Chapter 33 Shen's Accusations
Seeing that His Majesty's arm was covered in blood but he hadn't treated it immediately, Li Dehai, knowing His Majesty as he did, knew that His Majesty would never wait until after the fact to deal with the matter. He immediately urged the Dragon Guards in a shrill voice, "What are you all standing there for! Quickly go and fetch the imperial physician! Hurry!"
Shen Shi, who was being held down by the Dragon Guards in the cold snow, was bleeding from her mouth and nose, yet she still struggled like a madwoman, uttering the most vicious curses, every word aimed at Su Luoxue:
"Su Luoxue! You bitch! You'll get your comeuppance! You'll die a horrible death! You'll die a horrible death!"
"Su Luoxue! I curse you! I curse you to go to hell! May you die a horrible death!"
"You will never be able to have Yuwen Che's child in this lifetime! I curse you! Even if you do have children, they will all die before they turn one! They will all die young! They will all die! Su Luoxue! I curse you—!!"
These words, like poisoned ice picks, pierced Su Luoxue's heart and sent chills down the spines of everyone present. Especially the phrases "unable to bear children" and "all will die young"—for a woman in the imperial harem, these were undoubtedly the most vicious curses imaginable.
Even Pei Xuan, who had just been standing guard with his sword drawn and a cold expression, frowned deeply. He knew all too well how much His Majesty valued Consort Chen; it wasn't just current favor, but a deep expectation and long-term plan for future offspring. This curse had struck a chord directly at His Majesty's heart!
"Shut her up!" Pei Xuan shouted sharply, his tone filled with undeniable killing intent.
The Dragon Guards had initially hesitated, mindful that Lady Shen was, after all, a former Empress and His Majesty's nominal former woman. However, seeing General Pei speak and His Majesty's cold gaze sweep over them without intervening, they immediately ceased their hesitation. A guard swiftly pulled out a cloth and roughly stuffed it into Lady Shen's mouth, silencing her further vicious words, leaving only muffled, unwilling whimpers.
The situation was temporarily brought under control, but the chilling aura of a curse seemed to still linger in the air. The noble ladies and concubines who were on good terms with each other were already trembling in the cold wind, supporting each other, but none of them dared to utter a sound.
Yuwen Che felt the stiffness and coldness of Su Luoxue's body in his arms, and his heart was filled with a mixture of anger and heartache. He was afraid that she would catch a cold, and even more afraid that the curse of the Shen family would leave a shadow in her heart, so he immediately ordered in a deep voice: "Everyone, please go back to the warm pavilion and take your seats."
Having said that, he endured the sharp pain in his left arm, and with his uninjured right hand tightly holding the terrified and pale-faced Su Luoxue, he turned and went back into the warm pavilion. "Li Dehai, immediately add more charcoal to the fire, make sure the room is even warmer. Don't let Consort Chen and the other ladies get cold."
Su Luoxue was clearly terrified by the assassination attempt and the vicious curse. As soon as she entered the warm pavilion, she gently released Yuwen Che's hand. She hurriedly picked up a clean handkerchief from the side. Her hands and clothes were stained with his blood. She trembled and tried in vain to press on his still bleeding wound, tears falling silently down her face.
"Don't be afraid, Xue'er, it's alright, I'm really alright." Yuwen Che held her cold, trembling hand in his right hand and comforted her in a low voice, his tone more patient and gentle than ever before, as if he were the one who was injured and bleeding.
At this moment, the Dragon Guards arrived in haste with the imperial physician. The physician quickly stepped forward and, under Yuwen Che's cold gaze, swiftly and carefully cleaned his wounds, applied medicine, and re-bandaged them.
After treating the wounds, Yuwen Che didn't even think about himself first. Instead, he ordered someone to bring warm water and personally used a damp cloth to gently wipe away the bloodstains on Su Luoxue's hands and neck, bit by bit. Only when the glaring red was no longer on her body did he seem to breathe a sigh of relief.
Having done all this, his aura suddenly turned icy and murderous. He sat steadily in the main seat, pulling the still trembling Su Luoxue to his side, before raising his eyes. His gaze, as cold as ice, swept towards the palace gate, his voice devoid of any warmth:
"Bring that slut in here."
