Chapter 756

Southern Qi's Shang Jing princess residence — another day of deep, intense night.

Princess Fukuei was burning the last stick of incense in the small Buddha hall behind the warm pavilion when her maid, Xiaoxin, approached carefully, bowed, and whispered softly: "Your Prince Consort has returned; he asks when you will leave the Buddha hall."

Princess Fukuei froze for a moment, her expression gaining a touch of weariness.

She slowly rose, and Xiaoxin hurried over to help her up.

Since the Prince Consort began regency, he has rarely returned to the princess residence; at first her mistress would light lamps and wait at the gate each day, but later she stopped waiting.

Human hearts are flesh; the number of waits has been too many, disappointment gradually grew, and sometimes one simply does not want to wait any longer.

Later came an event that devastated her master: it turned out that Gu Kang was actually of the bloodline of the former Murong royal family, and in recent days he has shown signs of replacing Xiao Yin to become the new emperor of Southern Qi.

These aside, Mr. Wen will absolutely not allow Gu Kang to have any involvement with the Xiao family.

If Gu Kang becomes the new emperor, he will no longer be the Southern Qi prince consort, and her identity as a Southern Qi Xiao-family princess would become somewhat awkward.

If Gu Kang wishes to secure his position at court, he must arrange a proper place for her; she could never become his empress, not even in thought.

She was merely a stepping stone Gu Kang used to rise with her status; a stepping stone ought to have the awareness of a stepping stone.

Princess Fukuei hid her whole self in the inner residence's Buddha hall, thereafter refusing to concern herself with worldly affairs.

However, Princess Fukuei, having grown up in the palace, still possesses some political sensitivity; she estimates that the day Gu Kang formally ascends the throne is not far off.

Once he ascends, he will no longer be Princess Fukuei's prince consort but the emperor of Southern Qi; then she, a remnant of the Xiao family, will have her days numbered.

Xiaoxin was Princess Fukuei's personal maid, having accompanied her since childhood; seeing the princess now almost wasted away, she could not help but feel intense pity.

She suddenly stopped, gripped Princess Fukuei's arm tightly, and whispered: "Your Highness, let us exchange clothes and flee."

"Now even the mistress is under house arrest and cannot attend to you; I have a maternal cousin's brother in the southern lanes of Jing Cheng; go find him, and he will surely arrange your departure from Shang Jing."

"I have heard that the emperor and empress have already arrived at Ba Zhou; if you reach Ba Zhou, you can appeal to the emperor for justice!"

Princess Fukuei felt a warm surge, tightly grasped Xiaoxin's hand, and smiled: "No need; if I leave, you will surely be beaten to death, and my mother will not survive either."

Princess Fukuei collected herself, lifted her gaze to the pitch-black horizon; today is overcast, not even a star visible, making one feel gloomy and oppressive.

She sighed: "What must come will still come; I will go see the prince consort — it's rare that he is free enough to return, so I must at least meet him."

"Your Highness!" Xiaoxin was truly anxious; tonight the prince consort might take action.

After all, the situation is dire; even we women of the inner chambers can feel it — the prince consort has been regent in the palace, claiming to be regent while actually usurping the throne.

The prince consort is truly ruthless; countless officials have been slain by him in Shang Jing, their heads hang full on the city gate towers, with no room left for more.

Even the troops of Young Marquis Cheng have entered the city; it is not yet evening, yet every household has shut its doors and windows, fearful of inviting disaster.

Nowadays, the prince consort who has kept Your Highness confined in the princess residence has suddenly returned, specifically requesting to see the princess — clearly he intends to take her life.

Princess Fukuei smiled at Xiaoxin, comfortingly clasped her hand, and whispered: "When the time comes, if you see the situation turning bad, find a way to escape and hide in that cellar in the garden — you used to play there with me as a child; hide there."

"You are just a maid; they will not bother to make things difficult for you. Take some food, hide in the cellar, endure a few days, then crawl out through the dog hole beside the western wall; my bundle has already prepared silver, valuables, and some shop deeds for you to take all of them."

"Those shop deeds are in Jiangnan, bought secretly by me; the prince consort does not know. When you reach Jiangnan, live well; if you hear news of my mother, try to rescue her if possible; if not..."

A hint of bitterness flickered in Princess Fukuei's eyes; she drew a deep breath and said softly: "If you cannot, then each year on the Zhongyuan Festival, burn some paper money for us mother and daughter."

Princess Fukuei lifted her head, held back her tears, and wore a bitter smile.

"My mother has never known a day of freedom in her life; after great difficulty we moved out of the palace, yet we are still not free — perhaps only in death will my mother and I find freedom."

"Your Highness!" Xiaoxin could no longer restrain herself, she flung her arms around Princess Fukuei and burst into loud, sobbing weeping.

Princess Fukuei wiped the tears from Xiaoxin's face, smiled, and said: "Don't cry; if someone sees us, it will only cause trouble."

Xiaoxin held back her tears, yet grief welled up even more; she had not imagined that even weeping would become a luxury.

Princess Fukuei straightened her clothes and walked toward the front pavilion; from afar she saw the prince consort's guards standing beneath the covered corridor, and upon seeing her they all knelt and paid respects.

"Your Highness, the master is waiting for you inside!"

Princess Fukuei nodded, lifted her skirt, and headed inside; Xiaoxin hurried to follow but was blocked outright by the guards outside.

"Miss, please halt!"

Xiaoxin instantly flared with anger; Fukuei frowned and whispered a reprimand: "You wait outside — how are you becoming ever less observant of propriety?"

Xiaoxin forcibly suppressed the tears welling up, stepped back a pace, and stood in the covered corridor watching Princess Fukuei enter the pavilion.

This was originally the bridal chamber where Princess Fukuei and Gu Kang lived after their wedding; the double happiness characters on the window lattice have never been torn down, and because it has long stood empty, it feels somewhat desolate and vacant.

Princess Fukuei entered the pavilion, her steps halted there, and she lifted her eyes to look at Gu Kang, who had his back to her.

Gu Kang was then seated at the table, even brewing tea, appearing quite leisurely and carefree.

Princess Fukuei's eyes held a complex hue as she slowly stepped into the pavilion.

As if hearing Princess Fukuei's footsteps, Gu Kang's clear, cold voice sounded.

"Come over and have a cup of tea!"

Princess Fukuei cautiously took a seat opposite Gu Kang, looked at him, and her expression flickered with a slight surprise.

Although Gu Kang has been residing in the palace these days, she had not seen him for a while, but in total it has only been about two months.

Once a youthful man, now even the hair at his temples has begun to turn gray.

"Prince Consort — " Fukuei's words began, but she did not know how to continue.

She herself was merely a tool used by him; what right did she have to care for him?

Moreover, he is a descendant of the Murong family, while her veins carry Xiao family blood.

After all, he is the man she once longed for; Princess Fukuei drew a breath and said: "State affairs are never truly finished; Prince Consort, you should still attend to your rest."

Gu Kang visibly startled; he had not expected that, despite his treatment of her, she would still care for him so deeply.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness," Gu Kang said, his usually tense brows softening a fraction as he lifted the brewed tea and presented it to Princess Fukuei: "Please drink; this tea has been simmering for a long while."

Princess Fukuei's face turned a shade paler; she lifted her eyes to Gu Kang and smiled: "Will you send me on my way tonight?"