You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

The night was as dark as ink, heavily enveloping the imperial city of Nanjing. The daytime heat had not yet dissipated, and the damp, sultry air lingered between the palaces and alleys.

Only a few palaces, brightly lit, carved out island-like spaces of light and bustle in the boundless darkness.

In the northwest corner of the imperial city, the secluded courtyard where the Western Xia women were temporarily housed was now enveloped in an unusual silence and tension.

In one of the slightly tidy courtyards, the door was closed, and flickering candlelight shone through the window paper.

In the candlelight, Li Qingzhi, the former princess of Western Xia, now only twenty years old, stood stiffly in front of a blurry bronze mirror.

Two expressionless palace maids were deftly changing her clothes.

It was a set of light red gauze dance costume, cut with exquisite grace, covering the arms, waist, and even a section of the calf. The fabric was as thin as a cicada's wing and almost transparent in the candlelight.

Intricate gold thread embroidery blooms on the chest and hem, gorgeous yet frivolous.

Her long hair was loosened and styled into the "flying fairy bun," a popular hairstyle among unmarried women in the Central Plains. She was adorned with hairpins and silk flowers, and her face was powdered and rouged.

The girl in the mirror still had delicate features, but she had completely lost the pride and vibrancy that belonged to a princess in the Western Xia court. She was now just a puppet-like beauty who was at the mercy of others, and the fear and humiliation that could not be hidden deep in her eyes.

"The time has come. Please come with me, madam," an older eunuch announced in a shrill voice from outside the door, his voice devoid of any warmth.

Li Qingzhi trembled all over, took a deep breath, as if she wanted to suppress all her emotions into the deepest part of her heart.

She took one last look at her unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, her nails digging deep into her palms, causing a slight stinging pain that kept her sliver of consciousness.

Then, she turned around, straightened her forced, slightly trembling back, and walked out of the room with stiff steps.

Outside the courtyard, several women of the Western Xia royal family, dressed similarly but with different expressions, were already waiting silently.

They didn't speak to each other, or even dare to look at each other. They simply lowered their heads and followed the eunuch leading the way. Guided by the dim palace lanterns, they silently passed through palace gate after palace gate, heading towards the direction where the lights were brightest and the most unsettling.

The destination was not the main hall where the grand court assembly was held, but a side hall called "Qixia Hall," which was used exclusively for banquets and entertainment in the palace.

The palace was exquisite, and at this moment the doors and windows were wide open, from which the faint sounds of string and bamboo music could be heard, mixed with the deep laughter of men and the delicate responses of women.

Under the eaves in front of the hall, there were already many women from Western Xia dressed in dance costumes waiting. They were all holding their breath and their faces looked pale in the lantern light.

Standing in the crowd, Li Qingzhi felt as if the music was a leech, crawling into her ears and making her feel flustered and confused.

She could feel the suppressed breathing and subtle trembling of the women around her.

She knew that soon they would be displayed like merchandise and judged like playthings.

The dignity of a princess from a fallen kingdom?

That was already gone, like the west wind of last night, all withered and gone.

All that remains is this physical body and a fate that hangs in the balance, uncertain and unknown, at the mercy of another's will.

"Announce—the dancers from Western Xia, enter the hall—" the music eunuch drawled.

The palace doors slowly opened, and a blindingly bright light, along with a clearer and stronger aroma of wine, cosmetics, and warmth, wafted out.

Li Qingzhi followed the flow of people, head down, stepping over the high threshold. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the magnificent carpets laid out inside the hall, but she dared not look around, her gaze fixed intently on her feet.

The music changed, becoming rapid and exotic.

The palace maid leading the way indicated the location.

Li Qingzhi and the other women quickly dispersed according to the formation they had hastily rehearsed beforehand, assuming dance poses.

She could feel countless gazes upon her—inquiring, playful, lewd…

Like a real needle, it pricked her skin, making it feel tight.

She forced herself to lift her head and look in the direction of the throne.

One glance was enough to strike her like lightning, nearly throwing off her dance steps.

On the throne, the Song emperor who had destroyed her country sat casually, his black robe slightly open.

And nestled in his arms was a familiar figure...

That was her imperial aunt, the daughter of the late emperor, known for her aloofness and dignified demeanor!

At this moment, her imperial aunt wore a smile that she had never seen before, a smile so charming it was almost fawning, as she fed a peeled grape to Lu Zuo's lips.

Lu Zuo's hand was unabashedly wrapped around the princess's waist, which was only covered by a thin veil, his fingertips seemingly gently... .

With a "boom," Li Qingzhi felt her blood rush to her head, her ears ringing. Humiliation, disgust, sorrow, and a hint of fear of losing a friend in the same boat instantly overwhelmed her.

She hurriedly looked away, biting her lower lip hard to force back the tears that were about to spill from her eyes. Relying on her body's instincts and the last bit of reason, she began to dance mechanically to the music.

Her light red gauze dress twirled and fluttered, the golden bells jingled, and her figure was graceful.

But she had no idea what she was dancing; she only felt that every movement was full of shame, and every spin felt like trampling her dignity on the ground.

