Chapter 57: The Harem Sends an Urgent Message 7

  "How could it be me who killed Xi Fei? Today, I don't know what kind of evil person drugged the Emperor. The Emperor summoned Xi Fei to serve him in bed. Empress Dowager, it's a common thing for a concubine to die in the palace, why is everyone making such a big fuss today?"

  Nalan Xixi's face was filled with confusion.

  The empress dowager listened and thought it made sense. Indeed, the death of a concubine in the palace was too common, what's there to investigate? She was really muddle-headed, how could she believe such an absurd statement and even find someone to confront. However, just now she said that someone had poisoned Nan Gongyu?!

  "What's with the medicine?! What's going on?!"

  The imperial physician has examined and said that someone had poisoned the emperor, which is why he suddenly felt unwell and summoned Concubine Xi. Although the emperor said he would not investigate, Zhen regretfully requested Empress Dowager to look into this matter. Today, it was just a medicine that took Concubine Xi's life, but if next time it were poison...

  The empress had already slammed her hand on the table and stood up before she could finish speaking. "Zhao Song!"

  Zao Song hastily replied, Empress Dowager angrily said: "Immediately investigate this matter for me, must catch the person who poisoned!"

  Zhao Song went to do his job, and when he passed by Nalan Xianyu's side, he coldly glanced at her. Nalan Xianyu smiled back and said: "Lord Zhao, slow down, since the Empress Dowager suspects that I killed Xi Fei, then Lord Zhao should investigate me first?"

  The empress dowager smiled somewhat awkwardly and said: "How could I possibly suspect you? It's all because they kept insisting!"

  The empress dowager pointed her spearhead at Nalan Yanran and those concubines, but they couldn't say a word.

  Nalan's plan has come true, it turns out to be the case, let the concubine go to Nan Gongyu's palace and kill her, then say that she died because of spending the night with Nan Gongyu! No wonder she wanted to say those words just now, forcing her to go to Nan Gongyu's palace.

  It was just this reason why these concubines would have no way to resist and one by one jumped into the net, all dying at her hands!

  Most importantly, Nalan Xianyu was the first one to be killed. Nalan Yanran nodded and glanced at Zhao Song, meeting his gaze directly. It seemed that she had to join forces with him ahead of time.

  Zhao Song glanced at her and respectfully said, "Your Highness is being too serious. It's just that a few of the ladies believed the rumors spread by our servants and misunderstood Your Highness. I'll go investigate thoroughly and bring those servants who spread the rumors to justice!"

  Nalan Xixi smiled slightly and said, "The few sisters are also thinking for the king's sake, I can understand. The empress dowager should not blame them. As a newcomer, Xixi still needs to rely on the guidance and care of her sisters."

  As she spoke, she slightly nodded her head towards several concubines, showing respect.

  The empress dowager saw her being so humble and understanding, and also knowing etiquette, she was even more delighted in her heart.

  "Nalan Xixiao continued: 'Your Highness, I came in a hurry and didn't bring any gifts. I only have a single pearl from the East Sea, which can be placed beside your bed to nourish your energy and complexion. It's specially offered to you.'"

  The empress, upon hearing that it had the effect of nourishing her beauty, and that it was a pearl, immediately beamed with joy. She rose to her feet and walked to the center of the hall, saying: "If you can marry my son, I will be completely satisfied...and you've even brought such a valuable gift..."

  Nalan Xixi took out a delicate box from her bosom, which was the pearl she had just picked up in the treasure vault of the Luo Tian Imperial Palace during her spare time. She casually made up an effect and teased the old empress like a little girl.

  Now in the palace, all women including Nan Gongyan can't tolerate her. Although she could easily get rid of them, she has told herself that to be by his side, she must be like a woman.

  Here, he is the king, he is supreme, she cannot have half a bit of stealing the show. Even if he doesn't mind, she can't let him have those unnecessary troubles.

  To make a place for herself in this way, without any companions, she could only try to curry favor with the empress dowager who still had some good feelings towards her. Moreover, this empress dowager was easy to deceive and could be won over with just a few words.

  The Empress Dowager was very fond of Huangfu Shao and invited her to stay for dinner, while Nalan Yanran and several other consorts withdrew.

  As soon as they walked out of the palace gate, Zhao Song came up from the side. Nalan Yanran looked around and said softly, "Lord Zhao, is there a good place to talk?"

  "Your Ladyship, at midnight tonight, I will send a carriage to fetch you."

  In the garden, Nangong Yan sat on a stone chair and opened the letter. The handwriting on the letter was that of Nalan Xianyu, which she recognized.

  Nangong Yan's tears flowed down uncontrollably, it was just like this, she liked him, even her handwriting could stir up her emotions, making her unable to bear the sorrow and longing, extremely missing him.

  Her handwriting is just like her as a person - calm and reserved, yet every word she writes is astonishing.

