Transmigrated as the Short-Lived White Moonlight, I Ended Up Happily Ever After With the Female Lead - Chapter 60

Ji Yan’an looked at the sky and saw that it was indeed dark. The Empress Dowager needed to get Ji Yan’an into the palace quietly before the palace gates closed. They could no longer delay. Ji Yan’an was still wearing the same clothes and jewelry she had worn upon entering the palace today. Even though she had nearly fallen in the library just now, her pearl step-shaker was dangling precariously, but she didn’t stop to fix it. After throwing the useless books to Le Yan, she ran towards the door. Le Yan didn’t follow, vaguely feeling that a major event was about to happen.

“Miss, the Empress Dowager is already waiting for you in the palace,” the nanny herself came out of the palace to meet Ji Yan’an, specifically to prevent them from being stopped upon entering. Ji Yan’an followed the nanny onto the carriage. They had already informed Madam Ji and the Old Madam in advance. Thus, the carriage moved slowly, only picking up speed after leaving the alley by the Ji residence gate. Many people scattered away from the carriage, knowing they shouldn’t provoke anyone riding in such a luxurious vehicle. Vendors quickly packed up their stalls, as night was drawing near and they were heading home early.

The nanny and Ji Yan’an sat together. The nanny hadn’t spoken the entire way, which made her a little scared. She picked up a pastry and leaned closer to Ji Yan’an: “Miss, please eat a little. You didn’t eat your lunch properly today, and visiting Miss Song will delay your dinner. How can your body cope…”

Ji Yan’an knew the nanny was looking out for her, but her current mood made it impossible for her to eat. She shook her head, and the pearl tassel just happened to fall. The nanny put down the pastry, picked up the tassel for Ji Yan’an, and put it on her with a loving gesture: “Miss, good people are blessed by heaven. Don’t worry too much.”

The nanny’s voice was gentle. Ji Yan’an’s nose tingled, and tears fell uncontrollably. The nanny, however, didn’t fuss over her crying; she did something unfitting for her status—she pulled Ji Yan’an into her arms, comforting her like a grandmother comforting her granddaughter. Ji Yan’an rested her head on the nanny’s shoulder and cried for a long time before choking out a question: “Nanny… I can be safe… and Song Yi can be too, right…”

The nanny nodded, her rough hand stroking Ji Yan’an’s head: “Yes, Miss is the most fortunate. Miss was born with light, with thousands of favors. These matters are not Miss’s fault, so justice will surely be restored.”

Although the nanny had repeated these words many times, Ji Yan’an felt reassured every time she heard them.

She also gradually sorted things out. Perhaps Liu Wanwan had initially bribed Ji Tong’an and her maid. That day in the embroidery room, they had produced that garment and the sachet on it. And Hongmei… that was also mentioned by the maid.

The human heart is unpredictable.

The carriage slowly stopped, and Ji Yan’an knew they had arrived. When she pulled back the curtain again, the sky was completely dark. In winter, the daytime is inherently short, so Ji Yan’an wasn’t too surprised that it was dark. She dejectedly got off the carriage to find a large group of people standing below. Ji Yan’an was startled at first, but the nanny assured her they were all “our people,” and she felt relieved.

Under the cover of the crowd, Ji Yan’an successfully entered the palace and arrived at the Empress Dowager’s sleeping quarters. The Empress Dowager was standing there waiting for Ji Yan’an, and her face was full of concern when she saw her arrive.

“How is it?”

“I got it.” Ji Yan’an looked quite disheveled. The dust accumulated from retrieving the books had been inadvertently smeared on her face, making her look like a pitiful calico cat.

“No time to lose, let’s go now.” The Empress Dowager, wearing her luxurious attire, not at all subtle, pulled Ji Yan’an and walked. A crowd of maids and nannies followed behind. Ji Yan’an had thought they would have to go secretly.

The Imperial Prison was even more remote and gloomy. Even with the Empress Dowager in a sedan chair, it took a long time to reach the gate of the prison.

The prison was enormous, with part of it extending outside the palace walls. It was surrounded by elite guards, who changed shifts frequently and meticulously, ensuring no oversight. Ji Yan’an was stunned by the sight. Are those stories about breaking into prisons in novels serious?

If Ji Yan’an looked closer, she could even see archers hidden in the dark; no one dared to approach the prison.

But the Empress Dowager was different. When her lavish noble robes appeared before everyone, everyone immediately knelt down. Even the archers hidden in the dark quickly flew down to perform the kneeling salute and offer greetings.

The Empress Dowager arrogantly waved her hand, signaling them to rise. The leading guard stepped forward: “Does the Empress Dowager have any instructions?”

The Empress Dowager pointed to Ji Yan’an next to her and gave a lazy order: “My precious little granddaughter wants to visit someone inside. I wonder…”

“It turns out to be Princess Imperial!” the guard immediately exclaimed, then quickly and enthusiastically nodded: “Of course, of course, how could Princess Imperial not be allowed in!”

“Very well, I shall wait here. You take her in.” The Empress Dowager looked at the nanny beside her. The nanny, being savvy, quickly took out a few taels of gold and slipped them into the guard’s hand. “The Emperor is busy these days, there’s no need to inform him.”

The head guard’s eyes widened. He quickly accepted the gold, nodded smilingly, looking like he understood.

Ji Yan’an was bewildered. What princess? She looked at the Empress Dowager, only to see her raise an eyebrow. Her playful manner made the elderly lady seem adorable. Ji Yan’an also looked like she instantly understood and followed the guard inside.

