Speaking of which, Li Hao recently took in two favored concubines, one named Sun Shi and the other named Wang.
Inside the palace, the other concubines fought fiercely with the two favored concubines, causing chaos and unrest. Only Empress Dowager Su remained calm and unaffected, sitting firmly in the palace with a pure and contented heart, barely noticeable.
Sun Shi and Wang competed with each other in various ways to gain favor.
They turned the originally peaceful and harmonious palace into a turbulent mess.
At first, Empress Dowager Su would feel a little jealous and resentful, but later she grew indifferent. She no longer cared about Li Hao's visits to other concubines and stopped asking any questions.
She closed the palace doors and lived her own life, seeking nothing else but hoping that her son would grow up safely and peacefully.
She had long considered divorcing Li Hao, but in this world, it was difficult enough for ordinary couples to divorce, not to mention that they were Emperor and Empress. Empress Dowager Su would be the first to disapprove of it.
Since divorce was not an option, her only choice was to escape the palace and leave the man who had hurt her so deeply.
For this, Empress Dowager Su had secretly planned for many years and deceived Li Hao for years.
Now, all the profits from her businesses had been saved in a secure bank account. Once she left the palace, she could take her child and start a new life, free and happy.
Gu Ying smiled faintly, instructing Haitang to take care of the two children while she arranged for a carriage to pick up Empress Dowager Su.
As twilight fell, the palace gates were locked, and just as Sun Shi discovered she was pregnant, Empress Dowager Su arranged a special banquet to celebrate. The entire palace was busy with the celebration, and no one noticed that the Crown Princess had not returned to the palace.
Even when the eunuch by Li Yixing's side delivered the message from Empress Dowager Su, he did not pay much attention to Li Yixing's departure from the academy and his stay at the Zhenguo Duke Manor. Empress Dowager Su did not mention bringing Li Yixing back to the palace again.
Empress Dowager Su's indifference towards her son and Empress Dowager Su saddened Gu Ying. When she received Empress Dowager Su, who had escaped from the palace, she hugged her tightly and asked, "Empress Dowager Su, are you really determined?"
"Of course," Empress Dowager Su said. At this moment, she was dressed plainly, her eyes shining brightly. She had long lost the appearance of weakness and vulnerability from years ago. When it came to leaving, she felt neither sad nor distressed. "Have you prepared my money, Gu Ying?"
Gu Ying raised the corner of her mouth and pulled her onto the carriage. "Do you doubt my abilities? Over the years, I've saved one hundred thousand taels of silver in a secure bank account for you. When you arrive in Jiangnan, you can withdraw it directly. The small change you need for the journey is in the Zhenguo Duke Manor. I'll give it to you when we get back."
Empress Dowager Su smiled faintly, holding Gu Ying's hand. The two sisters sat side by side in the carriage. "Finally, we're going to make it. Gu Ying, do you know how long I've been waiting for this day?"
Gu Ying gently squeezed her soft hand, "Isn't it just four years?"
Empress Dowager Su shook her head, her clear eyes gazing at her. "No, it's been five years."
After speaking, she let out a sigh and smiled optimistically, saying, "Ever since Xinger was born, I have often felt the hardships of being married into the royal family. Yingying, you know that Empress Dowager Su has disliked me for a long time. Even though I tried hard for a year to win her favor, I couldn't change her bias against me. Later, I listened to your advice and stopped trying to please her. I focused on being a good wife and fulfilled my duties, but then the Emperor suddenly accused me of being unfilial... He ordered me to be confined to the palace and reflect on my actions."
Gu Ying sighed and tightened her grip on her hand, knowing that she had suffered countless grievances in the palace without anyone to confide in. She silently played the role of a listener.
Ning Si smiled bitterly and said, "It wouldn't be a problem if it were someone else's accusation. I can accept it gladly. But it's him, the person who used to understand me the most, who has gradually become the one who understands me the least. In these past few years, he has taken in numerous concubines and showered favor on Sun Shi and Wang. I turned a blind eye to it, pretending not to see, and even took care of those two favored concubines diligently, allowing them to trample over me. I was cautious and didn't act out, seeking only to survive. What more could he want?"
