Chapter 14: The Snow of Winter Has Not Yet Melted

  I rolled down the window of my car and stuck out my head, saying: "Who is it?"

  Under the sunset, the tired bird returns to the forest, the red river's shadow is heavy, that kind of blood-colored vastness feeling, as if it's heavily pressing on people's hearts. Ling Rong's figure is slender, only holding Bao Juan's hand, hugging a bundle and saying: "Sister, stay."

  I smiled wryly and shook my head, saying: "Are you here to see me off? Why bother coming in person at this critical juncture? It's too much trouble. From now on, your days will be even harder."

  Ling Rong's smile was light and warm, just like her slender figure, weak and delicate. She walked up to me and said softly, "I'm not here to see my sister off." She held her bundle tightly in front of her chest and said, "I've already told the Emperor that I want to go with my sister to live in the Wu Liang Temple."

  I was shocked and couldn't help but ask: "What did you just say?"

  Ling Rong's expression was calm and composed. "I will go with my sister to the Wu Liang Temple, the Emperor has already agreed."

  I was overwhelmed with emotion, but my shock only lasted for a moment. I quickly came to my senses and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Where is Wuliang Temple? If you follow me there, your future in the palace will be ruined." My expression turned gloomy as I looked at her and said, "Besides, this trip of mine is supposed to be for reflection, but who knows when I'll be able to return? It's possible that I'll have to spend the rest of my life in Wuliang Temple. Why would you want to follow me and suffer through such a life?"

  On the night of July 15th, I was wearing a thin dress due to my simple and plain nature, and I couldn't withstand the wind that came with the night. Suddenly, I remembered that today is the legendary Ghost Festival, and even the evening wind was gloomy, carrying a hint of resentment and sorrow. Ling Rong's expression was somewhat desolate, but beyond the desolation, there was a subtle sense of relief. Her voice sounded somewhat unclear in the howling wind: "Ling Rong has recently been at odds with the various palace concubines, and my sister treats me with great kindness. Rather than continuing to scheme and struggle in this palace, suffering from coldness and hardship, I would rather accompany my sister and take care of each other."

  I sighed, and the wind blew up the hair on my temples, rubbing against my face with a soft rustling sound, and the corners of my eyes were moistened with an unconscious sourness.

  Ling Rong's words were indeed true. Since she was promoted to the rank of Pin, Emperor Xuanling's favor towards her had greatly diminished. He would often not see her for three to five days at a time. Also, because she did not have an official title, although she was listed as a first-rank concubine, her treatment was lower than that of Concubine Tian and others. Her promotion made the people in the palace understand that Emperor Xuanling's feelings towards her were superficial, and seeing how he treated her now, they dared to mock her more openly. Her days were indeed not easy.

  Ling Rong saw my hesitation and said sorrowfully, "Sister, please fulfill me." She handed over the package wrapped in embroidered silk, saying somewhat petulantly, "I've even packed my bags. If you won't agree, I won't return to Yurun Hall. I'll just have to spend my days watching an empty house at Yifu Pavilion for you."

  She's willing to do this, I suppose we can consider ourselves as friends who have been through thick and thin. Accompanying me on this trip is also a good haven for her.

  I gently grasped her hand and took the bundle from her, saying: "As long as my sister is not afraid of the remote and desolate Wu Liang Temple, with no one to serve her."

  Ling Rong smiled, her joyful expression hard to conceal, and said: "As long as sister is here."

  Wuliang Temple is not far away, on the island in the middle of Fan Yue Lake. After changing to a small boat and drifting for about two incense sticks' time, I arrived. There are no other routes to reach Wuliang Temple except by boat.

  Disembarking from the boat and landing on the island, a large beamless hall was built by the founding emperor for the empress as a summer retreat. What is not seen are the beams, only the huge windows all around, with an expansive view, and what can be seen everywhere, except for the green grass and palace walls, is the endless lake water, with waves rippling gently.

  She looked around the inside and outside of the house, and couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, saying: "Although it can't be compared to Yifu Hall, fortunately it's not too desolate and dilapidated either." As she spoke, she worked together with Gan Cai, Liu Zhu, Bao Juan, and Xiao Yuanzi to arrange the boxes and bedding in the bedroom.

