The Girl Who Struggled Through Palace Intrigues to Become the Empress

Chapter 442

Faced with Ru Ge's candor, Rongyue also opened up and spoke frankly with her,

"But you still helped me out of the predicament, didn't you?"

She smiled, "I want to hear the story between you and Jing Yan. Are you willing to tell me?"

Upon hearing the name 'Jing Yan', Ru Ge's heart trembled violently.

She had known Xiao Jingyan for quite some time, but in the past, whether it was meeting him or in private, she had always addressed him politely as 'Prince An'.

But Rongyue could utter Xiao Jingyan's name so naturally.

Just this one point alone made her completely different.

Ru Ge remained silent for a brief moment, then smiled bitterly and unnaturally,

"It's not that the concubine wants to hide anything from Consort Shun, but between the concubine and Prince An...there truly isn't anything worth mentioning. Or perhaps I should say, in all these years, the concubine had only that one chance to be alone with Prince An."

She took out the Double Happiness Knot that Zhao Hua had returned to her from her bosom,

Lowering her gaze, she fixed her eyes on the 'Rong' character embroidered in the center, feeling bitter in her heart.

She had been infatuated and mistaken for so many years, and now that she had discovered the truth, she felt as if she had just woken up from a dream. She didn't know who to blame anymore.

She sighed almost inaudibly, noticing the doubtful look in Rongyue's eyes, and asked:

"Consort Shun is looking at the concubine like this, wondering why this Double Happiness Knot with your name embroidered on it should have been in Prince An's possession, but has ended up in the concubine's hands, am I right?"

Rongyue nodded in curiosity, but Ru Ge said:

"Because I stole it from Prince An."

"Stole?"

Ru Ge said the word 'stole' very lightly, but it sounded particularly jarring to Rongyue's ears.

Ru Ge was born into a prestigious family and was considered wealthy in the Capital City.

Although the Double Happiness Knot was made of the precious and rare Celestial Silkworm Silk, it should not have driven her, a well-bred young lady, to do anything improper.

So Rongyue probed further, "What do you mean by that?"

Ru Ge said half-jokingly: "Keeping something that was lost without reporting it counts as taking it as one's own. How is that different from stealing or robbing? This Double Happiness Knot was something I picked up after Prince An lost it, and that was the only time I had a chance to be alone with him briefly."

Mentioning Xiao Jingyan, the bitter smile on Ru Ge's face turned warm, and her clear eyes shone with delight.

She no longer adhered to propriety and referred to herself as 'the concubine' in front of Rongyue.

"From a young age, my father and mother taught me how to become a well-educated and virtuous young lady. Etiquette, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting - I had to master everything. I diligently studied every day, but no matter how hard I tried, it never seemed enough.

The only person I could talk to and relieve my boredom was Little Willow. Sometimes, when I did well in my studies, my mother would reward me by taking me out. But I couldn't show my face in public, and had to stay inside the sedan chair the whole time.

I could only hear the bustling sounds, or catch glimpses of the lively crowds on the streets through the thin veil, like hazy masses of shadows.

Until...I met Prince An."

Ru Ge gazed wistfully out the window, her eyes shining with an enchanting brilliance,

"It was a sunny afternoon like today. Prince An came to visit our family, and I happened to be playing in the courtyard with Little Willow and bumped into him by accident.

The first time I saw Prince An, I felt my breath catch in my throat. I was flustered and my face turned red all the way to my ears. I ran away in embarrassment.

After that, Prince An frequently visited our home to drink wine and appreciate paintings with my father. Over time, our encounters became more frequent. I knew he enjoyed appreciating paintings, so I worked even harder to learn painting, just to have him glance at me.

Gradually, I became known in the Capital City as the 'Painting Fairy'. Sometimes when Prince An and my father appreciated paintings together, even when my father couldn't keep up with the conversation, I could exchange a few words with Prince An.

Seeing my interest in painting, he would often lend me his fine paintings for appreciation. From then on, Prince An became the only person I looked forward to in my monotonous days."

