Liu Zhenqing frowned and listened carefully. In fact, he was also very curious. They had assisted Yuan Jue together in the past and got along harmoniously. Liu Zhenqing had even admired Jian Shuang a lot.

He really never suspected that Jian Shuang would plot against him in the end.

Jian Shuang looked at Yao Hua with eyes that were beautiful and clear, so pure that she seemed like a fairy who was not of this world.

“Because he treated Jiejie badly.” Jian Shuang coughed, then said: “He made Jiejie sad, so I hate him.”

Yao Hua didn’t seem to understand what she was saying, and asked: “What…..are you talking about? You’re clearly aware that the feelings between us were always one-sided…..”

Jian Shuang smiled faintly: “I knew that, so I didn’t hate him at first. He didn’t respond to your feelings and broke off the engagement with Li Xingruo without marrying you, which led to you marrying into the East Palace, but I just lamented that fate plays tricks on people. I was afraid you would be sad, and wanted to be with you, so I also managed to marry into the East Palace. When I saw that the crown prince treated you well and that you gradually became happy, I was relieved.”

Yao Hua naturally knew that Jian Shuang had married into the East Palace in order to follow her. She had always thought Jian Shuang had no friends other than her, and didn’t socialize with others, which was why she continued to cling to her. Back when they were in the East Palace, the crown prince treated them extremely well and they lived a very happy life.

Yao Hua sent her a look of confusion, and Jian Shuang’s expression gradually darkened as she said: “But the crown prince was a short-lived ghost and caused us so much trouble!”

Shocked, Yao Hua said: “Shuan’er, how can you say that about His Highness!”

Jian Shuang sneered: “Did he not? If he hadn’t died young, would Great Zhou have been in turmoil, would the Three Kings have caused such chaos, and would we have been drawn into the Imperial power struggle? Living in fear every day, having to take risks with Liu Zhenqing and the others – why did we have to live like that and shoulder such responsibilities? Jiejie cried every night back then and had nightmares, and it hurt my heart to see it. So from that time on, I couldn’t help but think that, if Liu Zhenqing had married you early on, couldn’t you have avoided such things?”

“Absolutely not, how could you vent your anger on Liu Zhenqing!”

“Does Jiejie still remember what she did in order to help get King Zhao’s death certificate for Liu Zhenqing?”

Yao Hua’s expression instantly changed: “You…..”

On the other side, Liu Zhenqing had a blank expression on his face. King Zhao was the one who had died with him in the Dragon Court, and was also the last of the Three Kings to be killed.

Liu Zhenqing had tried every possible means to deal with the most dangerous king, and the last thing missing was a death certificate. This was an extremely critical matter, and if it took too long, the other party would kill him.

In the end, Jian Shuang delivered it soon after, allowing him to successfully deal with King Zhao. Jian Shuang’s wisdom was something he admired back then. She casually gave him an explanation, and Liu Zhenqing didn’t ask further questions. He trusted her very much. But listening to Jian Shuang’s words now, there seemed to be another hidden story.

Jian Shuang said: “Back then, King Zhao was vicious and cruel, with a twisted mentality. He had always wanted you, right? You were ready to trade yourself in order to help Liu Zhenqing achieve his goal!”

Liu Zhenqing went completely still when he heard this and stared with wide, disbelieving eyes. He’d had no idea. Was that how those things happened?!

But in the next second, Yao Hua said anxiously: “I had no choice. I wasn’t going to do it for him, but for all of us! But I never had to do anything – wasn’t it you who solved the problem?”

Yao Hua had indeed made up her mind when faced with that situation. She was the Empress Dowager, after all. If she really went through with it, she was ready to die as penance, but when she went to plot against King Zhao, it was already over.

She’d thought that the endlessly clever Liu Zhenqing had solved the problem once again, and rejoiced. But now, she heard Jian Shuang’s words and saw the resolute look on her face.

Yao Hua’s heart constricted. She instantly reached out and grasped Jian Shuang’s shoulders, asking: “What actually happened?”

Jian Shuang smiled indifferently and said: “Whatever Jiejie wanted to do, I helped her do it. How could I allow King Zhao’s dirty hands to touch Jiejie?”

Yao Hua’s eyes immediately reddened. She stared at Jian Shuang in disbelief.

And Liu Zhenqing lost his balance, staggering back a step.

