He was gone.
Chiyou watched his retreating back, and for some reason, waves of pain surged within her, gathering densely at her heart, making her double over.
She cursed him silently in annoyance, desperately suppressing this ache. She glanced sideways.
On the ground, a bloody severed head exuded a foul stench.
Her eyes stung, and she walked over, picking up the head.
A crescent moon illuminated the secluded, deep courtyard, while peach blossoms bloomed not far down the corridor, scattering petals.
She used an iron spade to dig a hole and buried the remains.
“Sister, when can you come back?”
“Don’t worry, once I secure my throne, I will definitely bring you back.”
“As the Saintess of Southern Xinjiang, you indulge in personal affections, invite trouble into our home, and ruin the hundred-year foundation of Southern Xinjiang. You are the sinner of our Southern Xinjiang!”
Before leaving, the accusations from her royal uncles and aunts echoed like thunder, turning Chiyou’s face pale.
She pressed a hand to her forehead, exhaled a breath, and leaned against the peach tree, closing her eyes slightly.
They were right; she was the sinner of Southern Xinjiang.
It was her overconfidence and stubbornness that had ruined Southern Xinjiang.
She had to atone for the sins she had committed.
The hundreds of thousands of soldiers of Southern Xinjiang, their bones withered, had not died in vain.
“We are willing to serve the Saintess with all our might.”
Three of the ten great Gu Masters were dead, all twelve settlements were destroyed, the forbidden grounds were burned, and her confidantes suffered countless casualties.
If she had not agreed to the political marriage to Shangjing, her younger brother would have died, and Southern Xinjiang would have almost become a vassal state of Daliang.
All of this was her doing; it was her fault.
Chiyou opened her eyes, touching the silver snake spirit bracelet on her wrist. A fierce glint flashed in her reddened eyes.
If this revenge is not taken, I will not be human.
The next day, sunlight slanted through the windowpanes, bathing the hall in a warm glow.
When Chiyou woke up on the couch, she was disoriented. She looked around the room for a moment before realizing where she was.
She lifted the quilt, about to get out of bed.
She discovered that her wounds had already been treated.
What was going on? Every time she slept, her wounds would heal.
She blinked, furrowing her brow in confusion.
Just then, her stomach rumbled.
Her face flushed, and she came back to her senses slightly.
She was so hungry.
Since being sent to the palace, she had been confined to this cold palace with no one to care for her, so she had to find food herself.
Remembering what the young eunuch had said yesterday, she hurried to draw water from the well in the courtyard.
She needed to wash up quickly and then go find him.
Drawing water from this well was difficult. She was weak. Since arriving in the palace, she had to draw water herself every day, and now she was quite skilled.
The well water was very cold, and Chiyou shivered as she washed.
This palace garden was desolate. There was no small kitchen, so she couldn’t light a fire and had to use cold water.
By the time she had finished washing, trembling, it was late. After a quick tidy-up, she grabbed her skirt and walked out.
Since coming to the palace, she hadn't seen her brother. One day, wanting to find her brother, she got lost and ended up at the imperial kitchens.
She was so hungry that she secretly took a steamed bun. A group of eunuchs in the imperial kitchens saw her and beat her.
A young eunuch kindly saved her and told her to wait for him behind the imperial gardens every day, and he would bring her food.
Thinking of this, a smile deepened on her face.
The imperial palace was vast, and her living quarters were secluded. After walking for the time it took an incense stick to burn, she reached the archway of the imperial gardens.
“A'wu, over here.”
A familiar voice called out from behind her.
Chiyou looked around in confusion before realizing the young eunuch was peeking his head around the archway, waving at her.
She immediately ran over with a smile.
“Little eunuch, you really came.”
“What little eunuch? Call me Xia Yun. I just entered the palace too.”
Xia Yun smiled and handed her the steamed buns he was holding.
“Eat them quickly while they’re hot. They won’t be as good cold.”
He had specifically sneaked out meat buns, which were delicious and steaming hot.
Chiyou thanked him, took the buns, and began to eat.
They squatted under a tree behind the archway, chatting idly.
“Which palace are you from? I just entered the palace and don’t know anyone yet.”
Xia Yun looked at her curiously. This young girl was too beautiful. He had never seen a palace maid so beautiful. When she was silent, her features looked sharp.
But her disposition was delicate and weak, and her voice was soft and pleasing.
Chiyou took small bites of the bun, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
She shook her head, “I don’t know.”
“Ah, then where do you live?”
“Very far from here. I walked for a long time.”
Xia Yun asked, “Then how did you enter the palace?”
Chiyou paused, then said dejectedly, “My brother sent me in. He said I was here for a political marriage.”
Xia Yun was surprised and was about to ask more curiously when he saw her turn her head to look at him.
“What about you?”
“Me? My family is poor. My father sent me into the palace to make a living.”
Chiyou didn’t understand and tilted her head, remaining silent.
They chatted for a while longer, and as they were about to part, Xia Yun took out food wrapped in oiled paper from his embrace and handed it to her.
“Here, these are peach pastries my master gave me, a reward from the noble. Take them and eat them tonight. Come here at the same time tomorrow, and I’ll bring you food.”
Chiyou paused, then bit her lip and asked him.
“Why are you so good to me? My brother used to be very good to me too, but now I can’t even see him.”
Xia Yun asked curiously, “Who is your brother?”
Chiyou thought for a moment, pursed her lips, and remained silent.
Seeing her look a little sad, Xia Yun smiled.
“I think you’re a bit pitiful, being such a young girl. I don’t have many friends in this palace anyway, so let’s just be friends.”
“Friends?” Chiyou bit her lip, confused.
“Yes, you should hurry back. I need to leave quickly too, my master is probably looking for me. See you tomorrow.”
With that, he ran off in a flash.
Chiyou came back to her senses, clutching the pastries, and stretched on tiptoe to look in the direction he had left.
The figure was already gone. Her gaze fell, and she listlessly kicked a stone at her feet.
This imperial palace was too large; she couldn’t find her brother.
“Oh, isn’t this the tribute from Southern Xinjiang? What are you standing here for?”
Suddenly, a woman’s voice came from behind her.
Chiyou startled and quickly turned around.
She saw a gorgeously dressed woman leading a group of maids walking towards her from the garden corridor.
Seeing the familiar face, she flinched backward in fear.
Just two days ago, this woman had ordered people to whip her. It had hurt terribly.
“Why are you hiding?” Consort Zhao sat down on a bench in the pavilion, looking displeased at her attending maid. “Bring her to me.”
“Yes.”
Chiyou wanted to run, but before she could take two steps, she was grabbed by the neck by some rough nannies, forcibly pushed to the ground, and knelt.
She tightly gripped the pastries in her hand and looked at the person sitting in the pavilion with terror and timidity.
Seeing her face, Consort Zhao’s teeth itched with anger. A vixen, with a seductive and wanton appearance.
This palace was too boring. This tribute sent by the defeated Southern Xinjiang could be handled as she pleased.
“His Majesty is unwell and cannot summon you. I know people from Southern Xinjiang don’t understand the rules of our Central Plains imperial family, so I’ll have this nanny teach you properly.”