boyutpedia Chapter 342 (77 words added)
Chapter 342 (77 words added)
However, the peace didn't last long. The Emperor heard about Xue Ruanruan's situation and became suspicious of Murong Xun. A larger conspiracy was quietly descending upon the three of them. Xue Ruanruan didn't know where her decision to enter the palace for love would lead her and Murong Xun's future. Xue Ruanruan held back her tears. That night, she sat alone in the courtyard, her heart filled with worry. Suddenly, a dark figure flashed by, and Murong Xun appeared before her. "Don't be afraid, I'm here," Murong Xun gently comforted her. Xue Ruanruan leaned against him, as if she had found refuge. But Murong Xun's brows were furrowed; he knew the Emperor's suspicion was like a sharp blade hanging over his head.
Just then, a group of guards rushed into the courtyard. The leader shouted, "By order of the Emperor, take Xue Ruanruan away!" Murong Xun shielded Xue Ruanruan behind him, glaring angrily, "What right do you have?" The guards sneered, "Someone accused her of plotting to harm the Prince's new concubine." Xue Ruanruan was shocked; she understood that someone was deliberately framing her. Murong Xun held her hand tightly, "I will definitely save you."
However, before Murong Xun could act, Xue Ruanruan had already been forcibly taken away by the guards. She looked at Murong Xun, her eyes filled with determination: "Live well, I don't regret entering the palace." Murong Xun watched Xue Ruanruan leave, secretly vowing that no matter what, he would clear her name and protect their love. He forced a smile, "Thanks to Your Highness, I'm doing very well."
Just then, a magnificent sedan chair slowly approached, and a soft voice came from within, "Brother Xun, who is this young lady?" The woman Murong Xun was about to marry gracefully stepped out of the sedan chair, her eyes scanning Xue Ruanruan up and down. Murong Xun looked somewhat embarrassed. "This is Xue Ruanruan, my... old acquaintance." A subtle smile played on the woman's lips. "Oh, an old acquaintance. Look at my memory, I spoke with you on the street before." She stepped forward and took Xue Ruanruan's hand. "Since you know Brother Xun, why don't you come to the palace together? We can keep each other company." Xue Ruanruan was wary; she didn't know if the woman was sincere or not, but she seemed to have no reason to refuse. So, she nodded. After entering the palace, Xue Ruanruan was placed in a secluded palace. That night, as she wandered through the palace, she overheard the conversation between the woman and her confidante. It turned out that all of this was a trap they had set, their purpose being to trap her in the palace and then slowly torture her. Xue Ruanruan clenched her fists. She decided she would no longer sit idly by and wait for her fate. She would fight her way out of this palace intrigue and see if Murong Xun could truly protect her. "Your Highness, who are you talking to?" Xue Ruanruan was about to leave when she accidentally kicked a stone, making a sound. The woman and her confidante immediately became alert. "Who's there?" The confidante quickly ran out to investigate and immediately spotted Xue Ruanruan. "You audacious wench, how dare you eavesdrop on Her Highness's conversation!" the confidante shouted angrily, grabbing Xue Ruanruan's arm. The woman slowly walked out, her eyes filled with malice. "Since you overheard, you can't be allowed to live." She gave a signal, and the confidante prepared to act. At this critical moment, Murong Xun suddenly appeared. "Stop!" He strode over and shielded Xue Ruanruan behind him. "Why are you treating her like this?" "Murong Xun questioned the woman. A hint of panic flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. "Brother Xun, she eavesdropped on our conversation. She has ulterior motives. We cannot let her live." Murong Xun looked at her coldly. "I will find out the truth myself. Until then, no one is allowed to touch her." With that, he pulled Xue Ruanruan away. Xue Ruanruan leaned against Murong Xun's chest, feeling both touched and worried. She knew that the palace intrigue would become even more intense, but as long as Murong Xun was there, she had the courage to face it. "?" Murong Xun's face instantly turned extremely ugly. He hesitated for a moment and said, "It's just an old friend." The curtain of the sedan chair was lifted, and inside sat a dignified and elegant old woman, none other than Murong Xun's mother. The old woman's eyes were sharp as she glanced at Xue Ruanruan. "Since she is an old friend, let's go back to the manor together." Xue Ruanruan was filled with trepidation, but she had no choice but to board the carriage. Back at the Prince's residence, the old woman called Xue Ruanruan to her side. "I know about your past with Xun'er, but now that he's about to marry, you mustn't cause him any more trouble." Xue Ruanruan was about to explain when the old woman added, "However, if you can truly serve the Prince's residence, I may keep you here." Xue Ruanruan gritted her teeth and nodded in agreement. From then on, Xue Ruanruan lived cautiously in the Prince's residence, dealing with the difficulties posed by Murong Xun's wife while diligently completing the tasks assigned by the old woman.
Just then, a messenger arrived from the palace, summoning Murong Xun to the palace immediately, saying that the Emperor had important matters to discuss. Murong Xun had no choice but to say to Xue Ruanruan, "We'll talk another day." Xue Ruanruan nodded slightly and watched Murong Xun leave with the messenger. The woman who was about to become Murong Xun's wife alighted from her sedan chair, walked to Xue Ruanruan's side, and whispered, "Don't worry, Miss, Brother Xun will be alright. Why don't you come back to the manor with me, and we can talk slowly?" Xue Ruanruan hesitated for a moment, but still followed her into the sedan chair.
