Chapter 115 Part 2

 

There was silence behind the gate.

Blood slowly seeped out from the gap between the two gate and flowed to the stone foundation outside.

Xuyu walked along the ancient path of the Han Palace buried in the weeds and returned to the city wall where she came from.

The abandoned path under her feet might have been the palace path where the Han emperor and his concubines walked every day. Even now, on the cracked square bricks covered with moss that could be seen everywhere on the roadside, one could still make out the blurred words “Changle” and “Weiyang”.

The palace guard opened the small door. She turned into the inner city, leaving the abandoned palace completely behind, and walked slowly in the dim and narrow alley surrounded by the imperial city wall and the palace wall.

The palace maids followed her from a distance, and beside her, only the old palace eunuch accompanied her silently.

Finally, after walking through the city wall and about to enter the palace, she stopped, turned to look at Zhao Zhongfang, and gave him a slight nod.

Zhao Zhongfang immediately dropped to his knees and bowed his head forcefully to the ground before her. Then, he rose, beckoned a eunuch over, and whispered a few instructions. The eunuch, receiving his orders, hurried away.

The bloodstains that had once covered the corridor and palace steps outside Ziyun Palace had been scrubbed clean, leaving no trace behind.

Under the gaze of the row of ridge beasts on the roof of the palace, Xuyu passed by and came to Qingxin Pavilion, which was used as the emperor’s temporary residence.

There were only two to three candles burning in the bedroom to light the night. The emperor lay in his bed with his eyes closed. In the dim light, his face looked gray and haggard.

After returning from the Qixing Hall, he could no longer hold himself up and collapsed. When the imperial physicians revived him, he found that his vision was no longer as it had been—his sight was dim and hazy, as if mist veiled the distant mountains.

According to the imperial physician, this was a blue wind cataract—a condition often brought about by advanced age and extreme emotional strain. Over time, it could worsen.

Eventually leading to complete blindness.

Xuyu sat down beside the bed, and held the emperor’s hand that was still cold from under the quilt, and warmed it with her body temperature.

“How is he?”

After a long time, just when Xuyu thought that the emperor was still asleep, she heard him ask a question in a low voice.

The scene of the blood slowly flowing out from the crack of the gate appeared in front of her eyes. She knelt down along the edge of the bed.

The emperor still did not open his eyes, and his expression was very calm. Only after a while did he turn his face slightly towards the inside of the bed, where the candlelight could no longer reach.

“Get up. This has nothing to do with you. It’s all the retribution that Father deserves.” The emperor said in a hoarse voice.

Xuyu still hung her head.

“He shouted to see Zhen. What else did he say?” After a moment, the emperor asked again in a tired voice.

At this time, the old palace eunuch stepped forward, leaned close to the emperor’s ear, and whispered a few words.

The emperor did not move at first, but slowly, Xuyu felt his hand trembling, as if he was searching for something. She stretched out her hand. The once-mighty hand that had wielded the weight of a thousand jun1 jun = 30 catties, I catty = around 600 gram, now withered like dry branches, grasped hers the moment it found it—clutching tightly, as if unwilling to let go.

“Zhen is sorry for you, Zhen have wronged you… Zhen even more sorry for your mother…”

The emperor murmured.

In the dim light, Xuyu saw a hint of turbid light in the corners of his eyes.

“Father, I have no grievances. If Mother’s spirit still lingered, I know she also accepted it.”

Xuyu replied.

She had fantasized over and over again that when the day came, she would carve her enemy apart, piece by piece, cast them into a pit of snakes and scorpions, let them suffer the agony of a thousand bites, endure a torment worse than death itself.

However, even if the one who started it all were to be torn piece by piece and thrown into a den of snakes and scorpions, making his life a fate worse than death, what would it truly change?

If one did not seek their own salvation, how could the pain in their hearts be alleviated in the slightest by such revenge?

What’s more, if this was the only thing that could offer even the slightest solace to the weary and broken man before her, then she could do it. She believed—her mother would have wished for the same.

The emperor didn’t say anything else. With his eyes closed, he only tightened his grip around her hand.

The candle burned quietly, getting shorter and shorter. The palace clock in the distance announced that it was past third watch. Under the dual effects of the drug and the illness, the emperor fell asleep again.

Xuyu kept accompanying him like this. The old palace eunuch came up and gently told her to go and rest. He said he would take care of it here. She looked at the face of the sleeping emperor and shook her head. At this time, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside. Zhao Zhongfang went out immediately. Soon, he came back hurriedly but tiptoeing, stopped at the door, and looked at Xuyu with a somewhat anxious look on his face.

