funbook-pk Chapter 428 She was also imprisoned in the Star-Picking Tower.
Chapter 428 She was also imprisoned in the Star-Picking Tower.
The Empress Dowager scrutinized Xie Xing.
Upon hearing this, Xie Xing quickly explained, "Your Majesty, my adoptive parents have also arrived in Shengjing. They were very eager to see their parents, so they specially asked the Imperial Concubine for a pass to leave the palace and went back to visit them for two days."
"Adoptive parents?" The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, looking at Xie Xing with a puzzled expression.
Who are your adoptive parents?
Xie Xing said, "They are the parents of the current top scholar."
The Empress Dowager was surprised: "I never imagined that you and the top scholar had such a connection?"
Xie Xing lowered his eyes and remained silent.
The Empress Dowager's expression finally softened, and she slowly said, "I know it's wrong of me to say this, but you have only just learned the secret of the murder to silence you. I don't want you to wander around, lest unnecessary accidents happen."
Xie Xing naturally dared not say anything out of turn and could only obediently agree.
"You haven't revealed anything about the Prince's residence to anyone, have you?" the Empress Dowager asked again.
"Your Majesty, no."
The Empress Dowager was finally satisfied. She glanced at Xie Xing and said, "Do you know that because of what happened that day, Jin'er was ordered by the Emperor to be imprisoned in the Zhaixing Tower?"
Xie Xing has been outside the palace the whole time; she should pretend she doesn't know anything about this.
Therefore, Xie Xing feigned surprise: "Your Highness has actually been imprisoned in the Star-Picking Tower by His Majesty?"
"Yes."
The Empress Dowager stroked the bracelet on her wrist and looked at Xie Xing meaningfully: "This is a matter of great importance. If anything happens to someone of Jin'er's status and position, the entire dynasty will be thrown into turmoil."
"For the sake of the nation, Your Majesty has no choice but to imprison Jin'er in the Star-Picking Tower as a warning to others."
Xie Xing didn't know what to say, so he could only lower his head and say, "Yes."
She was unaware of the Empress Dowager's true intentions.
The next second, the Empress Dowager spoke up: "Jin'er even brings you to her side for something like this, so you two must be deeply in love, right?"
Xie Xing: "..."
She looked up at the Empress Dowager and met her cloudy yet shrewd eyes. Xie Xing thought for a moment and then said, "Your Majesty, most young women would like a man as outstanding as Prince Jin."
The Empress Dowager didn't care whether she liked it or not; Jun Lanjin was bound to like it anyway.
So the Empress Dowager waved her hand and said, "In that case, you may come into the Star-Picking Tower with me and keep Jin'er company to relieve her boredom and irritability."
"I imagine Jin'er must be lonely and bored all alone in the Star-Picking Tower. With the two of you by his side, he'll feel a little better."
Xie Xing was dumbfounded upon hearing this.
what?
She got locked up too?
Isn't this a bit...inappropriate?
Xie Xing hesitated before speaking, "But Your Highness, I am now the Fifth Princess's study companion. If I go to the Star-Picking Tower, how will I explain it to the Fifth Princess?"
"It doesn't matter."
The Empress Dowager smiled, gently beckoned to Xie Xing, and said, "Come here."
Xie Xing thought for a moment, hesitated, and then walked towards the Empress Dowager.
As soon as they got close, the Empress Dowager grabbed Xie Xing's wrist tightly and pulled him closer.
Xie Xing was startled.
The strong smell of spices and medicine emanating from the Empress Dowager was so strong that it made one want to vomit.
The Empress Dowager whispered in Xie Xing's ear, "As long as you can carry Prince Jin's child in your womb, I will release you."
"Whenever you get pregnant, that's when you'll be born."
Xie Xing: "..."
Pregnant?
Xie Xing turned his head in shock and astonishment to look at the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager had released Xie Xing's hand, lay back down on the couch, propped her head up, and asked, "Do you understand?"
Xie Xing remained silent.
The Empress Dowager continued, "I have always regarded you as one of my own. Jin'er is my nephew and the only direct descendant of the Jun family. I do not want anything to happen to the Jun family."
"After much consideration, I feel most at ease entrusting this matter to you."
"You are a good child, and Jin'er likes you. I'm sure Jin'er will get you pregnant soon."
As she spoke, the Empress Dowager glanced at the nanny beside her.
The old woman handed Xie Xing a packet of spices.
Xie Xing stared blankly at the spices in his hand.
"This is a love potion. If Jin'er doesn't have those feelings for you, it doesn't matter. Just light this incense, and it will be just the two of you there."
"A fleeting moment of spring night."
Xie Xing shook her hand. She looked down at her still-developing body and then looked at the Empress Dowager in shock.
However, it is true that women in ancient times matured early.
But she was only fifteen, not even of marriageable age yet!
Isn't that utterly inhumane?!
Xie Xing couldn't help but exclaim, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am not yet of marriageable age, this...this..."
Xie Xing's hands, which were holding the spices, were trembling.
Of course, it wasn't fear, it was anger.
"What does it matter?" The Empress Dowager didn't care at all. She waved her hand and said, "Back then, when I married the late Emperor, I was only about your age, and I gave birth to the Emperor in less than a year."
"You're just right, you're young, so you'll develop quickly even after having a baby."
Xie Xing: "..." 6.
It seems the Empress Dowager is determined to make her have a child.
The late emperor passed away before completing his great undertaking. If he were imprisoned in the Star-Picking Tower like this, he probably wouldn't even know that the world outside had changed.
No no no!
She absolutely cannot enter the Star-Picking Tower!
absolute……
……
midnight.
Xie Xing was secretly sent to the Zhaixing Tower by the Empress Dowager.
"Let's go, Fifth Miss." The eunuch beside Xie Xing whispered in her ear.
Xie Xing stood inside the Zhaixing Tower, clutching her bundle in her arms, looking weak, pitiful, and innocent. She was on the verge of tears, and behind her, she heard the sound of the gate being closed and locked several times.
The eunuch beside Xie Xing carried a lantern and led the way, saying, "This Star-Picking Tower has more than twenty floors. The prince is on the top floor, which is the top floor."
"More than twenty layers!"
Xie Xing's jaw nearly dropped in astonishment.
She looked down at her legs; they felt like they were going to break from walking!
Xie Xing took a deep breath and followed the eunuch upstairs.
After winding their way for what seemed like an eunuch for ages, Xie Xing was nearly out of breath when the eunuch beside him finally announced in a shrill voice, "We've arrived."
There was someone guarding the door on the top floor.
The eunuch produced the Empress Dowager's token, and only then did the guard open the door.
Xie Xing, with his sharp eyes, noticed that the chain at the door had been wrapped around several times.
Xie Xing's half-moon eyes.
Those who know the truth are that Jun Lanjin is imprisoned inside; those who don't might think it's sealed away some cannibalistic demon.
"go in."
After the door was unlocked, the eunuch behind Xie Xing pushed him inside.
Xie Xing stumbled and went inside, only to have the door slam shut behind him.
She looked up and coincidentally met the bewildered gazes of Jun Lanjin and Hua An sitting opposite her.
At that moment, Jun Lanjin and Hua An were sitting at a round table drinking tea. Jun Lanjin was still in the tea-drinking posture, clearly a little bewildered by this unexpected guest, her peach blossom eyes almost turning into almond eyes.