Chapter 158: Mother and Daughter Reunion, An Old Friend Named Xue
The next morning.
The rules of the palace were strict, even the schedule was rigid.
Luo Xue had been forced to go to bed early under the watchful eyes of the palace maids, and before dawn, she was woken up to get dressed.
It was equivalent to sleeping at 7 pm and waking up at 4 am… such a healthy schedule, Luo Xue had never experienced this in any of her lives.
Luo Xue had thought it was just because of yesterday’s coming-of-age ceremony banquet, but it turned out to be her daily routine…
Fortunately, she had gone to bed early last night, and after her mind gradually adjusted, Luo Xue wasn’t as disoriented today and felt much better.
After washing up, the palace maids helped Luo Xue get dressed.
Speaking of which, after so many lifetimes, Luo Xue hadn’t worn makeup.
There were no such conditions in the post-apocalyptic world, and after embarking on the path of cultivation, the Innate Realm would reshape one’s body, an effect far superior to any makeup.
Watching the palace maids skillfully applying various tools and powders to her face, Luo Xue couldn’t help but feel that this was a novel experience.
Then, she looked up at the mirror and was instantly startled, almost cursing.
“I—”
…Who was this?
She didn’t finish her sentence. The maids, thinking Luo Xue was dissatisfied, immediately knelt down and said in low voices,
“This servant is at fault, please forgive me, Your Highness.”
“It’s fine, continue…”
Luo Xue calmed herself slightly, signaling them not to panic.
But these palace maids seemed like cold and emotionless robots. After receiving Luo Xue’s reply, they simply nodded, stood up, and continued dressing her.
Luo Xue continued staring at her reflection in the mirror. The more she looked, the more certain she became that although there were some similarities, this face… wasn’t hers.
It was a delicate, almost overly fragile face, every expression evoking pity.
Luo Xue’s own features were more heroic, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes.
Looking closely, her facial features didn’t seem to have changed.
But the overall impression was as if they had been slightly adjusted, drastically changing Luo Xue’s temperament.
From a heroic young woman to a frail beauty.
“Even my face has changed in this life?” Luo Xue touched her cheeks. “Could it be that the collapsing space-time of the deep space behemoth also came with plastic surgery…”
The only time her appearance had changed was in her first life in the nine provinces and four domains, when she was burned to death.
But this life… this inexplicable minor plastic surgery was too strange.
However, there were already too many strange things in this life, so Luo Xue just kept it in mind, planning to investigate later.
“Your Highness, it’s time for your morning lessons.”
A palace maid reminded Luo Xue, who was lost in thought.
“Oh right, morning lessons…”
Luo Xue’s expression drooped slightly.
She hadn’t expected to return to student life after so many years…
The buried memories of past traumas were assaulting her.
Morning lessons were usually about court etiquette, taught by the elderly etiquette official who had been with Luo Xue yesterday.
She was a personal maid of the Empress, and her status among the palace attendants was very high, second only to the Immortal Emperor’s personal attendants.
Actually, teaching the little princess shouldn’t be her responsibility. Imperial Concubine Min also had trustworthy personal maids.
It seemed that this was a deliberate arrangement by the Empress, to let Luo Xue interact with her.
Luo Xue didn’t mind. The etiquette official was just strict and serious, but she was actually a kind-hearted person.
If the etiquette official knew that she had been labeled a “good person” by the little princess, she wouldn’t know what to think…
“No need, today… there are no morning lessons.”
Just then, the etiquette official appeared at the door.
She first bowed to Luo Xue, then signaled for the palace maids to leave.
After the maids left, she looked at Luo Xue with a complicated expression and said slowly,
“Your Highness, your mother… wants to see you.”
Mother?
Luo Xue quickly realized that her “mother” referred to Imperial Concubine Min, her biological mother in this life.
All princes and princesses had to address the Empress as their mother, while their biological mothers could only be called “Mother Concubine.”
However, even if her mother in this life wanted to see her, there was no need for the etiquette official to have such an expression, right?
