Chapter 247: The End

Chapter 247: The End

Consort Shu did not immediately fix her appearance after returning to the inner chamber. How could she have the heart to care about such things when death was inevitable? The precious time she had secured from the eunuch sent to deliver the imperial decree was meant for settling important matters.

"Find an opportunity to tell the Empress Mother that the Emperor is treating the Crown Prince of Qing this way all for the sake of the Empress and her son," said Consort Shu, no longer hiding the resentment in her eyes.

How could she not feel hatred? She had plotted to drive that woman away, and her brother had taken action against her, all for Yier's sake. She only regretted that they had failed to completely eliminate the threat, leading to their current fate.

Consort Shu was consumed by resentment. Knowing she couldn't change her death sentence, she didn't want to let that woman off easily either.

Her brother's people had investigated and found out that woman had a son. Based on the age, it should be the child she was pregnant with when she left the palace.

But how could such things be clarified? The child was born among commoners; what evidence was there to say he was the Emperor's?

Just this single point would prevent the Empress Mother from allowing that child to be recognized, especially since the Empress Mother also disliked that woman.

Consort Shu wouldn't live to see which prince would ascend the throne, nor could she interfere. But as long as it wasn't Empress Xin's son, that would be enough for her.

Otherwise, her entire life would be a joke.

"Do you remember?"

The palace maid, whose hand was tightly gripped by Consort Shu, tearfully nodded. "This servant remembers, Consort. Please rest assured."

Consort Shu sat up straight and only then instructed the palace maids to dress her hair.

The eunuch sent with the decree was just about to urge her when he saw Consort Shu walk out, fully dressed.

"Thank you, Respected Sir, for your kindness," Consort Shu thanked the imperial envoy.

The imperial envoy quickly stepped aside and urged, "Consort, it's time to go."

With tears in her eyes, Consort Shu took the white silk and threw it over the beam, her hands trembling as she gripped the loop of the rope.

At this point, the imperial envoy no longer urged her but turned away silently.

Time seemed to stretch, and after what felt like an eternity, there was a loud bang. The imperial envoy turned back around.

The overturned stool lay motionless, and above it, Consort Shu, filled with resentment and regret, had passed away.

The imperial envoy motioned with his chin to two young eunuchs, who went to take down Consort Shu's body. After a thorough check to confirm her death, they returned to report their task.

Outside Count Gu Chang's mansion, grim guards surrounded the area. A team of Jinlin Guards poured into the mansion to carry out the task of confiscating property and making arrests.

White flowers and silk, seen everywhere in the mansion after Count Gu Chang's death, were trampled underfoot. The entire household was filled with fear and sorrow, knowing that a great disaster was upon them.

"Mother, Mother—"

A heart-wrenching cry echoed. Several Jinlin Guards rushed in to find Dai Ze, the son of Count Gu Chang, clutching the body of Count Gu Chang's wife, weeping bitterly.

Upon hearing that the Jinlin Guards had surrounded Count Gu Chang's mansion, Count Gu Chang's wife had hastily hanged herself with a white silk rope before anyone could enter.

The Jinlin Guards looked at each other and quickly went to report to He Qingxiao, the officer in charge of the mission.

Dressed in crimson official robes, He Qingxiao appeared before Dai Ze, watching him cry over his mother's body in silence.

Dai Ze seemed to sense something and slowly looked up, his tear-filled eyes meeting the calm and gentle gaze of the young man before him.

There he was again!

The last time he was beaten outside his home was by him, and now he's back, leading the raid to confiscate everything!

"I'm going to fight you to the death!" Dai Ze leaped up and charged at He Qingxiao.

Before he could get anywhere near He Qingxiao, he was intercepted by the Jinlin Guard.

"Step back! Show respect to our commander!"

Blocked by the glinting long sword of the Jinlin Guard, Dai Ze couldn't get near and cursed, "You call yourself a superior? You're nothing but a despicable dog who thrives on cruelty!"

The insult was harsh, but He Qingxiao's expression remained unchanged.

Ever since he took on the role of Jinlin Guard North Town Supervising Envoy, he had heard too many similar words.

Looking at the young man who was about to embark on the road to exile, He Qingxiao remained calm. "I'm just following orders, Dai Ze. It's better if you don't cause a scene."

"Don't make a scene? My parents are dead, and you're telling me not to make a scene? You, who has no parents, wouldn't understand the pain I feel!"

He Qingxiao's expression remained calm, but his eyes darkened slightly. "Young Master Dai, you're not the only one with parents. The innocent people of Dingbei, who were massacred, had parents too. The people in the capital, with lower status than you, whom you bullied and humiliated, had parents. The people who followed the Empress into seclusion had parents; they may also be someone's parents."

Thinking of Xin You, who was determined to perish with Prince Qing, He Qingxiao felt a hidden pain, and for the first time, he spoke more than he usually did. "You got away with everything because of your father. You enjoyed all the privileges that came with your birth. Now that your father's been found guilty, what right do you have to complain?"

Dai Ze fell silent, his anger and confusion warring within him.

No one had ever said these things to him before, and he had never considered them.

This young man who had always been unruly and had everything he wanted suddenly seemed to mature in that moment.

He loathed the young man in front of him but had to admit that what he said made sense. This robbed him of the courage to continue cursing, and his expression shifted until it became numb.

"Take him away," He Qingxiao said lightly, giving his orders.

This incident caused quite a stir in the officialdom, and many were sentenced to exile. The son of Count Gu Chang, Dai Ze, was the most notable among them. On the day he embarked on his exile, under the blazing sun, while others were eating their last meal before departure, he didn't touch his chopsticks. He stared fixedly at He Qingxiao and said, "I want to see Miss Kou."

He Qingxiao declined, "Young Master Dai is about to depart. If you have something to say to Miss Kou, I can relay the message."

"I want to see Miss Kou!" Since the day of the raid, Dai Ze had fallen silent, but now his emotions flared, his eyes filled with a desperate determination. "I know you are familiar with Miss Kou, and I want to see her!"

He Qingxiao thought for a moment and said, "I will pass along your request to Miss Kou. Whether she will see you or not depends on her."

Dai Ze fell silent.

When Xin You received the message sent by He Qingxiao, she decided to meet Dai Ze.

Unless something drastic changed, the best Dai Ze could hope for was to live out his days in exile. But realistically, he was more likely to die on the way.

Dai Ze, dressed in rough prison clothes and with unkempt hair, looked haggard but strangely composed.

"Young Master Dai wanted to see me," Xin You initiated the conversation.

Dai Ze looked at the plainly dressed and calm-eyed young woman and rasped, "Miss Kou, I have a request."

Xin You studied Dai Ze for a moment before nodding. "What is it, Dai Ze?"

She expected Dai Ze to ask for another reading or voice his doubts, but he didn't.

The young man, about to begin his journey into exile, softly asked the girl behind the iron bars, "There are ten volumes of *Journey to the West*, but I won't get the chance to finish them. Could you tell me how it ends, Miss Kou?"

It was a small request, but it felt like a lifeline in the face of his impending exile.