Gradually, Gu Qingling felt his senses begin to fade, except for his hearing, which he could still hear the sounds around him.

"If only I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have done it in the first place."

Wanji's shrill voice rang out as he watched how the Empress had gone to great lengths to please Gu Qingling over the years, disregarding her own health for Gu Qingling's sake, even to the point of being almost humble.

And Gu Qingling? She completely extinguished the Empress's burning heart.

“This servant remembers that the Marquis brought back some rare tea for the Empress, and the Empress specially brewed it for you when you came to Zhaoning Palace. But you said you liked to brew tea with the morning dew.”

A mocking smile appeared on Wanji's face.

"Then the Empress herself dragged her ailing body to collect the morning dew."

Tears streamed down Gu Qingling's face; he was filled with remorse.

"As a result, you knocked over that glass of water."

"After that, Her Majesty left you no more tea leaves, giving them all to servants like me."

Wanji sometimes felt it was absurd that the most esteemed woman in Daqing had to humble herself to such an extent for the sake of her child.

"Since things have come to this, Your Highness, please rest in peace on your journey."

Wanji loosened the white silk he was holding, then reached out and placed his hand under Gu Qingling's nose to check her breath. Only after confirming that Gu Qingling was completely dead did Wanji get up.

After brushing away the almost non-existent dust from his clothes, Wanji's lips curled into a hearty smile.

Those who bully the Empress will never have a good end.

He had heard that hearing is the last thing a person retains before death, so he deliberately said those words to make Gu Qingling's death even more uneasy.

Outside the Cold Palace, gongs and drums resounded, and the whole country celebrated the emperor's birthday.

The cold palace was desolate and silent, where someone who deserved to die had died.

......

"Gu Qingling's body is also placed there. With you all here with him, he will not feel lonely."

Gu Qingfeng looked at the expressionless guard in front of him and twitched the corner of his mouth.

"Please ask Gu Qingyan for me if Yao'er and I will also end up in that mass grave."

They killed Gu Qingling on their birthday and then dumped her body in a mass grave.

Gu Qingyan is by no means a kind person.

"It's so lively outside." Gu Qingfeng revealed a mocking smile. "And wish him a happy birthday for me."

Just as the sun was high in the sky, a slender man, carrying a bright yellow robe in his arms, stood in the busiest market in the capital, easily attracting everyone's attention.

"The deposed Crown Prince of Daqing has passed away today. Your Highness, this servant respectfully bids you farewell."

Qingyu knelt down, tears streaming down her face, clutching Gu Qingling's former crown prince robe.

The day before His Highness was arrested, His Highness did everything in his power to ensure his safe departure.

He would never forget the look in His Highness's eyes when His Highness said, "In this world, you are probably the only one left who is willing to consider my feelings. I have a very important matter to ask of you."

Thinking of all this, Qingyu couldn't help but sob.

Such a proud prince has fallen to such a state.

"His Highness has a will that needs to be made public."

The guards who were originally planning to shoot Qingyu received orders and put away the arrows that were already on the bowstring.

The once bustling market fell silent, and for a moment, only Qingyu's voice could be heard.

“I was not the eldest son of the Empress Dowager. I was born into a life of scheming and plotting against the Empress Dowager. For ten whole years, the Empress Dowager devoted herself to me, but I repaid kindness with ingratitude and betrayed her heart time and time again.”

No one knows what Gu Qingling's feelings were when she wrote this letter, but now everyone can't help but stare wide-eyed. This letter... can be considered a self-reproach edict.

"I was blinded by petty people and didn't understand what I really wanted, so I kept pushing away what I cherished most."

"To this day, I am abandoned by everyone."

The tear stains on the letter caught Qingyu's eye, and her hand holding the letter trembled violently.

"Regarding Gu Qingyan's identity, I want to apologize to everyone. The Empress Dowager was wronged by the late Emperor's schemes, and the late Emperor deeply regretted it before his death. It was I who chose to spread rumors and cause trouble in order to sow discord among the people of Daqing."

"By the time everyone hears this letter, I will have reached the place where I must atone for my sins."

"May Daqing prosper and the country become prosperous and strong."

"Wishing Your Majesty the Empress Dowager peace, good health, and all the best."

One month ago.

As Gu Qingling hunched over her desk, writing a letter, the candlelight crackling as she penned this "last will and testament."

She broke down in tears several times.

It took me four whole days to write this suicide note.

After reading the suicide note, Qingyu collapsed to the ground. His prince was only twelve years old, yet he already had a single white hair.

"Your Highness—"

Qingyu cried out in anguish, "The child is innocent, the child is innocent!"

Born into an imperial family by mistake, she bore undue suffering at the tender age of twelve.

Qingyu pulled a short blade from his robes. "This servant will go to accompany you now!"

After saying that, Qingyu used his short blade to slit his neck, and blood spurted out immediately. Qingyu also lost his breath within a few breaths.

At that time, Eunuch Cen Hai asked them if they were willing to serve the eldest prince.

Everyone said that the eldest prince was eccentric and extremely difficult to serve, so no one else was willing to take on this task.

That's why the job ended up falling to him.

But His Highness did not treat him poorly. In fact, when his life was hanging by a thread, His Highness asked to take him with him when he left the capital. Now, His Highness has once again safely sent him out of Licheng.

He wanted to repay His Highness's kindness.

......

Zhaoning Palace.

"Mother, he does have a loyal servant."

Gu Qingyan narrowed his eyes slightly. Qingyu used this method to let everyone know about Gu Qingling's death, so that Gu Qingling would be remembered by everyone. At least, everyone would remember Gu Qingling's repentance.

"When people leave, the tea grows cold." Jiang Yu said softly, "People remember now, but in the future... they won't even remember what Gu Qingling looks like."

"Mother..."

Hearing Jiang Yu's tone, Gu Qingyan looked at her with some concern.

"I'm fine."

Jiang Yu slowly stood up. "I'll go cook you a bowl of longevity noodles."

As she stepped out, Jiang Yu staggered slightly, and Gu Qingyan caught her. "Will Mother still be saddened by his death?"

"Ayan, I'm not sad."

Jiang Yu said earnestly, "Gu Qingling is sorry for me. He should repay me with his life."

But......

[With Gu Qingling dead, can that hatred truly be forgotten?]

Jiang Yu's heart trembled slightly. Even though Gu Qingling was dead, she still resented him.

That suicide note, just one suicide note, even with Gu Qingling's life, couldn't atone for the sins Gu Qingling committed against her.