Chapter 115 It's All Over

On the day the Yun family left Beijing, the sky was gray and the wind was cold.

Xiao Jin stood alone on the palace wall, watching the procession of carriages and horses gradually recede until they vanished completely at the end of the official road. He hadn't slept all night, and despite Zhang Fuan's attempts to persuade him, he simply stood there in silence, as if transformed into a cold stone statue.

Zhang Fuan stayed with the patient all night, but his old and frail body could not bear it anymore and he fell ill the next day with a high fever and constant coughing.

Upon hearing the news, Wang Gui came to visit. Seeing his master's haggard appearance, he couldn't help but advise, "Master, why are you doing this? Now, let your disciples handle the affairs of the palace. Why do you have to do everything yourself?"

Zhang Fuan leaned back on the couch and coughed a few times, his voice hoarse. "You kid... what do you know? His Majesty is still young, but I am already old and frail. If I don't devote all my efforts to this palace with my old bones, there will be no place for me in this palace... I will wait for another two or three years, when everything is stable, and then I will ask for grace to leave the palace and retire. His Majesty, in consideration of all these years of hard work, will give me a better salary... at least."

Wang Gui tucked in the quilt for him and said soothingly, "Master, you're worrying too much. His Majesty has always been generous and trusting of those around him, especially an elder like you. He would never treat you unfairly."

Zhang Fuan let out a long sigh, a hint of relief in his eyes. "That... I naturally know. Your Majesty, you may look cold, but your heart is truly devoted to friendship. Now that the trouble caused by the Prince of Qin and his faction has finally been completely eradicated, Your Majesty will surely be able to sleep more peacefully at night."

"Has the imperial physician come to see him?" Wang Gui asked again.

Mentioning this, a trace of a worthwhile smile appeared on Zhang Fuan's pale face: "I have been here, I have been here. I just coughed a few times, and His Majesty got the news and immediately sent an imperial physician to see me. He also specifically instructed me to have a good rest for a few days and not to rush back to duty. He also told me... don't carry everything on your own." His words were full of gratitude for the recognition.

Upon hearing this, Wang Gui nodded in satisfaction, "Your Majesty's kindness to our master and to us servants, we will repay you with our whole lives."

"Serving His Majesty faithfully is the best reward," Zhang Fuan said earnestly. "His Majesty has established the East Factory specifically for you, placing thousands of servants under your command. This is a tremendous trust and grace. You must perform your duties with care, never betraying His Majesty's grace, and bringing honor to your master..."

"Yes! I understand! I swear to be loyal to Your Majesty until death and will never have any second thoughts!" Wang Gui responded solemnly.

…

After the Qin King and his cronies were captured, Xiao Jin implemented several new policies with lightning speed. While whispers still lingered within the court, no one dared to openly oppose them. The evidence Wang Gui had gathered since taking control of the East Depot was damning, enough to silence any ulterior motives.

The Dali Temple's prison was especially cold and damp during the dead of winter, the biting chill piercing through the bones like a venomous snake. Those civil servants, once pampered and high-minded, had never experienced such suffering. Within a few days, they could no longer bear it, wailing and begging for mercy, hoping for a quick death.

One day, Queen Mother Zhou came to this stinking and filthy place under the pretext of visiting the King of Qin. Her real purpose was to find Su Yuan, who was imprisoned in the deepest part.

Although Su Yuan was imprisoned and suffered from the cold wave, he still maintained the pride of a scholar, straightened his back in the dark and damp dungeon, and faced the empress dowager without much remorse on his face.

However, they did not expect that Xiao Jin had arrived quietly at some point, like a hunter in the dark night, standing silently in the shadows.

The emperor, dressed in a black cloak, slowly emerged, his expression even more gloomy than the prison itself. His gaze was like a knife, and amidst the nauseating smell of blood, he ruthlessly exposed the secret the two had hidden for years, word by word:

"Empress Dowager, Prime Minister Su. This hellish place is a perfect place for you to share your true feelings. Otherwise... I will show you mercy and give you one chance to become a pair of desperate mandarin ducks, okay?"

When the two heard this, they were struck by lightning and looked towards the source of the sound, their faces filled with disbelief and horror.

Before they could recover from their shock, Xiao Jin's voice rang out again, with a cold sneer: "I really want to help you. But unfortunately... I also have to consider the feelings of Prime Minister Su's family and relatives. Of course, the most important thing is-"

He paused deliberately, his eyes sweeping across the empress dowager's instantly pale face. "I must consider the dignity of all the previous emperors, from Emperor Gaozu to Emperor Taizong! How can I allow the royal bloodline to be tarnished like this!"

Empress Dowager Zhou forced herself to remain calm, but her voice trembled slightly. "Your Majesty, please stop talking nonsense! I... I just came to see Yan'er, and I have no other purpose. Since the Emperor is here, I... I will go back first."

"Go back?" Xiao Jin sneered, approaching. "Are you not going to spend the rest of your life in prison with the love of your life? If you leave now, wouldn't it make you, the Queen Mother, seem...too unkind?"

"Emperor! Don't act unreasonably here!" Empress Dowager Zhou scolded in a timid manner.

Xiao Jin ignored her and turned to look at the silent Su Yuan, saying in a playful tone, "Prime Minister Su, what about you? Don't you hope that the Queen Mother will stay and live and die with you? It would be nice to have someone to accompany you on your journey to the underworld."

Su Yuan finally raised his head and spoke hoarsely, "Your Majesty! This matter was orchestrated solely by me, a sinner. The Empress Dowager has nothing to do with it! The Empress Dowager has nurtured you and helped you ascend to the throne. Please understand! I bear all the blame. I only ask Your Majesty... to spare my family!"

"Oh? Truly heartfelt and touching!" Xiao Jin clapped his hands and sneered, "Su Yuan, you've read so much in the books of sages, don't you know that treason is an unforgivable crime punishable by the punishment of all nine generations of your clan? When you banded together with your followers and repeatedly caused trouble for me, did you ever think of this day?"

He suddenly changed the subject, like a poisoned blade piercing the core, "Or... are you so devoted, even willing to sacrifice the lives of your entire family, because Fifth Brother Xiao Yan—is actually your own son, Su Yuan?! Are you destroying the noble bloodline of our royal Xiao family?"

"Your Majesty!" Su Yuan threw himself to the ground, his robes soaked with dirty water. He screamed, "I, your humble servant, am willing to plead guilty to all my crimes! But His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin is indeed of royal blood! Your humble servant admits... Your Majesty and I did have an affair, but I would never dare, and have never, tainted the royal bloodline! Your Majesty, I beg you to examine me!"

"Oh? You finally admit it?" Xiao Jin clapped his hands lightly, but there was no surprise on his face.

Following the applause, the prison door swung open! Su Yuan's family, along with Xiao Yan, who had been stripped of his title and imprisoned, were all shoved out by the guards! They had clearly been brought in and heard the entire conversation clearly!

This was another elaborate scheme set up by Xiao Jin! A dead end that would completely break down all their psychological defenses!

It's over! Everything is over! Su Yuan's face turned pale and he collapsed to the ground.