Jian Shuang snuggled into Yao Hua’s arms like a spoiled child: “Jiejie, don’t wear such an expression. I’m not trying to take credit. In fact, I’ve never cared about these things. I just wanted Jiejie to be well.”

“Shuang’er…..you……” Yao Hua was at a loss for words.

“We were clearly childless, yet willing to take risks for other peoples’ children. It was fine for us to take risks since we had no choice but to embark on that ship, but after we succeeded, we were still trapped in the harem and lived as widows. Why!” Jian Shuang said rapidly: “Jiejie asked me why I wanted to deal with Liu Zhenqing. Actually, I wasn’t happy with him back then, but I didn’t want to kill him – not until he told us that once Yuan Jue took power, he planned to leave.”

Yao Hua was stunned: “It was all because of that drunken nonsense?”

Liu Zhenqing seemed to recall something, and his expression changed again. After King Zhao was taken prisoner, Liu Zhenqing felt that there was nothing left to do. During a drinking and chatting session in the harem, Liu Zhenqing had talked about how Li Xingruo had scolded him for wanting to leave. Yao Hua was probably drunk at the time and couldn’t control herself. She pulled his sleeve and cried, asking if he could take her with him.

And Jian Shuang just watched quietly from the side.

Yao Hua’s eyes were full of love for Liu Zhenqing back then. They had accompanied each other in times of crisis and stayed together day and night. Her suppressed affections were reawakened, overwhelming the difference in their statuses.

Liu Zhenqing was stunned for a moment, then just smiled and shook his head in refusal.

He rejected Yao Hua not only because she was the Empress Dowager, but because she was also the Crown Prince’s widow. He also didn’t return her affections, and couldn’t be responsible for taking her away.

More importantly, although Liu Zhenqing intended to retire after his victory, being able to leave peacefully was not guaranteed. How many eyes were on him back then? When he gave up power, would he really be able to escape? Not necessarily. He should continue to hold onto power in order to ensure that other ministers and powerful enemies couldn’t harm him, but he was too tired. He just wanted to get away from everything. So while he was willing to take the risk, he couldn’t drag others down with him.

He had even told the two people he trusted most to leave in advance, so how could he bring someone else with him?

Therefore, he rejected Yao Hua, and she fell asleep drunk. Liu Zhenqing only remembered that when he was leaving with the wine jug, Jian Shuang had looked at him and said: “You will regret this.”

He’d just thought Jian Shuang was sighing with emotion, or feeling sorry for Yao Hua. He didn’t expect that…..

“I hate him. You were with him for so long, putting him first in everything and considering his feelings, but when the time came, he intended to go away and leave you alone. What right did he have to do that?” Jian Shuang sneered.

Yao Hua trembled uncontrollably: “Just because of this? That was my drunken talk. I was the Empress Dowager, and I was already married. How could I have gone with him? I just…..”

“Jiejie, don’t lie to me. I know that as long as he agreed, even if you died or risked the wrath of the world, you were willing to follow him. And I would have done my best to help you. I just wanted you to be happy, but he failed you.”

“Shuang’er, you can’t force others to like you,” Yao Hua said.

Jiang Shuang said: “I don’t care about others, only you. Whatever you want, I will give it to you. He didn’t take you with him, so I wanted his life.”

Therefore, she went to meet the imprisoned King Zhao by virtue of their previous relationship. With just a little prodding, King Zhao went crazy and desperately wanted to kill Liu Zhenqing. Since Liu Zhenqing refused to take Jian Shuang’s jiejie with him, he must leave his life behind!

Yao Hua looked down at Jian Shuang in her arms. Her body shook uncontrollably, yet she felt incomparably sad and desolate.

But Liu Zhenqing felt neither resentment or hatred when he heard this, because he knew that even without Jian Shuang, he never would have been able to leave the palace. He only felt extreme helplessness and regret.

After a long silence, Yao Hua asked in a trembling voice: “Then…..why did you help King Jing rebel? Was it also because of me?”

At this moment, Yao Hua seemed not to be counting Jian Shuang’s sins, but her own, as if she had become the culprit in all of this.

Jian Shuang said: “It was because of Yuan Jue. I had hinted to him before that after he took power, he should secretly let us leave the palace since I knew Jiejie didn’t want to stay here, but he pretended not to understand. The royal family is just selfish. We have clearly sacrificed so much for them, but they refused to grant even such a small request, on account of the so-called royal dignity and face.”

