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It was precisely because of this that the young princess had been living among the common folk for nineteen years, only to be used by Xiao Fu as a pawn to retaliate against the Empress.

When faint voices could be heard again from inside, Aunt Gui finally let out a slow sigh of relief.

Two hours later, Empress Qi walked out, holding Wen Xi's hand.

"Aunt, Miss Wen will be staying in the bamboo lodge with me tonight. Ask Li'er to come up; they're about the same age and should have plenty to talk about."

Aunt Gui was taken aback.

The fact that Wen Xi was the daughter of Empress Qi was a well-kept secret. Those who accompanied the Empress here were all her trusted confidants. Lady Gui had arranged for Lu'er and the other palace maids to stay in cottages at the foot of the mountain.

She glanced at Wen Xi, whose eyes remained lowered, and understood that the young lady was still resistant to the Empress. That was why she had sent Lu'er to keep her company.

Lu'er was an appreciative child; with her around, perhaps the little princess would grow closer to the Empress.

Lady Gui pondered for a moment before smiling and agreeing.

At the hermit's pavilion at the foot of the mountain, Lu'er was slightly startled when she heard the Empress's summons. She hurriedly asked, "Has something happened to the Empress?"

The message was delivered by Xue Ying, the chief maid by the Empress's side. Upon hearing this, she chuckled and said, "Why are you so flustered? With us here to serve Her Majesty, how could anything go wrong?"

She gave Li'er a playful scowl before continuing, "Hurry up and follow me. Today, the Empress met a young lady with whom she clicked instantly. Since you're about the same age, she wants you to join them for some conversation."

Relieved, Li'er changed her clothes and followed Xue Ying out of the room, holding an umbrella. As they passed through a pine forest where the wind whistled through the trees, she instinctively glanced at the snow-covered grove.

Snowflakes fell gently, and in the depths of the dense forest, a long, diagonal shadow hid among the towering trunks.

Li'er slowed her pace, nodding almost imperceptibly. Then, she hurriedly caught up with Xue Ying and headed for the bamboo pavilion on the mountain slope.

Chapter 85

When Li'er arrived at the bamboo pavilion, Aunt Gui approached with a word of caution, "Tonight, it will be your turn to attend to Miss Wen with Xue Ying. Remember to be diligent and don't neglect your duties."

Li'er smiled and acknowledged with a "Yes," then pushed open the door and entered.

By the window, a gentle-mannered young lady rose to greet them as they came in. Her every gesture was impeccable, leaving no room for criticism.

Looking at Wen Xi's delicate face, Li'er approached gracefully and bowed respectfully.

By night, half the lanterns in the bamboo pavilion had been extinguished, yet the quarters of Empress Qi still glowed brightly with lamplight.

She sat composed behind a low table, clad in a simple Zen robe, engrossed in reading a Buddhist scripture.

In the darkness, a line of black-clad monks trudged slowly across the snow, among them an old woman dressed in rags.

After a while, they arrived at the pavilion. The leading monk gently knocked on the door. Hearing the response "Enter," he pushed it open and led the old woman inside.

Empress Qi lifted her gaze to meet them. As her eyes swept over the old woman, her delicate brows couldn't help but arch in surprise.

The old woman's face was covered in a web of crisscrossing scars.

The monk in black robes clasped his hands together in a prayer, murmuring "Amitabha."

"Your Majesty, this morning, Minister Meng specially sent someone to escort Master Ding to Daci'en Temple. Minister Meng said that Master Ding is the person you wished to see."

Empress Qi put down the Buddhist scripture, nodding with a smile. "Thank you, Masters, for your trouble."

With that, she glanced at Aunt Gui, who promptly hurried to escort the monks out of the bamboo pavilion.

In the room, only Empress Qi and the elderly woman named Ding were left.

The old woman knelt on the ground, trembling with fear as she performed the deepest bow, "This humble woman pays her respects to Her Majesty the Empress, may you enjoy boundless blessings."

Her voice was soft and smooth, not at all aged like her appearance suggested.

Empress Qi looked down at her with a gentle expression, "Raise your head, let me see you."

Ding lifted her eyes slightly, revealing her face illuminated by the soft yellow light. The scars crisscrossing her features made the hand supporting her body on the ground tremble uncontrollably.

Empress Qi's eyes showed a hint of compassion.

"Did you do this to yourself that night?"

Ding replied, "Yes, I didn't want to die, so I decided to sacrifice my face."

"I'm sorry for what you've been through," Empress Qi said, "It was a mistake of the Qi family. In the future, I will make it up to you. Now, tell me, do you remember any distinctive features of that child?"