Xuyu gently freed her hands, tucked in the quilt, and walked out.

There was a piece of news over there.

Last night, the crown prince launched a coup. The Grand Empress Dowager ordered the arrest of Empress Liu and sent her to De’an Palace for custody, awaiting the emperor’s decision.

Just now, when the palace eunuch was ordered to deliver the poisoned wine, Empress Liu took advantage of the people around her not paying attention, snatched a knife, put it to the Grand Empress Dowager’s throat, and demanded to see the emperor.

“Where is she now?” Xuyu asked.

“It is said that she has taken the Grand Empress Dowager hostage and entered the Ziyuan Palace. Now she has been intercepted and has retreated to the West Hall, where they are currently in a standoff.”

Xuyu hurried to Ziyun Palace.

The West Hall was surrounded by palace guards, and shouts came from inside: “Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I know you are listening! They are stopping me from seeing you! Please, see me once! Just once! Please!”

A general of the Imperial Guard who was in charge of guarding Ziyun Palace tonight saw Xuyu coming and hurriedly led the guards to kneel down and confessed his crime in fear, saying that the Grand Empress Dowager was old and if the empress went crazy, she would really hurt her life, so they did not dare to get too close.

Xuyu came inside.

At the entrance of the West Hall, Xiao Liu shi had one arm hooked tightly around the Grand Empress Dowager’s neck, while her other hand clutched a blade, its edge pressed against the old woman’s throat, shouting at the top of her lungs towards the main hall. Her hair was in disarray, her face deathly pale, and her eyes burned with madness. The Grand Empress Dowager, caught in her grip, had her eyes rolling back as she gasped for breath, her frail body trembling. When Xiao Liu shi saw Xuyu walking in from the entrance of the West Hall, her screaming suddenly stopped. She widened her eyes, staring at Xuyu for a few heartbeats before her expression twisted into one of extreme hatred.

“It’s you! What are you doing here? Get out! I want to see His Majesty! If you don’t leave, I will kill this old hag!”

She gritted her teeth and was so angry that her hand trembled. The blade scraped the Grand Empress Dowager’s neck and a blood mark appeared.

The old woman was shaking, and several people from De’an Palace who followed her screamed and rushed towards Xuyu in fear, kneeling down and kowtowing, begging her not to push Empress Liu too far.

Xuyu stopped walking and looked at Xiao Liu shi and said, “His Majesty is not here, how come you didn’t know? The Crown Prince tried to revolt last night, and His Majesty left long ago.”

Xiao Liu shi was startled, then she screamed again: “Where is he! I want to see him!”

“His Majesty is busy and will not see you. If you have anything to say, just tell me. Release the Grand Empress Dowager first, and I will convey your message.”

“Where’s the Crown Prince? I want to see the Crown Prince! I want him to be pardoned! He was forced! Otherwise, this old hag can forget about living! If one must die, then we all die together!”

The Grand Empress Dowager, suffocated under her grip, shut her eyes in agony. A strangled, guttural sound escaping her throat. Yet Xiao Liu shi showed not the slightest hint of mercy. Instead, she tightened her hold around the frail woman’s neck even further.

“If I don’t see the Crown Prince, don’t even dream of me letting her go!”

“The Crown Prince has committed suicide in the abandoned palace out of fear of punishment!”

The general of the imperial guards responded loudly, then gestured to the guards, led them, and slowly and carefully surrounded the front.

Xiao Liu shi felt like she was struck by lightning, and the color on her face instantly disappeared. She turned her head sharply, stared at the direction of the abandoned palace for a moment, trembling, and then turned her head again, sweeping Xuyu’s face with a gleaming and extremely resentful gaze.

“Don’t come over here!”

She yelled loudly, retreated, and forcibly dragged the Grand Empress Dowager with her toward the depths of the West Hall.

Xuyu was frightened and subconsciously followed in. Xiao Liu shi stopped in front of the mural wall with the Queen Mother of the West painted on it. She looked up and stared at it for a while. Suddenly, she raised her hand and pointed at the beauty on the wall, and cursed endlessly.

“You shameless bitch! You seduced His Majesty when you were alive, and now you won’t let him go after you die! The position of the princess consort was originally mine! You stole my place! You bitch!”