“It doesn’t matter that he didn’t agree. Liu Zhenqing is dead, so I know that for Jiejie, it makes no difference whether she stays or leaves. But he never, ever should have become guarded against us, disrespected us, or taken away our power. He wanted to throw us away after we served our use, and made Jiejie lost and sad. We are clearly the ones who raised him, but he is a white-eyed wolf. Since Yuan Jue wouldn’t let me control him, I just changed the person in command. As long as I could take control, I would be able to make them into filial sons.” Jian Shuang tilted her head and asked Yao Hua, “At least this way, Jiejie could find happiness for herself from her children, right?”

Yao Hua had long accepted the fact that she couldn’t see through Jian Shuang’s thoughts. Seeing her like this, she said: “But you seem to have replaced him with someone even more heartless.”

“At least he’s stupid, and easier to control than Yuan Jue. Jiejie, I don’t blame you, but if you hadn’t contradicted me just now…..” Jian Shuang couldn’t help but look at Yao Hua with some grievance as she said: “You want my life for the sake of Liu Zhenqing. Why bother with all of this? Just tell me, and I’m willing to die at your hands. Aren’t you tired of putting on an act with me like this? If I had known, I would have felt sorry for you.”

Yao Hua said mournfully: “You are my most treasured meimei. I’ve never wanted your life, I just wanted to give them justice. But what you were doing made me sad and afraid. You have no sense of ethics, right or wrong, or peace and prosperity in the world.”

Jian Shuang responded: “My heart is small, and can only accommodate Jiejie. As long as Jiejie is well, nothing else matters.”

Jian Shuang was so beautiful and smart, but she wasn’t good at dealing with people. Her mother died young, and her father wanted to use her as goods to trade, but she was weak, sickly, and had nowhere to go.

She was hated by her sisters at home and coveted by the men outside, and encountered all kinds of conflicts and torments no matter where she was.

Those in darkness would yearn for light. Yao Hua gave her that light and became the sun of Jian Shuang’s world. The sun should be high above, enjoying the best of everything in the world, so Jian Shuang was never willing to compromise on Yao Hua in the slightest. Even if she was in the quagmire, she would hold Yao Hua aloft and keep her away from even a speck of dust.

She had thought she was trying to do right by her. But with her jiejie opposing her while wearing such an expression on her face, Jian Shuang was miserable.

“Jiejie, do you hate me?” Jian Shuang asked. “Please don’t hate me, okay?”

Yao Hua closed her eyes. She choked on a sob, but couldn’t utter a word. She didn’t hate Jian Shuang. She hated herself, and felt that she hadn’t taught her meimei well enough.

Jian Shuang regarded Yao Hua with pursed lips, appearing a little anxious. She tried to defend herself by saying: “Jiejie, I didn’t actually kill the person you liked, so can you hate me a little less?”

Yao Hua was stunned. She knew she was talking about Liu Zhenqing, but…..what did she mean she didn’t kill him? Did she mean that even though she made arrangements, it was still an accident?

Just as she was about to speak, the doors were pushed open and Yuan Jue and his eunuch attendant walked inside. The eunuch was holding a jug of wine, and its purpose was evident.

Yuan Jue’s expression was still mild. His appearance was gentle, but his eyes were ice cold.

“Have the Empress Dowager and the Taifei finished speaking?” Yuan Jue asked placidly.

Yao Hua looked at the poisoned wine and opened her mouth, but didn’t plead for Jian Shuang.

Jian Shuang also looked at the wine jug and suddenly laughed: “You don’t even plan to interrogate me? That’s right. In the royal tent before, you acted until the end without holding me hostage. It seemed like you were stalling for time, but in fact, you just wanted to figure out who else would be unfaithful to you. You’re still so suspicious that you tested them even in such a situation.”

“Since this emperor risked himself for the sake of the show, I must maximize my benefits. As the emperor, I am naturally unable to easily extend my trust. After all, since the death of my father, those closest to me have constantly betrayed me, from Great Zhou, to Xiheng, and back to Great Zhou. The word I am the most familiar with is ‘betrayal.’”

Liu Zhenqing wasn’t surprised to hear this. He knew that after falling from a favored child of heaven to a hostage, then escaping from the brink of death and slowly taking his place on the throne, Yuan Jue’s character before and after couldn’t be mentioned in the same breath.

“You did me the favor of raising me, after all, so I won’t make things difficult for you. I have interrogated King Jing thoroughly, and he has already passed. This emperor has come to see the Taifei off.”

