Chapter 287: Worried
Seeing the Emperor like this, the officials didn’t dare to disobey, fearing to further agitate him. Two officials stepped forward as instructed to report on the interrogation.
Minister Lu stepped back, giving Imperial Physician Sun from the Imperial Medical Academy a look. Imperial Physician Sun understood and walked over.
“How is His Majesty’s condition?” Minister Lu asked in a low voice.
Imperial Physician Sun didn’t answer but instead asked, “Have they sent someone to invite Prime Minister Zhu?”
Hearing this, Minister Lu’s face became even more grim. This undoubtedly meant the Emperor was not doing well. Prime Minister Zhu, who hadn’t attended court for a long time, was being summoned to make final arrangements.
“This, this is bad.” He murmured.
Imperial Physician Sun said in a low voice, “The Minister of the Left cannot panic. The country cannot be without a ruler for a day. The court needs someone to hold it together.”
“Hold what together? There’s no one left.” Minister Lu said.
The little prince is fake, the Emperor has no heir, what will happen to the Li Dynasty? Wait.
Minister Lu’s eyes narrowed, turning to look at the bed. Besides the officials standing by the bed, there was a young man kneeling in front of the bed. He wasn’t interrupting the Emperor and the court officials’ conversation, only looking at the Emperor with concern, occasionally wiping the corner of his mouth, and stroking his chest.
No, the Imperial family does have an heir. It’s not the prince born to Bai Ying, but Shangguan Yue, who became Li Yu.
No wonder Xuanyangzi said it wasn’t a critical moment yet.
Minister Lu relaxed his shoulders. Indeed, the only one in danger was the current Emperor, not the Li Dynasty.
The dynasty has a successor, there’s no need to worry.
Princess Jinyu stopped pacing, looking at the eunuch who had returned with more information.
“Minister Lu and others are with His Majesty. His Majesty is forcing himself to personally interrogate Consort Bai’s remnants.”
“Consort Bai colluded with Zhang Ze to switch her newborn princess with a prince. The little prince is fake; his real parents have arrived and look exactly alike.”
The eunuch brought more detailed information, glancing at the Imperial Consort’s Husband as he spoke.
“Prince of Chu has been accompanying His Majesty. It’s said that it’s thanks to the Prince of Chu that Consort Bai’s plot was stopped in time.”
Thinking of how Li Yu had sent word earlier for him not to enter the palace, it was clear Li Yu had been prepared for today’s events. The Imperial Consort’s Husband breathed a sigh of relief, “I wonder if he’s injured.”
Whether Li Yu was injured or not was irrelevant. The important thing was the Emperor. Princess Jinyu snorted and spat, “What Consort Bai, Bai clan, criminal woman!”
The eunuch hurriedly corrected himself, “Yes, yes, criminal woman. All of the criminal woman’s accomplices have been arrested. The Imperial Guards are still searching the palace.” His face was filled with fear, “Princess, you must testify for me. I am not one of Consort Bai’s people, otherwise I wouldn’t have been assigned to this palace.”
Princess Jinyu shouted, “Shut up!”
Silence fell in the hall.
Princess Jinyu resumed pacing, her expression changing constantly.
“Is His Majesty truly injured?” She asked the eunuch.
The eunuch nodded, “I saw blood-stained handkerchiefs being taken out.”
Princess Jinyu stopped in her tracks.
The criminal woman is dead, the little prince is fake, the Emperor is seriously injured, outsiders are unreliable, now the Emperor can only rely on her.
They are brother and sister, she also carries the blood of the Li clan.
As for Li Yu, everyone knows she saved him, gave him a chance to live. She is his elder, he cannot disobey her.
Before, he could use the Emperor’s power to suppress her, but now he has nothing to borrow.
Princess Jinyu looked at the closed palace gate, her eyes flickering.
So, now, the court has reached the point where she, the Eldest Princess, must devote herself to the Li Dynasty.
“Open the palace gate,” she said, “I’m going to see His Majesty.”
The eunuchs responded with a “Yes” and hurriedly moved the tables and chairs blocking the door.
“Princess,” the Imperial Consort’s Husband called out from behind.
Princess Jinyu turned back. Because the Imperial Consort’s Husband didn’t try to rush out again, the eunuchs restraining him stepped back to open the door.
“I have something to say to you,” the Imperial Consort’s Husband said.
Princess Jinyu frowned, “We can talk about it when we get back. I have important things to do now.” She took a step forward.
