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墨書 Inktalez
Long before the rebellion of Su Jun, I already knew everything. Gao Lu sent word for me to watch the situation unfold, waiting for the two tigers to fight before reaping the benefits as a fisherman. In other words, Xie Yushi was plotting a rebellion. He wanted to seize the Highest Position for himself.
He aimed to change the dynasty and become emperor.
Yet, I chose to assist him, strategizing for him, retreating his troops, and safeguarding his country.
Thus, the scenario of the mantis catching the cicada while the yellow sparrow waits in the back did not occur with Xie Yushi, that man who sacrificed his beloved woman for power and exploited his own daughter.
Even within Sky Prison, I had never seen him once. Surely in this life, he harbored both love and hatred for me, this woman.
To betray Xie Yushi was to betray the Xie Family. Now that the Xie Family has been raided, one of the four great clans, even ranked first among them, has collapsed entirely due to my negligence. I allowed Song Kong to leak this news to the Dark Gate. I orchestrated this entire scheme. Long before Su Jun's rebellion, this game had already begun; the positions of the pieces and their movements were predetermined. Today marks a crucial step in this game, and soon I will conclude it.
Out of selfishness, I sought to eliminate some of the clan's power. The current Jin State is already under the control of these clans, which is why Consort Huan said he had many unavoidable circumstances. He claimed not to love any woman yet married them one by one into his harem under the pretense of enriching it. In truth, it was also to ease those men’s minds and prevent them from harboring thoughts of usurpation. He wanted them to understand that their status had risen; their daughters' positions in the harem made that clear.
By seizing this opportunity, he could eliminate one of those families. The other three would then dare not act rashly. It seems he has been lying in wait all these years to eradicate these noble clans and reclaim supreme imperial power. Otherwise, he would be like a pitiful monarch struggling to survive between tigers and leopards. With his character, how could he be content with such a fate?
Then, before I leave, let me fulfill his ambitions.
The Xie Family was where I was born and raised; now for my own selfish desires and for this game to reach its conclusion, an entire family has become a sacrifice on my chessboard. Therefore, I will do my utmost to lessen their calamities. I owe a debt of gratitude to the Head of the Family for raising me; since I cannot give him an entire nation, at least I will take on all their blame and grant him a path to survival, as well as a chance for the Xie Family.
They are merely unwitting pawns in this game.
I heard that although the Xie Family was raided, they were not all executed but rather exiled. This indicates that that lofty man still possesses a shred of compassion.
So I bet he will spare them all and ensure they can live on.
This is not only my confidence in him but also my confidence in myself.
All these premeditated moves are merely to stage a grand escape—leaving the palace so that there will no longer be anyone named Xie Weiying in this world. That person burdened with too many identities will cease to exist from today onward.
I had thought that when he learned the news, he would come in a fit of rage. But I was mistaken. It was only after I had spent three days in that foul and filthy place that he finally arrived.
However, the expression on his face was not the anger I had anticipated, but rather an endless sorrow.
His once pure and plump cheeks were deeply sunken, his eyes bloodshot, his thin lips cracked and peeling, and dark circles under his eyes suggested he had not slept for days. When he looked at me, his gaze resembled an old well that had been abandoned for ages—deep and dark with hidden wounds.
We stood there in silence, gazing at each other as if searching for even a glimmer of dawn, trying to see into each other's souls. The air felt like it had carved out a long river between us, an insurmountable barrier.
I looked at him and smiled silently, my smile as desolate as a frail peony flower.
Whoever said that even the strongest woman would succumb when faced with the man she loves, becoming just another ordinary wildflower by the roadside?
He stared at me blankly, walked over, and cupped my face in his hands. His fingertips were icy cold, and his eyes shimmered with tears that trembled before cascading down onto his pale forehead.
He smiled strangely and said, "Do you know? I don’t even know why I’m here. You strange woman, it seems I've forgotten who you are, yet I can't let you go. I don’t believe what they say is true; I can’t believe that someone like you craves power or desires more than what those other women want. I thought for three days and finally decided to come ask you. Now, tell me the truth. I want to know the truth; no lies allowed. I don’t want to hear a single lie, do you understand?" His tone was urgent, almost frantic, as if he feared forgetting or changing his mind in the next moment.
I looked at him earnestly; in truth, I wanted to cry—especially when I saw his tears. At that moment, I almost believed I would break down like a child in his arms, pouring out my grievances and telling him everything. But I couldn’t; the pain was so intense that not a single tear could fall.
The deepest wounds must be bandaged in the most beautiful way, mustn't they?
I took a deep breath, my lips trembling slightly. Just when I thought I could never speak again, my throat produced a voice that felt foreign: "Your Majesty, it’s all my fault—just the Sinful Concubine’s fault. It has nothing to do with my father or the Xie Family; they knew nothing about it. It was me alone who decided and planned everything. If my father had known, he would have stopped it; after all, he is a Former Court Minister—how could he oppose it? Please see clearly, Your Majesty; the Sinful Concubine is willing to bear all responsibility."
"You think I would believe your words?" he replied with a light laugh.
I fell silent. A bitter smile curled at the corners of my mouth. Of course, I knew he wouldn’t believe me; but the truth would make him believe.
He scoffed a few times before suddenly mocking himself: "You once said that what you wanted was something I could not give you—was that true?"
I turned my face away and lightly laughed: "What I want is indeed something Your Majesty cannot provide."
"Is it power? Is it really power?!" He grasped my chin tightly. "Do you want it too? Do you want it as well? I thought you were different, but... Xie Weiying, you won..." Suddenly, he looked lost and said, "You won..."
I smiled at him, my laughter trembling like flowers in the wind, a smile that made Crimson Face truly heartbroken.
The cuckoo cried blood at midnight, not believing that the spring breeze could bring back what was lost.
A dazed visage. Cleansed of all adornments.
"You lied to me?" he said in a daze. She had deceived his feelings, deceived his sincerity. She had tricked him in every way possible; he was like a fool, foolishly in love with her. And now, she told him that all of it had been real!
I lowered my gaze: "I'm sorry. The Sinful Concubine only wishes for a swift death."
"Want to die? You want to die?... I won't let you die so easily." He staggered back a few steps, stumbling away from the Sky Prison.
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