She recalled the man's doting affection and, at times, felt a sense of happiness. If he hadn't been the Emperor, if he hadn't been so calculating, perhaps there could have been a genuine connection between them.
She didn't deny that, for a while, she had contemplated staying, accompanying him. What if it was a cage? What if it was a prison?
But now, affection wasn't enough to ensure longevity. Some things, over time, would become unrecognizable. Qingyao smiled slowly.
No one expected things to unfold exactly as the Empress had predicted. Following a blood test, Bei Jin Wang's blood was found to be incompatible with Nan'an Wang's. Not only Nan'an Wang but Bei Jin Wang himself was stunned, never having imagined he wasn't of royal blood.
What had he been fighting for, striving for, all these years? Even as a prince, he had been treated with great favor.
At the same time, in Guangyang Palace, the Empress Dowager drowned herself in the artificial lake built by the late Emperor for Empress Li. When her body was recovered, her face was serene, as if her suffering had found redemption.
If she had chosen a different path, everything today would be different. All things had two sides; a difference of a single thought.
Murong Liu Zun secretly arranged for the Empress Dowager's burial. At the last moment, the Emperor finally forgave her and interred her in the imperial mausoleum, near the late Emperor.
Even though she had never loved the late Emperor throughout her life, in the eyes of the world, she was his consort, the Empress Dowager.
In Lin'an City, the Emperor issued a decree. The news that Bei Jin Wang was not of royal blood spread through every street and alley, shattering the rumors.
People's perceptions were truly strange. They had been sympathizing with Bei Jin Wang, but the moment they learned he wasn't of royal blood, they immediately changed their tune, as if he had become a damned soul.
However, regarding Bei Jin Wang not being of royal blood, the Emperor strictly prohibited any further discussion in the edict, with the penalty of death for violators. Though everyone knew the truth, no one dared to speak of it.
Thus, the rumors were quelled.
The Ministry of Justice investigated the case of Bei Jin Wang's usurpation of the throne. With witness Ye Xianxian's testimony, and the firsthand accounts of many court officials, along with the testimony of the Empress Dowager's personal eunuch, Eunuch Li, it was proven that Bei Jin Wang had planned this long ago, and the Empress Dowager was aware of it.
Bei Jin Wang was guilty of treason and was to be executed at noon the next day.
As for the Chu family, although Bei Jin Wang didn't confess, the three thousand guards mobilized by the Bei Jin Wang's mansion adamantly stated that it was the eldest son of the Chu family who had used the military tally to command them, thus they had obeyed.
Since the Chu family had forcibly mobilized three thousand guards with the military tally, the Chu family's guilt was undeniable. The Ministry of Justice also investigated them. The Right Prime Minister was unable to speak, while the Chu family, young and old, cried and called for their parents. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Justice was a place that did not easily show sympathy.
The Chu family, over eighty members, were to be executed in three days.
The notices were posted, and the entire capital was abuzz.
No one expected the once-prominent Chu family to fall so swiftly, and to meet such tragic ends.
While people sympathized with them, they dared not say much.
After all, Bei Jin Wang was still a traitor. The Chu family had aided Bei Jin Wang in assassinating the Emperor, so their execution was unquestionable. People dared not protest, nor did they believe the Emperor's decision was wrong.
Who knew that by nightfall, a change had occurred.
The rear hall of the Ministry of Justice caught fire. The sky-high flames threw the Ministry of Justice into chaos. Much of the military force was mobilized to combat the raging inferno. Amidst the firefighting, someone took advantage of the confusion, stormed into the Ministry of Justice's prison, killed many of the guards, injured a large number of people, and finally, abducted Bei Jin Wang.
Upon receiving the news, Murong Liu Zun erupted in furious rage.
A large part of the Ministry of Justice had burned down, and the major criminal Bei Jin Wang had been spirited away from the prison.
"Minister of Justice, what do you have to say for yourself?" The Emperor, seated on his throne, his face as cold as frost and snow, glared with gloomy anger at the trembling Minister of Justice below.
The piercing gaze was like a sharp sword piercing the heart of the Minister of Justice, rendering him speechless. He could only kowtow, his face pale, realizing his death was imminent.
"Thump, thump."
The Emperor had lost his patience and called out, "Guards, take the Minister of Justice away and imprison him."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Hua Lige led his men rushing in and quickly escorted the Minister of Justice out. From the distant hall, the helpless pleas of the Minister of Justice could still be heard: "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me!"
The hall was filled with a somber silence.
The Emperor's face was grim and ominous. His deep, dark eyes were like a dead well, without a ripple. After a long while, his cold, hard voice finally echoed.
"Nan'an Wang, Left Prime Minister, immediately order the Ministry of War to deploy troops and search the entire city. Ensure Bei Jin Wang is captured as soon as possible."
This man was now a stray dog. If he continued to roam free, who knew what he might do?
"Yes, Your Majesty," Nan'an Wang and the Left Prime Minister immediately took their orders and were about to leave when the Emperor, seated high on his throne, called out again.
"Left Prime Minister, transfer all members of the Chu family to the heavily guarded Ministry of War. I do not wish for any further accidents. In three days, the Chu family will still be executed. I want to see if this Chu Qianyi can still endure it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Mu Hen respectfully accepted the order, and the two men retreated to carry out their tasks.
Bei Jin Wang had been abducted. This was undoubtedly Chu Qianyi's doing. The Ministry of Justice had so many soldiers, but according to the injured soldiers, the intruders were not only skilled in martial arts but also numerous and appeared well-trained, not ordinary individuals.
Where did Chu Qianyi get these people? The Chu family's military authority had been handed over. Had he been premeditating this all along? To achieve these actions right under his nose demonstrated a considerable depth of scheming. But how had he done it?
Murong Liu Zun's eyes were exceptionally cold, his mind clearer than usual.
Had Chu Qianyi allied with another country? Had he joined forces with another nation, intending to use Bei Jin Wang to conquer Xian Yue? Otherwise, there was no explanation for why he would rescue Bei Jin Wang and not the Chu family. Then, with which country had he allied?
"Ah Jiu, immediately order all secret guards to be deployed. Search Lin'an City from the inside out. See if, besides Xian Yue's people, any other country's individuals have been active within Xian Yue's territory recently."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Ah Jiu immediately went out. Many secret guards had been recalled to the capital by the Emperor recently, making them perfectly suited for this task. He quickly issued the secret orders.
In Feng Luan Palace.
Mu Qingyao also received the news: the Ministry of Justice's prison had been burned, and Bei Jin Wang, imprisoned within, had been abducted.
This time, the news wasn't delivered by Nan'an Wang. Instead, Mu Qingyao had sent Mo You out of the palace to gather information. As she was preparing to leave the palace, Mo You was not required to stay within its confines for the past few days. Instead, she mingled among the common folk to gather intelligence, awaiting the Empress's next instructions.