“Princess!” The Imperial Consort’s Husband stood up and shouted, “Didn’t you promise not to keep male favorites anymore? Then what was going on with the attendant in your bedroom a few days ago!”
This sudden outburst startled Princess Jinyu. The eunuchs opening the door outside also looked over in surprise.
Male favorite?
But for a princess, this wasn’t anything unusual.
The Imperial Consort’s Husband has been with the Princess for so long, and they’re still arguing over this?
“Shangguan Xue! Don’t go crazy on me!” Princess Jinyu shouted angrily, pointing at him, “I’m busy with important matters now, I won’t argue with you!”
She turned to leave again.
“Don’t go!” The Imperial Consort’s Husband yelled, rushing over to block Princess Jinyu, “You must make it clear to me today. You clearly promised, why did you go back on your word? Why are you keeping men again!”
Princess Jinyu laughed in anger, “Shangguan Xue? You’re just finding out about me keeping men today? You’ve been with me for over twenty years.”
The Imperial Consort’s Husband nodded, “Yes, I’ve been with you for over twenty years. I’ve always tolerated you. Today, I don’t want to tolerate it anymore. I won’t allow you to do this anymore.”
Princess Jinyu sneered, “You’re in no position to control me—”
Before she could finish, the Imperial Consort’s Husband suddenly pulled her into his arms.
“I’m your husband, of course I can control you!” The Imperial Consort’s Husband shouted.
Princess Jinyu yelled angrily, “Get off me—ah—”
Just as she was about to curse, her voice was abruptly cut off, her disdainful and angry expression froze, and her face contorted in the next moment.
She let out a gurgling sound and looked down at her chest. A sword had pierced through her from behind, blood shimmering and flowing down the patterns on the blade, a shocking crimson.
The eunuchs outside, seeing the couple arguing, had looked away and pretended not to know, continuing to open the door. Now the door was finally open, and they heard Princess Jinyu’s scream, looking over again.
The Imperial Consort’s Husband was blocking Princess Jinyu. They only saw the couple tangled together and couldn’t tell what had happened for a moment, so they didn’t approach.
“You, you, you dare—” Princess Jinyu coughed twice, raised her head, and looked at the Imperial Consort’s Husband in disbelief.
The Imperial Consort’s Husband looked at her and said in a low voice, “Princess, do you remember this sword?” Without waiting for Princess Jinyu to speak, a smile appeared on his lips, “When you forced me to marry you, you threw this sword down and asked me to choose, to obey you or to kill myself.”
At that time, he was young and afraid, panicking and not knowing what to do. He was unwilling to obey, but he didn’t dare to die. He had lived in a daze for so many years.
“Actually, I realized there was another choice besides obeying you or killing myself.”
The Imperial Consort’s Husband looked at Princess Jinyu.
“That is to pick up that sword and kill you.”
“Although it’s so late, I still picked up this sword.”
Princess Jinyu looked at him, her expression changing from shock to anger, then to pain and terror. She grabbed the Imperial Consort’s Husband’s arm, trying to break free, but the Imperial Consort’s Husband was a man after all, with greater strength. Now he was using all his might, and Princess Jinyu was like a trapped bird, struggling in vain.
“Save, spare, spare me—”
Princess Jinyu looked at the Imperial Consort’s Husband, her eyes pleading, wanting to beg for mercy, but she could no longer speak. Blood kept gushing from her mouth—
How could she be dying?
How could she die at this time?
Her good days were just about to begin!
She is a princess!
Princess Jinyu’s eyes widened, gradually losing focus.
At the same time, the eunuchs outside finally realized something was wrong. Two of them ran over to separate the Imperial Consort’s Husband, but they saw the blood dripping on the ground at a glance. Looking up, they saw the sword in the Imperial Consort’s Husband’s hand piercing through Princess Jinyu from behind—
They screamed, fell to the ground, and scrambled to escape.
“Someone come quickly, the Princess has been killed—”
“The Imperial Consort’s Husband killed the Princess—”
In an instant, all the eunuchs here rushed out, vying to be the first, no one stepped forward to help the Princess.
The Imperial Consort’s Husband looked at the lifeless Princess Jinyu in his arms, a smile appearing on his face.
But in the next moment, dense footsteps sounded from outside the palace.
Now that the Emperor was in danger, the Imperial Cavalry had been called in to search and impose martial law. The commotion here would immediately attract the guards.
