Chapter 29: Into the Darkness
Yun Qiange walked through the dark, gloomy corridor of the prison, as if all light had been eclipsed by a shroud of darkness. She had long grown weary of the bloodshed and violence of her past life; yet, in this lifetime, the desire for a fresh start had already become an unattainable luxury.
What she craved was a simple, peaceful existence. How she longed for a day when she could calmly watch the flowers bloom and wither, observe the shifting clouds, and live as a free spirit. But the world was inherently dark; if you spare others, they will not necessarily spare you. If that was the case, she would first clear away every obstacle before claiming the life she desired.
"Wait." At the end of the darkness, a sliver of white light appeared, as if a corner of the shroud had been lifted. He rushed over, clutching a porcelain vial, his expression filled with sorrow. "Princess, Haoyu has some pain-relieving medicine here. Let me apply it for you."
Her heart warmed slightly, and a faint curve appeared at the corners of her mouth—though it looked more like a bitter smile. She pushed his hand away. "There is no need."
She turned and left under the seemingly indignant gaze of Yun Xiyan. Although Moqi Haoyu was her husband, he possessed the ability to leave yet chose to remain by her side with ulterior motives. Sharing a bed every night, they were nonetheless divided by different dreams. He was not worth her heart. Just wait and see—she would not die so easily.
Yun Xiyan, you still have a long way to go.
The corner of the darkness in her heart, which had just been lifted by Moqi Haoyu, slowly dimmed once more.
Yun Xiyan’s carriage stopped at the palace gates. The guards bowed to them, their minds filled with confusion. Why had the Princess been released? Had her crimes been pardoned?
Yun Qiange followed Yun Xiyan and her entourage into the imperial palace. The palace of the Tianyuan Dynasty was not as ostentatiously golden or grand as those seen on screen; instead, it possessed a unique, exotic charm. The ornate, painted palaces were constructed from the finest fragrant woods, with ram-horn motifs adorning the corners. Rare trees and exotic plants were everywhere, along with exquisite turrets engraved with lifelike murals depicting scenes of daily life, landscapes, and war—so vivid they seemed to breathe. Most astonishingly, the air throughout the palace was filled with a faint, lingering scent of sandalwood, carrying an ancient, timeless quality.
In the center of the palace courtyard stood a fountain, featuring a golden statue of the Empress, from whose hands water flowed endlessly, symbolizing blessings for all the people. They walked along a long jade path, passing countless court officials and male attendants who bowed as they went, only thinning out as they entered the inner palace grounds.
Everything had been proceeding smoothly when Yun Qiange suddenly hunched over, looking pained. "Oh, my stomach hurts. Yun Xiyan, wait, I have a stomachache." Fortunately, the arrow wound on her hand, which had caused a layer of cold sweat to bead on her forehead, made her story somewhat believable to Yun Xiyan.
Considering that her sister was a wounded, powerless fool, Yun Xiyan figured she couldn't pull off any tricks. She looked at her with utter disdain. "Imperial Sister, are you joking? We have only just entered the inner court; the nearest latrine is three hundred meters away. Unless we go to one of the concubines' quarters to relieve yourself? Consort Lin’s residence is fifty meters ahead; shall we go there?"
"Oh! It’s too late! I have to go now!" Yun Qiange clutched her stomach and bolted.
"Imperial Sister, where are you going?" Seeing her about to disappear around a corner, Yun Xiyan sneered and ordered, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and follow her."
Her Imperial Sister really was a good-for-nothing.