Chapter 256: Defeat
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Overnight, the world changed hands.
Guangyan killed his Royal Father and usurped the throne, plotting for power. He was captured and convicted by the Fourth Prince, Guangshuo. Emperor Wenxuan had already issued a decree before his demise, changing the heir to the throne. Even after entering the imperial mausoleum, the coronation ceremony proceeded as planned. The only change was that the one ascending the throne shifted from Guangyan to Guangshuo.
No one in the court dared to oppose.
Guangshuo’s actions were decisive and ruthless, quite different from his benevolent and reserved appearance. When Guangyan was captured last night, Guangshuo had already arrested all of Guangyan’s trusted confidantes. Guangyan’s military strength was weak, and without the support of the He family after He Rufei’s incident, the military power of the Fuyue army was taken back and could not be used for the Crown Prince.
Guangshuo acted swiftly, uprooting Guangyan’s trusted subordinates, sending a chilling message. Court officials discussed fervently, and the royal aura emanating from the Fourth Prince was becoming evident.
As for the imperial edict for the sacrifice of lives to accompany the late emperor, it was also discovered to be a forgery. Noble Consort Lan and Lady Ni, along with dozens of other women, were spared.
To the common people, the news of the Fourth Prince’s kindness and wisdom spread. The people, indifferent to who sat on the throne, cared only about having clothes to wear and food to eat.
Court officials did not oppose either. In the current imperial family of Great Wei, the Fifth Prince, Guangji, was still young. At present, the only one capable was Guangshuo.
Emperor Wenxuan entered the imperial tomb. In Qinglan Palace, Noble Consort Lan removed her heavy ceremonial robe. Just as she sat down, someone walked in from outside.
It was Lady Ni.
“Congratulations, older sister, on finally getting what you wanted,” Lady Ni walked over to the small table and sat down, with a forced smile on her face. “Before long, this humble one will address you as Empress Niang Niang.”
Noble Consort Lan looked at her, her gaze still as gentle and calm as before. “Lady Ni, aren’t you still alive now.”
Lady Ni was taken aback.
That day, Wei Xuanzhang died in front of Chengle Palace, pushing the conflict between the Crown Prince and Great Wei to its peak. With the Crown Prince being so tyrannical and paranoid, and she herself about to enter the dark tomb alongside Emperor Wenxuan, Lady Ni collaborated with Noble Consort Lan at the last moment.
Guangji’s words were false, and the decree about the succession may not necessarily be true either. In the end, all Guangshuo wanted was an excuse, a legitimate excuse.
In fact, at that moment, Lady Ni was also determined to fight to the death, thinking that death was inevitable anyway, so why not give it a try. But deep down, she didn’t really believe that Guangshuo would succeed.
But Guangshuo succeeded against all odds.
The events outside seemed trivial and insignificant, but for Lady Ni, it was a night that made her realize that if it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision, if Guangshuo was only fighting for his mother, then in such a short time, he might not be able to gain the allegiance of Gui De Langzhong General and General Fengyun.
Perhaps the scene that occurred in the Jinluang Palace last night had been foreseen by Noble Consort Lan many years ago.
Going even deeper, perhaps Noble Consort Lan wasn’t completely unaware that Emperor Wenxuan died at the hands of Guangyan.
Guangshuo’s silence and gentleness, his leniency and indifference to court affairs, Noble Consort Lan’s non-contention and softness, Emperor Wenxuan’s favor and sincerity were all arranged by Noble Consort Lan long ago. From beginning to end, it wasn’t that Guangshuo’s acting was too good, but Noble Consort Lan’s ideas, unknown even to her son.
Empress Zhang perhaps guessed one thing right: Noble Consort Lan wasn’t non-contentious, she just didn’t care for ordinary favors; she fought for the most prestigious position in the world for her son.
So the Crown Prince was destined to lose because he didn’t have a mother who could endure and hide for many years without any flaws showing.
Guangji was still young, and from today onwards, there was no one in the entire Great Wei imperial family who could rival Guangshuo.
A chill slowly crept into Lady Ni’s heart. The woman in front of her had never shown anger or reprimanded anyone in all these years, but now she realized that she was the most terrifying one.
