Chapter 169: Background - Part 2

Looking at those white lanterns, the nun was finally about to step into that palace.

A figure stood at the entrance, looking somewhat weary. It was precisely the young eunuch, Li Heng.

He stood there, quietly looking at the nun in front of him, and said softly, "Please stop."

The nun looked at this familiar face, her expression becoming even uglier as she cursed, "You dare to stop me too?!"

Others might not know her identity, but Li Heng definitely knew because they were very familiar with each other to begin with.

Li Heng looked at her and said calmly, "I presume Her Majesty doesn't want to see you again."

The Empress had always been a strange woman. In the last moments of her life, she had refused visits from the few princes, wishing only to pass away in the arms of the Great Liang Emperor. Now, although this nun was her sister, their relationship had changed ever since she entered the Divine Capital. It can be said that it has not been reconciled until now.

The nun scolded angrily, "You're just a slave, how dare you say such things?"

Li Heng looked at her, recalling events from many years ago. At that time, the nun had also cursed him, calling him nothing more than a slave. But not long after, the Empress had come out and spoken up for him. Her Majesty who was still a princess consort at that time had actually said many things. But what Li Heng remembered very clearly was the last sentence: "Li Heng is not a slave."

The current situation was so similar to the past, but that Empress would never appear again.

Everything had finally reached this point.

"Her Majesty allowed you to stay outside the city back then because she still remembered the good old days."

Back then, the Empress' younger sister left the Divine Capital after the Empress entered the Divine Capital. The reasons for her departure were widely speculated at the time, but there was no definitive answer. Now, with Li Heng speaking like this, it revealed some of the events back then.

It turns out that the Empress' kept true to her word. Furthermore, it seemed that allowing her to go outside the city was already a generous act.

Li Heng spoke, but he did not step back.

When the nun heard this, she got even angrier, "Get lost!"

With a flick of her sleeve, a strong wind blew, raging endlessly. Li Heng stood in front of her, swaying like a lantern caught in a strong gust. But Li Heng stood in place and was silent.

Over the years, the nun had nothing else to do outside the Divine Capital, her cultivation had advanced rapidly instead. However, in front of Li Heng, she still appeared very ordinary.

The young eunuch stood there, watching the raindrops being blown by the strong wind.

After an unknown amount of time, the wind subsided.

The nun's face turned pale. She stood there, somewhat silent, but mostly filled with anger. She could not understand why someone like Li Heng would show such disrespect towards her.

"No matter what, I'm her sister!"

The nun spoke with anger, her voice as cold as the rain today.

In fact, there was nothing wrong with what she said. No matter how much resentment and grievances existed between her and the Empress, she was still the Empress' younger sister.

This was an unquestionable fact.

Li Heng fell silent.

He knew about the situation too, and because he knew, he was somewhat hesitating at this moment. Given the Empress' temperament, since she had said they would never meet again, it was destined to end with them never meeting again. However, now that Her Majesty had passed away, as her sister, it was only natural and reasonable for her to come and pay her respects.

Yes, they could not reconcile their differences in life, but what about after death?

Li Heng hesitated.

After an unknown amount of time, the nun was about to pass by him and walk into the palace. Li Heng did not stop her.

Except, she did not manage to enter the palace.

Because a figure clad in emperor robes appeared here.

The Great Liang Emperor looked at her in front of the door.

This Emperor of the Great Liang Emperor just looked at her coldly and did not speak. But the nun could not take another step forward.

She looked at the man in front of her and was silent for a long time before saying. "It's been so many years since that incident back then, can you still not let it go?"

The Great Liang Emperor looked at her without speaking.

With a trembling voice, the nun continued, "I merely cursed that wretched girl and she cut off all ties with me for a full thirteen years!"

The Great Liang Emperor listened to this and said, "Just now, We considered that if you truly feel remorseful, then what harm would it do to see her again?" "But clearly, you still don't understand why she severed ties with you all those years ago. Since that's the case, why bother meeting again?"

After saying these words, the Great Liang Emperor glanced at Li Heng nearby, who understood and walked over.

"Brother-in-law!"

The nun called out, her voice filled with sorrow. "When you rose in rebellion back then, I was in the Divine Capital helping you all pass on messages. That was a grave crime punishable by death! Yet, looking on the account that she was my older sister, I did it anyway. But in the end, she cut ties with me because of that wretched girl. Thirteen years without seeing each other, forget it. But now that she's already dead, are you not even letting us sisters meet one last time?"

Her voice carried a hint of sorrow, and considering the content, it was likely to evoke emotions in anyone. After all, the word 'sisters' was irrefutable.

