Chapter 113: Karma and retribution
The morning light broke through the night, the mist had not yet dissipated, and there was deathly silence at the exit of the corridor.
Yan Jinghuan held Shen Xingwan firmly in his arms, his blood-stained black python robe dragging on the ground, splashing dark red spots all the way.
He walked steadily. The girl curled up in his arms had a pale face and her slender fingertips tightly grasped his collar, as if she was afraid that if she was not careful, she would lose this sense of security.
The Empress Dowager and Concubine Zhang, who were hiding in a secret room in the corridor, were also searched and escorted out.
The Queen Mother was dressed in a plain white gown, with her crown tilted to one side, her face was pale, her eyes were cloudy and blank, and she had obviously lost her spirit.
She lowered her head, as if she had aged more than ten years overnight. Even her steps had lost their former dignity and majesty. She just moved forward woodenly.
Zhang Concubine followed closely behind her, with her head down all the time, her body trembling. Her expression could not be seen clearly, but she could feel her clenched fists under her sleeves trembling slightly as if she was trying hard to hold back.
The group walked forward in silence, until the Queen Mother and Concubine Zhang were about to step out of the corridor, when something unexpected happened!
Zhang Concubine hurriedly ran forward a few steps. The moment she brushed past Shen Xingwan, she suddenly jumped up like a desperate female beast, her eyes blurred with tears, and she screamed:
"Bitch! Pay for my son's life!!"
With a flash of cold light, a sharp dagger shot out from her sleeve and stabbed straight into Shen Xingwan's chest!
Almost as if it were an instinctive reaction, Yan Jinghuan suddenly turned around, stretched out his long arms, and held Shen Xingwan tightly in his arms.
The dagger pierced into his shoulder with a sharp sound of breaking wind, and the moment blood burst out, it splashed all over Shen Xingwan's face!
"Yan Jinghuan!" Shen Xingwan screamed.
The assassins all around moved at the same time. Almost in an instant, Concubine Zhang was thrown to the ground and held down.
She struggled frantically, cursing incessantly, her voice shrill.
"You two bastards! You must die a horrible death! Shen Xingwan, you killed my son! You killed my son!!! You vicious woman! You bitch! It's you who deserves to die! It's you..."
The assassin gritted his teeth and covered her mouth and nose fiercely, dragging her away as she sobbed and struggled.
The cries and curses echoed in the corridor, sad and mournful, becoming increasingly distant until they were finally drowned out by the sweet and fishy morning light.
The Queen Mother was startled by this sudden change. When she looked back, her face turned pale as paper.
Her lips trembled and she seemed to want to say something but stopped herself several times.
Yan Jinghuan stood still, protecting Shen Xingwan with his left hand, and holding the bleeding shoulder with his right hand. He fixed his cold eyes on the Queen Mother and spoke in a low and cold voice:
"Empress Dowager, you have lived through two dynasties, so you must be a smart person."
"It would be better for everyone if we face the reality sooner, don't you think...?"
He paused slightly, a sneer appeared on the corner of his lips, his eyes were cold and filled with murderous intent.
“He who knows the times is a hero.”
"If you stay calm, you can still sit on the throne of Grand Empress Dowager, enjoy all the honors, and live out your life in peace."
The Queen Mother's heart shuddered, as if all her strength was completely drained by these words.
She knew very well that now the situation had come to this, the situation was hopeless and she no longer had any choice.
If she continues to be stubborn, I'm afraid her end will be worse than Concubine Zhang.
She closed her eyes for a long time, then said in a trembling voice: "I am old... confused... I will follow the regent's arrangements."
Yan Jinghuan nodded slightly but said nothing. He just stared at the Queen Mother quietly, as if waiting for her to express her opinion.
After a long stalemate, the Queen Mother realized that she could not bear it any longer. She finally sighed and ordered in a cold voice:
"Concubine Zhang has behaved inappropriately and has gone insane. She must be banished to the cold palace and never see the light of day again."
The palace maids following the empress dowager bowed their heads and accepted the order.
The murderous intent in Yan Jinghuan's eyes gradually faded, and his tone became a little gentler. He said lightly:
"The Queen Mother is frightened. Send her back to the palace to recuperate. Send someone to guard and take good care of her. No mistakes can be made."
"yes!"
Immediately, a soldier stepped forward and gestured to the Queen Mother to invite her. The Queen Mother had no choice but to lower her head and slowly leave, led by the soldier.
Shen Xingwan lay in Yan Jinghuan's arms, listening to all this, feeling mixed emotions and feeling very uncomfortable.
She naturally understood that being banished to the cold palace meant being imprisoned until death.
Concubine Zhang, I’m afraid you won’t even survive this night.
Keeping the empress dowager around was just a way to preserve a line of noble bloodline when the new emperor ascended the throne, as a token of compliance with heaven's will.
Although she knew that the battle for the throne had always been like this, she still couldn't help but sigh at the cruelty involved.
A palace coup, life and death calculations, rivers of blood, but in the end, the winner is still the king.
She pursed her lips, and with trembling hands tore open the softest gauze on her skirt, carefully bandaging the wound on Yan Jinghuan's shoulder, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably.
Her eyes were red, she bit her lip, and choked, "Don't be so stubborn... You're bleeding... Go get treated, okay?"
Yan Jinghuan looked at her tearful eyes and his heart tightened.
He wiped away the tears on her cheek with his cool fingertips and said softly, "Well, I'll listen to you."
Before he finished speaking, he leaned over to her and gently sucked away the tears on her cheeks. "Don't cry, it won't hurt."
