Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 407 The Conspiracy Behind Xiu Yang’s Renewed Favor (1)

After a few days of rumors swirling, Dugu Han could no longer sit idly by. He issued an imperial decree that anyone caught discussing the matter would be executed on the spot without pardon. Despite this, not even he could silence the relentless whispers.

Dugu Han had been troubled for several days. Since Zhuifeng went to investigate who was behind the poisoning, there had been no progress. The only clue was that a young woman, her face covered with a veil, had purchased something, but beyond that, all was unknown.

The scorching sun could not melt the frost on Dugu Han’s face. Unknowingly, he found himself walking towards the Moon Fairy Palace. Recalling Xiu Yang, a hint of regret surged in his heart. If only he hadn’t been so stubborn, he might have saved his child. Thoughts of the lost child brought a luster to his dull eyes, and for the first time in days, a joyful smile graced his face.

Dugu Han looked up at the gleaming golden characters of Moon Fairy Palace atop the palace gates, realizing that the previously lively Moon Fairy Palace had become eerily quiet.

He had once decreed that no one in the palace was allowed to visit the princess. For a while, the other concubines were quite curious. Everyone was speculating—having just been promoted to the first-rank wife and carrying the heir to the Dragon Throne, why such an imperial decree? Some thought it was to protect the heir; others believed she had fallen out of favor. There were even whispers that the princess had secretly liaised with another, bearing an illegitimate child. Rumors abounded, yet oddly enough, the emperor himself had never uttered a word, and the princess remained behind closed doors.

In a side hall of the Moon Fairy Palace, Xiu Yang sat near a window, carefully embroidering something in her hands. After the witch princess departed, having drunk the medicine she left behind, Xiu Yang had recuperated for several days, feeling all previous discomfort vanish. Now, other than weakness, she felt quite well. Joy does wonders to the spirit, and knowing Dugu Han could not procreate, Xiu Yang’s heart swelled with happiness, which hastened her recovery.

Suddenly, she heard the astonished cry of ’Long Live the Emperor’ from outside the hall. The hand holding the embroidery frame paused slightly, a trace of sarcastic smile appearing on her somewhat pale face.

Dugu Han entered the hall, seeing her sitting peacefully there, focused on her embroidery. With a sneer and scornful curl of his lip, he mockingly said, "It seems the beloved concubine still has this hobby?"

At the sound, Xiu Yang turned her head slowly, gazing calmly at the gloomy-faced Dugu Han. She slightly curled the corners of her mouth, "This concubine has many interests, it’s just that the emperor has never discovered them."

Dugu Han watched her calm expression as if the torment wasn’t affecting her, and narrowed his eyes, pinching her chin, "It seems you’re living quite comfortably here."

Meeting his bloodshot eyes, she offered a faint smile, "Thanks to the emperor’s grace, I’ve been able to enjoy such leisure."

"You should be grateful, for I have not killed you." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"This concubine deeply appreciates Your Majesty’s immense grace," she said, meeting his penetrating gaze and slightly raising her eyebrows.

Dugu Han stared deeply at her for a moment, then released her chin and picked up the embroidery she had been working on. The sight of a charming pair of children embroidered on the fabric caught his eye—the boy looked naive, the girl adorable, both showing their tiny teeth in a broad, joyful laugh, their large eyes curiously observing the world, a delightful sight.

Dugu Han was visually reminded by this scene of his own loss—if not for Xiu Bingxi’s betrayal, his child would not have died. Angered, he threw away the eye-catching embroidery and turned to her, "I’m giving you a chance. If you cooperate with me, your life in the palace will get better in the future."

"And if I don’t?" Xiu Yang frowned slightly as she asked.

Dugu Han’s chilly eyes swept over her, and he chuckled coldly, "Heh, your life would be worse than death."