Chapter 148: Twilight

Xie Nandu bent down to pick up the scattered food and stuffed them back into Zhu Xia's arms. She also took out a small bun and stuffed it into Zhu Xia's mouth.

"He's indeed quite remarkable."

Xie Nandu commented, then she came to the lakeside carrying a bag of food. Wei Xu was still there, standing in the same spot the entire time. He never moved at all.

As the current overseer of this microcosm, it was actually quite laborious. How could it be as easy as it appeared on the surface?

Xie Nandu handed over the bag of food and looked at the fine beads of sweat on Wei Xu's forehead. She said, "Senior Brother, you've worked hard."

Wei Xu took the bag and said with a smile, "It's a disciple's duty to serve his Teacher when needed. This is something that can't be helped."

"Can Senior Brother last for ten days?"

Xie Nandu was quite curious.

Wei Xu smiled and said, "It's not that difficult. This microcosm is only the size of a county. Forget about ten days, even if it's 100 days, it won't matter too."

Xie Nandu nodded in agreement. Although she had read many books, there were still many things she did not know.

Seeing that Xie Nandu did not have any further questions after asking this question, Wei Xu thought for a moment and smiled, "Does Junior Sister want to know the current situation inside?"

Xie Nandu shook her head and said, "No."

This piqued Wei Xu's curiosity, and he asked, "Isn't Junior Sister worried about that young man?"

Xie Nandu still shook her head and said, "Since he said that he'll win, then I believe he'll take first place."

Wei Xu said, "Even if it's a daunting challenge?"

Xie Nandu said, "Before I participated in the literary exam, who would have believed that I could win?"

Wei Xu said seriously, "I've always believed in Junior Sister."

Xie Nandu smiled and did not say anything more.

However, soon she furrowed her brows and turned her head towards the lakeside.

There was a figure standing there, watching her.

Xie Nandu fell silent for a moment, then walked towards the person.

"Eunuch Li."

Xie Nandu spoke up.

Li Heng glanced at Xie Nandu and whispered, "The empress invites Miss Xie to enter the palace."

Xie Nandu looked at Li Heng and asked, "Now?"

Li Heng nodded.

Xie Nandu nodded her head, "Please wait, Eunuch Li. I'll return to the academy and tidy up my appearance."

Li Heng, who used to be easy-going, shook his head upon hearing this and said softly, "Miss, please come with me quickly. The empress cannot wait any longer."

When he said this, there was a hint of sorrow in his eyes.

Xie Nandu was taken aback, looking at Li Heng rather disbelievingly.

Li Heng nodded slightly, which already informed her of the answer.

Xie Nandu frowned.

......

......

Inside the imperial city, it was extremely quiet at the moment.

The palace attendants dared not make a sound, and the eunuchs were even trembling in fear.

In these past few days, everyone could feel the current mood of the Emperor, so no one wanted to make any mistakes at this time, and they certainly did not want to incur the Emperor's anger.

Li Heng led Xie Nandu past the palace walls. This time, his footsteps were much quicker.

There was a sense of urgency.

The entire imperial city knew that time was running out.

Xie Nandu did not speak. When she saw that Empress before, she noticed that her complexion was not good and her health was poor. However, she never expected that in such a short period of time, the Empress would actually deteriorate to such a point.

This was not a simple case of being bedridden; it was something more serious than that.

Listening to Li Heng's implication, it seemed that the Empress's current condition was critical and time was running out.

Thinking about this matter, Xie Nandu felt a headache and some sadness too. While a grand event like the Myriad Willow Convention was currently taking place, everyone's attention was focused on that, but who knew that within this imperial city, an even greater incident was currently about to happen.

As Xie Nandu stepped into the sleeping chamber, she saw a tall figure passing by in front of her. She instinctively wanted to bow, but she only heard a voice saying, "Hurry in."

It was the Emperor of Great Liang speaking. He quickly left the sleeping chamber, but he would surely be nearby.

Xie Nandu walked in.

The talismans that radiated heat had already been removed. At present, this sleeping chamber appeared icy-cold, just like some places.

