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Listening to Peach, Chu Xiruo felt a deep bitterness in her heart. She put down the scripture in her hands and said lightly, "Peach, how did the Emperor first find out that I was practicing in that remote place?"
Peach's eyes widened as she suddenly realized, "Are you saying...?? That can't be! There were others who saw you back then. Besides, at that time, she had lost her memory and didn't even know who she was! She didn't recognize you at all. Even if she knew you were here practicing, she would never tell the Emperor. Think about it; she has always rejected your closeness to the Emperor. If she were to inform him of your whereabouts, what would be her intention?"
Chu Xiruo stared blankly, and when she spoke again, her lips still carried a bitter smile. "Yes... but anyway, I don't plan to go back for now..."
Could she tell Peach that she had seen an indescribable feeling in the Emperor's eyes? Although she didn't know to whom that feeling belonged, she was certain it did not belong to her.
Peach puffed out her cheeks. She had endured quite a bit of hardship in this wilderness herself, and now that they had finally returned to the palace, Miss Chu was unwilling. Sigh, a woman's heart is as elusive as a needle in the ocean.
"Miss, defying an imperial decree is a serious crime. Moreover, the Empress Dowager has come to terms with things now. Why must you cling to this?"
Chu Xiruo smiled bitterly. "Why should I cling to this? It's just... forget it, Peach. If you want to go back, feel free to ask the Emperor to let you leave. I've already gotten used to this kind of solitary life..."
Peach felt embarrassed at having her thoughts exposed and could only awkwardly step outside.
As she walked back and glanced at Buddha Hall, Peach felt somewhat comforted.
The Emperor had learned of Miss's whereabouts and had brought her to this nearby Buddha Hall early in the morning; they were finally one step closer to returning to the palace.
Previously, it was the Empress Dowager who forcibly separated them, but now it seemed she had changed her mind and allowed Miss to return to the palace.
Now it was strange; Miss seemed to be in some sort of mood and didn't want to return. How odd!
The next morning, Peach got up early to cook. She had finished making rice when Chu Xiruo, who usually woke up early, still hadn't risen.
It was no wonder; Miss had been worried last night and had kept a candle burning late into the night. With her entering the palace soon, there would surely be many concerns on her mind.
Peach went to fetch water again and noticed that the sun was already high in the sky while Chu Xiruo's room remained quiet.
When did Miss start to enjoy sleeping in? Peach tiptoed to Chu Xiruo's door, only to find it slightly ajar.
She felt a bit strange and pushed the door open, discovering that the bed was neatly made. As she approached and touched the bed, her heart sank.
In a panic, she ran outside, calling out loudly, but there was no response.
She rushed back inside and found a letter tucked under the pillow, with "From the Emperor" written on the envelope.
Seeing this, Peach sat down on the floor in shock; it turned out that Miss had run away.
"What? Chu Xiruo has escaped?"
Empress Dowager Mingxi was furious upon hearing this news. "Well, I have been kind to her, and she actually ran away! She truly disregards my intentions and is openly defying my orders. Call for my decree! If she is caught, bring her to see me immediately!"
"Empress Dowager."
Xiao Luo entered just in time to hear Empress Dowager Mingxi's outburst and interrupted her.
Seeing him arrive, Empress Dowager Mingxi smirked coldly. "Just in time, Luo Er. Tell me, isn't Chu Xiruo's audacity a bit too much?"
She had never been fond of Chu Xiruo. This time, it was all for her son and, frankly speaking, for the sake of the Great Qin Empire's State and Dynasty. She had been wholeheartedly concerned about her son's lifelong happiness and had put in a lot of effort to give him a surprise. However, she never expected that he had secretly met with Chu Xiruo long before she could even act.
It was fine that they met; that was her original intention. But now, what was happening? She had run away again?
What on earth was going on?
Empress Dowager Mingxi scrutinized her son, who was handsome and capable, an emperor rare in handling state affairs. Yet, how could he be in such a predicament regarding personal matters?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, to the point of feeling dizzy. Fortunately, Aunt Yu was quick to support her and urged her to lie down and catch her breath.
"How did you find out about Chu Xiruo's whereabouts? Why does she refuse to enter the palace now? Wasn't she deeply devoted to you before?" Empress Dowager Mingxi asked, fuming.
Xiao Luo sat at the foot of the bed, silent for a moment. "It was Mei Shuang who told me..."
Empress Dowager Mingxi paused in surprise. "Really her?..."
Even Aunt Yu was taken aback. "She actually helped Miss Chu?"
"When did this happen?" Empress Dowager Mingxi rose from the bed, still subconsciously skeptical but eager for confirmation from the emperor.
"She returned from Qishan gravely ill and woke up..."
In the flickering candlelight of the room, Xiao Luo faced away from the flame, his expression unreadable.
Empress Dowager Mingxi gazed at him for a while before sighing. "Alas, I am getting old; I can't understand what tricks you young people are playing..."
Upon reflection, it was clear that Mei Shuang's actions were not arbitrary.
Her intelligence might have led her to realize from the start that the person she encountered was the Current Emperor's childhood friend. Yet she had kept silent until the critical moment when she revealed this information to the emperor. What did that signify?
