Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Aunt’s Vengeance After Ayin left Chongqing Palace, Xue Jingrong secretly sighed to herself. The words she had said to Ayin today had contained both truth and falsehood, and she had spoken those lies only because she had no other choice. Her Ayin was a good child—too good, in fact. Her heart was overly gentle, and she was incapable of hardening it or acting ruthlessly without good reason. Only some tremendous shock could force her to steel her heart. The thing most capable of shocking Ayin in this world was anything involving her family. If one aunt was not enough, then she would add her father, and the entire Xue family as well. Ayin placed enormous importance on familial affection. Even during those years when she had been infatuated with Xiao Heng, she had never forgotten her family for the sake of the man she loved. Her family had always held tremendous weight in her heart. Xue Jingrong had to provoke Ayin now, urging her to carry out the plan as quickly as possible. Xiao Heng was deeply in love with Ayin at present, but people’s hearts could change. His feelings could not guarantee an eternity together. They had to be used in time; once the opportunity was missed, it would never come again. Back then, she had been able to become the late emperor’s empress not only because of her outstanding family background, but also because the late emperor, in his youth, had held some affection for her. But that small measure of affection had faded like smoke after three or five years. The late emperor had gained a dazzling Imperial Harem, beloved consorts, and one prince and princess after another. The vows of eternal love he had made to her in his youth had long since been cast beyond the nine heavens. He himself probably no longer remembered the words he had once spoken. Only she, Xue Jingrong, still remembered them—and kept them in mind as a joke. A man’s heart was fickle by nature, and all the more so when he was an emperor who could easily obtain the company of countless beauties. Therefore, while Xiao Heng still loved Ayin, she had to push every part of their plan forward as quickly as possible. Although Ayin still harbored doubts, in the end, she would certainly listen to her aunt. All she had to do was make that “end” arrive sooner— as soon as possible. Shaoyin left Chongqing Palace almost as though she had lost her soul. It was as if she did not know how to face her aunt, or the words her aunt had spoken—the cruel truths she had revealed. It was as if she wanted to think quietly by herself, and yet as if she were fleeing. But how could she flee? Her aunt’s vengeance, her father’s vengeance, the Xue family’s vengeance… Could the truth really be as her aunt had said? Was Xiao Heng truly the way her aunt had described him? Could it be that these were merely delusions brought on by her aunt’s long years of confinement? Could there possibly be even the slightest chance of that? As soon as she thought this, another stern voice seemed to arise within her, coldly rebuking her. It condemned her for refusing to believe her aunt’s words—for refusing to believe her poor aunt, who had been deposed and wronged, imprisoned for years, and yet still loved her wholeheartedly and cared about the Xue family with all her heart. That stern voice interrogated her within her heart, asking whether she had forgotten her father’s kindness in raising her, and her aunt’s love and affection for her. Had she forgotten how cautiously and fearfully her brother and sister-in-law had lived over the past five years, as if treading on thin ice? Question after stern question seemed to put her conscience on trial. Was she refusing to believe her aunt completely because of the feelings she had once held for Xiao Heng? Did those feelings matter more to her than her family? Was she now doubting her aunt’s words because she still harbored feelings for Xiao Heng, and therefore resisted carrying out her aunt’s plan? No… No! Shaoyin cried out inwardly. She was not like that. She was not an unfeeling, ungrateful person. She loved her father, her aunt, and every member of her family. Not to mention that she had long since stopped loving Xiao Heng—even if she still loved him now, once she learned that the man she loved had harmed her family, she would immediately turn against him. Without the slightest hesitation, she would choose to avenge her family! She would do it! What had happened today had already dealt Shaoyin a tremendous psychological blow. Now, the stern questions echoing through her mind one after another sent her thoughts surging like wild waves, leaving her in utter turmoil. Shaoyin’s delicate body could not withstand such an impact and pressure. Not long after leaving Chongqing Palace, her vision suddenly went black, and she collapsed limply. At Zichen Palace, Cheng An hurried to report to His Majesty the moment he received the news, saying that County Princess Yongning seemed to be unwell and had suddenly fainted not long after leaving Chongqing Palace. The moment His Majesty heard this, he threw down the memorial he had been reading and walked out of the Imperial Study, his steps filled with extreme urgency. Cheng An followed behind him, panting for breath as he continued reporting that he had already sent people with a palanquin to carry the unconscious County Princess Yongning back to Zichen Palace for treatment. Yet His Majesty continued toward Chongqing Palace in a panic, moving faster and faster, as though he wished he had wings beneath his ribs so he could fly straight to the unconscious County Princess Yongning. When he encountered the palanquin on the road, His Majesty strode forward and directly lifted the unconscious County Princess Yongning into his arms. But His Majesty’s right hand was still injured and required rest. How could he exert himself? When Cheng An saw that blood had begun to seep faintly through the bandages wrapped around His Majesty’s right hand, he hurriedly urged him to take care of his health and hand the County Princess over to the palace attendants. His Majesty seemed not to hear him at all. He personally carried County Princess Yongning back to Zichen Palace in haste, occasionally lowering his head to stare at her face, his brows filled with worry and anxiety. Imperial Physician Guo Qian had already received the order and was waiting outside the sleeping chambers of Zichen Palace. When he saw His Majesty carrying County Princess Yongning back, Physician Guo was just about to salute when His Majesty sharply ordered him to come over and examine her at once. Physician Guo did not dare delay. He hurriedly said, “As Your Majesty commands,” straightened his knees before they had even fully bent, and quickly followed His Majesty into his sleeping chambers. After