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"THUD"
A loud noise can be heard outside the inner chamber however, the delicate and exquisite middle aged woman indefferently sipping her tea.
Her personal attendants slowly retreated and minimize their presence as possible, this occurrence in the palace of Shu Gufei is no longer new. Outsiders view that their noble consore Shu is the beloved woman of the emperor whom the reason of falling of the well known virtuous late empress, but it is different from the truth inside of the palace walls.
The emperor bestow numerous and extravagant gifts to display how greatly favor Shu Gufei is, but how many nights did their mistress spent in crying inside of her chamber. Countless times she dazely looking at the palace walls. Her arrogance towards the other concubines mask her pain and insecurities.
A man adorned with a yellow robe imposingly stand at the entrance of the inner chamber of Chuxui palace staring at her with devoid of any emotion.
Shu Gufei elegantly put down her jade cup and slowly stoop up to show the greetings towards the emperor.
"No need for formalities, hand the phoenix immediately to Eunuch Wei, Zhen will only part the seal with beloved concubine for 1 month." After stating his order the emperor suddenly turn back not even bothering to stay any longer inside of her chamber.
Shu Gufei mockingly smiled, she doesn't even clear herself who is more pitiful and pathetic. The other concubines whom she painstakingly suppress to gain his attention and love or herself who never woke up and accept that his love is reserved for that woman.
How many years has it been? The last time she truly feel the genuine happiness of this world. She exchange her freedom to pursue him. Her lifetime happiness exchange for a single glance.
What a noble blood? She who is an esteem lady from a prestigious family begging for love of a man. While she can only witness an undying love between commoners. What's the difference?
But unknown to everyone, while the emperor is nearing the gate of the chuxui palace a loud noise suddenly heard.
"CRASH"
the red Phoenix seal one of the treasures items pass down from generation to generation was instantly became a trash.
Shu gufei emotionlessly throw the phoenix seal without batting an eye.
Eunuch Wei can't recover from the shock. He is sure that shu gufei was giving him the seal but a second later, her action changed.
He hurriedly turn his gaze at the man whom is walking towards their direction with a heavy face. Eunuch Wei harden his heart and helplessly look at the woman in front of him.
"LIU RUSHI!!!"
Instead of fear, tears are silently falling in Shu gufei delicate face.
"How many years has it been since the last time you utter my name?"
"How many times had I dream the moment you speak my name with intimate feelings, slowly whispering beside my ear?"
"But how ironic, the moment it came in reality, every letter of my name coming out of your mouth are full of contempt and disgust."
Shu gufei inner thoughts are in turmoil, too late to notice the heavy palm of the emperor.
"Pa!"
Shu gufei delicate body harshly fell down, like a broken leaf.
Upon witnessing the violence of the emperor, all the maidservants immediately left while the head eunuch is hesitant to take a step. But the emperor fiercely look at him, signalling him to go out.
" Don't push me, Shu Gufei! "
Lui Ruishi, immediately return to reality when hearing the man calling her title again.
She slowly get up, no longer care of her appearance. Her knee length hair are freely swaying, left cheek are swollen but the most pitiful are her redden eyes.
" Push you? To do what? You already kill me a long time ago, for this love I persevere to accompany you, to support you! Witnessing you sleeping with other concubines is like stabbing me a thousand times. She died, but you can't still acknowledge my love!"
Her undying confession is truly moving however, it doesn't change the cold appearance of the emperor but it made it more darken.
" What right do you have to talk about love?" Compare to Lui Rushi hysterical voice, the emperor is calm.
" For him, I tolerated your doings in the shadow. For what reason my children only came from the late empress and you? Tell me, how many unborn child did you steal their rights to live? Many low ranking concubines had gone missing through out the years, but did I question you? "
" You even have to drug me to conceive the 3rd princess but when you found out it is not a prince and have no right to inherit my throne, what did you
do? "
Lui Rushi is terrified to all the revelations of this man, even that incident!
" You want me to reveal what kind of woman you are?"
"No!" Shu gufei immediately cover her ears.
" You plan to use again your petty trick to conceive again and you thought it was successful?" Shu Gufei hurriedly reach his arm, panic can be seen in her face "What do you mean?"
" I'am not the man you slept with that night." Hearing the revelation, Lui Rushi can't help but be shock.
She can remember that night, she used her connection inside of the palace to drug his tea and carry him in her palace. She saw the silhouette of a man nearing her bed, and loved her for the whole night. Her body were covered of love marks believing her plan is successful.
" Your lying!!!!! Spouting nonsense! You are the father of the 4th prince, how far are you trying to insult my love? Tell me you are trying to deceive me.Tell me!"
" I spend my whole night with my empress, you can ask the Department of Household Affairs for confirmation of my night activity "
Lui Rushi laugh like a madwoman, she still remember that man gentle warmth, his strong hold to her naked body and for the first time he let her taste his sweet lips but even that dreamy night is actually a nightmare.
The emperor shorten their distance and whispering the words, "It is not love that you feel towards this emperor but MADNESS!". The moment she heard his poisonous words, the light in her eyes dimmed and replace by unspeakably fury.
She tightly clenched her hands, forcing herself to stand firm in front of this man. " You condemned me a vicious woman for silently killing your sons, but tell me your majesty how many skeletons are buried under this magnificent palace? How many woman in the past already done what I did? Afterall, two tigers can't govern a mountain, killing them early is actually saving them to the misery of reality." Her panic, frustration and fright can no longer be seen but bravely met his gaze.
" I drugged you to sleep with me, because that is my RIGHT! You married us at the same day but while she have a grandiose celebration, I helplessly waited for you at the back palace. How do you know the ridicule I felt inside of the palace, you bestow me the noble consort but you had never bother to visit my palace. If not for my petty tricks, will you remember my existence? "
" And your right this feeling is madness, I only believe to follow my desire and fight for what is mine, is that wrong? You let me slept with a random person because I need a prince." Her brave act suddenly crumble. " For a woman living inside of the back palace, we need something to hold our position, is that wrong? "
" Your always claiming how dedicated your love to her but let me ask you, how truly deep that affection is ?" Her gaze is challenging the emperor, she was also a woman and she knew what truly happened to the late empress
" You already insult my dignity and pride. I truly regret falling in love to the boy who save me 20 years ago."
Hearing her questioning his love, the emperor didn't get angry nor it affected his expression. " Even I is also questioning that. And the only person who can give me an answer is already gone ." He suddenly felt tired remembering that tragic night.
This time he turn and silently walking towards the door, seeing the head eunuch he stop his track. " Shu Gufei intentionally broke the phoenix seal out of jealousy and which is already considered as one of the palace treasures, zhen order for her to be confine in the cold palace and never be let out without my consent."
Then he calmly look at Head Eunuch Wei, " To clarify the things that happened 20 years ago, it was not zhen who risk his life to save you."
Upon hearing the words of the emperor, the woman can no longer endure and lost her consciousness.
The head eunuch immediately raise his head but only greeted by the intimidating look of the emperor and hurriedly bow his head.