  Ling Rong walked in, smiling and said: "I thought the Wu Liang Temple was already dilapidated, but it's actually quite clean and tidy. Fortunately, although the Emperor listened to Empress Hua, he didn't treat his sister harshly."

  I listened to her words, my eyebrows moved slightly, and I turned to Li Chang who had sent us here: "Although the Wu Liang Temple cannot be seen by the emperor, it has been cleaned up neatly and cleanly. The palace knows that Gong Gong has worked hard. Thank you, Gong Gong."

  Li Chang nodded in agreement, bowing his head and saying: "Your Ladyship has always been kind to me, so today I'm just doing my duty. I only hope that in the future there will be another chance for me to serve Your Ladyship." I couldn't help but smile inwardly at this old sly fellow's quick wit and smooth words.

  Ling Rong smiled and said: "Sister's kindness to others in the past has been rewarded today, and even I can benefit from it."

  I smiled slightly, and Li Chang hastily said: "The slave cannot stay for long. From now on, all the supplies will be sent by someone, these boats can be dismissed. The sky is already late, the princess and the young master should rest first."

  My expression turned gloomy and I said, "Thank you, sir, please go ahead."

  After Li Chang left, Ling Rong said: "Sister don't be too disheartened, the Emperor is only temporarily deceived, in his heart he still loves sister very much. Maybe one day he will come to fetch you out."

  I patted her hand and comforted her, "I'm fine, it's hard on you too." I thought for a moment and said, "Why did you only bring Baojuan with you? Where is Juching? Is one palace maid enough to serve?"

  Ling Rong smiled sweetly and said, "Baojuan is my family's born servant girl, I'm used to ordering her around. Juke Qing is a palace maid given to me by my sister, how could I bear to bring her here and have her guard the Yurun Hall?" She stroked her own hand with a smile, saying, "Sister, rest assured, I also know some needlework skills, whatever needs to be done, I'll do it myself."

  I saw her say this, and couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy, "You're really having a tough time."

  In the days of Wu Liangdian, life was quiet and lonely. Every day, she would face the vast palace and a few palace maids and eunuchs. All she could do was embroider flowers, read books, chat with Ling Rong to pass the time, occasionally when in high spirits, they would concoct a few small dishes and snacks together, or match simple fragrances according to ancient recipes, entertaining herself.

  Such times, as if it were before Ling Rong and I entered the palace, day after day, inseparable, with fewer dull and tasteless court etiquette lessons. It seems to be a peaceful day without struggle. But in my heart, there is unease. This unease is not because of being out of favor and confined, but deep worry and concern.

  How is Xuan Ling? How is his brother?

  More than ten days have passed, and the weather is about to cool down. Every day, I sit alone by the lake for one or two hours, gazing far away at the densely packed palaces along the shores of Fan Yue Lake, gazing at Xuan Ling in the Water Green South Fragrance Hall, is he still content?

  In my worries about government affairs, sometimes my thoughts wander a little, the lotus flowers on the lake are in full bloom and about to wither, reminding me of the scene of the lotus flowers in Taiye Pool that year. He quietly took me back to Tongli by boat. It was also him who made the white lotus bloom in April to celebrate my birthday, those thoughtful gestures.

  This time when I came to the Taiping Palace, I seemed to no longer see his shadow, nor did I want to ask about it. I only vaguely heard people say that Xuan Ling sent him to the border town, nominally to assist with matters, but in reality just to give him an opportunity to travel and have fun. He spent every day drinking in the army, and the King of Runan simply ignored him. As a result, when people in the imperial family mentioned him, most of them would chuckle and say that he was just a idle prince who had inherited his parents' good looks, but was useless and couldn't even tie up a chicken.

  But I clearly remember that the sharp arrow that pierced through the eyes of a pair of mandarin ducks came from his hand.

  Train soldiers for a thousand days, they will be useful for one day.

  Every time Ling Rong saw me staring blankly at the lake water, she would always ask with a hint of sadness: "Sister, are you thinking of someone?"

  I calmly turned my head: "No one can think for me, I can only think for myself."

