"Father, elder brother."
Zhong Lian'er bowed to Zhong Wuyi and Zhong Min. When Zhong Wuyi and Zhong Min saw that Zhong Lian'er was wearing familiar clothes, a complicated look appeared in their eyes.
"Lian'er, what's wrong with you lately? Your father and I haven't seen you in a long time, and you won't let us see a doctor. We are very worried."
Zhong Wu also looked worried, as if he were looking at the shadow of another person through Zhong Lian'er.
“Father, I am not what you think I am, nor am I the reincarnation of my elder sister.” Zhong Lian’er’s voice was choked with emotion. “You already knew all this before, and the Emperor also told you the truth. I am just a spy sent by the Pei family to Dayu.”
"But you are also the second young lady of the Zhong family."
Hearing Zhong Wuyi's words, Zhong Lian'er was stunned for a moment, and then she laughed out loud, "Father, are you protecting me like this because you really care about me?"
"Everything about my eldest sister was told to me in advance by my master, so that I could infiltrate the Zhong family and obtain the results of the imperial examinations of the four young masters and young ladies of the Qin and Sun families, so that the Sun and Qin families could become the Pei family's allies."
That's enough.
Zhong Wuyi's expression also turned serious. He had been stripped of almost all his power. He was not unaware of Zhong Lian'er's intentions, but since he was now unemployed at home, Zhong Lian'er staying in the Zhong residence would give him the illusion that Qi'er was still there.
Therefore, he preferred to keep a spy from the Pei family.
“Father, I don’t want to be my eldest sister’s substitute, nor do I want to be the way you and my eldest brother make up for it. That’s not fair to my eldest sister.”
During this time, she also learned a lot about Zhong Qier from the servants. The more she learned, the more she felt that Zhong Qier was not as willful and arrogant as she had imagined.
He is a kind-hearted person.
“Now that you’re on the Zhong family genealogy, if you cause any more trouble, wouldn’t you be disgracing the Zhong family?”
"If I continue to stay in the Zhong family, that would be a disgrace to the Zhong family."
Zhong Lian'er slowly curled the corners of her mouth, revealing a smile that was more like a grimace. "Father, let me go. You can use me to exchange for merits with the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. If my elder sister knew that I was her substitute, she probably wouldn't forgive you and my brother."
"you!"
“I am guilty, and I have no right to be a tool for you and my elder brother to remember our elder sister.”
This one sentence silenced both Zhong Wuyi and Zhong Min.
Both of them were speechless, because they both regarded Zhong Lian'er as a substitute for Zhong Qi'er.
"Lian'er bids farewell to her father and her elder brother."
She will go to the palace to beg the emperor to punish her. In any case, she wants to decide her future path based on her own identity, rather than living in Zhong Qi'er's shadow.
"You can leave now."
Zhong Min slowly spoke, "We will tell the people outside that the Second Miss has died suddenly."
The name Zhong Lian'er will only briefly appear in this world.
......
Zhaoning Palace.
Zhong Lian'er knelt on the ground, separated by a screen; she had no right to see Jiang Yu's condition.
"You've come here today seeking death?"
As soon as Jiang Yu's voice rang out, Zhong Lian'er shuddered. She had a natural fear of this ruthless empress dowager.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to live or die, I only ask for a release."
Upon hearing Zhong Lian'er's words, Jiang Yu let out a cold laugh.
"Liberation? From the day you became a pawn of the Pei family, you should have known that death is your only liberation."
Jiang Yu didn't have much kindness towards Zhong Lian'er.
Zhong Lian'er came to the capital of Dayu with the intention of plotting against Dayu. Now she has failed, but if she had succeeded, the situation in Dayu would have been even more difficult.
"Yes, I only wish to die."
“You deserve to die. You know that the Zhong family father and son abandoned Zhong Qi’er to protect themselves and the Zhong family, leaving Zhong Qi’er to bear all the blame. Now they feel guilty, so they can only do their best to be good to you.”
Mentioning Zhong Qier, Jiang Yu became a little out of breath, and Granny Ling quickly stepped forward to help her catch her breath.
"Your Majesty, please don't get angry, getting angry will harm your health."
Jiang Yu's words left Zhong Lian'er stunned. Had her father and brother actually abandoned her eldest sister?
How could that be?
They clearly care about and dote on their eldest sister so much.
"I'm not angry. I just feel sorry for Zhong Qi'er. Zhong Lian'er, do you know that during the days when Zhong Qi'er was imprisoned in the temple, Zhong Wuyi and Zhong Min didn't visit her even once, not even once!"
"And you, you used Zhong Qi'er to come to the Zhong family, becoming their hope for redemption. Shameless!"
The Zhong family father and son were gradually stripped of their power for these reasons.
No one dares to give important positions to someone who is so ruthless and heartless at crucial moments.
"I......"
Zhong Lian'er seemed to want to say something more, but Wanji pulled her out of Zhaoning Palace.
“Miss Zhong, Her Majesty is currently in confinement after childbirth. If you anger her at this time, you will be in a situation where you wish you were dead.”
Wanji sneered, looking at the woman in front of him, as if she thought that by taking the initiative to apologize, she could lessen her punishment.
"Guards, take him away."
If it weren't for the fact that she finally confessed, we wouldn't have been able to keep her alive until now.
......
night.
"I heard that Mother was angry today?"
As soon as he finished dealing with court affairs, Gu Qingyan rushed to Zhaoning Palace. "Mother, it's best not to see that woman. Seeing her is already giving her face."
“I want to tell her the true colors of the Zhong family father and son.” Jiang Yu leaned against the bed. “In the end, the world is unified today, but before that, how many people like her were there? She was lucky to live to this day, but many others are already dead.”
Amidst the strife, there are many pitiful people.
"So, what does Mother intend to do with her?"
"Just lock her up, don't restrict her movements. As for whether she lives or dies, let her choose for herself."
Jiang Yu glanced at the darkening sky outside and sighed almost imperceptibly, "However, it is Qi'er's good fortune that she can stand up for the women she encounters outside. It is much better than staying in the capital."
That very night, Zhong Lian'er committed suicide by hitting her head against a wall.
Because of the immense force with which he hit the wall, his death was extremely gruesome, and it is said that even the guards who went to deal with him were somewhat frightened.
Before her death, Zhong Lian'er left behind a final letter, which clearly stated her true identity, where she came from, and how she became a spy for the Pei family.
As for Zhong Wuyi and Zhong Min, Zhong Lian'er did not leave any letters.
After learning about Zhong Qi'er's true experiences, Zhong Lian'er felt extremely terrified. The faces of Zhong Wuyi and Zhong Min, who had been caring for her, seemed to still be vivid in her mind. How could they have abandoned Zhong Qi'er?
The end of the letter was wet with tears.
In her next life, she wants to be an ordinary, good person.
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