Princess Xiangsi - Chapter 201
Wuxia smiled and said, "Having stayed in this harem for so long, thinking back on the past, many things I couldn't understand before, I can now see and understand clearly." Suddenly, Wuxia's tone carried a hint of resentment, "I always thought Sister Qingyun's expression was strange. She was clearly smiling, but there was no feeling of smiling. Now I think about it, everyone has their own mask, and Sister Qingyun wore her mask the whole time she left the palace. But after entering the palace, the first time I saw Sister Qingyun with Prince Ande, your eyebrows were smiling, your eyes were smiling, your face was smiling, even if there was no curve at the corners of your lips, anyone could feel your smile. Sister Qingyun, you are only completely unguarded in front of Prince Ande, only then do you not wear a mask."
Yu Wuxia gave a bitter smile. "Even the Emperor could sense how much you had changed for Prince Ande, and this change wasn't deliberate; it was a natural one. If you didn't love him, you wouldn't have changed. The Emperor is so angry because he saw this."
At this moment, Yu Wuxia spoke of the past in a calm tone, a hint of resentment on her face. Qingyun sighed inwardly. The white jade she had always tried her best to protect had gradually become flawed under the influence of the harem. But if it had no flaws, it wouldn't be white jade anymore, and it wouldn't be able to survive in the harem.
"Wuxia." Qingyun held Yu Wuxia's hand and said softly, "The inner palace is dangerous. Wuxia, you must be careful in everything you do in the future. But Wuxia, you don't need to worry too much. You gave birth to a boy. If he becomes the crown prince in the future, then your position will be secure."
Yu Wuxia withdrew her hand, looking down at the baby boy in her arms, her eyes dimming. "It's impossible. The other day, someone in the court advised His Majesty to establish a crown prince as soon as possible. His Majesty glanced at them coldly and said indifferently, 'My crown prince can only be born to the Empress.'"
Wuxia bit her lip, her eyes growing even more dim. "The Emperor only loves Sister Qingyun, and that has never changed. Even in his dreams, he calls out for Xue'er. The Emperor's temper became volatile after he found out that Sister Qingyun had spent the night at the Prince of Ande's residence. Sister Qingyun, please don't blame the Emperor. He's just furious."
Hearing Wuxia's voice grow softer and softer, Qingyun felt a pang of sadness. She patted her head, just like she had done back in the palace, and said, "Wuxia, you must believe in time. Time can make people forget many things and allow many things to happen. As long as you have the will, many things can be accomplished."
Wuxia pursed her lips, then suddenly her expression turned strange. She stared at Qingyun and said, "Sister Qingyun, why are you saying such strange things today? It's like you're about to leave the palace?"
"Hehe." Qingyun blinked, raising her eyebrows. "Wuxia, you're overthinking it. I was just thinking about the Twin Butterflies incident, hoping you can learn from it."
Wuxia smiled and believed what Qingyun said, but suddenly her expression became serious. "Sister Qingyun, do you know what's wrong with Shuangdie now?"
Qingyun was taken aback and shook her head. She had never paid attention to the news from the Cold Palace.
"Sister Qingyun, Shuangdie has gone mad. Last night, a woman in the Cold Palace dropped a rag doll into a dry well. Then Shuangdie went berserk and beat the woman until her face was covered in blood. Then she lay by the dry well shouting for Xi'er, and finally jumped in herself."
Qingyun's heart trembled.
"I never expected her to end up like this." Qingyun shook her head and sighed. "But people always have to take responsibility for their actions. Perhaps this is divine punishment!"
The air in the Jade Pavilion grew heavy.
Qingyun suddenly chuckled, breaking the heavy atmosphere. "Wuxia, let me see the baby. I haven't held him yet."
"Okay." Wuxia smiled slightly and carefully placed the baby in Qingyun's hands.
Qingyun gently held the baby, her eyelashes fluttering, her eyes sparkling. "So tiny! Wuxia, have you named her yet?"
Wu Xiao shook her head. "His Majesty said we'll name him when he's a month old."
"Oh." Qingyun nodded, teasing the baby's nose with her finger. "Wuxia, look at his eyes, don't they look like yours? They're just as pure and clear, without any impurities."
She chuckled lightly, "So small, how could you tell? Sister Qingyun, you really love to joke."
Qingyun smiled but remained silent.
