Ling Yao drank the fetal-protecting soup, her head felt dizzy, and she fell asleep.
Many things had happened during this time.
Grand Tutor Lu's entire family was executed. Based on the subtle clues obtained from Xing Mei's stolen letters, Xiao Shan ordered a thorough search of his study, which uncovered correspondence between him and the Tujue, Southern Border, and Qirong.
Further investigation revealed that he was a spy from Qirong who had infiltrated Jing decades ago. If not for the suddenness of the recent events, which didn't give him time to prepare, this malignant tumor would have remained undiscovered.
Qirong was located south of the Tujue and north of the Southern Border, clearly intending to unite and annex Jing.
The capital was immediately placed under martial law, with a strict investigation for any remaining spies.
Unfortunately, despite a thorough search, the missing Lu Yanmo could not be found.
In the imperial palace, the Empress was confined to the Fengluan Palace.
Prince of Runan was temporarily confined to his residence for negligence of duty.
Whoever had the power called the shots. Xiao Shan, with swift and decisive action, arrested officials associated with Grand Tutor Lu, imprisoned them, and handed them over to the Dali Temple for thorough investigation and interrogation, tracing back eighteen generations.
A sense of panic pervaded the court, with everyone fearing for their lives. The First and Second Princes jointly handled state affairs.
Ling Yao rested for two days. During this period, Fengque Tower caught fire again.
Lingxi set the fire herself and attempted to immolate herself, but was rescued by guards. Knowing she was not the divine maiden, the source of her strength vanished. Her leg had rotted, and she was consumed by despair.
"The identity of the divine maiden, which I tried to avoid, is actually treasured by someone. Do you know this is a shackle, enough to trap you in this deep palace, never to be free?"
Ling Yao truly couldn't understand why Lingxi was so obsessed with this identity, especially when she no longer possessed a healthy body and was slowly dying.
"From a very young age, I knew Father Emperor didn't like Mother Consort, nor did he like me. Even though Mother Consort dressed herself up beautifully and exuded fragrance every day, from dawn till dusk, she never managed to catch Father Emperor's glance."
"I don't understand. Everyone loves beauty. Mother Consort is so much more beautiful than the Empress's concubine, so why does he not like Mother Consort?"
"He loves the Empress's concubine and her children. You stayed in Fengque Tower, without freedom. Father Emperor would come here whenever he had time. You would act cute, get angry, and ask him why he only visited every half a month. But do you know? I couldn't even see him once for several months. You tell me, what's the use of freedom?"
"Later, when I grew older, I never received fatherly love, so I stopped thinking about it. But then I met Brother Wen Tang. He was so handsome, he would smile at me, retrieve my kite from the tree, and reprimand rude maids for me."
"But he is also yours. He is the Divine Lord of Da Yao, and his position as the commander of the Imperial Guard is to protect you. You have the most magnificent palace, so many people love you, you possess so much. What about me? I only have Mother Consort, and she even dislikes me, saying I look like the Empress and not her!"
Lingxi let out a neurotic "hehe" laugh.
"So, why do I want this divine maiden identity? Why? Isn't it all because of jealousy towards you!" Her last words were a roar, accompanied by tears.
Her legs could no longer support her, and she could only stay in bed.
Her round face, similar to the Empress's, had also become gaunt, completely lacking the vibrancy expected of her age.
She was only eighteen years old.
Her life was about to end before it had even begun.
Ling Yao felt a pang of sadness. "Do you want to see Father Emperor?"
"No," Lingxi turned her head away.
"Alright, then I'll leave." Ling Yao stood up.
Lingxi turned back again. "You are the divine maiden, and Brother Wen Tang is the Divine Lord of Da Yao. Why are you marrying someone else?"
"There's no why, perhaps it's fate!"
"Then what about Brother Wen Tang?"
"It has nothing to do with me."
"How can it not have anything to do with you? He has been waiting for you. He broke ties with the Left Prime Minister and went to the border city. Even if I were the divine maiden, he wouldn't marry me. He is sincere towards you. If you marry someone else, how will he bear it?" Lingxi questioned agitatedly. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Lingxi, the moment I stepped out of the palace gates a year ago, the bond between him and me ended. I love my husband, and in this life, he is the only one for me, until death do us part."
She hadn't intended to say all this, but thinking that Lingxi was close to death, she spoke a few more words.
Unexpectedly, as she stepped out, she saw Song Shuting standing outside, his face pale.
After a year apart, he had become thinner and darker, but his familiar features remained as handsome as ever.
She remembered climbing to the top of Fengque Tower to admire the scenery. On the training grounds, he stood on a high platform, clad in half armor, handsome and upright, reviewing the soldiers with a spirited air.
"Brother Wen Tang, you've returned."
Yes, he had returned, but was it too late?
Song Shuting gazed greedily at her delicate, picturesque features, a face that had appeared in his dreams countless times, a face he tried to grasp in his dreams only for it to dissipate.
Now, he had finally seen it.
But—
His gaze fell upon her bulging belly, and a look of pain spread across his face. Things were different now. She was no longer the treasure hidden in Fengque Tower, meant only for him to admire.
She belonged to someone else.
"I'm going to see Father Emperor," Ling Yao pursed her lips and walked past him.
Song Shuting did not move. His chest felt constricted, and he abruptly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Why? He was the Divine Lord of Da Yao. Wasn't he the only one who could be with her?
He had waited for so many years, guarded for so many years, waiting for her to grow up!
Why did she belong to someone else?
"Princess... don't go..."
However, she, like a winter butterfly, eventually fluttered away and disappeared from his sight.
.............
After the Miao border sorcerer was burned to death, the Emperor no longer feared light or became irritable. Instead, he became completely unaware and foolish, like a blank slate, with vacant eyes, occasionally making "ah ah" sounds.
The Noble Consort was carefully wiping his fingers, one by one, meticulously.
Her eyes were red, likely from crying, and fine lines appeared at the corners of her eyes. She was no longer the delicate and charming beauty.
"Ling Yao, you've arrived."
She forced a smile and looked at Ling Yao's face, momentarily lost.
Sometimes, she truly felt that Ling Yao was more like her own daughter.
"Auntie, has Father had any improvement these past few days?"
After the sorcerer's death, the Soul Devouring Gu seemed to have fallen into slumber. Father appeared exceptionally quiet. He was well cared for by the Noble Consort; his eyes were no longer so bulging, and his cheeks began to fill out.
This reignited a faint hope in Ling Yao's heart.
"No," the Noble Consort's tone was calm. She had long since accepted her fate. She had spent little time with the Emperor. Now, even though he was foolish, she could stay by his side, and she was content.
After all, she was destined to die with him.
Staying close to him, she would atone for her sins in the next life by his side.
The Noble Consort suddenly felt the urge to confide.
"My sister and I were the only two girls in the Futu family. According to family rules, both of us were to enter the palace."
"Wait," Ling Yao asked doubtfully, "Auntie, wasn't it said that Princess Lingyin's birth mother was also from the Futu family?"
"Princess Lingyin is merely an adopted orphan. Who knows who her birth mother is? Prince Runan never had a Princess Consort; that was something he told outsiders for his adopted daughter."