Xu Shi has been taking such good care of herself lately that she looks even better; her complexion is rosier, and she's always smiling when she sees her. It's been a long time since Xu Shi has been in such good spirits, and Ah Hao has no reason not to like seeing her mother doing well.
Suddenly realizing that Xu's change might be related to Zhang Yutian replacing the servants in the mansion, Ahao wanted to sigh again. She rested her chin on her hand, looked at Xu, and reached out to brush away a strand of hair that might be uncomfortable on her neck, and many thoughts arose in her mind.
Zhao Jian walked in and leaned against the moon gate. Seeing that she was in a daze, he spoke after a long while and asked, "When are you planning to return to the palace?" Although Zhao Jian lowered his voice, Xu Shi, who was not yet asleep, still frowned and whimpered. Ahao saw this and quickly got up and went out of the inner room with Zhao Jian.
After leaving the room, Ahao told Zhao Jian that she would be back soon. Turning to look at the courtyard, she saw Zhang Yu, who should have been in the palace, suddenly appear. Thinking she was seeing things, Ahao looked again and realized she hadn't been mistaken.
Recalling what Zhao Jian had said during lunch, an idea popped into Ahao's mind when she saw Zhang Yu arrive. Instead of bowing to Zhang Yu, she lifted her skirt and ran to him, a wide smile on her face, asking with delight, "Your Majesty, what brings you here?"
Song Shuhao's acting wasn't very good, but Zhang Yu found it incredibly enjoyable. He looked down at the person who ran up to him with a smile in his eyes and said, "I'm taking you back to the palace."
"Hmm." Ah Hao nodded, and then said, "Your Majesty's arrival is just in time. I was almost ready to go back." Her face was still beaming with a big smile, as if she was overjoyed by Zhang Yu's appearance.
"Then go and explain first. I'll wait for you," Zhang Yu said, playing along with her words. Ah Hao obediently complied and went off to explain everything again.
Once Ahao was far away, Zhao Jian stepped forward and bowed to Zhang Yu. Glancing at Zhao Jian's bandaged hand out of the corner of his eye, Zhang Yu casually declined the formalities and said jokingly, "Young Master Zhao appeared so timely that anyone who didn't know better would think he already knew something bad was going to happen."
"Your Majesty is joking, teasing me." Zhao Jian remained unmoved and responded calmly.
Chapter 56 Confusion
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As Zhao Jiangong saw Zhang Yu off from the Song residence, Song Shuhao boarded Zhang Yu's carriage. On the way back to the palace, Zhang Yu remained silent, merely crossing his arms and looking at her with a half-smile. Ahao felt uneasy under his gaze but didn't want to ask any questions, so she stubbornly endured Zhang Yu's stare.
Fifteen minutes passed agonizingly, until Zhang Yu seemed to have finally had enough. He withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and asked Ahao with a smile, "If you don't want to get too involved with him, why did you personally cook for him to eat with you?"
“Young Master Zhao said that I would use this method to thank him, so that we would be even… Usually when I return to the manor, I cook for my mother. I thought it wouldn’t be too difficult, so I agreed.”
Zhang Yu seemed satisfied with this explanation, quickly nodding and not pressing further, believing Song Shuhao's words. After a pause, he spoke again, saying to Ahao, "Those people were supposed to protect you, but they went to deal with the chaos at the last minute, so they didn't show up. This won't happen again, and you don't need to pay any more attention to Prosecutor Zhao."
With few opportunities to leave the palace and no desire to meet with Zhao Jian, ignoring him would undoubtedly be easy. Now, with Zhang Yu's words, she no longer needed to worry about him suddenly and mysteriously appearing in her room while she was in the palace.
Having had various interactions with Prosecutor Zhao, A-Hao couldn't possibly feel much affection for him, especially after what happened today. His indifference to his own injury was an irresistible display of goodwill. Dealing with Zhang Yu alone was already exhausting for A-Hao; she didn't want to add Prosecutor Zhao to the mix.
After thinking it over, Ahao nodded to Zhang Yu and said "okay" in response. Then she added, "This servant doesn't mind that those... innocent and pitiful people who have been hurt are more important to save."
Song Shuhao readily agreed to Zhang Yu's suggestion to ignore Prosecutor Zhao, and Zhang Yu was extremely pleased with her obedience. However, when she said she didn't mind not being protected, Zhang Yu was indifferent; he would handle the matter himself. He only told her to avoid making her feel uncomfortable.
Some time ago, Zhao Jian insisted on seeing him, saying many things, but he ignored them, letting them go in one ear and out the other. Zhao Jian knew he harbored resentment towards him and his son, and must have known that surrendering would be futile. Yet he still took such actions; who knows if this was a charade orchestrated by him and the Prince of Anping?
Regardless of Zhao Jian's true intentions that day, it made no difference; he neither believed nor was willing to show any leniency towards him or Zhao Liang. Now that he had been given a second chance at life, he naturally wanted both the empire and Song Shuhao. Whatever it was, he would never back down an inch.
His thoughts raced, and in the blink of an eye, Zhang Yu glanced at Ahao sitting opposite him, a slight smile playing on his lips. He then asked Ahao a few questions about the Xu family, receiving earnest answers in return.
Although he wasn't in the mood for joking around, Zhang Yu felt that the journey back to the palace seemed much shorter as he chatted casually with Ah Hao.
·
Bixiao Palace, Wushuang Hall.
Xie Lanyan, who had been ill for a long time, lay on the bed, staring blankly at the sandalwood-colored canopy top embroidered with intricate patterns. Her face was still pale, but her fair cheeks had a sickly blush, as if she were waiting for something.
