Faced with his questioning, the Empress Dowager remained calm and gave a cold snort.
"Your Majesty has made such an absurd decision. As the Empress Dowager of the Great Chu, I should go and comfort Miss Su. Does Your Majesty suspect that I am stirring up trouble?"
If the Empress Dowager had truly gone to comfort Su An, Su An wouldn't be in this state now.
Chu Yi knew perfectly well what was going on, but had no evidence, so he could only let out a series of cold laughs, grinding his teeth.
He abruptly flicked his sleeves, strode up to Su An, leaned over to support himself, stared intently at her with a grim expression, and threatened, "Since you're dead, your family has no reason to live either."
"Men, get out of the city immediately and slaughter the entire Su family! Leave no one alive!"
If it were any other day, Su An would have jumped out of bed long ago, pointed at his nose, and cursed him for being despicable.
But Su An remained lying peacefully at this moment.
Get up! Aren't you quick-witted and always ready to criticize me? Why are you pretending to be stupid and mute today?
Chu Yi roared inwardly, veins bulging on his forehead, his heart filled with a mixture of anger and grief that threatened to consume him.
The commander of the Imperial Guards was about to leave after receiving his orders when the Empress Dowager stopped him.
"Wait! Su An was forced into the palace by His Majesty. Unwilling to compromise and unwilling to implicate her family, she chose to end her own life. Now that His Majesty has forced Su An to her death, does he want her to have peace in the afterlife?"
"Moreover, the Su family has not done anything that violates the laws of our dynasty, and even His Majesty has no right to decide their life or death."
The Empress Dowager's words were forceful and resolute; she straightened her back, clearly indicating her determination to fight Chu Yi to the end.
Li Wanyue clenched her sleeves and spoke up in response at the opportune moment.
"Yes, Your Majesty, if you were to execute the Su family today for such a trivial matter, it would surely discourage the people of the world. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider."
What a convenient excuse for having no right to decide!
If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's instigation, and if the Su family hadn't made Su An hesitate, how could Su An have ended up on the road to ruin?
It's all their fault; they're the ones who killed Su An.
They deserve to die! Everyone who tries to stop him deserves to die!
Chu Yi's eyes widened in anger, his fingers clenched into fists, and his smile was chilling.
But now is not the time to kill them.
He suppressed his anger, took a deep breath, and pretended to be calm, saying, "Mother is right, I acted impulsively. Since the person is already dead, let's choose a date for burial."
After saying this, he took one last look at Su An, then turned and left.
Watching Chu Yi's figure disappear outside the palace gate, the Empress Dowager finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the handkerchief she was holding loosened slightly.
She turned and glanced at the concubines in the palace, then said coldly.
"Today's events concern the dignity of the royal family, and no one is to divulge them. Furthermore, I will handle Miss Su's funeral arrangements. If there is nothing else, you may all leave!"
Li Wanyue and the others responded in unison and withdrew meekly.
The palace immediately returned to silence, with only the bed curtains swaying slightly in the wind making a soft sound.
Three days later will be the day of Su An's burial.
Su An, lying in the coffin, suddenly took a deep breath, then opened his eyes and gradually regained consciousness.
But as soon as she woke up, a cold light flashed in her eyes.
Seeing the dagger only an inch from her eyeball, she couldn't help but widen her eyes, her blood freezing instantly as she stared in shock at the newcomer.
"How could it be you?"
Upon hearing this, Li Wanyue chuckled, put the dagger away, and gestured back and forth across her face.
The icy touch made Su An swallow hard, and her body stiffened.
"What...what do you want to do?"
A glint of ruthlessness flashed in Li Wanyue's eyes. She raised an eyebrow, leaned close to Su An's ear, and said with a smug smile, "Su An, guess how the Empress Dowager came up with the idea of having you fake your death to deceive everyone?"
Su An's breath hitched, and she frowned as she asked in return.
"Could it be you?"
"That's right, it's me. You're as smart as ever!"
Upon hearing this, Li Wanyue covered her mouth and chuckled a few times.
Su An was startled, and her eyelids twitched.
"You're already being kind enough by not harming me, why would you help me? What are you really up to?"
Li Wanyue's eyes turned cold, and her tone was chilling: "You're quite self-aware. I really didn't want to help you; I just wanted to take this opportunity to get rid of you. I didn't expect the Empress Dowager to believe me and even successfully persuade you to take the fake death medicine."
"It seems even the heavens are on my side, Su An. The prince can only be mine; no one else can even dream of touching him!"
Upon hearing this, Su An felt a chill run down his spine, and managed to force out a hint of sarcasm.
"It was clearly you who secretly colluded with the Emperor and betrayed Fu Zhun first. What right do you have to say that?"
These words successfully enraged Li Wanyue. She snorted coldly, her eyes revealing murderous intent.
"Shut up! I had no choice. The prince was just angry for a moment, but he will forgive me sooner or later. When he returns in triumph, he will definitely marry me, while you will only die in despair!"
"Pah! Keep dreaming! Even if I die, Fu Zhun will never like you. I advise you to release me as soon as possible!"
Su An struggled violently, cursing loudly at Li Wanyue.
But her body had already been tightly bound by ropes by Li Wanyue before she woke up, and she was unable to move.
Even with all her might, she couldn't break free.
The more fiercely she cursed, the more smugly Li Wanyue laughed.
Li Wanyue coldly watched Su An struggle, her hand on her stomach, and slowly backed away, while she grinned and waved to the people next to her as she retreated.
"The auspicious time has arrived; it's time for the burial. Seal the coffin!"
"Don't be lazy, all of you, nail this coffin shut for me!"
By the end, her tone was unmistakably malicious.
Su An's heart sank to the bottom as she watched helplessly as the coffin lid slid over her head until it closed completely, and darkness instantly swallowed her up.
She struggled desperately, banging her body against the coffin and cursing incessantly.
But there was no response.
After a jolt, the coffin fell violently to the ground, followed by the sound of earth being smothered.
As her voice grew weaker and weaker, she nearly collapsed, and tears involuntarily streamed down her face.
The pitch-black surroundings made her feel suffocated. She shrank back and muttered to herself, her lips pursed.
"Fu Zhun, where are you?"
After muttering to herself for an unknown amount of time, Su An felt her breathing become difficult, and everything in front of her seemed unreal, as if she was about to suffocate at any moment.
Just as she was in despair, a noise came from outside the coffin.
It looks like someone is using something to pry open nails.
The sound of prying nails grew clearer, and then a faint ray of light shone in as the coffin lid slowly slid open.
The fresh air rushed in, instantly bringing Su An back to his senses.
As her vision gradually cleared, she became even more excited and twisted her body to ask the question after seeing the person who had come into view.
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