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墨書 Inktalez
Mei Shuang remained noncommittal, forcing herself to sit up. It was only then that she realized her tattered clothes had been replaced with clean, plain garments.
She was somewhat surprised and shot a glare at Nangong Nuo, her gaze quickly sweeping around the room.
This wasn’t—Cold Palace?
The spacious room was simple yet exceptionally clean. The antique-style furniture gave it a minimalist yet grand atmosphere, and she was no longer lying on the filthy straw but on a comfortable, clean bed.
Turning her gaze again, she noticed a large vase made of celadon on the bedside table, filled with a big bouquet of plum blossoms in full bloom. The various colors intertwined beautifully, including rare pale yellow plum blossoms, adding vibrancy to the modest room.
As someone who loved flowers, Mei Shuang's attention was immediately captivated by the delicate petals. She stared for a while until she suddenly heard Nangong Nuo’s teasing voice beside her. “How is it? This was personally picked by me from Plum Garden. The colors are all your favorites. Do you like it?”
Mei Shuang came back to her senses. Due to their close proximity, she could even feel Nangong Nuo's warm breath brushing against her face.
Her cheeks flushed and heart raced; Mei Shuang instinctively turned her face away and asked, “Where am I?”
Nangong Nuo’s eyes darkened with surprise as he replied, “Miss Mei Shuang, it seems you’ve truly forgotten. Have you forgotten my Plum Garden?”
Mei Shuang looked around again and indeed saw through an open carved window the dense plum grove outside, where various plum blossoms were competing to bloom, creating a beautiful scene in the harsh winter.
“How could I be here?” Mei Shuang withdrew her gaze. “I am the Deposed Empress Mei Shuang under the Emperor’s decree. Even if you managed to save me, aren’t you afraid of being held accountable by the Emperor?”
“Miss Mei Shuang,” Nangong Nuo said lazily as he turned slightly closer to her. When he was half a foot away from her face, he continued, “I’ve warned you many times to leave some room for yourself in life, but you refused to listen. If I hadn’t returned in time and discovered the clues to plead your case before the Empress Dowager, you would have already gone to the underworld...”
As Mei Shuang felt a sudden sense of relief, she tried to shift away from the man’s overwhelming presence. “I thought I would die in Cold Palace...”
Recalling the dangers of recent days still made her uneasy. She met Nangong Nuo’s gaze sincerely and said, “Thank you for pleading my case and restoring my innocence...”
Mei Shuang’s eyes were already bright and clear; at that moment, they sparkled like stars, making it hard for Nangong Nuo to look away. This woman had such charm that drew him in effortlessly. “Don’t you want to know who harmed you?”
Mei Shuang was taken aback, then shook her head. "I don't want to."
"Why not? Miss Mei Shuang, this isn't like you at all. You're someone who holds grudges; you must repay them!" Nangong Nuo teased.
Mei Shuang forced a smile. "Well, I've come to terms with it, haven't I? It's better to avoid trouble. I'm just grateful to be alive; I'm no longer a person of high status, just an ordinary commoner. Even if I knew the truth, what would it change? It would only add to my worries..."
Nangong Nuo raised an eyebrow, his gaze flickering slightly. "Miss Mei Shuang, the matter has been clarified, and you are innocent. The Empress Dowager has granted you a special pardon; you are still a member of the Mei Manor's noble lineage..."
Mei Shuang shook her head, her eyes drifting to the plum grove outside the window as she spoke softly. "The Empress Dowager's pardon doesn't change the fact that I was once the Deposed Empress Mei Shuang. For the sake of the Gu Family's reputation, even if she knows I was wronged, the Empress Dowager would never reveal the truth to the world. It's impossible for me to return as the Deposed Empress Mei Shuang, so going back to Mei Manor would only make things difficult for my father..."
Nangong Nuo gazed deeply at Mei Shuang, noticing an unusual color in his eyes.
He had merely been testing her, but her words aligned closely with the Empress Dowager's arrangements.
He recalled the Empress Dowager's sorrowful expression and her firm stance. Although she pardoned Mei Shuang from the Cold Palace, she did not restore her name nor allow her to reappear in public.
"A country cannot have two empresses. Having already deposed you once, we cannot allow such a farce to happen again. It's a pity for Shuang'er; however, she is too simple-minded and lacks experience, which has disappointed me..."
Thinking of this, Nangong Nuo said, "Miss Mei Shuang, the matter is clarified and you are innocent. You are right; there is no hope for you to reclaim the position of Empress... Don't you want to try and take it back?"
Reclaiming the position of Empress?
Competing with Mei Ru for that title? Not to mention that Mei Ru was now second only to the Emperor and wielded immense power; with her intelligence and cunning, even ten of Mei Shuang wouldn't stand a chance against her. Fighting against her would be like throwing eggs at a rock.
Moreover, recalling the Emperor's hatred towards her sent chills down her spine. Thus, Mei Shuang felt quite displeased with Nangong Nuo's suggestion and shook her head. "You said there's no hope; how could I reclaim it? Besides, if being Empress brings glory to our family name, then Mei Ru has already achieved that. My father should be pleased. As for me, being able to leave the Cold Palace safely is all I desire in this life..."
As she spoke, she cautiously got out of bed and slipped on her silk shoes to distance herself from this dangerous man.
Reaching the window, she gently pushed open the long window and took a deep breath of fresh air. The crisp air carried a hint of sweet plum blossom fragrance, clearing her mind and making her feel utterly refreshed.
Nangong Nuo also got up from the bed, standing with his hands behind his back, gazing at the woman in front of him who had her back turned. His eyes were deep.
She was indeed different.
If it weren't for the small birthmark of cinnabar hidden in her hair behind her ear, he would have truly thought she had changed completely. Remembering the words she spoke in her dreams, his eyes narrowed slightly. Was there really such a strange occurrence in the world? No wonder she was unable to defend herself against the accusations on her wedding day and could only submit to others' whims.
It is said that while it is easy to change a kingdom, it is difficult to change one's nature. The current Mei Shuang seemed like a completely transformed person. Since fate had brought this about, it might not be a bad thing for her; it appeared to be better than who she was before!
He had to admit that ever since he encountered this woman during the winter solstice banquet in the palace years ago, he had been deeply captivated by her and could never forget her.
At that time, he was the only male prince, unrestrained and notorious, surrounded by women of all kinds of beauty. Although the woman before him was elegant and refined, she was by no means a stunning beauty; at that time, she was still quite young.
He only remembered that when the plum blossoms were in full bloom, she danced gracefully through the plum grove in a light pink satin cloak trimmed with fox fur, her delicate figure weaving effortlessly among the trees. Just a glance back with a charming smile, and he could no longer take his eyes off her...
Various memories intertwined and overlapped, feeling as if they belonged to another lifetime. The current her probably no longer remembered the little moments they shared in their past lives...
Mei Shuang focused intently on breathing in the fresh air outside the window, completely unaware of Nangong Nuo's profound gaze fixed on her back, lost in thought.
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