Gu Chaobei looked at Baihe. The coldness in his eyes dissipated somewhat. Watching her slender body tremble slightly, seeing that though she was clearly very afraid, she had already prepared herself for death, he pressed his lips together slightly.

“I understand.”

Baihe breathed a sigh of relief, feeling grateful. At least in Gu Chaobei’s heart, her impression hadn’t completely deteriorated. If they met again in the next life, if they met a bit earlier, perhaps everything could start anew.

That was what she thought.

The contract was taken away by the Emperor. Consort Fu’s Hehuan Palace was immediately surrounded by the Imperial Guards, and Scholar Fu also hurriedly entered the palace, standing beside Empress Dowager Nian to attend the trial.

Consort Fu had no idea what had happened. Kneeling in the Northern Palace Hall, it wasn’t until she saw Consort Hua being escorted in wearing plain clothes that her expression finally changed.

“Fu Youyi, attempting to murder a dragon’s son, committing offense against her superiors, with conclusive evidence.” Empress Dowager Nian said angrily, “Scholar Fu, do you have anything to explain? This crime of murdering a dragon’s son warrants the execution of three generations!”

The Yellow Spring Powder had been given out by Scholar Fu, and he also knew what Fu Youyi intended to do. But he hadn’t expected his granddaughter to be foolish enough to leave such obvious evidence of her crime. It left him at a complete loss for how to defend her.

Consort Fu’s face was deathly pale. She looked at Consort Hua beside her in disbelief. “You don’t want to live anymore?”

The rouge and powder had completely faded from Baihe’s face. Her face was as plain as the girl next door, without a trace of sharp edges remaining.

She said, “To be able to use my life to finally leave a small place in His Majesty’s heart is worth it.”

Fu Youyi’s vision went black. She truly didn’t understand how that scheming Consort Hua could instantly transform back into a lovestruck woman who didn’t care about her life. When they had discussed this matter, she had clearly still had that calculating appearance, which was why she had felt comfortable writing this document!

Now, she wanted to drag her along to the Yellow Springs together.

Was she the foolish one? No, it wasn’t that. It was that this Consort Hua was just too good at deceiving people!

“Since there’s nothing more to say, then I shall decree that Consort Fu be executed for the crime of murdering an imperial prince, and the Fu family shall have three generations executed.”

Scholar Fu was shocked. “Your Majesty! This… this old minister didn’t know!”

Fu Youyi stared blankly at her grandfather.

“What Consort Fu has done in the palace, this old minister truly knew nothing about! This old minister has served in court through two dynasties, always loyal and devoted. Even without merit, there has been hard work. You cannot…”

Gu Chaobei said coldly, “The new policies state that serious crimes allow no leniency.”

Scholar Fu was so frightened that the wrinkles on his brow piled up like mountains, trembling so much he could barely speak.

After frightening him enough, the Empress Dowager on the side finally spoke. “Imperial Son, Consort Fu’s crimes deserve death, but the Fu family need not be implicated.”

A ray of light in the darkness! Scholar Fu hurriedly looked toward Empress Dowager Nian.

Empress Dowager Nian held her cup and said with a smile, “Strip all members of the Fu family of their official positions and expel them from the capital.”

The hope that had just appeared was shattered to pieces. Scholar Fu kowtowed repeatedly. “Empress Dowager’s mercy! Please forgive this old minister…”

“Look, Scholar Fu is not quite satisfied with the Empress Mother’s suggestion. Then let’s still execute three generations. Being expelled from the capital is too humiliating—better to preserve Scholar Fu’s integrity.” Gu Chaobei said seriously.

His beard trembled. Scholar Fu dared not speak anymore. Empress Dowager Nian laughed. “This dowager recites Buddha’s name. Emperor, show mercy this once and decree the removal of their positions.”

“Your son obeys the decree.”

Between the mother and son’s casual conversation, the civil official most trusted by the late Empress Dowager Wen had fallen from power.

The important literary faction in court had all been dealt with by the Emperor. Scholar Fu was the last major figure. Therefore, when the imperial decree came down, not many people came out to speak. The Fu family’s property was confiscated, and Consort Fu died in the Cold Palace with three feet of white silk.

However, Baihe didn’t die so quickly alongside her. She sat in the Cold Palace, and Gu Chaobei came to see her one last time.

The Emperor said, “I’ve come to see you off.”

Baihe’s body trembled slightly, a bitter smile at the corner of her lips. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Gu Chaobei sat down beside her, just like many years ago when he went to the Drunken Flowers Pavilion and saw her. He smiled with a roguish air. “Play me a tune.”

What Baihe was best at was playing the qin. Compared to the guzheng, she preferred the pipa.

Gu Chaobei had brought a pipa. She joyfully received it, tuned the strings, and played a piece called “Sending Off” for him.

The Emperor listened to the pipa, hand supporting his chin, listening with great enjoyment. That tender gaze made Baihe almost believe he was going to forgive her.

But when the piece ended, Gu Chaobei said, “It’s been so long since I’ve heard you play this. I’ve almost forgotten what you used to be like.”

Looking at him uncomprehendingly, Baihe said softly, “Was this concubine not like this before?”

Taking out a piece of paper from his sleeve, Gu Chaobei smiled and placed it before her. “The you from before couldn’t do these things.”

The paper was densely covered with writing. Baihe looked down at it, and her expression froze.

“Is anything written on here wrong?” The Emperor asked her with a smile.