Hearing her words, Gu Ying felt her heart ache for her. She comforted her, saying, "A Si, you're not at fault. He is."
"I think the reason we haven't had any children all these years is also a concern for Empress Dowager Su. She has always believed that Xinger is not the Emperor's child. That's why... she doesn't like me. And with my recent lack of pregnancies, she has become even more unhappy, seeing me occupying the position of the Empress. Perhaps she has long had the intention to depose me. Now, Sun Shi is pregnant, so she can finally rest assured."
Although her voice was gentle and serene, Gu Ying could hear the heartbreak and pain in Ning Si's words.
Unable to resist, she hugged Ning Si tightly, unable to help but wonder if she had done something wrong in the past.
If Ning Si were together with Zhou Yan at this moment, they would surely be happy.
Ning Si quickly snapped out of her sadness and slyly raised her eyes, saying, "However, it's thanks to Empress Dowager Su's disregard for me and Xinger that we were able to escape so easily."
Her bittersweet smile was truly heartbreaking.
Gu Ying no longer tried to persuade her and instructed Huai An to quickly send them back to the Duke's residence.
Once they arrived home,
Gu Ying took care of everything, making sure all the arrangements were in order. She packed up the silver coins and dry rations, as well as clean clothes for them, and put them in the carriage.
Little Yixing was still playing with Little Zhao Yan on the low couch, completely unaware of what awaited them.
"Little Star, you're doing it wrong."
"Brother Yan, teach me, teach me, I'll learn."
"Okay, let me demonstrate it again. If you still can't learn it, there's nothing more I can do."
"Okay! Yixing will learn it well!"
The little one was very cute and obedient, sitting cross-legged in front of Zhao Yan, his big black eyes fixed on the nine-link rings in Zhao Yan's hands, never blinking.
Ning Si sat on the stool, occasionally glancing at her child and then turning to the busy Gu Ying. "Ah Ying, that's enough. These things are really enough for my son and me to go to Jiangnan. Besides, I have already asked my grandfather to prepare a house for me there, with everything well taken care of. Don't worry, with so much money, neither I nor Xing'er will go hungry."
Ning Si had escaped from the palace alone, without anyone she could rely on. If the Ning family found out that she dared to escape the palace, they would probably tie her up and send her back to face the Emperor and the Empress Dowager's punishment.
Gu Ying had no choice but to arrange several skilled guards to protect her.
"Once you leave, you probably won't come back, right?"
Ning Si answered without hesitation, with a slight smile on her lips. "Hmm, I won't come back."
Gu Ying sighed in her heart. "You're leaving so hastily. After all, the palace will soon receive news, and if Li Hao finds out that you've left the palace, he will send people to search for you. What will you do then?"
Ning Si replied, "Do you think he will look for me?"
In her opinion, an ignored empress escaping from the palace would indeed be a disgrace to the royal family.
But the imperial family had their own ways of dealing with such matters.
Whether it was dying from a serious illness or suddenly dropping dead from a strange disease, they could come up with any excuse to publicly make her "die." The common people wouldn't care about the life or death of an empress.
It was just a matter of time before Li Hao would appoint another empress in a year or so.
Whether she existed or not, whether she was alive or dead, it didn't matter.
Ning Si was very open-minded about it, but Gu Ying didn't think it was that simple. Did Li Hao really have no feelings for Ning Si?
Moreover, Ning Si was one thing, but Little Yixing carried the blood of the Li family.
After thinking it over, she still felt uneasy. "I just think it would be better to cut off all retreats... to leave without leaving any room for him. To achieve the goal in one step, leave cleanly and thoroughly, without giving him any chance."
Zhao Changdu, dressed in a black robe, walked into Changfeng Pavilion with long strides and noticed that it was particularly lively today.
Just as he walked to the corridor, he heard Gu Ying talking about cutting off all retreats and leaving no room. His heart tightened, and he stepped into the room, only to see Empress Ning Si, dressed in the attire of a palace maid, sitting in the room, discussing something with his little niece.
Ning Si was most afraid of Zhao Changdu. As soon as she saw his cold and imposing manner, she quickly got up from the couch and smiled, "Crown Prince, I... I... I won't monopolize Ah Ying. I'll leave soon..."