The final judgment is about to begin. Shen's madness has pushed her into an abyss of no return.
Shen was roughly dragged into the warm pavilion by two Dragon Guards and slammed down onto the cold floor. Her hair was disheveled, her clothes were tattered, and there was blood and bloodstains on the corner of her mouth. She looked like a madwoman and was completely out of place in this magnificent palace.
Yuwen Che sat high in the main seat. Although his left arm was bandaged, the dark red bloodstains soaking into his black dragon robe were still shockingly visible. His face showed little emotion, neither rage nor hatred, only an extreme coldness that looked down upon the ants. The majesty of an emperor was fully displayed at this moment, making everyone in the hall almost unable to breathe.
He didn't even glance at Shen's disheveled appearance, and spoke directly, his voice as calm as if he were asking about the weather, yet carrying a coldness that held the power to decide life and death:
"Have you decided how you want to die?"
Long Xiangwei removed the cloth stuffed in Shen's mouth as instructed.
The moment the cloth left her mouth, Madam Shen, like a dying beast, used her last strength to roar at Yuwen Che, her voice sharp and desperate: "Yuwen Che! You're blind! You don't cherish those who love you, you slaughter them all, while you treat those who don't love you like precious jewels! Do you think Consort Chen truly loves you? She's nothing but a lowly merchant's daughter, coveting your power and wealth! For her sake, you slaughtered your wife and her entire family... Now you want to kill me too? I'm your wife! Yuwen Che, aren't you afraid of being ridiculed by the world and leaving behind an eternal infamy?!"
Her words were like poisonous needles, attempting to sow discord and also trying to bind Yuwen Che with public opinion and reputation.
As Su Luoxue listened to her accusations that twisted the truth, especially the one about coveting power, her body trembled slightly with anger and grievance. She opened her mouth to defend herself: "I didn't..."
"Xue'er." Yuwen Che interrupted her, turning his head to look at her pale face. His gaze softened instantly, becoming firm. He held her hand tightly, as if conveying boundless strength and trust to her, his voice clear and steady, echoing throughout the hall:
"I trust you."
He paused, looked into her eyes, and said, word by word, with unwavering conviction, "You don't need to say anything. I trust you."
These few words were more powerful than any lengthy explanation. They completely shattered the Shen family's attempt to sow discord and gave Su Luoxue the strongest sense of security.
Seeing this scene and hearing Yuwen Che's unwavering trust in Su Luoxue, Shen was first stunned, then burst into a shrill and sarcastic laugh as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world. In the end, tears streamed down her face, mixed with the filth on her face, making her look extremely desolate.
"Hahaha...hahaha...Yuwen Che! You believe her? You believe her?!" She suddenly stopped laughing, her bloodshot eyes glaring at Yuwen Che, her voice filled with resentment and accusation, "I am your first wife! I was the Empress Dowager personally chosen for you! I have been with you for so many years, even if I have no merit, I have worked hard! When have you ever...when have you ever given me even a sliver of such trust and affection?!"
She began hysterically denouncing the unfair treatment she had received, angrily cursing Su Luoxue: "What is Su Luoxue? A lowly merchant's daughter! Just because of her seductive looks, she has bewitched you, Yuwen Che, to the point that you disregard ancestral rules and marital affection! Yuwen Che, take a good look! See clearly! Who truly loves you?!"
She shouted out her final question with a hoarse voice, as if trying to awaken Yuwen Che's conscience. Then, as if grasping at the last straw, she questioned him in a vicious and sharp tone, as if cursing him:
"Yuwen Che! Don't forget! Su Luoxue will grow old one day! Her beauty will fade and her love will wane! When that day comes, when she's just a withered corpse, will you still pamper her like you do now?! Will you still?!"
This question, tinged with her resentment towards her own fate and a vicious prophecy of the ultimate end for all those who use their beauty to serve others, pierced the stagnant air in the hall. Everyone held their breath, wondering how His Majesty would answer this ultimate question—the question of "fading beauty and waning love"—that almost every emperor could not avoid.
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