Chapter Thirty-Five: By Chance

Lu Xiaoxiao gently stroked the hair of Ye Qianling, who was nestled in her arms. Seeing how even her clothes could not conceal the obvious thinness of her back, a wave of sorrow welled up in her heart. "Ling’er, your sister-in-law knows everything. Everyone believes you didn't do it. The matter with the Empress has placed too much pressure on you. Though I don't know exactly why you did what you did, I hope you can be happy and not let yourself waste away like this."

Ye Qianling had not ridden in a sedan chair for a long time. Just back from the battlefield, she almost forgot what it felt like. For a moment, she felt out of place, but said nothing, just tucked her head into Lu Xiaoxiao's arms, tears clinging to the corners of her eyes, struggling not to let them fall. After a long silence, she finally spoke, "Sister-in-law, Father said he would never forgive me. What should I do? It was because of me that Mother’s tragedy happened. I don't know how I can face living."

Anyone who encountered such a situation would suffer deeply. Lu Xiaoxiao understood but didn’t know how to comfort her. After all, no one can completely inhabit another’s thoughts, see the world as they do.

"Your brother is very worried about you. He often sends people to check on you. I heard you used Absolute Domain to kill a tiger. I’m proud of you. Remember, Mother once told us: no matter what we face, never give up easily. Only by persisting can we see a different landscape." Lu Xiaoxiao gently lifted Ye Qianling’s head, gazing at her obviously swollen eyes. "Ling’er, taking a passive approach might bring temporary ease, but it will leave those who love you regretting it forever."

"Sister-in-law, I don’t know the meaning of persistence anymore. No one will forgive me. I am nothing but a sinner. No one will love or care for me again." Ye Qianling felt her vision blur; her eyes could no longer hold back the weight of so many tears, which fell in heavy drops. Her gaze was filled with confusion about the road ahead. Her father had told her before leaving for the Southern Gardens that if she finished first after two years, he would forgive her, but his recent words made it clear that was impossible. What was the point of striving for first place in the Southern Gardens, then?

Once again, confusion. Once again, doubt. Once again, despair. She wondered if the road to the light would ever arrive.

"Everyone loves you; those people just haven’t realized it yet. When they do, everything will be better," Lu Xiaoxiao comforted her.

Ye Qianling didn’t continue her sorrow but spent half a minute calming herself, not forgetting her main purpose. "Sister-in-law, how is the Kun Palace now? Are the guards and maids still there, or is it just an empty shell?" She wanted to find out about Wan Feng’s situation but could only ask indirectly.

"After Mother left, some guards were reassigned to other palaces, others sent to the slave quarters. Mother’s former personal maid, Wan Feng, was so heartbroken she left the palace to live her own life." Lu Xiaoxiao sighed at the ever-changing world, where things and people are no longer as they were.

"Sent to the slave quarters? Why?" Ye Qianling was clearly puzzled and asked directly.

"I heard a maid went to the Imperial Hospital for poison and indirectly caused Mother’s death. Father was furious. He originally wanted to kill her in his rage, but was persuaded to let her live out her life in the slave quarters instead." Sister-in-law felt sorry for that girl.

That maid, aside from Wan Feng, was the Empress's most trusted attendant. Though young, she was clever. She had intended to use the poison to water a rare poisonous orchid gifted from abroad. That flower could only be cultivated with poison.

The flower was cared for on behalf of the Fourth Prince, Ye Qiange. Mu Ziying wanted to help her son, who was studying medicine; she didn’t trust him to tend the flower alone for fear of accidents, so she took charge herself. But such a tragedy occurred. The incident truly had nothing to do with the maid, but Emperor Guangde couldn’t forgive her, so instead of execution, he granted her the greatest mercy by letting her grow old in the slave quarters.

"It’s my fault; if not for me, she wouldn’t have ended up in such a place." Ye Qianling lowered her eyes, then suddenly looked up and asked, feigning nonchalance, "Wan Feng left too? Why did she go? Where could she possibly go?"

"Apparently she went to the countryside, not wanting to stay in a place that brought her so much sorrow. Father agreed, and she left a few days ago," Lu Xiaoxiao replied.

"The countryside? She left so suddenly?" Ye Qianling dared not ask further, afraid the ever-perceptive Lu Xiaoxiao might notice something, so she only asked this and quickly shifted the topic after getting her answer.

"Perhaps she was too heartbroken. After all, Wan Feng served Mother for decades; their bond must have been deep."

Hearing this, Ye Qianling wanted to argue but could not. It was not as Lu Xiaoxiao imagined; Wan Feng was actually a master of hidden schemes who had indirectly caused her mistress’s death—utterly ruthless! But Ye Qianling could not say so, no matter what. She forced herself to swallow her words.