After so many years, Ning Si still had lingering fears about Zhao Changdu's possessiveness.
Back then, she had just had an argument with Li Hao and stayed at the Duke's Mansion with Gu Ying for two days. In the middle of the night, she was half-asleep and saw a tall figure by her bedside, carrying Ah Ying horizontally. She was almost scared to death by the Crown Prince.
Wasn't it just sleeping with Ah Ying's waist in his arms for a night? During the two days at the Duke's Mansion, she hadn't received a single good look from Crown Prince Zhao.
"Empress, there's no need to be nervous. Please sit."
Zhao Changdu's heart relaxed, his gaze sweeping over Ning Si and Li Yixing, and he already understood most of the situation. Setting aside the unease and uncertainty in his heart, he walked over and pulled Gu Ying into his embrace.
Gu Ying smiled helplessly, her small hand obediently slipping into the man's large palm. "Why are you back so early today?"
The man raised an eyebrow and inserted a lan flower hairpin into her soft hair. "I was eager to come back and see you."
Gu Ying playfully pushed him away. "Hey, Ning Si is still here."
Only then did Zhao Changdu spare some attention for Ning Si.
Although Ning Si didn't like Zhao Changdu's possessive and domineering nature towards Gu Ying, she couldn't help but envy the unwavering affection he had shown Gu Ying over the years. Understanding the situation, she said, "How about this? Yixing and I will come back later?"
Zhao Yan was accustomed to his parents' intimate behavior and didn't pay it any mind, but Li Yixing's eyes widened with curiosity.
After all, as far as he could remember, his father and mother rarely showed such affection.
"Mother, Yixing doesn't want to leave." Li Yixing threw down his toy in a childish manner and said, "Can Uncle Zhao also hug Mother?"
The innocent words of the child made the adults feel somewhat embarrassed.
Ning Si hurriedly covered Little Yixing's mouth and forced a smile. "Yixing, don't talk nonsense. Uncle Zhao is Aunt Gu's husband, so he can't hug me."
Little Yixing didn't understand and asked, "Why not?"
Speaking of which, Li Hao recently took in two favored concubines, one named Sun Shi and the other named Wang.
Inside the palace, the other concubines fought fiercely with the two favored concubines, causing chaos and unrest. Only Empress Dowager Su remained calm and unaffected, sitting firmly in the palace with a pure and contented heart, barely noticeable.
Sun Shi and Wang competed with each other in various ways to gain favor.
They turned the originally peaceful and harmonious palace into a turbulent mess.
At first, Empress Dowager Su would feel a little jealous and resentful, but later she grew indifferent. She no longer cared about Li Hao's visits to other concubines and stopped asking any questions.
She closed the palace doors and lived her own life, seeking nothing else but hoping that her son would grow up safely and peacefully.
She had long considered divorcing Li Hao, but in this world, it was difficult enough for ordinary couples to divorce, not to mention that they were Emperor and Empress. Empress Dowager Su would be the first to disapprove of it.
Since divorce was not an option, her only choice was to escape the palace and leave the man who had hurt her so deeply.
For this, Empress Dowager Su had secretly planned for many years and deceived Li Hao for years.
Now, all the profits from her businesses had been saved in a secure bank account. Once she left the palace, she could take her child and start a new life, free and happy.
Gu Ying smiled faintly, instructing Haitang to take care of the two children while she arranged for a carriage to pick up Empress Dowager Su.
As twilight fell, the palace gates were locked, and just as Sun Shi discovered she was pregnant, Empress Dowager Su arranged a special banquet to celebrate. The entire palace was busy with the celebration, and no one noticed that the Crown Princess had not returned to the palace.
Even when the eunuch by Li Yixing's side delivered the message from Empress Dowager Su, he did not pay much attention to Li Yixing's departure from the academy and his stay at the Zhenguo Duke Manor. Empress Dowager Su did not mention bringing Li Yixing back to the palace again.
Empress Dowager Su's indifference towards her son and Empress Dowager Su saddened Gu Ying. When she received Empress Dowager Su, who had escaped from the palace, she hugged her tightly and asked, "Empress Dowager Su, are you really determined?"
