I apologize
"Qi Junxu, do you think your mother, in her current state, can even leave this palace?"
Qi Junxu looked at the deranged Shangguan Qingyao and couldn't help but tremble. The hairpin that was pressed against Jiang Yi's throat accidentally pierced her skin, and warm blood immediately flowed out, quickly soaking her clothes.
Jiang Yi couldn't help but hiss.
He Lin's pupils contracted sharply as she tensed up, raising a hand to reassure him: "Okay, I promise you, don't hurt her."
At this moment, Qi Junxu seemed to realize that he had accidentally hurt Jiang Yi. He glanced down at her injury, quickly moved the hairpin away, hesitated for a moment, and whispered in Jiang Yi's ear in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "I'm sorry."
Jiang Yi didn't say anything and silently followed him backward.
Seeing this, He Yu took advantage of everyone's inattention and quietly circled around to the back of the two. Just as he was about to rescue Jiang Yi, Shangguan Qingyao suddenly got up from the ground and shouted at Qi Junxu.
"My son!"
The sudden cry was so shrill that He Yu was stunned for a moment and didn't have time to make a move.
Shangguan Qingyao seemed to awaken from a daze, her face gentle and loving, the curve of her eyes and eyebrows radiating a tender light. She said softly, "Mother is gone."
In fact, from his position, Qi Junxu couldn't hear those words; he could only barely make out what Shangguan Qingyao was saying from her lips.
As soon as she uttered those three words, she didn't hesitate for a moment and turned around to smash herself against the pillar next to her.
A heavy thud echoed from the main hall. A streak of crimson blood appeared on the vermilion pillar. Shangguan Qingyao fell straight onto the cold floor under everyone's gaze, a glaring crimson blood seeping from her forehead, quickly piling up on the ground.
Jiang Yi never expected that Shangguan Qingyao would die by hitting her head against a pillar in the Taiji Hall. At that moment, Jiang Yi's heart trembled violently, and she felt cold all over, her hands and feet were extremely cold, and she even lost all feeling.
Qi Junxu witnessed his mother lying motionless on the ground. His eyes widened in shock, and the two hands that had been holding Jiang Yi slipped and fell to the ground with a "clink." His lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word.
After a long while, Qi Junxu finally staggered toward Shangguan Qingyao, but he tripped and fell on his knees, crawling over on his hands and feet...
"Mother..."
Qi Junxu picked up the person who had stopped breathing and trembled as he wiped the blood from her forehead, but no matter how he wiped it, it wouldn't come off; instead, the more he wiped, the more blood appeared.
"Mother, don't scare me, Mother..."
"Get up and let Xu'er wipe your face, okay? Aren't you always so vain? You don't look good like this at all, Mother..."
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Please wake up..."
"..."
"Mother!!"
Qi Junxu sat on the ground, tightly holding Shangguan Qingyao, and broke down in tears and snot, with veins bulging on his forehead and neck.
From the day Jiang Yi met him, Qi Junxu had always been arrogant, looking down on everyone, and had never been so pathetic. Now, however, he was holding his mother's body and weeping bitterly, like a homeless puppy caught in the rain, unable to find its way home...
He Lin came to Jiang Yi's side and took her cold hand in his. Jiang Yi curled her fingers and squeezed his hand back tightly.
Oh no, at this rate, Qi Junxu might turn evil and take revenge on He Lin! That's how it always happens in TV dramas!
Emperor Liang stared at Shangguan Qingyao for a long time, his eyes filled with complex emotions and silence. His shoulders hunched over unconsciously, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
He turned and slowly walked up the steps, but after only two steps, his foot suddenly slipped, and he fell down and immediately lost consciousness.
Qi Shuangyun shouted, "Your Majesty!"
"Someone come here! Quickly summon the imperial physician!"
"His Majesty!"
"..."
Chaos erupted inside the Taiji Hall. Only He Lin and Jiang Yi stood unmoved a short distance away, quietly observing the scene unfolding before them, as calm as outsiders.
Jiang Yi asked softly, "He Lin, aren't you going to go see him?"
He Lin remained silent, only pursing his lips tightly.
Looking at his cold profile, Jiang Yi understood and couldn't help but sigh deeply.
It's no wonder He Lin is so indifferent to his biological father; everything that happened today is ultimately the result of Emperor Liang's own actions.
If Emperor Liang had treated Shangguan Qingyao sincerely after marrying her into the palace and hadn't neglected her, then Shangguan Qingyao probably wouldn't have hated him so much, wouldn't have plotted against Su Wan and He Lin, and none of what followed would have happened... If we really have to find a murderer, then he is the one who started the incident and the source of the evil.
The palace was in turmoil that day. Emperor Liang vomited blood and fell into a coma, while Consort Gui died in the main hall in resentment. After the incident, the Empress and the Crown Prince rushed to the Taiji Hall to take charge of the situation. Qi Junyuan decisively ordered people to block all news, which fortunately averted a major chaos.
He Lin was unwilling to stay in the palace. After the imperial physician arrived, he took Jiang Yi and wanted to go home. Qi Junyuan could not stop him, so he tried to persuade He Lin to stay by saying that the person Emperor Liang wanted to see most after waking up was him. Even Qi Shuangyun couldn't help but say that Shangguan Qingyao was dead and had avenged them, so it was time for him to return to Emperor Liang's side and acknowledge his ancestors.
