Forgiveness

The wheels rumbled in the luxurious and spacious carriage. Wang Simu sat somewhat reservedly on a wool-covered armchair, occasionally glancing at his aunt who sat motionless with an expressionless face.

"Her aura is very strong, it makes me feel a little pressured," Wang Simu thought to herself. Due to the pressure from her future mother-in-law, she didn't dare to move.

Why isn't Simu moving? Her expression is so reserved and serious. Is meeting the Empress Dowager really that scary? Say something! My butt is getting sore from sitting so long, I want to move. The aunt maintained her aloof demeanor, but she was extremely anxious inside.

However, she never entered the palace to pay homage to the Empress Dowager, believing it to be a necessary ritual.

Wang Simu didn't move, and neither did she.

The Xu Residence was not far from the imperial city. Two quarters of an hour later, the luxurious carriage entered the imperial city, and another quarter of an hour later, they finally arrived at the palace gate.

After being questioned by the Imperial Guards, the carriage easily entered the palace and stopped next to the shed where carriages were parked.

With the help of her maid, Wang Simu stepped off the carriage on a small wooden stool. Then she turned around and helped her aunt off the carriage, just as the maid had helped her.

The future mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, leading the maids, headed towards Fengqi Palace. The aunt, her eyes fixed ahead, maintained the poise she had practiced at home for so long, deliberately speaking in a flat tone:

"Simu, this is my first time entering the palace. I'm not very familiar with the rules here. Could you tell me about them?"

Actually, my aunt knew a little about it. The Empress Dowager was such a thoughtful person. She knew that the matriarch of the Xu Household had never been to the palace, so she had already sent palace maids to the Xu Residence to teach her the proper etiquette.

However, my aunt didn't learn very carefully and often yawned and felt sleepy. After learning from the old woman for a few days, she didn't make a single mistake.

It's not that my aunt is exceptionally gifted, but how could Xu Yinluo's aunt be wrong?

Wang Simu answered every question gently, recounting the palace rules. Upon hearing this, the aunt thought to herself, "Oh dear, this is quite different from what I learned. That wretched old nanny, how dare she trick me!"

If this were at home, my aunt would be standing there with her hands on her hips and her eyebrows raised in disapproval.

As they spoke, the group, led by the eunuch, entered the Phoenix Perch Palace.

The environment and layout of Fengqi Palace surprised my aunt. She found it hard to believe that this was the residence of the Empress Dowager; it was too cold and austere.

Stepping across the threshold, in the spacious, bright, sandalwood-scented reception room, the aunt met the Empress Dowager, the birth mother of the current Empress, a woman of dignified elegance and unparalleled beauty.

My aunt has seen countless beauties, and because my nephew is a womanizer, beautiful women often stay at our house.

Including herself, and her eldest daughter Xu Lingyue, both of whom are outstanding beauties.

But upon seeing the Empress Dowager, he suddenly realized that if she were twenty years younger, she would probably be the most beautiful woman in the capital. Oh, the Imperial Preceptor is the real most beautiful woman in the capital.

As for that certain flower goddess, my aunt didn't know her and didn't pay her any attention or keep her in mind.

The Empress Dowager was a cold and aloof person, and she did not show any humility or politeness to her aunt because of Xu Qi'an.

The Empress Dowager is now invincible because she has no desires. A while ago, her daughter, who had become the emperor, came to her and said she wanted to cancel the marriage between Lin'an and Xu Qi'an, but the Empress Dowager refused, saying that the marriage was already arranged and could not be changed.

Huaiqing tried to force his mother to submit with his aura, but found that his mother was without desire or desire and had no fear, so he slunk away in defeat.

After that incident, Huaiqing, as if in a fit of pique, never visited the Empress Dowager again.

The Empress Dowager didn't care.

"Xu Yinluo is a young and outstanding man, the dream spouse of countless unmarried women. I've heard some things about his past."

The Empress Dowager sipped her tea, her tone unhurried and measured, revealing an elegant and detached demeanor.

"Lin'an is my princess of the Great Feng Dynasty. There is absolutely no reason for her to share a husband with other women. I heard from Simu that you are a head wife with strong opinions and have been able to keep him under control since childhood."

