Return of the Pearl

After Ziwei heard the rumors about Xiao Yun in the Bachelor's Mansion, her heart seemed to be tightly gripped, and worry and anxiety surged into her heart like a tide. She did not have time to think too much and resolutely decided to go to the palace to visit Xiao Yun immediately, for fear of any delay.

As she set foot on the road to the palace, she was struck by the strange silence surrounding her, a stark contrast to the usual bustle. This intensified Ziwei's confusion, as she wondered why everything was so strange today. Had something earth-shattering happened? Just as she was filled with doubts and her thoughts were in turmoil, she suddenly heard some shocking news.

Concubine Gong was thrown into the oil pan, several concubines were executed by slow slicing, and the palace maids were torn into pieces by five horses... These words were like bursts of thunder, exploding in Ziwei's ears, making her feel as if struck by lightning. She stood there motionless, her eyes wide open, full of fear and disbelief, her mouth slightly open, as if she wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

Ziwei's face instantly turned pale as paper, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her body trembled involuntarily, like a leaf swaying in the wind.

Ziwei's brows were tightly furrowed, revealing deep sadness and confusion. Tears were welling up in her eyes and could burst out at any time. Her heart was filled with compassion for those innocent lives, and she felt extremely shocked and painful about this sudden cruel reality.

Ziwei didn't know how to face all this, nor did she know whether Xiao Yun was safe now. Her heart was filled with helplessness and confusion, as if she was in a dark abyss, unable to find a ray of light and hope.

Deep in Ziwei's heart, the Emperor has always been like a towering mountain, tall and majestic, yet full of kindness and wisdom. However, this time, what the Emperor did was like a thunderclap, exploding in Ziwei's heart, making her feel extremely shocked and difficult to accept.

Such cruel behavior was far from the image of the emperor in her mind. It made her heart feel as if it was torn apart and she was in great pain. With extremely complicated feelings, she walked slowly towards the Changshou Palace with heavy steps as if she was carrying a thousand-pound burden.

The moment Xiao Yun saw Ziwei, her eyes were immediately attracted by the paleness of her face and the unusual expression on her face. A wave of worry surged in her heart, and she quickly waved her hand gently to dismiss the palace maids around her.

Then, she walked briskly to Ziwei, her eyes filled with concern and anxiety. She asked in a voice so gentle that it seemed to melt ice and snow, "Ziwei, what's wrong with you? What happened?"

Ziwei bit her lips tightly, as if they were about to bleed. Her heart was full of contradictions and struggles. Countless words were surging in her mind, but she could not speak them.

Ziwei hesitated for a long time before finally mustering up the courage to speak with difficulty, "Xiao Yun, did you know that the Emperor ordered the execution of the concubines in the harem?"

Xiao Yun nodded slightly, a trace of helplessness and sadness on his face. He sighed softly and said, "I know, and this matter was caused by me."

Ziwei widened her eyes and stared at Xiao Yun closely. Her heart was full of confusion. That puzzled look seemed to tell of her disappointment in Xiao Yun. She really couldn't understand why Xiao Yun was so indifferent to the lives of the people in the harem and seemed to have no mercy at all.

Ziwei then raised her voice in agitation, demanding, "Xiao Yun, why don't you try to persuade the Emperor? What he's doing is truly against the will of Heaven! What a detrimental impact this will have on his reputation! Those people are innocent, this is truly cruel! They shouldn't have suffered such a fate!"

Xiao Yun listened quietly to Ziwei's words. A complex emotion flashed across her eyes: helplessness, emotion, and a subtle sadness. After a moment's silence, she slowly spoke, "Ziwei, do you know how powerful rumors are? They are like invisible blades that can hurt people deeply without them even realizing it.

How could you claim innocence? Think about it, if Hongli hadn't issued an imperial decree granting your marriage, could you imagine what would have happened if it had been exposed? Even if you were Hongli's biological daughter, the rumors about you wouldn't have diminished in the slightest.

"Just like your mother, Xia Yuhe, haven't she endured enough gossip and rumors? The harem has never been a peaceful and tranquil place. It's filled with struggle and calculation, a tangle of power and desire. In such an environment, who can truly remain unscathed?" Her voice was filled with a hint of melancholy, as if she were telling of the helplessness and sorrow of fate.

Ziwei listened quietly to Xiao Yun's words and fell into deep thought. Her eyes were slightly lowered, and her thick eyelashes trembled gently like a small fan, casting a faint shadow on her fair cheek.

In her mind, the words that Concubine Yu said that day kept replaying like a movie. Her resolute expression seemed to be still vivid. She once wanted to sentence herself and Erkang to death. If it were not for the timely appearance of the Emperor, how could she and Erkang have such a happy life today?

Thinking of this, Ziwei felt a surge of guilt and self-blame in her heart. She bit her lower lip tightly, and her lips trembled slightly, as if she was fighting against her inner struggle.

After a while, she slowly raised her head and looked at Xiao Yun, her eyes filled with apology and regret. She whispered softly, "I'm sorry, Xiao Yun. Don't try to persuade others to do good without having experienced their suffering. I was too prejudiced. You're right. If something like this happened to me, perhaps I wouldn't say it so nonchalantly. It's best that the Emperor can protect you."

After Xiao Yun and Ziwei started talking, the two continued chatting for a long time. During this process, Ziwei's face gradually returned to its usual cheerful and cheerful look. Sometimes the corners of her mouth turned up, revealing a bright smile, which was as beautiful as a flower blooming in spring; sometimes she looked at Xiao Yun and smiled, with sincere and deep emotions flashing in her eyes, which seemed to be able to travel through time and space and closely connect the two people's hearts.

Ziwei's body gradually relaxed. Sometimes she swayed her body gently, like a flower swaying in the wind; sometimes she fiddled with the corners of her clothes gently with her hands, and her movements revealed a hint of playfulness and cuteness.

Xiao Yunze kept looking at Ziwei gently, her eyes full of concern. She patted Ziwei's hand from time to time. The movement was gentle and warm, as if conveying endless comfort and support. There was always a faint smile on the corner of her mouth, and that smile was as warm as the spring breeze, making people feel extremely warm and at ease.

The whole scene was filled with warmth and harmony, as if time had stopped for them. Everything seemed so beautiful and peaceful. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers, which seemed to be cheering for their friendship.