  Ling Rong lifted the hem of her skirt and sat down beside me, the lake breeze was cool and refreshing, ruffling her slender and delicate face. Ling Rong said faintly: "The Emperor probably has already forgotten about us."

  In early August, Li Chang personally came over and brought autumn clothes and some trivial things. I ordered someone to put them away properly.

  Li Chang saw that I had lost a bit of weight and said: "Your Majesty is still well? The Emperor misses you very much."

  I nodded: "I'm fine, please tell His Majesty not to worry."

  I strolled aimlessly and walked to the water's edge, seeing no one around, before asking: "How is Your Majesty?"

  Li Chang smiled and said: "Your Majesty is well."

  I still wasn't at ease and asked again: "Is everything all right?"

  He bowed his head and said, "Everything is going well with the Emperor, Your Majesty can rest assured." I let out a long sigh of relief, and my expression also relaxed a lot.

  Li Changji said: "I have come this time to tell Your Majesty that the Emperor will return to the palace tomorrow."

  I was worried about what he would encounter in the capital, but I calmly said, "Thank you, eunuch, for serving the emperor well."

  I looked up at the sky, the vast expanse of blue stretched out before me, meeting the water at a single point, making it impossible to discern where the horizon lay. Li approached me quietly and whispered, "The Emperor's decree has been issued, the Empress Dowager is still recovering from her illness, so the Autumn Selection will be postponed."

  My numbness has spread all over my body.

  The Empress Dowager is favored, and the Prince of Ru Nan is eager to take action. At this time, I am busy with my own affairs, if another batch of new people come to stir up trouble, it will be hard to avoid being distracted.

  Xuan Ling also understood that the new concubines entering the palace all had their own backing, and at this critical juncture, it would only make the situation more complicated. It's better to have one less thing than one more thing.

  I lightly brushed off the dust on my clothes and said, "As for matters within the palace, I'll have to trouble Your Majesty to take care of them."

  Li Chang nodded: "Yes. Let's trouble the princess for a little while longer." He pulled out a silk package from behind his back and said: "This was given to me by Shen Jieyu. She said that the weather is getting colder, and the Emperor doesn't allow the Princess to return to the palace. The wind on the lake is strong, so she especially asked me to bring this."

  In her heart, there was a warm and gentle ache, no matter what kind of misunderstanding, Mei Zhuang always thought of me.

  Li Changlin said as he walked away: "I'll be leaving tomorrow, but my apprentice Xiao You is quite clever, so from now on, he'll be the one to deliver things for Your Highness."

  He took two steps and I hurriedly caught up with him: "In case something bad happens in the capital, you must send someone to tell me."

  Li Chang persuaded: "The emperor is worried that you will be the first to suffer and want you to avoid this for now, your safety is what matters."

  I nodded, and in my heart I wished that Xuan Ling could have a smooth and peaceful journey.

  After Xuan Ling and the imperial concubine left, the Taiping Imperial Palace fell silent again. I had never quietly appreciated this magnificent royal garden in such a season before. It turned out that after being bustling once, it was also lonely.

  Days away from the capital and the palace were like being isolated from the world. However, news from the imperial court still managed to reach my ears through Xiao You in secret. Sometimes it was joyful, sometimes anxious, but mostly it was worry and concern.

  The lotus flowers on the lake have withered, autumn rain is drizzling, the sound of the withered lotus leaves being beaten by the rain makes me toss and turn, unable to sleep.

  The maple leaves turned red, the chrysanthemums bloomed, and the wild geese flew south. The autumn wind gradually became cold and harsh, with a sense of killing intent growing thicker. By the time the frost fell, more than two months had passed in the blink of an eye. During this period, the greatest joy was that my sister-in-law gave birth to a white and healthy baby boy at the Xue manor. With the Zhen family having an heir, I can also feel somewhat at ease.

  That night, I and Ling Rong were under the window, she bowed her head to sew a cotton-padded jacket for winter, and I was reading history books by the candlelight. Li Zhu was extremely tired, dozing off on one side, breathing slightly heavily, only hearing the sound of pages turning, rustling, mixed with the sound of lake water hitting the shore, like a light rain.

