Chapter 678: Mother and Daughter Reunited! Mother and Son Separated!

Duan Rongshi did not deny it.

He asked, "Your Imperial Sister, did you suddenly join the struggle for the throne, or had you been plotting for years?"

When this secret was mentioned, a flash of hatred crossed Duan Xiyue's eyes.

"If I say… it was a sudden impulse, would you believe Your Imperial Sister?"

Duan Rongshi nodded: "Believe."

Xiyue's eyes instantly reddened.

She lowered her head and wiped the corner of her eye: "When I was young, if it weren't for your mother's consort showing me a bit of genuine care, I, Xiyue, would hardly have had even the little happiness I possess."

"Back then, my mother was forced to death by them. I, in my humble struggle to survive, lived on only because of that wretch."

"Father Emperor is such a selfish and hypocritical villain; Fifth Brother, don't you know this after all these years?"

"It's clear he wanted the Gao family's power and influence, so my mother, whose background was not prominent, was jointly killed by them back then."

"That way my mother could yield the position of Crown Prince's consort, allowing him to marry a Gao family woman and gain a firmer hold on the throne."

"But isn't my mother pitiful?"

"Back then, the Grand Emperor favored the Grand Imperial Consort, even considering changing the heir. The Grand Imperial Consort even framed Father Emperor, imprisoning him in the Eastern Palace for a whole year without allowing him to leave for reflection."

"That year, the Eastern Palace couldn't even get a decent brazier."

"Sometimes we could only eat rotten vegetable leaves, and we wouldn't see a trace of meat for several days."

"If it weren't for Mother and I accompanying Father Emperor through those bitter days, he would have died in an epidemic long ago!"

"But he instead added fuel to the fire and killed Mother in the same way he had killed Consort Yue back then."

"So how could I not hate him all these years?"

"With great difficulty, thanks to Consort Yue's help, I married the prince consort I loved; because I did not marry the Gao family's dissolute son, the Gao clan came to hate me."

"Thus later, our whole family was again exiled to the northwest for nearly ten years because Father Emperor grew weary of her scheming and framing."

"How could I not hate those two?"

"When we returned, even though we saw the prosperity of blazing fires and oil, flowers brocade, the prince consort was still targeted everywhere by the Gao family, while Father Emperor turned a blind eye and deaf ear."

"How could I not hate?"

"Fifth Brother, after Duan Rongyin died, you originally held great power, and Your Imperial Sister was pleased you could obtain that position."

"Because Your Imperial Sister knows that if you ascend the throne, you will not wrong her, and she will be able to hold her head high and enjoy a few days of genuine contentment."

"But you suddenly left, you suddenly disappeared."

"I was in utter turmoil, knowing that no matter who ascends, I cannot obtain what I want!"

"I, Duan Xiyue, naturally also did not want them to fare well, so I sought out that Western Regions witch doctor, and thus gave rise to the thought that I could not dominate the world."

"I, Duan Xiyue, need rely on no one, await no one; my own grudge, I will repay myself!"

"Coincidentally, our father emperor, who clings to life and fears death, still believes he can control imperial authority and wishes to use me to counterbalance the Third Prince."

"So I have grasped his life, while he thinks he is still using my ambition."

"As for the Gao clan and Lady Gao, this is something I and the Third Prince agreed upon without prior consultation. The entire Gao family was uprooted; I tortured Lady Gao for three whole months before pressing her against my mother empress's tomb and cutting her life short with a single blow."

"It's just a pity that Father Emperor did not die by my hand, so I and the Third Prince ended up both losing out……"

Upon hearing this, Duan Rongshi finally spoke: "He indeed died in your hands."

"The witch doctor's Western Regions sandalwood you gave him prolonged his life, but as soon as the incense was stopped and removed, he did not even last half an hour before breathing his last."

"Your Imperial Sister, your grudge is self‑avenged."

Duan Xiyue, upon hearing this, finally burst into a hearty laugh several times.

"Good!"

"Empress Mother… your subject has not let you down."

"It's just that your subject's prince consort, who has never left your subject's side and whose love is sincere, as well as your subject and the prince consort's three children—your subject failed to keep a single one of them safe……"

"What kind of wife am I, what kind of mother am I?"

"It is I who caused their deaths……"

Xiyue cupped her face and burst into tears.

Until a small hand gently took hold of Xiyue's finger.

"Aunt?"

"Aunt, don't cry. Wipe away the tears—"

The tender white hand wiped the tears from Xiyue's face back and forth.

Seeing the lively, adorable Fangfang, Xiyue could no longer hold back and embraced her in one swift motion.

"I regret it——"

"I truly regret it—I should not have sent my Nanping to the Western Regions——"

"I also should not have rushed into the palace without properly settling the prince consort and the two children."

"All of this is my fault."

"I thought I could win."

"I thought that if I won, I could reunite our family——"

"It was my arrogance that harmed the family that loved me most……"

Li Qingluo could not bear to look at the so‑grief‑stricken Grand Princess.

She told her the truth: "Nanping is not dead."

Xiyue: "You need not deceive me."

"Those Western Regions people locked her in a sheep pen—how could she possibly still be alive?"

"After I kill Duan Rongjing, I will go down below to look for them…… Our family, down there, will at last be able to reunite."

Li Qingluo handed a handkerchief to Duan Xiyue: "It's true, Princess Chang."

