The governess's eyes darkened before replying. "The Empress Mother ordered for the portraits of the Empress to be burned after that coup twenty-two years ago."
Anger flared up in Ye An's chest. "On what grounds?"
"The Empress Mother labeled her as a harbinger of bad luck to the imperial family and that the only way to cleanse the "bad energy" that she brought upon the imperial family was to burn all of her belongings and every portrait that the Empress was in."
"What nonsense is that??"
"The Empress Mother was adamant about it and warned all of the servants to keep our mouths shut if we wanted our heads to remain attached to our necks."
Ye An's fury simmered to a boiling point.
"I know what you're thinking, Your Imperial Majesty. But the portraits have been burned and it's all in the past. Nothing could bring them back."
Ye An could barely rein in her emotions as she bit on her lips. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she asked the governess. "Could you tell me more about the late Empress?"
The governess looked at Ye An softly. "She always had a smile on her face, no matter who she was meeting and no matter how bad of a day she was having."
"Sounds tiring." Ye An said bluntly.
"Yes, maybe. But she said it helps her focus on what truly matters."
"And that is?"
"Being happy and being open to the possibility of positive things happening. She believes that no matter how dreary the circumstances are, there is always a possibility for it to turn around."
"Huh."
The governess smiled as she said, "But you're more similar to your father."
Ye An sat on that for a while before asking "Did the late Emperor Lee Hwi love her?"
There was a slight delay in her answer but the governess said. "Yes. Yes, he did. Very much."
"How was he, as a person? I heard he's not only a great swordsman, but also an avid poet and was really into literature. I hate literature. I know I'm good at it, but I'm just not averse to it. I prefer swordsmanship."
"Trust me, you're very similar to your father in that sense." The governess commented plainly before realizing the time. "Oh, look at the time! You should head back soon, Your Imperial Majesty."
"Yes, I think so too." Ye An said as she got up from her seat.
Sensing that Ye An's mood hadn't quite returned to her initial playfulness since their talk about the Empress earlier, Governess Hsu stopped Ye An before she could step out of the room. "I hope you only take in the good and leave the bad and only have peaceful nights as the Empress had wished for you."
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THE NIGHT EMPEROR: 夜安王 【The Night Emperor Book 1】| ✔️
Historical Fiction☑ COMPLETED "There are enough bad things in life, hold on to whatever it is that gives you joy." For the past 22 years, the Empress Mother has held onto the Dragon Throne that was rightfully Ye An's. Now, Ye An has finally ascended to the throne. Bu...
Chapter 19 夜安 (Peaceful Nights)
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