Chapter 54: The Lonely Prisoners

  Pang Luoxue stood in front of the grand gate of the imperial palace, looking up at the majestic palace with its red bricks and green tiles. Such a magnificent place was indeed locked away, but it was also tainted by hypocrisy. The most beautiful things in the world were all here, yet they were nothing more than a facade, a shell that hid the rotting bones within.

  Yu Wang looked at Pang Luo Xue's slightly raised profile, and her eyes were filled with not the usual admiration or yearning for the imperial palace that most young ladies had, but a kind of pity and sorrow.

  The King of Yu looked up at the palace where he had lived from childhood to adulthood. Its exterior was majestic, but it housed people who wore masks every day, calculating every day, making life here feel dull and tasteless, without any security. Yet, it was revered by his subjects as a divine place, only to be inhabited not by deities, but by a group of ruthless demons who devoured humans without spitting out their bones.

  "But I think there's something wrong with this palace?"

  "Your Majesty, of course not. The imperial palace is the most beautiful building in Eastern Qin State, and it's naturally carefully designed. How could there be any imperfections?"

  "Why is Xue'er looking at it with such a gaze?"

  Pang Luo Xue smiled and said "I'm not looking at it, but rather looking at the people imprisoned here, such as the Queen, and Your Highness."

  Zhao Zhengyang looked at Dingding fixedly after finishing speaking.

  Zhao Zhengyang looked into Pang Luoxue's eyes, the black pupils reflected a stunned expression of himself. For the first time, someone told him that this imperial palace was the most beautiful prison, and he was a prisoner.

  "Your Highness, are you afraid? Snow just said it casually, this palace is so beautiful, Snow just got mesmerized."

  "Then please come in with me, miss."

  "Good!"

  As Yu Wang walked towards the Chen Xi Palace, all along the way were clusters of blooming peonies, and suddenly felt that this empress truly loved peonies as much as her own life.

  "These peonies were all planted by the empress dowager herself."

  Pang Luo Xue was shocked, although she knew that the queen loved peonies as much as her life, but did not know that all the flowers on this road in the palace were planted by the queen herself.

  "In the Chénxǐ Palace, where the Empress Dowager lived, the peonies were planted together with the Emperor. In the year she first entered the palace, the Empress Dowager was not yet an empress, but only a noblewoman. The Emperor liked her very much, and she loved peonies, so he ordered all the famous peonies to be gathered and personally planted them in the Chénxǐ Palace with her. After years of cultivation, those peonies bloomed even more magnificently. Unfortunately, the emperor's heart is not as flourishing as these flowers, but rather like the flower that blooms for a season and then withers away. I think this flower symbolizes the ruthlessness of emperors, yet the Empress Dowager regards it as the token of her love affair with the Emperor. Don't you think it's ridiculous?"

  Pang Luoxue stretched out her hand and picked a few "Since I came to pay respects to my mother-in-law, how could I not bring some gifts? The prince won't blame me, will he?"

  "This is natural, you can win the favor of your mother-in-law"

  "The emperor's family feelings are not understood by Xue Er, but when the emperor and empress personally planted those peonies, it can be seen how important the empress is to the emperor. He is a monarch, his emotions are naturally different from ordinary people. The empress was able to rise from a noblewoman to empress, just like now, the palace will never lack beautiful women with fresh faces, but none of them threaten the empress's position. On one hand, it is the empress's own dignity and elegance that sets an example for the world, on the other hand, it must also be the emperor's protection."

  Xue Er seems to understand the way of getting along in the palace very well.

  "Indeed, as the saying goes, 'those who are in a situation are confused, while those who observe from outside are clear.' Snowy may see things clearly, but she wouldn't choose this kind of feeling for herself."

  "Why?" King Yu asked seriously

  "This feeling is too exhausting, too draining on one's heart. I don't have that much energy or patience, and even less the magnanimity of an empress."

  Yu Wang looked at Pang Luo Xue hugging a bunch of pink peonies, lowered his head and sniffed, saying: "Willing to get a like-minded person, white-haired and not separated"

  Yu Wang kept repeating this sentence to himself, following Pang Luoxue as he walked. This girl was so bold, ah, willing to be with the one who shares a common heart, and will not part ways even in old age.

  The two of them had a magnificent garden, the further they walked, the more fragrant the peonies became, the more brilliant the flowers bloomed, and the Chénxī Palace was just beyond the peonies.