"Of course," Empress Dowager Su said. At this moment, she was dressed plainly, her eyes shining brightly. She had long lost the appearance of weakness and vulnerability from years ago. When it came to leaving, she felt neither sad nor distressed. "Have you prepared my money, Gu Ying?"
Gu Ying raised the corner of her mouth and pulled her onto the carriage. "Do you doubt my abilities? Over the years, I've saved one hundred thousand taels of silver in a secure bank account for you. When you arrive in Jiangnan, you can withdraw it directly. The small change you need for the journey is in the Zhenguo Duke Manor. I'll give it to you when we get back."
Empress Dowager Su smiled faintly, holding Gu Ying's hand. The two sisters sat side by side in the carriage. "Finally, we're going to make it. Gu Ying, do you know how long I've been waiting for this day?"
Gu Ying gently squeezed her soft hand, "Isn't it just four years?"
Empress Dowager Su shook her head, her clear eyes gazing at her. "No, it's been five years."
After speaking, she let out a sigh and smiled optimistically, saying, "Ever since Xinger was born, I have often felt the hardships of being married into the royal family. Yingying, you know that Empress Dowager Su has disliked me for a long time. Even though I tried hard for a year to win her favor, I couldn't change her bias against me. Later, I listened to your advice and stopped trying to please her. I focused on being a good wife and fulfilled my duties, but then the Emperor suddenly accused me of being unfilial... He ordered me to be confined to the palace and reflect on my actions."
Gu Ying sighed and tightened her grip on her hand, knowing that she had suffered countless grievances in the palace without anyone to confide in. She silently played the role of a listener.
Ning Si smiled bitterly and said, "It wouldn't be a problem if it were someone else's accusation. I can accept it gladly. But it's him, the person who used to understand me the most, who has gradually become the one who understands me the least. In these past few years, he has taken in numerous concubines and showered favor on Sun Shi and Wang. I turned a blind eye to it, pretending not to see, and even took care of those two favored concubines diligently, allowing them to trample over me. I was cautious and didn't act out, seeking only to survive. What more could he want?"
Hearing her words, Gu Ying felt her heart ache for her. She comforted her, saying, "A Si, you're not at fault. He is."
"I think the reason we haven't had any children all these years is also a concern for Empress Dowager Su. She has always believed that Xinger is not the Emperor's child. That's why... she doesn't like me. And with my recent lack of pregnancies, she has become even more unhappy, seeing me occupying the position of the Empress. Perhaps she has long had the intention to depose me. Now, Sun Shi is pregnant, so she can finally rest assured."
Although her voice was gentle and serene, Gu Ying could hear the heartbreak and pain in Ning Si's words.
Unable to resist, she hugged Ning Si tightly, unable to help but wonder if she had done something wrong in the past.
If Ning Si were together with Zhou Yan at this moment, they would surely be happy.
Ning Si quickly snapped out of her sadness and slyly raised her eyes, saying, "However, it's thanks to Empress Dowager Su's disregard for me and Xinger that we were able to escape so easily."
Her bittersweet smile was truly heartbreaking.
Gu Ying no longer tried to persuade her and instructed Huai An to quickly send them back to the Duke's residence.
Once they arrived home,
Gu Ying took care of everything, making sure all the arrangements were in order. She packed up the silver coins and dry rations, as well as clean clothes for them, and put them in the carriage.
Little Yixing was still playing with Little Zhao Yan on the low couch, completely unaware of what awaited them.
"Little Star, you're doing it wrong."
"Brother Yan, teach me, teach me, I'll learn."
"Okay, let me demonstrate it again. If you still can't learn it, there's nothing more I can do."
"Okay! Yixing will learn it well!"
The little one was very cute and obedient, sitting cross-legged in front of Zhao Yan, his big black eyes fixed on the nine-link rings in Zhao Yan's hands, never blinking.
Ning Si sat on the stool, occasionally glancing at her child and then turning to the busy Gu Ying. "Ah Ying, that's enough. These things are really enough for my son and me to go to Jiangnan. Besides, I have already asked my grandfather to prepare a house for me there, with everything well taken care of. Don't worry, with so much money, neither I nor Xing'er will go hungry."