"I need a definite answer from you about this."

How could I possibly have him completely under my thumb? That brat is always getting on my nerves, just like Lingyin, always picking on me. My aunt showed no expression, but inwardly she was starting to feel wronged.

She didn't know how to answer the question, so she turned to look at Wang Simu.

Why was she looking at me like that? Was she unhappy that I had informed the Empress Dowager? Was she making me deal with the trouble I had created? Wang Simu's heart skipped a beat, but she smiled without changing her expression:

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Xu Yinluo and Prince Lin'an are in love, and Xu Yinluo will certainly not let the prince down."

"Oh, it seems Lingyue and Simu had discussed it beforehand. I'm relieved." The aunt's eyes lit up, and when she saw the Empress Dowager looking over, she nodded.

The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement.

"That's excellent."

The two sides then discussed the wedding ceremony according to the established procedures, occasionally chatting about unrelated topics.

Whenever Auntie felt that what the Empress Dowager said was too sophisticated, she would glance at Wang Simu.

Wang Simu felt that her mother-in-law was giving her a chance and grooming her as a future daughter-in-law, so she immediately became very attentive.

After lunch, Wang Simu returned to the carriage, feeling relieved, as if he had just fought a battle and was utterly exhausted.

Neither the Empress Dowager nor my future mother-in-law are easy to deal with; it's been tough for me, living in the cracks. Erlang, when will you return to the capital? Wang Simu suddenly missed her fiancé.

At the same time, she admired her future mother-in-law immensely. Even though it was her first time entering the palace and meeting the Empress Dowager, she was able to maintain a stern face and act with such poise that it gave the impression that she was the Empress Dowager herself.

Even if a woman's family suddenly becomes wealthy and her social status is completely different from before, cultivating her mindset and temperament is not something that can be done overnight.

My future mother-in-law is truly a hidden gem!

I'm exhausted. My face is so stiff from all the tension. That bastard Xu Ningyan, even getting married has to drag his mother and aunt down with him. I want to rub my face with my hands.

The Imperial Study.

Sitting behind his large desk, after reviewing the memorials, Huaiqing spread out a sheet of Xuan paper, picked up his brush, and wrote:

"Daoist Venerable, Incense and Divine Path, Earth Book, Warlock, Supervisor, Gatekeeper."

In her mind, she connected all these clues.

Back then, the Daoist Master destroyed the incense and divine path and collected the Mountain and River Divine Seals. His purpose was unclear, but it has been confirmed that it was related to the Gatekeeper.

This can be deduced by looking back at the Warlock System established by the first Supervisor.

The Warlock System is clearly an extension or branch of the traditional religious and religious system, and contemporary Warlock seem to be gatekeepers. What does this indicate?

This suggests that the incense-burning and sacred paths of that time likely involved gatekeepers, who were born from these paths.

Therefore, the Daoist's actions were in accordance with logic.

The three questions Xu Qi'an mentioned in the Earth Book are the cause-and-effect relationship of this truth.

"Since Daozun's Earthly Primordial Spirit became the artifact spirit, then the First Supervisor and Daozun have no connection. The First Supervisor must have obtained the inheritance of the Incense and Divine Path by fortuitous opportunity. Now it seems that Daozun's original method of refining the Earth Book was wrong."

"Looking back at the first supervisor, he stumbled upon the right path as a gatekeeper? Something just doesn't feel right."

Huaiqing pondered silently, actively using his brain.

However, since even members of the Heaven and Earth Society do not know what the "gatekeeper" means or what it symbolizes, it is difficult to make effective inferences.

Huaiqing's heart stirred, and he brought his wandering thoughts back to the question itself—the Daoist Master!

"Based on the existing clues, it's not hard to deduce what the Dao Venerable has been trying out. The Earth Sect's avatar is trying out the path of incense and deities. What are the Heaven Sect and Human Sect's avatars trying out?"

"By the way, was the Dao Venerable who drove all the descendants of Gods and Devils out of the Nine Provinces the original Dao Venerable, or one of the two avatars of the Celestial Person Venerable?"

"Furthermore, with the Earth Sect's avatar as a reference, the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of the Heaven Sect's leader has actually come to light."