When Fu Youyi first entered the palace and had a dispute with He Rong, it was Baihe who befriended He Rong, promising her a brilliant future, thus getting He Rong to instigate Qingzhu to place a chicken-comb snake in Yan’er’s palace. Later, to protect He Rong, Baihe had someone kill Qingzhu.

Afterward, having a conflict with Consort Xi, in order to eliminate the leverage Consort Xi held over her, Baihe had someone secretly shoot a poisoned needle at Consort Xi. She bribed a newly entered imperial physician, creating Consort Xi’s death by witchcraft.

Later still, she made so many voodoo dolls herself, having people secretly place them in Yonghe Palace in the middle of the night. When framing Shen Guiyan failed, she dragged Shen Hanlu into it.

Jiang Biyue accidentally discovered this secret and was ordered silenced by Baihe, but fortunately was rescued by the Emperor.

To sow discord between Consort Fu and Shen Guiyan, she ordered He Rong to push Shen Hanlu into the lake, attempting to eliminate Shen Hanlu and then frame Consort Fu, thereby causing a dispute between Shen Guiyan and Fu Youyi.

The result was unsuccessful and discovered by Shen Guiyan.

Looking at everything, it was all her own sins. If the Emperor hadn’t told her to stop, Baihe truly didn’t know how much longer she would have walked this blood-soaked path.

The paper didn’t write in too much detail, but the karmic obstacles she had committed in this harem were basically all there. Baihe opened her mouth. She very much wanted to ask the Emperor how he knew, but what came out was:

“This guilty concubine is so terrifying, yet why do Your Majesty’s eyes still carry pity?”

Shouldn’t he hate her, detest her?

Gu Chaobei said, “You should have left from the very beginning. It was my fault for not cutting off your hopes. As for the pity in my eyes, you need not concern yourself. I’m not looking at you, but at the innocent souls behind you.”

These words frightened Baihe until her body trembled.

This person, why was he so cruel? She had already planned to leave properly, to swallow these filthy things while hiding them from him, to leave behind some beautiful impression—wouldn’t that be good? Why did he still have to dig all these things out?

He wouldn’t even let her close her eyes while living in a world that praised herself.

“Do you think I’m too malicious?” Gu Chaobei asked softly.

Baihe held the pipa, tears streaming down her face, but still shook her head.

“I am quite malicious, but I also want to give those people justice.” Gu Chaobei said, “Someone taught me, ‘As an emperor, one must distinguish clearly between right and wrong.’ What you did right, I will remember. What you did wrong, I will not forgive.”

“Only those people waiting below in the Yellow Springs have the qualification to forgive you.”

Baihe thought of Water Lily, her best sister whom she had killed with her own hands.

Water Lily always spoke without restraint. She didn’t like her, but she was very adorable. Back when they were at the Drunken Flowers Pavilion, whenever she encountered difficult clients, it was always Water Lily who came to her rescue. When there were new clothing styles, she would pull her along, rushing to be first to go select them.

“Your face is so pale—were you bullied by a client again? Tell me their name, and I’ll go to the kitchen and put laxatives in their food!”

“Baihe, why are you always sulking in silence? If you’re unhappy about something, say it so I can be happy too!”

“Little hussy, wait for me. If you’re entering the palace, I’m going too!”

She had once resented Water Lily for helping outsiders instead of her. Now looking back, she realized Water Lily had never changed. It was she who had changed, changed so terribly that Water Lily didn’t even want to speak with her anymore. When leaving, she hadn’t even looked at her once more.

“Your Majesty…” Her voice hoarse, Baihe said softly, “Haven’t you… still not caught one person?”

Gu Chaobei nodded. “That eunuch with extremely good martial skills who has been hiding by your side. I saw him when I rescued Consort Jiang, but he ran very fast. Leaving him in the palace would be a disaster.”

“He’s called Little Six.” Baihe said, “He was originally a trusted aide by Hu Chang’s side.”

Gu Chaobei’s expression darkened.

“This guilty concubine knows Your Majesty will be angry.” Baihe laughed lightly, but tears kept falling. “Little Six wanted to enter the palace to avenge Deputy Commander Hu. This guilty concubine just used this point, so she always had him do things for her. But you must believe that this guilty concubine absolutely never had any thoughts of harming you.”

It was just… she wanted to use him. Otherwise, how could she, a woman without the strength to truss a chicken and without any background, survive in the harem?

The Emperor got the answer he wanted. He rose and left the Cold Palace without looking back.

“Your Majesty!” Baihe panicked somewhat, desperately wanting to grab the corner of his robe, even if he would just stay a moment longer.

But she stumbled and fell along with the pipa. That bright yellow figure showed no sign of stopping. Instead, the head eunuch from the Internal Affairs Bureau entered, holding white silk and poisoned wine in his hands.

Tears fell for a long time. Baihe chose the latter.

After drinking the poisoned wine, she could still continue playing half a piece on the pipa. She chose “Long Yearning,” a piece Gu Chaobei used to love most—clamorous and gentle, smiling through tears.

“What a lovely immortal beauty! What’s your name?”

“This servant is Baihe.”

The strings had only been plucked a few times when the sound ceased in this Cold Palace. The palace paths were long, the flying eaves magnificent. In a few years, no one would remember that there had once been a Consort Hua in the palace who exhausted all schemes, leaving only a lifetime of regrets.

Shen Guiyan stood under the eaves of Yonghe Palace, holding her belly, looking at the somewhat overcast sky and sighing deeply.

“Since ancient times, foolish love leaves only regret…”

Baoshan stood beside her, counting on her fingers for a long time before saying, “Your Ladyship, with Consort Hua’s departure, it seems there are almost no people left in the palace.”