  The two arrived in front of the palace, and Yu Fang's aunt was already waiting there. Seeing the two, she hurriedly said, "Prince, you're also too slow, the empress has been waiting for a good while."

  Yu Wang smiled shyly and lingered with Xue Junzhu to appreciate the scenery in the palace, delaying their journey.

  When Fang's aunt saw the lovely girl, who was as adorable as a peony in her arms, she hadn't seen her for several days but she seemed even more dazzling now. The second miss of the Pang State Duke's mansion didn't seem like someone from a humble background, and walked over to warmly pull Pang Luoxue along, saying: "The second miss has arrived, the empress is waiting for you."

  "Trouble Auntie to wait for a long time here, Xue Er is really guilty in her heart."

  "The princess said where are you from, I was also watching you two and thought it's about time for you to arrive, so I came over. The empress is waiting for the two of you inside."

  As they spoke, Yu Fang led the two into the main palace of the empress, where the floor was covered with thick, gold-embroidered silk carpets. The beams were adorned with exquisite, colorful palace lanterns, tied with bright satin, and around the grand hall stood eight pairs of tall bronze pillars, beside which were placed one-person-high, intricately carved silver candelabras, on top of which were already lit dragon and phoenix-shaped candles mixed with fragrances, filling the entire hall with a warm, intoxicating atmosphere. In the center of the hall was placed an intricately carved chair, covered with bright yellow cushions that only royalty could use, upon which sat the empress, gazing at the approaching figures with an air of majesty and authority.

  "After seeing his mother"

  "I have had the honor of seeing Your Majesty, I wish you a healthy and peaceful life, with good fortune for ten thousand years"

  The queen smiled and said, "Everyone get up, Xue Er quickly come to my mother's place." Then she turned her head with a look of disgust and said, "What are you still doing here? Quickly withdraw, I have something to say to Xue Er."

  "The empress is also being too biased, after using me she'll just kick me to the side, if Snow really arrives then she won't want this son of mine anymore." He said helplessly, covering his forehead.

  Ruofang covered her mouth and giggled, hastily joking: "Your Highness should leave quickly, don't provoke the Empress Dowager here."

  The queen hastily interjected, "Don't you hurry up and instruct the imperial kitchen to make some delicious food for us mother and daughter to eat? What's the point of lingering here and getting in our way?"

  "I'm also a nuisance now, alright, you two go ahead and talk among yourselves, I'll go prepare some food and drinks to serve you both." Zhao Zhengyang said as he walked out.

  The queen said to Ruofang: "Quickly bring me the things I've prepared for Xue'er."

  Ruofang nodded and beckoned to her maid to withdraw.

  The queen held Pu Luoxue's hand and said, "Xue'er, why are you more considerate than when you came to the palace to accompany your mother? You see, this child doesn't understand my thoughts at all. It's still my Xue'er who is thoughtful and considerate. The peony you picked has been arranged by Ruo Fang, and Mother likes it very much." As she spoke, she patted Pu Luoxue's hand with a relieved expression.

  Pang Luoxue lowered her head: "The Empress Dowager likes peonies, this is well-known to everyone. I just catered to her tastes, and Prince Yu also showed filial piety. I saw that Prince Yu's mansion carefully managed the peony garden and increased the number of peonies every year. Now it looks even better. On the way here, Prince Yu even took Snow on a detailed tour."

  The queen was also relieved, her son had so much thought for himself. The queen herself knew it in her heart, but only said it with her mouth, Yu Wang was her only son, and naturally she spoiled him dearly.

  "This child also has filial piety."

  Pang Luo Xue thought carefully and wondered "Why didn't Mother have another child? Mother is still young, if she takes care of herself properly, having another one shouldn't be too difficult."

  The empress frowned and said, "This palace also wants to, but after giving birth to Yu'er, no matter how I take care of my body, I don't see any pregnancy. Also because Yu'er is a prince, the worry is really too much, so there's no such thought. It's also a pity."

  "Has Empress Dowager ever heard of the nickname 'Miraculous Healer'?"

  "This wonderful doctor is indeed someone I've heard of, but she's never been swayed by power or influence. How could we possibly invite her? Never mind, the palace still has you."

  Pang Luoxue thought about it and felt that Chu Muyang, as the prince of Nanzhao, would not easily submit to power. However, considering their master-disciple relationship, he should lend a hand. A private visit from him would be enough, just to repay the favor to Empress Dowager.

  "Here you are, princess."

  Pang Luoxue raised her head and looked over...