Jian Shuang was indifferent. She took the wine jug from the eunuch,set it beside her, and poured herself a cup of wine. She swirled the wine in the cup and abruptly said with a smile: “This was all a deception, right? You already suspected King Jing and I, already knew there was an edict. You used me and your didi to eradicate all the remaining filth in Great Zhou, root out the remaining rebels, safeguard your royal power, and lure out that edict that you cared about the most. Truly impressive. You are worthy of being the emperor taught by Liu Zhenqing.”

From the moment she failed, Jian Shuang had been reviewing everything in her mind, and gradually realized that she was just a piece on Yuan Jue’s chessboard.

Yuan Jue had known much more about everything than he let on, and although he seemed to be in the weaker position, he had Yao Hua’s secret assistance and Huo Fenglie’s open support. It seemed as if he was relying on others everywhere, or letting things develop naturally, but in the end, he was the only one to achieve the desired result without any effort.

This conclusion bewildered Yao Hua, but Liu Zhenqing to the side had already guessed it.

Yuan Jue smiled and didn’t refute Jian Shuang’s conjecture. Instead, he slowly rubbed his jade thumb ring and asked: “The Taifei is incorrect. I was taught by the two of you.”

Jian Shuang smiled as well: “Then this is truly a case of the disciple surpassing the master.”

Yuan Jue shook his head and said: “I am certainly inferior to the two of you, but I am stronger in one single aspect.”

His words aroused Jian Shuang’s curiosity: “What is it?”

Yuan Jue smiled and said: “Weaknesses, ah. Your weakness is the Empress Dowager, and his weakness was that he was too soft-hearted.”

“So the emperor has no weaknesses?” Jian Shuang asked.

Yuan Jue’s smile faded. He looked through the window beside him: “Now, I have none.”

Jian Shuang smiled and said: “Yes, you are ruthless, just as an emperor should be.”

Yao Hua was astonished, and her expression grew thoughtful as she looked at Yuan Jue.

After Jian Shuang finished speaking, she said nothing more and raised the wine glass. Her beauty still shone even as she drank.

When she finished drinking, she leaned comfortably into Yao Hua’s arms: “Thank you for sending me off for the last time, Jiejie. I like you so much. Although you may hate me, I’ll wait for you at the bridge of forgetfulness. We’ll reincarnate together, and in the next life…..Jiejie, remember, I’ll be waiting so many years, and by then your temper should have cooled.”

Yao Hua retracted her gaze, took the wine cup from Jian Shuang’s hand, and poured again.

Yuan Jue’s eyes flashed. Liu Zhenqing took an uncontrollable step forward, but stopped in the end.

Jian Shuang was shocked, staring at Yao Hua in disbelief.

Yao Hua drank the cup of poisoned wine in silence.

“Jiejie?” Jian Shuang said in a trembling voice.

Yao Hua smiled bitterly and said: “Ever since you entered the East Palace, we have never been apart. How can I become accustomed to you being gone? No need to wait, let’s go together. Shuang’er, don’t be so willful in the next life.”

From the moment Yao Hua dealt with Jian Shuang, she’d had this in mind. And now that she knew everything she’d done was for her, even though it was wrong, she couldn’t let her leave alone. There was really nothing left for her to miss in this world.

“Jiejie…..you’re so good.” There was already blood at the corners of Jian Shuang’s mouth. Yuan Jue was quite merciful and hadn’t given her a very torturous poison, so they wouldn’t suffer too much.

Yuan Jue was about to leave once he saw that both of them had drunk the poisoned wine, but he heard Yao Hua say: “Yuan Jue, don’t forget what you promised me. I want his name to disappear from the list of sinners.”

Yuan Jue paused, but didn’t look back.

Yao Hua said: “This poisoned wine is very familiar. I’ve remembered something.”

Now, Yuan Jue turned to look at her.

Yao Hua smiled bitterly: “There was a banquet that year, and King Qi insisted on toasting you. You were forced to accept, but Liu Zhenqing overstepped his authority to drink in your stead. He snatched it away forcefully, like a treacherous minister who controlled the imperial power, disregarding the rules to steal the emperor’s wine. Do you remember?”

Yuan Jue’s eyes shifted slightly.

“The wine was poisoned. He pretended to be drunk and left. I saw him vomiting blood on the way back.”

Yuan Jue’s pupils quivered.

“But he carried with him the detoxification pills from Medical Valley. Although he didn’t die after taking them, he never fully recovered.”

