Chapter 175:

Actually, Fu Xiang had always treated him with great kindness since his childhood and did his best to support him.

At that time, he was not yet the prime minister.

He had never understood why the Emperor supported him—was it because he was the Emperor’s son? What was Fu Xiang’s reason then? What Fu Xiang had done for him surpassed everyone’s imagination.

Fu had indirectly helped him countless times. At that time, aside from the Emperor, the person he respected the most was Chancellor Fu.

Later, by a fortuitous opportunity, he finally discovered the truth—the portrait of a woman hanging in the Huici Palace of the Empress Dowager, a painting with no signature, was drawn by Fu Yunrui.

At that point, he was filled with endless suspicion. Later, he met Fu Jinyu and saw the Fu family’s painting.

Both paintings depicted the same person in the same scene, except one was a front view and the other a back view.

Yet the person was the same—his own Empress Dowager, his mother!

From that moment on, he started to pay attention. It was precisely because of his vigilance that he discovered many things.

It turned out his mother also had a tragic past.

Zhu Guifei, who was prominent in the harem, had once been betrayed by someone very close.

From that moment on, he could no longer trust Chancellor Fu.

He could trust Fu Jinyu, who had grown up with him, but he could not trust Fu Jinyu’s father.

“Laixi, tell Laifu to withdraw all the secret guards from Huici Palace.”

“Yes.”

Other than Fu Yunrui, the person his mother missed most was probably Yan Lie, right? Even though they could never reconcile in this lifetime, the Emperor still decided to let him go.

“Summon Yan Lie to the palace. I want to see him.”

This day was particularly special for many people.

The Emperor successively summoned several individuals. Strangely, the Emperor even met with Prince Liu.

This was something no one could have imagined.

Layue was perceptive. She had a bad feeling—could it be that… the Empress Dowager was unwell?

It was against all protocol for the Emperor to allow a court official to visit the Empress Dowager; such an act was unthinkable for Emperor Jing to do.

And there was also Prince Liu.

The Emperor summoned Prince Liu around the same time.

Layue opened the window and saw that it had begun to drizzle outside.

She thought of that rainy day—just such a day when the entire Shen family was executed. Within a single day, a fire had broken out. That fire not only failed to kill her, but gave her a second chance at life.

Now, the Shen family was safe and sound, and many things had changed.

Yet many others had one by one left this world.

In her previous life, she had never imagined that it was the Empress Dowager who had ordered the downfall of her family.

In this life, the Empress Dowager had treated her with great kindness. Perhaps, this was what people called an indescribable karmic connection?

Since her rebirth, she had always judged people through the lens of her past experiences.

Naturally, this had helped her succeed in many matters, but it had also led her astray in others.

Would she continue to be caught between past and present, unable to free herself?

“Mother, mother—” It was the voice of the little fourth child. Layue turned around and saw the little ones being carried into the room.

Layue closed the window properly.

She broke into a smile. Perhaps it was time for her to look forward.

Perhaps only a single trigger could change a person’s mindset—just like the Emperor. While past emotions played a role, the real catalyst was the smallpox outbreak. Layue was the same. She had often been entangled in the connection between her past and present lives, but now she suddenly realized that all these years, she had been worrying over nothing.

Looking forward and grasping the happiness at hand was what mattered most.

“Apricot, tell Qiaoning to prepare some ingredients. I want to personally make some pastries for the Emperor.”

If the Empress Dowager was truly unwell, the Emperor must be feeling very upset.

As the Emperor’s most favored concubine, Layue naturally wanted to comfort him.

She only hoped that he would eat at least a little of what she made.

Layue spent two hours preparing the pastries. Although their appearance was nothing special, she still believed the Emperor might eat some.

Upon hearing that Layue had returned from outside, the Emperor did not summon her inside but instead came out himself to meet her.

Seeing the Emperor come out personally, Layue was surprised but quickly lowered herself into a respectful bow.

The Emperor helped her up.

“Did you make something for me to eat, Yue’er?”

“Mm.” Her eyes sparkled.

To everyone’s astonishment, the Emperor bent down and kissed her eyes.

Layue froze.

The Emperor took her hand. “I’ll take you to Huici Palace. We’ll eat with Mother and let her taste your cooking too.”

A tall man holding the hand of a delicate woman, who carried a large food container—such a scene was rarely seen in the palace. In the evening, many people were out walking.

Seeing the Emperor and Shen Guifei acting like an ordinary couple, many people couldn’t help but feel envious.

They arrived at Huici Palace.

Yan Lie was already there.

Seeing the Emperor and Layue, he knelt and saluted.

Though the Emperor was not particularly friendly, he still ordered him to rise.

Seeing Shen Guifei carrying the food container, several people were somewhat surprised.

“Yue’er, what delicious things have you brought?” the Empress Dowager smiled.

