Princess Xiangsi - Chapter 57
Watching her retreating figure, a nameless sorrow welled up in Situ Xingyun's heart. He simply hadn't yet realized the weight of this sorrow.
Volume One: A Folk Song of a Woman Named Qingyun Lige
The next morning, Feng Xue gave Qingyi some instructions before boarding the palace carriage and entering the palace.
The Emperor's condition seems to be worsening; he has missed the morning court sessions for many days, and the court is beginning to worry about the successor to Fengxi. Fengxi has yet to appoint a crown prince, and the Emperor only has one daughter, Princess Fengxue.
A force that had been lurking within the court gradually began to emerge, splitting the court into two factions: one supporting Princess Fengxue, and the other supporting Situ Xingyun.
Moreover, some people even submitted a memorial to the emperor, requesting that he appoint Situ Xingyun as the crown prince so that he could govern Fengxi together with Princess Fengxue.
At this time, the Fengxi regime was in a precarious state, like a ship in a storm, turbulent and uncertain, with no sunshine in sight.
Snow Palace.
Feng Xue stroked everything in the hall, a faint smile on her lips, her face filled with memories.
The palace maids watching Feng Xue quietly all had expressions of joy on their faces. They hadn't seen the princess for a long time.
“Nothing has changed…” Feng Xue murmured.
"The Snow Palace is the princess's eternal home, and we take good care of it every day."
"And Her Majesty the Empress often visits the Snow Palace!"
"Yes! Her Majesty the Empress often sits for a long time after arriving, reminiscing about the princess's childhood."
The palace maids started talking all at once.
As Feng Xue listened, her smile deepened. She breathed in the air of the Snow Palace, finding it exceptionally fresh and invigorating, a feeling of indescribable comfort washing over her. However, the thought of her ailing father sent a chill down her spine.
She dismissed all the palace maids, leaving her alone in the Snow Palace.
She needs to think carefully about the current situation.
Her father was seriously ill, but she, as his daughter, could not be by his side to take care of him. Her father had initially married her off to Situ Xingyun in order to restrain his military power and influence, but now his influence was constantly expanding. He had a certain reputation in both the palace and among the common people, and her father even intended to pass the throne to him, in the name of the princess's husband.
She knew that Situ Xingyun would definitely ascend the throne and that he could rule Fengxi well. The question was, where should she stand then?
The Empress—she neither desired nor desired such a husband. Sharing the same husband with so many women was something she couldn't do. Besides, what she wanted was a husband who understood her.
Once everything is over, she will completely abandon the identity of Feng Xue!
Feng Xue's eyes shone with a bright light, a light as firm as a rock, as if even the disappearance of heaven and earth could not stop her determination.
Not long after, Eunuch Lan came to deliver a message, saying that the Emperor and Empress had woken up.
Feng Xue immediately shook off the somber look on her face, replacing it with a bright smile, and followed Eunuch Lan into the Emperor's bedchamber. Several guards and palace maids quietly withdrew under Eunuch Lan's guidance, leaving the Emperor, Empress, and Princess a quiet environment.
"Your subject pays respects to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager." Feng Xue slightly curtsied.
"There are no outsiders here, Xue'er, so please don't stand on ceremony." The Empress helped Feng Xue up, looked at her kindly, and examined her from head to toe before saying, "Xue'er has lost weight lately, and her complexion is not as rosy as before." The Empress frowned.
Upon hearing the Empress's words, the Emperor, who was on his sickbed, also began to scrutinize Feng Xue from head to toe.
Feng Xue smiled and walked to the bedside, coaxing the Emperor and Empress, "Father, Mother, no! Xue'er is perfectly fine! Father and Mother haven't seen Xue'er for so long, that's why they think Xue'er has lost weight. Xue'er even thinks she's gained weight!"
Then she asked, "Mother, is Father feeling any better? What did the imperial physician say?"
The Empress trembled slightly, her lips turned pale, and she suddenly seemed to have aged several years, her brows furrowed with worry. The Emperor, too, began to cough.
The situation is self-evident.
"Birth, aging, sickness and death are normal things, Xue'er and the Empress don't need to worry about them too much."
"emperor……"
"Xue'er..." The Emperor placed his left hand on Feng Xue's right hand, "From now on, do whatever you want! Don't worry about your status as a princess. Xue'er has already done her best for the royal family. Cough cough... cough cough..."
"Xue'er, don't worry about your mother and father anymore. Children grow up and have their own world. Xue'er should have started flying long ago," the Empress continued.
The emperor placed his other hand on the empress's left hand. He looked at her, his bloodshot eyes filled with tenderness, and a faint glimmer of tears in them. "Empress, you've worked hard."
The brazier hissed and the flames danced merrily, spreading warmth among them, chasing away the winter chill and igniting human kindness.
Winter is almost over.
Volume 1: A Folk Woman Named Qingyun Lige 3
As night falls, a bright moon hangs high in the night sky.
The palace was quiet.
Suddenly, a white figure streaked across the air, silently.
The palace guards continued their patrols, the palace maids in the Snow Palace continued their work, and the bright moon continued to quietly radiate its cold moonlight, but no one knew that a princess was missing from the Snow Palace.
Dustless Valley.
Pear blossoms are in full bloom, a gentle breeze blows, like snowflakes fluttering, and moonlight pours down, casting a silvery glow; this place is as beautiful as a fairyland.
Suddenly, a graceful white figure flashed through the fairyland like lightning, and the branches of the pear trees, which were in full bloom with white pear blossoms, trembled slightly, as if cheering and excited.