Hearing this, He Lin scoffed, "What does this have to do with me? I am He Lin, not Qi Junheng."
No one could dissuade him from leaving, and in the end, it was the Empress Dowager who spoke first, allowing him to return to the General's Mansion.
This old man, who had lived in the deep palace for most of his life, knew that the grudge between Emperor Liang and He Lin had not been truly resolved. If he were forced to stay in the palace at this time, the effect would probably be counterproductive.
The one who tied the knot must untie it. Some things cannot be explained and understood overnight. Before that, it is better for each of us to calm down and think it over carefully.
When He Lin and Jiang Yi returned home, Su Tong and He Wei were already waiting at the gate of the General's Mansion. They had been waiting for who knows how long.
Su Tong's eyes were slightly red. Without saying a word, she took a few steps forward and gave He Lin a big hug.
"Lin'er, no matter what happens, you will always be your mother's good child. As long as your mother is alive, I will never allow anyone to hurt you."
He Lin's lowered eyelashes trembled, and a feeling of bitterness and grievance welled up in his heart.
Yes, as long as Su Tong is still alive, he will always have a home, always have a place to shelter from the storm. He doesn't need that cold, heartless, and selfish biological father in the palace...
He Wei also raised his hand and patted his shoulder, saying in a deep voice, "It's good that you're back. Hurry up and go inside. Your mother has made your favorite dishes."
He Lin nodded and let out a soft "hmm" from his throat.
"Yi'er, come quickly, Mother has also made your favorite peach blossom cake."
Jiang Yi was surprised that Su Tong still remembered her at this time. It was truly a case of loving someone because of them. She smiled sweetly at her and said, "Mother's peach blossom cakes are the sweetest. You can eat as many as you want without getting tired of them! Thank you, Mother."
"..."
Emperor Liang was unconscious for a day and a night after his fainting spell. The first thing he did after waking up was, as expected, to look for He Lin. The Empress Dowager knew what was on his mind, so she sent everyone out and said something to Emperor Liang. However, she was finally willing to put the matter aside for the time being and focus on recuperating.
With Shangguan Qingyao's death, all those past events were gone with her. Emperor Liang's previous decree in the palace remained unchanged. Out of consideration for Prince Qi Junxu, he gave her a final dignity and buried her as an ordinary concubine. However, she was not allowed to be buried in the royal cemetery, but instead was buried in the Shangguan family's cemetery.
She didn't want to marry into the palace when she was young, but later she hated him for various reasons. In this way, she was given a peaceful and quiet life.
They loathed each other in life, and now that they will not be buried together in death, perhaps it is a relief for both Emperor Liang and Shangguan Qingyao...
After nightfall, Emperor Liang sat at his desk, wearing an outer robe, reviewing memorials. Li Shengquan came in and served him a fresh cup of hot tea and replaced the candlelight.
"Your Majesty, it is late at night, you should rest."
Emperor Liang coughed a few times, clenched his fist, and asked, "Has he not left yet?"
Li Shengquan shook his head slightly.
Qi Junxu knelt outside the Imperial Study to beg for forgiveness from the afternoon onwards. He knelt for several hours. The early spring weather was still not very mild, and the ground was icy cold. Even a body made of iron could not withstand it.
Emperor Liang paused, and a drop of ink fell onto the memorial, quickly spreading outwards.
"His Majesty……"
Emperor Liang frowned, placed the brush on the inkstone, stood up, adjusted his outer robe, and walked step by step toward the door.
Seeing this, Li Shengquan quickly went to get a cloak to put on him.
"Your Majesty, you've just recovered a bit, so why don't you let the Second Prince come in and give his reply?"
"No need, I will go see him myself."
Li Shengquan bowed and nodded, then held up a lamp to illuminate the path for Emperor Liang.
The moment the door to the study opened, Qi Junxu's gaze gradually focused.
"Father!"
As soon as he moved slightly, an unbearable pain shot through his knee, but he ignored the pain and struggled to move his body, even if he had to kneel, he would slowly approach Emperor Liang.
Emperor Liang raised his chin, and Li Shengquan immediately stepped forward to help him up.
"Your Highness, please get up. His Majesty wants you to get up."
Qi Junxu insisted on kneeling, pushing away Li Shengquan's help and refusing to get up.
In the darkness, his eyes shone brightly, like starlight, as he gazed at Emperor Liang before him.
"No, Father, I have a request to ask of you. If you do not grant it, I would rather kneel here forever."
"Xu'er, stop fooling around. I have already shown great mercy by ordering your mother to be buried in the Shangguan family cemetery. She is her, and you are you. Your father will not blame you for her mistakes. You are still my son."
"Father, I beg you, please stop sending people to whip Shen Jianqing's body. Let Mother rest in peace. I beg you, Father!"
Yes, while Emperor Liang ordered the burial of Shangguan Qingyao, he also sent people to dig up the grave of her lover. As soon as this happened, the court was in an uproar, and rumors about the two of them gradually began to circulate among the people.
The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every street and alley, and was unstoppable.
Emperor Liang narrowed his phoenix eyes dangerously and said coldly, "Do you know what you're saying?"
Qi Junxu bowed his head and confessed: "Father, please calm your anger, I understand."
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