The Emperor's uncle loves me! My paranoid wife, don't run away

Biluo's eyes widened, filled with fear and anxiety, and she clutched the sleeves of King Xiang tightly, her knuckles turning white, as if she would lose something irretrievable if she let go.

The Prince of Xiang seemed unusually calm, with a hint of indifference between his brows, as if he had already anticipated this moment.

He turned his head to the voice outside the door and responded: "Well, I'll be right out."

Then, he leaned over and took Biluo into his arms, gently patting her back with his warm palms, and whispered in her ear in a low and soft voice.

"Hide, and at noon tomorrow, release the black bird in the cage, and then hide again. Don't come out, do you hear me?"

Biluo's body trembled slightly, tears flashed in her eyes, she bit her lower lip with difficulty and nodded firmly.

Outside the door, Eunuch Qian urged again: "Your Majesty, His Majesty is waiting."

Prince Xiang let go of Biluo and looked down at her, his eyes gentle yet deep, as if he wanted to engrave her appearance into his heart.

He reached out and stroked her cheek, wiped away her tears, and whispered, "Be good, don't cry. Remember my words."

Under the candlelight, Biluo's eyes were filled with tears, and she choked up as she agreed, "Okay..."

The King of Xiang smiled slightly, and there was a hint of relief and determination in that smile.

He stood up and walked calmly towards the door. His figure seemed even taller and lonelier under the candlelight.

When I pushed the door open, cold wind rushed in instantly, sweeping away the last bit of warmth in the house.

Eunuch Qian stood outside the door, his brows showing a hint of anxiety, but he did not dare to urge too much, and whispered: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid His Majesty has been waiting for a long time."

"Let's go." King Xiang responded softly and looked up at the deep night sky. The moonlight obscured by dark clouds made it impossible to see the road ahead clearly.

He turned his back to the house and did not look back.

Inside the house, Biluo stood beside the flickering candlelight, her face covered with tears, but she dared not make any sound.

The wind blew, the window screens fluttered gently, the candle flame flickered slightly, and finally it stabilized its light, but the light seemed to lack some warmth.

……

Inside Ruifu Palace, the atmosphere was depressing and even the air was chilly.

Concubine Jing suddenly stopped moving, her hand holding the apple suspended in mid-air, her eyes staring through the window screen outside the palace wall.

The moonlight outside the window was completely blocked by dark clouds, not even a single ray of light could shine in, as if the entire palace was plunged into bottomless darkness.

"Mother..." Luo Yuyao called softly, with a hint of uneasiness, "Did something happen?"

Concubine Jing turned her head, restrained her expression, and a perfunctory smile appeared on her face. "No, don't think about it."

Having said that, she did not pick up the apple. Instead, she stood up, walked to the window, gently pulled aside the curtains, and the breeze made her shiver.

The eldest princess died, General Hao's wife died, and the palace was now in a mess, giving her the illusion that a change of dynasty was about to take place.

"This palace... is already too cold." Her tone was so light that it seemed as if she was talking to herself, but also as if she was talking to Luo Yuyao.

Luo Yuyao looked at her in confusion. For some reason, she always felt that there was some deeper meaning behind these words.

At this moment, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the door, accompanied by the maid's announcement, "Your Highness, there is a letter."

Concubine Jing turned her head suddenly, her eyes became sharp, "Bring it in!"

A moment later, a guard respectfully presented a letter.

Concubine Jing took the letter, her fingertips trembling slightly.

She opened the letter, glanced at it, and her face suddenly turned pale. The handwriting on the letter was short, but it was like a dagger, piercing her heart.

Luo Xunbei saw that Concubine Jing looked upset, so he stepped forward and asked, "Mother, what happened?"

Imperial Concubine Jing quickly put the letter away, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her tone, "Nothing, go and rest."

Luo Xunbei wanted to ask more, but was stopped by Concubine Jing's cold look.

He didn't dare to say anything more and could only retreat silently with Luo Yuyao.

Concubine Jing looked at the letter in her hand with a complicated look in her eyes, as if hiding countless entanglements and forbearances.

"Prince Xiang..." She murmured in a low voice, her voice full of fatigue and coldness, "I'm afraid this game of chess is too big."

"If King Ruyang knew about this..."

The wind outside the window was blowing faster, and the candlelight was flickering, making Concubine Jing's face appear bright and dark, as if covered by a cold veil.

After a long time, Concubine Jing handed the letter to the candlelight with an expressionless face. The flames licked the paper and spread rapidly.

"When the time comes, control Shen Runing."

The words gradually curled up as the paper burned, and finally turned into ashes and scattered in the wind.

Concubine Jing stared at the disappearing black smoke, her eyes as silent as a deep pool, difficult to fathom. The candlelight reflected on her face, but failed to dispel the gloom between her brows.

She raised her hand and gently rubbed her temple, her eyes falling back to the window. The dark night seemed to overwhelm her mind and make her breathless.

Shen Runing, this name once made her want to get closer to and win over him.

But King Xiang...

She narrowed her eyes slightly, and the resolute face of King Xiang and his unfathomable eyes appeared in her mind.

The King of Xiang is always one step ahead in chess. If he really wins...

The balance between the two forces was precarious, and she could only stand on this dividing line, hesitating.

On an early summer night, the wind blew through the window lattices of Ruifu Palace with a hint of coolness, lifted the gauze curtains, then passed through the crimson corridor and disappeared into the depths of the night.

The wind was gentle yet persistent, as if it was spying on the secrets in the deep courtyard of the imperial palace.

In the queen's bedroom, the candlelight was dim, the curtains were drawn low, and a quiet and depressing atmosphere filled the room.

The queen was wearing a gold-embroidered satin dress and was pacing slowly back and forth, with a hint of uneasiness in her expression.

She dismissed her attendants and turned to look at Nanny Pan behind her, her eyes filled with mixed emotions.

"Mammy..." Her voice was low and hoarse, her tone was full of repression, "Tell me, the eldest princess...why did she die?"

Nanny Pan frowned slightly, her expression a little solemn, and whispered: "Your Highness, you must not talk too much about the Princess' affairs, especially in this palace, where there are many people watching. Your Highness must be cautious."

But the queen did not listen to the advice. Her eyes were dazed, as if she was immersed in some memories or fear.

She suddenly murmured in a low voice: "But Your Majesty... Why does Your Majesty look at me like that?"

When she said this, her voice trembled uncontrollably, and she looked straight at Aunt Pan, her eyes filled with anger and grievance.

"Could it be... that Your Majesty suspects me?!" She raised her voice, as if she wanted to confirm something, but also as if she didn't dare to accept this possibility.

Nanny Pan stepped forward quickly, held the queen's arm, and comforted her, "Your Highness, please don't let your imagination run wild."

"But the look in his eyes..." The queen shook her head, still unable to let go, "It was so cold, so piercing, as if he wanted to eat me alive!"

Nanny Pan sighed and advised softly, "Your Majesty, the situation in the palace is complicated. The eldest princess died suddenly, so His Majesty will naturally be suspicious..."

"or……"

Nanny Pan hesitated to speak.

The Queen cast her eyes on Nanny Pan's face again.

"Or what?"

Nanny Pan had followed the queen for many years, so she just gritted her teeth and stamped her feet.

"Or maybe His Majesty is not suspicious of you, Your Majesty..."

"It's Lord Sikong..."

The Queen frowned in confusion.

"My father??"