[Bonus chapter]Paradox of the estranged's union

The air was quieted with a sense of reverence as Xuan Cheng, a figure of grace and lineage, stepped forward in the lavish chamber decorated with silk tapestries and flickering lanterns. With each deliberate motion, the gold and sapphire threads of her imperial gown made a soft rustling sound. As she got ready to address the Grand Empress Dowager with unwavering respect, the burden of her heritage weighed heavily on her.

"I, granddaughter of Heavenly Jade Princess, titled as the second rank imperial princess, Xuan Cheng, pay my sincere respect," Her voice, clear and melodic, resonated in the room. She sank into a crouch with fluid grace, showing the highest degree of deference. Her left knee touched the ground, and her right leg folded beneath her in a salute that embodied both tradition and honor in equal measure.

As she made her way into the palace's main hall, where the palace master sits and greets visitors, her gaze was lowered. Xuan Cheng had no idea what the person in front of her looked like, and because of the intense chill running down her spine, she dared not act haughtily.

There was no response from the enigmatic person; Huan, bowing at a hand distance, stayed firm, didn't tremble, and didn't panic, her composure similar to that of a humble servant. A long moment filled with tension, suspense, and patience passed, yet there was no response. Other maids and eunuchs attending the regal figure didn't make a single sound either, due to Xuan Cheng's heightened hearing ability. She could hear the heartbeats, and she smiled inwardly as she sensed shock and surprise.

Not having the habit of kneeling and saluting according to the rules of the palace, both the maid and her master began to feel the pain. On top of that, the floor was cold, penetrating their skins like needles, and it started harming their bones. Yet, they didn't move.

If Xuan Cheng had no skill that confirmed the presence of the great grandmother, she would have stood up long ago, but she stayed as she was for another half an hour. On the other hand, Huan stayed still, not moving an inch until her master asked her to be at ease.

"Are you really her granddaughter?" A time-worn, majestic, and graceful voice resonated in the chamber. It gave goosebumps to Xuan Cheng and her maid. Without raising her head, Xuan Cheng responded, "Yes, Your Majesty." Her voice carried a heavy and sadistic tone.

"Raise your head and let me see you," the Grand Empress Dowager demanded in a pleading tone. Slowly, Xuan Cheng motioned her head, from bottom to a little higher, she could see the legs of Her Majesty, and then a little higher, she was able to see her directly into the eyes of her great-grandma.

For some reason, a tear glistened in her eyes, and a current ran through her veins, as she finally met her savior, the one who helped her pass the evidence to the emperor and demanded justice for her daughter after all these years. Xuan Cheng owed her the most after her grandmother.

She was the first person, and Xuan Cheng felt a deep connection right after meeting her for the first time, as if she had known her for a long time. Perhaps because, she was the mother of her grandmother, whom she outlived.

"You look like her when she was young, aye, no—you look more beautiful. Look, Mama Xing, am I not, right?" She asked, a huge smile appearing on her wrinkly face.

"Indeed, there is a heavenly glow on her skin." Mama Xing, an older maid, smiled with tears welling up in her eyes.

"I am thanking Your Majesty for gracing me with a compliment, I dare not accept it." Xuan Cheng replied, a faint smile glued to her eyes as she continued to engrave the moment inside her.

"Why? Has nobody ever told you this?" Grand Empress Dowager questioned, her perfectly shaped, thin eyebrows curling up, "Ayee…this is your maid?" she asked. Xuan Cheng nodded, her tongue feeling too heavy to even respond with a single word.

"You come forward!" Mama Xing ordered. Huan raised her head slightly and crawled to the front in a proper manner. "I, chief maid, serving Her Highness Princess Cheng, pay my respect to Your Majesty," she spoke, her tone sounding firm and humble. Unlike anyone who meets a high rank person for the first time, she was calm and patient.

This impressed everyone, including Her Majesty herself. "You appear to be eloquent and highly skilled; I assume your master has taught you very well." Mama Xing complimented.

"The Heavens blessed me to have the privilege to be groomed by Princess Cheng, I am honored to have not disappointed her," Huan replied in a polite manner.

"Then, have you never told her how pretty she is?" Mama Xing asked, a question on behalf of the Grand Empress Dowager. "We, the servants, are forbidden to praise Her Highness; she highly dislikes it."

"Why do you dislike compliments? Every woman I know of your age likes to be praised, and be admired," Grand Empress Dowager asked as she carefully studied Xuan Cheng's appearance.

'I know when they are speaking the truth, and when they are lying, it breaks my heart to see how they have to force a smile and lie about things just to impress me, thus, I hate when they attempt to fawn me,' Xuan Cheng said in her heart. She remained silent, knowing she didn't have to reply to every question asked.

