Chapter 77 [VIP]

Chapter Summary: The Beginning.

Yin Chang Palace, Yu Jing remembered, was the residence of Consort Wu. She had previously heard of the treacherous and ruthless struggles within the imperial harem, and now, seeing Xie Ying's actions, she found those words truly believable. A thought suddenly flashed through her mind: What if Xie Xuan were to do the same…?

Thinking of this, the stench of blood filling her nostrils grew even stronger. She couldn't help but gag. Seeing Yu Jing's reaction, Ayu asked worriedly, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager?"

Xie Xuan was already somewhat preoccupied with Yu Jing, and upon hearing the commotion, he turned his head to glance over. Seeing that Yu Jing's complexion wasn't good, he became somewhat worried.

When Consort Wu was summoned, she was terrified upon seeing the situation in Wanying Pavilion and immediately confessed everything. Qi Jin issued an edict ordering her death. Consort Wu cried and made a scene in the courtyard for a while before the guards covered her mouth and nose, preventing her from making a sound. As the noise gradually faded, Qi Jin turned and went into the inner palace. Yu Jing originally wanted to go in and check on Xie Ying before returning, but seeing Qi Jin go in, she gave up. Seeing how concerned Qi Jin was about this matter, she figured Xie Ying should be alright. It was just pitiful that her child, full of hope, was gone so suddenly.

As Yu Jing walked out, Xie Xuan was leading people to clean up the things in the courtyard. When Xie Xuan saw Yu Jing leaving, he hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and said, "The blood in the courtyard has frozen, Your Majesty, please be careful."

"Thank you for your concern, sir." Yu Jing said, seeing Xie Xuan's appearance and thinking of Xie Ying, she also felt a little sorry for him. "Sir Xie, please don't be too sad. It would be a loss to harm your health."

Upon hearing this, Xie Xuan was stunned for a moment before nodding slightly: "Your Majesty, I thank you."

Seeing Xie Xuan's expression soften, Yu Jing suddenly realized what she was doing, immediately turned serious, and walked out.

Back at Cining Palace, she couldn't fall asleep. She tossed and turned on the couch for a long time. Finally, unable to resist, she got up and took out the envelope the Old Man of the Moon had given her. Looking at the envelope in her hand, Yu Jing couldn't resist opening it. As she pulled out the letter, she saw a line of text.

My dear disciple, I have placed a curse on you. You will not be able to see it until that day.

With the matchmaker's actions, Yu Jing grew even more anxious, but no matter how anxious she was, there was nothing she could do. All she could do now was wait for that day to come.

Yu Jing sighed deeply. Xie Ying's child was probably just the beginning. What awaited the Xie family next...

Yu Jing hadn't slept all night, and only drifted off to sleep as dawn approached. He awoke with a start near noon. Ayu, who was adding charcoal to the fire inside the hall, was startled by the noise.

"Your Majesty, are you having a nightmare?"

I had a dream filled with corpses and bright red blood. The stench of blood permeated everything, making me want to vomit.

"Hmm," Yu Jing responded, glancing at the still heavy window. "What time is it?"

"Your Majesty, it is now afternoon."

"Go wash up and have your meal," Yu Jing instructed. She was worried about Xie Ying, so she quickly washed up, ate, and went to Wanying Pavilion.

The room of Wanying Pavilion was filled with the smell of medicine. When Yu Jing entered, the group of people bowed and greeted her.

"How is Xie Meiren?" Yu Jing asked Dan'er.

"Your Majesty, our beauty has awakened, but..." Dan'er glanced into the hall and then at the medicine she was holding. Yu Jing understood, reached out and took the medicine from Dan'er, "This is for you, all of you may leave."

"Yes." Ayu and Dan'er responded, and in an instant, everyone in the hall withdrew.

Yu Jing went in and called out, "Xie Ying."

Xie Ying looked up and stared blankly at Yu Jing. Yu Jing clearly saw that Xie Ying's eyes were red and tears were streaming down her face when she looked up.

Yu Jing's heart tightened. She brought the medicine to Xie Ying's side, said nothing, looked at her, blew on the medicine to cool it down, and then brought it to her lips. Xie Ying paused for a moment, then drank the medicine that Yu Jing fed her.

After a short while, the medicine was finished, and Yu Jing reached out and patted Xie Ying's head: "Get some rest."

Hearing this, Xie Ying's tears fell even more profusely. Yu Jing reached out and embraced Xie Ying, gently patting her shoulder. Although she didn't understand what it felt like to lose a child, she knew that losing something so important must be unbearable. What if Xie Xuan... Yu Jing stopped herself at this thought, not daring to linger.

After leaving Wanying Pavilion, Yu Jing didn't return to Cining Palace, but instead decided to wander around. She was unaware of her surroundings until she reached the entrance of the passageway, when she saw Su Siyang, which surprised her.

She hadn't seen him for some time, ever since Su Siyang reminded her. Su Siyang's expression was cold; upon seeing Yu Jing, he merely bowed respectfully from afar before turning and leaving.

As the year draws to a close, the snow keeps falling and stopping, then falling again. In the blink of an eye, it's snowing again. Ayu whispered a reminder from the side, "Your Majesty, it's cold outside. We've been walking for a while already. Why don't we go back to Cining Palace? It wouldn't be good if you caught a cold."

“Okay, let’s go back.” Yu Jing replied.

