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墨書 Inktalez
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
"What is it?"
Consort Huan smiled lightly, "Did you not say that after returning from the palace, you would tell me a truth?"
"Truth? Leaving the palace?" Sima Rui furrowed his brows. "What do you mean? Did I say that?" Suddenly, a headache struck him. Ever since he returned to the palace, his head had been throbbing, as if he had forgotten something important, yet he couldn't recall what it was.
Consort Huan's expression turned worried. "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"
Sima Rui forced a smile, trying to ease her concern. "It's nothing; perhaps I've just been too tired lately."
"Your Majesty, your health is important. Why not lie down and let me help you with a massage?"
Sima Rui complied with a soft grunt and then lay down on the soft couch.
Consort Huan approached and gently began to massage him. Her fingers moved skillfully, indicating that this was not her first time doing so.
Sima Rui sighed contentedly.
Yet his mind could not help but dwell on a certain face, one that had been occupying his thoughts ever since this morning's court session.
That delicate and ethereal face, one that lingered in his heart—familiar yet strange. That special woman. But for some reason, he couldn't quite remember what made her so special.
He felt exhausted. After a night of heavy drinking, his head throbbed painfully. He couldn't quite understand why, but it seemed as if someone was guiding him in a mysterious way. He found himself inexplicably drawn to her palace.
She had never summoned him to her bedchamber, as he understood her disdain. After returning to the palace, he had once called her to the Imperial Hall for such an encounter, but it had not progressed further; the moment he lay on the Dragon Bed with her, she began to vomit uncontrollably, her expression filled with pain and despair. Thus, he never summoned her again. Instead, he would visit her at Frostfall Palace after court sessions, where they would play chess and share meals in pleasant companionship. However, last night, he couldn't help himself; thoughts of another person flooded his mind as he sought that person's shadow in her. This realization filled him with deep shame. Yet...
He had hurriedly fled early today.
He didn't know what to say.
"Your Majesty..." Consort Huan's gentle voice drifted in and out of focus for Sima Rui, who felt his thoughts slipping further away as her voice grew fainter and more distant.
Slowly, he sank into a deep darkness. It felt as though something was tightly constraining his mind, consuming him. It was unbearable.
Last night had been a night of profound destruction and entanglement; today, in just a few short hours, he found himself transported from the luxurious palace to this filthy, stench-ridden Sky Prison. Here he was surrounded by cockroaches and rats, facing several stone walls.
He remembered the slight guilt on his face when he left; surely he felt remorse for treating me as a mere substitute. Little did he know that I wouldn't mind.
The vulnerability and sorrow that had unintentionally slipped from his heart were replaced this morning with a warm smile and gentle demeanor—his perfect facade. Layer upon layer of warmth concealed his true self, tightly woven without a single gap. Gradually, it became clear how solidly fortified his smile was beneath the gentle sunlight of spring.
Looking at that somewhat blinding smile, I felt that the person before me was both familiar and strange.
When Song Kong informed me of the completed arrangements yesterday, I knew this would be the outcome. Today I would find myself here.
After quelling the rebellion, everything should have come to an end. However, the court received reports—dark channels had also caught wind—that remnants of the rebellion still lingered, and there were still Rebel Factions to be eradicated within the capital.
Following the clues step by step, the investigation led to one of the four prominent families in the capital, the Xie Family. There was concrete evidence proving that the Right Chancellor, Xie Yushi, was involved. During the search of Xie Manor, officials discovered a large cache of weapons in the most secluded part of the estate, the Curved Pavilion, providing undeniable evidence of treason.
Xie Yushi harbored treasonous intentions. The sight of those astonishing weapons made Sima Zhao's thoughts known to all.
Xie Manor was raided. In a whirlwind of events, Xie Yushi, who had held significant power in the court, was dismissed from his position and imprisoned in Sky Prison pending trial. His wife and children were exiled. The favored consort of the current ruler, Lotus Consort, who was suspected of being an accomplice behind the scenes, was also imprisoned in Sky Prison awaiting trial. It was said that those cold weapons were found in the childhood residence of Fourth Miss Xie. Everyone knew that apart from her, no one could enter or exit that place freely. Only she from the Xie Family had the power and courage to do so. Fourth Miss Xie had always been different since childhood; it was not surprising that she could be involved in treasonous acts. Initially, people were shocked upon hearing this news, but once they considered her demeanor and ambition for greatness, it seemed less astonishing.
As for me, the person at the center of it all, I remained calm. Various versions of events had already spread throughout the capital. Yet I merely smiled at them.
Why should anyone be surprised? This was all part of my meticulous planning.
Suda found his happiness, and Xiao Quanzi had already been sent out of the palace to Jun Jin Villa. Yun Ying had long followed Consort Wang and gained her trust, thanks to my guidance on reading her intentions and flattering her appropriately. Moreover, Yun Ying was naturally talented and had a good sense for appearances, which further solidified her standing with that woman as her right-hand aide.
Everything unfolded as planned; it was all interconnected and meticulously arranged.
Furthermore, regarding Xie Yushi's treasonous actions—they were not baseless rumors; they were indeed true.
I understand that many have questions about this; I will gradually provide answers in later chapters. Thank you all~~~o(∩_∩)o。。。
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