The Imperial Consort’s Husband looked towards the palace gate. He couldn’t be caught, he couldn’t, he couldn’t make things difficult for Li Yu.
He held Princess Jinyu, his hands gripping the hilt of the sword, and pushed it in again with force.
With a thud, the bloody tip of the sword pierced through Princess Jinyu’s chest and into his own heart.
More intense blood blossomed on the ground.
The Emperor lay on the bed, having taken the antidote and vomited. He was in a daze.
Noise came from outside the hall, noise that was quickly silenced.
“Silence.”
✿✿✿
“We can’t tell His Majesty now, he can’t be stimulated.”
The Emperor opened his eyes. His mind was buzzing, as if separated from the outside world by a layer of gauze, yet he was acutely aware of everything. He could hear even an extra footstep in the hall.
“Hiding it from me?” He shouted in a trembling voice, his expression contorted, “Who dares to deceive me? Kill them! Kill them!”
Minister Lu immediately ordered the people outside to come in and report. An official, accompanied by two trembling eunuchs, entered. The two eunuchs fell to their knees.
“Your Majesty, Princess Jinyu has been murdered.”
“Princess Jinyu was murdered by the Imperial Consort’s Husband in the Hundred Flowers Palace—”
Even though they had already experienced many shocking things today, everyone in the hall was once again stunned upon hearing the eunuch’s words.
How could Princess Jinyu also be!
The Imperial Consort’s Husband, who had always followed the Princess submissively, dared to kill her?
Why kill the Princess?
Also, when did Princess Jinyu enter the palace?
“Princess Jinyu was also summoned by Consort Bai’s forged edict, but she didn’t come here, she went to the Hundred Flowers Palace first,” an official said, flipping through the evidence they had just interrogated.
So that’s how it is.
The Emperor let out a hoarse laugh, trembling.
“Accomplice!” He shouted, “Bai clan’s accomplice—kill, kill him—”
The Imperial Consort’s Husband is Bai Ying’s accomplice? Everyone in the hall was stunned.
Someone stood up and rushed out, like a sharp arrow.
It was Prince of Chu Li Yu.
The next moment, the silent Princess of Chu also stood up and ran out, following closely behind Li Yu.
It was only after the two figures disappeared that the people in the hall came back to their senses.
“Prince of Chu was rescued and raised by the Princess. What terrible news.” Many officials sighed in low voices.
How could this be?
Didn’t he specifically warn the Imperial Consort’s Husband not to come?
But.
The Imperial Consort’s Husband cared about him, after hearing the warning, he must have guessed something was wrong in the palace, how could he not come?
However, why did the Imperial Consort’s Husband kill Princess Jinyu?
No matter why, now is not the time to investigate this. He killed her, so he killed her. He needs to find a way to protect the Imperial Consort’s Husband!
With chaotic thoughts swirling in his mind, Li Yu quickly saw the Hundred Flowers Palace. It was already surrounded by guards. The lead guard was about to stop him, but a guard beside him reminded him, “It’s the Prince of Chu.”
The lead guard hesitated for a moment and didn’t stop Li Yu, letting him rush in. His vision then blurred for a moment, as if Li Yu’s shadow had flashed past.
“Imperial Consort’s Husband—” Li Yu shouted as he entered the palace gate.
The guards standing in front of the hall parted, revealing the two figures lying on the ground and the blood all over the floor.
Li Yu’s legs went weak, but fortunately, Bai Li, who was following closely behind, supported him. He staggered a step and rushed towards them.
“Your Highness, the Princess and the Imperial Consort’s Husband, they died together,” a guard said.
Another guard said, “The Imperial Consort’s Husband still has a breath, but there’s no need to call for an imperial physician.”
Li Yu could no longer hear what the guards were saying. He fell to his knees in the pool of blood, trembling as he caressed the Imperial Consort’s Husband’s face.
“Imperial Consort’s Husband, Imperial Consort’s Husband,” he called out.
The Imperial Consort’s Husband’s face was pale in the pool of blood, his chest, pierced by the sword and Princess Jinyu, rose and fell slightly. Hearing the call and recognizing Li Yu, he slowly opened his eyes.
“A’Yue,” he murmured, “Don’t, worry, I, don’t hurt.”
It had been a long time since the Imperial Consort’s Husband had called him by his childhood name. And even at this moment, the Imperial Consort’s Husband was most concerned about him worrying. Li Yu’s tears instantly welled up.
“I’m here,” Bai Li whispered in his ear, “You can speak freely.”