  The yellowed pages of the book have the fragrance of ink, every word and sentence is a story of the past, hidden in this space. Most historical records are men's history, not to mention the chaotic era of Spring and Autumn, Warring States, Northern and Southern Dynasties, when brothers became enemies and fathers and sons became foes. Even in peaceful times, there were Han Jingdi's "Seven Kingdoms Rebellion", Tang Taizong's "Xuanwu Gate Incident", princes seizing power, and Song Taizong's "Axe Sound Candle Shadow". A historical book is all about the glint of knives and swords, written with blood and tears.

  Brotherly strife! Brotherly strife! Either you die or I live, the winner is king and the loser is a bandit, life and death are in an instant. My heart trembles with fear, my hand goes limp, and the book falls to the ground.

  Ling Rong lifted her head and asked in surprise: "What's wrong, sister?"

  I was afraid she would see through my worries, so I hastily covered it up with a smile: "Nothing, holding the book for too long has made my hands sore."

  Ling Rong let out a "heh" and smiled, "I just can't understand why sister loves reading so much. Every time I see those tiny ant-like words, I get a headache."

  I bent down to pick up the book and smiled: "It's just a way to kill time."

  I still turned the pages, but my mind was a blank. Whether I am by Xuan Ling's side or not, he is everything to me, my honor and shame, life and death, dignity and humility are all given by him. Regardless of whether I love him wholeheartedly or willingly accompany him, we are one. When he is glorious, I may not be glorious, but when he is humiliated, I will definitely be humiliated too.

  And he had been planning for a long time and was determined not to lose. What if, I dare not think of this what if, in case he is no longer there.

  As soon as this thought occurred to me, I became flustered and my chest felt tight, I almost cried. It turned out that I was so afraid of him dying; it turned out that I still had a true feeling for him.

  It wasn't until then that I realized what kind of connection and longing existed between me and Xuan Ling, a bond that went beyond self-interest and was rooted in genuine emotions.

  Just then, Ling Rong pushed me gently and asked with concern: "Sister, you've been absent-minded lately. Is there something on your mind?"

  I shook my head, just about to speak, when the red candle on the table suddenly burst into a series of sparks from its wick, making an extraordinary noise in the silence.

  Ling Rong couldn't help but smile first: "The lanterns are blooming, good fortune has arrived. Whatever worries Sister has, they will all be resolved."

  I knew this matter was empty and unreliable, yet the words somehow struck a chord in my heart, and I couldn't help but curve the corners of my mouth into a smile.

  Just as she was speaking, Xiāo Sù brought in a basin of charcoal fire and woke up Liú Zhū. She smiled and said: "Now that the weather is cold, Miss Zhu is even more fond of sleeping." Xiāo Sù came forward and warmed my hands, saying: "Your Majesty's hands are a bit cold." As she spoke, she took out a hand warmer and placed it in my bosom, excitedly saying: "I have roasted some taros in the charcoal basin, we can eat them soon."

  She said this, and the sleepy Ling Zhu also woke up. Ling Rong happily said: "In the past at home, I often ate it, but now after a few years without tasting it, smelling it feels especially fragrant." Then they surrounded the charcoal basin, chatting and laughing as they started eating. I absent-mindedly listened to their chatter, my heart flying far away to Ziyao City.

  The good news arrived just a few days before the real winter, that day's sunshine was particularly good, I saw Flowing Vermilion and Washing Blue carrying all the quilts out to dry in the sun, from time to time taking a big slap, then dust flew up, hazy and fluttering like golden dance, with a slight choking smell.

  I squinted to avoid the intense sunlight. My days were spent in such triviality and ordinariness, but what about Xuan Ling? Had he succeeded? The King of Ru Nan was indeed not easy to get along with either.

  Just as he was thinking, he saw a fleet of boats approaching on the lake, with colorful flags fluttering in the wind. His heart tightened and he didn't know whether this arrival was good or bad luck. His hand unconsciously reached into his bosom and tightly grasped a small dagger.