“I’m just glad to be alive,” Lady Ni lowered her head, her voice involuntarily tinged with humility and fear. “In the future, I will follow Your Highness faithfully. Please take care of Guangji.”
Noble Consort Lan remained silent, just gazing out of the window. After a long while, she turned back, as if she had just heard Lady Ni’s words, nodded slightly, and closed her eyes. “Very well.”
…
In the Crown Prince’s residence, chaos reigned.
Servants cried, dragged away by officials, the Crown Princess screamed as she was taken away. As she left, her nails scratched the wall, leaving a long mark.
Someone walked slowly, all the way to the courtyard’s innermost room.
This was a dark room. Crown Prince Guangyan was cruel and malevolent. If someone offended him, he might kill them in a fit of rage. Those who suffered even more were thrown into the dark cells of the Crown Prince’s mansion, tortured severely, and living became worse than death.
Now that trouble has befallen the Crown Prince’s mansion, officials and soldiers were busy arresting relatives of the mansion, and no one paid attention to this place.
A young man walked slowly. His clean boots stepped on the damp floor. The dark cell was very dark. By the dim light, dark traces could be seen, some dried up, others gleaming, resembling human blood.
This place was constructed like a prison, with iron fences separating the rooms, and no guards. Upon hearing movement, the people inside the rooms showed little reaction, at most raising their heads slightly, then quickly lowering them again. These people were on the brink of death, and they didn’t believe anyone would come to their rescue.
Despair filled this place.
He walked slowly, stopping in front of each room, carefully examining the surroundings and apparently identifying the appearance of the people inside. When he found it wasn’t the right person, he moved on.
He went through each room, one by one, until he reached the last one.
A person was curled up on the ground, lying on the side like a child, hands hugging shoulders, head buried low into the chest. Her clothes were disheveled, just a few steps away, although she didn’t move, her body started trembling slightly.
Chu Zhao paused his steps.
He looked at the figure inside for a moment, then opened the door.
The person inside still showed no reaction, not even looking at him. Chu Zhao walked up to the person, slowly half-kneeling down, as if trying to comfort her, but not knowing where to start. After a moment, he spoke gently, “Ying Xiang.”
The person in front of him trembled violently.
“Ying Xiang,” he paused, Chu Zhao said, “The Crown Prince is dead. I’ve come to take you back.”
He reached out, wanting to help Ying Xiang up, but she blocked him. However, she seemed to have no strength, and the resistance was ineffective. Chu Zhao helped her sit down against the stone wall, pushed aside the tangled hair blocking her eyes, and then stared in astonishment, “You…”
“…Don’t look…” Ying Xiang weakly said.
Originally beautiful and alluring, her face was covered with dreadful knife scars. Because she hadn’t been properly treated, the wounds hadn’t scabbed over yet, bleeding profusely. At a glance, she looked like a female ghost coming to claim lives, shocking and horrifying.
Chu Zhao was greatly shocked.
Before Guangshuo went to Changle Palace that night, Chu Zhao had gone to the Fourth Prince’s mansion.
He could see clearly that Guangyan was no match for Guangshuo, and Empress Zhang was not a match for Noble Consort Lan. He truly had no other path to take. Even if he followed Guangshuo now, Guangshuo would never promote him. But following Guangyan would be tying himself to death.
When Xu Jingfu was alive, he told Chu Zhao to learn to make choices in everything.
He chose to make a final deal with Guangshuo.
Revealing the details of the Crown Prince’s military and administrative arrangements, betraying the Crown Prince, and obtaining a condition for him and Ying Xiang to survive. He no longer expected any achievements or benefits in his official career, as it was already impossible. Although the chip of surviving was uncertain until the end, at least staying alive for now was acceptable.
At that time, Guangshuo looked at him as if he hadn’t expected Chu Zhao to propose this condition. He asked, “Since Fourth Young Master Chu values your maidservant so much, why did you willingly send her to Guangyan in the first place?”
“If you sent her there to act as your spy, it should be without any other sentiment. Now that it has come to this point, there seems to be no other request except for this woman, making it difficult for people to understand.”
Chu Zhao said with a gentle tone, “I also don’t understand.”
For him, there was nothing in the world that couldn’t be used, and no one who couldn’t be utilized. But every time, at some point, there would be some soft spot left that shouldn’t exist.