taking her pulse through a handkerchief, Physician Guo discovered that County Princess Yongning was not seriously ill and breathed a sigh of relief. He rose and truthfully reported his findings to His Majesty. He explained that County Princess Yongning’s constitution was weak to begin with, and that she had fainted because her mind had been thrown into turmoil for a moment. As long as she slept and rested quietly for a while, then drank a bowl of calming decoction after waking, she would recover. After hearing this, His Majesty not only ordered him to prepare the calming decoction at once, but also instructed him to prescribe some tonics for County Princess Yongning’s daily recuperation based on her constitution and to prepare the corresponding medicinal ingredients. Physician Guo promptly acknowledged each order, bowed, and withdrew from His Majesty’s sleeping chambers. After Physician Guo left, Xiao Heng sat down beside the couch. Even in sleep, Xue Shaoyin’s brows remained faintly furrowed, as though her heart were filled with endless sorrow and worry, heavy thoughts pressing down on her until she could not smile. Xiao Heng could not help reaching out, as if he wanted to smooth the furrow from Xue Shaoyin’s brow. But just as his hand was about to touch her forehead, he silently curled his fingers and withdrew it. Xue Shaoyin’s troubles should have nothing to do with him. What weight could he possibly carry in her heart now? Xue Shaoyin’s heart was filled with Muyan Helan. She must have fainted because of Muyan Helan, surely. Most likely, she had spoken with her aunt today at Chongqing Palace about many things related to Muyan Helan and her time in Shuobei. Perhaps she had recalled too much and missed him too deeply, grieved too intensely, and consequently lost control of her emotions. Unable to restrain her sorrow, she had eventually fainted from heartbreak. Xiao Heng did not know what he felt. He merely lifted a hand and tucked the quilt more tightly around the sleeping Xue Shaoyin. He sat silently beside the couch, waiting for Xue Shaoyin to wake. Yet even before she opened her eyes, he already knew what sort of look she would give him when she saw him. Distant and cold, just as he had once been toward her. When he had learned today that Xue Shaoyin had come to see him of her own accord, a rare trace of delight had risen in his heart. But when he hurried out, he learned that Xue Shaoyin had already left. He had then understood that Xue Shaoyin did not want to see him. Even when she was merely performing the formal courtesy of paying her respects, she avoided him whenever possible and did not wish to look at him, Xiao Heng, in the slightest. He had told her to think carefully about his proposal. Although she had yet to formally give him an answer, without saying anything, she seemed to have already made her answer perfectly clear. In truth, he knew that Xue Shaoyin would not accept him. Perhaps one day she might accept Xiao Yu, or give some other man in this world a chance. But when it came to him—Xiao Heng—she had already sentenced him to death in her heart. And yet, despite knowing that, he continued to make these futile efforts. He was like a desiccated fish stranded on the shore, struggling desperately when there was no hope of survival. He had to keep struggling with all his might, if only to make it seem as though he still had the slightest chance—so that, for the sake of that sliver of hope, he would not fall completely into the abyss of despair. Xiao Heng mocked himself inwardly, the self-ridicule turning his heart cold as if it had congealed into ice. He sat silently beside the couch for a very long time. He did not know how much time had passed before he finally saw Xue Shaoyin’s lashes stir, and her eyes slowly open. Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Xiao Heng leaned forward slightly, intending to ask how she felt. But the instant his gaze met Xue Shaoyin’s, he saw her seem to receive a considerable fright. An involuntary scream escaped her. Xiao Heng quickly retreated, stepping farther away from the couch, and gently said to Xue Shaoyin, “Don’t be nervous. You suddenly fainted outside Chongqing Palace. The palace attendants reported it to me, so I had an imperial physician come examine you and let you rest here for a while.” He continued, “The physician said that you are not seriously ill. Your mind was merely thrown into temporary turmoil. You’ll be fine after drinking a bowl of calming decoction once you wake. It has been kept warm. Would you like to drink it now?” Xue Shaoyin on the couch seemed to have slept for too long, leaving her mind still unclear. For quite some time, she did not respond. Although she had already sat up, she remained silent for a while. Her dark eyes simply rested fixedly on his face, as though she did not recognize him. She stared at him in silence for a long time, her gaze deep and dim, devoid of light. Xiao Heng sensed something unusual. He worried that Xue Shaoyin’s fainting had not been caused solely by her weak constitution. Could there be some other illness that the incompetent Guo Qian had failed to diagnose? He was about to ask her with concern when he heard Xue Shaoyin ask first, “…Is Your Majesty’s hand all right?” Xue Shaoyin… seemed to be concerned about him… Just as Xiao Heng thought this, he mocked himself inwardly again. Xue Shaoyin was merely observing proper etiquette and showing concern for her sovereign, that was all. He glanced at the bloodstains on the bandage over the back of his hand and said, “It’s nothing. I’ll simply have the bandage changed when it’s time to change the dressing.” Xue Shaoyin seemed to have fully awakened. She had no other illness. Rising from the couch, she bent her knees in a slight curtsy toward him. After thanking him, she said that she was fine and did not need the calming decoction. It was getting late, and she wished to return home. Xiao Heng now always indulged Xue Shaoyin, so naturally, he did not stop her. He personally escorted her outside while thinking of ordering the palace attendants who would accompany Xue Shaoyin home to obtain the prescription and tonics from Physician Guo Qian and send them to the Xue family together with her. As he was thinking this, Xue Shaoyin had already reached the hall entrance. Her steps had not faltered along the way, but just as she was about to cross the threshold, she suddenly paused. Xiao Heng did not know why. He only saw Xue Shaoyin’s body stiffen for a moment before she slowly turned back. Her eyes rested quietly on him. She seemed to have something to say, yet remained silent. In the end, however, she still spoke. “Your Majesty, please take care of your health. Tomorrow… tomorrow I’ll come visit Your Majesty again.” Author’s Note: None Close