  The night before I was rebuked, Xuan Ling and I were in the courtyard. His tiger's mouth was a bit rough, stroking my cheek, putting a small dagger in my hand, saying solemnly: "As for life and death, I also don't have full grasp, if something unexpected happens, you... can defend yourself."

  I solemnly accepted: "The Emperor is the son of heaven's mandate, and must be obeyed as one wishes." My lips were sharp and decisive in an instant, "If it is truly evil invading righteousness, I will not live a life of compromise."

  Xuan Ling pulled my hand, silent as the stars in the sky.

  I came to, and Xuan Ling was defeated, his power and life gone. I too couldn't protect myself anymore. Rather than falling into the hands of King Yunan and Empress Hua to be humiliated and tortured, I'd rather die once and for all.

  The fear of death is approaching me so quickly, so close that I don't know if I can still breathe safely in the next second. What if that fleet is sent by King Runan? Suddenly, I had a sharp intention, and with a horizontal heart, even if it's self-destruction, I want to make a loud noise. If Xuan Ling is really going to die at his hands, I also want to fight hard and kill a few people, I won't go in vain.

  Thinking of this, my mind has calmed down a lot. This is already the worst plan, things can't get any worse, and I'm no longer afraid.

  And then came Xiao You, beaming with joy, saying only two words: "It's done."

  Overjoyed, his body went limp, and the dagger fell to the ground with a "clang". "Is Your Majesty unharmed?"

  Xiao You hastily knocked his head on the ground and said: "Your Majesty is safe and sound, with a strong and healthy body."

  Tears streaming down, it turned out to be extreme joy, and the great hidden danger of Ruyang Wang was eliminated. Xiao You hurriedly said with joy: "Your Majesty, don't cry, it's a great joy. The Emperor decreed that I should welcome Your Majesty and An Concubine back to the palace, let's hurry."

  I gently wiped away the tears on my cheeks and nodded vigorously.

  The first night back in the palace, Xuan Ling stayed in my Tongli Palace, and he couldn't stop staring at my face. He said with a sigh: "It's been almost a hundred days since we last met, Huanhuan, you've lost weight."

  I stroked my cheek and said: "Wuliang Temple is isolated from the outside world, I have been worried about Fourth Brother day and night."

  He suddenly remembered something and said warmly: "An Guiren really loves you deeply, knowing that you are imprisoned in the Wu Liang Temple, she came to beg me with tears to let her accompany you. It's easy to share sweetness but hard to share bitterness, it's precious to have someone who can provide warmth in the snow."

  His tone was full of praise, and I said in a low voice: "An sister is indeed as the emperor said, but I don't dare to tell her the truth, it's always better for fewer people to know." Seeing him nodding, I gazed at him: "Is the emperor all right?"

  He pulled me into his chest and said, "Since you returned to the palace, I've asked this many times already?"

  I was taken aback and said softly: "Really? I don't even know myself."

  He patted me on the back, "It's okay, everything is over now."

  "Is everything over?" I muttered.

  "Yes." Xuan Ling sighed, "The Sixth Brother has taken away the military power of King Yunnan in various places, imprisoned the generals and reduced their troops."

  I let out a soft "ah?" and my heart skipped a beat, but I didn't say anything. Xuan Ling heard my confusion and smiled, saying: "Do you think the people who hang out with Sixth Brother are just some literary scholars? Sixth Brother himself isn't someone to be underestimated either."

  I smiled: "It turns out that Fourth Brother had already made arrangements, and all the previous things were just to confuse them." I was smiling on my face, but inside I was worried. Although Xuán Qīng was used by Xuán Líng, his intervention in this coup would let Xuán Líng know that he had the ability to deploy troops, and his situation would only make Xuán Líng more suspicious of him. With the precedent of the King of Yùnán, Xuán Qīng's mother being Shū Guì Fēi, and also being a son whom the previous emperor valued highly, I feared that Xuán Líng's suspicions would be even greater.

  He smiled: "Your brother is also not to be underestimated. If he hadn't been able to obtain the list of names from the party of Yuannan Wang and led the Youlin Army to control the Yuannan Wang's mansion, it wouldn't have been possible to achieve such great things so quickly."

  I was slightly surprised: "The King of Ru Nan actually didn't resist?"