This child truly had deep thoughts. Empress Dowager Mingxi sighed again. "Jade, tell me, what do you think Mei Shuang's intentions are with this move?"
Aunt Yu contemplated a different answer—one that would surely embarrass the emperor if spoken aloud. She dared not say it and instead cautiously speculated, "Perhaps Miss Mei Shuang feels her time is short and is grateful for the emperor's kindness. Thus, she informs him to facilitate his union with Xi Ruo and alleviate any regrets in her heart?..."
Empress Dowager Mingxi snorted, casting a glance at Aunt Yu. "Is your insight really so shallow? The edict for the empress cannot be opened, yet you still inform the emperor about Chu Xiruo's whereabouts. Hmph, I see that this child is completely indifferent to the emperor!"
Aunt Yu felt a jolt in her heart as Empress Dowager Mingxi pointed this out without mercy. She turned to look at the emperor, only to find him seemingly oblivious to the conversation.
Empress Dowager Mingxi was utterly infuriated. What on earth was her son thinking?
Previously, during the Spring Plowing Festival, he had taken it upon himself to have all the concubines participate in the worship ceremony, making it clear that the central palace was lacking a proper consort.
Fearing he might become obsessed, she had no choice but to allow Chu Xiruo into the palace. Yet now, after Chu Xiruo had left, he seemed completely unconcerned about her whereabouts, despite having been so infatuated with her before...
What kind of twists and turns were happening here? It was truly maddening!
"What are you thinking? Is the position of the central palace just a facade? And how old are you now, with no offspring! The Great Qin Empire still has no heir!" Empress Dowager Mingxi exclaimed angrily, pounding on the Phoenix Couch beside her as she questioned Xiao Luo.
Xiao Luo stood up and left behind a single remark, "I do not wish to force anyone."
"......"
After Xiao Luo departed, Empress Dowager Mingxi stared blankly at Aunt Yu. "What does the emperor mean by this?"
"I couldn't help but feel that the emperor seems to be competing with someone," Aunt Yu replied with confusion.
"Competing? With whom? Shuang'er or Xi Ruo?" Empress Dowager Mingxi asked.
"Uh, could it be... with Xi Ruo?" Aunt Yu was also at a loss.
This was strange; logically speaking, the emperor's feelings for Chu Xiruo shouldn't be like this. How could there even be talk of forcing someone?
The Emperor clearly said "anyone," which means it includes Miss Mei Shuang? Does that imply the Emperor has intentions toward Miss Mei Shuang, while she is unwilling?
Oh my goodness!
Is that even possible? Otherwise, how could Miss Mei Shuang have died and come back to life without returning to the palace, instead choosing to live incognito in the world?
Aunt Yu secretly stuck out her tongue. With Miss Mei Shuang's actions, who else would dare to defy the Emperor so boldly?
After leaving Yangzhou, Mei Shuang had been dressed as a man, carrying a small amount of silver as she made her way back to the capital.
There was no escaping it; returning to the capital seemed like the best option. As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is often the safest.
Along the way, she scrimped and saved, but eventually, her little stash of silver would run out.
Staring at the silver in her pocket, Mei Shuang thought she wouldn't be able to hold out for many more days. It would take her about a week to reach the capital by land, and she felt troubled.
This time, for her safety, she deliberately avoided the back roads and took the official road, which naturally cost more.
On this day, she happened to arrive in Qizhou. After getting off the carriage, she saw a crowd gathered tightly around something. At first, she thought it was just a street performer; after all, she had no money to spare. But as she turned away, she heard a woman's scream and cries for help coming from within the crowd.
She froze. In broad daylight, how could such harassment be happening?
She tried to ignore it but suddenly felt that the voice sounded somewhat familiar; however, she couldn't recall who it was at that moment.
Listening carefully for a moment, her heart sank. What a coincidence!
She pondered as her feet moved uncontrollably forward.
"Excuse me, excuse me!" She pushed through the crowd, and upon entering, she was taken aback—what a familiar face!
There stood Jinghui, dressed in monk robes, being tugged at by a drunken Drunkard who was trying to take advantage of her. Jinghui's face turned pale with fear as she struggled to keep the drunkard's foul mouth away from her.
Although there were people nearby watching, they merely pointed and gossiped, with some even expressing curiosity about the monk-robed Jinghui.
"What are you doing?!" Mei Shuang stepped forward and forcefully pushed the Drunkard away.
The Drunkard was caught off guard and fell to the ground in a heap, causing laughter to erupt from the surrounding crowd.
Still intoxicated but now aware, he noticed Jinghui's natural beauty and was captivated. He had not expected to encounter such a stunning Nun and approached her with intentions of flirting. However, his plans were thwarted by Mei Shuang's timely intervention.
"Do you know who I am?" After falling, he managed to sober up a bit and got back on his feet, addressing Mei Shuang.
Seeing that her savior was Mei Shuang surprised Jinghui greatly, but this was not the time for conversation. Fearing that things could escalate further, she quickly grabbed Mei Shuang and ran toward the edge of the crowd.
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