Chapter 35: The Viper Beauty

Chapter 35: The Viper Beauty

Early the next morning marked the seventh day since the little prince's demise.

All the consorts above the rank of Pin were accompanying the Empress to Fahua Hall to burn incense and pray for blessings, while Song Zhao went alone to the secret prison.

As she arrived at the entrance, she encountered the servants from the Ministry of Justice, who were there to assist Li Clan in her final moments.

The servants bowed respectfully to Song Zhao, who noticed the lead servant carrying a tray covered with a black cloth and asked:

"Is that for Li Changzai?"

“Yes, mistress, it's the traditional three items from the palace.”

The servant lifted a corner of the black cloth, revealing a white silk noose, a dagger, and a cup of poison. Song Zhao then said, “The Emperor has sent me to bid farewell to Li Changzai. Please bring these items inside for me.”

“Of course, apologies for troubling you.”

As the door to the secret prison opened slightly, a musty odor wafted out.

Song Zhao frowned slightly and stepped inside with the tray.

She saw Li Changzai cowering in a corner of the room, disheveled and dazed, her feet shackled to the wall with iron chains,

The moment their eyes met, Li Changzai became agitated,

“You came? You’re alright?” She lunged towards Song Zhao, but her shackles stopped her halfway, “Tell the Emperor it wasn’t me! I didn’t harm you!”

“Shh.” Song Zhao walked to the side, placed the tray on a table, turned around and smiled faintly at Li Changzai,

“Does it matter who poisoned me? What matters is that the Emperor believes you wanted to silence me.”

Li Changzai, with a raised voice, argued, “It really wasn’t me! I may dislike you, but I would never poison you! Such things can be easily investigated. Why would I be so foolish?”

Song Zhao nodded softly, “I know it wasn’t you.”

At these words, a flicker of hope flashed in Li Changzai's eyes,

She grabbed Song Zhao's arm, pleading, "Save me! Please plead with the Emperor on my behalf. Once I am free, I will not forget your kindness!"

Song Zhao surveyed her coldly from head to toe, then pushed her hand away. Her lips curled into a chilling smile,

"Because the poison was administered by me, to myself."

Li Changzai was stunned, standing frozen for a while before she grasped the whole situation,

"It was you! No one else touched your food, and even though the servant delivering the meal came to my palace, I never touched that food box! You poisoned yourself to frame me? Song Zhao! Why would you do this!?"

“No particular reason." Song Zhao observed her with a smile, "From the moment you placed Huo Zi Cao in my room, weren’t you already tired of living? Thus, sending you on your way was a mere trifle. Sister, you needn't thank me.”

Li Changzai hysterically denied, “I didn't! I never placed Huo Zi Cao in your room, and I wasn’t behind Consort Shu’s miscarriage!”

Her eyes darted wildly in their sockets, and suddenly, trembling, she pointed at Song Zhao,

“Fuer could not have gone to buy Huo Zi Cao. This is all a plot you devised to clear your own name! You framed me!”

“Haha?” Song Zhao laughed derisively, “Framed? How are you framed? Dare you say you never thought of harming me?”

Li Changzai remained silent. Song Zhao continued, “Of course, you did. But you’re as dull as a pig, clumsy in your schemes, failing even at harming others. Your current plight is no one’s fault but your own stupidity.”

“You wretch!” Li Changzai screamed, “You base-born wretch, you won’t die well!”

Song Zhao calmly replied, “Whether I die well is still uncertain, but for you, sister, it’s a certainty.”

Li Changzai gasped for breath, steadying herself before saying, “Don’t be smug! The Emperor sentenced me to hanging, and there will be an officer from the Department of Punishments to oversee it. I will tell him everything before my execution; even in death, I won’t let you succeed!”

Song Zhao laughed heartily, covering her mouth, then turned and sat down by the table.

Li Changzai spat, “What are you laughing at, you wretch?”

“Sometimes, I truly envy you, sister. You were born legitimate, your father cherishing you, a father-daughter bond that others would envy.” Song Zhao’s fingers gently traced the black cloth covering the tray, “Sister might not know yet, but after hearing of your serious crime and death sentence, your father requested a year’s salary penalty to preserve your intact body. The Emperor, considering your father’s deep love for his daughter, has graciously allowed you to take your own life.”

With that, she abruptly lifted the black cloth.

Li Changzai, seeing the contents of the tray, turned deathly pale, screaming and scurrying into a corner.

Song Zhao’s finger glided over the lethal items, shaking her head and sighing,

“Tsk tsk, I wonder how these servants from the Ministry of Justice do their job. His Majesty clearly said he wanted to leave my sister an intact body, yet this white silk and dagger would leave marks on her. Sister is so beautiful; how could I bear to let her die with a distorted face?”

Picking up the bottle of poison, she smiled and asked Li Changzai, “How about the poison then? Swallow it, and it will tear apart your intestines, burning like fire. It’s painful, but it will keep your body intact. What do you think, sister?”

“No... don’t! Stay away! I won’t drink it!”

Li Changzai screamed in terror, her features contorted in fear, looking like a madwoman.

Song Zhao stepped closer until Li Changzai was cornered with no escape, then leaned in gently, caressing her cheek and wiping away her tears,

“Why are you trembling so much, sister? Are you scared?”

As she spoke, her palm slowly moved to Li Changzai’s cheek,

Suddenly, she gripped Li Changzai’s jaw with her thumb and forefinger, forcing her mouth open,

Then, with a faint smile on her face, she poured the entire bottle of poison into Li Changzai’s stomach.

The moment Song Zhao let go, Li Changzai crawled on the ground in terror, stuffing her fingers into her mouth to press her throat, coughing and retching, vomiting out much of the liquid.

But with the palace’s execution poison, even a single sip meant there was no turning back.

She retched uncontrollably, collapsing utterly into a puddle of filth on the ground only after vomiting a mouthful of black blood, wailing in despair.

Her eyes, bloodshot, glared at Song Zhao as if they could devour him.

"Song Zhao! You venomous woman! You will not die a good death! Even as a ghost, I will not let you go!"

"Oh?" Song Zhao shrugged with a smile, wiping her hands as she walked out of the dungeon.

Pausing at the doorway, she suddenly turned back to look at Li Changzai, cocking her head and raising an eyebrow, saying:

"Sister, such great ambition. Then I shall wait for the day you demonstrate your mighty powers."

With that, she strode out, closing the dungeon door behind her with a thud.