  He seemed rather pleased with himself: "There was no warning beforehand; the previous evening, the Empress Dowager had invited his wife and son to visit the Emperor's daughter in the palace, and they stayed overnight."

  "He's thinking of his wife and children."

  Xuan Lingdao said: "It's no use being cautious, he has no more troops to deploy, only the family soldiers in the Wang Mansion can temporarily resist. He is a sensible person!"

  My heart moved slightly, even if the King of Runan had a disloyal heart, but towards his wife and children, he was extremely precious. What's more, his desire for power came from the frustrations and neglects of his youth. So I asked: "What about the King of Runan now?"

  Xuan Ling's expression turned solemn, and he said: "Detain him in the Imperial Clan Court. I have ordered the Six Ministries to discuss his crime together."

  I didn't say anything, and this treatment was also reasonable. Only looking at how the crime was decided. Xuan Ling's expression relaxed, and he said to me, "Do you know that your sister-in-law gave birth to a boy?"

  I smiled: "So Slang also knew?"

  He smiled and said: "The matter is already understood, and it's also possible to let your brother and sister-in-law reunite. Your brother has lost his reputation, and he can't even go see the child when it's born."

  I smiled and said: "Originally for the country and the emperor, these grievances are nothing."

  He smiled comfortably, Tongli Palace was brightly lit with red candles, the warm stove was fragrant, and it was naturally different from the cold weather outside.

  On the second day, I went to pay my respects to the Empress early in the morning. The Imperial Consort Hua was still among them, but her spirit was low and she was already different from before. I didn't rush, as it wasn't convenient to involve the inner palace in the affairs of the previous court. In the past, when Yu E's brother, Duke Boling, plotted rebellion, the former Emperor hadn't demoted her either, he just neglected her. Even if I didn't speak, the Empress wouldn't let her off easily. After exchanging a few pleasantries according to etiquette, we dispersed.

  As everyone dispersed, the Empress alone kept me behind and said warmly: "You must be tired, Imperial Concubine."

  I smiled and said: "The Empress Dowager is even more hardworking to take care of the Emperor. I thank you, Your Majesty."

  Her eyes were filled with a deep smile: "The palace and you are all for the emperor's worries, how can we not do our best?"

  She left me alone, not to chat with me. The queen slowly stroked the armor and said: "The position of Huafeng will not be preserved for a long time, and the people around her are also afraid of being implicated. After removing those who have died or gone mad, there are not many concubines left in the emperor's palace."

  I felt a slight chill in my heart, but still smiled and said: "Is the empress going to select beauties for the emperor? That's what should be done, it was originally supposed to be postponed."

  The queen sat upright and said, "Xiu Nu is definitely to be chosen, but not now. At present, there are many things to attend to, and it's not worth expending that much energy. The emperor's intention is..." She narrowed her eyes, gazing at the shallow sunlight filling the window, saying: "This time, in pacifying the Zhen Nan Wang affair, there were quite a few meritorious officials."

  The queen did not say any more, but quietly looked at me with a calm and peaceful gaze. I understood her meaning and took a deep breath before saying: "If there are suitable-aged girls from the families of these meritorious officials who can be selected to enter the palace as my sisters, that would be for the best. I'm sure they will be talented and virtuous women with dignified manners."

  The queen smiled relievedly, "It turns out that Your Majesty, I and the noble concubine have thought of the same thing. In that case, let me choose a good day to select and enter the palace."

  I smiled and said: "Your Majesty is the master of the harem, whatever you decide is fine."

  The queen picked up her teacup and blew gently on it before speaking slowly, "However, you are also a woman from a family of meritorious officials."

  A few days later, the six boards jointly discussed the crimes of King Xuanji of Yuzhou, with ten major items: contempt for the emperor, betrayal of the former emperor, forming cliques for personal gain, disrupting court politics, blocking the way of speech, beating senior officials, filling private pockets, harboring different intentions, abusing military power, and dominating troops. Each item is a heinous crime punishable by death.