It was true for He Yan, and it was true for Ying Xiang.
He looked at Ying Xiang in front of him and for a moment didn’t know how to react.
Ying Xiang glanced at him briefly, then quickly lowered her head as if afraid of staining Chu Zhao’s sleeves, and remained silent.
Faintly, there came the sound of soldiers scolding and servants wailing from outside. Ying Xiang listened carefully for a moment and then asked softly, “…..Has the Crown Prince died?”
Chu Zhao came back to himself and whispered, “Yes. You can leave the Crown Prince’s residence now.”
Upon hearing this, Ying Xiang didn’t show any signs of happiness. Instead, she seemed to retreat a little and said, “No…”
“Don’t you want to come back with me?” Chu Zhao asked.
“Fourth Young Master,” her voice was as soft as the most fragile silk, as if it would break at the slightest pull. Ying Xiang said, “I can’t leave.”
Chu Zhao was startled. “Why?”
As if after a great struggle, Ying Xiang slowly reached out her hand and lifted her sleeve. Chu Zhao’s eyes widened suddenly. The flawless skin on the sleeve, which was as pure as snow, was now disfigured, as if it had been burned and crushed, leaving traces of decay.
“The Crown Prince fed me an incurable poison,” Ying Xiang said. “I am… a dying person.”
Guangyan hated her betrayal and disloyalty, and for disloyal people, there were countless ways to torture them. Ying Xiang was exceptionally beautiful, so he would ruin her beauty. He would also make her die in the most heartbreaking and cruel way—watching her last inch of intact skin rot away, making even her death disgusting.
Kill the person and kill the heart, nothing more than that.
For a moment, Chu Zhao felt extremely confused. He hadn’t felt such emotions for many years. He looked at Ying Xiang in bewilderment and said, “It’s okay. When we go out, I’ll find a doctor to treat you.”
“It’s no use,” Ying Xiang smiled bitterly. “I know myself. It’s too late to save me.”
The torches burning on the wall flickered quietly, illuminating her half-blood-stained face distinctly and terrifyingly, no longer the charming and peerless appearance of the past.
Chu Zhao stared at her blankly. He knew that Ying Xiang falling into Guangyan’s hands would inevitably lead to a bad end, but he never expected it to be like this.
Not dead, but worse than death.
“There’s… one more thing I need to ask for,” she said.
“Speak.” He said.
“In my whole life, there’s nothing much I have, only my appearance is still acceptable.” Ying Xiang reached out as if to touch her own face, but her hand stopped halfway in the air. “Now that my appearance is ruined and I’ve taken the incurable poison, I don’t want to die in a terrifying and hideous manner. Fourth Young Master… Can you give me a merciful end?”
“You want me to kill you?” Chu Zhao looked at her in astonishment.
“This life of mine was saved by you, Fourth Young Master. Now if I die by your hands, it would be considered fulfilling my destiny. Besides,” her voice was soft, “Fourth Young Master, you’re not harming me; you’re actually helping me.”
“I won’t kill you,” Chu Zhao said.
“Then please leave, Fourth Young Master.” For the first time, the maid who was accustomed to being submissive to him showed a strong expression. “I’ll stay here, I won’t go anywhere.”
“Ying Xiang,” for the first time, Chu Zhao was at a loss with her. He patiently said, “There’s still a chance to save your injuries. There are many doctors in Shuojing who can cure you.”
“Even if I’m cured, what then?” Ying Xiang smiled lightly. “I’ve lost my appearance now, and I can’t even take care of myself. Staying by your side, unable to serve you, would only be a burden.”
Chu Zhao’s expression changed slightly at her words. “Are you only by my side to serve me?”
“There should be no useless people by the Young Master’s side,” Ying Xiang replied.
There was a hidden meaning in her words, leaving him speechless.
“Years ago, my father sold me off like goods, and it was you who saved me. Since then, you’ve been my benefactor. I’m willing to do anything for you. But now that I’m close to death, I hope to be able to decide my own fate.” Ying Xiang looked at him, her beautiful and gentle eyes, now fiery like sparks for the first time. “Please grant my request, Young Master.”
Their eyes met, and Chu Zhao could clearly see the determination for death in her eyes.
For the first time, he realized how stubborn and persistent Ying Xiang could be.
