Upon hearing Zhao Yuan's words, Song Jin, who had been listless, suddenly raised her head, staring intently at Zhao Yuan, and murmured, "He... he knows everything."
"Song Jin, do you have any regrets?" Zhao Yuan stared coldly at Song Jin and asked sharply.
Song Jin struggled to lift her head, her eyes filled with despair and regret.
“I…I regret it so much…” His voice was weak and trembling.
But what's the use of regretting it now? There's no going back.
“Song Jin, because of your selfishness, everyone from your seventy-one-year-old grandfather to your three-year-old nephew will pay the price for your mistakes.” Zhao Yuan’s eyes revealed a hint of annoyance.
"A distinguished family of doctors has been ruined by you."
As Zhao Yuan finished speaking, the interrogation room fell into a deathly silence, with only Song Jin's faint breathing echoing in the background.
A few days later.
By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
Imperial Physician Song Jin, born into a family of physicians, inherited his family's medical skills and should have been practicing medicine to benefit the people. However, he was wicked and driven by selfish desires, daring to use his position as an imperial physician to commit the heinous crime of murdering the imperial heir. His crimes were heinous and intolerable to Heaven.
Upon hearing this news, I was deeply grieved and outraged. Considering the imperial bloodline, how could I allow such a treacherous person to harm us? Therefore, in accordance with the law, I hereby order the immediate execution of Song Jin and his entire family as a warning to others. However, considering the Song family's long history of practicing medicine and their virtuous deeds, I hereby grant his grandfather and the innocent child the privilege of resting in peace.
Furthermore, the Empress's younger sister, Qin Wen, was young and naive, and was misled by treacherous individuals. Although she did not directly participate in the plot, she is still culpable. Out of consideration for the Empress, I will spare her the death penalty, but she will not escape punishment. All male members of the Qin family will be exiled to the frontier, and the women will be sold into slavery as a form of punishment. I hope all subjects of the realm will take this as a warning, be cautious in their words and deeds, and not repeat the same mistakes. This edict is hereby issued and shall be executed immediately.
The imperial edict shocked the entire nation.
When Qin Wen learned of this news in the prison, she nearly fainted.
Out of consideration for his deceased empress, Zhao Yi granted Qin Wen permission to bid farewell to her father, Qin Chang. Qin Wen expressed deep regret, while Qin Chang said that it was not her fault, for if the emperor wanted his subject to die, the subject had no choice but to die.
Zhao Yuan walked quietly into Qin Wen's cell. He saw Qin Wen huddled in a corner, her eyes lifeless and her face as pale as paper. She had clearly been devastated by the sudden bad news.
"Miss Qin," Zhao Yuan called softly.
Qin Wen suddenly raised her head, her face already streaked with tears.
"Miss Qin, by imperial decree, out of consideration for my marriage to the late Empress, I grant Qin Wen permission to bid farewell to her father, Qin Chang."
Upon hearing this, Qin Wen straightened up on her knees, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes, only to be swallowed up by endless sorrow.
"Lord Zhao, I..." she choked, tears streaming down her face again, "I really regret it. If I hadn't trusted others so easily, how could my family have suffered like this..."
Zhao Yuan lowered his eyes, staring at the chipped enamel bowl beside her, thinking: "When the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die." His Majesty has wanted to use the Qin family as a scapegoat for a long time. Even if Qin Wen hadn't fallen into this trap, someone else from the Qin family would have. Compared to the Song family, the Qin family's fate is already considered better.
Thinking of this, Zhao Yuan sighed softly.
"Miss Qin, there are no 'what ifs' in life. But it is already remarkable that you have come to your senses at this moment. If the Empress were here, she would surely hope that you could face this bravely, as there is still a long road ahead."
Under Zhao Yuan's arrangement, Qin Wen was taken to the side gate of the Qin family.
The once magnificent Qin family mansion is now deserted, and everyone's face is filled with sorrow.
When Qin Chang and his daughter met again, it was in such a desperate situation.
Thinking of his eldest daughter's tragic death, Qin Chang wanted to slap his second daughter, Qin Wen, hard. But looking at his only remaining daughter's haggard face, all he felt was heartache.
And regret.
He regretted separating his eldest daughter Qin Sheng from Song Jin and forcibly sending her into the palace.
He regretted allowing Liu Wanyi to send her second daughter, Qin Wen, into the palace, intending to secure Qin Sheng's favor.
The emperor's favor is like water; once it flows eastward, it never returns.
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