  Xuan Ling's memorial was approved, but the edict read: "Considering that you, King of Nan, have made some contributions in battle and have served for many years, and are a brother, I cannot bear to kill you, lest it grieve the spirit of my late father. Therefore, I will not impose punishment on you, but instead show leniency and spare your life. You are hereby stripped of your royal title and honors, demoted to commoner status, and sentenced to lifelong imprisonment in the imperial clan's prison. No one is allowed to visit you without an edict."

  "What about the princess, Gong Jing and the crown prince?" I asked.

  He calmly said: "One should be demoted to a commoner, but I have already allowed them to continue staying in the old residence of the King of Runan." He said: "It's also the Empress Dowager's intention."

  I remain silent and gloomy, in the power struggle among men, women have always been just small pawns, with no control over their own honor or shame. Today, the commoner He Shi returns to her old residence, witnessing the glory of yesterday and the decline of today, what kind of emotions will she feel?

  However, this despondency only lasted for a moment. I quickly came to my senses and realized that if today's defeat was at the hands of Xuan Ling, my fate would be even worse than that of He Shi. She still had a place to settle down, but I didn't even have a place to die.

  Xuan Ji having already been punished, the next step is to exterminate his party followers. These things were done with ease during the Regent King's time by Xuan Ling, and now even more so, killing those who should be killed, demoting those who should be demoted, and exiling those who should be exiled. The Murong clan, as Xuan Ji's most trusted confidants, naturally implicated the entire clan.

  Then there were officials who petitioned, advising Xuanyuan to use severe punishment and strict laws to govern the world, prevent further turmoil, especially for those of the Murong clan who had once held military power, they must be exterminated to the ninth degree.

  Xuan Ling slowly sipped his tea, with a thoughtful expression, and handed the memorial to me, saying: "You take a look too."

  I read it carefully and asked: "What does Your Majesty mean..."

  "He said, 'That's also reasonable.'"

  I folded up the memorial and respectfully placed it in front of him, only asking: "Your Majesty thinks Han Dynasty's Wenjing is how? And Qin Shi Huang's father and son are how?"

  He said, "Wen Jing is a model for governing the world, originating from Han Wendi and Han Jingdi's kindness to people, cultivating the virtues of emperors; whereas Qin Shi Huang and his son...". He lightly sneered: "Tyrannical rulers indeed, national chaos originated from this, later generations of monarchs should be cautious and take warning."

  I stand in the light and shadow, smiling: "Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing repeatedly disliked severe punishments, worried about the suffering of the common people, so they reduced the severity of punishment; while Qin Shi Huang and Qin Er Shi's punishments were harsh, with frequent executions and massacres, causing the people to be terrified. The policy of a king should value virtue not punishment, how can we abandon Wen and Jing and follow the example of Qin Shi Huang and his son?"

  Just then, there was a woman's crying and making a disturbance outside. Li Chang came in and said: "I beg to report to Your Majesty, the Consort Hua requests an audience with Your Majesty."

  Xuan Ling's expression stiffened, and he coldly spat out two words: "Not meeting!"

  "This..." Li Chang said with difficulty: "The Empress has already requested an audience three times today, and this time she even cracked her head open."

  Xuan Ling turned around and left, saying: "Tell her that even if she asks to see me three hundred times, it's useless. Have someone bandage her wound well and let her stay in her own palace." Li Chang responded and went out, Xuan Ling calmed down a bit and said: "Let's talk about our own matters."

  "I gazed at him and said: 'Yes. I just think that in a chaotic world, severe punishment should be used. If too many lives are taken, it will only make the people's hearts unsettled.'"

  He paced thoughtfully for a moment, then said: "This time, I will only severely punish the main culprits. As for the others, let's leave them a way out."

  I smiled and said with a calm heart: "Your Majesty is wise."

  "Deprive the Murong clan of their noble titles. Behead Murong Hui, Murong Shiyong, and Murong Shibai. The female members under 14 years old will be taken into the palace as servants, while the rest will be exiled to Ryukyu, never to return to court again."

  A heart, just like this, has been settled. The affairs of the previous dynasty will naturally be handled by Xuan Ling, and the harem has also reached the time when it should be cleaned up.

  Empress Hua, you are now alone and have no one to rely on.