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After a severe beating, the heavily injured Xiao Jinghan was once again thrown into the dungeons of Princess Chang’s residence.
Even though Madam Xiao cried and shouted, trying to stop it, she was no match for the Qilin Guards. She could only watch helplessly as her son was taken away without even a doctor being called, left to suffer and endure in that dark and damp dungeon.
“Why is Princess Chang so cruel and ruthless?” Madam Xiao, filled with anger and anxiety, burst into the Cloud Perch Hall, shouting hoarsely, “Jinghan only did what any ordinary man would do. Princess, you have already punished him, do you really want to push him to his death?!”
Indeed, Yan Qing had no intention of letting Xiao Jinghan live.
After all, in her past life when Xiao Jinghan had poisoned her, he had never shown mercy.
Yan Qing sat by the window, watching the pale-faced Madam Xiao, her voice lazy, “Xiao Jinghan was betrothed to me by the late Emperor. I can treat him as I please. If Madam Xiao disagrees, she can bring a formal complaint to the court.”
With a gesture, she signaled, “Escort them out.”
“Princess Chang!” Madam Xiao urgently called out, “Should I kneel before you? It was my failure in raising my child. If you release Jinghan, I will make sure he reforms, never daring to misbehave again, avoiding any inappropriate behavior that displeases you. Can this be accepted? Princess Chang! Please, I beg of you, can this be accepted?”
“Of course not.” Yan Qing smiled faintly, “The issue between Xiao Jinghan and me has never been about jealousy. Madam Xiao misunderstood.”
There was deep-seated enmity between them from past grievances, with Xiao Jinghan owing her a life.
After saying this, Yan Qing instructed the Qilin Guards to take them away.
Under the forceful restraint of the Qilin Guards, Madam Xiao and the two maids were quickly escorted out of Princess Chang’s residence.
Even if they didn’t want to leave, they had no choice. Madam Xiao, anxious about her son’s injuries, cursed Yan Qing in her heart while hurriedly going to the palace to meet the Empress Dowager.
“Pleading for the Empress Dowager’s mercy, Princess Chang is planning to push Jinghan to his death! Begging the Empress Dowager to intervene!” Madam Xiao knelt on the ground, crying and pleading, her face pale and distressed, looking utterly helpless, “Begging the Empress Dowager to grant this humble servant mercy!”
The Empress Dowager stroked the white cat in her arms, furrowing her brows, “Is that truly the case?”
“Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Madam Xiao’s words are indeed true.” Old Lady Chen nodded, exaggerating the details of the situation and not hiding Princess Chang’s disrespectful remarks, “Princess Chang even said that the Empress Dowager’s decree has no…no effect on her…”
“Oh?” The Empress Dowager paused her caress of the white cat, a hint of surprise appearing on her still elegant face, “Is Yan Qing really so disobedient?”
“I would never dare deceive the Empress Dowager. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed that Princess Chang would treat her husband like this. Please, Empress Dowager, intervene! He is my only son!”
The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment, her delicately made-up face betraying no emotional fluctuations. Her tone resembled that of reprimanding a disobedient child, “Enough, I am aware of this matter. I will summon her later for questioning.”
“Yes, thank you, Empress Dowager.”
The Empress Dowager beckoned for a close attendant and kindly instructed, “Go and convey my decree, summon Yan Qing to the palace.”
“Yes.” The attendant respectfully took the order.
When the decree reached Princess Chang’s residence, Yan Qing was sitting by the window reading a book, showing no signs of surprise upon hearing the news.
Glancing at Wen Jin, Yan Qing casually remarked, “Besides you as the Prime Minister, I have nurtured many excellent young men over the years. It seems they can be put to good use now.”
Wen Jin’s grip on the book tightened slightly, lowering his head he replied, “Your Highness has invested the most energy in me.”
Yan Qing paid no attention to the implications of his statement, and calmly stated, “Actually, occasionally thinking about it, I should also thank the late Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Although they detested and despised me, wished I had never been born, exiling me to the Zhuque City gave me the greatest freedom.”
In addition to freedom, there was no shortage in financial support either. She received all the treatment a princess should have, and even more—this aspect greatly facilitated her during those years.
After all, besides goodwill and good deeds, doing good deeds also required a substantial amount of money to support them.
Even though the late Emperor and the Empress Dowager provided her with ample funds just to keep her away from them, to avoid hearing any news about her, it was undeniable that having money made things easier.
No matter what she did outside, as long as no one died, or did something abominable, the palace staff didn’t need to report anything about the Ninth Princess to them. They could keep their ears clean, granting Yan Qing absolute freedom.
With enough money and freedom, one can do whatever they please.
A black hawk circled outside the palace, the sound of its wings flapping bringing Yan Qing back from her thoughts. She opened the window, extending her arm as the hawk landed on it.
Wen Jin stared intently at the hawk’s claws.
A rolled-up scroll was detached from the hawk’s foot, Yan Qing patted its wing before watching it soar into the sky.
Wen Jin was curious about who sent the letter, what it contained, whether it was intelligence or something else.
