bookcurios Chapter 202 2 years ago
Chapter 202 2 years ago
Chapter 202 Twenty Years Ago
The night was dark, and the moonlight sprinkled like water on the glazed tiles of the palace, reflecting a cold glow.
Feng Qingyue walked alone on the corridor leading to the Empress Dowager's bedroom, her steps light but firm.
---
In the Queen Mother's bedroom, the flickering candlelight illuminated her slightly tired face.
She was sitting on the couch, holding a book in her hands, but her expression was a little absent-minded.
Two palace maids stood aside, lowering their heads and looking submissive, not daring to make a sound.
Feng Qingyue walked to the door of the bedroom. Seeing this, a palace maid hurried forward to salute. Her voice was respectful but a little nervous: "Goddess, the Queen Mother has gone to bed. If you have anything to do, why not wait until tomorrow..."
Before the maid could finish her words, Feng Qingyue had already pushed the door open and walked in. She looked directly at the Queen Mother and said in a calm but somewhat cold voice, "Queen Mother, I haven't seen you for a few days. You have lost a lot of weight."
The Queen Mother was slightly stunned, then looked up at Feng Qingyue, a hint of surprise and vigilance flashing in her eyes.
She put down the book in her hand and said with a hint of sarcasm in her tone, "An Qingyue, what are you doing here? Are you here to laugh at my family?"
Feng Qingyue's expression was indifferent, and her tone was calm: "Your Majesty, you are worrying too much. Qingyue is not that bored. I came here today just to ask you something."
The Queen Mother sneered, her eyes filled with disdain. "Oh? You're so popular right now that even I've been imprisoned in this palace by you and the Emperor. Is there anything else you need to ask me?"
Feng Qingyue ignored the Queen Mother's ridicule and slowly approached, her tone somewhat tentative: "Queen Mother, do you still remember the Zizhu Family from twenty years ago?"
The Queen Mother's hand trembled violently, and the book slipped from her hand, falling to the ground with a slight sound.
Her face turned pale instantly and a trace of panic flashed in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.
She forced herself to remain calm, her voice a little unnatural: "Zizhu Family? Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
Feng Qingyue's gaze was like a knife, closely watching the changes in the Queen Mother's expression, and her tone was somewhat pressing: "Queen Mother, it seems that you still remember. Then you should know why the Zizhu family was exterminated back then?"
The Queen Mother's expression became even uglier, and her fingers unconsciously clenched her sleeves.
She avoided Feng Qingyue's gaze, her voice a little flustered, "An Qingyue, where did you hear all this? The Zizhu family incident happened many years ago."
Feng Qingyue sneered, her tone tinged with sarcasm: "Queen Dowager, it's already now, is there anything that cannot be said?"
The Queen Mother's expression suddenly darkened, and her voice was filled with a hint of majesty: "An Qingyue, what is your attitude?"
Feng Qingyue's eyes were cold and she refused to give in. "Queen Dowager, Qingyue isn't questioning me. I just want to know the truth. Are the hundreds of lives of the Zizhu Family supposed to disappear in such an unclear manner?"
The Queen Mother's expression changed constantly, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.
She was silent for a moment, then finally sighed, her tone a little tired. "An Qingyue, there are some things where knowing too much isn't good for you. The Zizhu family matter has long been settled, so why pursue it further?"
Feng Qingyue's voice was cold and firm: "Queen Dowager, as a descendant of the Zizhu family, don't you have the responsibility to find out the truth of what happened back then?"
The Queen Mother's pupils suddenly shrank, and her voice was filled with shock: "You...you are a descendant of the Zizhu family?"
Feng Qingyue nodded slightly, with a hint of coldness in her eyes: "What do you think?"
The Queen Mother was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, her laughter tinged with sadness and self-mockery: "Hahahaha... A descendant of the Zizhu family? An Qingyue, you are actually a descendant of the Zizhu family? How ironic... How ironic!"
Her laughter echoed in the bedroom, with a hint of madness and despair.
The two palace maids lowered their heads in fear, not daring to make a sound.
Feng Qingyue looked at the Queen Mother coldly, without a trace of emotion in her eyes: "What are you laughing at?"