Upon arriving at the Prince's residence, the woman settled Xue Ruanruan in a secluded courtyard and sent food and clothing. Xue Ruanruan felt grateful but also wary. That night, just as Xue Ruanruan was about to fall asleep, she suddenly heard a noise outside her window. She quietly got up and saw a dark figure lurking suspiciously in the courtyard. Xue Ruanruan clenched her fists, mustered her courage, and opened the door. The figure noticed her and turned to run. Xue Ruanruan chased after it but was knocked unconscious at a corner. When she awoke, she found herself in an unfamiliar room, facing several menacing-looking people. One of them sneered, "Just wait to be buried with the Prince's new concubine!" Xue Ruanruan was startled, realizing this was a much larger conspiracy. But she was now isolated and helpless, unsure how to escape her predicament or whether Murong Xun would arrive in time to rescue her. She hurriedly boarded a carriage and left with the messenger.
The woman alighted from the sedan chair and walked to Xue Ruanruan's side, saying softly, "Don't worry, young lady, I will definitely help you. However, the palace is complicated, and we both need to be careful." Xue Ruanruan nodded gratefully.
Afterwards, the woman led Xue Ruanruan into the palace. The moment they stepped through the palace gates, they sensed an undercurrent of tension. Xue Ruanruan knew that from this moment on, her fate was inextricably linked to the struggles within the palace, and her adventure for love had only just begun. Xue Ruanruan watched the sedan chair slowly disappear into the distance, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She followed Murong Xun's principal wife through the palace, attracting many envious or curious glances from the concubines along the way. The principal wife led Xue Ruanruan to her palace, arranged for her to stay, and then went to attend to palace affairs.
Xue Ruanruan's days in the palace were far from easy; she was constantly sabotaged by those in the shadows. Once, she was deliberately pushed to the ground in the Imperial Garden, scraping her knee. The surrounding maids and eunuchs watched coldly, no one offering to help. Xue Ruanruan gritted her teeth and stood up, her heart filled with resentment. Just then, Murong Xun appeared. He tenderly helped Xue Ruanruan up and examined her wound. "Who did this?" Murong Xun's eyes were filled with anger. Xue Ruanruan, not wanting to cause trouble, shook her head and said, "It's nothing, just an accidental fall." But Murong Xun wouldn't let it go. He secretly investigated and quickly discovered who was behind it. He wanted to severely punish the concubine, but Xue Ruanruan stopped him. "Your Highness, the Emperor is suspicious now; we can't afford to make any more enemies," Xue Ruanruan advised. Although Murong Xun was unwilling, he listened to her. However, their forbearance did not bring peace. Soon after, rumors spread through the palace that Xue Ruanruan was an unlucky person who would bring disaster to the palace. Suddenly, everyone in the palace avoided Xue Ruanruan like the plague, plunging her into an even greater predicament. She didn't know how long this palace intrigue would last, or whether she could hold onto her love with Murong Xun. Other concubines frequently made things difficult for her, both openly and secretly. Once, while strolling in the imperial garden, Xue Ruanruan was stopped by a favored concubine. The concubine said sarcastically, "Oh, isn't this the prince's former lover? What, trying to steal the prince's favor by entering the palace?" Xue Ruanruan suppressed her anger and ignored her. But the concubine persisted, reaching out to push her. Just then, Murong Xun appeared, blocking Xue Ruanruan's path and coldly looking at the concubine: "Don't be rude!" The concubine turned pale with fright and quickly retreated.
Murong Xun looked at Xue Ruanruan, his eyes filled with heartache: "I'm sorry you had to suffer like this." Xue Ruanruan shook her head: "For our love, this little hardship is nothing." However, unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes were watching them closely from the shadows, and a far greater conspiracy was quietly brewing… She knew in her heart that her fate with Murong Xun was over. The person in the shadows was a palace maid serving the Empress, who embellished what she had witnessed and told the Empress. The Empress was already wary of Murong Xun's growing power, and now, hearing that he and Xue Ruanruan had rekindled their old flame in the palace, she saw this as a good opportunity to suppress Murong Xun.
Soon, the Empress spread rumors in the palace, saying that Xue Ruanruan was an unlucky person who would bring disaster to the palace. In no time, gossip filled the palace, and the concubines intensified their harassment of Xue Ruanruan.
Upon learning of this, Murong Xun was extremely anxious and tried to quell the rumors, but the Empress blocked him with various excuses. Xue Ruanruan was also left isolated and helpless. She knew that it was all the Empress's conspiracy, but she was powerless to resist.
Just when Xue Ruanruan felt despair, Murong Xun's legal wife secretly assisted her, offering advice and strategies. They decided to join forces to expose the Empress's conspiracy and clear their names. Thus, a thrilling palace intrigue quietly unfolded within the deep palace. Whether Xue Ruanruan could win a glimmer of hope for her love and future in this struggle remained to be seen. She curtsied, resolutely turned, and strode away. Murong Xun stood there, watching her retreating figure, unable to recover for a long time.