The Great Liang Emperor shook his head and said, "Leave, go back to your nunnery. We don't want to see you in the Divine Capital ever again."

After saying those words, the Great Liang Emperor turned and left without any intention of staying there.

The incident back then was actually very simple. Among the three sisters, the Empress, as the eldest, loved both her younger sisters dearly. However, the nun did not like the illegitimate daughter, perhaps because she believed that a prestigious family like theirs should not have an illegitimate child, or perhaps she thought that the illegitimate daughter would ruin the relationship between their parents.

In any case, she would not have liked that illegitimate daughter either way, and even made things difficult for her at every turn.

At that time, their relationship was never that of sisters but of enemies.

It was not until many years later when the illegitimate daughter caught the attention of the Crown Prince and married into the former Crown Prince's residence that their grievances finally came to an end.

Many years later, she suffered greatly in the Crown Prince's manor, but fortunately, she became pregnant.

She thought that since she had a child, her days in the Crown Prince's manor would get better no matter what.

But in reality, the situation never changed. The legitimate child received all the love and care, becoming the official successor after the death of the former Crown Prince, while her own son remained ordinary.

Their lives were not easy.

In the end, after the legitimate son ascended to the throne as the Emperor, her days became even more bitter. Her child was too young, so even if that deposed Emperor wanted to harm him, he could not find an excuse for a while, so he simply chose not to take action. But before he could make a move, the world began to change. That Imperial Uncle from the North rose in rebellion without waiting for his executioner's blade to fall.

That was a great war that lasted for several years.

In the end, it concluded with the current Emperor prevailing.

But throughout this process, the nun made many efforts, while that illegitimate daughter had always been hoping for the Emperor and Empress to lose.

All the way until the war ended and the Great Liang Emperor entered the Divine Capital, the deposed Emperor and his entire family self-immolated within the imperial city.

At that time, the nun hurled many harsh words at the illegitimate daughter, greatly angering the Empress. Eventually, when she discovered that the nun was about to do something even more excessive, she could not tolerate it anymore and chose to banish her to the nunnery.

This was the reason why they had not communicated for thirteen years,

In these thirteen years, the nun never returned to the Divine Capital, and the Empress never saw her again.

Speaking of which, was it really just because of those few words?

Actually, there were deeper meanings behind it.

But some things were better left unsaid.

……

……

Chen Chao and Xie Nandu arrived at the Laundry Bureau and placed the clothes they were carrying down. Only then, did Xie Nandu speak, "That person probably had a major falling-out with your mother, incurring the displeasure of the Empress."

Matters between sisters were never that simple.

Chen Chao looked at Xie Nandu, fell silent for a moment, and said, "Actually, Mother mentioned this elder sister before, but there weren't many positive remarks."

Xie Nandu pondered and asked, "Did your mother truly hate the Empress?"

The Empress has always been kind-hearted. Back then, she treated that younger sister extremely well too. There was never any other discourse.

Chen Chao shook his head. "Perhaps not."

Even if the current Emperor did not rise in revolt, they would have been living in extreme misery too. His mother was undoubtedly aware of this, but in the end, she refused to lower her head in front of that elder sister.

Apart from this reason, there might be some other factors at play.

But no matter what, she probably did not hate the Empress that much. After all, during those darkest days, the Empress was her only light.

These two sisters should not harbor resentment towards each other over such trivial matters.

Xie Nandu picked up the umbrella and handed it to Chen Chao, saying, "If you really want to go and see Her Majesty, you can only go by yourself."

Chen Chao stood at the doorway. Receiving the oiled-paper umbrella, he was silent for a long time, and then took off his clothes.

Those clothes were ultimately not him.

He was now going to that palace, to bid his aunt a final farewell, and he could only go in his own name.

Anything else would not do.

Xie Nandu looked at this scene unfold without saying a word.

Chen Chao walked out.

He walked along the palace road, the same path he took when he first entered the palace. At that time, it was Li Heng who brought him.

Now, there was no Li Heng and he could find his way on his own too.

Soon, he saw many palace attendants.

Those palace attendants saw him too.

But no one paid him any attention.

Chen Chao arrived not far away from the palace and saw that nun.

The two met.

They locked eyes for a moment. The nun looked at Chen Chao and quickly recognized the familiarity in his features, a familiarity that disgusted her. Coupled with the unpleasant incident earlier, the nun stared at Chen Chao and cursed, "So, you are that wretched girl's child?"

Upon hearing the words "wretched girl," Chen Chao raised his eyebrows.