Extra seven
Chen Qiu's biggest regret in life is that she didn't see her husband clearly sooner and didn't protect her son properly.
Actually, Chen Qiu felt something was very strange. Before her son died, she thought she knew her husband very well, but in the end, she realized that she had never truly understood her husband, the man she had shared a bed with for decades.
After her son died, Chen Qiu felt that she had never truly understood her husband, but she discovered that she had figured him out completely.
Chen Qiu found it both ironic and laughable.
She even felt that she had killed her son, that her stupidity and ignorance had killed him.
Chen Qiu had long since given up on life. Her family was gone, and the death of her son and the betrayal of her husband made her feel that it would be better to die than to live. But her son's words made her grit her teeth and persevere. At least she had to avenge her son first.
In fact, Chen Qiuyuan guessed the truth earlier than others.
Chen Qiu hated the Liu family. Although Emperor Yan brought Consort Liu into the family, Chen Qiu was unhappy, but she never made things difficult for her. She felt that it was pointless to make things difficult for a woman. Even when Consort Liu was pregnant and gave birth, she instructed the servants to take good care of her, even though she was not close to her, and never deprived Consort Liu and her child of anything.
However, her tolerance was mistaken for weakness, which emboldened Consort Liu to take action against Yan Jiawang.
In the countless days following her son's death, Chen Qiu wondered if Liu Fei would not have harmed her son if she had drugged Liu Fei as soon as she entered the household, rendering her infertile.
However, Chen Qiu only thought about many things.
In fact, compared to the Liu family, Chen Qiu hated Emperor Yan and the empire even more. Ultimately, what caused his son's death was Emperor Yan's promotion of Consort Liu and giving her hope. All of this was because of power and Emperor Yan's desire for the empire.
Chen Qiu transformed into an empress, pretending to be completely unaware of her son's death. She personally prepared the incense, which was actually a slow-acting poison that fundamentally destroyed Emperor Yan's body, rendering him childless.
However, Chen Qiu used even more of this poison than Emperor Yan.
Emperor Yan wanted to control everything, while Chen Qiu only needed to control what he wanted, such as finding fault with the imperial physician or hiding the topographical map.
Chen Qiu genuinely likes Yan Shujin, but it cannot be denied that she is using Yan Shujin.
As early as when Emperor Yan killed the Taoist priest, Chen Qiu guessed that Emperor Yan was already preparing to make Yan Shujin his successor.
Chen Qiu knew that Yan Shujin was a very sentimental child. If Emperor Yan really helped Yan Shujin rise to prominence, Yan Shujin would be filled with gratitude towards Emperor Yan, and all the past grievances would disappear.
But how could Chen Qiu let Emperor Yan be so pleased? She used her own death and a map to draw a deep chasm between Yan Shujin and Emperor Yan.
It also planted a seed in Yan Shujin's heart that even without Emperor Yan, she was still a seed that could ascend the throne.
Chen Qiu never expected that after his death, he would not go to hell, but instead become a ghost and follow Yan Shujin around, watching her every move.
When Chen Qiu discovered she had become a ghost, she wanted to see her son again, but gradually she realized that there was no other ghost in the world besides her.
Chen Qiu went from being ferocious and grief-stricken to calm, and finally followed Yan Shujin from Fuzhou back to the capital, the place she hated so much.
Looking at Emperor Yan's aged appearance, Chen Qiu felt no hatred, nor any joy after revenge. It was as if everything had vanished the moment she died.
She got her revenge, but she could never bring her son back.
Chen Qiu didn't know when she would be truly free, until the day Yan Shujin ascended the throne.
Looking at Yan Shujin accepting the imperial seal, Chen Qiu suddenly felt a sense of lightness, and even felt the warmth of the sunlight on her body. Chen Qiu knew that she could leave. She had been waiting for this day for too long, so long that she had almost forgotten this warm feeling.
Chen Qiu looked at Yan Shujin and slowly smiled. She didn't look at Emperor Yan again until she disappeared.
They had a loving relationship when they were poor. They used to talk at night about sending their son to school and what kind of wife they should find for him.
They had enjoyed endless wealth and glory, but they were now like strangers, never speaking their true feelings to each other again. Their son had become someone neither of them dared to mention.
Poverty and wealth, lowliness and nobility.
Chen Qiu felt that his life was like a farce, and thankfully it was all about to end.
"Mother, Mother, what's wrong?"
In her hazy state, Chen Qiu seemed to hear her son's voice. Before she even opened her eyes, she reached out and tightly grasped the hand beside the bed. It was a small hand, calloused from practicing calligraphy. She struggled to open her eyes and looked at her child beside the bed: "Jiawang..."
Author's Note: This story took nearly seven months to write, thank you all for your support along the way. Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or gave me nutrient solution!
Thank you to the lovely angels who threw [landmines]: sophia?, yinyi, goplay5, wangshu, and xfkl (1 each);
Thank you to the little angel who watered the [nutrient solution]:
Wangshu 30 bottles; Xiaojing 7 bottles; Qinghuan 5 bottles; Hulijing 2 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
