“He won’t have a choice.”
Xiao Yan sneered. “If he wants to appease the He family’s orphan, he can’t strip my power. Besides, there’s the Dragon Jade Order.”
“Once Shang Qin enters the capital, Emperor An will struggle to cope. Without the Dragon Jade Order, he’ll need me, the He family orphan, as a shield. Without me, how can he control the Dragon Court Guards?”
He would legitimately seize military power, making Emperor An willingly elevate him.
Xiao Yan didn’t hide his plans from Tang Ning, speaking softly about the risks. “Of course, it’s not foolproof. The He family’s existence might still provoke him. He might care so much about his imperial reputation that he’d rather see blood flow than let the past be exposed, choosing to fight to the death with Shang Qin and the others rather than be coerced.”
“I can read Emperor An’s mind, but in desperation, anything can happen. If it comes to that, conflict is inevitable.”
Looking down at Tang Ning, Xiao Yan said, “If that happens, I’ll find a way to get you out of the capital.”
Nestled in his arms, Tang Ning looked up at him steadily. “If it comes to what you’re describing—chaos across the realm, nowhere safe—where could I go by leaving the capital?”
“Tang Ning…”
She didn’t let him speak, sitting up straight. “I know it’s foolish to say I’d stay in the capital and share your fate. If you fail, I should escape to plan your revenge and complete your unfinished work. But then I realized I’m not as capable as you.”
“You’ve taught me so much and given me everything you have, but I still can’t match you. If the realm falls into chaos, I don’t have the ability to save the people or the patience to endure decades, as you did, starting over step by step.”
“So, Brother…” Tang Ning held his hand, speaking earnestly, “You will succeed. Otherwise, a lazy person like me can only follow you to eternal rest in the capital.”
Her words were utterly shameless, but Xiao Yan’s grip on her hand tightened.
Nothing in this world is certain. From the moment he escaped that palace fire, he knew the path he walked was perilous.
He shouldn’t have dragged her into it, knowing that staying away would keep her safe. Yet, selfishly, he lured her into loving him, watching himself fall and pulling her into this dark abyss.
Holding her hand tightly, the hesitation on his face turned to resolve.
He would succeed.
His little crabapple was destined to stand with him at the pinnacle, revered by the world!
…
Xiao Yan held Tang Ning tenderly for a while. They didn’t speak further, but their bond grew closer.
He avoided discouraging words, planning to rethink his strategy for greater certainty. To Tang Ning, he said gently, “Emperor An has decreed the empress’s deposition and the Fourth Prince’s death. Song Jinshu intercepted the Song family members earlier. When do you plan to deal with him?”
At the mention of Song Jinshu, Tang Ning’s face cooled. “Where’s he hiding Song Hong and the others?”
“Outside the city, in a farmer’s house. He paid them to take care of them.”
“Hah, how filial!” Tang Ning sneered. Such a cold-blooded, vicious man, yet Song Jinshu still protected them. In the end, they were family.
Song Jinshu felt guilt and regret toward her, but he never hesitated to harm or use her to climb higher. He could cry and admit his wrongs while ignoring that Song Hong and the others were tied to her parents’ deaths, intercepting them to settle them comfortably.
Was this his so-called clear conscience?
His so-called repentance?
Hmph!
Tang Ning felt mentioning him dirtied her mouth.
Xiao Yan shared her disgust for Song Jinshu, regretting his earlier misjudgment of him. “Before, we held back because of the empress, and Song Jinshu was useful. Your parents’ case couldn’t be pursued deeply. Now that the empress is in the cold palace, there’s no need to spare the Song family.”
“Later, I’ll have someone bring Empress Lu out of the palace to meet the Song family. It’s time to settle your parents’ case.”
Recalling the heavy coffin and her mother’s scattered bones, Tang Ning’s eyes filled with murderous intent.
Xiao Yan stroked her hair, pulling her closer.
…
No one dared question the decree deposing the empress. After the edict to exterminate the Lu family was issued, Jinyun guarded the imperial prison. Lu Chongyuan, unaware of the emperor’s intent, still hoped Emperor An, mindful of past ties, would show mercy.
Since the fire at Fengxi Palace, Empress Lu, scarred and disfigured, had been moved to Xiangshui Hall near Fengxi Palace. Physicians attended her daily, and palace servants cared for her. Despite excruciating pain, she clung to hope that Emperor An would release the Fourth Prince for her sake.
