Chapter 38

“Answering Your Majesty, this daughter had no such intention.” Gao Jingxi did not appear afraid in the slightest. She raised her head slightly, her brows filled with untamed defiance. “The Sun Radiance Guard committed no wrongdoing. If Your Majesty wishes to punish someone, then punish this daughter alone.”

Her forceful words echoed throughout Chengqian Hall for a long time. The Emperor’s rage surged violently, causing her chest to rise and fall. She even wanted to smash everything on the imperial desk at Gao Jingxi and strip her of her title as princess.

But she could not. She could deal with imperial princes and princesses whose maternal families had little influence however she wished, but although the Empress’s relatives possessed no substantial authority, they were all scholars who wielded their pens and voices as weapons.

Seeing the usually gentle and untroublesome Seventh Princess inexplicably challenging the Emperor, Lian Liejin felt her blood rush to her head. The words reached her lips, and she could no longer hold them back. “Your Majesty, the assassin was actually—”

Disregarding the impropriety of her actions before the throne, Gao Jingxi seized Lian Liejin and growled, “You do not need to excuse me. If I am at fault, then I should be punished.” She turned toward the Emperor and declared loudly, “I ask Imperial Mother to handle this matter impartially.”

The Emperor grew even more furious at Gao Jingxi’s stubborn appearance. Was she accusing the Emperor of abusing torture and handling affairs unjustly?

Seeing Gao Jingxi make a subtle gesture for her to withdraw, Lian Liejin ultimately restrained herself and stepped aside.

He Cheng, however, was deeply moved by Gao Jingxi’s impassioned words. She had assumed that after the assassin escaped, the Seventh Princess would place all the blame on the Sun Radiance Guard. After all, the Sun Radiance Guard had contributed nothing to rescuing the Princess Consort.

Moreover, the assassin had indeed escaped bailiantales.com while in the Sun Radiance Guard’s custody. Logically, they should bear the primary responsibility.

“Imperial Mother, it was this daughter who requested an imperial decree allowing me to command the Sun Radiance Guard that day. Now that something has gone wrong, the Son of Heaven should naturally be punished by the same laws as the common people.”

“Hehe. Since you sincerely wish to confess your guilt, I shall grant your request. However, He Cheng must still be severely punished for molesting Consort Lian.” Seeing Gao Jingxi preparing to speak again, the Emperor felt an unbearable headache coming on. “Enough. Let the Court of Judicial Review investigate.”

Consort Lian immediately became dissatisfied. “Your Majesty, this consort refuses to accept that. You must seek justice for this consort. Although Official He is young, hot-blooded, and impulsive, the fact remains that she treated this consort disrespectfully. She absolutely cannot be let off lightly.”

The Emperor silenced Consort Lian with a single glance before continuing, “Guards. Since the Seventh Princess wishes to bear the Sun Radiance Guard’s guilt, take her to the Star-Suppression Office and withhold one year of her stipend.”

The Star-Suppression Office was an institution in the Lan Geng Kingdom specifically used to punish imperial princes and descendants. Lian Liejin only knew of it in general and understood nothing else. Seeing Gao Jingxi suddenly being taken there left her completely panicked.

Several guards entered the great hall and escorted Gao Jingxi and He Cheng away. Lian Liejin hurriedly bowed to the Emperor, then chased after Gao Jingxi.

“Your Highness!”

The wind outside the hall was fierce. Gao Jingxi turned toward the voice and saw Lian Liejin’s refined features filled with anxiety. Her black hair danced through the air, making her resemble warm jade amid the snow, gathering within it the pure radiance of eternity.

“Your Highness.” Lian Liejin rushed over and stared deeply [stolen content]at Gao Jingxi. “I… What must I do to save you?”

Gao Jingxi smiled helplessly and once again straightened Lian Liejin’s hair ornament. Gentle light flowed through her eyes. “Then stop being angry with me, all right? When I return home, if you are still unhappy, I will explain everything to you one matter at a time.”

