ending
*
In the battle of Wild Wolf Valley, Shen Rou was executed, and the remaining members of the Black Stone Tribe were wiped out. Imperial Envoy Li Ming was terrified and was "escorted" back to Yunzhou by Xiao Zhouyan's personal guards, where he was placed under house arrest.
However, Xiao Zhouyan was afflicted by a strange curse and a deadly poison, and fell into a coma, his life hanging by a thread.
Xu Qingyao settled Xiao Zhouyan in the safest residence in Yunzhou City and stayed by his side day and night.
Ignoring the warning that the system's energy was running out, she activated the medical module at full power, combining it with the medical skills of this era, in an attempt to dispel the insidious curse and deadly poison.
The curse was exceptionally stubborn, intertwined with the poison, constantly eroding Xiao Zhouyan's life force.
[WARNING! Host energy is critically low! Forcibly maintaining the medical module will result in permanent damage to the system!]
[Detection indicates a continued decline in the target's vital signs... The source of the curse cannot be eradicated...]
The cold notification sound rang out again and again, but Xu Qingyao ignored it.
Her face was as pale as paper, and her hair was soaked with sweat. She stubbornly placed her hand on Xiao Zhouyan's cold forehead, guiding her faint energy again and again to fight against the dark power.
"I won't let you die..." Her voice was hoarse, trembling with sobs, "Xiao Zhouyan, you promised to stay with me..."
Perhaps it was her persistence that moved the heavens, perhaps it was Xiao Zhouyan's strong will to live, or perhaps it was the system's last-ditch effort to keep him alive. After being unconscious for seven days and seven nights, Xiao Zhouyan's pulse finally stopped weakening, and the dark wound began to fade very slowly.
But he still did not wake up, as if he were asleep.
Xu Qingyao breathed a slight sigh of relief, but her heart was still in suspense.
The system has completely stalled due to overdraft, and it is unknown when it will be restored.
However, the situation in the northern frontier and the undercurrents in the capital will not stop because of Xiao Zhouyan's coma.
**
While Xiao Zhouyan was in a coma, the situation in the capital took a sharp turn for the worse.
Emperor Chu Huaiyuan pursued immortality and took the "elixir of immortality" presented by Shen Rousheng for a long time. His body was deeply poisoned, and he suddenly fell seriously ill and was bedridden, with his consciousness fluctuating between fainting and waking.
The affairs of state were handled by the Fifth Prince, Chu Huaijin, who took the opportunity to install his cronies and suppress dissidents, especially officials associated with Xiao Zhouyan and the Xu family, who were all subjected to varying degrees of exclusion and suppression.
Although the Second Prince Chu Chengjing was also secretly making plans, he seemed to be a step too slow and appeared somewhat passive under the Fifth Prince's aggressive offensive.
Of the other princes, the eldest prince was demoted, the third prince died young, the fourth prince had no interest in power, the sixth prince was far away in Nanzhao, the seventh prince died in battle, and the ninth prince was too young. None of them could restrain Chu Huaijin.
Meanwhile, in the northern frontier, the General of Fuyuan was hampered by the Imperial Envoy Li Ming, resulting in poor military command and gaps in defense.
Regent Yan Zhan of the Li Kingdom seized the opportunity, joined forces with the remaining forces of the Black Stone Tribe, launched a major offensive, captured two border cities in succession, and set his sights on Yunzhou.
Northern Xinjiang is in dire need of attention!
When the news reached the capital, it caused a stir in the court and among the people.
The Fifth Prince, Chu Huaijin, shifted all the blame for the defeat onto the unconscious Xiao Zhouyan and the "ineffective" Fuyuan General, intending to use this opportunity to completely eliminate the Xiao faction.
**
The atmosphere in Yunzhou City was extremely tense.
Xiao Zhouyan fell into a coma, and the group was leaderless.
Despite his weakened state, Xu Qingyao, with the support of his elder brother Xu Zhiyuan and some of his former northern troops, managed to maintain stability in Yunzhou.
But she knew that if the situation in the capital remained unchanged and reinforcements from the northern frontier did not arrive, the fall of Yunzhou was only a matter of time.
"We must break the deadlock."
Xu Qingyao looked at Xiao Zhouyan, who was lying on the bed, pale as a ghost, and then at the approaching Li Kingdom army on the map. She made a bold decision.
She summoned several of Xiao Zhouyan's most trusted generals and strategists, as well as his elder brother Xu Zhiyuan.
