Before the third watch, the area before Southern Shu’s city gates was stained red with blood. Bu Shulin’s clothes were soaked through. Just as she was about to strip them off, a cloak draped over her shoulders. Cui Jinbai frowned: “No undressing in public!”
“Hey hey hey, Cui Rockhead, don’t push me too far!” Bu Shulin protested loudly.
This man thought he had her bound and was becoming increasingly controlling. One of these days when she couldn’t take it anymore, she would… she would run away with their son!
Cui Jinbai was used to her fierce demeanor. He took out a bamboo tube, chose high ground, and buried it in a hole. As he lit a match, Bu Shulin snatched it away, raising her eyebrows triumphantly before lighting it herself.
Brilliant fireworks bloomed in the night sky – the Northwest Army’s special signal. When those waiting in the next city saw it, they immediately lit their prepared fireworks.
The same fireworks continued from Shu to outside the capital. As the final burst illuminated Qinzheng Hall, it seemed to lessen the bloodiness of the battle there.
With Southern Shu’s residence secured, Shen Xihe turned to look at the Empress Dowager, who was also under protection and had seen the fireworks, her face dark with rage.
Shen Xihe’s eyes remained cold and calm, showing no pride or joy: “Empress Dowager, have you been feeling more fatigued than usual lately?”
Though they were in protected areas of opposing sides, separated by intense fighting and the clear ring of clashing weapons, they were close enough for Empress Dowager to hear Shen Xihe.
“You…” The Empress Dowager scrutinized Shen Xihe suspiciously, disbelieving.
She had poison experts by her side. How could Shen Xihe have poisoned her when all her meals came from the palace kitchen?
“The Empress Dowager not only feels fatigue and throat dryness but coughs uncontrollably every morning, likely mistaking it for a cold,” Shen Xihe said frankly. “This has continued for three months.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression finally changed.
She hadn’t even alerted the Imperial physicians. Just as Shen Xihe had Zhenzhu and Sui Axi, she had her medical experts. Shen Xihe couldn’t possibly have seen her medical records, yet described her symptoms perfectly.
Either Shen Xihe had bought off someone close to her, or had poisoned her long ago!
“When I first met the Empress Dowager, your Tibetan incense was especially pleasant,” Shen Xihe’s smile held deep meaning.
Shen Xihe had created two harmful incenses: one causing weakness, used on Emperor Youning; another mimicking a persistent cold leading to death by bloody cough, used on the Empress Dowager.
Neither was poison and left no toxins to detect – even the most skilled physicians couldn’t discover them.
After Xiao Huayong left, once Shen Xihe confirmed it was the Empress Dowager, she didn’t hesitate. All the Tibetan incense the Empress Dowager used afterward was specially prepared by her. Under the Empress Dowager’s piercing gaze, Shen Xihe’s red lips parted: “Fifteenth Brother.”
The Empress Dowager’s pupils contracted.
That seemingly naive child who only threw tantrums before her, whom she had carefully kept close as a foundation for the throne, never guarding against him, ready to discard this pawn at any time.
“Kha kha kha…”
Sweet blood surged up from her aching chest as the Empress Dowager coughed out a mouthful.
“Empress Dowager!”
Her people were startled by the blood. In their moment of distraction, Mo Yu, Tian Yuan, and others quickly seized the advantage.
The previously even battle turned sharply. The Empress Dowager sat in her chair, clutching her chest but still raising her chin proudly to glare at Shen Xihe: “You think you can defeat me?”
Shen Xihe’s gaze swept over the bed, her tone still steady: “It’s too early to speak of victory or defeat.”
His Majesty hadn’t made his move yet.
The Empress Dowager didn’t understand Shen Xihe’s meaning: “Even in such favorable circumstances, you remain humble. It’s been worthwhile to contend with you – I’d have no regrets in losing.”
Though she said this, the Empress Dowager didn’t seem to believe she would lose.
Seeing her people still stubbornly resisting, knowing it wouldn’t be easy to capture the Empress Dowager even in half a watch’s time, Shen Xihe suddenly spoke: “Empress Dowager, I’ve always had a question that perhaps only you can answer.”
Having caught her breath and feeling less congested, the Empress Dowager knew she mustn’t get upset or she’d cough blood again. She eyed Shen Xihe warily: “What do you want to ask?”
“How did Beichen’s father die?”
At Shen Xihe’s question, everyone except those still fighting looked at the Empress Dowager, including Liu Sanzhi.
The Empress Dowager hadn’t expected this question. She was stunned briefly, her eyes blinking rapidly: “What do you think?”
“You told Beichen that His Majesty killed his brother for the throne. I never doubted this before.”
When had she begun to doubt? When Shen Xihe started admiring Emperor Youning, especially when he learned he was dying yet never wrongly ordered the execution of physicians.
He was truly a rational emperor who never abused his power to take out his emotions on innocent people.
Throughout history, how many young enlightened rulers avoided facing aging by becoming suspicious of their wives, children, and capable ministers?
Like Emperor Wu of Han with his great achievements.
But Emperor Youning hadn’t. Being able to do this proved he was a benevolent ruler.
Thus, Shen Xihe dared speculate that Emperor Youning hadn’t failed to suspect Xiao Huayong, nor was he ignorant. He simply chose self-deception rather than face the truth he’d already concluded in his heart.
He didn’t want to kill Xiao Huayong.
Could such an Emperor Youning truly be someone who killed his brother for the throne?
Shen Xihe doubted it. Though Emperor Youning might not value relationships as much as Prince Qian, he was a man of honor. As for the Empress Dowager…
Meeting Shen Xihe’s eyes that seemed questioning but condemned, the Empress Dowager didn’t deny it: “As you suspect.”
Indeed!
“You used sorcery on His Majesty.”
What a madly cruel person, using sorcery on her young son for power, making him kill his elder brother!
Emperor Youning had felt guilty his entire life!
He did desire power and yearn for the throne, but he wasn’t ruthless enough to destroy his humanity by killing the brother who had protected him like a father.
“What? Think I’m heartless?” The Empress Dowager sneered. “They don’t just have my blood! They have the blood of the one I hate enough to grind his bones to dust!”
Her entire clan was destroyed by the man who shared her bed. A noble lady, mother to the empire, she was banished to the northwest, doing the most degrading work!
Her hatred for the Xiao imperial bloodline was unmatched!
Power was only reliable when held in one’s own hands.
Neither husband nor son could be trusted!