Hearing Gao Jingxi’s voice finally calmed Lian Liejin’s heart considerably. Although reluctant to part, she slowly nodded. “Then how long will it take for you to come home?”

“Not long.” Gao Jingxi took the black jade from inside her robes and waved it before Lian Liejin’s eyes. “Hurry back. Do not remain in the imperial palace for too long.”

Beside them, A-You’s eyes brimmed with tears. She was only one step away from openly sobbing.

As she watched Gao Jingxi leave, guilt filled Lian Liejin’s heart. Had she not behaved so willfully, perhaps the princess would not have needed to suffer this.

Just as countless thoughts surged through her mind, Consort Lian’s cloyingly sweet voice sounded behind her. “Seventh Princess Consort, why are you standing here all alone? You should understand that the imperial palace is one enormous kitchen. No matter where someone hides their secrets, a determined cook will carve them apart like Butcher Ding dissecting an ox, revealing the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys in perfect clarity.”

It was bitterly cold outside the great hall, yet Consort Lian wore only a thin layer of white gauze. Apart from the black hair piled high upon her head, every part of her body was as pure white as snow.

“So what? Those who search for secrets will eventually die beneath them. Your curiosity is far too great, Consort Lian.” Lian Liejin’s expression remained indifferent, as though she could not see the beauty Consort Lian was deliberately displaying.

“Hehe, Princess Consort, there is no need to be so guarded. I merely felt a slight sense of closeness because your unauthorized copyeyes resemble mine so greatly.” Consort Lian moved closer. “Speaking of which, your eyes resemble the beauty in that portrait most of all.”

Lian Liejin had originally felt extreme disgust at Consort Lian’s deliberate approach, but the woman appeared to be implying something. She could only endure it and ask, “What portrait?”

“Naturally, the portrait inside His Majesty’s study. I saw it only once.” After saying this, Consort Lian left Chengqian Hall with dainty steps, her figure graceful and alluring.

The wind and frost chilled Lian Liejin’s features. Without further hesitation, she told A-You to seek out the Empress. Then she walked alone through the heavy snow of the imperial palace. Once outside the palace gates, she mounted a horse and galloped toward the Duke of Yan’s Residence.

The Duke of Yan’s Residence stood at the southernmost edge of Changyong. It was said that the Lian Family Army led by Lian Liejin’s great-grandfather had conquered thirteen cities, defeating a larger force with fewer troops and reversing the entire war. They had forced the Kingdom of Luoz into retreat after retreat.

Every generation of the Lian family had been loyal and heroic, accumulating countless military achievements.

To reward such meritorious subjects, the late Emperor had not only bestowed a noble title but had personally selected this excellent land and residence for the Duke of Yan’s household.

Strictly speaking, the descendants of the family were merely enjoying the legacy left behind by their ancestors.

Before the vermilion gates of the Duke of Yan’s Residence stood two imposing stone lions. The words “Lian Residence” on the plaque above the doors were written with vigorous strokes and magnificent force. They had also been personally inscribed by the late Emperor.

The sky grew increasingly dark. Since winter began, bailiantales.comthe snow in Changyong had never stopped. Lian Liejin pulled on the reins, dismounted, and walked directly forward to knock.

Before long, a young servant wearing a dark blue-black cap poked his head outside. “It’s the Third Young Lady.”

He hurriedly opened the gate and shouted inside, “The Third Young Lady has returned! The Third Young Lady is back!”

The steward, dressed in a thick fur coat, hurried over from the side holding a green bamboo rod and immediately struck the servant on the head. “What are you shouting for? You have no sense of propriety.”

Only then did the steward turn toward Lian Liejin with a cold, rigid expression and ask indifferently, “Princess Consort, what instructions bring you here?”

Lian Liejin looked at the withered plants and flowers throughout the Lian Residence’s courtyard, and her expression grew even colder. “I came to find Father. Is he at home?”