"Before the general fell into a coma, he talked to me about the situation in the capital."
Xu Qingyao's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable power: "The Fifth Prince has acted perversely, eliminating dissidents. The border is in danger, yet he only cares about factional strife. He is not fit to be a ruler. The Second Prince... has colluded with Shen Rou. His intentions are unfathomable."
Her gaze swept over the crowd, and she slowly said, "The general once said that among all the princes, only the eighth prince, Chu Wujiu, is kind-hearted, quick-witted and eager to learn, and... he was entrusted by the seventh prince on his deathbed, and he and the general have a bond of fighting side by side."
The seventh prince, Chu Huaijin, was the same age as Xiao Zhouyan. They shared similar interests and once defeated the Xianbei together, but unfortunately, he died young.
Before his death, he did indeed hold Xiao Zhouyan's hand and asked him, out of brotherly affection, to take care of his younger brother, the Eighth Prince Chu Wujiu, if possible in the future.
Not many people knew about this, but several key generals present were aware of it.
Xu Zhiyuan pondered and said, "The Eighth Prince currently has no power in the palace, and because his mother is of humble origin, she is not valued by His Majesty... It would be extremely difficult to enthrone him."
“It is precisely because he has no power that our merit in supporting him is all the more evident!” a general said in a deep voice. “Moreover, the Eighth Prince is benevolent and kind. If he ascends the throne, he will certainly not do the thing of discarding a bow after the birds are all gone.”
"The key question is, how can we succeed?" another strategist asked. "The capital is currently under the control of the Fifth Prince, and the Second Prince is also eyeing it covetously. We are far away in the northern frontier; how can we interfere in the deposition and enthronement of the emperor in the capital?"
Xu Qingyao took a deep breath and stated her plan:
"The affairs of the capital are beyond our direct control. But we can 'purge the court of corrupt officials'!"
She pointed to the map: "The reason why the Fifth Prince is able to control the court is nothing more than the power of Consort Xiao's maternal family and some of the Imperial Guards. But His Majesty has not yet passed away, so his position is ultimately illegitimate."
We can unite all the court officials suppressed by the Fifth Prince, as well as those loyal to His Majesty, and, on the grounds that the Fifth Prince is colluding with a wicked concubine, disrupting the court, and delaying military operations, request that we purge the emperor from these corrupt officials! At the same time, we should support the Eighth Prince!
"How do we unite? Who will make the contact?" Xu Zhiyuan asked. This was the most crucial step.
Xu Qingyao looked out the window, her gaze seemingly piercing through mountains and rivers, landing on that bustling yet dangerous imperial capital:
"I'll go."
"No!" the crowd shouted in unison.
She was physically weak, and the capital city was a den of dragons and tigers.
"I have to go."
Xu Qingyao's tone was resolute, "Only I truly understand the connections between Shen Rou and the Fifth and Second Princes, and only I, as Xiao Zhouyan's wife, can gain the trust of those court officials who are still observing the situation. Besides..."
She glanced at the unconscious Xiao Zhouyan and said, "I need some rare medicinal herbs from the imperial palace's treasury in the capital. Perhaps they can save him."
The latter part of her statement was a spur-of-the-moment thought, but it was also the truth. With the system dormant, she could only rely on herself.
Ultimately, thanks to Xu Qingyao's persistence and meticulous planning, everyone agreed to her proposal.
Xu Zhiyuan and his former troops from the Northern Frontier were tasked with holding Yunzhou to delay the Li Kingdom's offensive. Meanwhile, Xu Qingyao, carrying Xiao Zhouyan's token, indirect evidence of Shen Rou's dealings with the Fifth Prince, and a small team of elite assassins, secretly headed south and infiltrated the capital.
**
The capital city is rife with undercurrents.
Xu Qingyao's infiltration was exceptionally difficult.
The capital city, under the control of the Fifth Prince, was heavily guarded, with spies everywhere.
Relying on the system's remaining reconnaissance capabilities and the cover of her assassins, she moved cautiously like a shadow in the night.
She first contacted Lin Wenzheng, the old minister and tutor who had been dismissed from office for impeaching the fifth prince, and presented some evidence to explain the situation.
Grand Tutor Lin was a veteran of three reigns, with students and old friends all over the court and the country. He was highly respected and had long been dissatisfied with the Fifth Prince's behavior, but he lacked evidence and an opportunity.
