Song Jinyu wore a smile on her face and calmly followed behind Zhongli Mingye. Yan Fei watched the two of them, so in love and in perfect harmony, and felt even more heart - ache.
When they walked into a magnificent tomb chamber, there was a lampstand in every corner. Mi Cui stepped forward and took a closer look. "How strange! There are flowers growing on the lampstands!"
Everyone gathered to look and marveled. The flowers on the lampstands were extremely bright and gorgeous, but they had no roots or stems. They were just single flowers growing directly in the lampstands. For a thousand years, the long - burning lamps in the tomb chamber had never gone out. Did it mean that these flowers survived on the light of the long - burning lamps?
As she watched, Mi Cui gradually became dazed. Cheng Song beside her was no better. Because Niaoniao was injured and physically weak, she even showed a strange smile on her face.
Suddenly, Song Jinyu found herself getting smaller and back at home. "Mother... sob..."
"Please wake up!" The world was filled with a sea of red, all her mother's blood.
Her father asked the maid to carry her, but she struggled desperately to get down and run to her mother's side.
Her elder brother, Song Chuyu, held back his tears and stayed with their father. She trembled all over. Since then, she had nightmares every night, all filled with her mother's blood.
Gradually, she stopped speaking. The second wife in the family called Song Jinyu a little mute. She clasped her hands tightly together, her fingernails digging deep into the flesh, but she didn't feel the pain at all.
However, Zhongli Mingye, just a few steps away, didn't have much of a reaction. There was always a faint smile on his lips. Today was supposed to be his wedding day with Song Jinyu. He had just lifted her red veil; in a flash, he was in the palace. Standing on a high place, all the court officials bowed their heads and shouted: "Long live the emperor, long live, long live, ten thousand times long live!"
Seeing that everyone had fallen silent, Ji Biluo stabbed himself hard with a knife. He forced himself not to fall into the illusion and directly cut off the four flowers. After the flowers left the lampstands, they quickly turned black. The fragrance in the air also gradually dissipated.
"Um... Your face is so red!" Song Jinyu was the first to wake up. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she only felt sad. When she saw Zhongli Mingye's face, she couldn't help laughing.
There was an inexplicable blush on that man's face. What kind of dream had he had?
Thinking of her own experience in the illusion, she asked with a mischievous smile, "What did you see?"
Zhongli Mingye just smiled but didn't answer. His phoenix - like eyes stared intently at her. After a long while, he said, "Naturally, it was a dream with you." He wasn't lying. It was indeed related to her.
Song Jinyu shyly avoided his burning gaze. "My wedding clothes will soon be ready..." Zhongli Mingye leaned close to her ear and whispered.
"You..."
Everyone gradually woke up from the illusion. They were very confused looking at the mess on the ground. Ji Biluo said, "These are Phantom Gloom Flowers. They can easily make people lose their senses. Everyone must be careful!"
But as soon as he finished speaking, trouble arose. It was Xiao San'er, a subordinate of Ji Biluo, who saw the pearls in the long - burning lamps and actually stole them without a care.
Immediately, countless arrows flew out from the numerous holes around.
Just having woken up from the illusion, everyone was once again in a crisis. Just as they were struggling in the battle, Concubine Ying of the palace had a miscarriage.
The queen looked at Concubine Shu sinisterly. "Prince Yu has already been enfeoffed as a prince. What more does my sister want?"
She slowly walked up to Concubine Shu, who was kneeling in front of the Buddha statue and chanting scriptures non - stop. This woman had accompanied the emperor since she was young and was on par with her. After more than twenty years, she still looked extremely beautiful and her charm remained undiminished. Even though she herself had become the queen, she was still not as good as Concubine Shu.
"I dare not..." There was no emotion in her beautiful eyes. She just held the Buddhist beads in her hand. When the emperor came in and saw the queen being so aggressive, he was dissatisfied.
"Concubine Shu has always been timid. This matter of Concubine Ying has nothing to do with her."
Hearing this, the queen was immediately furious. "Your Majesty, when Concubine Ying fainted, Concubine Shu was at the scene."
"Why is she so concerned about Concubine Ying this time when she has always ignored the affairs of the harem?"
After greeting the emperor, Concubine Shu quietly sat aside. It was as if nothing had happened. She had been practicing Buddhism for nearly twenty years and had long since seen through the worldly affairs.
She only still cared about Zhongli Mingye in her heart. Otherwise, she would have converted to Buddhism long ago.
The emperor was impatient. "The affairs of the harem make me worry every day. It seems that you, the queen, are very derelict in your duties."
"I didn't want to see Concubine Ying miscarry. But..."
He knew very well that Concubine Shu had just happened to pass by the imperial garden today. After all, it was he who had summoned her there.
Today, he actually wished this matter was related to Concubine Shu. At least it would mean that she still cared about him in her heart. Unfortunately... The emperor glanced at the elegant woman sitting aside. His eyes were as calm as an ancient well.
"It has nothing to do with Concubine Shu!"
Of course it had nothing to do with her. After more than twenty years of getting along, he knew Concubine Shu's personality well.
Concubine Ying's miscarriage was expected by him. The emperor was old and already had many children. He didn't want the concubines from powerful official families to give birth to more dragon heirs. The hearts of powerful officials would become a threat if they were allowed to grow. Therefore, he had seen the queen's small tricks and even personally contributed to Concubine Ying's miscarriage.
He just didn't expect that the queen would go so far as to try to blame Concubine Shu. This was something he couldn't allow. Not to mention that Prince Yu Zhongli Mingye was the emperor's beloved son, Concubine Shu's personality was also trustworthy to him.
"This was just an accident for Concubine Ying. Have her personal maid executed and give her tonics. Let her recuperate well!" The emperor made a conclusion. The queen's face turned pale immediately. She wanted to say something more, but the emperor angrily flicked his sleeves and left.
The queen staggered. She had lost all her grace. She looked at Concubine Shu resentfully, but the woman still remained expressionless.
"Your Highness, do you want to send a message to the prince?" The maid whispered beside Concubine Shu.
Concubine Shu had just finished chanting scriptures. She gently got up and sat on the chair beside with the help of the maid. "No need. He has finally settled down in Liuzhou. There's no need to trouble Ye'er."
"I've seen too many dirty things in the palace!"
As far as she knew, the children killed by the queen were not just Concubine Ying's fetus.
Concubine Ru, Consort Qing, Lady Lian... Those women who were once regarded as treasures by the emperor had all lost the emperor's favor because of miscarriages.
She was able to give birth to Zhongli Mingye smoothly only because of the emperor's protection. Even with such strict protection, she still damaged her body and her heart grew cold.
In the imperial harem, there were three thousand beauties. Could the queen kill them all for the sake of the crown prince? A sarcastic smile appeared on her lips. To protect her son, she had rarely been close to him in the past twenty years. She had even directly rejected the emperor's love and care to avoid arousing the queen's jealousy.
Even so, the queen had repeatedly bestowed concubines and side concubines on Prince Yu. Wasn't it just to firmly control him? Thinking of this, Concubine Shu's eyes turned cold.
Sometimes, if you keep giving in for too long, people will take it for granted.