But she had no idea what she was dancing; she only felt that every movement was full of shame, and every spin felt like trampling her dignity on the ground.

Amidst the clamor of music and bursts of laughter, she felt as if she were in an ice cave, her heart sinking helplessly deeper and deeper.

After an unknown amount of time, the song finally came to an end.

"Kneel—" the eunuch chanted.

all Regardless of their inner turmoil, they all knelt down in unison, foreheads touching the ground, and shouted in the softest and most uniform voices possible, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

"Raise your heads, all of you." Lu Zuo's voice rang out, devoid of emotion, carrying a calm indifference as if he were looking down on ants from a high place.

Li Qingzhi's body stiffened. She slowly raised her head, but dared not look up, only lowering her eyes to look at the steps below the throne.

She could feel that gaze sweeping over the women, as if selecting goods from a shelf.

You are like a commodity waiting to be sold, your fate entirely in the hands of the other party.

This naked, undignified waiting almost suffocated her.

A moment later, she heard a simple word come from the direction of the throne:

"you."

Immediately, she felt a gaze fall upon her.

The eunuch beside him, quick to read the situation, immediately whispered a reminder: "His Majesty has chosen you, quickly express your gratitude."

Li Qingzhi's heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand, suddenly stopping its beating, and then pounding wildly again.

Sure enough... it was her turn.

A tremendous fear gripped her instantly, but her mother's tearful admonitions, the hardships of the journey, the uncertainty about the future, and the jarring scene of her aunt just moments before...

Various images flashed by in a jumble.

She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, bowing deeply in the most submissive posture, her voice barely audible yet clearly audible: "Thank you... thank you, Your Majesty."

"The rest of you, step back," Lu Zuo said calmly.

The musicians, attendants, and the unselected Western Xia women in the palace, including the princess who was still leaning against Lu Zuo's chest, all bowed and left silently and quickly.

When the princess got up to leave, she didn't even glance at Li Qingzhi kneeling on the ground. She simply straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and followed the eunuch who led the way, her face even showing a hint of relief that she had gotten her wish.

The heavy palace doors closed again, shutting out the noise.

The vast hall fell eerily quiet, with only the occasional crackling of the lamp wicks and Li Qingzhi's own rapid heartbeat remaining.

"Come here." Lu Zuo's voice rang out again, this time closer than before.

Li Qingzhi knelt on the ground and, using her knees and hands, slowly moved to the edge of the steps below the throne.

She kept her head down the whole time, and you could see the tips of her black boots embroidered with gold.

The intense masculine scent and faint ambergris enveloped her, causing her to tremble slightly uncontrollably.

She knew what to do; her mother, her nanny, and even the women traveling with her had discussed it countless times in private.

She took a deep breath, and with all her might, she managed to force a trembling voice from her throat, filled with boundless humility and pleading:

"This servant, Li Qingzhi... begs, Your Majesty... to have mercy..."

……

Meanwhile, in another corner of the imperial city, inside the newly bestowed residence with the plaque inscribed "Residence of the Marquis of Guiyi".

Li Renxiao sat alone in the empty and unfamiliar main room.

There were no lights on, only the hazy moonlight filtering in from the window, outlining the cold contours of the furniture.

The pathetic sense of relief brought by the daytime "reward" had long since vanished, and the heart-wrenching scene in front of the palace gates kept flashing through his mind, like being slowly tortured to death.

His sister, his woman...

Right now, deep within that palace, he is perhaps experiencing the same humiliation he could have imagined.

But here he is, bearing the ridiculous title of "Marquis of Guiyi," unable to do anything, not even daring to freely vent his anger and sorrow.

He finally couldn't hold back any longer, burying his face deep in his trembling hands, letting out a broken sob that he tried his best to suppress.

His shoulders were heaving violently, and tears streamed down his face from between his fingers.

He didn't even dare to cry out loud, for fear that the walls might hear him, and that even this last bit of freedom to grieve would be seen as discontent, bringing even greater trouble.

In this boundless darkness and solitude, like a wounded beast, one can only lick the deep-seated, eternally unhealed shame and pain.

……

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the exquisite windows of Qixia Palace, dispelling the ambiguity and gloom of the night.

The lingering fragrance of incense in the hall had not yet dissipated. Li Qingzhi had already woken up, or rather, she hadn't slept all night.

She forced herself to get up, like the most obedient maid, enduring the discomfort, and silently helped Lu Zuo get up, wash, and change his clothes.

Lu Zuo seemed fairly satisfied with her "obedience," and even allowed her to kneel down and serve the food while he ate breakfast.

Li Qingzhi lowered her eyes and moved gently, carefully placing the porridge and vegetables into the dish in front of Lu Zuo, while she herself did not eat or drink anything.

She dared not think of anything, and just mechanically did these things, like an exquisite doll.

Just then, a respectful report came from outside the hall:

"Your Majesty, General Yang Tiexin is requesting an audience outside the palace."

Li Qingzhi quickly knelt down and moved back a little, lowering her head and holding her breath, trying to minimize her presence.

My heart involuntarily tightened slightly.

Emergency military operations?

Is the western expeditionary army making new moves, or has war broken out somewhere else?

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