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墨書 Inktalez
He certainly likes her.
Even though it is now clear that she is no longer the noble lady she once was, but merely a woman of unknown origin, he still likes her.
However, she has only borne what she should bear. Otherwise, just because she claims she is not the previous Mei Shuang, does she think she can absolve herself? How can she so firmly place all the blame on herself now?
And he has always been by her side; doesn’t she know that?
Nangong Nuo's expression turned cold, and Mei Shuang was equally unyielding.
The atmosphere in the room fell silent.
The setting sun's rays streamed through the long window, illuminating Mei Shuang's porcelain-like face as she gazed outside. Beneath her curled eyelashes, her clear eyes were cold, and the corners of her pressed lips and slightly fluttering nostrils seemed to convey a sense of grievance beyond her stubbornness.
Nangong Nuo focused on this woman and suddenly felt his heart soften. A hint of pity flashed in his eyes as he walked over and placed a hand on Mei Shuang's shoulder, speaking gently, "I came today just to tell you that for your contributions in praying for the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager has graciously allowed you to leave the palace for a while to ease your mind."
This news came somewhat unexpectedly.
Just moments ago, Mei Shuang had been troubled by Nangong Nuo's feigned ignorance. Upon hearing this, her heart stirred. When she looked at Nangong Nuo again, it made Nangong Nuo feel that this woman, who had been as stubborn as a mule just a moment ago, now appeared somewhat bashful. Clearly, this topic was enough to quiet her.
"Uh, when can I leave?" Mei Shuang asked, her tone no longer icy but filled with anticipation.
"You can go right away," Nangong Nuo said, pointing to the bed. "Change first."
Following Nangong Nuo's gesture, Mei Shuang noticed a bundle on the bed.
She walked over and opened it to find brand new clothes and shoes inside.
A few minutes later, Mei Shuang emerged from the inner room wearing a light yellow outfit. The fresh clothes made her look revitalized; the light yellow attire suited the season perfectly and accentuated her snow-like beauty, catching Nangong Nuo's eye.
Mei Shuang lifted her gaze, meeting the intense eyes of Nangong Nuo, and quickly looked down as if she hadn't seen anything. "Are we leaving now?"
Nangong Nuo nodded. "Of course, but we still need to make a trip to the palace. Don't forget that the Empress Dowager allowed you to leave, so we must go express our gratitude. Oh, and we need to bring the Sutra you copied."
Sitting in the carriage, Mei Shuang stared out the window, remaining silent the entire time. Yet, her mind was replaying scenes from Dazhao Temple, filled with strange occurrences and the disappearance of the Empress.
She mulled over the Empress's words for a long time, finding them laden with mystery. Considering the Empress's deep-seated hatred for her and her cunning nature, it seemed likely that she would have found a way to eliminate Mei Shuang long ago. Why wait until now? Queen Meiru had mentioned that she was not Chancellor Mei's flesh and blood, which explained why Chancellor Mei treated her so indifferently. However, if Mei Shuang was not his child, why did he treat her well? Did Chancellor Mei not know he was incapable of having children?
The carriage traveled along the outskirts of Dazhao Temple on a wide Official Road that had been cleared for royal passage, making it quite desolate. Despite the emptiness, low pine grass flanked both sides of the road, showing signs of life. The only sound was the crisp echo of hoofbeats.
"The Empress is dead; did you know?" Mei Shuang suddenly asked Nangong Nuo, pulling herself from her thoughts.
"Oh," Nangong Nuo replied calmly, still gazing at the early spring scenery outside. She seemed unfazed by this news. "I know..."
She continued nonchalantly, "People die every day in this world; what's so surprising about that?"
Mei Shuang widened her eyes.
A princess had died, and she remained so indifferent and dismissive?
"I mean the Empress of the Great Qin Empire," Mei Shuang emphasized the word "Empress." "She died and then disappeared..."
Only then did Nangong Nuo turn to look at Mei Shuang, her expression still light and unconcerned. "She disappeared? She must have been rescued; it's just that she won't die so easily. So you should worry less about her and focus more on your own safety."
"Not dead?" Mei Shuang exclaimed in shock. Consort Yi had said she was dead. "How do you know?"
"Can't you tell?" Nangong Nuo scoffed lightly. "On the surface, the Empress seems delicate and weak, but she's quite skilled in martial arts—she's been hiding it well to deceive you. She's not made of paper; how could she be easily killed by a single slap from the Emperor? By the way, do you remember that night at the inn when someone tried to kill you with three poisoned darts? That was your dear sister, Queen Meiru."
Mei Shuang's eyes nearly bulged out in shock. "Ah, ah, ah—"
Nangong Nuo ignored Mei Shuang's astonishment and scoffed dismissively. "She merely escaped; the Emperor was just playing along."
"......"
Mei Shuang was so stunned that she could hardly catch her breath, stammering, "She’s that powerful? Who exactly is she?"
"Enough," Nangong Nuo said, glancing at Mei Shuang with indifference. "Some things are better left unknown. Mei Ru is involved, which naturally ties into the Left Chancellor... It's quite complicated; don’t ask any further. After we meet the Empress Dowager in the palace, I will take you out of the capital to clear your mind..."
