Tears streaming down her face, Lu Zhilan clutched the Emperor’s hand, watching his complexion turn ashen. His throat too pained to speak, he could only wail.
Emperor Mingde had truly been good to her. In the two years since she entered the palace, despite her capricious and temperamental nature, he had always indulged her, giving her the best of everything and ensuring even the Empress dared not bully her.
Often, when she sat silently by the window weeping, he would come but not disturb her. After she had cried enough, she would turn to find his warm embrace waiting. No explanations were needed; his hug alone brought comfort.
He may not have been the best emperor, but he was certainly an excellent husband. She had wronged him.
The Emperor’s lips moved slightly, seemingly wanting to speak, but he had no chance. The potent effects of the Xiaoyao powder swiftly took his life. In his final glance, he still looked towards Consort Lan.
After over twenty years as Emperor, he had only truly loved this one woman. He never imagined it would end like this, that she would poison him so ruthlessly!
Even more unexpected was that his final thought wasn’t hatred, but concern: what would happen to her after his death? The crime of murdering the monarch – how could she bear such a punishment?
Wails echoed through Zhilan Palace. Those outside dared not enter without orders, assuming Consort Lan was simply heartbroken over something.
Shen Zaiye stood nearby, eyes lowered, calmly instructing his confidants to arrange subsequent matters. As the person left, he turned back only to receive a resounding slap from Lu Zhilan.
“Slap!”
His face turned from the impact, Shen Zaiye narrowed his eyes slightly, slowly turning back to face her.
Lu Zhilan’s makeup was ruined beyond recognition. She looked just like she did as a child when he lost her toy – aggrieved and furious. She shouted at him, “I hate you!”
How she hated him! If not for him, she wouldn’t have entered the palace, wouldn’t have met Emperor Mingde, wouldn’t have incurred this debt impossible to repay in this lifetime!
“Yet in the end, Your Highness still chose to help me,” Shen Zaiye said calmly, nodding. “Thank you.”
Trembling all over, Lu Zhilan grabbed his wrist and bit down with all her might! Soon her mouth filled with the taste of blood.
This flavor finally calmed her somewhat. Red-eyed, she collapsed onto the couch and looked up at Shen Zaiye. “Do you know? I wanted to spend my whole life with you – grinding ink for you, watching you practice swordplay, following you wherever you wanted to go, even if you never turned to look at me.”
“The stupidest thing I ever did was listen to Minister Jiao and enter this Dawei Imperial Palace, thinking it was for your benefit, without even considering my way out. Yet you… don’t appreciate it at all!”
Shen Zaiye looked at her deeply. “So it was Minister Jiao’s meddling behind this.”
He knew of Lu Zhilan’s feelings for him and would never stoop so low as to send her into the palace to pave his way. When she suddenly entered the palace before, saying it was on orders from someone close to him, it forced him to bear this emotional debt. He accepted it, after all, they had been friends for so many years. Her reluctance meant she needed someone to hate to carry on.
He never imagined she also understood it wasn’t his idea.
His eyes filled with pity as Shen Zaiye handed her a handkerchief. “I do appreciate it.”
Tears flowed again as Lu Zhilan choked out, “You appreciate it? If you appreciate it, why did you ignore me? Why do you treat me even worse than before!”
She entered this cold palace hoping to see him smile at her, or at least show a bit more care. Who knew they would only grow further apart? How could she not resent exchanging a lifetime of sacrifice for such a result?
“Because once you entered the palace, you became the Emperor’s person,” Shen Zaiye frowned. “There are rules that must be followed.”
“Rules?” Consort Lan was stunned, then laughed bitterly. “In that case, I brought this on myself by choosing the wrong path!”
“Consort Lan…”
“Consort Lan?” Lu Zhilan stared at him with bloodshot eyes, grabbing Emperor Mingde’s cold hand. She said through gritted teeth, “He’s already dead, can’t you see? I’m no longer Consort Lan! Never again!”
No one would comfort her when she cried like this anymore. No one would pamper her, love her, protect her. She loved the wrong person, hurt the wrong person, harmed the wrong person! Why didn’t she give that cup of tea to Shen Zaiye? Why?
Boundless hatred welled up as Consort Lan looked at Shen Zaiye with piercing eyes. “You must compensate me!”
“How do you want me to compensate you?”
Curled up on the couch, Lu Zhilan stared at him intently. “You must spend the rest of your life with me! You must treat me better than Xuanming did!”
Xuanming was Emperor Mingde’s courtesy name.
Shen Zaiye looked at the Emperor’s corpse on the couch, his eyes filled with complex emotions. After a long while, he lowered his gaze and replied, “Alright.”
He had witnessed how well Emperor Mingde treated Lu Zhilan. He also saw that Lu Zhilan had developed feelings for Emperor Mingde. Yet she still made this decision in the end, so he ought to compensate her.
What does it feel like to kill someone who loves you deeply? He thought it must be similar to seeing the former Lu Zhilan in her imperial consort’s attire, looking at him with utter hatred. Not far off. The most terrifying debt in this world isn’t owed to just anyone, but to those who love you most deeply. Because you can never repay what they truly want, the guilt will haunt you for life.
