"Yes, more than a decade ago, Chu Yixuan killed my entire family, over a hundred innocent lives. So in this life, no matter what, I must avenge them. I will take his head to see my father. Otherwise, when he sees my father in the underworld, I won't be able to face him." Nan Gonghong said sorrowfully. Only when mentioning Chu Yixuan did a hint of sharpness flash in his eyes.

  When will the injustice be avenged? Yan Xijun wanted to say this, but was afraid of stirring up his emotions, so she remained silent. Later, she asked: "You said that Chu Yixuan killed your entire family, are you the youngest son of the former Nan Gong Taifu?"

  "That's right. How did you know?" asked Nangong Hong curiously.

  "I guessed it. You're not a member of the Nangong family, are you?" Yan Xijun also recalled. "At that time, I was still young when the incident occurred. Later, I also learned about the miserable experience of your family from others. It was said that everyone in the Nangong family was killed, but how did you manage to escape and survive until now."

  "At that time I was being hidden in a household, so I escaped that massacre."

  "Oh, I suppose it's a good thing." Yan Xijun said. But in her heart, she thought: Chu Yixuan really is an enemy of many families. There are people everywhere who want to kill him. It's truly a case of reaping what he sowed back then.

  "Jun Er, I've explained so much to you. You don't hate me anymore, do you?" Nan Gong Hong said cautiously. What he feared most was her misunderstanding him.

  "Alas, what's the point of being resentful?" Yan Xijun sighed. Sincerely, she said: "However, I advise you to stay away from the Empress. Don't get entangled with her again. If your affair is exposed, Chu Yixuan will take your lives. For my sister and for you, just give up."

  "Alright, don't worry. I promise you. From now on, I won't bother the Queen anymore. I'll find a way to get that map myself, no need for the Queen to look for it." Nangong Hong guaranteed.

  "You can do that, it's really great." Yan Xijun said happily. Although she had some selfish interference in his affairs, from now on he wouldn't look for his sister, and then his sister would no longer be worried about her life.

  Looking at her rare smile, Nangong Hong reached out to touch her face, but was afraid of causing her dissatisfaction, so he forcibly stopped the thought. He looked up at the sunlight filtering through the trees and said helplessly: "I've been in the palace for a long time today, I should go back."

  "Uh, I should head back too. Otherwise, they'll worry." Yan Xijun bid farewell to Nangong Hong and returned to the palace, only to find Empress Dowager unexpectedly sitting in the grand hall.

  Those kneeling on the ground were all servants of Ganquan Palace. Those people saw her return and let out a sigh of relief.

  Yan Xijun looked at her sister with a hint of curiosity, then glanced at the person kneeling on the ground. Xue Lian showed her a concerned and worried gaze, but she comforted her with a gentle smile. She turned her attention back to the Empress who was high above them, and asked in confusion: "Sister, what's going on?"

  "The slaves in Ganquan Palace don't even have a bit of vigilance, they don't even know where their own master has gone. What's the use of these slaves?" Empress Yan said with an iron face. Thinking about Nan Gonghong leaving without saying goodbye earlier made her very angry. It was all because of this girl that ruined her good deed.

  It was because of herself that she had dragged the slaves into anger. Yan Xijun felt a little ashamed, so she begged the empress for mercy: "Sister, I'm back now, aren't I? It's just that I deliberately didn't tell them, so they don't know where I went either."

  Empress Yan looked at her with a cold face, still as chilly as ever.

  "All right. All of you can go out now. I have something to discuss with Her Majesty the Queen." Yan Xijun ordered the slaves who were kneeling on the ground.

  Although she was the mistress of Ganquan Palace, those slaves did not dare to listen to her orders and go out. Because above them sat the Empress who controlled the six palaces. As long as she didn't speak, no one dared to leave.

  Yan Xijun also knew that it was the slaves who were constrained by the identity of the imperial sister, so they could only glance at her with their eyes.

  "Everyone, get out." After a long time, Empress Yan finally spoke to the people below, saying. After everyone had left, she looked at her and said, "It's been so long, where did you run off to?"

  "Not in a good mood. Went out for a walk. Strolled around everywhere."

  "Do you know how long I've been waiting for you?"

  "You didn't know that sister was coming, so you lingered outside for a while." Yan Xikun replied honestly. If she had known she was coming, she would have returned earlier.

  "After you ran out, I came over here." Empress Yan played with the hem of her sleeve, saying lightly: "Jun Er, about what you saw today, you won't go tell the Emperor, will you?"

  "Sister, don't worry. Jun'er knows what to say and what not to say about you. I won't speak randomly." Yan Xijun sat down across from her, refilling the tea in her cup, then poured one for herself.

  "What did you do then?" Empress Yan raised her eyes and asked. She wasn't worried about her, she just wanted to confirm clearly.

  "Jun'er will keep the secret for her sister and let it rot in her belly." Yan Xijun took a sip of tea, looking worried: "Sister, why do you want to betray the emperor like this? Don't you understand what kind of person he is? If he finds out about your affair, will he forgive you?"

  "Young master, as long as you don't say anything, I won't say anything either. Then no one will know about this matter." Empress Yan stood up and said in a low voice: "Young master, there are many things that you can't understand. As for why I betrayed him, it's still related to him."

  "What's going on?" asked Yan Xijun.

  "You've been in the imperial palace for almost half a year now. You're not unaware of my sister's experience, are you? The emperor treats me with respect and courtesy. In these six months, he has rarely come to Kun Ning Palace. Even when he does, it's only to discuss matters of state. He never spends the night in my palace, let alone touch me."

  "As his 'woman', also as his legitimate wife, yet can't even get this bit of right. Every day watching him spend the night in this palace, staying overnight in that palace. Who knows the bitterness in sister's heart?"

  After hearing the empress's words, Yan Xijun didn't know how to comfort her either. As a woman, this was indeed her sorrow. But as the empress, this was also something she had to face.

  "Your Highness, you are now favored by the Emperor. You won't understand these things." Empress Yan looked at her and said. She was a little jealous of her. Why could she get his love?

  "Sister, I don't understand these things. But you can't do this just because you're lonely. If it goes on like this, it will eventually harm you."

  Yan Xijun advised again: "Sister, you have to understand one thing. The emperor, as the ruler of a country, will inevitably have women by his side. And sister, as the empress, should be understanding and aware of this."