At another time, the Empress would probably summon Shen Wangshu to the palace and berate him mercilessly.
But the person she was staring at with those cold, murderous eyes was someone else entirely.
The Second Princess and the Marquis of Jingbei knelt tremblingly on the ground before her, feeling the cold and terrifying aura emanating from the Empress, and their bodies shook with fear.
"Is there anything you want to say to me?" The Empress looked at her former study companion, then at her princess. Of course, she knew that her childhood study companion was filled with ambition. In order not to let their past friendship fade, she dared not place her in a prominent position. She just wanted her to be honest and be a good friend to her.
She knew that the princess longed for the throne, but as a princess, who wouldn't want to be an empress? She couldn't possibly kill her princess for such a small ambition.
But unexpectedly, her slight mercy made them want to kill her first.
"Your Majesty's meaning is unclear to me," Marquis Jingbei stammered, feeling guilty.
The Empress said nothing, only smiled, and her gaze fell on the Second Princess.
The second princess couldn't even speak.
"Marquis Jingbei, your eldest daughter has secretly told me something. Do you want to know what she said?" the Empress suddenly asked.
Marquis Jingbei's face immediately turned pale.
She did tell her eldest daughter about her plans with the second princess, but the eldest daughter strongly opposed them, and the two had a falling out. However, she never expected that her eldest daughter would secretly inform the emperor about the matter.
That's true. Rather than taking a risk and risking the death of the whole family if it fails, it's better to continue living a life of honor and living a peaceful life.
Marquis Jingbei's mind raced, then she suddenly cried out, "Your Majesty! I'm so sorry, Your Majesty!" She looked up, tears streaming down her face, and pointed at the shocked Second Princess, proclaiming, "The Second Princess wanted to assassinate Your Majesty during the Prince Luan's wedding, and pin the assassination on the First Princess! I had already advised her against it, but the Second Princess was so ruthless and determined to assassinate Your Majesty. But my son was to marry the Second Princess, and she would be my daughter-in-law. My heart softened, and I couldn't bear to betray her and harm her. Yes, it was my selfishness, I'm so sorry, Your Majesty!"
She lay on the ground, crying pitifully.
The second princess was stunned.
The Marquis of Jingbei's sudden and irrefutable testimony made her somewhat doubtful whether the assassination of the Empress was her own idea.
"Mother!" the second princess cried out in terror, "It wasn't your son!" But when she met the Empress's merciless eyes, she felt all her strength drain away.
.
All ambition seemed to vanish in those eyes.
"Mother Empress," the Second Princess called out again.
Looking at the dead end before her, she suddenly felt, for some reason, that she shouldn't be in this situation, but rather...
She's the one who has the last laugh.
"I do not wish to investigate further." If the Empress had been somewhat skeptical before, now she believed everything. She lowered her eyes in disappointment, then looked at the Second Princess and the Marquis of Jingbei without any emotion, and said calmly, "I do not wish to implicate them either. You should commit suicide and give each other some dignity."
Looking at the Second Princess who crawled over in a panic to beg her, she felt annoyed by her. This princess was like a disgrace to her, not only because of her cowardice and lowliness, but also because of her betrayal.
She was her mother, but she wanted to kill her.
You inhuman beast!
"Second Princess... your name has been removed from the imperial register, and you will never be my daughter again." Hearing the Second Princess's mournful cries, she rose and strode away.
When Shen Wangshu learned that the Second Princess and the Marquis of Jingbei had suddenly died in the palace, he felt somewhat regretful.
She still has many schemes she hasn't used yet, and the Second Princess has already incurred the Empress's dislike. How unlucky is that?
It's quite sad that a hero has no place to use his talents.
However, with all the annoying people gone, Shen Wangshu felt that she could now live a carefree life as a parasite without any guilt.
After the Empress ordered the death of her two daughters, she became increasingly lonely. She had more beauties, but she became more and more haggard, and she relied more and more on her eldest daughter in court affairs.
After Shen Wangshu and Fang Xuan got married, they stopped paying attention to the previous dynasty and settled down to be wealthy and idle people.
She lived a very happy life. The Empress and the Crown Princess who later ascended the throne both loved her dearly, and Fang Xuan cherished her, never causing her any trouble. Shen Wangshu felt very fortunate. She was born into nobility and lived a life of nobility. Not only did Fang Xuan protect her, but she also protected her beloved. As a long, long time passed, she slept peacefully by her bedside without any regrets, with her beloved, who had also aged with her.
"Are you happy, Ah Xuan?" She was very old, so old that she might breathe her last at any moment, but she still couldn't help but ask persistently.
The man's deep, contented voice responded to her, "I am very happy, Shushu."
His aged hand grasped hers, gently yet with a slight force.
"Don't forget me, Shushu." He didn't say anything more, just said softly, "Don't forget me."
His words seemed to carry an even greater sense of unbearable burden. Chen Wangshu responded, closed his eyes, and then felt the hand holding his own, which at that moment also lost its strength.
As she lost consciousness, she seemed to hear the cries of her loved ones beside her.
She didn't shed tears, but she just felt unsatisfied.
She wanted to be with Ah Xuan forever, not to meet him again and again in one cycle of reincarnation.
Before this wish could even take shape in her mind, her consciousness was extinguished by the oncoming fire the instant she returned.
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