Li Yu glanced at Bai Li beside him and noticed the dazed expressions of the surrounding guards. It was clear they were trapped in an illusion.
He looked at her gratefully and grasped the Imperial Consort’s Husband’s hand. Seeing how tightly the Imperial Consort’s Husband was still gripping the sword hilt, Li Yu could imagine what had happened.
“Why, Imperial Consort’s Husband, why did you do this?” He said, “I know you hate her, don’t worry, I’ll be Emperor, I’ll avenge you, I’ll get rid of him, I’ll set you free, just hold on a little longer, just a little longer.”
The Imperial Consort’s Husband couldn’t quite hear what he was saying, only hearing the words “hold on” and shaking his head.
“Can’t hold on, you finally, regained your identity, today, you’re finally about to succeed, I can’t let her, make things difficult for you anymore,” he murmured, “She has nothing, but she has this innate noble status, and can control others, standing high above.”
He let out a laugh.
“So what if she has a noble status, she’s just flesh and blood, swords can kill her too.”
“It turns out, killing them is so easy.”
“I should have killed her sooner, maybe.”
Maybe Third Miss Du wouldn’t have been schemed against, wouldn’t have married the Crown Prince, but married him?
The Imperial Consort’s Husband’s expression was wistful. No, it wouldn’t have happened.
If he had killed the Princess, he and the Shangguan family would have been doomed. How could he implicate Third Miss Du?
In the end, he and she were fated to be apart.
“Shangguan Xue.”
A voice came from beside him.
The Imperial Consort’s Husband was stunned and turned to see a young girl holding a round fan behind the big willow tree, half-covering her face, her eyes smiling at him.
Even though only her eyes were visible, Shangguan Xue recognized her at a glance, murmuring, “Third Miss.”
The girl smiled at him, “Shangguan Xue, you’ve been sitting here in a daze for half a day, what are you thinking about?”
Thinking about what? Hmm, it seems like he was thinking about something terrible, but what was it? He couldn’t remember for a moment. Shangguan Xue couldn’t help but look down at his feet. He was sitting by the lake, the spring water clear, reflecting his youthful figure.
“Shangguan Xue, are you still going to be in a daze? Didn’t you say you’d accompany me to fly kites?”
The girl’s reproachful voice came.
Shangguan Xue looked back at her and remembered. A few days ago, over the wall, he had made a promise with the girl swinging on the swing to go on an outing and fly kites together.
For young boys and girls, this was a huge event.
Shangguan Xue put aside those things he couldn’t quite remember and walked quickly towards Third Miss Du.
“I’m here,” he said with a smile.
Third Miss Du lowered her round fan and smiled brightly, “What were you thinking about just now? You looked dazed.”
Shangguan Xue exhaled, “I had a nightmare just now, I dreamt that you and I—”
The girl’s face immediately flushed red, and she turned away shyly, “How could you have such a dream? There’s nothing between you and me.”
Shangguan Xue hurriedly nodded, “Yes, yes, there’s nothing between you and me. We’re both fine.”
The girl’s heart was filled with the stirrings of first love. Just hearing the word “we” made her heart pound. She stamped her foot, blushing, “I’m not talking to you anymore.” She walked ahead.
Shangguan Xue called out “Hey, hey” twice, then looked back at the lake. In that nightmare, he had actually been separated from Third Miss. How terrifying.
Fortunately, it was just a nightmare.
He looked back at the girl gracefully running ahead, a smile blooming on his face.
“Third Miss, wait for me.”
“I bought you a big butterfly kite.”
“I thought of a very nice name, in the future, well, in the future, when we have children.”
He jogged to catch up, whispering to the girl. The girl was playfully annoyed, hitting him with her round fan.
The young boy and girl, laughing and playing, walked side by side, disappearing into the spring scenery.
The hand gripping the sword hilt finally loosened, as if relieved of a heavy burden, and fell to the ground.
Li Yu looked at the fallen hand and quickly grabbed it, trying to make him hold on to him again, just like when he had carried him out of the fire, holding on tightly.
But it was futile.
Those hands were limp and weak, unable to grasp anything in the world anymore.
Li Yu let out a mournful cry, his head falling heavily to the ground, blood staining his head, face, tears streaming down.
“Father,” he cried out, “Father—”
Bai Li sighed softly, holding the baby in her arms tighter, leaning down and gently closing Shangguan Xue’s open eyes.
A long dream, it’s over.
