Chapter 98 The Traitor: The traitor has been executed; he is posthumously granted an imperial edict. ...

Since the day she stumbled upon Yi Ruxu and the Empress's secret plot, Su Jinxiu has never seen him again.

I used to think of him as a gentleman who was upright and abiding by the rules, and that he would never do such a thing.

Even brothers can turn against each other for the throne; the bloody battle at Xuanwu Gate during the reign of Emperor Taizong is more than just a legend in a storybook. Moreover, there was already an old grudge between Yi Ruxu and Wen Shiqin, so this choice was perhaps only natural for him.

In recent days, the restrictions imposed on Su Jinxiu by Kunning Palace have become increasingly stringent. Even the Wenxiu Bureau, which she used to be able to visit briefly, has become an inaccessible forbidden zone. Confined to this cramped and quiet room, she is consumed by inner turmoil.

The Empress's actions, seemingly a private confinement within the palace, actually tacitly approved by the Emperor. She was merely a commoner, insignificant to the grand palace and the powerful court. Only to that one person was she a pawn capable of stirring his emotions.

If the rumors were even slightly inaccurate, claiming that she was imprisoned in the palace and subjected to humiliation, given that person's temperament, he would certainly disregard everything and bring troops to the palace to demand her release.

In a daze, she recalled the whispers when Wen Shiqin embraced her. He said that his career had been too smooth and that he now held a large army. He couldn't resign and would inevitably face some reprimands from the court.

The bronze mirror on the table was gilded and gleaming, but it was not as beautiful as the lotus mirror that Wen Shiqin had personally polished for her years ago.

The mirror's surface is as clear as autumn water, as smooth as a speck of dust. It has reflected the fleeting years and the fleeting beauty of life.

He sat there silently in front of the mirror until night filled the quiet room.

Suddenly, she heard the door hinges turn slightly, and the vermilion door opened halfway. Su Jinxiu's heart tightened, and she forgot all her restraints, stumbling forward. However, when she saw that it was Yi Ruxu, she froze and unconsciously took two steps back.

Yi Ruxu stood before the door, moonlight flowing over his jade crown and hair, his divine appearance still ethereal, and the gesture of his outstretched hand was as gentle and polite as ever.

"Qiao Niang, come with me."

Upon hearing the sound, Su Jinxiu retreated to the dressing table, gripping the corner of the table behind her tightly. Her gaze towards him was as if facing a formidable enemy, filled with vigilance.

Seeing her guarded demeanor, as if she were a wolf, Yi Ruxu felt a hint of sadness in his eyes. He slightly withdrew his hand from the air and lowered his voice: "Qiaoniang, don't you still trust me?"

These words were like a pebble thrown into a lake, and a strange sense of relief welled up in Su Jinxiu's heart.

Could it be... that was just a pretense he used to appease the Empress that day? Perhaps, I have truly wronged him?

Thinking of this, her tense shoulders relaxed slightly, her grip on the corner of the table loosened, and the wariness in her eyes lessened a bit. She said softly, "Brother Ruxu, I've always trusted you. Where are we going?"

Yi Ruxu then smiled gently and said in a warm voice, "If you trust me, then come with me."

The moonlight poured down, shattering like snowflakes and flying flowers, gently covering the two figures, each lost in their own thoughts, its coolness like water, its chill like ice.

Su Jinxiu followed silently, stepping up the white jade steps and ascending the Star-Picking Pavilion.

The palace atop this peak truly lives up to its name; standing here, it feels as if one could reach out and touch the countless stars.

Looking down from the railing, one can see the Lijing Gate, and glancing to the side, the Xuanzheng Hall is also clearly visible. The grandeur and desolation of the entire imperial city are all laid out before one's eyes.

As she climbed the steps, Su Jinxiu finally saw the figure standing in the pavilion. The phoenix crown reflected the moonlight, exuding a natural and imposing majesty.

