What she saw was the former Empress Jiang, the Empress Dowager of the Da Ye Dynasty, not unfamiliar—her skin still as pale as snow, her hair still adorned as beautifully as ever, and when those tender eyes looked up at her, it felt as if a gentle hand had caressed all her scars, taking away all her pain.
It was her unchanging gentleness.
Everything seemed just like the first time they met.
However, Shang Ruyi still couldn't believe her eyes. She even forgot how to speak or pay her respects, just staring wide-eyed at the person before her, step by step walking up to her.
No matter how closely she looked, it was still—
Shang Ruyi trembled as she spoke, her voice already fragmented, even tinged with the salty tang of tears.
"Your Highness..."
Empress Jiang—or rather, the Empress Dowager—smiled at her, but unlike past meetings, she did not speak softly to her, only nodding gently.
Yet Shang Ruyi knew she was not being ignored.
She simply couldn't speak.
