When they were alone in the main hall, the Empress put down the jade pendant in her hand, looked at Hai Ling, and slowly spoke.
"Qian'er, is she alright?"
Hai Ling was taken aback and instinctively wanted to shake her head, but she saw the Empress smile bitterly: "She must hate me very much in her heart. Actually, I had no choice. As a mother, how could I want to see my daughter jump into the fire? But as the eldest princess of the royal family, this is her fate."
"Mother."
Hai Ling subconsciously stood up. She was unwilling to admit it. Although the Empress seemed sad, she might change her expression at any moment and demand that she hand over her daughter. Where would she find her daughter? So, denying it to the death was the right thing to do.
"The last person she saw was you, so I know it must have been you who helped her leave the capital."
Empress Sima Lan's eyes welled up with tears, as if she were very sad. Hai Ling swallowed back her words of rebuttal and looked at Sima Lan.
“She has been pampered by me and her father since she was a child. When has she ever suffered outside? Do you think she can endure it?”
"Mother?"
In fact, Sima Lan didn't want to hear anything from her; she was just talking to herself. So when Hai Ling didn't speak, she didn't press her for details but simply continued talking.
"Since she's gone, let her go far away. It's all fate. I hope she's alright."
"She will be alright."
Hai Ling spoke with certainty, for it was obvious whether Feng Qian was a dragon or a shrimp; she would never allow herself to be in a predicament.
The Empress fell silent, her face etched with longing, her eyes filled with deep affection.
She had raised her daughter from a young age and cherished her dearly. How could she bear to send her to the Northern Dynasty for a political marriage? But she had no choice. The Emperor was seriously ill, and her son was about to ascend the throne. Right now, the Jiang family was eyeing them covetously, and Consort Yun and Prince Ning were also keeping a close eye on them. On the surface, the court was calm, but in reality, a large number of people were secretly supporting Prince Ning.
She couldn't be careless, so she had to sacrifice her daughter's happiness. Who knew that Feng Qian would run away from the wedding in the end? It was all fate.
The hall fell silent. The Empress was heartbroken, and Hailing didn't know how to comfort her.
Moreover, she didn't know what the woman in front of her would do next. Although her actions were understandable, it couldn't be denied that her ruthlessness was beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Someone jogged in from outside the palace gate.
It was Ninghua, the Empress's personal maid. Ninghua quickly spoke up: "Your Majesty, Consort Yun and Princess Fengyao have arrived. They have come to discuss Princess Fengyao's marriage to the Northern Dynasty in three days."
Upon hearing this, the Empress suppressed her grief, quickly armed herself, and stood tall like a warrior, exuding elegance and nobility. She then rose and gave instructions to Ninghua.
"Bring them in,"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Ninghua got up and went out to announce the arrival of Consort Yun and Princess Fengyao. Hailing got up and sat to the side. Soon, someone came in from outside the hall to pack things up.
Two graceful figures appeared before the main hall. The one in front was alluring and charming, her waist swaying like a water snake as she walked. Her naturally beautiful face, adorned with exquisite makeup, still exuded charm.
This person appears to be Consort Yun.
The woman beside her was slender and graceful, with a face as pretty as a crescent moon, serene and refined. Her hair was styled in a high bun, with only two pale pink palace flowers tucked into her temples, which perfectly accentuated her beauty. Her red dress fluttered like a colorful butterfly.
Following behind Consort Yun Shu, she entered and gracefully bowed to the Empress.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress."
"Rise, please sit down."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Consort Yun said, her eyes lowered but revealing an overbearing arrogance.
As a junior, Hai Ling naturally had to pay her respects to Consort Yun Shu, so she stood up. However, before she could greet her, Princess Feng Yao smiled, warmly took her hand, and spoke gently.
"This must be my sister-in-law, Feng Yao greets you."
"Get up."
Hai Ling raised an eyebrow in surprise. This Princess Feng Yao didn't seem like a warm person, and besides, she had never met her before. Why was she being so affectionate? Hai Ling observed the princess discreetly. She saw that the princess's eyes were lowered, but the hand she was holding was icy cold, as if it had no warmth at all.
Feng Yao held Hai Ling and smiled as she looked at the Empress at the head of the table.
"Your Majesty, while you and your husband are discussing the marriage alliance, my sister-in-law and I will go for a stroll."
"Okay, go ahead."
Ever since Feng Yao became Lian Yan's object of affection, the Empress has doted on her as if she were her own daughter, so whenever Feng Yao mentioned it, the Empress would warmly agree.
Feng Yao took Hai Ling's hand, and the two of them walked out of the main hall.
As soon as she stepped out of the palace, Feng Yao released Hai Ling's hand and walked towards a corner of the main hall.
Her straight back revealed her stubborn pride, resentment, and anger.
Could it be that Feng Yao didn't want to form a marriage alliance with the Northern Dynasty? But what did that have to do with her? Hai Ling thought to herself as she followed Feng Yao to a quiet, secluded corner.
Feng Yao gestured for the palace maids behind her to step back, and Hai Ling also told Yan Zhi to move further away.
"Princess, what do you wish to discuss with me?"
Hailing knew she had never been on good terms with this princess, so the princess must have something to say to her by bringing her here.
As expected, as soon as she opened her mouth, Feng Yao suddenly turned around and looked at her. Her eyes were filled with intense hatred and she stared coldly at Hai Ling, speaking slowly and deliberately.
Why did you hurt me?
"Harm you?" Hai Ling was a little taken aback. She didn't think she had done anything to wrong the princess. She shook her head and said, "I don't understand what the princess means."
"It was you. You were the one who sent Feng Qian away, which is why I became Lian Yan's target. If you hadn't sent Feng Qian away, how could I have become that sacrifice?"