“This subject spent the afternoon making some snacks in the palace. Your Majesty, please try them.”

With a smile, she walked to the table and took out the small pastries, which were not particularly refined.

“Bring them over so I can taste them.”

After the eunuch tested the food with a silver needle as per protocol, Layue presented the dishes.

Prince Liu was standing by the bed, partially blocking Layue, but he suddenly froze.

Layue looked up in confusion.

“Prince Liu?” The Emperor raised an eyebrow.

It took Yan Lie a moment to snap out of his daze before immediately stepping aside.

Yet he still looked stunned.

At this moment, his thoughts were completely out of control.

He recalled many years ago, when he was still a boy, there had been a woman who carried a food container.

She had said, “Eat quickly. These are made by your elder sister.”

At that time, she didn’t know that this pitiful, neglected, low-status son of a rich family was actually the sixth prince of the Emperor.

She had never looked down on him, never!

Now, her daughter was carrying the same food container. Although this daughter bore not the slightest resemblance to Yue Qingcheng, not even sharing the same aura.

Yet at this moment, Yan Lie stubbornly believed that the woman most resembling Yue Qingcheng in this world was indeed her daughter.

“Lie’er, what is wrong?”

Not only the Emperor, but the Empress Dowager also noticed his odd behavior.

Layue had noticed his gaze fixed on the food container long before.

She looked up and asked earnestly, “May I taste one piece?”

Everyone was taken aback, puzzled by his unusual request.

Layue turned her gaze to the Emperor.

Prince Liu raised an eyebrow but did not make things difficult.

“Of course, Prince Liu may eat one. Try your little sister-in-law’s cooking.”

That word “little sister-in-law” was emphasized heavily.

Yan Lie disregarded the Emperor’s tone and strode straight to the table. Ignoring the eunuch’s attempt to test the food for poison, he popped a piece of pastry into his mouth.

He closed his eyes and chewed slowly.

Everyone in the room was puzzled by his behavior.

But the Emperor and Layue understood something.

Perhaps it was the food container that had triggered Yan Lie’s memories. Perhaps it was something his mother had done in the past.

After finishing one piece, Yan Lie wiped his mouth, seemingly reluctant to stop.

The taste was exactly the same—just like the pastries she had made for him when he was a child.

He turned to the Emperor. “Your Majesty is truly blessed.”

Just one pastry had prompted him to say such words. And there was indeed sincerity in his tone.

Even the Empress Dowager was puzzled.

Seeing the Empress Dowager’s confusion, Prince Yan spoke as if recalling memories. “I remember, when I was young, someone also made pastries for me. Eating them again today brings the same feeling.”

Hearing him mention his childhood, the Empress Dowager asked, “Who was it? If you like, we could summon her again to make them for you.”

A single tear rolled down Yan Lie’s face. Looking at the people before him, he shook his head and laughed—a long, sorrowful laugh.

“No, there is no ‘again.’ She is dead. She is truly gone.”

Without another word, he walked out, looking lost and heartbroken.

“Laixi, quickly arrange for someone to follow Prince Liu.”

“Yes!”

Such a scene left everyone present puzzled.

The Empress Dowager also lost her appetite and waved her hand. “You may all leave. I need to rest for a while.”

After everyone left,

The Empress Dowager inquired of the eunuch, “Do you understand why Lie’er behaved in such a manner? Could it be that he has taken a liking to Shen Layue?”

But as soon as she said it, she shook her head. “No, that’s impossible. He was stationed at the border for so many years. When he left, Shen Layue was only a little girl of a few years old. By the time he returned, she had already entered the palace. There was no possibility of anything between them.”

“Your Majesty, maybe it has nothing to do with the person herself?”

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager thought for a moment and nodded. “Indeed, he had met Shen Layue before and had shown no particular reaction. If anything, he had shown more interest in Zhu Yuning. Today’s reaction must be related to something else—perhaps the food container?”

The eunuch also nodded. “It appears that the Prince changed after seeing the food container. Or perhaps it was after tasting the pastries made by Imperial Concubine Shen herself?”

Both remembered his words—about the taste.

When he was young, pastries, the taste?

A thought flashed through the Empress Dowager’s mind, but it was fleeting.

While the two continued to speculate, Layue silently followed the Emperor on their way back.

She looked somewhat gloomy.

The Emperor was also deep in thought.

Without thinking, he turned around and pulled her close. “It’s okay. Don’t think too much about it.”

“I don’t know why this happened,” Layue said, somewhat aggrieved.

She actually knew everything, but now, she could only act as if she knew nothing.

“It has nothing to do with you. Don’t think too much. It’s okay.”

Could Yan Lie be so fond of Yue Qingcheng that he would lose his composure at such a critical moment?

Looking down at Layue’s face, he realized she truly bore not the slightest resemblance.

“Yue’er, who did you learn to make these pastries from?”