Having received what Xu Qingyao brought, he immediately began to secretly contact like-minded people.
Then, Xu Qingyao risked contacting the Eldest Princess.
After the incident at Lengxiang Garden, the Eldest Princess harbored deep resentment towards the Fifth Prince's faction, and she had always maintained a close relationship with the Eighth Prince. She wielded considerable influence within the imperial clan, making her stance crucial.
Finally, and most dangerously, Xu Qingyao managed to contact the Eighth Prince, Chu Wujiu, who lived deep within the palace.
Chu Wujiu was sixteen years old. He had a handsome face, clear eyes, and a scholarly air about him, which was completely different from his power-hungry older brothers.
Despite his life in the cold palace, he did not become depressed. Instead, he read extensively and gained insight into the hardships of the people.
When Xu Qingyao met him in a secluded palace garden arranged by the Princess, he was not flustered, but calmly looked at her and asked, "What brings Madam Xiao here at such a risk?"
Looking into his clear eyes, Xu Qingyao laid out her plan in its entirety: "Purge the court of corrupt officials, support His Highness, and save the Great Zhou."
Chu Wujiu remained silent for a long time before slowly saying:
“Wu Jiu is of limited talent and learning, and I fear he is not capable of shouldering such a heavy responsibility. Moreover… this is treason.”
"This is not treason, but restoring order!"
Xu Qingyao earnestly said, "The Fifth Prince is acting against the will of Heaven, the border is in grave danger, and the people are filled with resentment. The Second Prince is having an affair with a wicked concubine, and his intentions are unfathomable. His Majesty is seriously ill, and the country is in grave danger."
"Your Highness, are you truly willing to stand by and watch our ancestral legacy crumble, and the common people be plunged into the flames of war? How can the Seventh Prince rest in peace in heaven?"
Mentioning his seventh brother, who shared the same mother, Chu Wujiu's eyes reddened slightly. He clenched his fists, finally raised his head, and a resolute look, beyond his years, flashed in his eyes: "What does Wujiu need to do?"
**
Just as Xu Qingyao was secretly making connections in the capital, the war in the northern frontier reached its most critical moment.
Yunzhou City is besieged by the Li Kingdom's army and is in imminent danger.
Xu Zhiyuan led from the front, fighting valiantly. Supported by the belief of "fighting for General Xiao," the soldiers of the northern frontier unleashed astonishing fighting power and held the city walls firmly.
And in the capital, the moment of truth has arrived.
The Fifth Prince, Chu Huaijin, seemed to sense the undercurrents and quickened his pace, attempting to force the ailing emperor to write an edict of succession.
However, he underestimated the forces opposing him.
Just as he led his troops into the emperor's palace, a sudden attack was launched by a consortium led by Grand Tutor Lin and the Eldest Princess, along with some imperial guards, upright officials, and members of the imperial clan! Xu Qingyao presented some of the secret letters between Shen Rou and officials under the Fifth Prince, as well as evidence that the Fifth Prince had embezzled military funds in the northern frontier and missed opportunities in the war.
"Fifth Prince Chu Huaijin colluded with a wicked concubine, wreaked havoc on the court, and attempted to force the emperor to abdicate. His crimes are unforgivable!"
Grand Tutor Lin, holding the golden mace bestowed upon him by the late emperor, angrily rebuked everyone.
Chaos erupted within the palace as the army loyal to the Fifth Prince clashed with the rebel Imperial Guards.
Amidst the chaos, no one noticed that Xu Qingyao, under the cover of the princess's confidants, quietly entered the depths of the emperor's palace.
Chu Huaiyuan lay on his sickbed, emaciated and barely breathing. Xu Qingyao looked at him, her heart filled with complex emotions.
This emperor, who was suspicious of her husband and indulged in the infighting among his princes, is now a dying candle in the wind.
She didn't say much, but simply put a pill, prepared based on residual data from the system, into the emperor's mouth. This pill could temporarily keep him alive and keep him conscious.
She needed him to say one last thing in her final moments.
Under the influence of the medicine, Chu Huaiyuan's cloudy eyes opened a crack.
He saw Xu Qingyao by the bedside, and the Eighth Prince Chu Wujiu, who had been brought in, his face filled with sorrow yet unable to conceal his determination.
