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墨書 Inktalez
As Xiao Luo said, it was she who awakened the consciousness of that Buddha statue. For a long time, the statue had remained in a state of stillness. Even when Mei Shuang wore the mask, the bond of blood that ran deeper than water stirred the dormant feelings within the statue, leading to the strange occurrences in the great hall and ultimately allowing the court to discover the true Chancellor Mei.
Who could have imagined that a Buddha statue was actually a living person?
The Pure Land of Buddhism—what place could be more difficult to find than this?
Mei Shuang stood in the great hall, staring blankly at the Majestic Buddha, the sound of that voice, like a broken gong, still echoing in her ears as it affectionately called out “Shuang'er”...
Even though she had never met this old man before, that long-lost familial affection suddenly brought tears to Mei Shuang's eyes.
In this place, amidst various schemes, traps, and threats to her life, only this old man made her feel an unguarded love.
Alas, it was futile...
She was no longer the Mei Shuang of before, and her existence had already drawn Xiao Luo's attention due to her unintentional success in unraveling that earth-shattering secret. However, at the same time, Xiao Luo's words—“From today on, consider it as if you have never been here”—made her acutely aware of her own peril.
Nangong Nuo often told her, “The more you know, the more dangerous it becomes.” While there was truth in his words, she couldn't help but wonder whether he spoke from genuine concern for her safety or if he was deliberately hiding something from her to quell her curiosity.
She had never imagined that this struggle against the impersonator Li Tang would turn into a real-life game of undercover agents. Nangong Nuo played a dual role in this conflict. The key point was that he emerged as the biggest winner—
He orchestrated a scandal involving Mei Shuang on her wedding day with someone he had an affair with, resulting in Mei Shuang being thrown into Heavenly Prison before she even settled into Weiyang Palace. Meanwhile, Mei Ru successfully replaced her and became the Empress of the Great Qin Empire.
In fact, one could argue that Mei Ru should feel sorrowful. When she finally achieved her dream of becoming the revered Empress of the Great Qin Empire, she might not have realized that she—the daughter of a killer nurtured by Left Chancellor—had also entered the Emperor's line of sight. Every move she made was under surveillance by eyes arranged by the Emperor until she was completely exposed... ultimately leading to the downfall of her puppet master—the impersonator Left Chancellor Li Tang!
Thinking about all this made Mei Shuang sigh deeply; becoming emotionally involved at critical moments is a grave mistake for anyone, especially women. Once emotions are stirred, jealousy can easily arise. The flames of jealousy burning others also consume oneself; Mei Ru was a perfect example.
If it weren't for Mei Ru's relentless desire to kill her, how could she have gone to such lengths to orchestrate so many elaborate plans and even made deals with people from Eastern Kingdom? In the end, she went so far as to take matters into her own hands just once—only to completely expose her identity!
Reflecting on this sent shivers down her spine; if she hadn't let Eastern Kingdom's Kuranami Miyako go and spared them from internal strife, how would she have escaped death?
But who exactly made the Eastern Kingdom believe that they could save her?
...
As the sun set, Mei Shuang, who had been dazed in the great hall for quite a while, bowed to Buddha, then got up to rub her numb knees. With her burden on her back, she resolutely descended the mountain.
The sunset hung red on the horizon, casting its glow on the undulating mountains. After walking for a while, Mei Shuang turned around and squinted at the sky.
From now on, she was truly alone...
——
Purple Dawn Palace.
The weather gradually warmed up, and the palace was already filled with vibrant colors, with a fragrant floral scent wafting through the air.
In the Imperial Garden, Empress Dowager Mingxi walked side by side with Emperor Xiao Luo of the Great Qin Empire.
When they reached Emerald Lake, Empress Dowager Mingxi took fish food from Aunt Yu's hands and slowly sprinkled it into the water.
Watching the colorful koi leap and compete for food in the water, she casually asked, "Did you really let her go?"
"There was no other choice," Xiao Luo replied.
"The day she came to bid farewell to me truly saddened me," Empress Dowager Mingxi said with a hint of nostalgia. "Although she seems more composed now and her mind is sharper, after all, she is just a girl. How can I feel at ease knowing she'll be alone from now on?"
Seeing that Xiao Luo remained silent, Empress Dowager Mingxi pouted childishly and said, "Can't you keep her here?"
Xiao Luo continued to remain silent.
"Do you still find her displeasing? Now she is many times stronger than before. Even I feel quite gratified when I look at her. The central palace is still lacking, and in terms of talent and wisdom, she surpasses any concubine in the palace. Moreover, you have said that she has a broad mind; even when her sister schemes against her, she still cannot bear to retaliate at the last moment..."