She approached the empress' bedside and took a look.

Then, she felt rather sad.

The Empress before her was already very frail, looking like an elderly person on the brink of death.

Xie Nandu called out softly, "Your Majesty."

The Empress only slowly opened her eyes after a long time and looked at Xie Nandu before her.

Her eyes were very cloudy at this moment, but still filled with love. She looked like a benevolent and compassionate elder.

Xie Nandu squatted down in front of the bed and just gazed at her like this.

This was merely the second time that these two have met.

The Empress looked at her and said rather laboriously, "Have you eaten?"

Xie Nandu nodded her head.

"I've made things difficult for you by asking you to enter the palace at this time. How's the martial exam going? How is that child doing?"

The Empress spoke slowly, almost needing to rest after saying each sentence. It was truly difficult for her.

Xie Nandu said softly, "Your Majesty, he is currently in the first place, but it hasn't been long since it started."

The Empress said with some relief, "Being in the first place or not doesn't matter, as long as he comes back safe and sound."

Xie Nandu nodded and did not say anything.

The Empress smiled and said, "You must be curious why I summoned you to the palace at this time."

Xie Nandu looked at the Empress and said, "I'm all ears to your guidance, Your Majesty."

The Empress said, "You are very beautiful, just like my little sister."

She spoke with great effort, but still appeared calm. Xie Nandu silently pondered that the current Empress only seemed to have one younger sister, who was currently cultivating in a Buddhist nunnery outside the Divine Capital.

The Empress knew what she was thinking and shook her head, saying, "It's not that person, it's another one. Not many people know about her. She was the illegitimate daughter my father brought back from outside; a disgraceful secret. My mother never acknowledged her throughout her life and our family was never close to her. It's just that she talked to me more frequently and really treated me as an elder sister."

The Empress was the daughter of the Northern Frontier's Great General. Given her noble background, it was naturally disgraceful for that Great General to have an illegitimate daughter. Moreover, the Empress was supposed to marry the prince back then, who was also the current Emperor. Such a thing naturally could not be known to the public.

When it came to matters of face, especially involving the imperial family, it was even more sensitive.

Xie Nandu did not know what to say. Even if the Empress wanted to reveal such a secret, it should not be said to her too. However, since the Empress had spoken, there must be a reason.

"That girl lived a miserable life outside. After the death of her biological mother, no one took care of her anymore. Father had no choice but to bring her back to the manor. That day, she looked at me timidly, and I knew she was actually a very good girl. After that, no matter how the people in the manor disliked her, I often went to play with her and treated her to delicious food. Although she wasn't born of my mother, she's my little sister too, and I have a responsibility as an elder sister."

"Your Majesty is naturally a kind-hearted person."

Xie Nandu asked softly, "Where is this lady now?"

As she listened, the Empress fell silent for a moment, shook her head, and whispered, "She has already passed away. The first half of her life was extremely difficult, and the second half was supposed to be better because she married quite well, although as a concubine. But that family was wealthy and influential, why would they mistreat her? She just had to endure some bullying from the legal wife."

Xie Nandu remained silent.

"If that was the case, even if she had lived her entire life peacefully like that, it wouldn't be considered bad either. But who could have known that one day she would face a great calamity? Her husband passed away early and the legal wife's son inherited the family business. She was pregnant at that time and gave birth to a son. Being a widow with an orphaned child, she naturally became a target for bullying. How could such days be comfortable?"

The Empress said with vicissitudes of emotion, "I learned about this matter and wanted to bring her back to the Divine Capital to take care good care of her. However, her temper was too stubborn."

Xie Nandu opened her mouth and asked softly, "Your Majesty?"

The Empress nodded and smiled, "It's the same as what you're thinking."

Xie Nandu was silent for a while, unsure of what to say.

The Empress whispered, "None of them know it, but I knew it was him with just one glance."

Xie Nandu felt the jade bracelet on her wrist and suddenly did not know what to say.

She felt a chill in her heart.

That was a fear that emerged from nowhere.