The two walked hand in hand as the morning light grew brighter, illuminating the wet bloodstains on the ground and the corpses lying everywhere.
In the distance, the large reinforcement force led by Shen Yunchao held high their flags, with bright red blood and silver armor complementing each other. In the billowing smoke, the army was in formation, like a surging mountain and sea.
The entire imperial city is being reborn from the ashes.
From all directions, the sound of clashing weapons could be heard from time to time. It was the desperate struggle of the remaining forces who tried to seize power in the chaos but were ruthlessly crushed by the iron hooves.
Yan Jinghuan looked around, his eyes like a cold pond, filled with murderous intent.
"Any traitor who refuses to surrender will be killed without mercy." He ordered coldly.
"yes!"
Following an order, the assassins rushed forward to pass on the message, and the army immediately split into several groups and quickly rushed to the corners that had not yet been cleared.
Shen Xingwan stared at all this in a daze, as if she was at the end of the world, or at the last storm before dawn.
She looked back at Yan Jinghuan beside her, only to see that he was covered in blood, his face was pale, and blood was still oozing from his shoulder. However, he was like an undefeated god of war, standing firmly in this chaotic world.
Her nose felt sore and she couldn't help but throw herself into his arms, sobbing softly.
Yan Jinghuan hugged her tightly with one hand, holding her slightly trembling body.
The morning light penetrated the blood mist, illuminating the towering palace walls and the complete silence.
"go home."
He held her tightly, protecting her from the bloodstains on the ground, and walked out step by step.
Along the way, the assassins had wiped out the remnants of the rebels in various places.
Under the palace wall, there were many palace servants and guards lying in dishevel, holding weapons. None of those who had ulterior motives were spared.
Outside the palace gate, the reinforcements that had arrived long ago were a sea of black armor, with fluttering flags, and silver-armored soldiers lined up in neat formations to welcome the Regent.
Seeing Yan Jinghuan walking out with Shen Xingwan in his arms, everyone knelt on one knee and shouted:
"Meet the Regent! Meet the Princess!"
Shen Xingwan was shocked by the sudden murderous aura and could not help but clench her fingers.
Yan Jinghuan lowered his head and gave her a soothing look, then raised his eyes and waved his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.
"Clear the palace and the city, thoroughly investigate the rebels, and kill those who resist and refuse to surrender on the spot."
His voice was not loud, but it was clear as thunder, penetrating the smoke and spreading across the fields.
All the generals and soldiers responded in unison, and their voices shook the palace.
Shen Xingwan looked up and saw Shen Yunchao standing not far away in military uniform, riding a horse with a stern look on his face.
Although he was covered in blood, he looked calm as usual.
Her eyes met with Shen Yunchao's in the air, and in just a moment, they tacitly confirmed each other's safety.
After today, everything will be settled, waiting for you to rule the world.
Yan Jinghuan whispered in Shen Xingwan's ear: "I will take you out of the palace. Xing Zhou's people will escort you back to the mansion. You can go back and rest first."
Shen Xingwan raised his head suddenly, his face pale: "What about you? You are still injured!"
Yan Jinghuan chuckled, his eyes doting, and raised his fingertips to touch her forehead, "I'm not going to die yet. Someone has to clean up this mess."
"Then... I'll wait for you." Shen Xingwan's eyes were sore and she choked up and said, "Come back early."
His eyes were deep, his Adam's apple moved slightly, "Yeah."
After saying this, he personally handed her over to Xing Zhou who came to pick her up, and watched her get on the carriage and slowly leave.
He didn't withdraw his gaze until the slender figure completely disappeared at the end of the morning mist, and the coldness in his body spread again like a tide.
"All soldiers, listen up! Follow me and wipe out the remaining evildoers!"
He gave an order, and the silver armor behind him roared like a huge wave.
In the dilapidated cold palace, Concubine Zhang was dragged to a shabby bedroom and thrown on the cold and damp brick floor.
She had been tortured to the point of being nearly insane, her hair was disheveled, her eyes were still filled with hatred, she pounded the ground like a madman, and cried incessantly.
The Queen Mother was escorted back to Shoukang Palace by Yan Jinghuan's assassins.
All the palace servants had already left Shoukang Palace, leaving only an empty hall.
The Queen Mother staggered into the hall, looked around and saw no one, it was extremely desolate.
She staggered to the high seat, slowly sat down with the help of the armrest, her face was pale and her fingers were shaking weakly.
"Bring me tea..."
In the huge and cold palace, no one responded; the silence was eerie.
The Queen Mother was stunned for a long time, staring blankly at the teapot that had already gone cold on the table not far away, feeling a little dazed.
Her eyes were misty, and her thoughts seemed to have gone back to decades ago, to those glorious moments when everyone admired her.
It’s a pity that things are no longer the same now.
The only thing she could keep was an empty title and a piece of mourning paper.
She sneered and murmured blankly: "It's really unpredictable...Aijia, it has finally come to this point..."
The voice drifted in the silent palace, and no one answered.
As night falls, the palace is completely cleared.
Yan Jinghuan was still wearing the blood-stained black python robe, with blood-soaked gauze wrapped around his shoulders.
He stood on the imperial steps in front of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, overlooking the entire imperial city.
The killing has stopped and everything is silent.
Only the wind, carrying the smell of blood and gunpowder, lingered under the sky.
He took a deep breath and ordered in a deep voice:
"Pass the order down!"
"Tomorrow, a new emperor will be appointed."
"Announce to the world, purge the emperor's entourage, exterminate the traitors, obey the will of heaven, and make the Fourteenth Prince the heir to the throne!"
All the commanders knelt respectfully and responded loudly:
"yes!"
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