Ruan Jiu wracked her brains but still couldn't recall who the woman who suddenly broke into the Eastern Palace that day was.
She had asked Lanyu about it. Lanyu only told her that the woman was Xiao Wang's full - blooded younger sister and refused to say anything more.
After that day, only the three of them were left in the vast Eastern Palace.
Ruan Jiu had mentioned to Xiao Wang that she wanted to go out and have a look, even if it was just to step out of the Eastern Palace. But Xiao Wang always said that he would take her out after she recovered from her illness.
Although the memories in her mind were getting fuzzier, her doubts were growing.
Why did she lose her memory? Why did Xiao Wang keep her confined in the Eastern Palace? And who was the name - Xie Jingchu - that made her suddenly wake up from her dreams?
On this day, Lanyu came again with a medicine bowl in her hand.
Without a word, Ruan Jiu picked up the bowl and drank the medicine.
"Your Highness, why are you so willing to drink the medicine today?" Lanyu asked in puzzlement.
Ruan Jiu wiped her mouth and said, "Anyway, you all insist that I drink it. I might as well be more straightforward. Besides, I've counted the days. I only need to drink this fishy and bitter medicine for ten more days, and then I'll never have to drink it again."
After saying that, Ruan Jiu showed a bright smile. But this smile seemed to burn Lanyu's eyes.
Lanyu lowered her head, hiding the pity in her eyes. She couldn't bear to look at Ruan Jiu anymore. This silly girl didn't know that after ten days, she would never remember the past.
Suddenly, a sound came from afar.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
It seemed that someone was beating something.
Ruan Jiu couldn't help asking, "What's that sound?"
"Seems like someone is beating the Drum of Grievance."
"What's the Drum of Grievance?"
"The Drum of Grievance is specially set up for the common people to beat and voice their grievances. The grievances they state can reach the emperor directly."
Ruan Jiu pricked up her ears and heard the powerful and continuous drumbeats. She thought to herself that just from the sound of the drumbeats, this person must have suffered a great injustice.
So she suddenly grabbed Lanyu's hand and looked at Lanyu with big, bright eyes.
"Lanyu, can you take me to have a look at the commotion?"
Lanyu frowned and shook her head.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has given the order that Your Highness is not allowed to leave the Eastern Palace until your illness is cured."
"I'll just go and take a quick look secretly and then come back right away. I promise His Highness won't find out."
Lanyu pressed her lips tightly and still shook her head.
Ruan Jiu angrily threw Lanyu's hand away, folded her arms across her chest, and pouted.
Just then, the Princess Royal suddenly rushed in. She grabbed Ruan Jiu's hand and dragged her outside.
Ruan Jiu asked in confusion, "Where are you taking me?"
The Princess Royal leaned close to Ruan Jiu's ear and whispered, "I'll take you out for a stroll."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu instantly perked up. She had been cooped up in the Eastern Palace for a long time and had been longing to go out. Maybe she could even regain some of her memories.
So she immediately followed the Princess Royal outside. But Lanyu blocked the way in front of the Princess Royal and said in a low voice, "Your Highness the Princess Royal, where are you taking Her Highness?"
"Do I need to tell you where I'm taking her?" the Princess Royal snorted.
Facing the Princess Royal's angry glare, Lanyu didn't back down. Instead, she drew the sword from her waist and said, "Your Highness the Princess Royal, His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered that Her Highness is not allowed to leave the Eastern Palace until her illness is cured."
"Do you dare to use force against me?"
"Lanyu doesn't dare, but Lanyu also doesn't dare to disobey His Highness the Crown Prince."
Ruan Jiu saw the tense situation between the two.
So she quickly stepped forward to mediate, "Hey, what's going on? It's just that the Princess Royal wants to take me for a stroll in the palace. Lanyu, why are you so nervous? If you're worried, why don't you come with us?"
Seeing that Lanyu still refused to give in, Ruan Jiu continued, "I've been staying in the Eastern Palace every day. I'm really bored. If you don't let me out, I won't take the medicine tomorrow."
Lanyu looked at her helplessly and said, "Your Highness, but His Highness the Crown Prince said that you're not allowed to leave the Eastern Palace until your illness is cured."
Ruan Jiu pouted, "If you don't let me out, I'll be in a bad mood. How can I recover from my illness if I'm in a bad mood? Besides, I just want to go out for a stroll. What are you worried about?"
The Princess Royal said, "Brother Crown Prince has fortified the entire imperial palace like an impregnable fortress. She won't get lost."
Ruan Jiu immediately echoed, "Why do you always stop me from going out? Are you imprisoning me?"
Seeing that Ruan Jiu was already suspicious and determined to go out, Lanyu finally didn't dare to stop her anymore.
So she gritted her teeth and agreed to accompany Ruan Jiu out. Then she immediately sent someone to inform Xiao Wang of this matter.
After leaving the Eastern Palace, the Princess Royal first took Ruan Jiu for a walk in the imperial garden.
For Ruan Jiu, everything outside the Eastern Palace was so new. Even the air seemed sweeter.
She bounced along all the way, in a very good mood. However, the Princess Royal seemed preoccupied, with a cloud of melancholy lingering between her eyebrows.
Finally, the Princess Royal took Ruan Jiu to the Star - Picking Tower.
She glanced at Lanyu, who had been following them, and said coldly, "You can wait here. I'll take her up to enjoy the scenery and come down soon."
Hearing this, Lanyu looked embarrassed and said, "His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered me to protect Her Highness closely."
The Princess Royal scolded coldly, "There's only one exit to this Star - Picking Tower. Are you afraid she'll grow wings and fly away?"
After saying that, the Princess Royal pulled Ruan Jiu towards the tower.
Lanyu immediately followed. But after walking a few steps, she stopped.
She looked at Ruan Jiu's back, opened her mouth slightly, and then tightly pursed her lips. A complex look flashed across her eyes.
Finally, she stayed where she was.
After a while, Ruan Jiu finally reached the top of the Star - Picking Tower. Leaning on the railing, she gasped for breath.
Fortunately, the scenery on the Star - Picking Tower was indeed as beautiful as the Princess Royal had said. She could overlook the entire capital city. It was really worth the effort.
"Do you want to know who Xie Jingchu is?"
Ruan Jiu heard the name "Xie Jingchu" from the Princess Royal again.
Maybe it was because she was too tired just now, but her heart started beating violently again.
She reached out and pressed her hand on her chest, frowned, and asked, "Who is he?"
The Princess Royal took a deep breath, pointed into the distance, and said, "He is Xie Jingchu."
Ruan Jiu looked in the direction the Princess Royal was pointing.
But because the distance was a bit far, she had to rub her eyes to see more clearly.
In front of the vast palace hall, there really seemed to be a person walking shakily towards them. His steps were obviously unsteady, as if he would fall down with a gentle push.
"What is he doing?" Ruan Jiu asked in confusion.
"He just beat the Drum of Grievance," the Princess Royal replied.
After a pause, she sighed deeply and said, "He did it for you."
Ruan Jiu was shocked and widened her eyes.
So the drumbeats just now were beaten by this man named Xie Jingchu. Wasn't he the one who had suffered a great injustice? But what did it have to do with her?