiao Xuan. Neither of them drank from their glasses.

"What's wrong with my sister? Why won't she drink?" Xiao Yan asked, looking at Xiao Xuan.

“There is an order of seniority, so of course the elder sister should drink first. How dare the younger sister be so presumptuous?” Xiao Xuan replied calmly.

Xiao Yangan smiled slightly, thought for a moment, raised the wine glass to his lips, gave a bitter smile, and swallowed the wine.

"Yan Yan, I've finished my drink." Xiao Yan said to Xiao Xuan, who still had no intention of drinking, after finishing her drink in one gulp.

"Why do you insist on drinking?" Xiao Xuan asked, frowning slightly as she looked at her.

"You already know?" Xiao Yangan laughed loudly, "Hahahaha," and she stood up to look at Xiao Xuan.

Xiao Xuan's guards had already drawn their swords and were staring intently at Xiao Yangan.

“I know I’ll die sooner or later, I just want you to die in front of me,” Xiao Yangan said.

"You hate me that much? We're sisters!"

"Of course I hate it! Why wouldn't I hate it? We have the same parents, so why can you be the Empress while I'm just a Princess? You have a sickly but high-ranking husband, while I have a prisoner whose rebellion has failed time and again? I don't lack anything compared to you, so why can't I be the Empress? You've been a crybaby since you were little, weak and cowardly. What do you have that I don't? Heaven is unfair! I should be the Empress of Liao! That Empress position should be mine!" Xiao Yangan screamed, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. In the moonlight, her face looked particularly ferocious.

"Is the Empress so important to you? More important than us as sisters?" Xiao Xuan asked calmly, ignoring the blood dripping from Xiao Yan's dry lips.

"Of course! Under heaven, which woman doesn't want to be an empress? Which woman doesn't want to rule the world? It's as simple as who wants to pick out the leftover jewelry! When we were little, every time our parents asked us to choose jewelry, you were always the first to choose. Now that we're grown up, the best things in the world are always chosen by you, the empress. Why is it that all the good things are chosen by you first?" Xiao Yangan raised his arm, wiped the blood that kept flowing from the corner of his mouth, and continued, "It's just a pity that Xi Yin was stupid, and Heaven never helped him. If he had succeeded, I would have been the empress long ago. He was my only hope. Now he's dead, and Liu Lishou is dead too. What's the point of me living? I originally wanted to die with you, but this time Heaven still didn't help me."

Xiao Xuan slowly stood up, looking at Xiao Yangan who was trembling all over, and said, "I still felt a little guilty. I wanted to tell my second sister when we were little that although Xi Yin and Liu Lishou were gone, she was still alive. I would find her a better husband so they could have many more children. Now I understand, even if I find her the best husband, she wouldn't be good enough for him, because what she wants isn't a family, but the empress's position." After saying this, Xiao Xuan turned and walked towards the door. Behind her, Xiao Yangan's scream came: "Xiao Yanyan, don't forget, you still have happy Yin and Liu Lishou's blood on your hands!"

Did she want to live with guilt for the rest of her life? Xiao Xuan stopped in her tracks, and seemed to hear Yelü Xianshi's voice in her ears: "Your heart can't be soft anymore."

"If you want to rebel, you'd better think about the consequences!" With those words, Xiao Xuan walked towards the door without stopping. Behind her, Xiao Yangan slowly collapsed, his eyes fixed on Xiao Xuan's departing figure until she was no longer visible.

Once inside the carriage, without saying a word, Xiao Xuan threw herself into Yelü Xian's arms and began to sob.

He gently held her, letting her cry, knowing that he couldn't stop her from shedding tears this time.

Xiao Xuan sobbed incessantly in Yelü Xian's arms, feeling his warm embrace. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the bloodstains on his sleeve.

Before she could wipe away her tears, Xiao Xuan grabbed Yelü Xian's sleeve and asked, "What happened? Where did this blood come from?"

With a gentle smile, Yelü Xian said, "When you weren't here, my nose was bothering me, so I picked it hard and it started bleeding."

"You!" With tears still clinging to her eyelashes, Xiao Xuan looked at Yelü Xian and said angrily, "Such a big person, don't you know how to be gentle?"

With a shy smile, Yelü Xian blushed and said, "Let's go back."

"Um."