“The master went to a banquet at the Chancellor’s Residence today. He may not return for another one or two shichen.” Maintaining his expressionless face, the steward said stiffly, “Princess Consort, would you care to enter and wait for the master?”

Lian Liejin lifted her leg and walked directly into the Duke’s Residence. She immediately felt as though the sky had darkened further. Everything that had seemed lively moments ago abruptly became lifeless and desolate.

“The flowers Mother planted in the front courtyard—did you simply allow them to wither like this?” Lian Liejin saw the flower branches lying messily in the soil, apparently because no one had pruned them.

“The master said that since the former madam had already passed away, the plants should be left to live or die on their own. That way, they could follow their mistress and demonstrate their devotion to her.” The steward looked at the plants with a smile that was not quite a smile and casually summoned another servant. “Why are you still standing there? Take the Princess Consort to the side hall.”

“There’s no need. I’m not so foolish that I’ve forgotten the way.” Lian Liejin waved him away and headed west. After passing through several covered corridors, she pushed open a dilapidated wooden door and entered a small courtyard.

This was the courtyard where she had lived with her mother before the age of five. A well stood in its center, and unusual flowers and rare plants had once grown everywhere around it. However, after years without care, everything had been buried beneath the wind and snow, and none of its former beauty remained.

In all thirteen years since then, she had never once returned to this courtyard. Even before her wedding, she had merely stayed at an inn.

There were only four or five single-story rooms in the courtyard. The room in the center had been the bedroom she shared with her mother, while a simple little kitchen stood beside it.

After her mother gave birth to her, both mother and daughter were treated by everyone in the residence as monsters incapable of using stellar power. They had to handle their own meals, clothing, housing, and every aspect of daily life. The two of them had lived quietly within this little courtyard.

Even so, the courtyard had rarely known peace. Her father’s vague and insubstantial affection had not protected his wife and child. Instead, it had brought them even greater suffering.

Lian Liejin slowly walked through the courtyard and entered the bedroom to inspect it. Her heart gradually settled, but the strange comments made by the Emperor and Consort Lian today forced her to pay attention.

Whether her eyes resembled Consort Lian’s was another matter, but they were indeed extremely similar to her mother’s.

Could the Emperor have had some connection with her mother?

Apart from old pillows and bedding, almost nothing remained inside the room. Her mother had always possessed such a free and unrestrained temperament, coming and going without attachments.

But had she truly left without any attachment?

Lian Liejin smiled knowingly and pulled a small cloth tiger from the cotton stuffing inside a pillow. Her mother had sewn it for her personally. When Lian Liejin left all those years ago, she had deliberately left it behind so that it could accompany her mother in her place.

“Third Sister, what are you doing here?”

Lian Liejin had still been immersed in memories of her mother when an unwelcome voice reached her ears.

Lian Pingyou stood gracefully beside the doorway in a blue-and-white jade robe, appearing cultured and handsome. “If you came because of the Seventh Princess, then you may return to your Princess Consort’s Residence without concern. I will naturally arrange everything for Jing—Her Highness.”

“What do you mean by that?” Icy coldness flowed through Lian Liejin’s eyes. “And how did you learn about it?”

“Hehe.” Lian Pingyou glanced at Lian Liejin, her gaze filled with mockery. “Naturally, I am aware of matters within the imperial court.”

“You currently hold no official position. What does Her Highness have to do with you?”

Lian Pingyou smiled faintly. “Third Sister, affairs of the imperial court change in an instant. It is only natural that you would not understand. In the future, Her Highness and I will serve as officials in the same court, and I will naturally become one of her most capable supporters. Moreover, my star chart is the Yin-Yang Chessboard, making me perfectly suited to become the princess’s strategist.”

“So what? Did you deliberately speak to me today merely to prove something?”

Lian Pingyou stepped forward twice and met Lian Liejin’s gaze. “I have no need to show off before you. I am merely telling you the truth. Had you not been the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Yan’s Residence, you would never have had even the slightest opportunity to exchange a single word with Her Highness.”