I originally thought the Empress had come to seek justice.
To my surprise, as soon as she entered, she dismissed all the palace maids.
She took a few steps forward, looking down at me from her elevated position. "Xu Peiyao, I already know your identity."
A glint of severity flashed in her eyes. "You'd better stay obediently in Zhaoning Palace, or else..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the door to the chamber was pushed open.
Jing Xun stood in the doorway, backlit by the light.
He was tall and elegant, with deep-set eyes.
Ling Shuang hurriedly stepped forward to plead for forgiveness. "Your Majesty, please forgive me."
Jing Xun waved his hand, signaling that it was fine.
Then he walked over and sat beside me, casually saying, "The Empress has come to visit Consort Xu?"
Consort Xu?
So he had granted me the title of consort.
The Empress was momentarily taken aback by his words but quickly regained her composure. "Since Your Majesty is here, I will take my leave."
Before leaving, she cast a meaningful glance in my direction.
It seemed she was convinced that I would bewitch Jing Xun.
After all, the Former Emperor had been swayed by me and failed to pass the throne to her son.
But what she didn't know was—
I had never bewitched anyone.
I was merely trying to survive.
After that night, Jing Xun never returned to Zhaoning Palace again.
Every day, the Palace Maid would bring me fine supplements and Clothing and Jewelry for my selection.
I did not refuse these gifts.
After all, the Empress already knew my identity.
If I angered her again, it would be difficult for me to leave Zhaoning Palace alive.
One day, while I was flipping through a book in my hands, Ling Shuang suddenly leaned over and reported, “Your Highness, something terrible has happened.”
I asked her, “What is it?”
Ling Shuang trembled as she said, “His Majesty has been attacked!”
My heart tightened. “What is His Majesty’s condition now?”
Ling Shuang replied, “This servant does not know.”
Then she added, “I heard that Miao Gonggong has been seriously injured.”
I was stunned for a moment upon hearing this news.
Miao Dongxu was seriously injured?
What about Jing Xun?
Is he alright?
I suddenly realized that my feelings for Jing Xun seemed to exceed what I had anticipated.
The next day at noon, I slowly awakened in Jing Xun's chamber.
Looking at the unfamiliar furnishings around me, it took me a while to regain my senses.
This is Jing Xun's chamber!
I suddenly threw off the blanket and realized I was completely naked.
Memories of last night flooded my mind in an instant.
I was terrified, my heart racing, nearly on the verge of tears.
Would he let me leave the palace?
I didn’t know.
The only thing I was certain of was—
Miao Dongxu was injured.
I felt restless and uneasy.
At that moment, Ling Shuang suddenly walked in. "Your Highness, Miao Gonggong sent you here."
"He said for you to rest well with me."
I looked at her in astonishment. "Miao Gonggong sent me here?"
Ling Shuang nodded. "Yes."
"Miao Gonggong instructed me to make sure you rest properly."
She leaned closer to me, her expression somewhat strange. "Your Highness, you and Miao Gonggong..."
I hurriedly interrupted her. "Don't say such things."
Ling Shuang pouted. "I'm not saying anything wrong."
"Weren't you the one who went to ask Miao Gonggong for help last night?"
"Otherwise, how would you end up here?"
Her reminder made me recall the events of last night.
Jing Xun said he wanted to keep me as his woman.
Could it be that he really intends to save me?
I shared my thoughts with Ling Shuang, but she looked at me with disbelief.
"Your Highness, please don't be naive."
"As the Consort of the Former Emperor, how could Miao Gonggong possibly risk his life to save you?"
I was left speechless by her question.
Indeed.
Ever since the Former Emperor had made me a consort, I had lived in fear and oppression.
I thought I would continue to live in this dazed state forever.
Until one day, I received a letter from my mother.
She informed me that my father had contracted a strange illness while conducting business in Lingzhou.
They needed a large sum of money for treatment.
It was then that I realized I could not die in the palace.
I had to survive.
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