The Queen Mother stopped laughing, her eyes filled with sarcasm and self-mockery: "I laugh at myself, at this fate! For so many years, I have put in so much effort, but in the end, it's nothing but a joke! The descendants of the Zizhu family actually grew up under my nose, and they even imprisoned me in this palace with their own hands! Hahahaha... What a joke!"
Feng Qingyue's eyes were cold, and her tone was a bit demanding: "Please explain clearly, what do you mean? Who else is there?"
The Queen Mother's expression suddenly darkened, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.
She was silent for a moment, then finally shook her head, her voice filled with helplessness. "An Qingyue, I won't say anything. This matter involves too much, and knowing too much will not benefit you."
Feng Qingyue sneered, her tone tinged with sarcasm, "Queen Dowager, are you afraid? Afraid that the dignity of the imperial family will be damaged after the truth is revealed?"
The Queen Mother's face turned pale instantly, and her voice was filled with anger: "An Qingyue! You are too presumptuous!"
Feng Qingyue refused to give in, her eyes as cold as ice: "Qingyue just wants the truth. If you don't want to tell me, Qingyue will investigate. But by then, I'm afraid things won't be so simple."
The Queen Mother's expression suddenly darkened, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.
She was silent for a moment, then finally sighed, her voice a little tired: "Go away. I'm tired."
Feng Qingyue's eyes were cold, and her tone was filled with determination: "Qingyue will take her leave. But this matter will never be let go."
---
After saying that, Feng Qingyue turned and left, her back looking cold and resolute.
The Queen Mother sat on the couch, looking at her back with a complicated expression, a trace of pain and helplessness in her eyes.
She murmured softly: "Lan Yingxue, you... should be very happy."
---
Feng Qingyue walked out of the Queen Mother's bedroom, and the night breeze blew across her cheek, bringing a hint of coolness.
Just then, a familiar figure slowly walked towards from the end of the corridor.
Lan Xuanming walked up to Feng Qingyue, his eyes fell on her slightly tired face, and his voice was low and gentle: "Ayue, it's so late, why haven't you rested yet?"
Feng Qingyue looked up at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
She nodded slightly, her tone calm but with a hint of distance: "Isn't the king taking a break too?"
Lan Xuanming chuckled softly, his eyes filled with a hint of doting: "I just finished dealing with government affairs and wanted to go out for a walk. I didn't expect to meet you."
He paused, his eyes testing hers. "Ayue, did you just... go to see the Queen Mother? Was it about your mother?"
Feng Qingyue was slightly stunned, and a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes.
She shook her head, her tone calm but somewhat tentative: "No, I went to ask the Queen Mother about the Zizhu family."
After Feng Qingyue finished speaking, she looked at him. How much did the king know about the Zizhu family?
Lan Xuanming was silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice, "The Zizhu family... I heard about them from the elders in the palace when I was a child. It's said that they were an aristocratic family that was wiped out twenty years ago, but I don't know what exactly happened."
He paused, his tone filled with helplessness. "I once asked my father and mother about this matter, but they forbade me to mention it and even reprimanded me harshly. Since then, I have never dared to ask any more questions."
Feng Qingyue's voice trembled a little: "Even you don't know the truth?"
Lan Xuanming's gaze suddenly darkened, and a trace of pain and helplessness flashed in his eyes.
He was silent for a moment, and finally shook his head: "Ayue, this matter involves too many things. Why do you suddenly want to ask about the Zizhu family?"
Feng Qingyue looked a little sad. She lowered her head, her voice a little suppressed. "I just... a friend asked me to ask for help. She has some connection with the Zizhu family and wants to know what happened back then."
Lan Xuanming looked at her expression, a trace of heartache flashing in his eyes.
He asked softly, "Ayue, is this person... important to you?"
Feng Qingyue raised her head but didn't answer. "Your Majesty, should the hundreds of lives of the Zizhu family just disappear in such an unclear manner? My friend...she just wants justice for the family."
Lan Xuanming's expression suddenly darkened, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
He was silent for a moment, then finally sighed, his voice firm: "Ayue, I will help you investigate this matter. No matter what the truth is, I will give you an explanation."
Feng Qingyue's expression moved slightly, and a hint of gratitude flashed in her eyes.
She whispered, "Thank you, my Lord."
Lan Xuanming shook his head gently, his eyes filled with tenderness: "Ayue, I am your uncle! This is what I should do."