She stepped forward gracefully and curtsied deeply according to etiquette, but Mu Zhaoning remained silent for a long time, only leaning on the railing and gazing in the direction of Lijing Gate.

The vermilion gate, like a lurking beast in the night, silently bears the marks of time.

Yi Ruxu stood to one side, hands clasped respectfully.

Suddenly, the Empress spoke up: "During the Yongjia Rebellion, the rebels broke in through this gate. The commander at that time was originally a member of the imperial family, but he secretly colluded with the rebels. Overnight, the palace fell, the imperial family was displaced, bones were exposed in the wilderness, and not a rooster crowed for a thousand miles."

Su Jinxiu's heart tightened, and she glanced at Yi Ruxu, only to see that his expression had also changed slightly, and he dared not reply.

"At that time, powerful ministers were arrogant and coveted the imperial artifact, which eventually led to war." Mu Zhaoning slowly turned around, the pearls and jade on her phoenix crown shimmering in the moonlight, making her face appear even colder. "Throughout history, the source of chaos has always been the lust for power. Some people may seem loyal and obedient, but in reality, they harbor evil intentions. Once they have enough power, they will overturn the world and stain the mountains and rivers with blood."

"Your Majesty..." Su Jinxiu's lips trembled, as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't know where to begin.

She wanted to argue, to say that the person she knew was not like that, but when the ruler commands the subject to die, what could a lowly commoner like her say?

Before the three had finished speaking, in the deep of night, the Lijing Gate in the distance, which had already been locked and closed, was shrouded in darkness.

Suddenly a lantern lit up, like a fire falling into the long night.

In the blink of an eye, the lights spread one after another, like fireflies chasing light, with sparks connecting them all the way, illuminating the entire palace road of the imperial city.

Mu Zhaoning smiled faintly and slowly said, "Jinxiu, is that the work of the person you insisted on protecting and trying to defend?"

Su Jinxiu was taken aback upon hearing this, then staggered forward, grabbed the railing of the Star-Picking Pavilion, and looked down from the railing.

A troop of light cavalry, numbering about a hundred, broke through the darkness and entered the city, moving with the swiftness of ghosts. The Lijing Gate, which should have been tightly closed, was now wide open, allowing unimpeded passage both inside and outside. Clearly, someone had secretly given instructions to pave the way for them.

Su Jinxiu trembled all over, her mind filled with the worst possible scenario, yet she still clung to a futile hope.

The empress was clearly the instigator. In her panic, Su Jinxiu turned to the only piece of driftwood she could grab onto and said tremblingly, "Brother Ruxu..."

Yi Ruxu looked at her pale face and instantly understood the fear she hadn't voiced. His brows furrowed, as if he were struggling to confirm a cruel fact: "After the palace gates were locked, the only person in the entire court who could still keep the Lijing Gate open all night and dispatch light cavalry into the city must be Feng Erlang."

Mu Zhaoning chuckled lightly: "What Wu Hui said makes some sense. Look at the leader, Meteor White Feather, Sword Flower Autumn Lotus, who else could it be but that young general who was once famous throughout the capital?"

Su Jinxiu continued to look at Yi Ruxu, hoping that he would say something to defend himself. Unexpectedly, Yi Ruxu stared into the distance for a moment, and then smiled knowingly: "I had heard that he was arrogant because of his merits, but I thought it was just exaggerated rumors. Seeing this today, I know that he really has such wolfish ambitions."

No one here believed him, but she did. So Su Jinxiu turned around and was about to rush downstairs, but she saw that the stairs were already lined with palace maids and eunuchs, the candlelight was as bright as day, and the shadows were so dense that there was no place for her to stand.

Despair overwhelmed her like a cold abyss. She staggered back and knelt on the ground with a thud, her forehead pressed against the cold gold bricks. She choked back tears as she tried to explain in vain: "Your Majesty, there must be a misunderstanding! I am now the adopted daughter of the Feng family and also his adopted sister. He must have heard that I was imprisoned and lost his temper, leading his troops to break in by mistake!"