  There was no tedious small talk, no complicated etiquette in the letter, which was exactly what she liked about it. Nan Gongyan looked at the two lines of poetry on the letter paper and burst into tears.

  I have worried that too much emotional attachment would harm my Buddhist practice, and entering the mountains again I fear being separated from you. In this world, how can one find a way to be whole in both aspects? Not betraying the Buddha and not betraying you.

  She just didn't know that Nalan Xixi's true love was actually Nan Gongyin.

  Formerly, Nalan Xixi wouldn't care about who she had wronged. An assassin, killing people like flies, how could she care about wronging someone? Owing someone? Hurting someone? But now, she couldn't help but care.

  Because she is Nangong Yan, the person Nangong Jin treasures the most. The man she loves the most, the woman he treasures the most.

  It's strange to say that even she doesn't know how it became like this. She herself doesn't know why she is so uncontrollably wanting to protect him, to protect everything about him.

  She can't bear seeing him sad, not one bit.

  "Swallow." Not far away, a gentle voice sounded, this gentleness once belonged only to her.

  Nangong Yan raised her eyes and looked at the black figure in the distance, it was Nangong Jin, her royal brother. Her brother. The person who was once most familiar to her, but now also the most estranged and distant.

  What happened? What made them suddenly drift apart? Was it his love for another woman, was it his reckless abandon for another woman, was it his dead-hearted devotion to another woman...

  Nangong Jin slowly walked towards Nangong Yan, stretched out his hand, wanting to touch her head and comfort her aching heart. But she dodged, for some reason, she didn't want to see the brother who used to stick with her every day.

  Is it because he hated him for not saving Xiāo Nuò, and hated Xiāo Nuò for dying to save him?

  Nangong Jin slightly furrowed his brow. "Are you angry? Because of Nalan Xixiao?"

  When Nangong Yan heard the name of Nalan Xianyu, her body trembled slightly. She couldn't bear to hear this name now, and every time she heard it, she would think that she was no longer in this world, and her heart felt like it had been torn open with pain.

  Looking at Nangong Yan's moved expression, Nangong Jin's heart also felt distressed. The more she cared about him, the less he knew what to say. But one day, it had to be said.

  She loves Nalan Xueyin so much, if she knew that Nalan Xueyin was a woman and it was her who made him fall in love deeply, what would she do? At that time, having lost everything, she must have wanted to kill Nalan Xueyin just like today.

  It will also be very sad and difficult.

  "Brother, you know what? I really like him, I really really like him. Since I was little, I've always told myself that if I were to get married, I want to marry someone just like you."

  Upon hearing this term of endearment, Nangong Jin suddenly felt a pang of sadness, realizing how long it had been since she last called him that. Ever since he unified the thirteen nations and became the Emperor of Luotian, she had to address him as "Your Majesty" instead.

  Nangong Yan stuck the letter to her chest, as if muttering to herself. "But later I found out that it's simply impossible, brother is the best person in this world, no one can be like brother, no one can protect me and care for me like brother, stay by my side until we grow old together."

  "One day, I burst into the back palace of my mother, and then he entered my line of sight. He was so small and thin, at first glance, I only had this thought. As I walked closer to him, I saw his eyes, which were like those of an older brother. At that moment, I felt as if you had returned, by my side... To be precise, he looked just like you did many, many years ago..."

  Nangong Yan looked at Nangong Jin, who was now tall and majestic. She couldn't help but shed tears. "When you were thirteen years old, you were just like that, not as tall and big as other boys, very thin and weak, but with the same gaze as Xianuo, calm, firm, and resolute. That was my favorite gaze. When I was young, I most wanted you to look at me with that gaze, only then did I feel warm and at ease..."

  "He really looks like you, that one glance, I decided, I must marry him, in this world, only he can be like you. Then, I took him to see the flowers, I wanted to tell him that because of him, I suddenly love everything about this world, no matter how terrible things have happened, as long as he is willing to be by my side, those don't count..."

  Nangong Yan shed tears, but a faint smile appeared on his face. "Then, there were assassins who came to kill me, and he subdued them with just two moves. Moreover, at your most critical moment, he was thinking of how to help you without hesitation, even if no one believed him, no one understood him, and everyone misunderstood him, he was still willing to do it."

  "At that time, I almost subconsciously believed in him. No matter if it's you or him, what makes me most fascinated is the feeling that...I can unconditionally believe in you."

  Nangong Yan lowered her head and stared at those two lines of thin font, slightly dazed.

  "He killed the left prime minister, eliminated the chaotic party, captured the rebellious army, and made every step a victory. All the difficulties were just a trivial matter for him. At that time, in my heart, he was a hero, even surpassing your hero..."

  Nangong Jin listened to her words, and his heart was also a little sad. Killing the Left Prime Minister, eliminating the chaotic party, and capturing the rebel army seemed easy, but how could it be just a matter of words? Every step required great courage to decide, let alone she had done more than that.

  "What you said is right, he is a hero, the number one hero in the world."