Chapter 898: Chapter 898: Zhou Yijun’s Whereabouts
Thinking of one person, Xue Wanjun’s eyes turned cold as frost, and past scenes flooded her mind.
Yes, the person she should hate the most is that person. If that person had protected her wholeheartedly, she wouldn’t have fallen into such a predicament today!
Despite treating that person so well, respecting and loving them, pleasing them in every way, that person always regarded her coldly. No matter what she did, it never caught that person’s eye.
She still remembers when she was diagnosed with pregnancy back then, she personally made soup and went to ask that person to take care of her.
And how did that old fool treat her? He made excuses saying the Great Empress Dowager was unwell and couldn’t leave her side.
No matter how unwell the Great Empress Dowager was, she had so many people serving her, a dedicated Imperial Medical Bureau always on call. Would there really be a lack of people? Besides, no one in the palace dared to harm the Great Empress Dowager. She was the one who truly needed care!
And there were more cold stares towards her until that old fool went to Yixiang Palace and she took charge of the entire harem, finally shaking off the shadow of that old fool.
If it were just this, she wouldn’t hate him as much, if they each went their separate ways, life’s peace would not have been disrupted. But why did that old fool return, only to shield a little Daying under his wing, doing all that she wished he would do back in the day, even helping Consort Xu De to rise in ranks.
If it weren’t for that one time the old fool interfered, she wouldn’t have lost so many people. Her network of ears and eyes within the palace was uprooted, leading to successive defeats, ending up in the state she’s in today.
Was she really so worthless?
Past memories surged like tides, the more Xue Wanjun thought, the more she hated, blood rushed to her head, causing headaches to strike, her eyes became bloodshot, and the raging impulse hidden deep inside her faintly rose, overwhelmed, she held her forehead with her hand.
At this moment, Cai Qin, standing with her head bowed in front of Xue Wanjun, responded calmly and without a ripple to her earlier words: "Consort, my life belongs to you; if you die, I would not live alone."
Upon hearing this, Xue Wanjun looked up at the ordinary-looking person before her, unable to discern her expression, but the words spoken were as before, inexplicably soothing the rage in her heart.
Someone in this world is still willing to die for her...
Her expression softened, a trace of gentleness surfaced in her eyes, and she felt the decision she made back then to get Cai Qin into the palace was right. Without Cai Qin, she didn’t know what she would do now; it would probably be even more miserable.
The events of those years are her failure towards Cai Qin, if there had been another chance, she would try her best to compensate.
...
The weather grew ever colder as they entered the deep winter month.
In Hetai Temple, Zhou Yijun walked step by step on the white snow, reaching a solemn grand hall, she rubbed her hands, chapped by frostbite, tidying her plain robe, and looked up at the hall, her heart as calm as water.
After cleaning the snow and mud off her feet in front of the hall, she then stepped into the hall.
She quietly entered, first joined her hands in greeting to the master at the top, before walking to her usual seat on the prayer mat and sitting cross-legged correctly, starting the day’s morning lesson.
This Royal Temple is located in the mountains west of the Capital City.
The temple within the mountains is much colder than the Capital City, life here is tough and arduous, everything concerning food, clothing, shelter, and transportation requires personal effort, even in the harsh midwinter, there is only cold water for washing. Every morning poses a significant challenge to the people.
The temple emphasizes cleansing and quieting the mind, even during the month of the end of the year, the charcoal distributed is insufficient. The cold bed at night is like lying in an ice cellar, forcing one to curl up, their hands and feet as cold as iron, taking a long time to warm up, and even before dawn, they need to brave the cold to get up early for lessons; the days are extremely austere.
The people here, both their bodies and hands, have varying degrees of frostbite. Those assigned to the kitchen, when exposed to the flames, have their frostbite flare up, causing extreme pain and itching.
Many noble ladies who have never suffered hardship are unable to tolerate such misery, always thinking of ways to escape, but most find it futile. This Royal Temple is strictly managed, outsiders cannot interfere easily, leaving these individuals nothing but tears.
But Zhou Yijun gradually came to like life here, feeling an unparalleled peace in her heart. Though life is hard and her body is tired daily, here she doesn’t need to think much or pretend, allowing her to be Zhou Yijun herself.
Even though she only left the harem not long ago, she felt as if she had undergone a complete transformation. The past seemed like fleeting clouds, like waking from a grand dream, feeling as though those events were far, far away.
The events of that day, occasionally she would think of them and feel dazed. Initially, she came with unease, waking from dreams with fright, always feeling her whole body, until she touched her intact limbs, the rough blanket abrading her, allowing her to exhale long with relief, knowing it was real, she hadn’t died.
No one in this world is not afraid of death, she is no exception.
From the moment Liu Lingyi died for attempting to harm the Emperor, she was prepared, knowing she would soon face consequences as well, since she had initially colluded with Consort Liu to frame Xue Wanjun and harm Canglan Court.
After the Longevity Event, a series of disturbances in the harem and the death of Consort Liu made her realize that Qing Ya’s actions had exposed her, triggering a massive upheaval fiercer than any before, seemingly poised to destroy the entire harem.
At that time, the harem was filled with dread, everyone unsure of what had happened.
She instead became the calmest person, knowing she couldn’t escape. Fearful as she was, she had resigned herself.
Having done it, she was ready for the consequences of being exposed.
Yet later on, she hadn’t anticipated that punishment was delayed, and only long afterward did someone summon her; she was then called upon by the Emperor.
She remembers entering the Star Palace, instinctively looking up at the top, seeing that person seated coldly on the throne, seemingly handling affairs, her issue appearing trivial, unworthy of concern.
She was stunned for a moment before bowing in ceremony. Contrary to her imagination, she thought she would see an Emperor with a cold face, yet unexpectedly, the Emperor appeared far calmer than she had envisioned, and though no emotions were visible, she could feel the calmness.
She knelt there for a long time without the Emperor speaking or looking at her, until after a long while, her legs had grown numb from kneeling, she finally heard movement above.
The Emperor seemed to have resolved his affairs; she heard the sound of cups clashing, guessing the Son of Heaven was drinking tea, and soon felt an authoritative gaze fall upon her.
That gaze was exceedingly oppressive, causing her heart to tremble at the time.
The person on the throne seemed unwilling to delay further, directly asking: "Lady Zhou, do you know your crime?"
At that time, she clenched her trembling hands, directly bowing and confessing her crime, saying no more.
The person on the throne said lightly: "A wise choice. Speak, what crime have you committed?"