“Okay.”
To be cautious, Luo Xue just nodded slightly, her expression unchanged.
Seeing this, the etiquette official was slightly relieved. She had been worried that Her Highness’s reaction would be too emotional.
It seemed that Her Highness had grown up…
The etiquette official thought for a moment, then added,
“After seeing your Mother Concubine, Your Highness, please try to speak less, to avoid gossip.”
“Hmm? Oh…”
Luo Xue blinked, thinking how strange this was, meeting her mother was like meeting a prisoner…
Wait?
…Prisoner?
There was indeed a place in the palace equivalent to a prison, and the concubines inside were no different from prisoners.
That was… the Cold Palace.
Luo Xue hesitated for a moment, then asked tentatively,
“Is Mother Concubine… doing well there?”
“…”
The etiquette official was silent for a moment, then shook her head and said,
“Your Highness, you will know when you go… This time, it’s a special permission from the Empress. Otherwise, even this old servant wouldn’t be allowed to enter.”
Related to the Empress again?
It was probably the Empress who had her imprisoned in the Cold Palace…
These palace power struggles were truly troublesome, even in an immortal dynasty.
Or perhaps even more so, since the Immortal Emperor didn’t have absolute authority.
Since the Empress’s strength wasn’t that much weaker than the Immortal Emperor’s, it was more accurate to say that they were two emperors, rather than an emperor and an empress.
Because of this, the Immortal Emperor didn’t have many concubines, including the Empress and Imperial Concubine Min, less than a handful.
“When can I meet Mother Concubine?”
Luo Xue asked, feigning calmness, but her slightly trembling voice betrayed her anxiety.
After all, one needed some acting skills in life.
Since her memories hadn’t fully merged yet, Luo Xue hadn’t experienced Princess Xue’s life, so she couldn’t empathize with her Mother Concubine and could only pretend.
As long as she looked the part, it was fine.
“Now,” the etiquette official said, “but you have to leave… before dawn.”
She hesitated for a moment, then said, “This is already a long time, after all, your Mother Concubine…”
As if feeling that saying these things would be too disrespectful to Her Highness, the etiquette official didn’t continue.
Luo Xue actually wanted her to finish. Why did these people always like to only say half of what they meant? She didn’t even know what her Mother Concubine had done to be imprisoned in the Cold Palace.
And if she was imprisoned, why did the Empress treat her, Imperial Concubine Min’s daughter, so well?
“Let’s go, this old servant will take you there.” The etiquette official extended her withered hand and said softly, “Let’s hurry, the chances for you to meet… are few.”
“Okay.”
Luo Xue could only nod and place her small hand in the etiquette official’s.
She had thought the etiquette official would lead her to the Cold Palace, but the next moment, the etiquette official formed hand seals, creating a teleportation formation with her bare hands.
“???”
Luo Xue’s eyes widened in shock.
Could a Nascent Soul cultivator do this?!
Luo Xue didn’t know much about the realms above Nascent Soul, but as far as she knew, Nascent Soul cultivators couldn’t create teleportation formations without any materials.
And the key point was, without any materials.
This meant… the etiquette official had probably comprehended the Law of Space, and her understanding of formations was also very deep.
Luo Xue suddenly felt that she might have misunderstood the power levels of this world.
But the etiquette official seemed to find this very normal. She still held Luo Xue’s hand respectfully and said softly,
“Your Highness, the first time using a teleportation formation might be a bit uncomfortable. Please bear with it. I’ll have them prepare the Thousand Souls Life-Nourishing Soup to soothe your soul.”
Luo Xue almost twitched her lips. Although she didn’t know what Thousand Souls Life-Nourishing Soup was, any medicine that could nourish the soul was a top-grade treasure. Using it to alleviate the discomfort of a teleportation formation seemed a bit wasteful…
However, having come this far, Luo Xue was more interested in the legendary Imperial Concubine Min.
After all, she was her biological mother in this life…
Much closer than Luo Huaxin, her convenient mother.
