Chapter 126: Selfish People

Chapter 126: Selfish People

"The beloved was pregnant when her lover used her womb to eliminate rivals. However, this also created more enemies for them. She had to give birth to a prince; if it were a princess, she would have no burial ground. Thus, Hero made special arrangements for the beloved and the beauty to give birth at the same time."

Grandfather Ye lowered his gaze. "Fate can be cruel. The beauty gave birth to a son while the beloved delivered a daughter. Hero knelt before the beauty, begging her to let his beloved raise her child. Though the beauty hated him deeply, she still agreed to his final request."

"In doing so, his beloved was saved, but the beauty faced death. To compensate her, Hero manipulated events to let the beauty's child live in the palace under the guise of a prince, ensuring its safety."

By now, Chang Nian had figured out who the beauty was, and her face had paled.

She whispered softly, "So, shouldn't we hate that Hero? Why blame Father Emperor?"

Grandfather Ye's expression darkened as he narrowed his eyes. "The story could have continued peacefully, allowing everyone to live their lives. But later, the beauty placed all her trust in the emperor, who then betrayed her with cruelty. He killed her kin, banished her to the cold palace, and allowed the empress to send her to the imperial mausoleum when she was pregnant with her second child, causing her miscarriage."

"On the day the doctor confirmed her pregnancy, her childhood friend visited the beauty in the palace. He asked if she still held any resentment. The beauty, with her hand on her belly, looked very calm. She said that once this child was born, she would forget the past and devote herself to the emperor... But the child never came into this world."

"The beauty took her own life." Grandfather Ye's eyes reddened. "Someone who had endured setbacks for ten years without choosing death ended up dying from the despair the emperor inflicted upon her. Your Highness, do you know how beautiful the beauty was when she passed away? Her cheeks were flushed, as if she was only sleeping."

"But she never woke up!"

Chang Nian stood there, her gaze wandering to the intricately carved window beside her.

In the Autumn Palace, there were similar carvings on the windows. Concubine Qin often stood by them, gazing outside as if waiting for someone. But day after day, no one came. Her once hopeful expression faded into disappointment, and she would turn around to carry Chang Nian, gently placing her on the bed and softly urging her to sleep.

Once upon a time, Chang Nian felt wronged. She believed her mother was not as caring as other mothers, not even bothering to make her a scented sachet by hand.

But now she realized that Concubine Qin was indeed a very gentle person. Despite the injustice she faced and being forcibly separated from her child, she did not take out her anger on Chang Nian but still raised her with love.

She was indeed a beautiful woman, but could the ruthless hero be Beitang Hua?

Chang Nian first met Beitang Hua when he was weeping bitterly at Concubine Qin's grave. His sorrow was so profound that it left an indelible impression on Chang Nian all these years. How could such heart-wrenching cries come from a man who had abandoned his lover?

Something didn't seem right, yet... After pondering for a while, Chang Nian asked with a pale face, "Is the hero's beloved the Virtuous Consort?"

Old Master Ye nodded. "The Virtuous Consort hailed from a noble family, a cousin of the Beitang clan. She was born with arrogance, demanding everything and snatching what she couldn't get. She never bothered to visit her own daughter. When the prince she stole died from illness, she cried so bitterly that she fell gravely ill and eventually followed him to the afterlife."

So, her birth mother had neither thoughts nor affection for her.

Chang Nian's heart ached, but with others present, she couldn't show her emotions. Instead, she maintained a composed facade and continued, "I assume you're referring to my childhood friend, Sir?"

Ye Elder smiled wistfully. "She saved my life, and I vowed to marry her alone."

Yet later, he was forced to wed another, even defiled on his wedding night through despicable means.

"I wronged her. When she passed away, I promised that once I avenged her, I would find her in the afterlife and make her my wife, treating her with love unparalleled." His hand holding the teacup trembled slightly as he pressed his lips together. "But with the emperor being the one I hold a grudge against, how could revenge be so easily sought? All these years... I wonder if she's been waiting impatiently or if she has already left before me."

Chang Nian fell silent for a moment before speaking. "So, the idea of creating poison wasn't Duke Fok's, but you had always intended to assassinate the king?"

"Child Jiangbai..." A complicated expression appeared on Ye Elder's face. After a pause, he continued, "He's a good child."

"What kind of thing is that to say?" Chang Nian stood up. "He's your biological son."

"I've lived my life without regretting anything, except for him," Ye Elder chuckled lightly. "When the imperial edict was issued from the palace, stating that he was critically ill, I knew about it and understood what the prince intended. But I didn't enter the palace."

Chang Nian's face darkened. "Are you parents not concerned about the lives of your own flesh and blood?"

"The emperor must die. As for Jiangbai, if he were to perish alongside, it could only be blamed on his unfortunate fate." Ye Elder lowered his gaze. "He shouldn't have been born into the Ye family, becoming my son."

"You..." Chang Nian gritted his teeth, unsure if he was feeling aggrieved for himself or for Ye Jiangbai. With reddened eyes, he said, "You and Concubine Xian only see yourselves. Selfish and cruel, just like each other. You have no right to criticize her at all!"

"Yes," the elderly Ye admitted openly, taking out the medicine he had on him and swallowing it with tea. He continued calmly, "Empress Xiaoren only sees her status, whereas in this old man's eyes, there is only Concubine Qin. No one else matters to me."

Putting down his teacup, he knelt down and smiled. "Now everything is settled. With Concubine Qin gone, Empress Xiaoren dead, and the Emperor passed, after this rain, the world will be clean. Only Beitang Hua will remain, living out the rest of his days in agony."

Aren't you still here? Chang Nian was about to ask but then sensed something amiss. He strode forward and grabbed the elder's clothes. "What did you just take?"

The elderly Ye laughed heartily. "I wonder if Your Highness knows that Prince Wu is an expert at growing flowers. He has cultivated many varieties of large Flying Swallow flowers. When those flowers were sent to the Ye residence, I refined them into different poisons. Some cause death after half a month, while others are fatal upon consumption."

As soon as he finished the word "death," a string of black blood oozed from the corner of his mouth, dripping onto Chang Nian's hand.

Chang Nian's pupils constricted as he hurriedly released the elder. The man slumped to the ground, his face turning bluish-purple, then finally the same green as the Emperor's.

"Ning Yan," he stretched his hand towards the air, a deeply content smile on his face. "I knew you would come for me."

Chang Nian looked up, but saw nothing in the air. Lowering his head again, he found the elderly Ye's eyes already closed, his breaths completely stopped.

"Someone!" Chang Nian frowned and called out, "Hurry up, someone!"