"Nanping is someone I rescued personally."

"She just forgot some things. So now she's still with my grandmother and grandfather at the border pass, and my grandfather is personally treating her."

Duan Xiyue was so shocked that even her tears stayed in her eyes.

"Y‑you, is what you said true?"

"Li, no, sister‑in‑law, is what you said true?"

"Did you really rescue my Nanping?"

"My Nanping, she didn't die?"

"She's still alive, she returned from the Western Regions alive?"

"Sister‑in‑law, this is true, not a lie, right?"

"If it's true, how should I thank you for your great kindness?"

Duan Xiyue was both nervous and excited, at times not knowing whether to cry or laugh.

She babbled incoherently, her expression shifting wildly in panic.

She was at a loss and delighted, not knowing what to do.

Li Qingluo soothed her: "I rescued Nanping out of my bond with her."

"Imperial elder sister need not thank me."

"If Imperial elder sister has settled matters in the Imperial City and wishes to see her, we can arrange for you to reunite with her at the border pass."

"How you spend your days thereafter is up to you, Imperial elder sister."

Duan Xiyue kept nodding, wiping the tear tracks from her face.

"Alright, alright, whatever you say is fine."

She tightly embraced Fang Fang in her arms.

"Fang Fang, you truly are a little lucky star!"

"Auntie loves you very much."

"You have such wonderful father and mother; Auntie is immensely grateful to them!"

Duan Xiyue was secretly sent into the Heavenly Prison.

Seeing her, Duan Rongshi's half a life was scared away.

"Y‑you, what do you want to do?"

"I am, after all, the former dynasty's former Crown Prince; you cannot harm me—"

Duan Xiyue, brandishing a long sword, a cold sneer at the corner of her mouth, transformed into an Asura and entered the cell…

When she emerged, bloodied, the people Duan Rongshi had arranged were already waiting to receive her.

She knelt toward the Zhaoyang Hall and kowtowed heavily several times.

"Criminal woman Duan Xiyue bows to His Majesty, bows to the Empress's great kindness."

"Having you as Emperor and Empress is a blessing to all the people; I, Duan Xiyue, have no regrets in this life."

Having said that, she rose, turned her back toward the rising sun, spurred her horse and galloped out of the Imperial City, leaving Jinling, the vortex of power and controversy.

From then on, they were in different heavens, never to meet again.

Li Qingluo, upon learning that Princess Chang had already left Jinling, instructed the escort to ensure her safety.

After spring began, the news arrived that Duan Xiyue had already reached Manto City.

It is said that after Duan Xiyue reunited with Nanping, Nanping actually recognized the person before her as her mother.

Only many past events still could not be recalled.

Duan Xiyue cried, holding her and repeatedly calling out "my heart and liver."

"It's fine not to remember, it's fine even if I can't recall…"

"From now on, Mother will stay by your side, and we'll live our days together…"

Duan Xiyue settled down in Manto City.

However, Pei Lao Furen and Luo Fan planned to go to the Lan Sea Kingdom to take a look.

It is said that the customs there differ especially from the Central Plains, and that Fang Fang was given the throne of the Lan Sea Kingdom by Duan Rongshi at birth.

Now, the legitimate eldest princess Duan Qingwu of the Great Yue Kingdom is only two years old, yet already a queen.

In the Lan Sea Kingdom, a female monarch is perfectly normal.

This made Pei Lao Furen even more curious, so with free time on her hands, she insisted on going.

Duan Xiyue readily agreed and immediately took Nanping along for the journey.

It is said they are very happy in the Lan Sea Kingdom.

Nanping even gradually regained her former intellect.

Pei Lao Furen also contemplated settling in the Lan Sea Kingdom.

Li Qingluo wrote letters urging them several times.

She missed her grandmother, so she wanted her grandmother to return to Jinling to enjoy her twilight years.

However, before their party even planned to set out, the Lan Sea Kingdom was attacked by a small Western Regions nation.

The Lan Sea Kingdom, because Duan Rongshi, the Lan Sea King, is now renowned throughout the world.

Who in the world does not know there is a Lan Sea Kingdom?

Therefore, many small Western Regions kingdoms seek to test, and even aim to seize the Lan Sea Kingdom.

But the Lan Sea Kingdom is not a pushover.

With Pei Lao Furen's assistance, they launched a counterattack.

They never expected that small Western Regions state to have such bear-hearted leopard courage, for it was due to the provocation and cooperation of the old troops of the Luanli clan.

So this battle is not easy to fight, nor easy to win.

Even in a single encirclement campaign, Pei Lao Furen was trapped on the battlefield, unable to escape.

At that moment, what Pei Lao Furen also did not expect was that Li Chao Jing, who had followed her to Lan Hai, would suddenly charge onto the battlefield with horse and troops.

He seemed to have been awake already, unaware of when.

While rescuing Pei Lao Furen from the battlefield, a Luanli clan general clung tightly to them, mother and son.

Li Chao Jing gave his horse to Pei Lao Furen so she could escape.

"Mother, hurry—"

He gave the horse's rump a hard slap, sending Pei Lao Furen out of the encirclement.

But in order to hold back the pursuing troops, he was pierced through by swords and spears and died.

Seeing this, Pei Lao Furen, grief‑stricken to the point of bursting, cried out: "Jing'er—"