Ning Si had escaped from the palace alone, without anyone she could rely on. If the Ning family found out that she dared to escape the palace, they would probably tie her up and send her back to face the Emperor and the Empress Dowager's punishment.
Gu Ying had no choice but to arrange several skilled guards to protect her.
"Once you leave, you probably won't come back, right?"
Ning Si answered without hesitation, with a slight smile on her lips. "Hmm, I won't come back."
Gu Ying sighed in her heart. "You're leaving so hastily. After all, the palace will soon receive news, and if Li Hao finds out that you've left the palace, he will send people to search for you. What will you do then?"
Ning Si replied, "Do you think he will look for me?"
In her opinion, an ignored empress escaping from the palace would indeed be a disgrace to the royal family.
But the imperial family had their own ways of dealing with such matters.
Whether it was dying from a serious illness or suddenly dropping dead from a strange disease, they could come up with any excuse to publicly make her "die." The common people wouldn't care about the life or death of an empress.
It was just a matter of time before Li Hao would appoint another empress in a year or so.
Whether she existed or not, whether she was alive or dead, it didn't matter.
Ning Si was very open-minded about it, but Gu Ying didn't think it was that simple. Did Li Hao really have no feelings for Ning Si?
Moreover, Ning Si was one thing, but Little Yixing carried the blood of the Li family.
After thinking it over, she still felt uneasy. "I just think it would be better to cut off all retreats... to leave without leaving any room for him. To achieve the goal in one step, leave cleanly and thoroughly, without giving him any chance."
Zhao Changdu, dressed in a black robe, walked into Changfeng Pavilion with long strides and noticed that it was particularly lively today.
Just as he walked to the corridor, he heard Gu Ying talking about cutting off all retreats and leaving no room. His heart tightened, and he stepped into the room, only to see Empress Ning Si, dressed in the attire of a palace maid, sitting in the room, discussing something with his little niece.
Ning Si was most afraid of Zhao Changdu. As soon as she saw his cold and imposing manner, she quickly got up from the couch and smiled, "Crown Prince, I... I... I won't monopolize Ah Ying. I'll leave soon..."
After so many years, Ning Si still had lingering fears about Zhao Changdu's possessiveness.
Back then, she had just had an argument with Li Hao and stayed at the Duke's Mansion with Gu Ying for two days. In the middle of the night, she was half-asleep and saw a tall figure by her bedside, carrying Ah Ying horizontally. She was almost scared to death by the Crown Prince.
Wasn't it just sleeping with Ah Ying's waist in his arms for a night? During the two days at the Duke's Mansion, she hadn't received a single good look from Crown Prince Zhao.
"Empress, there's no need to be nervous. Please sit."
Zhao Changdu's heart relaxed, his gaze sweeping over Ning Si and Li Yixing, and he already understood most of the situation. Setting aside the unease and uncertainty in his heart, he walked over and pulled Gu Ying into his embrace.
Gu Ying smiled helplessly, her small hand obediently slipping into the man's large palm. "Why are you back so early today?"
The man raised an eyebrow and inserted a lan flower hairpin into her soft hair. "I was eager to come back and see you."
Gu Ying playfully pushed him away. "Hey, Ning Si is still here."
Only then did Zhao Changdu spare some attention for Ning Si.
Although Ning Si didn't like Zhao Changdu's possessive and domineering nature towards Gu Ying, she couldn't help but envy the unwavering affection he had shown Gu Ying over the years. Understanding the situation, she said, "How about this? Yixing and I will come back later?"
Zhao Yan was accustomed to his parents' intimate behavior and didn't pay it any mind, but Li Yixing's eyes widened with curiosity.
After all, as far as he could remember, his father and mother rarely showed such affection.
"Mother, Yixing doesn't want to leave." Li Yixing threw down his toy in a childish manner and said, "Can Uncle Zhao also hug Mother?"
The innocent words of the child made the adults feel somewhat embarrassed.
Ning Si hurriedly covered Little Yixing's mouth and forced a smile. "Yixing, don't talk nonsense. Uncle Zhao is Aunt Gu's husband, so he can't hug me."
Little Yixing didn't understand and asked, "Why not?"