She waved the knife in her hand, slashing at the beauty on the mural frantically. The beauty’s skirt and sleeves were instantly covered with scratches in all directions.

“You seduced His Majesty! I’ll scratch your face! Then let see if His Majesty will still want you!”

She laughed wildly, stood on tiptoe, raised the knife and slashed at the beauty’s face.

“Stop!” Xuyu shouted. But instead of stopping, the woman’s laughter grew more and more crazy and full of pride.

“I killed you! Not only did I killed you, I also leave your body in the wilderness, let wild dogs tear you apart and eat you up, leaving not even a single bone! You won’t even have a grave! For eternity you will never be able to be reborn!”

Along with each curse, the sharp blade scraped against the wall, making a series of harsh friction sounds, and paint fell to the ground.

The beauty’s cheeks have been ruined.

When Xuyu saw the blade about to slash at the beautiful woman’s slightly smiling eyes, her blood boiled, frying her skin. With a heart-wrenching feeling as if she were being stabbed, she did not think twice, pulled out a dagger from the waist of a nearby palace guard, held it, and ran to the mural wall.

“I told you to stop!” With a pair of red eyes, she shouted sharply, and stabbed Xiao Liu shi‘s back with the dagger from behind.

Just when Xiao Liu shi was frantically scratching the mural with her knife, the guards had quietly drawn their bows behind her, waiting for a good opportunity. When they suddenly saw the princess rushing forward like this, for a while, everyone was stunned.

When the dagger entered her body, Xiao Liu shi‘s whole body twitched and she paused stiffly for a moment. Then with a clang, the knife in her hand fell to the ground, and the Grand Empress Dowager also broke free from her grip and fell to the ground.

Xiao Liu shi turned around, her face was ferocious, her eyes were fixed on Xuyu, and she fell crookedly along the mural wall to the ground at the foot of the wall, curling up in pain.

Blood began to slowly flow out of her body and mouth.

Only then did the people in the West Hall react. The general of the imperial guards hurriedly ordered people to send the unconscious Grand Empress Dowager out for treatment.

Xuyu didn’t even look at Xiao Liu shi who fell at her feet.

She tilted her head back, gazing blankly at the wounded beauty on the wall. Her eyes burned, and the overwhelming surge of emotions left her trembling so violently that she could barely stand.

“Princess! What happened to you? Are you alright?”

Suddenly, she heard someone calling her from behind. It was Zhao Zhongfang.

Forcing herself to calm down, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes briefly, and turned to leave. But just then, Xiao Liu shi, who had been huddled against the wall and dying, suddenly opened her eyes. With a burst of inexplicable strength, she seized the knife, sprang to her feet, and lunged at her with vicious fury.

“Let’s die together!” she gritted her teeth.

The guards in the palace were taking care of the Grand Empress Dowager, and this scene happened too suddenly. When the people nearby reacted and tried their best to save her, they were too late to get close.

The old palace eunuch who was closest to her rushed to rescue her regardless of everything, dragging his crippled leg. However, he slipped and fell to the ground.

“Princess—” he shouted with his eyes wide open.

At this moment, accompanied by a low and sharp whistling sound, a strong and fierce arrow shot straight in from the direction of the west hall gate.

It flew over everyone’s heads, as if it had fallen from the sky, drawing a downward slanting line, straight ahead. With a snap, the sharp iron tip pierced through Xiao Liu shi’s throat who had just stood up, creating a bloody hole.

As if carrying a tremendous amount of force, it shot straight through Xiao Liu shi‘s neck and pierced into the wall behind her, nailing her firmly to the mural.

Xiao Liu shi’s eyes remained wide open, as if she had yet to comprehend what had happened. Her hands flailed, and she twisted her head helplessly against the wall. Perhaps overwhelmed by excruciating pain, a strange, rasping sound escaped her throat. Then, suddenly, violent convulsions seized her body. Her head slumped to the side, her struggling ceased—until, at last, she lay completely still. Dead.

Xuyu was still shaking uncontrollably.

She slowly raised her red eyes and looked across.

Pei Xiaoyuan threw away the bow in his hand that was still trembling, jumped off a guard who was kneeling at the entrance of the hall so that he could use his back to gain height for shooting arrows, and ran into the hall.

Her tears suddenly flowed out.

As he pushed people aside, ran to her and stretched out his hands to her, her legs went limp and she fell into his arms.

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TN: Xuyu has already relent and ready to give her a dignified death, but alas, she’s itching for more gruesome death.