âYour faceâ¦â
Qin Muyan slightly furrowed his brow, feeling that Shen Yu had changed from before!
Her face had undergone a great transformation, almost identical to Su Yingxue!
How could this be?
âImperial Grandmother, Zhaoâer is well aware of her lowly status, and that she cannot win cousinâs favor, but Zhaoâer is grateful for Imperial Grandmotherâs kindness. I will accompany Imperial Grandmother for life, with no regrets, just hoping that Imperial Grandmother will take care of her health and not visit Su Yingxue again, not step into this damp and cold imperial prison and harm your health!â
Shen Yu wept with deep emotion, and with her face that was ninety-nine percent similar to Su Yingxueâs, the Empress Dowagerâs heart instantly turned to mush.
She held Shen Yu in her arms and wept, âI wonât go! I wonât go! No one can separate me from my child! Other than you, I will meet no one else!â
The Empress Dowager said this as she prepared to get into the carriage with Shen Yu to return to the palace.
âImperial Grandmother, you clearly promised me that you would go see Su Yingxue.â
Qin Muyan blocked the way in front of the carriage, barring their path.
âWhat are you doing? Zhaoâer has not yet fully recovered, and I must accompany her back to the palace to rest!â
The Empress Dowager scolded Qin Muyan with a stern face.
âImperial Grandmother, you clearlyâ¦â
âClearly what! It was a mistake for me to leave the palace with you. Itâs better not to see Su Yingxue! Let your Imperial Brother deal with her!â
The Empress Dowager said seriously.
Seeing Qin Muyan refuse to give way, she glared at him and scolded coldly, âAre you now disregarding even my words for Su Yingxueâs sake? Get out of my way!â
Qin Muyan held back a surge of frustration, stepping aside, but he was still not willing to let go, shouting at the carriage driving toward the imperial palace, âImperial Grandmother, Yingxue is not a bad person, she is the best woman in the world!â
âThe best womanâ¦â
Shen Yu clenched her fist so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh, causing her palm to ache.
Hearing these words, she wished she could kill Su Yingxue in the imperial prison right away!
This wretched woman!
How dare she compete with her for the princessâs identity and take away all of Qin Muyanâs attention?
Detestable!
Truly detestable!
Luckily, the Empress Dowager showed her pity, pulling her into her embrace, and Shen Yu conveniently leaned against her knee.
The Empress Dowager asked tenderly, âZhaoâer, why does your appearance seem to have changed after a few days not seeing you?â
Mu Fei had already prepared a reason for Shen Yu about the face-changing matter.
Shen Yu said as he had taught her, âI dare not deceive Imperial Grandmother, in these past days, I dreamt of my mother. In the dream, Mother pitied my solitary and miserable existence in the palace, and I told her it was because Su Yingxue resembled her more than I did, and hence I was treated so.
Mother was angry and blamed herself for departing this world too early, causing me to endure such hardships. If she were still here, she would definitely protect me. She said she wanted to change my appearance to look exactly like her, so that no one could replace me.â
As Shen Yu spoke, she lifted her tear-streaked face, showing her visage that greatly resembled Su Yingxue, close to the Empress Dowagerâs face.
âWhen I woke up, I found that my appearance had changed; it was my motherâs spirit in heaven, blessing me.â
Shen Yuâs pitiful state made the Empress Dowager even more heartbroken.
She had originally not believed in spirits or Buddhism, but after Qin Zheng went missing, she set up a Buddhist hall in the Funing Palace, praying daily, believing that as long as she was sincere, her Zheng Er would definitely return.
Shen Yuâs tale about the dream made her half-believe, but after returning to Funing Palace, the chief maid reported to her, âEmpress Dowager, something terrible has happenedâthe portrait of Princess Zheng in the Buddhist hall has been involved in an incident!â