A eunuch was about to seize Yuan Gugu when a clear, cold voice echoed from within the Zhaoyuan Palace, "Yuan Gugu, let Zixuan in!"
Upon hearing this, Xue Zixuan pushed Yuan Gugu aside, pushed open the door, and ran in.
At this moment, Xue Zixuan was merely an eight-year-old boy. His fair, round face held a pair of clear, pitiful eyes looking at her. In the past, seeing those eyes always made her heart soften.
Back then, she always thought, this was the Emperor's only legitimate son, her younger brother.
She didn't understand why the Emperor disliked this younger brother, even intending to pass the throne to her instead of Zixuan, until she accidentally stumbled upon the private affair between Concubine Chao Gui and the Emperor's uncle in her previous life. Only then did she realize that this beloved younger brother was the bastard child of their illicit union.
But she found out too late. Her father had told her not to trust anyone on his deathbed, yet she had still defended this bastard. Thinking back, she felt utterly ridiculous.
"Imperial Sister, why aren't you looking at Zixuan?" a sweet, milky voice inquired.
Xue Zining snapped back from her memories. At this moment, Xue Zixuan was very short, not at all like an eight-year-old, his face still round with baby fat.
His pupils were dark and shining, like obsidian, as he looked up at her. She used to love looking at them, but now, she felt nothing but burning rage, so intense, so potent.
This strong emotion dispersed throughout her body, causing her immense pain.
This person was now in front of her. If she killed him, would that mean one less enemy?
"Your Majesty, what are you doing…" a sharp scream rang out. She came back to her senses, realizing that she had, without knowing when, wrapped her hands around Xue Zixuan's neck.
Xue Zixuan's small face turned red. He looked at her, his eyes filled with terror.
She instinctively loosened her grip. Xue Zixuan collapsed onto the ground. Xue Yan quickly stepped forward, picked up Xue Zixuan, and asked with lingering fear, "Little Prince, are you alright?"
Xue Zixuan gasped for air, his small body trembling uncontrollably.
"Little Prince, this servant will escort you back," Xue Yan said.
Xue Zixuan nodded. Tonight, he was truly frightened. The way his Imperial Sister had looked at him just now was like looking at an enemy—cold and bloodthirsty.
"Little Prince, this servant will escort the Little Prince back first," Xue Yan said.
Xue Zining nodded. "Go. I am also tired. Without my command, do not enter to serve."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xue Yan, carrying Xue Zixuan, left.
Xue Zining looked at her hands. If she had exerted just a little more force, she could have choked him to death. But in the end, she still didn't strike with full force. It wasn't that she didn't want to, but if she killed him, what would happen to her?
Xue Wenjie was still in control of the court. If she killed Xue Zixuan, it would implicate Yuan Gugu. Wouldn't the empire her father had worked so hard to build fall into Xue Wenjie's hands?
Therefore, she couldn't act impulsively. She had to make Xue Wenjie return the power to her.
In her previous life, Xue Wenjie's ambition grew day by day, which displeased Concubine Chao Gui. So, Concubine Chao Gui, in league with court officials, seized Xue Wenjie's weakness and forced him to return the power to her.
If she were to estrange herself from Xue Zixuan now, it would make it much more difficult for Xue Wenjie to return the power.
Therefore, she couldn't afford to offend Xue Zixuan. She also needed to cultivate her own trusted confidantes.
Chaoyang Palace
Concubine Chao Gui, seeing Xue Zixuan being carried back by Xue Yan, trembling, couldn't help but fly into a rage. "How do you people serve the Prince? I'm telling you, if anything happens to the Little Prince, you'll all be flayed alive."
Xue Yan quickly knelt down and said, "Your Ladyship, please calm your anger. The Little Prince returned from His Majesty's presence."
Concubine Chao Gui froze and looked at Xue Zixuan. "Zixuan, what happened to you?"