"Ancestors, watch and see!"
Fierce fighting spirit blazed in Liu Xie's eyes. After making that promise in his heart, he turned and strode out of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, his steps firm and forceful.
A breeze swept past, stirring the curls of incense smoke within the temple and making Emperor Gaozu's spirit tablet, seated highest of all, look even hazier.
Pepper Chamber Hall.
Ever since Liu Xie returned to Chang'an, Empress Fu had not left Pepper Chamber Hall, reverting to her former secluded life.
Even when Fu Wan was later intercepted and killed by horse bandits, she had made no gesture, nor had she gone to pay her respects to the dead.
Noble Lady Fu had tried to visit her several times, but she had refused her too. Everything she did seemed to declare that she wanted no further involvement with the Fu Family.
And that was indeed the case.
When faced with Ma Chao's terms back then, her father, Fu Wan, had ordered her to leave the city and serve as a hostage. That had chilled her heart completely.
She was human, a person of flesh and blood and feelings. Even knowing that the family's interests had to come first, she still found it hard to accept how Fu Wan had used her like an object and heartlessly discarded her.
Thus, when she learned that her father, Fu Wan, had died after being "intercepted and killed by horse bandits," she had felt little grief. Instead, she felt released.
"Your Majesty, it is time for supper."
A palace maid entered Empress Fu's bedchamber, gently nudged the sleeping empress, and spoke respectfully.
Perhaps it was the autumn drowsiness brought on by the season, but Empress Fu had grown increasingly fond of sleeping lately, spending twelve to fourteen hours asleep each