Chapter 185:

In this world, there are some things that no one will ever know, except the person involved.

The Jing Emperor buried the secret deep.

As for Yan Lie, he would continue his investigation along the clues he had already arranged.

How things truly were back then is now unknown, as all those who knew have passed away. Many matters eventually end with dust returning to dust, earth to earth.

The living are the most important. Isn’t that right?

The Jing Emperor could not figure out exactly how things had happened, nor could he deduce what role Layue might have played in it.

But judging from Layue’s usual behavior, she seemed to know absolutely nothing.

Once, the Jing Emperor had thought, how could a woman of talent like Yue Qingcheng bear such a casual name? It turned out the answer lay precisely here.

In the past, the Jing Emperor would have insisted on getting to the bottom of things, but now, he no longer wished to do so.

In this world full of troubles, is there really a need to insist on knowing the truth about every single matter?

Besides, even if he tried to investigate, the Imperial Astrologer was dead, Yue Qingcheng was dead, and even those who knew a little had been silenced by him.

Only young Layue remained, but she knew everything.

The Jing Emperor wrote the character “fate (Yuan)” on a large piece of white paper.

He and Layue were indeed destined to be closely connected.

Moon had saved him from peril twice, and indirectly cured his insomnia.

It seemed as if she had been born for him.

When he first learned this information, the Jing Emperor had also thought whether the prophecy of averting a massacre might be because Shen Layue would become empress.

Though he felt Yue Qingcheng’s death could not have been a simple matter, he believed his own speculation was likely correct.

He even felt that Moon was his destined soulmate.

How deeply he loved her—wasn’t that proof enough that their marriage was fated?

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

Beside the character “fate (Yuan),” the Jing Emperor added a few more words expressing his thoughts.

“Lai Xi.”

“Your servant is here.”

“Come with me for a walk in the imperial garden.”

In recent days, whenever he had free time, the Jing Emperor liked to stroll in the imperial garden. Looking at the flourishing spring scenery, he felt his mood gradually brighten.

All living things exude vitality.

Everyone has their own destiny. Why force things too much?

It was now the best season in the imperial garden, with all flowers reviving, breathtakingly beautiful.

Because the Jing Emperor had been in a bad mood for several days, he often visited the garden. Consequently, the concubines from various palaces became more active, and the number of people in the garden was significantly higher than usual.

The Jing Emperor sneered.

Earlier, Lai Xi had asked whether they should leave, but the Emperor refused.

The entire empire belonged to him, including this garden. Why should he avoid others out of displeasure? If he disliked something, he could simply drive them away. It was not his nature to hide from them and deprive himself.

But today was fine, perhaps because they had come early, there were surprisingly few people in the garden.

“May the heavens protect Her Majesty the Empress Dowager on her journey. I had no chance to kneel there and bid her farewell, so I take this opportunity to pray here, in this place of blooming flowers, that she may be reborn into a good family.” A soft female voice arose.

Lai Xi glanced at the Emperor’s calm expression.

His heart tightened, and he was about to go and drive her away, but a glance from the Emperor stopped him.

The woman wore palace maid’s attire, kneeling there, seemingly in prayer.

“Please protect the Emperor and the country of Nan Qin, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Bless the Emperor with good health and the nation with peace and prosperity. If this may come true, I am willing to sacrifice ten years of my life. Please grant my wish.”

After speaking, she kowtowed repeatedly.

Observing her like this, the Jing Emperor’s expression remained unchanged.

“Who are you?” A sudden voice broke the silence.

The woman seemed startled as she turned around. On her delicate, exquisite face were large tears, and her flustered expression resembled a frightened little rabbit, evoking an unusual sense of pity.

After a moment’s thought, the Jing Emperor recalled who she was.

The woman quickly turned around and knelt to pay her respects: “Your servant is An Shuyuan, serving in the palace of Concubine An Xiuyi.”

Actually, the Emperor had already recognized her when she turned around earlier.

The same An Shuyuan who had once tried to harm Layue. She was the younger sister of Concubine An Xiuyi.

Back then, he had punished her by assigning her to serve in An Xiuyi’s palace.

“Why are you here?” the Emperor asked.

“Your Majesty, forgive me, I have overstepped. I shall leave immediately.” She spoke while looking at the Emperor, yet did not move.

How could the Emperor fail to see her intentions? He smiled slightly: “What? Without the Emperor’s decree, dare you rise?”

There was a hint of teasing in his tone. An Shuyuan’s heart leapt with joy, thinking she had indeed taken the right step.

“Your servant dares not.” She cast a charming glance at the Emperor as she spoke.

The Emperor stopped his playful smile, his expression turning cold: “Dare not? I think rather that you are quite bold, daring to do anything?”

An Shuyuan thought the Emperor was referring to her earlier offer to shorten her life.

With a serious tone, she said: “Though my status is lowly, my heart brims with reverence for the Emperor and my wish for peace in the land is no different from anyone else’s.”

Observing her like this, the Emperor smiled even more.

What a clueless girl.

Unable to read the atmosphere, she still came out to feign sincerity.

Thinking of her pretentious behavior aimed solely at seducing him, the Emperor felt even more disgusted.