While Empress Dowager Mingxi was rambling on, Xiao Luo found himself lost in thought, images of Mei Shuang flashing through his mind. He recalled her pitiful and innocent appearance in the Heavenly Prison, how she had nestled into his embrace in Miaochun Tower, how she had clumsily bumped into herself while walking, and how she had recklessly hugged him when encountering poison in Dazhao Temple. He remembered the awkwardness of her hair getting caught in the flowers and her surprised expression when deciphering the Fire Stick... If previously this Mei Shuang was determined to marry him, now he truly saw no indication from this reborn Mei Shuang that she had feelings for him beyond mere friendship...
Lost in thought, he didn't even notice that a faint smile had crept onto his lips.
"Son, are you even listening?" Seeing Xiao Luo distracted, Empress Dowager Mingxi felt somewhat displeased.
Xiao Luo came back to his senses, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Empress Dowager, she is no longer the same as before; compared to the palace, she yearns more for freedom outside..."
Empress Dowager Mingxi paused for a moment before dismissively saying, "So you understand her now? Is the freedom outside not as attractive as the position of Empress, which is second only to one person among countless others?"
"......"
Xiao Luo forced a smile. "If she were the kind of woman who admired the dignity of the central palace, she would have told you long ago. Not to mention her; even I would prefer a life of leisure and freedom if I could roam freely..."
Empress Dowager Mingxi felt some irritation upon hearing this. This child still couldn't let go of the long-gone Chu Xiruo. She understood her son's temperament well; he could not be forced. That was why she had tried several times to bring Mei Shuang and him together. Her only goal was to help her son completely sever ties with Chu Xiruo and keep Mei Shuang by his side to fulfill a wish. Unexpectedly, one was eager to leave the palace for freedom while the other allowed it without resistance.
Her efforts seemed wasted. Moreover, how could the Sovereign who holds the world—this true dragon son—speak such words unbefitting his status about a life of leisure?
Empress Dowager Mingxi chose not to engage further with Xiao Luo and turned to leave.
Xiao Luo smiled bitterly again.
---
Upon learning that Mei Shuang had left the palace, Nangong Nuo was exceptionally displeased with Xiao Luo.
However, Xiao Luo's reasoning was quite sound. "This is her personal choice. When she escaped from you initially, we made an agreement: as long as she is willing to return to the palace and correctly predicts the fate of Eastern Kingdom, I promised that whenever she wishes to leave in the future, I would allow it."
Nangong Nuo paused for a moment and asked, "Where will she go?"
"I won't interfere with where she wants to go. If she goes to you, that's her business..." Xiao Luo said lightly while reading.
As Nangong Nuo stomped away in anger, Xiao Luo added behind him, "Don't forget you have important matters to attend to. The internal strife in the Eastern Kingdom has settled, but the situation is still precarious..."
Nangong Nuo wandered aimlessly in the palace, his frustration having no outlet.
He had only received news about dealing with the impersonator Li Tang after Mei Shuang had been gone for several days.
Now, based on what he knew about Mei Shuang, she could be hiding anywhere. Moreover, a few days was enough time for her to leave the capital. Given her cleverness and boldness, finding her would be nearly impossible.
Especially since this time was different from the last.
Last time she was kidnapped, and after getting Xiao Luo's permission, they set up a trap to find her. Now that she was determined to leave, who could stop her?
What was particularly infuriating was that she left without even saying goodbye. Of course, if she had said goodbye, he might not have let her go. It seemed this woman had anticipated all of this and left quietly and resolutely.
A glint of malice flashed in Nangong Nuo's peach blossom eyes as he slapped a nearby bench in frustration. With a loud crash, the large wooden bench splintered into firewood.
The eunuch following behind gasped in shock; it was serious now—Lord Nangong was angry.
Mei Shuang! You have guts! You better stay far away from me; let me never find you again, or I won't spare you!
---
After taking a short nap, Mei Shuang sneezed loudly.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she mumbled, "Who is cursing me in broad daylight?"
Looking outside at the weather, the light rain continues to fall, and the gloomy atmosphere inevitably stirs feelings of unease.
It is strange; ever since she left the capital, it has been raining, and it has rained for three consecutive days without a break. The overcast sky feels oppressive.
Standing by the window of the inn, watching the fine rain outside, everything is washed clean, and the bamboo grove outside appears even more lush and vibrant in the rain.
Mei Shuang took a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling her muddled mind clear up considerably.
Gazing at the few passersby on the street outside the inn and then looking up at the hazy sky, she felt a moment of confusion wash over her.
Although she had left the palace and gained her freedom, in this vast world, where should she go?
Thinking back on everything that had happened before, she felt a sense of loss. Then she remembered Nangong Nuo; in her haste to leave the palace, she hadn’t told him. What would he think?
The Emperor of the Great Qin Empire, Xiao Luo, had shown a sudden change in expression when she untied that Fire Stick, indicating its unusual significance. His decisive action to let her leave the palace suggested that he did not want her to be too involved. Moreover, he hadn’t allowed her to say goodbye to Nangong Nuo before she left. What did that imply?
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