Why hate?
What trapped Empress Yan was never any one person, but the imperial decree, the rules of the system, and the inescapable fate of women.
Even her death was due to unresolved emotional distress that defied all medical treatment, not because of any frame-up or poisoning.
“I have never hated Consort Ju. Just as you said, no struggle in the harem is without reason. Whether it is for favor or for offspring, it is all reasonable.” Chang Yan said calmly, “Even our struggle today is just a matter of power, and the winner takes all.”
Ju Lianruo was taken aback by the fourteen-year-old boy's clarity and understanding. In that moment of stunned silence, she even thought to herself, "If only this were my child."
Coming to my senses, I could only end it with a bitter smile.
She knew her own bloodline well. With a sigh, she bent down and grabbed the prostrate Zhu Changhong. "Cheer up! Kill everyone, and only then can you take that position."
My personality seems to have been split apart.
Consort Ju was not so cruel as to persecute every life, but she would not show mercy to her enemies either.
Having dominated the imperial harem for twenty years, her hands could hardly be described as clean, and her personality was tenacious and decisive.
“Your father has already chosen someone else as the crown prince. He has abandoned you. Why should you cling to that little bit of fatherly affection?” Ju Lianruo shouted sharply. “Don’t you understand that the victor is king and the loser is villain? From the moment you led the Ju family to fight for this throne, there has been no turning back.”
“But Chief Guard Li has betrayed us, and all the people the Ju family planted have been killed. Mother, please see clearly.” Zhu Changhong suddenly burst forth with strength from nowhere. “We have no chance of turning the tide.”
“Who said there isn’t one?” Ju Lianruo said coldly. “Look at who’s standing behind me, and think about how I got in.”
As if reminded, the people in Fengtian Hall turned their heads and saw the Imperial Guard Commander who was faintly visible behind her.
Not the Imperial Guard, nor the Chief of the Imperial Guard, but the commander of all Imperial Guards.
The man in the black cloak, stroking his sword, stood quietly and silently outside, posing the greatest threat.
Previously, everything was controlled within the Fengtian Hall, involving at most a hundred Imperial Guards, with the Ju family and the Second Prince each controlling a portion, and firmly controlling the four main gates.
This was to prevent the news from leaking out and attracting thousands of Imperial Guards.
Unexpectedly, the commander of the Imperial Guards was alerted, and he stood firmly behind the Ju family without hesitation.
Chang Yan pursed his lips and remained silent.
Zhu Changyu lowered his brows and eyes, as if he was considering something.
Only Zhu Changhong scrambled to his feet in surprise, asking in alarm, "When did the Ju family become associated with the Commander of the Imperial Guards?"
If it existed, why not take action sooner instead of trying to salvage the situation now?
“We’ve known each other for a long time.” Ju Lianruo’s cold and sharp eyes said, “His rise to the position of commander was thanks to the support of the Ju family.”
So the commander of the Imperial Guard is the Ju family's biggest trump card?
Zhu Changhong remained skeptical, constantly pondering the scenes from his past memories.
"Time is running out, Hong'er." Ju Lianruo, well aware that delay could lead to unforeseen changes, pointed to the dagger gleaming white on the ground. "Go, kill them all."
Zhu Changhong paused, as if he had remembered something.
“Go, Hong’er,” Ju Lianruo raised her voice.
Zhu Changhong unusually remained silent.
"Hong'er!" Ju Lianruo's voice grew louder and louder.
Zhu Changhong came to his senses, hesitated, and lowered his head. "Mother, stop. Don't make any more mistakes. Let's not fight for the throne anymore, okay?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Ju Lianruo exclaimed in shock. "The Ju family has put in so much effort and resources, even willing to give away half of their wealth, yet you're going to back down at this crucial moment? How could I have given birth to such a useless child like you?"
“No, no, Mother Consort.” Zhu Changhong shook his head. “You always want me to sit on the throne, but you never think about whether I love that position or whether I have the talent to govern the country. Now you don’t even ask me if I am willing to kill my brothers.”
“We grew up in this imperial city, we have the same father, we can compete openly and secretly, but why does it have to involve life and death? I can’t bring myself to do it. I can’t imagine how sad and painful Father Emperor must be. Mother, please don’t make any more mistakes, please don’t disappoint Father Emperor anymore, okay?”
"We don't necessarily want this throne, and I don't like living like Father. Mother, please stop being so fixated on this!"
He knelt before his mother, pleading desperately, while secretly glancing at the commander of the Imperial Guards, who also seemed to be pleading.
“Obsession? You know it’s an obsession?” Consort Ju laughed. “He and I grew up together. I can’t get the Empress’s position, and now I have to give up the Crown Prince’s position. Why should I? I couldn’t raise you to be a capable ruler, but I will raise a grandson who can. The Ju family has already sacrificed so much for my son and me. I can’t let my maternal family down.”
"Since you're not going, then I will!"
She was truly decisive and ruthless. She pushed Zhu Changhong aside, picked up a sharp blade from the ground, and stabbed it at Zhu Changyu.
Before anyone present could change color, and before the commander of the Imperial Guards could move, Zhu Changhong, who was kneeling, staggered to his feet and used his body to block the gleaming dagger.
"Pfft."
It was the sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh.
Despite the pain, Zhu Changhong, who had been pampered since childhood, said with a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth, “Mother, don’t make the same mistake… The Imperial Guards are Father’s confidants, they are not from the Ju family at all.”
"Your eyes have been blinded by your obsession. It's not too late to turn back now. Don't persist in this stubbornness."
"Your father has you in his heart. Your father will protect you. What does it matter if the victor is king or the loser is villain? You will not become a villain."
He seemed to have lost too much strength due to the pain, and even his speech was accompanied by heavy breathing.
"Hong'er, don't frighten your mother." Ju Lianruo was panicked and lost her composure for the second time in her life. "It's just bleeding, you won't die. Someone, call the imperial physician, call the imperial physician."
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