Chapter 169.2: Background - Part 2

Looking at those white lanterns, the nun was finally about to step into that palace.

A figure stood at the entrance, looking somewhat weary. It was precisely the young eunuch, Li Heng.

He stood there, quietly looking at the nun in front of him, and said softly, "Please stop."

The nun looked at this familiar face, her expression becoming even uglier as she cursed, "You dare to stop me too?!"

Others might not know her identity, but Li Heng definitely knew because they were very familiar with each other to begin with.

Li Heng looked at her and said calmly, "I presume Her Majesty doesn't want to see you again."

The Empress had always been a strange woman. In the last moments of her life, she had refused visits from the few princes, wishing only to pass away in the arms of the Great Liang Emperor. Now, although this nun was her sister, their relationship had changed ever since she entered the Divine Capital. It can be said that it has not been reconciled until now.

The nun scolded angrily, "You're just a slave, how dare you say such things?"

Li Heng looked at her, recalling events from many years ago. At that time, the nun had also cursed him, calling him nothing more than a slave. But not long after, the Empress had come out and spoken up for him. Her Majesty who was still a princess consort at that time had actually said many things. But what Li Heng remembered very clearly was the last sentence: "Li Heng is not a slave."

The current situation was so similar to the past, but that Empress would never appear again.

Everything had finally reached this point.

"Her Majesty allowed you to stay outside the city back then because she still remembered the good old days."

Back then, the Empress' younger sister left the Divine Capital after the Empress entered the Divine Capital. The reasons for her departure were widely speculated at the time, but there was no definitive answer. Now, with Li Heng speaking like this, it revealed some of the events back then.

It turns out that the Empress' kept true to her word. Furthermore, it seemed that allowing her to go outside the city was already a generous act.

Li Heng spoke, but he did not step back.

When the nun heard this, she got even angrier, "Get lost!"

With a flick of her sleeve, a strong wind blew, raging endlessly. Li Heng stood in front of her, swaying like a lantern caught in a strong gust. But Li Heng stood in place and was silent.

Over the years, the nun had nothing else to do outside the Divine Capital, her cultivation had advanced rapidly instead. However, in front of Li Heng, she still appeared very ordinary.

The young eunuch stood there, watching the raindrops being blown by the strong wind.

After an unknown amount of time, the wind subsided.

The nun's face turned pale. She stood there, somewhat silent, but mostly filled with anger. She could not understand why someone like Li Heng would show such disrespect towards her.

"No matter what, I'm her sister!" Rread latest chapters at novelhall.com

The nun spoke with anger, her voice as cold as the rain today.

In fact, there was nothing wrong with what she said. No matter how much resentment and grievances existed between her and the Empress, she was still the Empress' younger sister.

This was an unquestionable fact.

Li Heng fell silent.

He knew about the situation too, and because he knew, he was somewhat hesitating at this moment. Given the Empress' temperament, since she had said they would never meet again, it was destined to end with them never meeting again. However, now that Her Majesty had passed away, as her sister, it was only natural and reasonable for her to come and pay her respects.

Yes, they could not reconcile their differences in life, but what about after death?

Li Heng hesitated.

After an unknown amount of time, the nun was about to pass by him and walk into the palace. Li Heng did not stop her.

Actually, there were deeper meanings behind it.

But some things were better left unsaid.

......

......

Chen Chao and Xie Nandu arrived at the Laundry Bureau and placed the clothes they were carrying down. Only then, did Xie Nandu speak, "That person probably had a major falling-out with your mother, incurring the displeasure of the Empress."

Matters between sisters were never that simple.

Chen Chao looked at Xie Nandu, fell silent for a moment, and said, "Actually, Mother mentioned this elder sister before, but there weren't many positive remarks."

Xie Nandu pondered and asked, "Did your mother truly hate the Empress?"

The Empress has always been kind-hearted. Back then, she treated that younger sister extremely well too. There was never any other discourse.

Chen Chao shook his head. "Perhaps not."

Even if the current Emperor did not rise in revolt, they would have been living in extreme misery too. His mother was undoubtedly aware of this, but in the end, she refused to lower her head in front of that elder sister.

Apart from this reason, there might be some other factors at play.

But no matter what, she probably did not hate the Empress that much. After all, during those darkest days, the Empress was her only light.

These two sisters should not harbor resentment towards each other over such trivial matters.

Xie Nandu picked up the umbrella and handed it to Chen Chao, saying, "If you really want to go and see Her Majesty, you can only go by yourself."

Chen Chao stood at the doorway. Receiving the oiled-paper umbrella, he was silent for a long time, and then took off his clothes.

Those clothes were ultimately not him.

He was now going to that palace, to bid his aunt a final farewell, and he could only go in his own name.

Anything else would not do.

Xie Nandu looked at this scene unfold without saying a word.

Chen Chao walked out.

He walked along the palace road, the same path he took when he first entered the palace. At that time, it was Li Heng who brought him.

Now, there was no Li Heng and he could find his way on his own too.

Soon, he saw many palace attendants.

Those palace attendants saw him too.

But no one paid him any attention.

Chen Chao arrived not far away from the palace and saw that nun.

The two met.

They locked eyes for a moment. The nun looked at Chen Chao and quickly recognized the familiarity in his features, a familiarity that disgusted her. Coupled with the unpleasant incident earlier, the nun stared at Chen Chao and cursed, "So, you are that wretched girl's child?"

Upon hearing the words "wretched girl," Chen Chao raised his eyebrows.