It was unclear how long she maintained this posture. Her head maid, Haitang, hurriedly entered from outside, carrying a chill with her. Upon entering the room, Haitang dared not approach the bed too closely, bowing respectfully from a distance and reporting to Xie Lanyan, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is currently unavailable to come to Bixiao Palace."
This was not good news. Haitang spoke softly, but Xie Lanyan understood perfectly. The time she risked meeting Zhao Jian in the palace, Zhang Yu was waiting for her at Bixiao Palace late at night. He seemed to know what was going on, yet he deliberately didn't touch her.
Xie Lanyan always believed that she had managed to appease the emperor with her fabricated excuse, thinking that even though the reason was somewhat absurd, he would still accept it. Zhang Yu, however, showed his true intentions through his actions, never setting foot in Bixiao Palace again, even knowing her poor health.
Having waited until today, Xie Lanyan sent Haitang to invite someone, hoping at least they would make a trip, but they still refused to show up. Not knowing if she had chosen the wrong time, and with Zhang Yu not in the palace at the moment, Xie Lanyan felt that all her past efforts had been in vain, and that those she once thought she could rely on were all unreliable.
Zhao Jian betrayed her, Zhang Yu abandoned her, and Prince Anping told her to find her own way... All the escape routes she had prepared for herself had left her with nowhere to retreat. Xie Lanyan stared wide-eyed, wondering what the point was of dragging her frail and ailing body along, clinging to life.
Haitang didn't receive any words from Xie Lanyan. She looked up at the person on the bed and sensed something was wrong. She quickly called out, "Your Majesty?" but still received no response from Xie Lanyan. Haitang went over to her, and when she reached the bedside, Xie Lanyan turned her face to her, her voice hoarse.
"It's alright, you can go now. I'm tired and need to rest." Xie Lanyan said this, and Haitang could only bow and take her leave. But she was even more worried, afraid that something might happen, and wondered if she should go to Xuanzhi Hall again.
After Haitang left, Xie Lanyan truly closed her eyes, a feeling of weariness rising from her heart and creeping onto her face. Perhaps due to physical exhaustion, her mind was equally weary, and Xie Lanyan fell asleep faster than she had expected.
·
In the darkness, it felt as if someone was choking her, making it hard for her to breathe. Xie Lanyan frowned, unsure of where she was, but the sensations felt so real, as if she weren't dreaming.
The oppressive feeling made Xie Lanyan extremely uncomfortable. She tried to open her eyes or leave the place, but she couldn't do either. She was confused, bewildered, and very uncomfortable, wanting to understand what was happening—and when this thought crossed her mind, Xie Lanyan saw herself.
Inside the Wushuang Hall of Bixiao Palace, brightly lit by candlelight, in a familiar place, she saw herself truly being choked. The polished floor reflected her helpless and embarrassed appearance. The person seemed extremely angry, their face contorted as if they wished to take her life immediately.
Xie Lanyan reached out to touch her neck to make sure it was alright, but then she saw herself being violently thrown to the ground again. She looked at the person lying on the ground, exactly like her, curled up, coughing violently and groaning in pain. The person who had assaulted her showed no pity, only questioning her, "She's dead now, are you satisfied?"
She tried hard to make out the person's face, but it was like a blurry light. She didn't know who this "she" was, and his voice... Xie Lanyan felt lost and confused. Suddenly, the person squatted down, reached out and patted her face, saying, "You can't die, you have to live, live a painful life..."
He finally raised his face, and his features became clear. Xie Lanyan seized the opportunity to recognize him, and it was indeed a familiar face—Zhao Jian. When the name flashed through her mind, Xie Lanyan was completely stunned.
Xie Lanyan stared blankly at Zhao Jian's face when the scene around her suddenly began to change rapidly. In an instant, Zhao Jian disappeared, and other people appeared before her, all familiar faces.
She saw Zhang Ye, clad in a dragon robe, sit in that position above all others, the youthful naiveté in his eyes replaced by composure. His upright demeanor seemed to bear a resemblance to Zhang Yu.
Zhang Ye, dressed in a dragon robe, walked up to her and sneered coldly, "You used to be my brother's concubine, and then you became Zhao Jian's concubine. You betrayed my brother, yet you expect me to accept you and treat you well? Xie Lanyan, who do you really think you are?"
Xie Lanyan didn't quite understand what he meant. She wondered how she had become Zhao Jian's concubine, and then she thought, had Zhao Jian really succeeded? But Zhang Ye seemed to be the one who ultimately secured that position. What was going on? Would all of this come true in the future?
Before she could even process what was happening, she found herself face to face with Song Shuhao. Song Shuhao lay on the bed, seemingly injured and weak. Despite this, Song Shuhao still looked at her with those bright eyes, seemingly fearless and undaunted.
She stood arrogantly in front of Song Shuhao, sneering, "Do you think you're so great just because you're Zhao Jian's wife? Do you think he really cares about you? So what if you've been married for five years? I've been with him for ten years, what do you think?"
Xie Lanyan glanced at Song Shuhao indifferently, but didn't see her expression change because of her words. Song Shuhao simply shook her head and said, "What you do is none of my business. You don't need to come to me to say these things."
Perhaps it was Song Shuhao's indifferent expression that provoked her, and she wasn't as unconcerned as she claimed. Still provoked by Song Shuhao's words, she said again, "You're right. You've already taken the fall for someone and stood up for him, so there's no reason for you to still care about these things."