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墨書 Inktalez
The Emperor's health was deteriorating rapidly, with toxins accumulating in his body without any sign of reduction.
In just a month, he seemed to have aged decades.
The court officials had subtly reached a consensus: it was time to establish a crown prince and prepare for the future.
The situation in the court became increasingly clear, with a tense atmosphere of impending storm enveloping the morning assemblies.
However, misfortunes never come alone. The corruption case involving the Shengjing Prefect had yet to settle, and the treason case against the Minister of Personnel had implicated more than ten officials in the court.
Upon learning of this, the Emperor was so enraged that he coughed up blood and fainted on the spot.
All those implicated were high-ranking officials closely associated with Fourth Brother.
In the wake of this series of blows, the Fourth Prince's faction was nearly eradicated.
The Emperor remained unconscious for three full days before gradually regaining his senses.
Soon after, an imperial edict was issued, summoning Fourth Brother and his wife to the palace.
What transpired within the palace during their audience remained unknown to anyone.
At noon, a eunuch arrived to announce the decree, summoning Consort Three to respond.
Upon hearing this, Ye Zixing suddenly grabbed my hand with such force that it caused my joints to ache.
I patted the back of his hand, surprisingly not feeling angry at his touch this time.
The Emperor must have been tormented by pain during this time, his body emaciated, with only loose skin hanging off his bones.
There was no one else in the hall. Upon seeing me enter, he waved his hand dismissively, sparing me the need to kneel. He then tossed the imperial edict, embroidered with the image of a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, at my feet and said weakly, "Take a look for yourself."
After uttering those words, he leaned back against the headboard, gasping for breath.
I bent down to pick up the edict, opening it leisurely. As my gaze fell upon the name of the newly appointed prince, I slowly lowered my eyes, maintaining a cold expression without a hint of emotion.
Ye Zixing had been anxiously waiting outside the hall for me.
As soon as I stepped out, the relief that washed over his face unexpectedly stung my eyes with a hint of discomfort.
"Did something frighten you?" he asked with concern.
I shook my head and pointed towards the setting sun.
Only then did he realize that we had not eaten anything yet.
He shook his head helplessly and smiled, feeling somewhat guilty as he said, "Look at my memory! What would you like to eat? I'll have the chef prepare it for you."
I took his hand and slowly wrote two characters in his palm: Loquat.
On that day at Jiangnan Courtyard, he had noticed my fondness for loquats and had specially ordered someone to rush and bring many of them, chilled and stored in the cold room.
Whenever I wanted to eat some, he would take them out and arrange them into an exquisite fruit platter.
As I ate a loquat, I casually recounted the events that had transpired in the palace, deliberately avoiding mention of the imperial edict.
I peeled a loquat and offered it to him.
Ye Zixing paused for a moment, then his face lit up with delight as he bit into it and said, "Once we finish eating, I have something to show you."
I wrote on the table with my drink: "Okay."
Ye Zixing seemed particularly cheerful today, his eyes sparkling with affection as he said, "Long ago, I used to dream that one day I could sit here with you like this, just like an ordinary couple. What more could one desire in this life?"
My fingers froze for a moment, nearly crushing the loquat.
I quickly raised my head, trying to mask my momentary lapse and asked, "Long ago?"
"Of course. Did you think I would casually marry someone I met for the first time?"
He grasped my hand tightly, his eyes shining like stars. "Wen Qing at the Mid-Autumn Festival when we were fourteen sang 'Shui Diao Ge Tou,' earning praises from everyone. But you kept your gaze lowered; I could tell it wasn't out of inferiority—you simply looked down on it. At that moment, I thought perhaps we were kindred spirits, both ambitious yet seemingly indifferent, but in truth lonelier than anyone else."
As he spoke, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small object, intending to show it to me with a smile.
But as he smiled, blood slowly seeped from the corner of his mouth.
Ye Zixing's gaze fell upon the peeled fruit skins I had left on the table, and his expression shifted from disbelief to understanding.
Watching the starlight in his eyes fade away inch by inch made my heart feel as if it were being stirred by an invisible hand, overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
But he must die.
I slowly reached out, gently brushing my fingers against the corner of his mouth, the crimson hue instantly staining my fingertips.
He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse and barely recognizable: "Why?"
With each movement he made, more blood spilled out, nearly soaking his entire front.
"Ye Zixing, do you have any wishes?" I dipped my fingers in his blood and wrote each word carefully, "I can grant you anything except the throne."
"Indeed, the imperial decree from Father has Fourth Brother's name on it... Rather than facing defeat and humiliation, it is better to die cleanly like this. Yan'er... there is a tunnel beneath this room, you... leave..."
Even in death, he could not believe that I was the one who would harm him.
I raised my hand to interrupt him, a coldness returning to my expression as I said, "I don't need you to arrange any escape routes. Wen Qing must become the Empress, and therefore, you must die."
At that moment, a faint sound of bells echoed through the air, one after another, more desolate than the sight of the setting sun, as if it were closer to the decree of fate.
The Emperor, his father, had passed away.
"You once wanted to marry me..."
He slowly bowed his head and suddenly tears fell from his eyes, mingling with the blood in my palm. "I thought at least you could be trusted..."
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