Chapter 93 The Death of the Northern Princess
Yuwen Che's tears fell silently, soaking Su Luoxue's nightgown. He held her tightly, his voice hoarse and broken: "Xue'er... Mother... she... is gone."
Su Luoxue was taken aback by his words; no wonder he had been acting so strangely tonight. She gently stroked his back: "When did this happen?"
“Just a few hours ago.” He took a deep breath and hugged her tighter. “Xue’er, now I only have you and our child.”
His voice choked with emotion: "You, you absolutely cannot get hurt, you absolutely cannot..."
Su Luoxue felt his trembling, and her heart ached and softened. She cupped his face and wiped away his tears: "The baby and I will be alright. A-Che, you still have us."
“Promise me,” Yuwen Che stared intently into her eyes, “you must protect yourself no matter what.”
"I promise you." Su Luoxue nodded seriously and leaned gently against his chest. "Ache, if you're sad, just cry it out."
He shook his head and buried his face in her neck: "Xue'er, let me hold you for a little while."
The two embraced quietly, and Su Luoxue suddenly asked softly, "What about... the First Prince?"
Yuwen Che's body stiffened slightly, and he remained silent for a moment before speaking: "I will keep my promise to the Empress Dowager and ensure her safety throughout her life."
"That's fine too," Su Luoxue said softly. "Ache, I will always be with you."
Yuwen Che tightened his arms around her and whispered in her ear, "You must also remember your promise. Stay with me forever. If you dare to break your word..."
“No, we won’t.” Su Luoxue interrupted him, her tone firm. “The child and I will always be with you.”
Suddenly, Li Dehai's anxious voice came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, something has happened to the Northern Kingdom delegation!"
Yuwen Che suddenly looked up, his eyes instantly regaining their clarity: "Speak!"
"Princess Helian Mingzhu of the Northern Kingdom attempted suicide, and the imperial physicians are currently treating her!"
Yuwen Che's eyes turned cold, and he gently released Su Luoxue: "You should rest well, I will handle this."
Su Luoxue grabbed his sleeve worriedly: "A-Che..."
He turned to look at her, his gaze deep: "Don't worry, no one can disturb our peace."
Yuwen Che stopped in his tracks when he saw the worry in her eyes. He leaned down and gently kissed her cheek, his voice tender: "Go to sleep, don't worry, okay?"
Su Luoxue gripped his sleeve tightly, refusing to let go: "But the Northern Princess, she..."
"What does her condition have to do with me?" Yuwen Che interrupted her, looking at her intently. "Xue'er, remember, all I care about is you and the peace of the entire Great Zhou."
He took her hand and said clearly, word by word, "Forever."
Looking into his affectionate eyes, Su Luoxue's unease gradually subsided. She nodded gently: "Then you must be careful."
"Alright." Yuwen Che tucked the blanket around her. "I'll be right back."
Stepping out of the bedchamber, his expression instantly turned stern: "Li Dehai, what's going on?"
Li Dehai hurriedly reported: "Princess Helian cut her wrist with a hairpin, but fortunately it was discovered in time. The Northern Kingdom's envoy, Wuzhu, is outside requesting an audience, saying... he wants an explanation."
Yuwen Che sneered: "An explanation? I'd like to see what kind of explanation they want."
He strode towards the Sizheng Hall, where Wuzhu was already waiting outside.
"Your Majesty!" Wuchen exclaimed, his voice trembling with emotion. "Our princess suffered such humiliation in your country. If we do not give an explanation, our Northern Kingdom will never let this go!"
Yuwen Che looked at him coldly: "What does it have to do with me that your princess committed suicide?"
"If His Majesty hadn't neglected the princess so much, how could she have..."
"Enough," Yuwen Che interrupted him. "My Empress is six months pregnant. I have no time for these pointless games. Tell Helian Mingzhu that if he really wants to die, he should find a quiet place. Who is he trying to impress with this half-dead act?"
Wuzhu's face turned ashen: "Your Majesty, are you going to make an enemy of my Northern Kingdom?"
Yuwen Che stood up, his gaze sharp as a knife: "So what if it is? Do you think I would care?"
Just then, Pei Xuan rushed in: "Your Majesty, an urgent report from the northern border!"
Yuwen Che took the military report, glanced at it, and his sneer deepened: "Perfect. Tell Helian Bobo that I will not accept his gift. If he wants war, then let it be; I am ready to fight at any time."
He looked at Pei Xuan: "Send an order to the Marquis of Zhenbei to send troops out in three days as originally planned."
"I obey the decree!"
Wuzhu's expression changed drastically: "Your Majesty, please reconsider! The two countries are at war..."
"Drag him out." Yuwen Che waved his hand, no longer looking at him. The Longxiang Guards immediately stepped forward and dragged Wuzhu out.
Once the hall was quiet, Pei Xuan said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, if we start a war now, I'm afraid those old ministers in the court..."
"My mind is made up." Yuwen Che's gaze was firm. "Only by completely eradicating the Northern Kingdom can the Empress and the future Crown Prince be free from future troubles."
Pei Xuan accepted the order and withdrew. Only after the palace doors closed did Yuwen Che speak calmly to the empty hall: "Come out."
A dark figure appeared silently, and Han Ying knelt on one knee: "My lord."
Yuwen Che toyed with the jade thumb ring in his hand, his voice completely calm: "Go tell the imperial physician who went to the Honglu Guest House to treat the patient..."
He paused, then looked up at Han Ying, his eyes icy cold.
"The princess of the Northern Kingdom committed suicide... By the time she was discovered, it was too late; she was too badly injured and died."
Han Ying immediately understood: "Your subordinate understands."
Yuwen Che's voice grew increasingly chilling: "Since she wants to force me to commit suicide, then I will grant her wish and let her really die. It can also be considered... respecting her choice."
"Rest assured, my lord," Han Ying bowed his head, "I will personally oversee the situation to ensure that the imperial physicians have done their utmost to save him, but it has been too late."
"Make sure it's done cleanly," Yuwen Che instructed as a final instruction. "Make sure no one can find out anything wrong. I don't want to hear any rumors that shouldn't be there, especially... they can't reach the Empress's ears."
"Yes." Han Ying responded, and his figure vanished from the spot in a flash, as if he had never been there.
Yuwen Che stood alone in the hall, the candlelight casting a long, slender shadow of his tall figure. He gazed in the direction of Guanju Palace, his eyes softening, only to be replaced by a resolute look in an instant.
He had to eliminate any potential threat to Xue'er and Da Zhou, no matter the means.
He called out in a deep voice, "Li Dehai."
Li Dehai, who was guarding outside the door, immediately pushed the door open and entered: "This old servant is here."
"Issue my decree," Yuwen Che said calmly, yet with an undeniable air of authority, "Princess Helian Mingzhu of the Northern Kingdom, with a fierce temperament, has committed suicide. As for the Northern Kingdom delegation... have them pack their belongings immediately and escort the coffin out of the capital in three days."
Li Dehai was shocked, but dared not show it on his face. He immediately bowed and said, "This old servant... obeys the decree."
This night was destined to be anything but peaceful.
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