"Is this a sign of resentment that I kept you here to gossip?"

"I would rather die than do that!" Su Jinxiu trembled and knelt even lower.

Mu Zhaoning raised her phoenix eyes slightly, her smile growing colder: "It's easy to draw the skin of a tiger, but hard to draw its bones; it's easy to know a person's face, but hard to know their heart. If he truly wanted to save you, he would have knocked on the gates of Kunning Palace and begged him. You should take a closer look and see which direction his iron hooves are heading."

Su Jinxiu, struggling to maintain her swaying body, looked up into the depths of the palace. The night was as dark as ink, and the troop of light cavalry had already reined in their horses. The spears, gleaming with cold light, were pointed at the Xuanzheng Hall, the emperor's residence and the place where he conducted state affairs.

Beside the emperor's throne lies the very foundation of the state; to take a single step there would be an irredeemable crime of treason.

Mu Zhaoning flicked her wide sleeves, her voice dripping with sarcasm: "If he truly longed for you so much that he rode alone straight to Kunning Palace, bowing and begging at the door, I might have spared his life out of consideration for your bond. But who would have thought he would be so utterly pathetic, clearly using the pretext of saving you to plot treason and usurp the throne? His wolfish ambitions are blatantly obvious!"

Fear and confusion instantly gripped Su Jinxiu, but even though she knew Wen Shiqin must have had his reasons and had been framed, she could only kowtow again: "Your Majesty, he is by no means a traitorous son, he must have been tricked! Please investigate!"

"You can know a person's face but not their heart." Mu Zhaoning's words remained cold and piercing, each one cutting to the heart. "Even if you are his sworn sister, how can you know what kind of boundless ambition Feng Erlang harbors in his heart? He became famous at a young age, and has long been blinded by his empty fame, considering himself a man of great talent and strategy, unwilling to be subordinate to others. Is this the kind of 'brave and resourceful' rebellious son that the Feng family, a family of generals for generations, has raised?"

With nowhere to turn, tears blurred Su Jinxiu's vision. She crawled on her knees toward Yi Ruxu, clutching his clothes tightly with both hands, and pleaded, choking back sobs: "Brother Ruxu, say something! You and he entered Bailudong Academy together, studied together for years, read the classics together, and devised strategies for governing the country together. You know best the patriotism in his heart! Please, please speak a fair word for him!"

Yi Ruxu looked down at her, his expression inscrutable. He let her tug at his clothes, the folds revealing her desperate struggle, but he remained silent.

That deathly silence was more hurtful than any words of condemnation, and it was tantamount to confirming Wen Shiqin's crime of treason.

Su Jinxiu still clung tightly to Yi Ruxu's clothes, but suddenly laughed softly. The laughter was as shrill as the cry of a cold owl at night, making her tremble all over. Tears mixed with despair streamed down her cheeks.

I should have realized this long ago: if you want to find fault, you can always find a reason.

This was a carefully orchestrated scheme from beginning to end, and yet she's still here groveling and begging for forgiveness, utterly foolish and ridiculous!

"Qiao Niang, don't torment yourself like this." Yi Ruxu hesitated for a long time before finally bending down and reaching out to gently place his hands on her trembling shoulders, his expression full of pity. "Such a wicked person is not worth your heartbreak." After saying that, he tried to help her up.

Su Jinxiu sneered, abruptly swatted his hand away, and then slowly stood up, supporting herself on the ground.

Just then, a strange sound suddenly came from the depths of the palace in the distance, like the faint sound of clashing weapons, breaking the momentary silence.

The three of them looked up at the same time, all looking toward the source of the sound.

The light cavalry had already broken into the encirclement surrounding the Xuanzheng Hall.

The Imperial Guards were already on high alert, bows drawn and swords unsheathed. In an instant, a hail of arrows rained down like locusts, engulfing the figures of the hundred-odd men in a flash.

The sounds of armor shattering, screams, and arrows piercing the air mingled together, breaking the deathly silence of the night.