Lu Xiaoxiao noticed Ye Qianling seemed about to say something, waited for her to speak, but when she didn’t, she let it go.

Ye Qianling was about to take her leave when something occurred to her. "Sister-in-law, could you spare me some silver? I want to buy some medicine—the wound still aches from time to time."

"When did you become so polite?" Lu Xiaoxiao habitually patted Ye Qianling’s head, a gesture of comfort. "I can't promise anything else, but you may use as much silver as you need. You must take care of your health; otherwise, who knows what old age will bring." With that, she instructed a guard to fetch a bag of silver and placed it in Ye Qianling’s hand.

"Thank you, Sister-in-law." Ye Qianling forced a smile, "We’re only off for two days. I’ll see a doctor, then return tonight." With nothing else to do, she bid Lu Xiaoxiao farewell.

Just as she was about to leave the sedan, a voice sounded behind her. "Ling’er, take good care of yourself. Everyone at home is waiting for you to come back."

Ye Qianling was suddenly moved by these words. She turned to Lu Xiaoxiao and said, "Sister-in-law, even though things can't be changed now, I’ll make the most of these two years. After all, it’s my only chance. Don’t worry." With that, she disappeared into the sea of people.

Ye Qianling ordered a bowl of noodles at a food stall near the palace. She hadn’t eaten here in months. The owner, seeing her face, beamed, "Miss, you’re back! It’s been so long since you’ve visited old uncle’s noodle stand."

"Yes, uncle. I’ve been busy lately. I finally got a chance to enjoy your noodles again. I’ve traveled to many places, but yours are truly the best." Ye Qianling showered him with praise, though the noodles were indeed excellent.

"You’re just a child—what’s there to be so busy about? Or did you decide to diet again, avoiding my noodles and getting so thin?" The old man remarked, noticing how much smaller her face had become.

"No, uncle. I had to leave the capital for a while and won’t return for about two years. I came especially to eat your noodles before I depart. Otherwise, it’ll be a long wait before I get to eat them again." Though she spoke in a relaxed tone, if one looked closely, there was no trace of a smile on Ye Qianling’s face.

The old man saw her expression and knew the girl had her troubles, but it was basic courtesy not to pry, so he asked no further.

As Ye Qianling ate, she suddenly heard sounds of fighting from afar. Her spirits instantly lifted. She quickly wolfed down a few mouthfuls, filled her belly a bit, handed the old man ten taels of silver. Though Lu Xiaoxiao had given her many coins, the smallest was ten taels. Seeing the old man about to make change, she quickly told him to keep it, then leapt onto a rooftop with lightness skill.

Looking around, she saw two groups fighting in the distance. One side was crushing the other. Originally, Ye Qianling didn’t intend to interfere, but she recognized a familiar figure among the victors, so she decided to investigate, hopping closer to their rooftop.

The fighters sensed someone approaching. One looked up, and Ye Qianling instinctively shrank back, startled.

"Why are you here?" Ye Qianling, seeing that person, glanced at the others among the victors. What a coincidence—the capital was vast, yet here they all were again.

Si Yan did not answer her question, only stared at her in silence, making Ye Qianling uneasy. Then Zhou Xiao-jie, beside him, spoke up, "We ran into a few thieves who dared to steal from us. These people must be tired of living—robbing guards in uniform!"

Ye Qianling looked at the men sprawled on the ground. She flipped down from the rooftop and gazed at the thieves. "What were you thinking, stealing from guards? Didn’t you realize you couldn’t win?"

"We had no choice. Our mother is sick and needs money urgently. We had to take risks, gather some relatives to try to get funds for her treatment," one replied.

The excuse was full of holes. In this world, anyone stupid enough to believe such words had no future. No one would buy it.

"Let me ask you—what’s your mother’s surname, how old is she, how many people in your family?" Chu Zi-mu asked.

"Her surname is Hu."

"Her surname is Liu."

With these conflicting answers, there was no need for further questioning. If they couldn’t even agree on their mother’s surname, their story was obviously false.

"Get lost!" Jian Suifei shouted impatiently.

The group, realizing they were outmatched and unwelcome, scrambled up and fled the scene at top speed.

"Why are you here?" Chu Zi-mu glanced at Si Yan, who was still watching Ye Qianling. "This place is so remote—why would Miss Wu come here?"

"I was eating at a noodle stand and heard fighting. Curiosity got the better of me, so I came to look. Who would have thought it was you all?" Ye Qianling countered, "And you? Why are you here?"

They exchanged awkward glances, each looking at the other, but no one replied.