"So, does that mean I have nothing to do with this anymore?" Mei Shuang fixed her gaze on Nangong Nuo and asked.
Nangong Nuo raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "What do you think?"
For some reason, every time Nangong Nuo wore that teasing expression, Mei Shuang felt an urge to punch that enchanting face. It was clear there was another layer of meaning behind it—he was implying he had her under control.
Frustrated, Mei Shuang turned her head away.
Seeing her anger, Nangong Nuo found it amusing. Sometimes teasing this hot-tempered woman was quite entertaining. He leaned closer, just half a foot away from Mei Shuang, and shamelessly said, "Don’t worry; I’ll take care of you."
Mei Shuang turned back with a gentle smile, mimicking Nangong Nuo's tone. "Oh really? Then I suppose I should thank Zhao Prince... If anything were to happen to me, I would definitely drag Zhao Prince down with me."
Nangong Nuo laughed heartily. "Of course! My princess will never leave my side until death; it brings me great joy."
"......"
Having gained no advantage in their verbal sparring, Mei Shuang felt frustrated. This man had such thick skin and was skilled at twisting concepts; she decided to ignore him altogether.
Mei Shuang remained silent throughout the journey, while Nangong Nuo also kept quiet, appearing somewhat fatigued. He rested his hands behind his head and leaned back in his seat, seemingly asleep.
The quiet carriage swayed rhythmically as dusk gradually approached. Inside the carriage, Mei Shuang glanced at Nangong Nuo's sleeping face.
Both had sharp brows and bright eyes, but on Nangong Nuo's face, it exuded a devilish charm that seemed somewhat frivolous. In contrast, Emperor Xiao Luo was an entirely different extreme. Although he behaved with composure, he was cold and difficult to read.
Recalling the time in Heavenly Prison when he stood alongside the new Queen Meiru, their words were calm yet filled with warmth. How did things suddenly come to this?
It seemed that the charge of "colluding with the enemy and treason" against Mei Ru was indeed true. But did the emperor really learn about it only from the letter from the Eastern Kingdom?
As she pondered, Mei Shuang began to feel drowsy; it was hard not to be tired after last night’s events at Dazhao Temple. Even though she had caught up on sleep during the day, she still felt exhausted and slowly leaned back in her seat, falling asleep.
Nangong Nuo opened his eyes and took in the sight of Mei Shuang gazing thoughtfully at him.
Looking into her bright eyes, which seemed veiled by a light mist, he could see a mix of contemplation, hesitation, and worry... various emotions swirling within her. Suddenly, a gentle ripple stirred within Nangong Nuo; this woman had indeed endured too much.
Reflecting on last night's situation in the hall, he honestly didn’t think she could handle it. In such circumstances, without a certain level of courage, one would have been terrified. Regardless of everything, this woman was remarkable.
At that moment, Mei Shuang was sound asleep, her head resting against the window with a few strands of hair falling over her forehead. She appeared completely relaxed and endearing. Unbeknownst to her, she occasionally sighed lightly as if dreaming.
As darkness fell and the temperature outside began to drop,
the early spring chill made Mei Shuang huddle her shoulders and mumble softly in her sleep, “Mom, I’m scared. I don’t want to stay here...”
Only when she curled up into a warm embrace did her shivering body feel warmth again. She nestled tightly into that embrace, drawing in comfort...
When the carriage came to a stop with a creaking sound, Mei Shuang woke from her dream. Blinking her sleepy eyes open, she realized it was pitch black outside. A faint fragrance lingered around her nose, which puzzled her. After sleeping for a while, she decided to stretch lazily; as she twisted her waist, that warm feeling from her dream returned. Suddenly hesitant to move, she lowered her gaze and noticed that Nangong Nuo had somehow sat beside her without her noticing. To her surprise, she was leaning against Nangong Nuo's strong arm that held her securely.
She felt her ears burn and pushed away Nangong Nuo's arm. As she sat up, she startled him.
Nangong Nuo raised an eyebrow, watching Mei Shuang hurriedly compose herself. He then brushed off his clothes, stretched his long, bent legs, and exaggeratedly hissed, a smirk playing on his lips as he teasingly said, "This journey has truly made my legs numb. What, won't you help this king by massaging my legs to get the blood flowing?"
Mei Shuang paused; he always managed to seize every opportunity to draw them closer.
Fortunately, a maid from the Empress Dowager's side came over to lift the curtain, allowing them to enter.
Empress Dowager Mingxi was rarely seen sitting on the couch, resting with her eyes closed.
Having not seen the Empress Dowager for several days, Mei Shuang noticed that Empress Dowager Mingxi looked much better. The pallor on her face had been replaced with a healthy flush, making her appear younger and more radiant. At least among women of her age that Mei Shuang had encountered, even without a slim waist or toned arms, she had already developed crow's feet.
Mei Shuang sighed inwardly; the Empress Dowager was simply an ageless enchantress!
Hearing someone enter, Empress Dowager Mingxi took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes.
For some reason, Mei Shuang suddenly felt a trace of imperceptible sharpness flash in those phoenix eyes.
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