“Grant this wish, Master.” The woman in front of him knelt down with great effort. With her movement, the terrible wounds on her body gradually revealed themselves, emitting a stench mixed with blood. It was reminiscent of the first time she met Chu Zhao, when he purchased her, and she knelt down with confusion and anxiety, showing utmost respect.
She didn’t have much time left to live, even though she might not die immediately, she wouldn’t live much longer.
Chu Zhao closed his eyes and whispered, “I promise you.”
“Thank you, Master,” Ying Xiang said softly.
Chu Zhao reached out to help her up from the ground. Ying Xiang staggered, raising her head. In the next moment, the hand that had circled behind her suddenly moved forward.
When the blade pierced her flesh, it was originally silent.
She didn’t even have time to speak. Thrown forward, she fell into Chu Zhao’s arms. He let go of his hand, holding her in his arms, kneeling half on the ground.
“…Thank you, Young Master,” Ying Xiang looked at him and forced a smile, “This is the first time, Young Master, fulfilling my wish.”
Her body was covered in new and old bloodstains, and the blood smeared on Chu Zhao’s clean robes, creating a mottled pattern. The man lowered his head, gazing at her with a somewhat bewildered expression.
It was this moment of confusion that, when reflected in Ying Xiang’s eyes, caused her heart to ache instantly.
She loved Chu Zhao from the beginning, from the first time she saw him. In that desperate situation, when her Father forcefully pushed her towards the pit of fire, a young and handsome boy threw her a life-saving straw. She grabbed onto that straw and fell in love with him.
She loved his refined manners and also loved his ruthlessness. She loved his seemingly broad and tolerant heart with an underlying cold and unfeeling core. She loved the vulnerability and helplessness he showed at a certain moment under the guise of being invincible.
He was such a complicated person, as complicated as he was unfortunate. Fate made him contradictory, and what others saw in Chu Zilan was just a facade, only she knew the real Chu Zilan. The real Chu Zilan was by no means a righteous man, but she still, without any regrets, fell in love with him.
These years, Ying Xiang stayed by Chu Zhao’s side, enduring the torment from Madam Chu, the harassment from the top three legitimate sons of the Chu family, the scheming from Xu Pingting, and finally, being sent to the Crown Prince’s mansion. She had reached this point without any regrets because, from the beginning, she had nothing to lose.
She had feelings of resentment and grievances towards him, but they couldn’t outweigh her love for him. This love was kept extremely guarded, extremely humble, yet came with an overwhelming force that made her think it was unreasonable. Unspoken, silent, she loved him all these years.
Chu Zhao, being so intelligent, couldn’t have failed to notice her love for him.
“Young Master…” she said with difficulty, “May this… servant ask you a question?”
The man’s voice was very gentle, and he patiently replied, “Ask.”
“Did Fourth Young Master know early on… that Miss Xu would send this servant to the Crown Prince’s mansion?”
Chu Zhao lowered his head to look at her.
In his eyes, like pale-colored fluorite, there were layers of ripples. He did not answer, but Ying Xiang instantly understood.
“…So that’s how it is.” After saying this, she slowly closed her eyes, her breath gradually weakening until there was no vitality left.
In the dark room, the man in blue quietly bowed his head, looking at the woman in his arms. What appeared before him was scenes from many years ago when he stood before the enchanting earthly paradise, and amidst countless noisy sounds, he heard the faint weeping. Following the sound, he saw a delicate girl looking at him, like a blooming flower, extraordinarily beautiful.
He saved her but also harmed her. If he hadn’t intervened back then, perhaps Ying Xiang would have lived a happier life now. Unlike the current situation, even in the last moment of her life in the mortal world, she still carried a bitter taste.
She hadn’t done anything wrong; if anything, it was falling in love with a person like him.
After who knows how long, Chu Zhao straightened up, picked up Ying Xiang’s body, and slowly walked out of the dark room, step by step, heading towards the outside.
In the end, amidst the desperate circumstances, he made the last deal with the Fourth Prince, seeking only a little pity and warmth. But now, even that bit of warmth was gone. The last person who depended on him had also been lost, and this chess game left him with nothing.
He lost on all fronts.
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Chu Zhao needs to suffer more. Poor Ying Xiang.