“Thank you for Your Majesty’s mercy!” Separation of husband and wife, separation of flesh and blood – these were the heaviest pains in the world, let alone both falling upon one person at once. Yet… for Yunyi, this was already the best outcome. If not for Wan Shi speaking up, both she and the child in her womb would have been hard-pressed to survive.

Li Yuan glanced at the guards still standing in the distance holding Jixiang, and said impatiently to Gaoyang beside him, “Have them immediately drag that lowly servant away for execution. I don’t want to see her anymore.”

Ruyi and Jixiang were as close as sisters. Seeing her in mortal danger, she frantically kowtowed to Li Yuan, knocking until her skin broke and blood flowed, but still could not make Li Yuan change his mind. She could only prostrate herself and weep bitterly.

“Shimin.” Li Yuan’s voice forcibly pulled Li Shimin from his pain. He replied hoarsely, “This son is here.”

“These past couple of years, you’ve either been leading troops in campaigns or helping me handle court affairs from top to bottom. It can be said you haven’t had a moment’s rest. Now that Western Qin is pacified, Li Mi has surrendered, and the court officials are performing their duties with reasonable dedication, you should take this opportunity to rest well. I will find someone to take over your duties – you need not worry.”

Though he had not punished Li Shimin, he ultimately no longer trusted him as before. Thus, he seized this opportunity to strip him of his power, preventing him from posing any further threat.

Li Shimin’s body trembled. He opened his mouth wanting to say something, but ultimately it became the words Li Yuan wanted to hear, “This son obeys your command and thanks Father Emperor for your concern.”

Li Yuan nodded and rubbed his forehead, saying, “Alright, I am tired. You may all withdraw.”

The two Yin women supported him on either side, saying sweetly, “Your Majesty, we shall escort you to the rear hall to rest.”

After Li Yuan left, those kneeling on the ground stood up one by one. Jiang Caiping had barely steadied herself when someone gripped her arm tightly – so tight it seemed they would tear her arm off.

Yunyi stared at her with blood-red eyes, “Why did you harm me? Why?”

Jiang Caiping frowned and said, “You’re hurting me. Let go!”

“Pain?” Yunyi smiled with a twisted expression, then in the next moment shrieked almost hysterically, “Are you in as much pain as I am? As much as Jixiang? I treated you as a sister, opened my heart to you completely, yet you conspired with Jirong to kick me when I was down and harm me. Jiang Caiping, how can you face me?” Jixiang had grown up with her since childhood. She had planned that in another year or two, she would find an honest and reliable man to marry Jixiang to. Now she was to be executed by waist-cutting, and the perpetrator of all this was Caiping – how could she accept this!

Hearing these words, a trace of pain flashed in Jiang Caiping’s eyes. She forcefully broke free from her grip and said, “If we’re talking about wrongs, you wronged me first. If you hadn’t concealed your identity and caused Third Young Master’s death, how would he and I be separated by yin and yang? How would I still be alone to this day? When you harmed Third Young Master and so many others for your own selfish interests, did you ever think of my pain, of the pain of their loved ones? No, all you cared about was yourself. Today’s consequences are your own doing – you can blame no one else.” After a pause, she added, “Moreover, I did not falsely accuse Jixiang – she did indeed say those words.”

Ruyi, her face covered in tears, said, “Jixiang has always been straightforward in speech. She just… spoke casually. How could that warrant a death sentence?!”

Jirong walked over and said, “The one who sentenced her to death was not Caiping. If you have grievances, you should take them up with His Majesty.” After saying this, she said to Jiang Caiping, “Let’s go.”

Jiang Caiping nodded slightly. As she was about to leave, Yunyi suddenly said, “The reason you stayed in the Prince of Qin’s manor and didn’t leave immediately wasn’t because you still cherished our sisterhood, but because you were acting on Jirong’s instructions, wasn’t it?”

A trace of guilt flashed in Jiang Caiping’s eyes. She turned her face away and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Yunyi stared at her steadily for a moment, then suddenly laughed bitterly, extraordinarily desolate, “Self-inflicted, truly self-inflicted! I know that what happened in the past was my wrong to you, so I wholeheartedly wanted to repair our relationship and restore our sisterly bond. In the end, I harmed others and myself.”

“All of this is your…” Before Jiang Caiping could finish, Yunyi had already said sternly, “I know – all of this is my own doing, I can blame no one. But Jiang Caiping…” She looked at Jiang Caiping with eyes full of resentment and disappointment, “After today, all ties between us are severed. We share no bond whatsoever!” With these words, two clear tears fell from her eyes, mixing with the undried tears on her face and dripping to the ground…

Though she had anticipated this outcome when she decided to help Jirong, hearing it spoken aloud still caused her heart to ache. Her previously firm resolve also wavered slightly. Was her choice… truly right?

Jirong noticed the wavering in Jiang Caiping’s eyes and, fearing things might change, pulled her along saying, “Don’t mind her anymore. Let’s go.”

After they left, Li Jiancheng looked deeply at Li Shimin but said nothing. After he left with Li Yuanji and Xing Niang, Lin Shi walked to Yunyi’s side and said chokingly, “I’m sorry. If not for helping this palace, you wouldn’t have ended up in such a state.”

Yunyi shook her head and said, “It’s not Your Majesty’s fault. It was Yunyi’s own carelessness, falling into someone else’s trap without knowing. Fortunately, Your Majesty is safe and Marquis Lin’s life is preserved – this can be considered great fortune in misfortune.”

“This palace is fine, but you…” Before she could finish, Lin Shi couldn’t help but shed tears, saying hoarsely, “With this parting, who knows if we’ll have another chance to meet.”

Yunyi smiled bitterly and comforted her, “It’s just going to Mingyue Nunnery to become a nun, not going to the ends of the earth. We’ll surely meet again.”

These words not only failed to stop Lin Shi’s tears but made them flow even more fiercely. Meeting again… easier said than done. The one who ordered Yunyi to become a nun was Li Yuan, the current emperor. Unless Li Yuan changed his mind, Yunyi could never return to the imperial family. And judging by Li Yuan’s intentions just now, getting him to rescind his order was utterly impossible.

Yunyi walked before Wan Shi and curtsied, saying, “Thank you, Imperial Noble Consort, for preserving Noble Consort Shu and this concubine. Your Majesty’s kindness will be remembered in this concubine’s heart and never forgotten.”

Regardless of what grievances she and Wan Shi had in the past, today she could live and Lin Shi could avoid being implicated, all because of Wan Shi. This debt of gratitude was enough to erase all past grudges.

Wan Shi said indifferently, “This palace saved you both for my own sake as well – you need not be so formal. However, this palace can only help you this far. Whether you can change the fate of dying old in Mingyue Nunnery in the future depends on yourself.”

“This concubine understands. Thank you, Your Majesty.” After bowing to Wan Shi once more, she walked out with Ruyi’s support. When passing Li Shimin, she stopped. With this parting today, who knew when they might meet again? She had many things she wanted to say to Li Shimin. The latter understood her meaning. Though he was somewhat angry about her deception, his heartache and reluctance to part were ultimately stronger. He sighed quietly and said, “Let’s go. I’ll accompany you back to the manor to pack.”