Zhang Xiuyi’s eyes widened in terror as she looked at the person before her, watching her laugh wantonly. Her beautiful face was etched with coldness, and her heart suddenly clenched. A mouthful of blood surged up, splattering onto the great hall. She could no longer open her eyes.
Her head slowly drooped. She had actually been angered to death by the Empress.
It made sense. All her earnest efforts had ultimately led to her personally pushing her father and brother into a desperate situation. Anyone would have found it unbearable.
Liu Liu swept a cold glance at the deceased Zhang Xiuyi and waved her hand to the imperial physicians in the hall, commanding, “See if she’s dead.”
The imperial physicians examined her and confirmed it was a ruptured heart that caused her sudden death.
With Zhang Xiuyi’s death, the palace maids and eunuchs of Guangyang Palace, having served their mistress for the last time, all knelt to see her off. Liu Liu looked at them coldly. Since she was already dead, why should she trouble the deceased? She turned and ordered that Zhang Xiuyi be given a respectful burial.
The Empress Dowager, seeing that this woman had died and her wicked deeds were thus concluded, embraced Mu Xing and prepared to leave. Turning, she noticed a small figure in the distance – it was Yu Lou.
Remembering that Yu Lou had been sent to Zhang Xiuyi at such a young age and had witnessed Zhang Xiuyi’s actions, fearing he might be disturbed, she immediately turned to Liu Liu.
“Liu’er, please return Yu Lou to Consort De.”
Seeing that the Empress Dowager had spoken, Liu Liu felt she could not refuse. Besides, she had only used the child to force the Lou family out. Now that the Zhang family had been implicated, she believed the Lou family would soon surface.
“Yes, Mother, please rest assured. I will personally escort him to Changxin Palace.”
Liu Liu glanced at Yu Lou opposite her. Despite his young age, his eyes held a deep hatred, so intense that it seemed her and Mu Xing’s return had caused him great resentment.
Liu Liu suddenly understood the meaningful smile on Zhang Xiuyi’s face as she died. This poisoning of the Crown Prince was likely not Zhang Xiuyi’s idea, but she had protected Yu Lou and Lou Sijing. Why? Because she saw the hatred in Yu Lou’s eyes. As long as Yu Lou lived, and his hatred continued to grow, snowballing larger and larger, by the time he grew up, the royal family would inevitably witness bloodshed. This was, indirectly, a form of revenge for the Zhang family. This deceased woman was truly a master strategist.
Mu Xing was taken away by the Empress Dowager. The Emperor ordered the chief eunuch to ensure Zhang Xiuyi was buried with all due ceremony. Liu Liu, leading Hong Xiu, personally escorted Prince Yu Lou to Changxin Palace.
Lou Sijing had already received the news and knew everything that had happened in Guangyang Palace. She had been worried that Zhang Xiuyi would betray her, but she was surprised to hear that the Empress had angered her to death. She wondered what the Empress had said to provoke such a fragile woman to die.
Lou Sijing breathed a sigh of relief and soon heard a palace maid announce that the Empress had personally delivered her son. She hurried out to meet them, her face full of respect and gentleness, kneeling at the entrance of Changxin Palace’s great hall. Now she understood this woman’s power. As Wanrong had said, they had to be extremely careful. If even a trace of evidence fell into this woman’s hands, they would not survive.
“Your concubine pays her respects to the Empress.”
“Rise,” Liu Liu said with a casual wave of her hand. Clad in a water-blue, plain long gown, she swept in, her presence carrying a hint of fragrance, and proceeded directly into the great hall of Changxin Palace.
Lou Sijing rose and carefully followed the Empress, entering Changxin Palace. Liu Liu sat to one side, and Lou Sijing immediately waved for a palace maid to bring tea. She personally presented it to the Empress, her head bowed attentively, awaiting instruction.
Liu Liu gazed at the woman before her, unable to see her face clearly, only her head adorned with an elegant chignon and a glittering hairpin. The woman now looked like a meek young wife, while she herself seemed like a bullying shrew. Had she truly become docile and obedient? Liu Liu was too astute to believe this woman was truly harmless, and a cold smile touched her lips.
