Chapter 134 Punishing the Murderer
The air was so still that the sound of the north wind blowing outside the palace could be heard. After a moment of silence, Lu Zhaoxue slowly raised her eyes and looked at Chu Huaiyu, who was sitting upright by the couch.
Lu Zhaoxue gently pinched the brocade quilt covering her with her fingertips, the cool touch suppressing the turmoil in her heart.
Her voice was soft yet clear as she said, “Your Majesty, during the two days you were unconscious, the cause and effect of the assassination attempt have been thoroughly investigated. The mastermind behind the plot to harm me, which resulted in Your Majesty being assassinated and falling into a coma, is none other than Huo Chengbi.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Chu Huaiyu's tender expression suddenly tightened.
The warmth and gentleness around him vanished instantly, replaced by a chill that swept through Chu Huaiyu's entire body.
Huo Chengbi! She actually hurt Zhaoxue! If I hadn't reacted quickly that day, Zhaoxue and the child would probably be...
Chu Huaiyu's hand clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white as frost. A deep, cold rebuke escaped his throat, and the ruthless rage surging in his eyes almost froze the surrounding air.
"What a cunning Huo Chengbi! So audacious as to stir up trouble right under my nose and plot to harm the Empress! He deserves to die!"
The bronze incense burner inside the hall trembled slightly, and the smoke of sandalwood seemed to be scattered by the fierce aura surrounding Chu Huaiyu. The candle wick crackled and popped, and a few sparks were quickly extinguished.
Lu Zhaoxue has been feeling restless lately, so she asked Haitang to light sandalwood incense to calm her mind. But judging from the current situation, it seems she can't calm down now.
Chu Huaiyu's chest heaved slightly, his anger churning for a long while before his gaze slowly turned to Lu Zhaoxue.
When his gaze fell on her rosy cheeks, the ruthlessness in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by an intense tenderness.
Even her voice was gentle, carrying a reassuring certainty: "Zhaoxue, don't worry."
"Anyone who dares to touch you in the slightest, I will not let go of, I will make them pay a bloody price."
Having said that, Chu Huaiyu called out loudly, "Eunuch Wei!"
Upon hearing the order, Eunuch Wei entered the hall, bowed respectfully, and waited meekly for the imperial decree.
Chu Huaiyu's eyes were dark, and his tone was as cold as iron: "Go to the Cold Palace immediately and convey my decree."
"Huo Chengbi is vicious and malicious, and has plotted to harm the Empress. His crimes are heinous. He is hereby ordered to commit suicide by hanging himself with a white silk ribbon. The execution shall be carried out immediately!"
The Huo family has failed in its discipline, and its daughter has committed such a heinous act. All the men in the Huo family are stripped of their official positions, and half of their property is confiscated as punishment! I want to see who dares to rebel again!
"This old servant obeys the decree." Eunuch Wei dared not delay for the slightest and respectfully kowtowed to receive the decree.
Eunuch Wei glanced cautiously at Lu Zhaoxue, who remained calm on the couch. Seeing that she had no objections, he then bowed and withdrew.
The footsteps quickly disappeared at the end of the long corridor outside the hall.
After Eunuch Wei left, silence returned to the hall. Lu Zhaoxue watched the little birds flitting past the window, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
Lu Zhaoxue finally couldn't help but speak, her voice tinged with hesitation: "Your Majesty, Huo Chengbi is a distant relative of the Empress Dowager. Should we immediately send someone to Cining Palace to inform the Empress Dowager about this matter?"
"I fear that if the Empress Dowager finds out from others in the future, she may develop resentment and it will damage the relationship between Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager."
Chu Huaiyu raised his hand and rubbed his temples. The weariness from his illness had not completely faded, and there were faint dark circles in his eyes.
He nodded: "I know the gravity of the matter. I will send someone to Cining Palace in a moment to report to the Empress Dowager that Huo Chengbi hired someone to commit murder."
"Huo Chengbi committed such a heinous act of wreaking havoc in the palace and plotting to harm the Empress. The Empress Dowager has always been reasonable and would never disregard the laws and ethics of the country for the sake of a wicked relative."
Lu Zhaoxue softly replied, "Your Majesty's considerations are thorough," and then said no more, simply turning her gaze back to the window.
Before an incense stick had burned, Eunuch Wei returned again, his steps even lighter than before, and his voice trembled with a cautious respect as he bowed in response:
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, Huo Chengbi has already obeyed the imperial decree and been brought to justice. The situation in the Cold Palace has been properly handled, and the Huo family has also been sent to deliver the imperial decree to hold them accountable."
Upon hearing this, Chu Huaiyu simply nodded, his eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.
As if he were dealing with nothing more than an ant, he waved his hand and signaled Eunuch Wei to step down.
