Wei Yinniang rode in a jade oil-painted carriage on a road built along the imperial city wall, heading towards the imperial palace in the north of the city.
The Jiacheng Road was narrow and deserted, and some noisy sounds from the nearby market town drifted faintly into the ears over the towering walls. However, these sounds, which seemed to come from another world and were filled with the smell of fireworks, made the area inside the wall even more eerie and isolated from the world.
At a glance, the straight and narrow road ahead seemed to be leading her to a door to the underworld.
Finally, she reached the end. She covered her eyes and passed through a side door between the city wall and the palace wall, quietly entering the palace, and after many twists and turns, she was finally sent to an unknown place.
Just a moment ago, she heard the melodious and crisp bird songs from the branches, and felt the warmth and gentleness of the early summer sun and breeze touching her skin. However, when she entered this place, she only heard the heavy sound of boots landing on the ground, and her whole body was filled with a chill that penetrated into her bones. She felt as if she was in a cellar, and her nose was filled with a foul smell that was like a mixture of tar and blood that had fermented for a long time, which made her want to vomit.
Someone took off her blindfold.
She slowly opened her eyes.
The surroundings were dark, with only fire sticks lighting up the corners. The person who took off the blindfold seemed to be one with everything around her, with only a few flickering lights in his cold eyes. He looked at her seriously, then turned around, bowed to the front, and then retreated.
Only then did Wei Yinniang see that right in front of her, there was a high chair that seemed to be set up temporarily. There was already a person sitting on the chair, with his face half hidden in the dim light. The gold embroidery on his robe reflected the light of the fire stick, and it flickered faintly in the dark.
The man seemed to be looking at her and did not speak immediately.
A feeling of déjà vu came over her, as if she had seen it somewhere before, but she couldn't remember where. While she was stunned, she heard the person opposite her ask a question.
"You are Wei Yinniang, the daughter of Wei Minghui?"
The voice was also old, and the words were gentle.
In an instant, Wei Yinniang realized that the person sitting on the seat was the former Prince Ding whom she occasionally met when she was young and went in and out of the palace.
She did not dare to look up again, and immediately bowed her head, knelt down, and kowtowed.
"I, the daughter of a guilty minister, Wei Yinniang, come to see Your Majesty."
The emperor did not respond immediately. He just looked at her and nodded slowly.
"I heard that the prince had some contact with you over the years?"
When he spoke again, he said something that added to her crime and was worthy of being beheaded, but his tone was like a casual conversation between an elder and a younger person.
Wei Yinniang trembled for a moment, and kowtowed again, confessing her guilt: "It is all my fault. I seduced His Royal Highness, and Your Highness is innocent."
"Sure enough, he is a man of affection and righteousness."
Wei Yinniang touched the ground with her forehead and heard the emperor in front of her say something softly, as if he was talking to himself.
From the first moment the emperor appeared before her, he was as kind as a parent. However, Wei Yinniang did not dare to move at all at this moment. She felt as if there was a thousand-pound stone pressing on the back of her head, making it almost suffocating for her.
"The prince is not a good man, and I know this matter has nothing to do with you. Don't remember him anymore. If you want to get rid of the past and live a good life, or meet a good partner to entrust your life to, I can let you get rid of your status as a slave."