The etiquette official didn’t delay and quickly sent Luo Xue into the teleportation formation, but she didn’t enter herself.
The Cold Palace… wasn’t a place one could enter and leave casually.
After a familiar moment of disorientation, Luo Xue opened her eyes again, her mind instantly clearing.
This level of teleportation formation naturally had little effect on Luo Xue. After all, she had recently traveled through space-time torn apart by a deep space behemoth…
Upon entering the Cold Palace, Luo Xue couldn’t help but shudder.
The Cold Palace… was really cold…
It wasn’t the temperature, but the atmosphere. Everything felt cold and desolate.
Especially now, in the early hours of the morning, without any lights, the dim environment and the loneliness made her feel a chill down her spine.
The layout of the Cold Palace wasn’t much different from an ordinary palace, just more dilapidated.
The small courtyard outside hadn’t been tended to in years, the overgrown weeds looking almost sinister.
Luo Xue carefully avoided the unknown plants and walked towards the entrance.
“Creak…”
The rusty hinges made a harsh sound, and Luo Xue suspected that with a little more force, she could tear down the entire door.
Just then, a faint voice, like a ghost’s, weak and ethereal, came from the depths of the palace.
“Xue’er… is that you…”
“Xue’er… have you come…”
It was Imperial Concubine Min.
Luo Xue composed herself, replied softly, and followed the voice.
“It’s me, Mother Concubine.”
“It’s you… cough…”
Hearing the reply, the gentle voice seemed to become more agitated, followed by a coughing fit.
Luo Xue quickened her pace and finally saw Imperial Concubine Min after passing through the corridor and entering the inner hall.
The first thing she saw was a head of withered, white hair, lifelessly clinging to the ground.
A thin, sickly woman in white leaned against the bed, her lifeless eyes looking at Luo Xue with surprise.
Although her appearance was haggard, perhaps due to illness or something else, one could still see traces of her former beauty.
“That’s good, she didn’t lie to me… your illness… is really cured…”
Imperial Concubine Min wasn’t depressed by her own condition, but happy to see Luo Xue healthy.
“Mother Concubine!”
Even without any memories of this woman, Luo Xue couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache seeing this.
She quickly walked over, helped Imperial Concubine Min up, and sat her on the bed.
“It’s good that you’re okay, it’s good that you’re okay…”
Imperial Concubine Min seemed a bit dazed, just muttering these words repeatedly.
“I’m… fine.” Luo Xue’s eyes flickered. “You rest first, I’ll go find some medicine for you.”
As Luo Xue turned to leave, Imperial Concubine Min reached out and grabbed her hand.
“Don’t go, Xue’er.” Imperial Concubine Min seemed to have regained some clarity, looking at Luo Xue with pleading eyes. “Just… stay here with Mother… okay?”
“But you’re…”
Even without any medical knowledge, Luo Xue could sense the weakness of Imperial Concubine Min’s life force, almost extinguished.
“It’s… no longer necessary.” Imperial Concubine Min shook her head and said slowly, “Xue’er, my time is running out… I shouldn’t bother you, but I was so worried…”
Luo Xue didn’t speak, but turned around and sat beside Imperial Concubine Min.
She gently held Imperial Concubine Min’s hand and said softly,
“Okay, I’m here.”
“That’s good…”
A happy expression appeared on Imperial Concubine Min’s face, but in this cold palace, it seemed even more desolate and painful.
“Xue’er, do you know?” Imperial Concubine Min looked intently at Luo Xue, a hint of reminiscence in her eyes. “Do you know… why Mother named you ‘Xue’?”
Luo Xue hesitated for a moment, then said,
“Father said it was because of the auspicious snow that fell the year I was born…”
“Yes, that’s the reason I gave him.” Imperial Concubine Min murmured softly. “But actually, it was to commemorate an old friend…”
“An old friend?”
Luo Xue was stunned.
A bad premonition suddenly arose within her.
Imperial Concubine Min, still lost in memories, said faintly,
“This old friend’s name was…”
“Luo Xue.”
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