“Consort De, from today onwards, you are to properly guide Prince Yu Lou. I do not wish for any further incidents to occur. Zhang Xiuyi is dead, and regarding her drugging of the Crown Prince, I know there were hidden circumstances. However, everything has been concealed with Zhang Xiuyi’s death. I hope this matter ends here. I merely wish to inform you that anyone who opposes me will not be spared. Before you act, you must consider carefully.” Liu Liu spoke calmly.
Only now did she realize that the woman before her was the most insidious among the women of the harem. She had come today to warn her, because she had a child. A mother should think of her child before doing anything; children are innocent. To see her raise the young Prince Yu Lou with a heart full of hatred – was this the behavior of a mother?
“Think of your child, and accumulate merit for him,” Liu Liu’s clear words fell as she stood up.
Lou Sijing, unable to fully grasp the meaning of the Empress’s words, bowed respectfully. “Your concubine bids the Empress farewell.”
Dark eyes hidden in the shadows flickered with bitterness, a cold smile playing on the lips. Let go? Could she still let go? If they knew the truth about Yu Lou, would they still think this way? She acted this way precisely to protect her child. Lou Sijing waited until Liu Liu left Changxin Palace, then stood up and looked at Yu Lou beside her, calling out softly.
“Yu Lou.”
“Mother Consort.”
Yu Lou sobbed and threw himself into Lou Sijing’s embrace, his small face filled with pain. His dark, bright eyes flickered uncertainly, filled with resentment. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Mother Consort, I hate him. Mother Consort, he stole Father Emperor. Father Emperor likes him so much, and Royal Grandmother likes him too. Everyone likes him.”
Yu Lou’s mind flashed back to the gleam in his Father Emperor’s eyes when he saw that dead child, so bright and radiant. When he saw him injured, his Father Emperor had held him with tender care. He had never received a hug from his Father Emperor, not even once. And Royal Grandmother, who used to dote on him the most, had forgotten him this time. She only knew how to embrace that brat. All of this filled him with hatred. Though only five years old, Yu Lou already knew how to hate someone so deeply, so profoundly, with a heavy scent of blood.
And Lou Sijing, as his mother consort, did not correct her son at this moment but smiled proudly and nodded. “Yes, Lou’er, Mother Consort will definitely not let him have an easy time. I will avenge you, Lou’er.”
“Mm,” Yu Lou nodded and snuggled into his mother consort’s embrace. Just as the mother and son were clinging to each other, Wanrong entered from outside. Her eyes flashed with doting affection as she gazed deeply at the two, one small and one large. She waved, ordering everyone in Changxin Palace’s great hall to withdraw. Once the hall was empty, Wanrong walked over, wrapped her arms around Consort De and her son, offering them deep warmth, and murmured softly.
“Don’t be afraid, I will always be with you.”
“Mm,” Lou Sijing nodded, leaning into Wanrong’s embrace. The three of them smiled at each other. The warm sunlight streamed into the hall. If time could freeze at this moment, it would be so beautiful.
In the Imperial Study, the Emperor, clad in his bright yellow dragon robe, reclined on his imperial couch. The double-dragon crown on his head trembled slightly, its jewels glittering. His face, handsome as a deity, bore a light, cold smile. His slender fingers were clenched into fists, his knuckles pale. It was evident he was suppressing his rage. Below him stood the Minister of War, Jin Zhaoyuan, and the Prime Minister, Liu Ting, respectfully gazing at the Emperor on his throne. The Emperor was enveloped in an aura of icy coldness, his face dark and grim as he stared at the large stack of records on the table.
These were the testimonies against the Lou family. Any single item from this pile was enough to sentence the Lou family to death.
“Did Zhang Zhisan confess to all of this?” Feng Xie Ling Han let out a cold hmph. Jin Zhaoyuan stepped forward and said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, Zhang Zhisan initially refused to confess. These documents were sent to the Ministry of War by someone. Clearly, this person behind the scenes knew all the inside stories of the Lou family. However, his motives remain unclear. Then, I used these documents to confront Zhang Zhisan. Seeing no way to escape, Zhang Zhisan confessed everything – how the Lou family secretly sold official positions, how they formed factions, how they bullied the innocent, and how they seized land for themselves.”