But as she waited, Emperor An ignored her, and eventually, even the physicians and servants disappeared.
When she was carried to the cold palace, she learned she’d been deposed.
The cold palace had nothing—no medicine, no attendants. Her severe burns required daily care, but for two days, she had neither. Her skin festered and oozed, her face rotted grotesquely, and relentless pain kept her awake.
Struggling, she reached the dilapidated door of the cold palace, pounding on it. “Someone… anyone…”
“I need a physician… someone, please!”
She pounded repeatedly, the sound echoing in the night.
“Stop banging! Courting death?!” A loud bang came from outside, like a scabbard striking the door.
Empress Lu clutched the door’s gap. “My injuries are severe. I need a physician, now!”
“Pah, who do you think you are, demanding a physician?”
“Insolent! I am the empress…”
The guards outside laughed at her angry outburst. Someone jabbed a scabbard through the gap, knocking her back. She stumbled, screaming as she fell.
The guards roared with laughter at her pathetic state. “Empress? What empress lives in the cold palace? Look at your ghostly face.”
“Everyone knows you’re just a used rag, messed around with by Prince Cheng. Your son isn’t even His Majesty’s. A shameless, loose woman like you, an empress? Hah!”
Someone spat, their words cutting like knives, leaving Empress Lu pale.
“His Majesty deposed you and threw you here to die. Even the Fourth Prince was given poisoned wine. A filthy thing like you, dreaming of a physician? In your dreams!”
Empress Lu’s eyes widened. Deposed and discarded without explanation, she hadn’t realized Emperor An knew about her and Prince Cheng—or that he’d order her son’s death.
That was his own flesh and blood!
From somewhere, she found strength, scrambling up and pounding the door. “I want to see Xiao Yan! I need Supervisor Xiao…”
“The Fourth Prince is His Majesty’s blood! He’s his son… ah!”
A heavy scabbard struck her head, and she collapsed, silenced mid-scream.
Peering through the gap, a guard whispered, “What now? Did we kill her?”
“If she’s dead, she’s dead. Who cares? No one will notice a death in the cold palace.”
“But what she said…”
“Pfft, who’d believe that?”
Her affair with Prince Cheng was undeniable. Even if the Fourth Prince was the emperor’s son, would he believe it? The poisoned wine sent to the prince was likely already used. Emperor An wouldn’t let Prince Cheng’s “bastard”.live, and if the prince was wronged, he was already a dead ghost.
The guard saw Empress Lu twitch through the gap, muttering, “Still alive,” with disgust. He pulled the loose palace door shut and said to the others, “Enough. Ignore what doesn’t concern us. Pretend you didn’t hear her. They never meant for her to live.”
“Move. We’ll check back in a couple of days.”
Emperor An clearly wanted to torment Empress Lu to vent his anger. Anyone helping her was asking for death.
As for Supervisor Xiao… did she think she was worthy to see him in her state?
Hearing the door slam shut, Empress Lu lay in the pitch-black darkness, without even moonlight. Wracked with pain, she tried to rise. She needed to see Xiao Yan—she hadn’t lost yet. She had leverage over him. If she could just meet him, he’d help her and her son…
But her burns were too severe. After stumbling and falling, scraping her wounds, the agony knocked her out. No one came to check on her or ask a single question.
Cang Lang and Tu Bai leapt down from the cold palace’s roof. Looking at the collapsed Empress Lu, Cang Lang clicked his tongue. “Poor thing.”
Tu Bai scoffed, “If you weren’t so gleeful, I’d believe you pitied her.”
He checked her pulse—she was still alive. “She’s breathing. Let’s go.”
Cang Lang stepped back. “You carry her. I’ll set things up inside.”
He dragged a prepared female corpse into the cold palace, sprinkled lamp oil, and set it ablaze.
Once the fire caught, he left. Tu Bai, carrying the bloodied Empress Lu, joined him, and they leapt onto the roof to escape.
Halfway, Cang Lang glanced back, chuckling. “How many lashes will Yu Yanfeng get this time?”
Tu Bai: “…”
“Hurry up, or if the guards catch us, the supervisor will break your legs.”
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
Comments
Post a Comment