Yan Ling returned to his main residence. He did not return to the Rose Pavilion, where Liu Qinmei usually lived. The incident at the Peach Pavilion had shocked him.
During the tea ceremony, Yunxi had still been pestering him, seeking his attention and acting affectionate towards him. But now, less than a day later, the woman had suddenly turned cold. Even more surprising, Yunxi was talking about divorce?
What had actually happened? Had she hit her head when she fainted and damaged her brain? Or did that cunning woman have a hidden agenda?
Yan Ling then summoned his personal servant, Feiyu, and gave him the task of watching Yunxi.
"Feiyu, watch her... report to me everything she does, without exception."
"Everything, sir? Including when she takes a bath?"
Feiyu smiled mischievously. Although his official position was personal servant, Feiyu was actually Yan Ling's Childhood friend. His main task was more like being a spy for him.
"Use your brain a little."
Yan Ling hissed.
"Yes, alright. By the way, what were you guys talking about inside? I thought I heard the word 'divorce'?"
"Hm, that's why I asked you to watch her. Wang Yunxi suddenly filed for divorce after the baby was born, of course I can't just believe it. It's too strange, especially since it happened so quickly. Yesterday, She was still acting shamelessly towards me."
"That... sounds like you're not willing?"
"Nonsense! I just don't want to be fooled."
"All right. Then I will do as you ask."
"Hmn, you may go."
"All right. But, why aren't you going to see Consort Liu?"
"I have a lot on my mind. I don't want my frustration to affect her and make her sad."
"All right, all right, I understand. I'll leave now."
Feiyu left Yan Ling's office.
Meanwhile, in the Rose Pavilion.
"His Highness the Crown Prince met with Consort Yunxi?"
Liu Qinmei bit her lower lip. Her hands clenched tightly to hold back her frustration upon hearing the news delivered by her personal servant, Zhang Zhining.
"But he didn't stay overnight. I also heard that His Highness left in a rage. It seems that Consort Yunxi had just been scolded by His Highness, Madam."
"Haha, really?"
"That's the information I have."
"All right... At least there is some good news after the bad news. Next, I must find a way to get rid of the child in her womb. How dare she, how dare she carry my Yan Ling 's child! "
Liu Qinmei, who usually appeared gentle and kind-hearted, now grinned maliciously, her attitude making her look like a different person. It was as if Qinmei had two personalities.
"Yes, ma'am..."
Zhining smiled too.
Yunxi worked hard all night to write down everything she could remember from the past.
How quickly,
How quickly she had forgotten most of those past events. It was as if someone had slowly erased them.
"What is this effect? The effect of the time machine? I'm forgetting so many things... I have to write everything down immediately. Everything I can still remember."
Before she knew it, night had almost turned to day as the sky began to roll, changing to dawn. Yunxi looked exhausted and immediately closed the book on the table. Then she headed for her bed. For a moment, she stared at her still flat stomach. Then, she caressed it for a moment.
"Forgive me. You will continue to live in comfort and safety, but I only had one chance to save myself, your grandfather, and your aunt. Forgive me for having to part ways without seeing each other again."
Yunxi fell asleep. When Sumi entered, she saw her mistress still asleep but looking pale.
"Perhaps due to the effects of her pregnancy, Madam is having trouble sleeping."
Sumi left the room. She had wanted to call Yunxi to take a bath and then have breakfast. But it seemed that his mistress needed more time to rest.
"Do not disturb Madam at this time. You can go and rest. Let me and these two people stand guard here."
"Yes, Mrs. Mu"
The servants, who numbered no less than ten, left. Only Sumi and the two other servants remained.
After sleeping all day, Yunxi felt refreshed. When she woke up, it was already late afternoon. She moved some parts of her body to relax. After a while, she felt hungry.
"Auntie, are you outside?"
Sumi Answered, then came inside.
"I'm sorry, I was so tired that I slept like a log."
"Hehe, Madam, don't say that... I understand." Sumi poured a glass of water and gave it to Yunxi.
"I'm very hungry. Can I eat first before taking a bath?"
