Princess Baorong was truly beside herself with rage. She blurted out, “Xiao Ling, you are utterly stupid! One day, she will be the death of you! You’ll die by her hands sooner or later!”
The scene shifted again, Qi Yuan saw Princess Baorong sitting with Lu Minghui.
Lu Minghui’s expression was grim. “Princess, we cannot allow His Highness to continue like this! He only holds the advantage now because the Imperial Grandson was sent to Yunnan to suppress the rebellion, the crown prince has died, and the emperor passed away soon after. With the empire unable to go a day without a ruler, only then did the court support His Highness ascending the throne…”
The effort the Lu family, Princess Baorong, and Qi Wang’s faction had poured into this, was truly immeasurable.
But everything had been thoroughly ruined by Qi Yuan.
Qi Wang was perfectly rational under normal circumstances, but the moment Qi Yuan was involved, he threw all reason aside.
If Qi Yuan said she wanted to eat dragon meat from the heavens, he’d probably find a way to catch one.
Lu Minghui, Baorong’s grandpa, was clearly restraining his fury. Baorong herself gritted her teeth and said, “I’ve already done everything I could! I even got my hands on Feng Caiwei’s secret letter, but my royal brother refuses to listen. What else can I do?!”
Qi Wang, he used to have only the throne on his mind. Now, it seemed the only thing left was Qi Yuan.
Every time Baorong thought of this, she was so angry she could bite through steel.
Then Lu Minghui lowered his voice: “Your Highness, let’s set that aside for now. Tell me, did the real Imperial Grandson truly die?”
Baorong sneered darkly, like a snake flicking its tongue.
Qi Yuan’s heart clenched.
The real Imperial Grandson?!
So it was just as she had suspected, the Imperial Grandson had already been replaced long ago.
The Crown Prince was dead, the Emperor followed, and once Xiao Yunting was killed, Xiao Jingzhao could then accuse Qi Wang of illegitimacy and become the new Imperial Grandson himself.
That would make Feng Caiwei the true Imperial Grand Princess.
So that’s how it was, the truth behind that letter was this!
She heard Baorong spit venomously, “Yunnan is full of curses and poisons, and I’ve already bought off his most trusted Daoist guards. Even if he had nine lives, he wouldn’t survive! He’s definitely dead by now!”
How could it be?!
Qi Yuan’s heart twisted painfully. She rushed forward, wanting to grab Baorong, but her hand passed right through.
No, this was her past life. She couldn’t touch them.
Realizing this, she took a deep breath and stayed still, listening closely to their conversation.
The most trusted guards around Xiao Yunting had been bribed?
The closest ones… who?
Her eyes lowered, a gleam of killing intent flashing in their depths.
Then the scene shifted again.
This time, she saw Feng Caiwei and Xiao Jingzhao.
Both were smiling, dressed in the ceremonial robes of the Imperial Grandson and Princess, ascending the Taiji Hall of the Jinling Palace surrounded by officials. They loudly raised the imperial jade seal and the Crown Prince’s command seal: “My royal father was clearly poisoned by Qi Wang! That villain not only murdered the Heir Apparent, but also my elder brother! This grudge shall never be forgiven!”
So they had truly become the Imperial Grandson and Imperial Grandson Consort.
Oddly, Qi Yuan didn’t feel rage, she suddenly laughed.
How ridiculous. In her past life, she had died still hating Xiao Yunting, hating him for his betrayal, for turning his back on her.
But it turned out… none of it was true.
The tiger tooth pendant in her hand began to heat up, nearly burning her.
Just then, a familiar voice rang out outside: “Who said this Imperial Grandson is dead?!”
Everyone froze in shock and turned toward the entrance.
There stood Xiao Yunting, flanked by Lai Chenglong and the commanders of the Capital Patrol Bureau, along with the Ministers of Revenue, Rites, Personnel, and Works, all marching in with a contingent of troops.
They were…
Zhejiang’s forces!
