With everything settled, this year’s New Year felt especially strange.
Let’s not even speak of the palace—
A number of eunuchs’ and palace maids’ corpses had already been quietly carried out.
As for Duke Chu’s residence— It hardly needs mentioning. Not even the New Year brought them a shred of good fortune. Lai Chenglong personally led a team and searched every inch of Duke Chu’s estate, inside and out. All the men were immediately arrested and thrown into the Ministry of Justice’s prison.
As for the women, they were bound one by one and sent off to the Bureau of Music and Entertainment.
The entire area surrounding the imperial city was tense and uneasy. No matter whether the nearby residents were high-ranking officials, nobles with titles, or imperial relatives—every household shut their doors tightly, strictly forbidding anyone from going out.
Even grocery shopping was limited to one outing per day.
The streets were constantly patrolled by the Five City Troops and the Inspection Office.
Such a grim, oppressive atmosphere made even the common people too afraid to go on throwing eggs or shouting insults like before.
Though behind closed doors, of course, people were still cursing.
Duke Chu—he was truly scum. Everything that had happened was his doing.
So many people had died because of him!
The Lu family’s main residence had always been occupied by the first branch of the family. The Eldest Princess had never liked Eldest Madam Lu to begin with, and after learning what she had done, she despised her even more. So, once she heard that Liu Wangfei was returning to Baiyun Temple, she insisted on going to live there too.
Under normal circumstances, Emperor Yongchang would have been overjoyed. He could finally mend the rift between him and his sister.
Her husband and son had been found. It should have been a cause for celebration.
But now, things were different.
He was so exhausted he could barely lift a finger, let alone figure out how to properly settle all those who had suffered injustices over the years.
So he gently raised an eyebrow and said, “Well then, tomorrow I shall come visit you.”
This was Liu Wangfei’s first New Year’s Eve since returning—it was only proper for him to spend it with her.
The Eldest Princess gave a cough, and seeing that Liu Wangfei was only bowing her head to speak with Xiao Mo, she didn’t say much more. She simply sighed, “Royal Brother, you should go tend to Noble Consort Xiao Liu and Princess Baorong first. If anything happens to them, we won’t be able to bear the consequences.”
Though the words were polite, her tone was full of biting sarcasm.
Of course, Emperor Yongchang could hear it. But what could he say now?
He was in the wrong.
He forced a bitter smile, called in Eunuch Xia, and ordered Zhou Wang to take a squad of elite Imperial Guards to escort Liu Wangfei and her party to Baiyun Temple.
In truth, this was a breach of protocol.
Liu Wangfei was the original wife— And what did that mean?
It meant she had bowed before heaven and earth, paid respects to the ancestors. Even if it hadn’t yet been decided whether the country would have two empresses ruling the eastern and western palaces, she should by all rights be housed within the palace first.
But Emperor Yongchang had already acted. No one would be foolish enough to object now.
So they agreed, and respectfully sent Liu Wangfei and the others out of the city.
The city was ablaze with lantern light. Those in power naturally had no heart to celebrate the new year—
But for the common people, such a major festival could not be missed. Traditions had to be observed, not even a single detail could be done sloppily.
When she entered the capital, her heart had been burning with anxiety. She had so much on her mind, so many people to think about, she hadn’t had the chance to take a proper look at the city.
Now, it was different.
Her heart was calm. The great revenge had been taken.
She gazed at the bustle of Vermilion Bird Avenue, the sea of lanterns that filled the city, the endless display of lanterns around Jinshui River, and the floating Kongming lanterns scattered like stars across the sky— And suddenly let out a soft laugh.
The Eldest Princess had been watching her the whole time, opening her mouth several times but hesitating each time, wary that the walls might have ears.
Only when they returned to Baiyun Temple, after dismissing the attendants and sending Zhou Wang off to rest, did the Eldest Princess suddenly grasp Liu Wangfei’s hand tightly and say: “Sister-in-law, we can’t let this be the end of it!”
The position of Empress had originally belonged to Liu Wangfei!
Xiao Mo’s cricket suddenly jumped out of its box, and he immediately burst into noisy tears.
The Eldest Princess was stunned.
She watched as Liu Wangfei bent over and searched all over the floor to help Xiao Mo find his cricket. For a moment, she was too choked up to speak.
It was as if something suddenly became clear to her.
After settling Xiao Mo down, Liu Wangfei looked up at her and gave a bitter smile. “You see? What is there left for me to fight for?”
That empress seat—yes, it had indeed once been hers.
But some things, once missed, are simply missed.
Whether it was the throne of the empress, or Emperor Yongchang’s heart—neither would stay in place waiting for her to return.
You could say it was unfair, but is there really a limit to the number of unfair things in this world?
The Eldest Princess remained silent for a long time. Her mind was a complete mess.
One moment she was thinking of all the hardship Liu Wangfei had endured over the years— The next, she thought of how persistently Emperor Yongchang had searched for her.
But in the end, the person had been found, and she was alive and safe— So why did everything feel so different now?
The night was dark and heavy. The Eldest Princess looked at Xiao Mo crouched on the ground and felt a deep ache in her heart.
Just then, Lu Mingan knocked lightly on the window and said in a low voice, “His Highness Jing Wang and Miss Qi have arrived.”
Upon hearing that Xiao Yunting had come, the Eldest Princess’s face immediately lit up with a smile. She quickly said, “Hurry, invite them in!”
She took Liu Wangfei’s hand and began telling her about the matter between Qi Yuan and Xiao Yunting.
Liu Wangfei had been found and brought back by Qi Zhen, and from his mouth, she had already heard many stories about this young lady. Hearing it again now, she still couldn’t help feeling a bit of anticipation. “I’ve heard much about her. Finally, I’ll get to meet her.”
Just as she spoke, the doors to the temple courtyard opened. When Jiang Mama saw Xiao Yunting and Qi Yuan walking in together, she was momentarily dazed.
These two really were… far too well-matched in appearance.
She quickly came to her senses and ushered them in, “Please, come in.”
Xiao Yunting wore a faint smile. Upon seeing Liu Wangfei and the Eldest Princess, he quickly stepped forward and bowed, “Greetings…”
For a moment, he didn’t know how to address Liu Wangfei.
Liu Wangfei couldn’t help but laugh, “Just call me ‘Grandmother.’ I can bear it.”
Sure enough, Xiao Yunting didn’t hesitate at all and called her “Grandmother.”
Liu Wangfei’s gaze fell on the small box he was carrying. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, “What’s this?”
Xiao Yunting gave Qi Yuan a smiling glance and chuckled, “They’re rice flour dumplings from Jiangxi. I heard that in Songcheng, Jiangxi, it’s tradition to eat these during the New Year. Since you’ve just returned, Qi Yuan thought to send some to you.”
Liu Wangfei’s expression wavered slightly with emotion.
She had gone through so much to return. Her own father had slandered and tried to kill her. As for Emperor Yongchang—he had long forgotten what she liked.
Yet it was a young girl, with no prior connection to her at all, who had painstakingly made dumplings and brought them over.
A faint shimmer of tears welled in her eyes. A moment later, she finally let out a slow breath.
The Eldest Princess immediately told Jiang Mama to go cook the dumplings.
Everyone opened the windows wide without worrying about the cold wind rushing in, sitting close together and talking.
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