When the news arrived, Yu Jing was just about to go and see Xie Ying again.

"Your Majesty, news from the previous court: Lord Zhang has accused General Xie and Lord Xie of illegally withholding and selling military rations while fighting the barbarians in Youzhou." Ayu's expression was also very flustered.

"Absurd!" Yu Jing was furious and immediately spoke up.

Ayu was startled and didn't know what to say.

Given Xie Jintong and Xie Xuan's character, even if this were told to her, she wouldn't believe it, so Qi Jin certainly wouldn't believe it either.

"What did His Majesty say?" Yu Jing asked eagerly.

"His Majesty ordered General Xie and Lord Xie to be imprisoned in the Imperial Prison and ordered a thorough investigation. However, when Lord Zhang made the accusation, he presented account books and testified by General Xie's confidants; the evidence is overwhelming. I'm afraid..."

As Ayu spoke, she watched Yu Jing's expression. She thought Yu Jing would panic, but her expression gradually calmed down.

There are only a few days left until the beginning of the year; February 27th will come soon. This matter is Xie Xuan's calamity. Yu Jing now understands what the Old Man of the Moon meant by Xie Xuan's last meeting.

But who did this? Although Xie Jin and Xie Xuan were feared by some in the court, it would be very difficult to handle this matter thoroughly.

"Keep an eye on news from the previous dynasty," Yu Jing instructed. A Yu responded and was about to turn and leave when Yu Jing called her back, "There's no need to let Xie Ying know about this."

“Yes, I understand,” Ayu replied.

Xie Ying's health has only just improved somewhat; if she finds out about this, things will likely worsen. Besides, this matter is already settled. A settled matter that no one can change. Let's tell her when she's feeling better.

She just couldn't figure out who was behind this scheme.

Although Yu Jing knew about Xie Xuan's accident, she couldn't help but miss him. It was February, the coldest time of year. She was already feeling this way while burning charcoal in Cining Palace, let alone Xie Xuan in the imperial prison.

Since learning the news, Yu Jing has been on tenterhooks, enduring extreme torment every day. She desperately wants to know news of Xie Xuan, yet she dreads hearing it; this constant state is becoming unbearable.

"Your health has improved a lot these days," Yu Jing said to Xie Ying, sitting down beside her.

"Yes," Xie Ying replied. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Yu Jing put the soup down and sighed softly. Seeing that Yu Jing seemed troubled, Xie Ying asked, "Your Majesty, has something been troubling you lately?"

When Yu Jing heard Xie Ying ask, her heart tightened, and she said somewhat flusteredly, "It's nothing, I guess I haven't been resting well lately."

"Your Majesty, please take care of yourself," Xie Ying said weakly.

"Hmm." Yu Jing felt even more guilty and stood up to say to Xie Ying, "I've been here long enough, so I'll head back to Cining Palace now."

"Alright, Your Majesty, please take care."

After returning to Cining Palace from Xie Ying's place, Yu Jing was restless. Ayu went out for a while and then came back in, looking hesitant: "Your Majesty, I heard that General Xie and Lord Xie have already been tortured in the Imperial Prison."

"Use torture!" Yu Jing exclaimed in surprise, frowning.

"The Youzhou case has been under investigation for a long time, but we haven't heard a thing. Why are we suddenly resorting to torture now?"

"The evidence and witnesses are all there. I heard that Lord Su has been investigating for several days but hasn't found anything. This morning, Lord Zhang, along with a group of senior officials, put pressure on us. Conviction... it's probably only a matter of time," Ayu said slowly.

Yu Jing clenched her hands tightly, and after a long pause, she finally asked, "Is Xie Xuan... alright?"

Knowing that Yu Jing would definitely ask this, A Yu hesitated for a moment and said, "I heard... it doesn't seem to be very good."

Yu Jing was getting impatient. She wanted to ask more questions, but she didn't dare to: "Ayu, you can go down first."

"Yes." Ayu bowed slightly, glanced at Yu Jing with great concern, took two steps back, and then boldly said to Yu Jing, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

Yu Jing looked at A Yu with great confusion: "If Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is worried, why don't you go and see Lord Xie?"

Ayu's words stirred Yu Jing's heart. Seeing that Yu Jing did not reply, Ayu said, "It was this servant who overstepped her bounds. This servant will go out first."

“Ayu.”

When Ayu reached the door, she suddenly heard Yu Jing call her, and turned around to look at Yu Jing.

"Go." Yu Jing said just two words, her eyes were very firm, as if she had made a great decision.

"Yes." Ayu bowed and replied, then hurriedly retreated to prepare.

Yu Jing, wearing a cloak, and A Yu boarded the carriage with a large food box full of things. While sitting in the carriage, Yu Jing suddenly remembered what the Old Man of the Moon had said.

Do not be soft-hearted, and do not try to interfere in anything in the mortal world. What they are experiencing is their due tribulation. If you are soft-hearted, their final fate may change because of you.

The carriage swayed and wobbled as it moved slowly forward, its wheels crunching and creaking softly on the snow. Yu Jing stared at the food box, lost in thought, until the carriage finally came to a stop.

"Master, we've arrived."

Well, since we're already here, we can't waste these things. Yu Jing got up and got off the carriage.

"Please follow me, Master."

Yu Jing glanced at the plaque of the Heavenly Prison and took a deep breath. He then followed the jailer inside.