Xiao Yunting never went to Yunnan!
He had never gone to Yunnan at all!
Xiao Jingzhao and Feng Caiwei were instantly thrown into panic.
But Xiao Yunting didn’t hesitate. He coldly waved his hand and ordered: “Those who commit treason, kill without mercy! Kill!”
With that command, Lai Chenglong and his troops surged forward, slaughtering all the personal guards around Xiao Jingzhao and Feng Caiwei.
Those who surrendered were spared.
Xiao Jingzhao finally knew fear. He scrambled on his knees, clutching Xiao Yunting’s leg: “Big Brother! Brother, I was wrong, I was wrong! I shouldn’t have been so ambitious! I shouldn’t have trusted Feng Caiwei, or worked with Baorong to kill you! I was wrong, Brother!”
Xiao Yunting looked down at him, then suddenly slapped him hard: “You were taught by Grandfather?! All you care about is yourself! While the tribal lords rebel in Yunnan, Annam threatens the south, pirates ravage the coasts, and the Oirats mass at the borders, you’re here scheming for power?! You deserve death!”
Compared to Xiao Jingzhao’s panic and remorse, Feng Caiwei remained shockingly composed.
She even burst into laughter, clutching her stomach, laughing madly.
Xiao Yunting frowned, “What are you laughing at?”
“I’m laughing at how righteous you pretend to be,” Feng Caiwei sneered, malice on her face. “It’s a shame. By now, your precious Qi Yuan must’ve already learned of our marriage. I even forged letters in your and the Imperial Grandson Consort’s handwriting, and sent them to her, ordering her to assassinate Qi Wang! Do you think she can survive after that?!”
She had calculated everything perfectly.
Kill Xiao Yunting, raise Xiao Jingzhao as Imperial Grandson.
Then use Qi Yuan, her pawn, to kill Qi Wang.
In the end, the throne would still belong to Xiao Jingzhao, and the Empress would still be her.
Only she was fit to be Empress!
Xiao Yunting, usually calm and composed, snapped.
He lunged forward and grabbed Feng Caiwei by the throat, twisting sharply,
Feng Caiwei was strangled to death on the spot.
Everyone was shaken.
Xiao Jingzhao collapsed to the ground, speechless.
Xiao Yunting couldn’t afford to stay.
He raced toward the capital at full speed.
Qi Yuan clenched her fists, her heart ached so much she could barely breathe.
Don’t go.
Don’t look.
She didn’t want him to see how she died.
But Xiao Yunting saw.
After Qi Yuan assassinated Qi Wang the day before his coronation, she was killed by Princess Baorong with a single arrow through the heart, and her body was tied to the city wall under the scorching sun.
Under the blazing noon sky, Xiao Yunting led his Daoist guards to retrieve her from the wall.
He gently combed her hair, softly brushed away the dust and blood from her face,
As if she were only sleeping.
As if she might wake at any moment.
Qi Yuan squatted beside her past self, heart pierced like a thousand arrows.
She whispered, “Xiao Yunting, it’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself.”
It was fate’s cruelty.
It was her overconfidence.
It was a twist of destiny that led to all this.
So Xiao Yunting, don’t be too heartbroken.
But Xiao Yunting suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Babao and Liujin were startled: “Your Highness!”
But he didn’t care. He cradled Qi Yuan, had Babao and Liujin help tie her to his back, and rode hard toward Longhu Mountain.
In such scorching heat, carrying a corpse that had been dead for days, even Qi Yuan felt her scalp tingle.
But Xiao Yunting didn’t mind at all. He rode without rest.
He finally reached Longhu Mountain, and begged to see the reclusive Celestial Master Zhang.
The first words out of his mouth were: “Master, I beg you, please help me. Is there a way to bring someone back from the dead? I’m willing to pay any price!”
His voice broke.
“Master, I know my body was born of my parents, but I didn’t grow up with them. My mother even distanced herself to protect me… I only have Yuanyuan. I only have Yuanyuan!”
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