Su Jinxiu's gaze slowly shifted to the dome of the Star-Picking Pavilion.

Is it a nightmare? Why is he not waking up yet?

Perhaps she had already followed Wen Shiqin into the mountains and wilderness, shedding the shackles of her official robes, and hand in hand, explored the boundless beauty of Jiangnan and the northern frontier.

This must be a nightmare, why can't I wake up?

In a daze, my wrist was gently lifted, and then my palm felt heavy.

Su Jinxiu lowered her head blankly, only to see Yi Ruxu place a bright yellow imperial edict in her hand. The silk was slightly cool to the touch. She unfolded it according to the instructions, and Mu Zhaoning's voice entered her ears at that moment.

"The second son of the Feng family is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He has amassed an army and rebelled against the emperor. However, the Feng family is a family of generals for generations, defending the city for generations with outstanding achievements. It is unfortunate that such a scoundrel was born into the family. I am saddened. I posthumously grant him the title of Duke of Dingguo to comfort the loyal soul of the Feng family. I also promote Lady Feng to the rank of First-Rank Imperial Lady to express my condolences."

Tears fell unexpectedly onto the imperial edict, spreading out a small, dark stain.

"The adopted daughter of the Feng family, Su Jinxiu, is a woman of great virtue and righteousness. She willingly serves as bait to help the royal family set a trap to lure out the enemy. This is truly a noble act of sacrificing family ties for the greater good. Although she is not yet married, she has already received the honor of being named a noblewoman. In the future, she will await the emperor's bestowal of a marriage decree and then choose a suitable husband to match her with her virtuous character."

Su Jinxiu gripped the imperial edict tightly, her fingernails digging into the silk.

She dared not look at the corpses in front of the Xuanzheng Hall in the distance, which had been pierced by arrows and even hacked to pieces.

She raised her eyes, her gaze filled with endless hatred, fixed on Mu Zhaoning, whose makeup was exquisite and whose expression was dignified.

This woman was willing to help her husband complete such a vicious and ruthless scheme in order to consolidate his imperial power.

But what about herself? She was so eager to change Wen Shiqin's fate, but in the end, she became an accomplice who pushed him into hell.

Seeing this, Yi Ruxu forcibly turned her body around, fearing that the almost vicious resentment in her eyes would anger Mu Zhaoning and cause more trouble.

Then, he gently pushed her aside and raised his voice to those around him, "Make way, everyone. The Emperor has decreed that Miss Su should go and fetch her brother's body, and bring it back to the Feng residence for a proper burial. The Emperor is benevolent; even such a rebellious son is allowed to have a complete body and a dignified burial to comfort his family."

As soon as the words were spoken, the palace maids and eunuchs who had been standing in a solemn block all tacitly stepped back and made way for the passage.

Su Jinxiu suddenly chuckled softly and looked up at the deep night sky.

Yesterday, I heard Granny Tanxi say that after a person dies, their soul will turn into a star, hanging in the heavens above, looking down on the human world.

So what about him? Which one will he become?

The stars in the sky were filled with sorrow, and some people were speechless for a long time. They wanted to descend from the top of the pavilion to retrieve the corpse that had long since been destroyed.

Yi Ruxu stood on the top of the Star-Picking Pavilion, watching the figure in white stagger down the stairs. Her graceful figure had long lost its former agility, and she swayed precariously in the night like a candle in the wind, about to be extinguished at any moment.

As Su Jinxiu staggered down the stairs among the palace servants, she read aloud the so-called glorious imperial edict.

"The adopted daughter of the Feng family, Su Jinxiu, is a woman of great righteousness. She humbly serves as bait to help the royal family set a trap to lure out the enemy. This is truly an act of sacrificing one's own family for the greater good."

When I reached the middle of the stairs, everything suddenly went black, and my body fell forward uncontrollably.

The bright yellow imperial edict slipped from her hand and floated lightly to the ground.

The dazzling light has come to an end.