Chapter 60: Nowhere to Be Seen Part 2

The Previous Emperor had also acted with benevolence and righteousness, but with proper measure—something she could not compare to.

A wry smile formed on his lips. His withered, aged hands laboriously rested on Xun Changqing’s shoulders, and as usual, she spoke with a smile, “Changqing, remember what you said today. I have one piece of advice for you: Benevolence and righteousness can only be applied to small matters. For great matters, consider the people—don’t cling to benevolence and righteousness.”

Xun Changqing gazed at her hesitantly. From what she knew of the Emperor, this wasn’t said without reason. But when she wanted to ask more, the Emperor already looked weary and dismissed her.

A half-understood sentence, and Xun Changqing didn’t dare press, so she left the bedchamber feeling stifled.

But someone stood outside the bedchamber, startling her a little. Seeing each other twice in one day was quite the coincidence. Likewise, Wei Xiao was surprised to see her but merely glanced lightly before striding inside.

Xun Changqing had no choice but to return to Radiant Benevolence Palace first and find something to cold-compress her cheek. She couldn’t keep covering it like this forever. The Emperor’s eyes were poor, but the others in the palace had eyes like hawks—unnecessary trouble would arise.

The bedchamber windows suddenly opened. Yuan Qingming stood in the corridor, glanced over, and saw the Emperor at the window. He bowed and retreated a few steps. As he left, he heard Wei Xiao’s words: “You seem to really like that little girl from Xun Yi’s family. Sly and sharp-tongued—how did she win you over?”

Yuan Qingming’s steps halted inexplicably. He had meant to leave but wanted to hear the Emperor’s thoughts. As he hesitated, the Emperor replied, “That girl is clever. In her, I seem to see the shadow of the Previous Emperor. Unfortunately, she’s not my daughter—Xun Yi got lucky. After all these years of neglect, he ended up with such a sensible girl.”

Wei Xiao said indignantly, “That girl’s head is full of crooked ideas—where does she resemble the Previous Emperor? You must be mistaken. Lately, you’ve been missing him so much you’ve projected him onto her.”

“Even crooked ideas can flatten the Shao Family for me—name one person on the court who could do that. A’xiao, you dislike Xun Yi, so you dislike his daughter too. That’s not like you. Regardless of what you think, I asked you here to entrust you with something important…”

His Majesty’s voice gradually faded, and the ventilating window closed. Yuan Qingming’s rooted feet finally moved forward. So the Emperor had long known it was Xun Changqing who destroyed the Shao Family—it cleared the obstacle in his heart. Thus, the Emperor appreciated a girl not yet of age.

…

A dragonfly flitted gracefully over the lotus leaves, its feet skimming the water surface, rippling it.

Xun Changqing sat by the pond, watching the dragonfly on the lake. A cool breeze brushed her cheek, carrying bursts of floral fragrance that soothed the soul. But her gaze fixed on the dragonfly grew dim and lifeless.

It had been a month since she last received a letter from Wei Lingci. Even if Wei Lingci had returned to the County Princess Mansion, she couldn’t see her. That day, Wei Xiao had stormed off in anger, ordering the side gate between the two mansions sealed and forbidding anyone from Pingnan Prince’s Mansion from entering—even barring Xun Changqing, leaving no room for sentiment.

Now, people from the County Princess Mansion avoided those from Pingnan Prince’s Mansion like the plague, afraid to speak or even make eye contact—like little ghosts fleeing the King of Hell.

Only now did Xun Changqing truly understand the Wise Noble Consort’s words: “Wei Xiao refused even the Grand Empress Dowager’s decree back then—you know how stubborn she is.”

Xun Changqing lowered her eyes faintly, staring at her hands now stained with blood. A chill settled in her heart. Wei Lingci was like the only ray of sunlight in her life—she didn’t want to lose it, nor would she.

The lotus flowers in the pond stood tall toward the light, but the person by the pond was listless. When the Wise Noble Consort returned from Splendid Clarity Palace, she saw this scene. Xun Changqing wasn’t one to wallow in sorrow; whenever she saw her, she always smiled, gladdening the heart and easing worries.

She dismissed the palace servants, leaving just the two of them by the vast pond. She strolled over and sat beside her, dangling her legs in the air, startling Xun Changqing. “Your Ladyship… how can you…”

Such an ungraceful pose. The Wise Noble Consort merely smiled frankly. “No one’s around. I want to relax like you too. From here, you can see the lotus deep in the pond—lotuses rise from the mud unstained, symbols of purity. You resemble a lotus: deep in the palace, yet your thoughts aren’t on its filth.”

Xun Changqing turned her gaze sideways, not understanding her intent. They’d lived together for months and had some understanding of each other, but they were merely allies under one roof, not prying into private affairs. Yet this remark crossed that line.

The Wise Noble Consort smiled brightly, her makeup vivid and elegant from years of poise. Amusement danced in her eyes as she said, “Tonight, this palace invited the Ning’an County Princess for a banquet in the palace. She couldn’t decline, so she accepted. If the princess has no other matters this evening, would you attend to accompany her? Oh, but I also invited Young Lady Wei—unfortunately, she’s ill and can’t enter the palace.”

The implication was clear: Wei Xiao would enter the palace alone, while Wei Lingci remained in the mansion.

Xun Changqing didn’t rejoice first but worried. How did the Wise Noble Consort know her thoughts? She glanced sideways, chill flashing in her eyes. “Don’t you think this defies heaven’s principles? Why help me?”

The Wise Noble Consort raised a brow, shot her a look, and actually poked her forehead. “Leaving aside whether it defies heaven’s principles, Wei Lingci’s feelings for you and your daily fretting over her aren’t hidden from this palace. As for your ‘heaven’s principles,’ the world is full of things defying them—like hairs on a cow—but those harm others. Your romance affects only yourselves. Good or bad, it harms no one. Master and disciple? Not blood relatives. Women? Still human. Even in ancient myths, humans and ghosts could love—why not women?”

Twisted logic, but well-articulated. Xun Changqing pondered for a moment, still skeptical. The Wise Noble Consort found it amusing—usually so sharp and quick-witted, but today, over this, she was like a dazed child. Suppressing her laugh, she stood. “If you don’t want to go to the County Princess Mansion, then attend the evening banquet?”