Chapter 217: What Did She Do Wrong?

Su Wan turned back in shock: “Keep me here?”

In a flash of thought, she considered a possibility: “Half of my bloodline is from the Great Zhou. Aren’t you afraid that I might collude with the Great Zhou from the inside?”

The Empress Dowager suddenly laughed: “Ji Xuan took my daughter away, so I am keeping his daughter. What is wrong with that?”

What did she do wrong?

The Empress Dowager looked at Su Wan’s speechless expression, as if she had found some amusement. Her frosty expression softened, and she leaned back against the large cushion: “You may go.”

Su Wan pressed her lips tightly together and left.

Shortly after, the female official guarding outside came in.

The Empress Dowager put the prayer beads on her wrist, pressed her aching forehead, and gave an order: “Go find Wei Yang, and send the tasks that Qi Min used to do over to Su Wan.”

The female official was startled and suddenly looked toward the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes wearily, and after a long pause, she sighed: “She is more open-minded than Qi Min.”

She had no doubt that if Su Wan had been in Qi Min’s position back then, she would have protected the country with her life and blood. Yet, because of her bloodline, they would have guarded against her, schemed against her, and ultimately abandoned her.

Su Wan would never compromise; she would have the determination to fight to the end.

If imperial power oppressed her, what would it matter if she rebelled?

Qi Min lacked such resolve.

Without the Qi family, the Great Zhou would still be prosperous and peaceful.

Even if the Qi family rebelled, it wouldn’t necessarily plunge the people into suffering.

The female official’s thoughts were in turmoil. Seeing that the Empress Dowager had no other instructions, she immediately withdrew.

She returned to the Mingxin Hall and conveyed the Empress Dowager’s words to the Empress.

After hearing them, the Empress was astonished but still organized some state affairs and handed them over to the female official.

The female official then carried the documents to the Yaoguang Hall.

——

The night brought a gentle drizzle that fell all over Su Wan.

She quickly stepped under the eaves of the Yaoguang Hall, shook off the rainwater, and pushed open the palace doors with her cold, stiff hands. She froze at the doorway, her gaze fixed on the scene inside.

Ji Xuan stood by the table, dressed in a dark brocade robe. The dim palace lantern cast a warm glow over him, giving him a golden hue.

In his hand, he held a skewer of bright red candied hawthorns, covered with a thin layer of sugar. Even before tasting it, one could imagine the sensation of biting into the tangy, slightly astringent hawthorn fruit, combined with the sweet, crisp sugar coating—utterly delightful.

There was also a sugar painting of a colorful phoenix, wings spread as if ready to take flight, its translucent form glowing vividly in the candlelight.

On the table were several wooden boxes, but Su Wan couldn’t see what was inside them.

“Wanwan, you’re back.” Ji Xuan didn’t ask where she had been. Following her gaze, he glanced at the sugar painting and the candied hawthorns. “I went to get a century-old ginseng and came across someone selling candied hawthorns and sugar paintings along the way.”

Luo Cheng, hiding in the corner, heard the Regent’s words and almost wanted to run out and finish the story for him.

Clearly, he didn’t know how to comfort a young lady, so he simply copied others, buying candied hawthorns in an attempt to cheer her up.

Su Wan was already an adult—how could she be as easily tricked as his little girl?

“Luo Cheng’s daughter likes to eat these, so I thought I’d get some for you to try,” Ji Xuan said, a rare hint of nervousness in his voice, worried that Su Wan might still be angry with him and unwilling to talk to him.

Su Wan: “…”

Luo Cheng’s daughter was only a few years old, and he thought he could coax her like a three-year-old?

Seeing Ji Xuan trying so hard to cheer her up and please her, yet not quite knowing how, Su Wan’s heart softened.

“I really like the sugar painting.” Su Wan walked up to Ji Xuan, taking the sugar painting and the candied hawthorns. “Thank you.”

Ji Xuan let out a sigh of relief and raised his hand to gently pat Su Wan’s head. “Rest early.”

Su Wan nodded and, holding the sugar painting, prepared to return to the inner chamber.

Just then, the voice of the female official came from outside: “Young Lady Su, Her Majesty said that since you are here in Xiliang, the matters regarding Madam Qi will be handed over to you for handling.”