Chapter 13: From the Heart

“Cough, cough...” A sudden breeze swept in from outside the door, causing the Empress Dowager to cough violently.

“Mother, please lie down and rest! You have been tired all day.” After stepping forward to close the door, Liu Qian'er gently helped the Empress Dowager lie down on the soft couch, pulled the quilt over her, and covered her tenderly. She asked with concern, “Should I summon the imperial physician to take a look?” She didn't understand what was happening to herself; she had clearly come here today to contend with the Empress Dowager, so why did she feel so worried now?

“There is no need, I will be fine after a nap.” The Empress Dowager slowly closed her eyes and spoke again, “Qian'er, do you blame me?”

Liu Qian'er froze for a moment, then replied with a smile, “I do not!”

The Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes and reached out to stroke Liu Qian'er's cheek. How lovely this person was before her eyes. Her parched lips slowly parted. “The day before yesterday, I summoned Qian'er's personal maid to serve me, and I slapped her mouth!”

“Qian'er already knows!” Liu Qian'er gave a beautiful smile. When she learned of this matter today, she had been very angry and wanted to seek justice for Hanyu. However, she didn't want to do that now; she believed that Hanyu would also forgive a mother in this way.

Slowly reaching out to hold the Empress Dowager's hand, she felt that it was ice-cold. A solemn expression flashed across her face as she said urgently, “Mother, your hands are so cold!”

“That maid of yours is a good maid; she constantly mentions you!” The Empress Dowager laughed happily and said, “It is nothing, I was born under the sign of the Snake, so my hands have always been cold.” It was just that this was the first time she had felt love, the first time she had felt someone's sincerity. She had never experienced this feeling before, not even from her beloved son, the Emperor, who doted on her a hundredfold.

Liu Qian'er replied thoughtfully, “Yes! Hanyu is very, very good.” Hanyu was the first person she had met since arriving in the Yuehan Dynasty, the first person to give her their true heart, and the first person to be good to her. She would remember her for the rest of her life.

“I am so sleepy, can you wait until I fall asleep before you leave?” The Empress Dowager looked at Liu Qian'er with pleading eyes. Having Liu Qian'er by her side made her feel very safe and at ease!

Looking at the Empress Dowager, Liu Qian'er nodded without hesitation. In the Yuehan Dynasty, the Empress Dowager was her mother-in-law, which meant she was her mother; this was what she ought to do.

A cool night...

The light breeze diluted the clamor of the mortal world. In its disordered fluttering, it quietly carried away the heat of the day, allowing the agitation suspended in one's heart to slowly subside.

The night was as quiet as a pool of water, as if all living creatures had already fallen asleep, and everything seemed so tranquil...

Watching the Empress Dowager gradually drift into sleep, Liu Qian'er breathed a small sigh of relief. She summoned a young palace maid to add another quilt for the Empress Dowager, and only after instructing the maid to keep a close watch did she depart.

The rain was slowly coming. Like millions of silver threads drifting down from the heavens.

The fine rain fell quietly and noiselessly, like countless silver threads spun by silkworms, with thousands of delicate strands swaying in mid-air.

Rain like mist, mist like rain, the strands entwined endlessly, and a fresh, moist fragrance permeated the air.

Liu Qian'er could not help but quicken her pace before finally coming to a stop. Hanging above the palace gate was a golden Phoebe zhennan wood plaque, upon which three large characters were written in a flowing, cursive style: 'Yilan Palace.'

Stepping quickly into Yilan Palace, she could faintly see the candlelight flickering in the sleeping quarters. She pushed open the door. Hanyu was slumped over the desk; upon entering, Liu Qian'er saw she had already fallen asleep. She reached out and took a cloak to cover Hanyu's body.

The night scenery on the heavenly steps was as cool as water. Inside the window, red candles flickered; outside the window, fine rain fell diagonally. Water accumulated and dripped quietly from the eaves, spreading into ripples on the ground, like a sigh or a lingering farewell. Liu Qian'er extinguished the candlelight, pushed open the creaking window, and sat on the edge of the soft couch with her knees hugged to her chest, gazing thoughtfully at the drifting rain outside...

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A word to the readers

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