Zhao Zhiyan felt as if his neck was weighed down by a thousand pounds, making it hard for him to breathe. At this moment, all his composure and pride were thrown to the ground and trampled on.
"If... if Xu Lingqing weren't here, wouldn't things be different between us?"
Song Yue frowned but did not respond.
Even without Xu Lingqing, she would not have married Zhao Zhiyan.
They initially made the marriage agreement simply to avoid being forced into a political marriage; they just wanted a reason.
To her disappointment, Zhao Zhiyan personally sent people to spread rumors and try to ruin her mother.
How could she let this go so easily?
The man in front of me is too hypocritical.
The reason they bowed their heads was only because they were forced by circumstances, not because they genuinely repented.
"Why did you leave this jade pendant?" Zhao Zhiyan took out the yellow jade pendant, on which his name was engraved.
It was found in the fire.
At the time, he thought Song Yue had really been burned to death.
"Keeping you is useless. I blame myself for being blind and saving the wrong person." Song Yue said without any politeness, "If God gave me another chance, I definitely wouldn't save you!"
These are Song Yue's true feelings.
After discovering that they had saved Zhao Zhiyan, they considered their differences settled.
Zhao Zhiyan was taken aback and stepped forward excitedly: "How could this be? Where there is no love, there is no hate! I know I have done some things wrong..."
As they spoke, their eyes met a pair of extremely calm pupils.
Calm and undisturbed.
There was no hatred, not even annoyance; at most, there was only a layer of contempt, mockery, and disappointment intertwined.
"I was young and ignorant and only agreed to the marriage in order to protect myself. I have never had any romantic feelings for the Eighth Prince, not in the past and not in the future."
Song Yue's voice was authoritative: "If it weren't for the fact that you took care of your husband, the Eighth Prince wouldn't have been able to step into the gates of the Guangjia Prince's Mansion today!"
Without giving the other person a chance to speak, Song Yue turned and went inside: "Show them out!"
"Eighth Prince, this way please." Yun Dong pointed behind him without any politeness.
Zhao Zhiyan clutched the jade pendant tightly, his face somewhat grim, and turned away, leaving the Guangjia Prince's Mansion directly.
Yun Ke avoided the two of them, but he did hear their conversation.
He stepped inside and saw Song Yue copying scriptures. Her expression was normal, but the words she wrote revealed a sharp edge.
He gripped Song Yue's hand tightly: "A-Yue."
He took the pen away and pulled the person into his arms.
Song Yue tilted her head back, her voice muffled: "About Mother..."
"Don't worry, they've all been caught, not one has been spared, and no rumors have spread," Yun Ke said.
The guards of the Eighth Prince's mansion were caught as soon as they stepped out. Under severe torture, they confessed the truth, and Yunke was somewhat disappointed in Zhao Zhiyan.
The seemingly upright and virtuous Eighth Prince actually resorted to such despicable means!
"Don't get upset and harm your health," Yunke comforted him.
After a brief moment of tenderness, a messenger from the palace arrived with news that the Empress Dowager was on her deathbed. Without further ado, the two quickly tidied themselves up and prepared to enter the palace.
Ning'an Palace
Empress Dowager Xu had bloodstains at the corner of her mouth as she leaned against the bed, her face pale, but her eyes were filled with resentment.
Behind the screen, a group of imperial physicians and palace servants knelt on the ground.
The atmosphere in the room was extremely oppressive.
"Has the Crown Prince not arrived yet?" Empress Dowager Xu asked with difficulty in a hoarse voice.
A palace maid stepped forward: "Empress Dowager, we have already sent someone to urge them. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess are on their way."
"Where is the Eighth Prince?"
"We've urged them to hurry up."
Empress Dowager Xu closed her eyes and waited silently for news.
Finally, she heard the greeting.
"This servant greets Your Highness and Her Highness the Crown Princess."
"Get up, everyone." Yun Ke helped Song Yue inside. Song Yue took out a handkerchief and held it under her nose, forcing herself to stay despite feeling nauseous.
Empress Dowager Xu struggled and asked the palace maids to help her sit up. It took the two maids several attempts to finally manage to keep her steady.
"All of you, step back. I have something to say to the Crown Prince and his wife privately."
The group retreated behind the screen.
Empress Dowager Xu first gave Yunke a deep look, then looked at Song Yue: "After I die, I will continue to be buried in the imperial mausoleum in the name of Empress Dowager."
Yunke frowned.
"I can point to the Eighth Prince as the one who forced me to my death," said Empress Dowager Xu.
Before she died, Empress Dowager Xu suddenly realized that she had been used by others. Li Dazhu and Achan were all people who had set traps for her.
"The Crown Princess has killed two birds with one stone; her methods are brilliant. I am completely convinced of my defeat!" said Empress Dowager Xu.
Song Yue lowered her eyes and remained silent.
"The Eighth Prince still holds the golden token of immunity from death. Today, I have exchanged my life for this golden token of immunity from death. Isn't that enough to make the Crown Prince grant me a posthumous honor?" Empress Dowager Xu retorted.
Yunke's eyes flickered; "Your Majesty, your illness is the most important thing. The imperial physician has instructed that you must not be saddened or angered again."
When she saw Yunke talking about something else, Empress Dowager Xu became anxious. She knew that her days were numbered, and that her affair with the advisors had been exposed. The aristocratic families would not tolerate her continuing to live.
Rather than be insulted after death and possibly stripped of her title as Empress Dowager, she might as well take a gamble.
"Your Highness, now that things have come to this, let's not hide anything. Since ancient times, the struggle for the throne has been a bloodless affair. I have lost, and I accept it. I only ask for a place to rest after my death," said Empress Dowager Xu, clutching her chest. "I have already taken poison and will not live much longer. I can say with certainty that the Eighth Prince administered the poison, and that he was the one who forced me to my death."
Yunke chuckled softly: "His Majesty posthumously honors the Empress Dowager, so naturally the funeral arrangements will be made in accordance with the rites due to an Empress Dowager."
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