Her appearance hadn’t changed in the slightest from five years ago.  She still had that beautiful, dignified, and imposing face, the same as in his memory, bearing a certain indifference. Only the emotions in her eyes were too complex to decipher.

“I couldn’t offer my personal congratulations on your marriage,” she said. “How are you and your husband?”

Liang Ying nodded without hesitation.

She had lowered her head again, avoiding looking at the woman above, yet she could feel the other’s scrutinizing gaze upon her.

After a while, she heard a soft chuckle.  “That’s good.  Winter in the capital is cold.  Is your leg injury acting up? I have some ointment here; I’ll have a palace servant bring it to you later.”

Liang Ying prepared to rise and thank her, but the Empress waved a hand.  “You don’t need to be so formal, Liang Ying,” she sighed. “I owe you.”

The word “owe” caused Liang Ying’s thoughts to falter for a moment.

She recalled when the Empress was still Consort Xue.  Her father, Xue, wasn’t yet the Grand Minister. Their family relied on the Xiao faction, and Xue Ning in the palace naturally belonged to the Empress Xiao’s camp.

Liang Ying’s only impression of her was that she was beautiful but reserved and taciturn. She always silently followed Empress Xiao but wasn’t vicious like other women.

Beyond that, they had no further interaction.

Naturally, Liang Ying didn’t dare accept Xue Ning’s claim of owing her.

The conversation continued, meandering aimlessly. Liang Ying remained alert, and only when she finally left the palace did she begin to ponder the Empress’s intentions in summoning her.

At that time, Liang Ying never imagined that Xue Ning’s father was Wei Yan’s inside man, and she herself was the person Wei Yan held most dear.

Now that the two lovers were finally together, could it be… that the Empress resented her, a pawn once used by Wei Yan as a shield?

Liang Ying pondered this as she quickened her pace to keep up with the person in front.

The person escorting her out of the palace was no longer the “Guogong Yingxue” mentioned by the palace maids.  Whether out of carelessness or oversight, she walked faster, making it difficult for Liang Ying to keep up.

It was merely a normal walking speed, but Liang Ying still struggled. Suddenly, her foot struck a patch of ice, causing her to stumble and fall.

Liang Ying’s heart seemed to skip a beat. Unable to steady herself, the fear of falling made her instinctively close her eyes.

After a moment, the expected pain didn’t come.

A hand had encircled her waist, firmly holding her steady. With a slight exertion, she was smoothly lifted.

As she fell into that warm embrace, Liang Ying froze. She didn’t want to use words like “heart-wrenching” or “familiar” to describe the mark Wei Yan had left on her, but the familiar scent of ambergris filled her nostrils, instantly identifying the person.

Even though this was their first meeting in five years.

She had wondered what her feelings would be upon seeing Wei Yan again. When she left the palace, she carried a crushing defeat, a scarred body and mind, and a heart full of resentment.

She thought she would still feel that way.

But her feelings were… calmer than she expected.

Five years had perhaps erased not only her traces in the palace but also the self who had been so consumed by pain that she almost couldn’t live.

“Your Majesty.”

The surrounding palace maids immediately knelt down.

After regaining her balance, Liang Ying hurriedly prepared to kneel as well.

The man’s hand that had encircled her waist had released her in the urgency of the moment, but the other hand holding hers didn’t loosen its grip, preventing her from kneeling.

“Rise,” a deep, gentle voice commanded, addressing the palace maids.

Those kneeling rose, but kept their heads bowed, not daring to look up. Liang Ying struggled harder, trying to retreat.

Perhaps sensing her refusal to kneel, Wei Yan didn’t insist and quickly released her hand.

In her downcast gaze, she saw his hand suspended in the air for a moment before slowly retracting.

For a time, neither spoke. This man was once the one she had loved with all her being, and also the one she had hated so intensely in her despair that she wished him gone from this world.

Now, only silence remained.

“Coming from the Empress’s quarters?” Wei Yan’s gentle tone was as if he were catching up with an old friend.

Liang Ying nodded.

This action seemed to pause Wei Yan for a moment before he asked, “Doctor Li told me you can speak now, is that right?”

Liang Ying knew he was referring to the doctor who treated her, someone he had sent. It was normal for him to receive reports.

She could indeed speak a little.  Since Wei Yan asked, Liang Ying tried to speak.

As she opened her mouth, a sharp pain shot through her throat, feeling like a burning fire. The pain reminded her of the day Xiao Liyue poisoned her, causing her body to tremble uncontrollably.

Before she could utter a sound, Wei Yan stopped her.  “Don’t force it. I was just asking casually.” His tone was slightly urgent, as if fearing she would hurt herself, but then it turned to a hint of anger.  “That Li En, reporting only good news, I was negligent.”

Liang Ying heard his apology.

These lovers seemed to share even their sense of guilt.

Perhaps because of the pain from trying to speak, Liang Ying clasped her hands tightly.

Now, she stood here, scarred and broken, listening to their condescending apologies.