"Of course, Madam, as you wish."
Sumi nodded with a smile. She was grateful that last night's incident did not cause Yunxi to lose her appetite.
"Thank you, Auntie."
"It is my duty to serve you, Madam."
Sumi hurriedly gave orders to the two servants guarding Yunxi's room to immediately inform the palace kitchen to prepare dinner early for Yunxi.
Not forgetting, Sumi gave both of them a note of the menu so that they would prepare Yunxi's favourite food.
"Auntie, tomorrow morning, I will go to the palace to meet the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress."
"Yes, Madam."
Sumi replied without question.
"Hmmm, I want to ask Her Majesty for permission to visit Father."
"Yes, Madam, I will accompany you."
"Hmn, thank you."
A few moments later, the food arrived quickly. The servants from the palace kitchen deftly served the food on the table. All the food gave off a very fragrant aroma, arousing Yunxi's appetite, which had been lost for some time.
"Amazing. These are all my favourite foods, thank you Auntie, you are indeed the best."
"Of course, Madam. Whatever makes you happy and comfortable, I will gladly do it."
"I'm satisfied, I'm very satisfied with you, Aunt. You really are the best!"
Sumi just smiled softly. Yunxi began to eat her food one by one. Before this, she had been very picky, not daring to eat her favourite foods because many of them were fatty and spicy. She didn't want to get fat and make Yan Ling dislike her even more.
Come to think of it, Yunxi felt that she had been very foolish. Food this delicious, left untouched just to please a man?
Her brain must have been malfunctioning!
After finishing almost all of the food, Yunxi felt like her stomach was about to explode, but her heart felt happy instead.
"Auntie, I think I'll sleep late tonight. How about we take a walk by the lake and enjoy the night air? It would be very pleasant."
"Yes, Madam, I will make the arrangements."
"There is no need to bring many servants, just two so as not to attract too much attention."
"I understand.
Sumi nodded. Yunxi smiled at her and then got ready to take a bath.
There were still a few things bothering her mind besides the fragments of memories from her past life that were slowly beginning to fade and which she couldn't remember at all.
But, last night she had a dream... In her dream, she was able to tell someone about this reversal of time. Yunxi had decided that she would only tell her father.
"There is no one else who can be fully trusted at this time. So I must remain cautious."
Yunxi muttered as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
"In this life, my family and I will live long lives. I will do Everything to save my father and Wangshu."
"Yunxi..."
The soft voice, like the fluttering of a bird's wings, caused Yunxi to open her eyes.
"M-Mother???"
Yunxi immediately embraced the beautiful woman standing before her. Her mother was indeed beautiful, very beautiful.
"Yunxi, my daughter..."
"Mother..."
Yunxi cried in the arms of this very gentle woman. The woman she had longed for since her departure in childhood.
"My daughter... If you want safety and to change your previous destiny, then you cannot do it alone. You must seek help."
"Mother, Do you know that I am repeating time?"
Yunxi's mother nodded.
"Did you do it? Did you help me repeat time so that I could change my previous destiny?"
"No, I didn't do it. Someone made a request for you to be given the opportunity to repeat time and wanted you to live a long and happy life."
"Someone? Who?"
"I can't say..."
"Mother... Please tell me."
"My Daughter, I may not be able to see you again, but before that, I must tell you that you may tell someone you trust about your second chance at life, but only one person. Because in 21 days, all memories of every event in your previous life will be erased. All that will remain are your heightened instincts and awareness. But all the events that occurred in your previous life will fade away. So after 21 days, you won't know what will happen the next day, or who your next enemy will be."
"But... But why?"
"That is the rule of heaven. We can't do anything about it. So, you need to build your own strength and find someone who can help you..."
"But Mother... I..."
"Mother believes you can do it, my Xi'er. You are a good and devoted child. A loving sister and a wise lady of the Wang family."
"But, that someone... Who is he..."
"One day, you will find out..."
Suddenly, her mother's body slowly became transparent,Yunxi wanted to touch her, but her mother's body continued to fade...
"He is someone who loves you very much, my child..."
Sringgg!!!