He recalled the first time he met Layue by the lotus pond—truly a chance encounter. She was lively, charming, and had a touch of enchanting allure.

Now, looking at An Shuyuan, every move exuded calculation.

Did she really think he was a fool?

“An Shuyuan.”

Her small face lifted, eyes filled with hope.

The Emperor inwardly sneered. She was indeed someone who wore her ambitions plainly in her eyes.

“The Empress Dowager is the mother I hold in highest esteem.”

An Shuyuan grew even happier, thinking she had taken the correct step.

He stared straight at her: “I will not allow anyone, in any way, to exploit her.”

Upon hearing this, An Shuyuan finally understood the Emperor’s displeasure and quickly kowtowed.

“Your Majesty, forgive me! I did not use the Empress Dowager. It was truly sincere worship. Those words came from the depths of my heart, not a single lie. I beg the Emperor to see the truth—”

The Emperor leaned down, pinching her chin.

Examining her from side to side.

“Speaking of which, you are not even half as good as your elder sister. You may wonder why, despite Concubine An’s sharp tongue and tendency to cause trouble, I have kept her until now? Although Concubine An is often ill-mannered and prone to stirring up trouble, she does have a sense of perception. She knows what lines must never be crossed. You have been in the palace for a year now. Have you ever seen her truly harm anyone? Qi Consort fell, De Consort fell, Xian Consort also fell. Yet she still lives comfortably in the palace. Was it because of her beauty? You are wrong. It was because she understood the situation and knew her place.”

He abruptly released her.

An Shuyuan collapsed there.

“I am telling you this today only so you understand: playing petty games in this palace is destined to lead to no good end. I am not an empty-headed fool. Lai Xi, since An Shuyuan feels the palace life does not suit her, demote and send her home. Out of respect for Minister An and Concubine An, I will not impose further punishment. Let her go.”

With that, he turned and left, his sleeves flaring.

Lai Xi looked at An Shuyuan, who was still confused about why her plan had failed, and sighed inwardly.

All the women in the palace were shrewd, yet there were still such foolish beauties.

Such artificial and shallow acting—how could the master not see through it?

It was truly an insult to their intelligence.

Upon hearing that the Emperor wanted to demote and send her home, An Shuyuan began crying and begging for mercy.

The Emperor disliked this and turned back with only a calm sentence that made her shut her mouth.

“If I hear her voice again, poison her so she can never speak.”

The Jing Emperor was indeed a man of his word.

An Shuyuan tightly covered her mouth, trembling with fear.

Lai Xi was efficient in carrying out orders. Since the Emperor had spoken thus, he did not even allow her to return to her quarters, directly removing An Shuyuan, the second young Miss An, from the palace.

He obeyed only the Emperor’s command, caring nothing for anything else.

Within half a day, the news had already spread throughout the palace.

At Chaolu Hall,

Upon hearing that her younger sister had already been sent out of the palace, An Xiuyi sat motionless for a long time.

Then she sneered.

The palace maid Qiqiao stood beside her, asking: “Your Highness, the second Miss has been sent out of the palace. What shall we do next?”

An Xiuyi showed no special reaction, only sneering: “What to do? Nothing to do. She deserves it! Now that she’s been sent out like this, I want to see how Father and that woman will find a good family for her. I will also watch to see who dares to marry a woman who has been reprimanded by the Emperor.”

A faint smile appeared on Qiqiao’s face, but she soon reminded her: “But, Your Highness, won’t the Master be…?”

She didn’t finish her sentence, but An Xiuyi naturally understood what she meant.

“As for Father, perhaps in time, he will also find himself in trouble. Look at the consorts in the harem—they are all closely tied to their families. The Emperor’s lack of leniency today must mean he is also displeased with Father.”

Actually, what the Jing Emperor said was correct. Although An Xiuyi was not particularly clever and often spoke in ways that annoyed people, she could indeed see clearly when it came to major matters.

Qiqiao was worried: “If the Emperor is displeased with Master, wouldn’t our days in the palace become increasingly difficult?”

An Xiuyi was unconcerned.

She waved her hand: “Even if the Emperor highly values Father, it doesn’t necessarily mean he will treat me well. Look at the Fu family—they are a clear example. Before, I didn’t understand many things, which is why I wasted so many years. Perhaps this situation isn’t so bad after all. With the Empress having exclusive favor in the palace, we can just keep a low profile. Where would there be any problems? As for Father, after so many years, it’s time they faced some consequences.”

While speaking, An Xiuyi’s tone carried a trace of resentment, as if there were many family secrets hidden within.

Qiqiao seemed to have thought of something as well. She sighed but nodded in agreement with her mistress.

“You’re absolutely right, Your Highness. But still, Master is your father—”

An Xiuyi clenched her fists tightly, her long fingernails deeply digging into her skin.

“What of it? Did he ever think of me when he killed my mother and chased after power? Did he ever show me a bit of care when that woman treated me badly? If I hadn’t entered the palace and possessed some ability, would he have even acknowledged me? I have endured silently for many years. Now, I want to watch, watch the An family step by step toward decline.”