Closing his eyes briefly, Shen Zaiye bowed to the couch before turning to leave.
Lu Zhilan’s fierce gaze slowly softened. Only after his figure completely disappeared beyond the door did she lie down in Emperor Mingde’s arms like a lost child. She held his hand to embrace herself, weeping silently.
Everything that entered the Emperor’s mouth in this palace had to be inspected, except from her. Only the things she gave him, he would consume without a second glance. Dying by her hand, he must hate her deeply. If they meet in the next life, would he still acknowledge her? Would he still look at her tenderly and call her “Lan’er”?
In this desolate world, her last bit of warmth finally cooled beside her.
The entire imperial palace was unexpectedly calm. Apart from the crying in Zhilan Palace, everywhere else was silent.
Shen Zaiye went to Qianyuan Hall with composure, taking the imperial seal under the quiet gaze of palace servants and establishing the imperial edict. The imperial physicians waited outside Zhilan Palace, while the Emperor’s confidants who wanted to enter were blocked outside.
“The Emperor is gravely ill. Summon renowned physicians from across the land to treat him. Whoever can miraculously cure him will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold.”
The eunuch’s announcement of the imperial edict resounded throughout the palace and every street of the capital. Commoners gathered around the notices, pointing and discussing, while famous doctors from reputable clinics rushed to the palace. In an instant, news of the Emperor’s severe illness, accompanied by the enormous temptation of ten thousand taels of gold, spread across the land.
However, the Prince Nan on Mount Yingxian remained unaware. The hot-blooded youth was engaged in fierce combat with enemy forces. After several days of maneuvering through the complex mountain terrain against the elusive rebels, he had finally dealt a heavy blow to their main force.
“In just two more days, I’ll be able to capture them all!” Mu Wuxia’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he declared, “Our forces have suffered almost no losses. At this rate, I’ll surely be able to request Father Emperor’s permission to attack Wu upon our return!”
The surrounding generals said nothing, simply lowering their heads in agreement.
Mu Wuxia paused, raising his head to scan those around him. He frowned, “What’s happened?”
“Don’t worry, Your Highness,” someone quickly replied. “Nothing’s wrong. We’re just concerned for your safety. You always lead the charge – if something were to happen…”
“Why worry about that?” Mu Wuxia chuckled, looking down at his white armor with red trim. “This is incredibly sturdy!”
Everyone hurriedly agreed, exchanging glances.
Though young, the Prince Nan was far from easy to fool. They absolutely couldn’t let anything go wrong in these last two days.
At the Chancellor’s Mansion.
When news of the Emperor’s grave illness arrived, Jiang Taohua breathed a sigh of relief.
Shen Zaiye hadn’t betrayed their agreement – there was hope for Zhao! But why hadn’t he returned after so long?
The guards outside the Chancellor’s Mansion became even more vigilant, while those inside grew increasingly anxious. After spending a day in the gatehouse, Taohua finally returned to Zhengchun Pavilion with Qingtai.
As soon as she entered, she saw all the concubines gathered in the courtyard.
“My lady!” Gu Huairou, still veiled, greeted her with a voice full of worry. “Where have you been?”
“Just went for a casual stroll,” Taohua smiled, her gaze sweeping the area without seeing Mei Zhaoxue.
Xu Yangui still hadn’t returned, indicating the situation was likely dangerous. Fortunately, she hadn’t gone. Nevertheless, it would be best to keep Linghan Courtyard under guard.
“Everything’s in chaos outside, yet you went for a stroll?” Gu Qingying frowned, covering her mouth with a handkerchief. “I heard that His Majesty might be…”
She didn’t need to finish; everyone understood her meaning. Taohua patted her hand, smiling lightly. “We needn’t worry about such matters. Even if the sky falls, the Chancellor will hold it up.”
Judging by how Shen Zaiye had the mansion guarded so early, he must have a plan.
Just as she was thinking this, a servant suddenly ran in, exclaiming anxiously, “My lady! There’s fighting outside!”
“Fighting?” Taohua turned back, confused. “Who’s fighting whom?”
The servant replied, trembling, “The Imperial Guards are fighting with our mansion’s guards at the gate!”
Taohua drew a sharp breath, immediately turning to address the women in the courtyard. “Quickly, all of you hide in Linwu Courtyard. I’ll go to the gate to see what’s happening.”
Are the Imperial Guards attacking the Chancellor’s Mansion? Most likely someone had discovered Shen Zaiye’s intentions and was trying to use his family to threaten him.
What a joke – even if these women fell into the Imperial Guards’ hands, at worst they’d be taken away to be toyed with. Shen Zaiye wouldn’t be threatened; it’s the women who would suffer!
The group of concubines panicked. Huadeng helped lead them to Linwu Courtyard while Jiang Taohua lifted her skirts and hurried towards the main gate.
Halfway there, she encountered Mei Zhaoxue.
Glancing at her, Mei Zhaoxue’s face paled, her eyes panicked. She lifted her skirts and tried to run towards the main gate.
(End of Chapter)