Her mother's shadow disappeared.
"Mother!" Yunxi woke up, her face sweaty and pale.
"What did that dream mean?"
Yunxi muttered.
Even though it was a dream, it felt very real. Yunxi could even feel the warmth of her mother's body.
"I've decided to tell my father about my reincarnation. But, the person who made the request for my life... Who was it?"
Yunxi felt very anxious and curious. As far as she could remember, everyone in the palace and even her father's followers had betrayed them and conspired to get rid of them. Only a few loyal disciples, less than 20 people, remained. The rest had all betrayed them.
Even her uncle, the adopted son of the Wang family who had been raised with care and affection, was no different from her father who was the only son of his grandfather. Instead, he undermined his father's clan and formed his own force to overthrow his father. He even killed his descendants just to satisfy his greed for power.
"A vagrant, he should just be left to be a vagrant. That shameless Wang Kaibo. I don't even want to see his face anymore!"
Yunxi grumbled. It felt like there were worms in his stomach, itching when he remembered the traitor Kaibo.
"Ma'am, let's go to the lake. You said you wanted to read imperial history books, so I deliberately prepared some books recommended by the head librarian. You can choose them later."
"All right, thank you. Let's go now."
Yunxi replied enthusiastically. There was no time to continue wallowing in sadness and indecision. She still had 19 days to record everything she could remember before it was all erased from her mind.
"All right, my lady."
Yunxi, followed by Sumi and two servants, began her journey to enjoy the atmosphere of the lake at dusk.
"Ma'am, which gazebo would you like to sit in to enjoy the view of the lake?"
Asked Sumi. Yunxi Answered then,
"Any one will do, but it would be better if I can see the movement of the setting sun."
"Very well, then we will head to the second gazebo. It is located right in the middle, facing both the setting and rising sun. Her Majesty the Empress usually invites royal relatives or the wives of state officials to enjoy afternoon tea there."
"Really? I didn't know that..."
"Yes, Madam. Because you are too busy taking care of His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Hm, you mean busy following him around?"
"Madam..."
"I understand, I am indeed foolish. Forgive me, Auntie, I am troubling you."
"My lady, don't say that."
"All right, then let's just forget about it. Let's go relax and enjoy the sunset view in front of the lake. It will definitely be enjoyable."
"You're right, ma'am..."
Yunxi casually strolled around. The palace grounds were very spacious, and every corner of the palace was very beautiful. The well-tended flowers, green grass and shady trees, and fresh air were truly captivating. This luxury could not be found outside the palace.
No wonder everyone wanted to be part of the Ming Empire. They fought for power, killed each other, and waged civil wars, just to be part of this luxury.
But for Yunxi now, this palace is a shackle, setting rules and dictating wills as it pleases, without mercy or tolerance. Even the law can be bought with money.
From the outside, the Ming Empire appears prosperous. However, in reality, the social inequality here is too obvious. The rich nobles are extremely wealthy, while the poor commoners are getting poorer. Imperial aid to help the people is only partially distributed, while most of it goes into the coffers of the nobles.
The Emperor is actually a wise and just man, but his attitude is too gentle, resulting in his attitude and policies being easily controlled.
So, it is not that the criminals of the state are too strong, but that the Emperor's heart is too weak.
Perhaps things would be different if Yan Ling were to lead. He... Let alone being gentle, anyone who dared to offend him even slightly could be beheaded. But, honestly, such a leader would be better at managing the country. He cannot be dictated to, nor can he be influenced by anyone.
Therefore, it can be said that this kingdom is still divided into two camps. Even though Yan Ling had been designated as the successor, there were still many who demanded that the second prince, Yan Xiao, become the successor because of his wise and friendly attitude, which was the opposite of his brother's.
"Finally, we've arrived..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Yunxi was presented with a shocking sight.
A couple was kissing on the gazebo over there, right by the lake! Yunxi, who had already climbed one step, immediately stopped in his tracks.
"Concubine Yunxi..."
"Forgive me, Your Highness, Crown Prince, Concubine Qinmei... I didn't mean to." Yunxi said to them politely.