However, Yan Qing seemed to have no intention of letting him know, as she read the letter and casually tossed it into the incense burner, showing no emotional reaction.
Wen Jin watched silently as the flames consumed the brief piece of paper, his lips pressed together, not uttering a word.
“I will go to the palace to see my dear mother.” Yan Qing stood up, “We may not have many more chances to meet in the future.”
Wen Jin tightened his grip on the book, “I will accompany Your Highness.”
“Pets should be aware of their place.” Yan Qing glanced at him, her tone indifferent and cold, “Stay obediently here. Without my permission, you are not allowed to go anywhere.”
With that, she walked out of the chamber.
Wen Jin sat quietly in the corner, his hand holding the book stiff for a while, his eyes fixed on the same page, not turning to the next.
Yan Qing entered the palace alone, not bringing anyone, not even a maid.
Shen Mo had considered sending two people to follow, but Yan Qing dismissed the need, saying, “No one dares to lay a hand on me.”
Since she was a child, the Imperial Astrologer had warned that the Lone Star of Calamity must be kept away from, as misfortune would befall anyone who approached her.
It was destined that she would live until the age of twenty-five. Anyone who harmed her before she turned twenty-five would face repercussions.
Regardless of the credibility of this prophecy, her father and mother believed in it and acted upon it.
The ruler of the nation governed wisely and effectively, but when it came to dealing with his own daughter, it was as if he was cursed. He had unwavering faith in the Imperial Astrologer’s prophecy.
His aversion had reached its peak, his dread had reached its peak, and his distance had reached its peak.
He didn’t even want to hear Yan Qing call him “father”.
Walking on the path towards the Compassionate Peace Palace, Yan Qing was reminiscing about her childhood, suddenly realizing that there was nothing to fret over.
Being solely focused on seeking validation from others would only bind her. There was no need to seek what was unattainable. Acting freely and fearlessly would allow her to live with abandon.
Upon reaching the Compassionate Peace Palace, Yan Qing halted the palace staff from announcing her arrival. She ascended the steps and entered the hall.
The Empress Dowager, in her forties, had maintained herself exceptionally well. Despite her beauty, her delicate fingers were not adorned with armor but painted with bright vermillion polish—a preference she seemed to share with her daughter.
Without lifting her head, the Empress Dowager uttered, “Release Xiao Jinghan.”
Yan Qing quietly observed the woman before her, her biological mother who had never raised her for a day. In the eighteen years since her birth, the mother and daughter had met fewer than ten times, each encounter ending unpleasantly.
Since her birth, due to the Imperial Astrologer’s prophecy, her mother had handed her over to a wet nurse. Yan Qing was raised by the wet nurse and had no memory of her mother caring for her. Her mother disliked her, even feeling ashamed of having a daughter like her.
She lived care freely with the wet nurse until the age of six. However, after turning six, the nightmares began.
In the autumn of the tenth year of Tiande, her mother was willing to see her for the first time. Nervous and excited at six years old, Yan Qing met her birth mother with a mix of anxiety and joy, leading to an unforgettable event—her wet nurse was drowned.
In front of her, two sturdy maids forced the wet nurse underwater, drowning her alive.
At the age of six, Yan Qing watched in horror, crying and screaming hoarsely, but it was all in vain.
After the traumatic event, she ran a high fever for three days.
Her mother stayed by her bedside, whether she was asleep or awake, tirelessly repeating, “You are the Lone Star of Calamity, the wet nurse died because of you.”
That unpleasant encounter planted the seeds of despair in Yan Qing’s heart. She believed she truly was the Lone Star of Calamity and that she caused the wet nurse’s death. Overwhelmed, she slept heavily for several days.
Perhaps it was due to the saying “Lone Star of Calamity, Fate Stronger Than Kin”, without a court physician or medicine, she miraculously recovered.
Her mother sighed, “Truly a Lone Star of Calamity, incredibly resilient.”
At the age of seven, her loyal maid, who was like family to her, was cruelly ordered by her mother to be beaten to death. The sight was gruesome, with blood spilling all over the floor.
Yan Qing ran a fever for three more days, frequently plagued by nightmares, waking up screaming in terror, facing the darkness of her room, unable to find solace.
Her mother’s gentle voice echoed in her ears, “You see, your mother didn’t lie to you. You truly are a Lone Star of Calamity.”
Her tone turning harsh, “You are a Lone Star of Calamity. Anyone who comes near you will die!”
At the age of eight, her father and mother exiled her to the Zhuque City, providing her with a mansion to fend for herself.
Yan Qing lived in the Zhuque City for ten years until her father fell critically ill before the New Year, and the court faced a succession crisis. She was then summoned back by royal decree.
Following the late Emperor’s deathbed decrees, the sixth prince Yan Chen ascended the throne, with the ninth prince Yan Cang temporarily acting as regent. Yan Qing was entrusted with the authority of the Qilin Guards. Subsequently, the new Emperor ascended the throne, overseeing the late Emperor’s funeral rites.
Then came the marriage between Princess Yan Qing and Xiao Jinghan.
In these two months, Yan Qing set foot in the Compassionate Peace Palace for the first time, meeting her mother for the first time in years.