When Lu Zhaoxue heard the news of Huo Chengbi's execution, she felt neither joy nor any emotion.
It seemed she had only heard about a trivial matter. She was not a saint, and it was Huo Chengbi who had pressed her step by step, trying to kill her.
Today's outcome is nothing more than Huo Chengbi bringing it upon himself.
As night deepened, the hustle and bustle inside and outside the palace had long since subsided.
Only the occasional sound of the night patrol eunuch's clapper could be heard from afar, the dull sound spreading through the silent night before slowly fading away.
Lu Zhaoxue lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep no matter what she did.
The clear moonlight streamed in through the window, casting a cool, silvery glow over the bed.
Lu Zhaoxue felt as if she could faintly hear soft sobbing in her ears, a sound filled with endless despair and resentment.
Upon closer listening, it even sounded somewhat like Huo Chengbi's usual voice.
Lu Zhaoxue frowned subconsciously, her fingertips curling slightly before slowly relaxing, without a trace of sympathy in her heart.
Huo Chengbi meticulously plotted to kill her, and if Chu Huaiyu hadn't intervened in time, Lu Zhaoxue and her unborn child would be dead right now.
Such a wicked person deserved such a fate; it was entirely his own fault.
However, deep in Lu Zhaoxue's heart, she couldn't help but feel a few sighs. Life is unpredictable and changes are hard to fathom.
If Huo Chengbi hadn't been blinded by jealousy and hadn't harbored so many malicious thoughts, and had simply stayed true to her position, perhaps she could have found a peaceful place in this deep palace.
Even if she hadn't entered the palace and had simply married someone, she could have lived a peaceful life instead of ending up disgraced, committing suicide in the cold palace.
One wrong step leads to another.
This palace has never been a safe place.
It was like a magnificent golden cage, trapping the youth and dreams of countless women, and eroding their purity and intellect.
One by one, vibrant people are gradually transformed into unrecognizable individuals amidst the struggle for power and deceit, ultimately becoming victims of the power struggle.
Thinking of this, Lu Zhaoxue sighed softly.
A faint sense of melancholy welled up in her eyes, and her heart felt heavy, as if something was blocking it.
Unable to fall asleep, Lu Zhaoxue slowly opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping across the dimly lit bedroom. The first thing she saw was Chu Huaiyu's peaceful sleeping face beside her.
The moonlight fell on Chu Huaiyu's brows and eyes, softening his usually sharp features.
Even so, Lu Zhaoxue felt a chill in her heart, and a barely perceptible hint of alienation flashed in her eyes.
Unbeknownst to her, she had gone from being forced to accept it to now treating each other with "respect." No matter how much time had passed, Lu Zhaoxue could never truly adapt to the fact that the person lying next to her was Chu Huaiyu, with whom she had had many entanglements.
She gently turned to the side, her back to Chu Huaiyu, trying to suppress the inexplicable discomfort, hoping to fall asleep as soon as possible.
But she had only closed her eyes for a short while when the man behind her suddenly reached out and gently placed his warm palm on her waist, carrying a familiar warmth.
Lu Zhaoxue's body stiffened slightly. Seemingly subconsciously, she raised her hand and gently removed Chu Huaiyu's hand from her waist, her movements carrying an undeniable rejection.
In the darkness, Chu Huaiyu, who had only been in a light sleep, suddenly opened his eyes, all traces of sleepiness gone.
His outstretched hand froze in mid-air, the delicate touch of her waist still lingering in his palm, but that warmth seemed to have been doused with cold water, instantly cooling down.
Chu Huaiyu's body stiffened abruptly, and he even subconsciously softened his breathing, afraid of disturbing Lu Zhaoxue beside him.
Lu Zhaoxue did not notice his strange behavior. She simply thought she had accidentally brushed away an inconvenient hand, rested her head on one arm again, and slowly closed her eyes.
Perhaps the twisting and turning had exhausted her strength, because not long after, she heard soft, even breathing beside her.
Lu Zhaoxue fell into a deep sleep, her eyebrows relaxed, her guardedness and aloofness gone, replaced by a rare gentleness.
Chu Huaiyu, who was unintentionally awakened by her, could no longer fall asleep.
He lay there quietly, his gaze fixed on Lu Zhaoxue's back.
The moonlight outlined her slender shoulders, revealing a delicate frailty that made his heart clench as if something had violently gripped it, causing a dense, throbbing pain.
A sense of endless sorrow spread little by little.
His eyes began to darken, and the disappointment and bitterness in them almost overflowed. After a long while, he sighed wearily.
The sound was as faint as a wisp of smoke, dissipating into the silent night.
Only after Lu Zhaoxue fell asleep could he feel her body temperature without any restraint, drawing warmth from her and finding peace for a moment.
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