In front of Ruixiang Palace, Xiao Chang finally left in dejection.
Not everyone could withstand the Crown Princess’s sharp tongue, and if they could withstand her tongue, the Crown Princess still had her legs.
It’s just that those of royal blood must fight to survive – resolve one battle, and there’s always another.
Sure enough, not long after, the Empress Dowager summoned her. Eunuch Li Gui, the head steward of Ronghe Palace, personally came to escort her.
Before leaving, Tie Ci changed from her moon-white robe into a pure black fitted outfit, with a cloak draped over it.
Every time she went to see the Empress Dowager, she mostly wore dark-colored clothing. Everyone was used to this sight, except for Little Bug, the eunuch who served her personal garments, who would grumble as usual: “Wearing black is one thing, but wearing so many layers – aren’t you afraid of the heat?”
Tie Ci pinched his tender cheek and playfully sang in theatrical style: “Slanted wind and light rain bring spring’s chill—”
She drifted away gracefully, while Little Bug looked at the blazing sun overhead with an infatuated expression.
“Come out! Bring in the clothes! Her Highness said it will definitely rain tonight!”
Tie Ci had no idea that her devoted fan Little Bug treated her like a weather forecast. When she reached a corner not far from Ronghe Palace, she suddenly stopped and glanced at the rustling flower trees: “Xiao Xiao, is that you?”
Behind the trees, silence reigned for a moment before someone quietly emerged, head hanging heavily, steps taken with difficulty, looking as if he was about to jump off a cliff at any moment.
Tie Ci wasn’t surprised.
This was Gu Xiaoxiao, son of the Minister of Revenue and a severe social anxiety sufferer.
Tie Ci said to the group of eunuchs behind her who appeared to be guards but were actually escorts: “All of you, move farther away.”
Everyone knew about Young Master Gu’s condition and didn’t dare go far, so they all turned around.
Suddenly Gu Xiaoxiao’s sky cleared, the sun brightened, and his whole body relaxed. He quickly came over and grabbed Tie Ci’s sleeve: “You’re going to the Empress Dowager’s palace? I’ll go with you.”
Tie Ci looked at her childhood friend who had grown up playing in the mud with her and laughed: “Why do you dare go to the Empress Dowager’s place today? Don’t you fear Ronghe Palace the most?”
“Look what you’re saying.” Gu Xiaoxiao blinked. “Is there anywhere I don’t fear?”
Tie Ci laughed heartily and patted his shoulder: “Alright, don’t go to Ronghe Palace, or you’ll freeze up like a zombie and I won’t be able to carry you. Wait for me in my palace – I’ll be done soon.” She whispered in Gu Xiaoxiao’s ear: “Keep an eye on the people in my palace. Don’t let anyone tell my mother consort about me going to the Empress Dowager.”
Gu Xiaoxiao knew her temperament and didn’t say anything. He nodded and stepped aside two paces. Li Gui came forward and humbly bowed to Gu Xiaoxiao, who immediately retreated three steps. Li Gui twitched at the corner of his mouth – he didn’t expect a return bow from this one, much less conversation. Just as he was about to proceed, he heard Gu Xiaoxiao stammer: “…Li… Elder Li… Please… look after… Later I… I… I have…”
It took him forever to get through one sentence. Li Gui maintained his half-bow position and broke out in a sweat, wishing he could finish the sentence for him. It was Tie Ci who resolved the situation: “Elder, please rise. You understand Xiao Xiao’s meaning.”
Li Gui breathed a sigh of relief, secretly massaging his back, and smiled at Gu Xiaoxiao: “The Empress Dowager has always been fond of Her Highness. Please don’t worry.”
Gu Xiaoxiao lowered his eyelashes and quickly retreated again, watching the group disappear into the distance before heading toward Ruixiang Palace with a dazed expression.
Here, when Tie Ci stepped through the gates of Ronghe Palace, she didn’t see the Empress Dowager directly. The head nanny beside the Empress Dowager said she was requested to go to the small Buddhist hall, making Tie Ci twitch at the corner of her mouth.
With a creaking sound, the heavy doors opened. Sunlight could not penetrate the small Buddhist hall.
Standing at the doorway, she was greeted by floating dust that traced pale golden paths in the dim candlelight, like activated talismans harboring deep prayers.
The Buddha statue adorned with golden ornaments was half-hidden behind heavy curtains, one finger holding a flower, one corner of its lips slightly raised. That smile encompassed all living beings under heaven and earth, yet could not see the three feet beneath its base.
Tie Ci also revealed an identical smile and stepped through the door. Behind her came another creak as the door was immediately closed.
Tie Ci untied her cloak and threw it by the door.
Before her lay deep, heavy darkness, and a hoarse old woman’s voice rang out abruptly.
“Bring the disciplinary whip!”
A prayer cushion slid over silently. Tie Ci knelt down quite skillfully. As she knelt, her eyes scanned around the hall, but before she could locate her target in the pitch darkness, her scalp suddenly exploded and her heart turned cold.
An icy aura spread silently like cold mist, resembling countless black serpents hidden in the darkness, hanging their cold eyes, winding and moving, seeking targets of flesh and blood.
Tie Ci could even feel that aura divide into several streams, crawling up her knees, slowly exploring toward her head, pressing down heavily upon her, then lightning-fast penetrating her entire body.
This feeling of being suppressed and having her blood vessels and meridians searched could easily make one break out in cold sweat, but Tie Ci remained very calm, only kneeling steadily in place.
Because this feeling was too familiar to her. Ever since her first attempt to rise up in this small Buddhist hall, when this aura ruthlessly pressed her to the ground and she fell ill for a month afterward, she knew the Empress Dowager had capable people by her side.
Otherwise, how could a woman achieve victory after victory in the man-eating harem and ultimately ascend to the supreme position on earth?
According to legends, there were several great masters in this world with abilities beyond ordinary people’s reach – one person could stabilize a nation, one person could throw a country into chaos. But such human weapons of war would not easily be controlled by others, only hiding in legends and scattered throughout heaven and earth. How many emperors and generals throughout history had searched far and wide without finding them? Later, legends remained only legends.
But Tie Ci had always believed that legends came from reality and were never trees without roots.
After that aura finished searching through her body, it quietly dispersed, but the oppressive pressure remained. Tie Ci only remained silent, eyes observing her nose, nose observing her heart.
Someone emerged from behind curtains ahead, their footsteps heavy and steady, showing solid lower body foundation.
Something long dragged on the ground – dark black, gleaming with dark gold luster. It was a whip made of ox sinew steamed and dried nine times, then twisted with gold thread.
When swung, the wind sounded like roaring. Tie Ci had heard it many times.
That person stood still, gold light flashed, and in the next instant the roaring sound began.
“Crack!”
Like mountains crashing onto her back, lightning piercing her bone marrow, fierce fire burning her soul – that explosion of pain seemed to detonate in her mind, leaving her vision filled with flashing golden darkness.
The old woman’s fierce shout seemed to pierce through fog barriers, sharp and severe.
“Tie Ci, have you forgotten the glory of the Iron Clan royal family!”
Tie Ci swallowed the metallic taste in her throat, raised her head, sweat dripping from her chin: “No!”
“Crack!”