As she said this, Shen Mingzhu took a couple of steps to show Li Xiyu that she was really okay. But just as she took those two steps and turned back, she saw Li Xiyu's eyes instantly turn red. Even the tip of her nose was gradually flushing as she looked at Shen Mingzhu.
"Sister Xiyu!"
At this moment, Shen Mingzhu's guilt reached its peak. Her heart was filled with regret and remorse, and a sour feeling welled up in her eyes. She said in a low voice, "It will never happen again. I'll be more careful in my actions from now on."
Saying so, Shen Mingzhu took out a handkerchief and handed it to Li Xiyu. She said anxiously, "Please sit down first. I'll pour you a cup of tea."
As she said this, Shen Mingzhu pulled Li Xiyu to sit down, poured her a cup of tea, and then said, "It's all my fault, Sister Xiyu."
This apology didn't sound very sincere, but Shen Mingzhu couldn't bear to see Li Xiyu continue crying because of her. She couldn't think of anything else to say, and her heart started to race with anxiety. Her palms were sweating, and her eyes looking at Li Xiyu were full of uneasiness.
"No."
Li Xiyu wiped her eyes and said seriously to Shen Mingzhu, "These are all your decisions."
Seeing that Shen Mingzhu started to look worried after hearing this, Li Xiyu said gently, "You're already an adult and married. Naturally, you have to learn to do things and make decisions on your own."
"I worry about you because of my own feelings. You shouldn't be held back by my worries." As Li Xiyu spoke, there was a touch of nostalgia in her eyes, and her gaze on Shen Mingzhu gradually became a bit absent - minded.
Shen Mingzhu was silent for a moment, pursing her lips, and sighed deeply in her heart.
When Li Xiyu looked at her, she must have thought of her elder brother.
They looked somewhat similar in appearance, but Shen Mingzhu was more delicate. When she looked at people, there was a unique pride in her eyes. However, when she lowered her eyes, this pride faded. Even her long eyelashes covered the look in her eyes when she lowered them, giving her an air of gentleness similar to that of her elder brother.
Li Xiyu became even more absent - minded. Looking at Shen Mingzhu, she almost blurted out that familiar call.
She was silent for a while, and finally said hoarsely, "Both you and your imperial brother are like this. You always worry about others' feelings."
"Sister Xiyu."
Hearing the words "imperial brother", Shen Mingzhu suddenly looked up. Seeing the faint sadness on Li Xiyu's face, she felt a pain in her heart.
"I'm okay. I'm really okay." Li Xiyu suddenly came back to her senses and saw the tears in Shen Mingzhu's eyes. So she took out her own handkerchief and smiled, "Why are you crying? It's been so long. I can't be sad for a lifetime."
"What if something happens in the future?" Li Xiyu said as she reached out and rubbed Shen Mingzhu's head, then continued, "I just suddenly thought of the past..."
Li Xiyu hesitated but finally didn't say what was on her mind.
"Sister Xiyu, come on. Let me show you around this mansion."
Seeing the melancholy in Li Xiyu's eyes, Shen Mingzhu couldn't help but say, "Let's go out for a stroll. You haven't seen this place yet."
Li Xiyu knew that she was trying to cheer her up, but just by looking at Shen Mingzhu's feet, she frowned and said, "Take good care of your injury. We can talk about these things later."
"I came here today because I got an old letter."
Shen Mingzhu's eyes widened slightly. Seeing Li Xiyu take out the letter, she said a little incredulously, "Is this a letter from the imperial brother?"
Li Xiyu nodded. After a moment of silence, there was a touch of indescribable emotion in her eyes as she said, "I have to go first. You can read it yourself."
After saying that, Li Xiyu stood up. Her palms were slightly sweating. She said to the person in front of her, "Read it slowly. Don't be in a hurry."
Shen Mingzhu asked Chuntao to see Li Xiyu off. She understood what the other person meant, so her heart felt a bit heavy.
Why did Li Xiyu let her read this letter?
Who was the letter to the imperial brother from? Or was it a letter from the imperial brother to someone else?
Shen Mingzhu's mind was full of questions. Seeing that the letter had been opened, it was obvious that Li Xiyu had already read it.
She unfolded it. First, she skimmed through it quickly, then read it carefully again. After that, she stood there stunned, her heart filled with shock.
Why? Why did the imperial brother write a letter to the emperor in such a fierce tone, with a sharpness she had never seen in him before!
The letter was written very obscurely. Shen Mingzhu only knew that it seemed to be describing something, but she had no idea what it was.
Why did the imperial brother ask the emperor to stop? What on earth did the emperor do?
Her gaze fell on the date at the end.
Shen Mingzhu endured the pain in her heart and vaguely calculated the time.
This letter was written two months before the imperial brother's death.
Shen Mingzhu's mind was in a complete mess. In her impression, the emperor and the imperial brother had always had a close relationship. She had never seen them argue, let alone heard them quarrel.
The imperial brother was extremely rational and had a very good temper. He could always talk things through calmly.
Why was the tone of the imperial brother in this letter so fierce and even so angry?
Most importantly, why did this letter end up in Li Xiyu's hands? Could it be that the emperor never received this letter?
She was silent, with one question after another in her heart.
Shen Mingzhu tried to connect these questions, but finally found that she couldn't calm down at all.
There must be some conflict between the emperor and the empress that she didn't know about, and the imperial brother also seemed to be in a state of confusion similar to hers before his death.
She should start with the Song family.
After sorting out her thoughts, Shen Mingzhu let out a long sigh of relief as if all her strength had left her. She called out to the outside, "Chuntao."
Chuntao had been waiting outside the door. When she heard Shen Mingzhu's call, she immediately pushed the door open and entered. Seeing Shen Mingzhu's complexion, she was instantly shocked and asked anxiously, "Your Highness, are you not feeling well?"
Shen Mingzhu shook her head and said to her, "Tell the secret guards to keep a close eye on the Song family."
Chuntao didn't say anything. She gave Shen Mingzhu another worried look and then turned around and went out to deliver the order.
No wonder the empress didn't want her to investigate further.
A bitter feeling gradually welled up in Shen Mingzhu's heart.
...
Xie Lang was very efficient. When he got to the street, he hesitated for a moment before walking towards the rouge shop he had been to last time.
Shen Mingzhu rarely used such things.
Xie Lang was silent for a moment, then turned around and went to another shop, planning to see if there were any new items in his own shop so that he could bring something back for Shen Mingzhu.
Just as he called out to the shopkeeper and before he could sit down, he heard a somewhat urgent call.
"Lord Consort Xie!"
Who was it?
He looked up and saw two strange women standing there. He simply ignored them and continued walking forward.
Unexpectedly, one of the young girls quickly caught up and tried to grab Xie Lang's sleeve.
Caught off guard, Xie Lang almost had his sleeve grabbed. He broke out in a cold sweat and said, "What do you want to do!"