The Empress Dowager, meanwhile, sat back down in her sedan chair, holding a hand warmer. After seeing Ji Yan’an enter, she became majestic and indifferent, which made the others afraid to breathe.

“Hey, that person looks a lot like the stunningly beautiful Miss Ji from the Ji family. We don’t have such a beautiful princess in our palace,” a crouching archer discussed in a low voice with his companion after the guard left. The sound was not loud, but the Empress Dowager heard it clearly.

The corner of her lips slightly curled up. Hearing someone praise Ji Yan’an made her happy.

Inside, Ji Yan’an followed the guard into the prison. Every cell was guarded. The people in the cells were either mad, foolish, or sitting quietly with a gloomy look. Ji Yan’an was chilled to the bone. She only focused on walking forward with her head down, no longer daring to look at those people. As she walked, there were continuous cries of injustice. These were the newly confined, most of whom had not yet been tortured and still had the strength to wail.

The guard pretended not to hear and led Ji Yan’an to the very last cell. There was no sound inside, not even a noticeable breath.

“Princess Imperial, Miss Song Yi, whom you are looking for, is inside. However, she seems unwilling to speak to anyone. Princess Imperial, please be careful. Should anything happen, I will be waiting right there and will rush to your aid immediately,” the guard instructed Ji Yan’an while unlocking the door. He was endearingly foolish, still believing Ji Yan’an was a princess and calling her “Your Highness” repeatedly, which was giving Ji Yan’an a headache.

“I understand, you may step back first,” Ji Yan’an said and walked into the cell. The guard said nothing more and obediently retreated.

“Why are you here…”

As soon as Ji Yan’an stepped into the cell, she saw Song Yi in a clean prisoner’s uniform, sitting in the center. Dead rats lay around, looking terrifying. Ji Yan’an closed her eyes in fright, forgetting to answer Song Yi.

Song Yi didn’t hear a response from Ji Yan’an, so she stood up and looked at her. She saw Ji Yan’an with her eyes closed, her panicked look being particularly endearing.

Song Yi approached Ji Yan’an and gently covered Ji Yan’an’s eyes with her hand. Startled, Ji Yan’an opened her eyes, only to find herself very close to Song Yi.

“How… how are you?” The thought of those rats made Ji Yan’an’s body prickle. Song Yi chuckled, the coldness in her eyes vanishing completely. She wrapped her arm around Ji Yan’an’s waist: “I’m very well. And you? So much dirt on your face, did you fall?”

“No… let… let go…” Ji Yan’an’s face flushed red. She felt that the Song Yi in front of her was somehow different, but it seemed Song Yi had stopped conforming to the aloof character in the original text a long time ago.

Song Yi obediently released Ji Yan’an, sat down on the tattered bedding, and looked calm and composed: “You should leave quickly. This place isn’t suitable for you.”

Ji Yan’an’s eyes welled up with tears. Goodness knew how much she had missed Song Yi this afternoon. She ran over and hugged Song Yi’s arm, her tears nearly falling onto the prisoner’s uniform, which Song Yi gently wiped away.

“I’m fine.”

Ji Yan’an looked at her self-deprecating manner and, with a trembling hand, took the letter wrapped in the brocade handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it to Song Yi. Song Yi’s previously calm eyes finally showed an internal storm when she saw these letters. The things she had desperately sought for years were now lying safely in her palm.

Even with Song Yi’s strength, her tears now fell like broken strings of pearls. She looked at the dirt-covered Ji Yan’an and could guess how difficult it must have been for this silly girl to get the letters in the library. When Ji Yan’an saw Song Yi crying, she panicked, quickly lifted her sleeve, and cautiously wiped Song Yi’s tears. The two embraced, like injured children comforting each other.

“Song Yi, don’t cry. I have to leave soon. Tell me where the other evidence is…” Ji Yan’an’s eyes, having been washed by tears, were even brighter and clearer. All of Song Yi’s efforts over the years were concentrated in that evidence. Should she give it to Ji Yan’an today?

Song Yi decided not to hesitate. This woman… was the one she loved… If Ji Yan’an betrayed her, Song Yi would accept it.

Having made up her mind, Song Yi told Ji Yan’an to wait by the corner gate of her former courtyard at midnight tonight, where her subordinates would be waiting. The evidence was on them. She also handed a waist token to Ji Yan’an.

“This is the waist token of Song Yi, the eldest daughter of the Song family. My subordinates only recognize the token, not the owner. Take this, and you will get the other dossiers,” Song Yi told Ji Yan’an in a low voice. Ji Yan’an nodded solemnly. Just as she wanted to say something more to Song Yi, the guard outside started urging them.

“Princess Imperial, time is almost up. The prison will be locked soon. Let’s go out now.” The guard urged cautiously. After hearing a reply from Ji Yan’an after a long while, he felt relieved.

Song Yi released Ji Yan’an’s hand, signaling her to leave.

Ji Yan’an nodded, lifted her skirt, and walked out of the cell, looking back every few steps. The guard busied himself locking the door. Ji Yan’an and Song Yi exchanged one last deep gaze through the gap, and then Ji Yan’an sadly walked away.

Outside, the Empress Dowager had already replaced her hand warmer with a second one. Seeing Ji Yan’an emerge from inside dejectedly, she quickly got out of her sedan chair, rushed forward, grasped Ji Yan’an’s hand, said nothing, and pulled Ji Yan’an into the sedan chair.

“I’ll escort you out of the palace,” the Empress Dowager said, as if she had anticipated something.

Ji Yan’an nodded, holding the Empress Dowager’s arm, feeling very tired.