This was also an attempt by the Daoist Master, but it seems that problems arose.

After a while, Huaiqing pinched the bridge of his nose and decided to tell Xu Qi'an about it, to let him worry about it; he was tired.

At this moment, a eunuch hurriedly entered and whispered:

"Your Majesty, the matriarch of the Xu Household just went to see the Empress Dowager."

Huaiqing said calmly:

"Knew."

She paused for a moment and said:

"Go to the Bureau of Astronomy and send the woman Xu Qi'an left there to the Xu Residence. Then send a message to Lingbao Temple that Xu Yinluo and Lin'an will be married in a month."

Huaiqing still disdained targeting someone as weak as Lin'an; she was merely trying to put a little pressure on her beloved Xu Yinluo.

Let him focus on fighting in Yongzhou and stop thinking about romance.

Xunzhou, the prefectural government office, the council hall.

Yang Gong summoned all the senior generals to this meeting, including Xu Qi'an, a pillar of the army.

The battle to defend Xunzhou was won, but it was only a partial victory, and the situation remains dire.

Next, the real crisis will be faced by the Great Feng garrison.

Sun Xuanji led Protector Yuan into the council hall. Yang Gong and the other generals were taken aback, staring at Protector Yuan, wondering what was going on.

Protector Yuan was dressed in prison clothes, with handcuffs, shackles, and a wooden cangue, looking like he was about to be beheaded at the execution ground.

Protector Yuan glanced at the crowd, easily reading their thoughts and understanding their doubts. He then explained sadly:

"This was given to me by Xu Yinluo to teach me a lesson and remind me that loose lips sink ships."

Everyone was overjoyed, but couldn't help asking:

What if they don't learn their lesson?

Protector Yuan said sadly:

"Given my current state, the next step is obviously to drag me out and behead me."

Yang Gong waved his hand:

"It doesn't have to be that bad, it doesn't have to be that bad."

Xu Erlang waved his hand:

"Big brother has gone too far."

Miao Youfang sighed:

"Protector Yuan is an ally after all; Xu Yinluo has really gone too far."

Protector Yuan glanced at them, his sorrow deepening.

Yang Gong's true feelings were:

This monkey has finally met its end. Truly, justice prevails, and retribution is swift. Xu Yinluo has rid the people of this scourge!

Xu Erlang's inner thoughts are:

My brother must have run into some incredibly embarrassing trouble. I'll find out what's going on later, haha.

Miao Youfang's inner thoughts were:

After I'm beheaded, can I have a bite of the monkey's brain?

But having learned from Xu Yinluo's example, Yuan Hufa forcefully resisted his instincts and suppressed the urge to interpret his inner thoughts and put them into words.

Li Mubai said irritably:

"Monkey, what did you do to Xu Ningyan?"

Just as Protector Yuan was about to speak, Xu Qi'an arrived late, walking in from outside the hall.

Everyone stared at him, stunned.

A gleaming iron sword was stuck in Xu Yinluo's skull, the blade piercing through the top of his head, with only the hilt protruding.

"This is too... too tragic!" Yang Gong and the others were dumbfounded, all looking at Protector Yuan, thinking to themselves, "What sins have you committed?"

"Big brother, what's wrong?"

Xu Erlang's heart ached so much that his lips almost stretched to his ears.

"I accidentally offended the Imperial Advisor, who told me to stick my sword in as a sign of repentance. She said that the day the sword forgives me, she will forgive me too."

Xu Qi'an glanced at Protector Yuan:

"I'll forgive you the moment she forgives me!"

Protector Yuan asked anxiously:

When will that sword forgive you?

Upon hearing this, Xu Qi'an looked at the monkey with an expression that suggested he should "take it easy."

"This is a divine sword without a spirit."

Protector Yuan was dumbfounded.

Sun Xuanji patted Protector Yuan on the shoulder.

I'll try to be mute in my next life.

Xu Xinnian coughed and said:

"Master Yang, everyone is here. Let's begin our meeting."

He was afraid he would lose control and mock his older brother mercilessly.

Back then, my older brother would often pick on his embarrassing moments and relentlessly criticize him.

Now the great revenge has been achieved.

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Also, I'm out of fluids today, so I'm going to sleep.