Yuan Jue said nothing, but his expression turned more unsightly.

“I wonder how many times he blocked poison like that for you? His body was in such bad condition at the end.” Yao Hua said unhurriedly, “So for the sake of that poison, you should give him the credit he deserves.”

Yuan Jue left with a gloomy face.

Liu Zhenqing was also taken away by secret guards. It seemed he had only been placed here temporarily until Yuan Jue finished his work.

There were guards left outside the palace to make sure the two inside were dead, but a master was still able to sneak in.

Zheng Wei descended and looked at the two snuggled together. Jian Shuang’s eyes were closed, but Yao Hua’s opened when she heard a sound. Zheng Wei stepped forward and offered her an antidote pill, but she rejected it

Zheng Wei was surprised, but he didn’t insist.

Yao Hua was already having difficulty breathing, but she still said: “Zheng Wei, go. The emperor will not let you off. Take your adopted son with you. Thank you for your companionship over the years. Without it, I would not be here today.”

“Your Highness, there is no need to thank me. I owed him a favor that must be repaid,” Zheng Wei said.

Yao Hua smiled: “You never told me what favor he did for you. Can you tell me now?”

Zheng Wei was taken aback for a moment. Then he said: “Back then, my sister loved King Zhao, and for him, she was willing to become a dead soldier and enter the palace. King Zhao promised her that as long as the plan succeeded, he would marry her. But when she escaped and went to be with her beloved, King Zhao killed her and threw her in the moat.

Zheng Wei thought of his sister, who had depended on him for everything. Before she left, she’d said that she would be married soon and take him with her to live with the person she loved.

But as he was waiting, King Zhao had someone hunt him down and kill him. He was fortunate enough to escape, but he was unable to locate his sister’s body until Liu Zhenqing and the others solved the case.

“Everyone said that my sister’s body was thrown to wild beasts in order for the late emperor to vent his anger, and that in the end, no traces of her body remained. They all thought I should hate the royal family and Prime Minister Liu and his people. But nobody knew that when the body was delivered, it had already been replaced by Prime Minister Liu. At that time, I secretly followed them when they transported the coffin, and saw that Prime Minister Liu had chosen a place with plum blossoms to bury my sister. He probably sympathized with my sister and acted out of mercy, but I was grateful and remembered his kindness.”

Zheng Wei had entered the palace for revenge, but he was alone and weak. When he saw that Liu Zhenqing planned to deal with the Three Kings, he naturally decided to repay his kindness and seek revenge simultaneously.

But in the end, Liu Zhenqing died too. As he watched the entire country slander Liu Zhenqing, he felt a bit unwilling. After all, he had been silently watching Liu Zhenqing stabilize the country step by step.

So in the days that followed, he only wanted to slowly find an opportunity to clear Liu Zhenqing’s name. Later, he found that something was wrong with the Taifei, so he deliberately concocted a plan to get her to bring him to her side. It wasn’t until later that he discovered the Empress Dowager shared his ideals, which brought them to this point.

They didn’t have to be loyal to Yuan Jue and help him deal with his enemies, but this country had been maintained by a loyal minister and general with great effort. Neither of them could bear to see it destroyed again, so they made the only choice they could.

Just like when Liu Zhenqing didn’t choose any of the Three Kings, nor King Jing, but only Yuan Jue.

It wasn’t that he preferred to assist Yuan Jue, but because if any one of the Three Kings came into power, it would bring disaster to the country.

Yao Hua simply smiled throughout Zheng Wei’s narration, then said: “That’s just like him, ah.”

She maintained her smile as she closed her eyes. Holding Jian Shuang in one arm, she placed her other hand on the jade pendant she wore.

Zheng Wei sighed, then suddenly recalled his purpose for returning. He wasn’t here to see the Empress Dowager off. He had discovered that those who were sent to delay Huo Fenglie had been infiltrated by real assassins, and those peoples’ skills were definitely that of…..the Jinyiwei.

And the only one who could mobilize the Jinyiwei was the emperor.

Therefore…..

The emperor intended to kill Huo Fenglie.

Although Zheng Wei couldn’t understand why the emperor would want to kill the general who posed no threat to him and only served to protect the country, who was as close as a brother to him, he also took into consideration his debt of gratitude to Huo Feihan and Li Xingruo. Thus, he naturally must protect Huo Fenglie. And as the person Huo Fenglie cared about most was in the hands of the emperor, he had to go take a look.

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Chapter 141 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 143