The sound of the great hall doors echoed, "The Emperor has arrived."
A figure in bright yellow flashed into the main hall of Cining Palace. Princess Jie Lan rose to her feet, as did Liu'er beside her. When the Emperor approached, the two women bowed gracefully, "Liu'er (Jie Lan) greets Your Majesty."
Feng Xie hadn't expected the Empress and the Princess to be at Cining Palace. With a wave of his sleeve, he helped Liu Liu up. Then, a cold, clear voice sounded, "Rise. Princess Jie Lan."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Jie Lan thanks Your Majesty." She stepped aside, while the Emperor reached out and pulled Liu Liu closer, his voice deep and resonant, a hint of tenderness amidst his imperial authority, "Why has Liu'er come here?"
Liu Liu smiled, her palm curving slightly as she pinched the Emperor. Seeing the two women in the hall watching them, he spoke to her so openly. She glanced at the Empress Dowager, whose gaze was almost fiery. Liu Liu was absolutely certain that her look held a hidden meaning, her lips unable to stay closed. Her previous dejected state was completely gone.
"Accompanying the Princess to pay respects to Mother Empress," Liu Liu said calmly, subtly withdrawing her hand from Feng Xie's. Feng Xie's lips curved into a gentle arc, and he turned to face the Empress Dowager, "Your humble son pays his respects to Mother Empress."
"Rise. My son, why do you have time to visit? Surely you have much state affairs," the Empress Dowager said. Seeing the Emperor, who had been dispirited for five years, now shining with vigor and radiating an imposing aura, she was relieved. Her two sons were finally stable, leaving only Princess Wuyang, whose situation was still unknown.
"Your humble son has something to consult Mother Empress about," the Emperor said, pausing. This was a royal scandal, and it was inconvenient to ask in front of Princess Jie Lan. Such matters were a great humiliation to him. Liu Liu, seeing Feng Xie's pale and troubled expression, knew he had something to ask the Empress Dowager, likely concerning Feng Luo. With Jie Lan present, the Emperor couldn't speak freely, so Liu Liu took Jie Lan's hand and gracefully excused herself.
"Liu'er still has a few words to say to Princess Jie Lan. We shall take our leave."
Jie Lan looked at the Emperor's stern demeanor and grim expression, knowing he must have something to ask the Empress Dowager. She wisely curtsied and followed the Empress behind her, leaving Cining Palace.
Once the two women had departed, Feng Xie eagerly strode to a higher position, sitting beside his mother. He looked at her earnestly, his breathing unsteady and his complexion troubled. The Empress Dowager patted Feng Xie's hand with concern, "What is it? My son, is there something you wish to ask Mother Empress?"
"Mother Empress, I wish to ask you, regarding Yu Lou, do you think Yu Lou resembles Feng Luo from childhood?"
The Empress Dowager was startled by this statement. What did the Emperor mean by this? Did he suspect Consort Lou of improper conduct in the harem? That was impossible. The palace had many ears and eyes; Lou Si Jing would not dare to have an illicit affair with an outsider. Besides, when had Feng Luo been hidden in the imperial palace? The Empress Dowager's eyes showed disapproval, and she did not ponder further, "My son, how can you think such a thing? Although Yu Lou is somewhat frail and has a feminine demeanor, how can you think he resembles Feng Luo?"
"Please, Mother Empress, think carefully. Doesn't Yu Lou look exactly like Feng Luo from childhood? Even I feel he looks like Feng Luo. That's why I haven't been close to him these past five years. His appearance reminds me of Feng Luo, which is why I've kept my distance from that child. But I never thought deeply about it, believing it was due to guilt towards the Empress and our deceased child. In fact, it was only after meeting Mu Xing that I understood. As a father, one is inexplicably drawn to a child; it's not something one can simply avoid. My indifference towards Yu Lou is because he might not be my child."
The Empress Dowager heard the Emperor say "might." This meant he wasn't sure. If he wasn't sure, why the suspicion? She immediately shook her head in disapproval.
Such a matter required solid evidence before being spoken. Otherwise, it would not only insult Consort Lou but also her lifelong chastity. The Emperor could dislike her or Yu Lou, but without evidence, he could not slander a young girl based on suspicion.
"My son, I ask you, when you favored Consort Lou, was she a virgin? If she was, and she remained within the deep palace, how could she have had an affair with an outsider?"
The Empress Dowager calmly reminded Feng Xie, but this question struck deep into Feng Xie's heart. Yes, Consort Lou had been presented as a virgin. So why would Yu Lou be someone else's child?
If Yu Lou truly wasn't his child, then it meant that man had been hidden within the palace, entering five years ago, or perhaps Lou Si Jing had brought him in.
The thought of this situation gave Feng Xie an idea. He would investigate the maids who entered the palace with Lou Si Jing. He recalled that she had only brought one maid with her. All he needed to know was the maid's name.
"She was a virgin," Feng Xie mused thoughtfully. The Empress Dowager breathed a sigh of relief. She and the Emperor were thinking of entirely different things.
Feng Xie emerged from Cining Palace and immediately ordered Xiao Wanzi to investigate the name of the maid who had entered the palace with Lou Si Jing and her recent activities. He cautioned him to be discreet, not to alarm the maid, because she had been brought by the Lou family. Even if they threatened her, the maid might, out of gratitude to her master, reveal what they were investigating.
Then, his promise to Liu Liu not to alert the enemy would be in vain.
Xiao Wanzi, following the Emperor's orders, secretly led two eunuchs to carry out the task.
Liu Liu and Jie Lan had returned to Weiyang Palace. Jie Lan had originally intended to leave, but thinking that Xin Hun would have no one to play with after returning, she stayed to wait for him. Liu Liu, seeing that Jie Lan was a little tired, instructed Hong Xiu to lead the Princess to Yingfeng Pavilion to rest.
After Princess Jie Lan left Weiyang Palace, Liu Liu also felt somewhat weary. She had intended to rest for a while, but then Steward An reported that Cai Xia's whereabouts had been found. She was discovered in a well, along with a man's skeletal remains. The palace maids and eunuchs who heard this news nearly vomited, as that well was the very one the servants used for washing. They never imagined that two corpses would be thrown into it. The thought sent shivers down their spines; everyone found it terrifying. Who could be so bloody and fearsome?
"As expected?" A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Liu Liu's cold eyes. All the signs indicated that Feng Luo's mental state seemed somewhat unsound. His actions were no different from those of a madman. This person was truly a malignant tumor that should be eliminated early. But now, she didn't know who he had become.
Liu Liu looked at the little An Zi below and waved, instructing him to give Cai Xia and the former Chief Eunuch Ah Feng a proper burial. Although Cai Xia had betrayed her, survival in the palace was indeed difficult. Moreover, she was dead, so Liu Liu couldn't dwell on her past mistakes. However, Ming Yue, Xiao An Zi, Xiao Nian Zi, and the others had red-rimmed eyes, as if they had been crying. These people had gotten along well usually, their bond likely no less than that of sisters. Liu Liu then waved to Ming Yue.
"You few go send her off. You were acquainted with her before."