"Ah…you remind me of my daughter. Why are you kneeling? Stand up…" Grand Empress Dowager spoke as her eyes filled with tears that she had been holding back, "You too…" she said to Huan.

Mama Xing moved forward, helped Xuan Cheng stand up. took her to the first seat, nearest to Her Majesty. Xuan Cheng sat down as she felt overwhelmed after hearing that she resembled her late grandmother, and it must be a genuine fact since it was her great grandmother telling her this.

"It was you who sent me the evidence, right?" she asked, as a tear dropped from her eyes. Mama Xing gasped and hinted that the servants should leave immediately.

"Yes, I did, it was mostly my grandfather who gathered them, I just cross-checked and confirmed them before sending it to Your Majesty. I feel ashamed for bothering you," Xuan Cheng apologized.

"Nonsense, you are making me feel bad, she was my only surviving daughter, she might have cut her ties with me, but my heart always ached for how she ended up all alone in that mansion," the Grand Empress Dowager teared up.

"I assure you; she had a comfortable life in her last years," Xuan Cheng attempted to convince her. She wasn't lying, she did give her grandmother more than she needed.

"Right, I did hear rumours that she lived an extravagant life, perhaps your father did care for your grandmother." She spoke, nodding her head and wiping her tears with a silky handkerchief.

"No-he didn't, it was my grandfather's savings that helped us survive," Xuan Cheng instantly explained and cleared the misunderstanding, not because it might harm her father, but because she never wanted to give him undeserving credits.

"Oh? I see, it's good that you returned to the Capital City. It is where you truly belong. I wanted to call you back, but your father insisted that you stay under house arrest with my Shu'er. I feel bad for what you have suffered. I assume that since you were locked up with my daughter, you have no marriage prospect even though you are past the age." Her concerned voice gave the stormy clouds in Xuan Cheng's heart a way to leave.

"I do not regret, and I do not complain. I must be honest with you since I have very little time," Xuan Cheng opened her mouth and began to explain, "It was my grandmother's last wish that I return to the Capital City, and I did. However, I had no intention of interacting with the Imperial Family as a princess. I planned to stay low and invisible after reporting to the emperor."

The Grand Empress Dowager and Mama Xing exchanged glances, flabbergasted. Xuan Cheng avoided them and continued, Huan wished to remind her not to speak the bitterest truth, yet she could only stand behind her, her mouth zipped up.

"As soon as I arrived in the Capital City, I learned from my humble servant that Her Majesty the Empress is suffering from an incurable disease. So, I came to visit the palace, lying partially on my way here. As an unfavorable forgotten imperial princess, I dare not visit the Empress right away for no reason, as it will light a fire against me." her tone was straight and indifferent.

"I beg you to take me to the empress. Under your presence, nobody will question me, I must visit her as soon as possible before the sun starts setting down." Xuan Cheng rose from her seat and knelt on the floor.

"Why do you want to visit her? I am afraid it might catch you," the Grand Empress Dowager said in a little loud voice, extremely shocked and worried. She felt a little disappointed that her great granddaughter didn't come to see her, but she came for the empress, and even though she didn't know the reason, it saddened her euphoric heart.

But then, she felt a tinge of unexplainable joy that she trusted her even though they had been estranged for a very long time, in short, they had never met each other before.

"I can cure her," Xuan Cheng claimed, raising her head, her pupils changing colors. "You–how can you be sure? All the best doctors in the world have given up on her. They said she could only wait for her death. Don't give me hope, I chose her for the emperor, and seeing her miserable state made me anxious, and I used all my efforts to search for a cure." The Grand Empress Dowager spoke, tears rolling down her cheeks, slowly and bitterly.

Xuan Cheng's eyes changed colors because of her Seven cultivations, from metal to wind, each revealing a color, Mama Xing knew about the cultivation world since she served one of the cultivators. The Grand Empress Dowager was taken aback as well, and without saying anything directly, she told Xuan Cheng that she has used all her resources and skills of cultivation and still hasn't found a cure.

Both know that the condition of the empress is because of the Ocean Fire Poison from the Evil Lord's palace, and even his palace doesn't have an antidote for it. Impossible as the rainbow river's existence is to cure the empress.

"If I cannot cure her, let the heavens punish me with a thousand lightnings." Xuan Cheng took an oath, her pupils turned purplish after the change of colors. She was determined, however, in her heart she was wavering, but she had to take the oath out loud to make her heart forget about giving up.

"How can-" Mama Xing gaped her lips to question the obvious.

"All I need is a drop of her son's blood." Xuan Cheng's regal voice made the lamps flicker and the pair of eyes widened from astonishment. She spoke as if she would resurrect the dead from the grave.