After Qingyun and Wuxia talked about some unimportant topics, Qingyun noticed that Wuxia seemed a little tired, so she took her leave and returned to the Snow Palace.
As Qingyun stepped out of the Jade Pavilion, she unexpectedly saw Situ Xingyun, who had just finished court. Situ Xingyun glanced at her indifferently, expressionless, as if she were a stranger.
Qingyun could only smile, take a step back, bow, and step back in one smooth motion, his expression calm and serene, as if he were a complete stranger.
Situ Xingyun ignored Qingyun and walked straight into the Jade Pavilion.
Qingyun shrugged and walked back to the Snow Palace with extremely slow and light steps. Along the way, she felt incredibly light, and the melancholy of the past few days had vanished without a trace.
"Princess, have you seen His Highness the Prince? Is he really as adorable as the rumors say?" When Qianghui saw the smile on Qingyun's lips, she also slightly raised the corners of her mouth.
“The prince has only been born a few days ago, how can you tell if he is cute or not?” Qingyun smiled, then suddenly she blinked and remembered the baby’s eyes. A smile appeared in her eyes. “However, his eyes are very beautiful, as pure and clear as crystal, without a trace of impurity.”
Qianghui couldn't help but want to see those beautiful eyes.
At this moment, Qingyun gave Qianghui's head a hard knock, "Idiot, all babies have such beautiful eyes."
"Huh?! Why?!"
"Because the baby has just been born, he has not yet been exposed to the ugliness of the world, so his eyes are naturally pure and clear."
Qianghui nodded, but her expression remained confused. Suddenly, she seemed to see something, her pupils contracted sharply, and panic spread from them.
Qingyun frowned slightly, and just as she turned her head, she heard Situ Xingyun roar, "All of you, get out of my sight!"
Seeing Situ Xingyun lose his temper for the first time, everyone was so frightened that they quickly retreated from the Snow Palace. Suddenly, only Situ Xingyun and Qingyun remained in the Snow Palace.
"Situ Xingyun, what do you mean by this?"
Situ Xingyun's anger intensified. He approached her step by step, and finally, his hand forcefully gripped Qingyun's chin.
Qingyun glanced at him indifferently and made no move to resist.
"Am I not good enough to you? I've trampled the dignity of the emperor into the ground. Whatever you want, I give you. Whatever you don't like, I forbid. Your affair with Xingzhi, your giving Lijing to Jun Wuhen, I've turned a blind eye as if nothing happened. And yet you still want to leave me!" He gripped Qingyun's chin tighter and tighter until Qingyun showed a slight pain, then he loosened his grip slightly.
"Did I say I was leaving?" Qingyun raised an eyebrow.
The intensity increased again, and Situ Xingyun's face was covered with dark clouds, as if lightning and thunder might strike Qingyun at any moment.
“Yesterday morning he went to the Imperial Garden and then suddenly betrothed your personal maid of many years to Guard Nalan. Today he gave instructions to Consort Yu about the future. Xingzhi then distributed his power to his subordinates and gave them detailed instructions on what to pay attention to.” Situ Xingyun’s eyes darkened, almost dripping with ink.
Qingyun frowned and turned her head away, but Situ Xingyun pulled her back. Finally, Qingyun raised her hand and slapped away Situ Xingyun's hand that was holding her chin.
Suddenly, Situ Xingyun laughed, a hint of savagery flashing in his dark eyes, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "If you dare leave the palace with Xingzhi, I will imprison Qingyi and Nalan in the Heavenly Prison, condemning them to eternal damnation, making them suffer unbearable torment, and forcing them to hate you for the rest of their lives. If that's not enough, I will kill Consort Yu, making you suffer for the rest of your life. If that's still not enough, I will send all the palace maids of Xue Palace to the largest brothel in the capital, subjecting them to both physical and mental torment. Xue'er, I cannot bear to harm you, but those around you will have to bear the brunt of my wrath!"
Qingyun pursed her lips, her face as white as paper. "Situ Xingyun, are you crazy!"
"Yes! I've gone mad! I'm insanely in love with you!"
Suddenly, he reached out his hand to Qingyun, who immediately took a few steps back.
Situ Xingyun's eyes narrowed, burning with a look of utter desperation. He said to Qingyun with unwavering conviction, "Tomorrow at the morning court, I will announce to the whole world that I will make you my empress!"
Having said that, he turned and left.