The Double-Chapter 754 - 225: Immorality

In November, Yanjing City saw its first snowfall. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel-com

The snow was not heavy, but the weather had already turned bitterly cold. It was said that the mountains to the east had their paths sealed by snow, and hunters dared not venture into the mountains. Yet for the sake of making a living, some risked the danger to hunt. Nothing else mattered, for in this season, selling a single white wolf pelt to the wife of a wealthy family could fetch one hundred taels of silver.

For the sake of livelihood, people could bring themselves to do anything.

Outside the palace walls and on the eaves of the house roofs, a layer of white snow had settled, not as thick as in the deep winter, yet it hinted at a world cloaked in serene whiteness. The little eunuchs and little palace maids who had just entered the palace found it very novel, and they couldn’t resist stamping their feet in the snow as they swept the courtyards. Sometimes, when it was break time and no one was around, they would ball up the snow and playfully toss it at each other, finding quite a bit of amusement in it.

Those who were older didn’t share the same enthusiasm. In winter, people always became more prone to sentimentality, as if everything were hopeless. Observing these new palace maids, they could only shake their heads and sigh continuously. A future uncertain, year after year people enter the palace, and year after year people die. Do you not see how this pure white snow buries countless nameless bones beneath the ground? The palace, though magnificent and splendid, is filled with dangers. For them, perhaps the greatest fortune is to safely spend a few years, and at the end of their service, be released from the palace to marry, bear children, and lead a peaceful life.

The sound of chanting Buddhist scriptures in Cining Palace had become less frequent of late. Presumably, it was simply too cold; the Empress Dowager, sitting in the hall copying scripture, would find her hands and feet going numb after only a while, so the palace maids would hastily bring over a warmer for her to heat her hands.

"I’m getting old," the Empress Dowager sighed, saying, "Recently, my hands and feet are always cold."

"Perhaps the hall is a bit too cold," Mei Xiang replied, "Your servant will have people add more fine charcoal later."

The Empress Dowager smiled and did not speak, only lightly frowned and pressed her forehead. Mei Xiang said, "Would Her Majesty like to rest in the sleeping quarters for a while?"

"Okay," the Empress Dowager answered. Mei Xiang did as told and helped the Empress Dowager to the sleeping quarters. Just as they reached the door, the Empress Dowager paused and suddenly said, "Mei Xiang, stand guard at the door, don’t let anyone in."

Mei Xiang didn’t ask why, simply nodding and stepping out. The Empress Dowager then turned to the person inside.

At the side of her bed, someone was sitting, supporting himself with both hands behind his back, legs casually propped up on the chair. She was accustomed to luxury, her bed and mattress always of the finest, softest materials, but with this person sitting down, the bed sank significantly, appearing rather comical.

"Have you lost your mind? You even dare to come here," the Empress Dowager calmly said, struggling to hide the astonishment in her eyes.

That was a middle-aged man, ruggedly handsome in appearance and bearing a carefree grace not native to Yanjing City. At her words, he merely laughed, unconcerned, saying, "Roujia, it’s been a long time."

The Empress Dowager slightly trembled. "Roujia" was her private name, and in all the years since the Late Emperor’s passing, he had never called her that, unlike the man before her, who always referred to her by that name, regardless of her being Miss of the Lin Family, the Crown Princess Consort, or even the Empress or the current Empress Dowager.

This man was Yin Zhan.

The Prince of Xia County, brother of the Late Emperor, and the famed Zhaode General had thus intruded into the Empress Dowager’s sleeping quarters, still calling her with such intimacy.

The Empress Dowager’s demeanor, tranquil for so many years, now bore a slight crack; she even seemed a bit tense.

"Don’t worry," Yin Zhan said, "I came to meet with the Emperor, and when I came here, nobody noticed. You must trust my abilities. Roujia, you’re still so cautious."

The Empress Dowager coldly said, "After all, decades ago, I caused a great disaster due to a moment’s carelessness."

Yin Zhan was silent for a while before saying, "That’s all in the past."

"Not to me," the Empress Dowager said faintly, "For decades, I have been fasting and praying, all in an attempt to atone for the sins of those years."

"Oh?" Yin Zhan laughed, "And here I thought you were praying for me, hoping that I would stay safe and sound."

His words were utterly frivolous, causing the Empress Dowager to furrow her brows as she said, "I don’t understand what you are doing back here."

"Roujia," Yin Zhan’s smile faded, "You never want to speak your true heart. My reason for returning, isn’t it the same as yours all these years?"

The Empress Dowager replied, "I have no such purpose."

"You must have seen Zhili by now," Yin Zhan interrupted her, "He bears a strong resemblance to you."

The Empress Dowager’s body, previously composed, suddenly began to tremble uncontrollably, her steady poise until that moment, suddenly shattering.

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