Shen Mingzhu stared steadily at the woman before her, a growing sense of bitterness welling up in her heart. "Your Highness, Her Majesty is occasionally lucid," Chaoyan said, her smile gradually turning bitter. Finally, she forced a rather strained smile at Shen Mingzhu. "Her Majesty was awake for a long time last time. She held my hand and said a great deal."
"What did Mother say?" Shen Mingzhu immediately pressed, her eyes betraying a hint of urgency.
Could it be... Could it be that Mother knows something?
"Her Majesty only said that now Your Highness is the only one left, and she feels deeply guilty," Chaoyan said, her voice catching slightly. Tears welled up in her eyes. "But Your Highness need not search any further."
How could that be!?
Shen Mingzhu's first reaction was one of disbelief. She simply couldn't believe these were her mother's words. But seeing the tears in Chaoyan's eyes, her heart sank. A lump formed in her throat. "What does Mother mean by this?"
How could she stop searching? How could Shen Mingzhu give up on uncovering the truth behind her elder brother's death just because of some other concerns? Crown Prince Mingjia must not die with unjust accusations!
Shen Mingzhu didn't believe it, but all that was left on Chaoyan's face was bitterness. She took out a plain silver bracelet, slightly worn, bearing the marks of time.
Shen Mingzhu could no longer hide her shock. She gasped sharply.
This was the bracelet her elder brother had made for her on her first birthday. Having heard that most families in the countryside would have silver bracelets made for their children, he had crafted this one himself. The design was simple, but it carried his love for her. Later, Shen Mingzhu had the bracelet blessed and had Shen Mingjia wear it when he went south, for peace of mind.
Why was this bracelet here?
Shen Mingzhu reached out and took the bracelet, rubbing it gently. Her eyes were filled with tears.
She wiped her eyes roughly with her sleeve and asked Chaoyan in a trembling voice, "Nanny Chaoyan, there's no need for you to hide anything from me."
Chaoyan didn't hesitate. She said to Shen Mingzhu, "Does Your Highness believe me? I truly know nothing about this. Her Majesty only gave this item to me and said that if you didn't believe her, I should give it to you."
Shen Mingzhu bit her lip, her heart aching. She clenched the bracelet tightly in her right hand, the sharp edges digging into her palm. But the next moment, she suddenly came to her senses. Worried that she might break the bracelet, she could only hold it gently in her palm.
She looked at Chaoyan and noticed the white hairs starting to appear at the woman's temples. The only emotion in Chaoyan's eyes when she looked at her was sadness. She exuded an air of melancholy, like a decaying piece of wood.
Suddenly, Shen Mingzhu couldn't find the words.
Mother was right. As soon as Chaoyan took out this bracelet, she would believe her words.
But how could she obey?
"I believe you," Shen Mingzhu said. She continued to wipe the tears that were about to fall from the corners of her eyes. "But so what? What about Brother?"
Chaoyan looked at the determination on Shen Mingzhu's face. Finally, she couldn't hold back her sobs. "Your Highness and the Crown Prince were both children I watched grow up. How could I... How could I just let it be?"
Chaoyan broke down in tears as she recalled the past. Her eyes were filled with sorrow as she looked at Shen Mingzhu.
Shen Mingzhu stepped forward and patted Chaoyan on the shoulder to comfort her. "I know, Nanny. You miss Brother too."
Hearing this, Chaoyan paused. She forced back her tears and looked at the determination in Shen Mingzhu's eyes. Suddenly, she hesitated.
Shen Mingjia was already gone, and Shen Mingzhu was now alone. If she were to carry such a heavy burden for the rest of her life, what would become of her in the end?
Perhaps... Perhaps the Empress Dowager's decision was the right one. Although Chaoyan didn't know exactly what she knew, it didn't stop her from making a difficult decision.
"Your Highness..." Chaoyan had just opened her mouth when Shen Mingzhu interrupted her.
She reached out and placed her index finger on her lips, shushing her gently. "There's no need to say more, Nanny. You know my personality."
Chaoyan nodded through her tears and said to Shen Mingzhu, "Your Highness, go and see Her Majesty now."
Shen Mingzhu nodded and walked into the main hall.
As she entered, she saw the Empress Dowager sitting in front of a mirror. When she heard Shen Mingzhu's footsteps, she turned and glanced at her.
"Mother," Shen Mingzhu greeted, bowing. Seeing the look in her mother's eyes, she knew that the Empress Dowager was in a daze today. Any faint hope she had had was immediately extinguished.
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager looked at Shen Mingzhu again. Her gaze was like looking through a mountain range, blank and distant. Then she smiled and said, "You look so familiar. Who are you?"
Mother had forgotten her again.
Shen Mingzhu was already somewhat used to it, but seeing the blankness in her mother's eyes, her heart still sank slightly.
"Right," the Empress Dowager said with a long sigh before Shen Mingzhu could answer. "I wonder where my Mingzhu is."
She muttered to herself and tried to get up, but Chaoyan, who was standing beside her, helped her sit back down.
Chaoyan's eyes were red. "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? Princess Mingzhu went out with His Majesty today."
"Oh," the Empress Dowager sighed. "Mingzhu is just too rambunctious. Not like..."
Not like who?
The Empress Dowager's eyes became confused again. After a moment of silence, she closed her mouth and said nothing more.
Shen Mingzhu and Chaoyan exchanged a look. They both knew the name that the Empress Dowager had forgotten.
It was her elder brother, Shen Mingjia.
"Forget it," the Empress Dowager sighed deeply and said to Chaoyan, "When will Mingzhu be back?"
Chaoyan couldn't help but wipe her eyes and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Her Highness may still be some time. Before she left the palace, she said that when she came back tomorrow, she would definitely make up for all her lessons."
Shen Mingzhu quickly turned around and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Sigh," the Empress Dowager sighed again. "I'm not really worried about that. I just want Mingzhu to be happy. But she's so lively and naughty. If she doesn't read some books to calm her down, she might have a hard time in the future."
Shen Mingzhu looked at her and said in a choked voice, "What if she's really too stubborn?"
"Well, there's nothing I can do. I just hope she'll be safe and happy all her life," the Empress Dowager suddenly laughed. She looked at Shen Mingzhu gently and said, "Anyway, there's me and..."
As she said this, she forgot the name again.
Shen Mingzhu could no longer hold back her tears. She nodded awkwardly at Chaoyan and turned to leave.
Watching Shen Mingzhu leave, Chaoyan stared intently at the Empress Dowager for a few moments. Tears welled up in her eyes again. She choked out, "Your Majesty, are you awake?"
The Empress Dowager didn't answer. She watched until Shen Mingzhu had completely disappeared from sight. Then she turned to Chaoyan and said, "Thank you for all your hard work."
Chaoyan broke down in sobs. "Your Majesty, you don't need to talk to me like this."
"Do you want to leave the palace?" the Empress Dowager looked at Chaoyan with a rare clarity in her eyes. "I know my days are numbered. You've been trapped here with me for a lifetime. Now..."
"Your Majesty," Chaoyan interrupted her. Her eyes were filled with sorrow. "What do you know? If you don't say anything, Princess Mingzhu might be trapped in this for the rest of her life until she finds the truth."