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Even though this place was also on the official road where the relay station was situated, it was still separated from the relay station by a distance of two full miles.
Xiao Liulang came with the Emperor, but after they inquired about the whereabouts of Empress Dowager Zhuang and Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing at the relay station, they acted separately.
While Xiao Liulang found Gu Jiao, the Emperor also found Gu Chengfeng and Empress Dowager Zhuang.
The Emperor came with a thousand imperial guards and directly surrounded the entire forest, hunting Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing and all her assassins.
Although Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's assassins were formidable, they had no chance against an entire army, especially with the presence of Old Marquis and the Emperor's Dragon Shadow Guard. The situation was almost completely one-sided.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's assassins were almost completely wiped out, and Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing herself was captured.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing looked at the man on the horseback, pointing a long spear at her. She said, choking with emotion, "Let me go..."
Old Marquis tightened his grip on the long spear in his hand.
The imperial guards went to another place to hunt down the remaining assassins of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, leaving only Old Marquis here.
If he wanted to let her go, it would be as easy as turning his hand over, and no one would ever find out.
Tears filled Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's eyes as she pleaded, "The words I said to His Majesty that day were not sincere. In my heart..."
Old Marquis's long spear pierced into the soil beside her feet. Startled, she took several steps back, looking incredulously at the man who had yearned for her over the decades.
When a man loved deeply, it was like the vast sea. But when he turned heartless, it was also like an endless sea of ice.
Old Marquis took Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing back to the relay station.
When the Emperor saw that it was Gu Chao who had personally captured Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, his expression flickered slightly.
Old Marquis said nothing, he just saluted the Emperor and retreated into the forest to deal with the aftermath.
The Emperor sat in the best room of the relay station. Although it was said to be the best room, in reality, it wasn’t much better than a village house in the countryside.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's hands and feet were bound as she sat quietly in the official hat chair facing the Emperor, and beside the Emperor, the Dragon Shadow Guard stood guard.
The Emperor had already heard about the possible remnants of the previous dynasty from Empress Dowager Zhuang. He motioned to Eunuch Wei with his hand.
Understanding the Emperor's gesture, Eunuch Wei approached and lifted the left sleeve of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, revealing the symbol of the Crimson Flame— the dove blood tattoo.
The Emperor thought he would be shocked, but instead, he felt an unprecedented calmness. He even laughed and said, "...How disappointed Zhen must have been in imperial concubine mother to not even be surprised by the fact that she is truly a remnant of the previous dynasty?"
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing knew that the Emperor was no longer the obedient Hong'er from before, so she didn't waste her effort pretending to be wronged in front of him.
Seeing her indifference, the Emperor sneered and said, "Why aren't you crying, imperial concubine mother? Why don't you say to Zhen that Zhen has wronged you? Why don’t you explain this tattoo?"
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing chuckled, "If I explain, will you believe me?"
"So, imperial concubine mother doesn't even bother to put on an act." The Emperor responded. He no longer felt any pain for her in his heart, only an endless sense of desolation—— for himself, as well as for his imperial mother and Ning'an.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing let out a cold snort.
The Emperor suppressed his sadness and anger, and asked, "Was it your scheme for Ning'an to be married off to the borders... Was it you who arranged the marriage with that nobleman?"
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing didn't answer.
The Emperor gritted his teeth and continued, "Did imperial concubine mother send the Dragon Shadow Guards to the borders to kill Ning'an, or to incite rebellion?"
"I want to see Zhuang Jinse." Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing said coldly.
The Emperor angrily exclaimed, "Do you want to harm imperial mother again?"
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing calmly replied, "If you're concerned, just leave the Dragon Shadow Guard to watch over me. I won't utter a word in response to your questions, but if she comes to ask me, perhaps I'll be willing to speak."
The Emperor clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and coldly said, "Imperial concubine mother truly knows how to convince Zhen. Fine. Zhen will let you see imperial mother for the last time!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang, who had already gone to bed, was irritated to be suddenly called up.
With a grumpy expression, she stormed to the adjacent room where there was only Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing and the Dragon Shadow Guard of the Emperor.
Empress Dowager Zhuang took a seat on a chair and yawned, her tone impatient as she said, "What is it this time? Don't bring up your old stories to Aijia. Aijia is not interested in listening!"
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing: "It's not an old story, it's something I haven't yet told sister."
Empress Dowager Zhuang: "Aijia is not interested in your affairs."
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing: "It's sister's affairs."
Empress Dowager Zhuang: "Aijia is not interested in my own affairs either."
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing said with a smile, "Even if you're not interested, I still want to talk. After all, there might not be another chance for us to catch up after tonight, sister."
Empress Dowager Zhuang was annoyed, "Speak up if you have something to say; fart quickly if you need to."
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing was in a good mood because what she was about to say would surely make this woman miserable for the rest of her life!
She laughed and said, "Did the late Emperor know about sister's true character? If he did, you would have fallen out of favor long ago, right? Sister is really good at pretending."
Empress Dowager Zhuang got up and walked away.
She truly had no patience to listen to her brewing green tea here.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing spoke up, "It’s about sister's child!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang halted her steps.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing looked smugly at Empress Dowager Zhuang and said, "Does sister want to know where that child went?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang turned to look at her, her eyebrows furrowed, "What child are you talking about?"
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing laughed hysterically, her voice trembling, "It's your own flesh and blood, sister. Don't tell me you actually believed you gave birth to a stillborn infant?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang looked at her with a bewildered expression.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing laughed maniacally, even her shoulders trembled, "I knew sister would be shocked! You always thought you were so clever, didn’t you... but you never realized that the late Emperor had deceived you all along. Does sister want to know where her own flesh and blood has gone?"
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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