Chapter 399: 12.7

The man went inside Bai Yunyu's shabby room, hiding behind a wardrobe that was just enough for him to fit. Although Bai Yunyu was pretty sure that the soldiers wouldn't be suspicious enough to search inside a cold palace. 

[That man…]

[Pupa: What?]

[He reminds me of someone when our gaze met, there's a spark between us. It's the same feeling when our eyes met in the previous world. He is so familiar, but I'm not sure why can he be here.]

[The previous world is just a regular world without any superpower, right, Pupa?]

[Pupa: Yes, it's just a regular showbiz world, other than Long Shen's miracle transmigration as Long Zhen, there's no such thing as magic.]

[… maybe it's just my imagination…]

Bai Yunyu was holding his cane as he saw bunch of soldiers who partake in the task of patrolling the forbidden city. Because there was a shortage of patrol guards in the forbidden city right now, most of them strangely resigned for no apparent reason, especially after the Empress banishment. There were around fifteen soldiers trampled the snow on his courtyard. The courtyard of the Cold Palace was dark, with only one source of lighting. Which was the candle on the table beside Bai Yunyu right now.

The soldiers saw their banished Empress after two years. Empress Xiuying was sitting alone in front of his room in a chair that would break anytime soon, holding a cane of a deceased old eunuch. 

It wasn't something that came to their mind when they saw their Empress, it was far from it. Because Empress Xiuying was popular in the military as the strong Empress.

The soldiers didn't have disgust or hatred for Empress Xiuying. In fact, the soldiers remembered Empress Xiuying as strong and wise.

Because Empress Xiuying contributed significantly to the military's advancement in this Empire when he reigned for a short period.

People might think that Emperor Xianliang did everything because he was the Golden Emperor. But it was almost like an unwritten rule that Empress Xiuying was more respected than Emperor Xianliang in their eyes. 

Some generals protested when Emperor Xianliang banished the Empress, but Empress Xiuying talked to the high generals the night before his banishment and told them to obey whatever Emperor Xianliang said for the greater good of the country. 

The resentment was still here, even after two years. Nobody was allowed to visit the banished Empress, so they didn't know what to do or what happened with the Empress. And when one general proposed bravely to Emperor Xianliang that he would take Empress Xiuying as his wife, had Emperor Xianliang didn't love him any longer. 

But Emperor Xianliang was furious with such a proposal. He almost beheaded the general right in front of other generals and ministers with his own sword.

They thought Empress Xiuying was in good condition even though he was banished because it seemed that Emperor Xianliang was often dazed, unlike when Empress Xiuying was sitting side by side with him in the dragon chair.

But when they saw their Empress in such terrible condition. His body was brittle, his hair was unkempt, and he was only skin and bones. Bai Yunyu was still beautiful as ever, but it made him even more pitiful, like a wilting white gardenia. 

The commander fell on his knees immediately. He was both shocked and depressed when he saw the look of their beloved Empress. Few soldiers who had met with the Empress prior to his banishment also fell on the ground, followed by the newer soldiers who didn't know who the weak ger man was in front of them.

"Your… Majesty…" the commander uttered words that were almost foreign in Bai Yunyu's ears.

Bai Yunyu smiled at the commander and nodded lightly, "It's been a while, Commander Huitong."

The commander heard how shaky and weak Empress Xiuying's voice was, which bring even more torment to his heart. 

"Your Majesty… why are you here?"

"This is my courtyard since two years ago. Pardon me because I can't greet you with mightier or more lavish decoration in this shabby place," Empress Xiuying said. He was still as humble as always. He seldom used 'Bengong' and always used 'wo'  to address himself in front of his subjects, even though he was the Empress. 

Empress Xiuying never flaunted how high his status was. Unlike the Golden Emperor, Emperor Xianliang, who was so mighty and powerful, nobody dared to talk to him without lowering their heads. 

"Y—Your Majesty, I thought His Majesty, Emperor Xianliang would—"

Bai Yunyu smiled and tapped the cane to the wooden floor. It was like an elderly warning of them not to speak ill of the Emperor. Empress Xiuying was always the one who taught them. He also managed anything related to Emperor Xianliang, even though he was technically younger.

Empress Xiuying was just thirty years old right now, while Emperor Xianliang was thirty-two years old. But Empress Xiuying's pitiful condition made him looked like an old man who was about to die soon.

"Don't speak anything ill about His Majesty. He has been working hard for the sake of the country," Bai Yunyu warned them.

The commander couldn't believe what he saw right now. How the beautiful yet strong Empress Xiuying turned into something like this in only two years.

This meant that Emperor Xianliang never took care of the Empress! He simply treated him like a prisoner, or even worse than a prisoner! 

The commander couldn't bear to watch much longer, so he lowered his gaze and uttered his intention, "Pardon for my impertinence to enter your courtyard, Your Majesty! But we are currently searching for an intruder in the palace. We caught him sneaking to the harem. He is probably a perverted man who wants to touch some harem member!"

Bai Yunyu hummed for a moment, then asked, "Did you see him heading this way?" 

"… We are not sure, Your Majesty. He is very agile. But this place is the farthest and the most probable place where he hides," the commander answered truthfully. 

"I've been standing here for a while, watching the serene snowfall tonight. So far, I haven't seen anyone coming in this direction except you and your troop," Bai Yunyu said. 

"I don't mind if you search around my courtyard, but this place is a bit run down. So please mind your step. It'd be difficult for me to fix it later," he added to ensure the commander. 

The commander had no doubt to his Empress. Because he knew that Empress Xiuying was magnanimous and truthful. So he immediately crossed the Cold Palace where Empress Xiuying currently resided from his search list. 

But he continued staring at the wilting Empress Xiuying. The Empress said that he wanted to enjoy the snowfall, but when the commander saw the patchy coat that the Empress was wearing right now, he couldn't help but to open his mouth, "Your Majesty… may I know what happened in two years?"

Bai Yunyu didn't seem to be surprised with such a question. He chuckled and answered, "I am currently doing what His Majesty told me to do. You don't need to worry about me. Just focus on your duty to serve His Majesty, Emperor Xianliang."