Chapter 127: Who Dies First

Chapter 127: Who Dies First

When Ye Jiangbai entered the palace, he found chaos in the side hall of the Dragon Coiled Palace. Eunuchs and palace maids were rushing in and out. Upon seeing him, they screamed in terror as if they had seen a ghost, ignoring all decorum.

"What's going on?" Ye Jiangbai frowned, peering inside. "Has something happened?"

"No... no!" The palace maid hurriedly shook her head. "Your Highness... Your Highness is occupied. Would you like to wait in the teahouse nearby?"

Something was clearly amiss in the atmosphere. Dismissing the palace maid, Ye Jiangbai strode straight into the hall.

"Your Highness! Duke Guardian has arrived!" The maid had no choice but to call out loudly.

Chang Nian's body trembled upon hearing this. Looking up, he saw the guards outside being pushed in, their armor clattering as they stumbled and fell to either side.

Ye Jiangbai strode into the side hall, taking in the scene before him. His body stiffened.

The imperial physician was kneeling on the ground with a scattered medicine chest beside him. He held a medicine bottle in his hand, pouring its contents into Ye's elder father's mouth. The old man's face was dark and blue, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth, coagulating into clumps – half clinging to his face, the other half adhering to Chang Nian's hand.

Chang Nian slumped down beside them, looking at Ye Jiangbai with a dazed expression.

"What are you doing?" Ye Jiangbai narrowed his eyes.

Chang Nian was slightly dazed, wondering if it would be difficult to explain. Would Ye Jiangbai believe her if she said she was trying to save someone?

Obviously not; he didn't even give her a chance to speak before he strode forward to check the old Master Ye's breath. His expression immediately darkened.

"The Prince truly... holds a grudge," he said, looking up at her with turbulent emotions in his eyes.

Chang Nian remained silent.

Ye Jiangbai's fingertips trembled as he barely managed to pull back, but then he couldn't resist reaching out again to check.

There was nothing left. The old Master Ye had no pulse, and his body was already stiff and cold. There was no chance of him coming back to life.

This man who had never shown him a single bit of affection, who had never looked at him straight in the eye, and who had even indirectly caused the death of his birth mother, now lay dead before Chang Nian without leaving a final word for him.

For a moment, Ye Jiangbai was unsure whether he felt hatred or sorrow in his heart.

"Ye Liang," he called out softly.

Ye Liang burst through the guards and knelt before him, "My Lord."

"Take the body back."

"As you wish."

The imperial physician dared not utter a sound and hastily stepped aside. Chang Nian supported herself to stand, watching Ye Liang carry her father's body away without anyone stopping them.

"Are you relieved now, Your Highness?" Ye Jiangbai's eyes were devoid of emotion as he coldly stared at her, "Your revenge has been served, your wish fulfilled."

Looking at his expression, Chang Nian realized that any explanation would be futile. So she countered, "Did the Duke feel the same when he witnessed my father's demise?"

Ye Jiangbai chuckled, "Yes, everything must come full circle. I killed your father, and you killed mine. Mutual hatred, perfectly balanced. Very fair!"

After his laughter subsided, he took a half-step forward, leaning down to look into her eyes. He spoke in a grave tone, "Now, it comes down to who dies first between Your Highness and I, so the other can avenge their death."

The raw killing intent in his gaze made Chang Nian's heart tremble, but she also smiled.

"I shall await the Duke's move," she said, bowing her hands in respect.

In the grand hall, no one dared to utter a sound except for these two; everyone held their breath, watching the tension escalate between them. If Ye Jiangbai had been slightly more impulsive, he could have directly confronted Chang Nian, who would not have been able to defend herself. However, his rationality prevailed, and he maintained his composure, choosing to let his harsh words fall by the wayside as he turned to leave.

Exiting the hall, he cast a cold glance at Huang Ningzhong, standing guard by the door, and sinisterly remarked, "With your abilities, you won't be able to protect her life."

Huang Ningzhong was startled, his hand instinctively resting on his sword hilt as he frowned at Ye Jiangbai.

That very night, the palace increased its security measures. Beitang Miao personally took charge of guarding Chang Nian, remaining by her side without leaving an inch. Upon noticing her low spirits, he even invited Concubine Zheng into the palace.

"Once these shoes are finished, Your Highness will have something comfortable to wear in the summer," Concubine Zheng said softly as she skillfully sewed the sole, seated beside Chang Nian. "I secretly embroidered lotus flowers on them. From afar, they might not be noticeable, but up close, they're quite lovely."

Kneeling before the late emperor's spirit, Chang Nian watched Concubine Zheng's nimble fingers at work and asked softly, "Do you know any stories about the old General Beitang from when he was young?"

Concubine Zheng was taken aback, pausing her sewing to scratch her temple gently. "Why does Your Highness ask about this?"

Chang Nian pouted, her eyes reddening as she looked at her.

Concubine Zheng was the one who doted on her the most. Seeing her distress, she couldn't bear it and bent down to embrace her gently. "My dear child, as you grow up, you'll hear all sorts of stories. But remember, even those who tell the tales may not see the truth themselves. So, listen with an open heart, but don't take everything to heart."

Her eyes shimmered as Chang Nian looked up with her arms around her neck and asked, "So... I actually have someone who loves me, right? It's just that Grandfather Ye doesn't know, so he was mistaken."

Aunt Zheng pursed her lips and patted her back. "This auntie loves you, Your Highness. Whatever you want, this auntie will do it for you."

"I... want Father and Mother," Chang Nian said with a pout, her voice hoarse. "I want the sachets that Mother made, I want Father's praise, I want to be lifted up by him, and be doted on like the Crown Prince..."

After she finished speaking, she looked up and cautiously asked, "Can I?"

Aunt Zheng felt a pang in her heart and couldn't help scolding through her tears, "These elders are unreasonable, making the younger generation suffer for their mistakes. You haven't done anything wrong, but you're being punished for their faults."

Hugging Chang Nian, she murmured softly, "The biggest mistake was Lord's. If he had realized his love for Concubine Qin from the start, none of those things would have happened. He missed his chance, causing so many others to err as well. In the end, he guards a cenotaph at the border, too ashamed to even call out her name even with his hair turned white."

Chang Nian was taken aback. Held in Aunt Zheng's arms, she murmured, "General Beithang loved Concubine Qin?"

"A story from the past that should never be mentioned in the presence of the late emperor," Aunt Zheng frowned. "But aren't all these men absurd? They don't cherish what they have until they lose it, and then regret it deeply. Lord was like that, and wasn't the late emperor the same? Women don't necessarily desire wealth and glory; being able to stay with our beloved and having healthy children is great fortune. But they simply don't understand."

"Your Highness now has the kingdom on your shoulders. Don't dwell on the matters of the elders," Aunt Zheng said gently. "You have your own tasks to attend to. The late emperor watches from above, and if you do well, he'll still praise you."

Chang Nian's nose stung terribly. Holding onto Aunt Zheng's clothes, she murmured, "Can I cry for a little while? Just a short while."

Madam Zheng nodded, radiating warmth and kindness.

With a loud "wah," Chang Nian broke into tears, crying so hard that she struggled to catch her breath, feeling a sharp ache in her throat and chest.

Madam Zheng wiped away her own tears and gently patted her, her gaze falling upon the late emperor's memorial tablet. She couldn't help but let out a long sigh, wondering what emotions those departed friends would be feeling if they were to reunite in the afterworld.