Xu Qingyao spoke quickly in his ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince has forced the throne, and the Second Prince is also not a good choice. The Northern Frontier is in danger, and the Li Kingdom is eyeing us covetously. Only the Eighth Prince is benevolent and wise, and can inherit the country. The Seventh Prince entrusted him with his dying wish, and General Xiao is also willing to be loyal. Please, Your Majesty... make the final decision for the sake of the country."
Chu Huaiyuan's pupils contracted slightly, and his gaze lingered on Chu Wujiu's face for a long time, as if he were recalling the seventh son who died young and was most similar to him, or as if he were seeing the crumbling empire.
His lips moved, and with his last strength, he uttered a few words, indistinct yet clear, to the eunuch standing beside him:
"The throne...the throne is passed to...the Eighth Prince...Wujiu..."
After saying that, he completely fainted and stopped breathing.
The emperor has passed away, and his will has been issued.
When the imperial edict, which was recorded on the spot by the eunuch and stamped with the imperial seal, was read aloud by the eldest princess, the fighting in the palace instantly stopped.
The fifth prince's face was ashen, but he was helpless.
The moral high ground has been set!
**
The eighth prince, Chu Wujiu, ascended the throne amidst the chaos, becoming Emperor Ming.
The first thing he did after ascending the throne was to swiftly purge the remaining factions of the Fifth Prince and Consort Xiao, exonerate the wronged officials, and issue an edict to severely reprimand the Second Prince for colluding with Shen Rou, ordering him to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors.
The second thing was to urgently mobilize troops from the capital region and surrounding areas, appoint veteran generals as commanders-in-chief, and rush to the aid of the northern frontier!
At the same time, a public announcement was made to vindicate Xiao Zhouyan and praise his merit in guarding the northern frontier.
With the full support of the imperial court, the situation in the northern frontier was instantly reversed.
The reinforcements, working together with the Yunzhou garrison, inflicted a major defeat on the Li Kingdom's army. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Yan Zhan had no choice but to retreat in haste.
The crisis in the northern border was thus resolved.
**
Three months later, in the capital.
The new emperor, Chu Wujiu, secured his throne, and the court gradually stabilized. He was diligent in governing, cared for his people, and humbly accepted advice, demonstrating the qualities of a wise ruler.
The Zhenyuan Marquis's Mansion has regained its former glory, and is even more prosperous than before.
On a bright and sunny afternoon, Xiao Zhouyan finally opened his eyes. The curse and poison in his body had finally been cleared thanks to Xu Qingyao's painstaking treatment and the rare medicinal herbs sent from the capital.
The first thing he saw when he woke up was Xu Qingyao, who was lying by the bedside, looking haggard but with tears in her eyes.
"Qingyao..."
His voice was hoarse as he raised his hand to touch her cheek.
Xu Qingyao grabbed his hand, pressed it against her face, and tears finally fell: "You're finally awake..."
Having survived a brush with death, the two looked at each other speechlessly, only able to embrace tightly.
Afterwards, although Xiao Zhouyan was no longer suitable for fighting on the battlefield due to his physical damage, he was entrusted with the important position of Privy Councilor by the new emperor, participating in military affairs and holding a prestigious position.
For her merits in saving the emperor and resolving the plague, Xu Qingyao was specially granted the title of First-Rank Imperial Lady. She no longer deliberately hid her "medical skills" and would occasionally treat some difficult and complicated diseases, gradually gaining fame.
The Xu family naturally rose in status as well, and Xu Zhiyuan continued to guard Hexi, winning the emperor's favor.
The once powerful and reborn Shen Rou has long since turned to dust and been forgotten.
Although Yan Zhan was defeated and retreated back to Li Kingdom, he was severely weakened and could no longer pose a threat in the short term.
On a crisp autumn day, Xiao Zhouyan accompanied Xu Qingyao for a stroll in the garden of the Marquis's residence.
The crabapple blossoms are in full bloom.
"Do you remember when you said you wanted to see what kind of story we could write?" Xiao Zhouyan asked softly, holding her hand.
Looking at the autumn colors filling the garden, Xu Qingyao smiled slightly: "This story is very good."
The treacherous officials were removed, a wise ruler was established, the borders were temporarily at peace, and the country was stable.
And she can finally put down her burdens and live peacefully with the person beside her.
The system remains dormant, and may never wake up again.
But she no longer relies on that special ability.
This world, this ending, was earned by her through her wisdom and courage, together with the one she loved.
After the storm has passed, the bright and clear world is finally revealed.
(End of text)
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