Recalling these memories, Ru Ge's expression was filled with delight.

But as she continued, the smile on her face gradually turned more and more bitter,

"I always looked forward to his visits, hoping to exchange a few more words with him and have him look at me a little longer. But gradually, his visits to our home became less and less frequent. At one point, he didn't come for four whole months. I asked my father, and he said Prince An was busy with court affairs and might not have time to visit for a while.

I was gloomy and depressed every day. Little Willow was the only one who knew my feelings, and she suggested that since Prince An wasn't coming, I should go and find him instead.

So when my parents went out of town, I had Little Willow help me climb over the high walls and sneak out of our home. I thought, even if I could just catch a glimpse of him from afar, that would be enough.

But shortly after leaving, Little Willow and I encountered some ruffians blocking our way. They were reeking of alcohol and saying all sorts of indecent things, even trying to lay their hands on me.

I was terrified and unable to defend myself, curling up in fear. It was then that Prince An happened to pass by and rescued me. When I tried to thank him, he said the Emperor had summoned him urgently and hurried away. And this Double Happiness Knot was something he had dropped at that time."

Ru Ge looked disheartened,

Having been strictly sheltered from a young age, she had no one to confide in about the many things bottled up in her heart.

That was why she rambled on so sincerely to Rongyue.

She then went on to describe how she had mistaken the 'Rong' character embroidered on the Double Happiness Knot as her own nickname, and how she had clung to this illusion, eagerly awaiting each passing day...

After listening to her account of the years of longing and eventual disappointment, Rongyue couldn't help but feel pity for her,

"I don't know how to console you. To suffer from unrequited love for so many years, only to realize in the end that it was all a misunderstanding - no matter who experienced this, it would be a difficult blow. Perhaps...you might even resent me?"

"No." Ru Ge shook her head in denial, but tears still welled up in her eyes,

"Everything from beginning to end was my own one-sided infatuation. I knew that, so how could I force others to take responsibility for my one-sided feelings? Let alone blame others for it."

She wiped away her tears and took a deep breath.

After pouring out all those secrets that had been suppressed deep within her heart, Ru Ge appeared much more relaxed.

A relieved smile curved her lips,

"Now that I understand that 'the fairy had a dream, but Prince Xiang had no intentions', it was all just an illusion, a mere mirage. Reflecting on how I wasted so many years on a naive girl's fancies, it does seem rather laughable."

After a pause, she asked Rongyue,

"What about you, Your Highness? After all these years, you still keep that Double Happiness Knot. Could it be that you haven't let go of what's in your heart?"

Rongyue remained silent for a moment, not directly answering her question, but said:

"I have my parents and relatives behind me, the entire Tong clan. That's why, once I entered the palace, no matter what past baggage I couldn't let go of, I had to. For us women, many things are predetermined from the moment we are born. I have no choice, and neither do you. But...while my physical body may be confined within the Imperial City for life, I can still freely choose where to place my heart."

Her words were profound, and Ru Ge nodded in understanding, but then suddenly asked:

"Your Highness, do you believe that in this world, many things are actually predestined in the grand scheme of things?"

Rongyue paused, "What do you mean?"

Ru Ge wanted to give the Double Happiness Knot to Rongyue, but Rongyue waved her hand in refusal. As a result, Ru Ge could only suspend her hand in midair, smiling faintly as she said:

"If I had not left home impetuously that day, I would not have encountered danger and been rescued by Prince An, nor would I have found this Double Happiness Knot and mistakenly developed feelings for Prince An. Without this Double Happiness Knot, Consort Yun and Concubine Li's schemes against my Lady would have succeeded, and no matter how composed and intelligent my Lady is, it would have been extremely difficult for you to extricate yourself from this situation. So......"

As she spoke, she took advantage of Rongyue's lack of attention and slipped the Double Happiness Knot into her palm,

"Instead of saying that I saved my Lady, it would be more accurate to say that Prince An, who is connected to you by fate, was able to protect you from the unseen forces through this knot."