MLIAM Chapter 78

Chapter 78: A Death Wish Question – If he confessed to you back then, would you have accepted him…?

Chapter 78: A Death Wish Question – If he confessed to you back then, would you have accepted him…?

A long time later, one day, a female corpse was discovered in the palace pond.

It was none other than the Empress’s head maid, Cuiping.

The Empress was furious and demanded a thorough investigation, only to find that the person she suspected the most—the Xizhao hostage she found secretly “involved” with Cuiping, Wanyan Jun—was not even in the palace that day.

With no proof of foul play, and out of consideration for their years of service, the Empress could only hastily arrange for the body to be taken away.

Later, a palace servant found a suicide note in Cuiping’s room, confirming that Cuiping had “committed suicide for love,” and also pleaded with the Empress not to make things difficult for Wanyan Jun.

The Empress was completely baffled. She believed that Cuiping had put all her strength into kicking Wanyan Jun that day, and their subsequent confrontations didn’t seem fake at all. She never would have imagined that the two of them could have a secret affair.

But perhaps that was precisely why Wanyan Jun had to hide it so well, especially considering she was someone close to the Empress…

Seen in that light, it made more sense that Cuiping was deliberately putting on an act to make it seem like she and Wanyan Jun were not familiar with each other.

The Empress sighed, thinking of honoring the deceased’s last wish, and decided to let Wanyan Jun off the hook. She kept the matter a secret for the two of them, saying it was all a misunderstanding.

However, Wanyan Jun was still a hostage, and she couldn’t bring herself to be close to him.

Fortunately, after Wanyan Jun became close friends with the Third Prince, he spent more and more time chasing pleasure with the Third Prince, and didn’t bother the Empress as much.

Not long after, Wanyan Jun was “ransomed” back to Xizhao with money, and the two never crossed paths again.

Even the Empress herself didn’t expect that she would see him again in the palace after not much time had passed.

And this time, he wasn’t using his own identity.

Wanyan Jun put on the skin of “Zhao Xuan,” using the name of this “Third Prince” to summon the Empress to the pond where Cuiping had drowned.

“You say…you know who harmed Cuiping back then?” the Empress asked cautiously in a low voice. “Could it be the Second Prince?! I’ve always thought there was something off about him. The son of an evil woman, trying to climb the social ladder? In his dreams!”

The Empress so despised children born out of wedlock, as if they tainted the blood of the royal family.

Her expression towards “Zhao Xuan” was no different.

Because “Zhao Xuan” was not the Empress’s biological son either, but was born to a palace maid who had an affair with the Emperor.

After giving birth to the prince, the palace maid was given death, and the Empress became the “stepmother.” But towards Zhao Xuan, although she was a “benevolent mother” on the surface, she secretly didn’t give him a good look, and all she wanted was for Zhao Xuan to cause trouble, so as to clear the way for her own son.

Zhao Xuan liked beautiful women and enjoyed engaging in frivolous pursuits, so she arranged maids for him early on, teaching him to indulge in matters of lust. Zhao Xuan spent money without restraint, so she taught him that all the land under the sky belonged to the Emperor, letting him act recklessly.

Over time, Zhao Xuan really became useless.

In fact, she had done the same thing to the Second Prince.

The Second Prince valued family affection, but his biological mother lived in a Buddhist temple and the two rarely saw each other. The Empress catered to his preferences, being considerate and affectionate over the years, sending gifts and showing concern, but her words were all about letting him consider his brothers and think more for the Crown Prince.

Zhao Lan had always been obedient and had never shown any interest in the throne.

The Empress had always been at ease.

But later, she didn’t know how, Zhao Lan suddenly seemed to have his own ideas, and stubbornly failed to become the person she wanted him to be.

Even…had some thoughts he shouldn’t have.

Seeing Zhao Lan become a threat, the Empress naturally couldn’t sit idly by. Therefore, she came out to meet “Zhao Xuan” that day, with some thoughts of colluding and winning him over.

She had never thought that the “Zhao Xuan” in front of her had long been replaced.

Looking at the noble and elegant woman in front of her, who was clearly disgusted but still had to pretend to look at him with loving kindness and enthusiasm, “Zhao Xuan” smiled and said, “Has the Empress ever thought…that the person who killed your loyal servant…was me?”

His smile was bright, and the Empress sized him up suspiciously, forcing a dry laugh and looking incredulous: “You?” She chuckled softly: “Spare me, I know exactly what you’re capable of.”

“Is that so?” “Zhao Xuan” curled his lips: “Then I’m afraid you don’t know me very well.”

The Empress saw him walking over with a gloomy face, and her expression changed: “You…what do you want to do?!”

“Show the Empress just how much I’m capable of.”

The Empress suddenly took a few steps back, her face horrified: “You…you’re not Zhao Xuan?!” Zhao Xuan would never speak to her in that tone!

“Zhao Xuan” sneered: “The Empress is wise, you finally realized.”

The Empress was, after all, an astute person, knowing that once she learned someone else’s secret, she wouldn’t escape so easily.

She looked around, unable to see any palace eunuchs or maids, and felt extremely abnormal. She carefully asked, “If I don’t want to know about Cuiping’s matter, can you let me leave? I promise, I won’t say anything about what happened today.”

“Do you think that’s possible?” “Zhao Xuan” got closer, his voice cold: “The Empress shouldn’t be so naive, right? Did I go to all this trouble, be used and humiliated by people I hate, just to tell you that I killed your maid?”

The Empress quickly said, “Killed her then so be it… but I am the Empress, and I have raised you for so many years…”

Wanyan Jun couldn’t listen anymore: “I told you, I’m not Zhao Xuan! Raised me? You?”

He slapped the Empress hard, knocking her to the ground. “You must be very curious, where have all the people in the palace gone?”

The Empress covered her face and fell to the ground, screaming. “You dare touch me?! I am the Empress! This is the Imperial Palace! You must not be lawless! There are Imperial Guards in the palace…”

“Hahaha… Imperial Guards?” Zhao Xuan’s laughter interrupted her: “Where did the Imperial Guards come from? Guess why it’s so quiet around here? … That’s because the Emperor’s good dog used his power to take people away.” “Zhao Xuan” smacked his lips: “You see, your good husband even wants to get rid of you.”

“No… impossible…” The Empress’s face turned pale: “You… you must not try to scare me!”

“Zhao Xuan” sighed: “A hundred days of kindness between husband and wife, but in the end, you’ve come to this. How tragic.”

“Look, you two, one is afraid that her husband will live too long, and won’t be able to see her son ascend the throne; the other is afraid that his wife will poison him in order to support her son, so he chooses to strike first. Tsk, tsk…”

The Empress moved back a few steps, muttering: “No… it won’t… he… he loves me…”

“Loves you?” “Zhao Xuan” smiled mockingly: “Do you think that every time other concubines receive the Emperor’s favor, he turns a blind eye when you send them birth control medicine, he is loving you?”

“Isn’t he?!” The Empress raised her head and looked at him, tears in her eyes: “He only allows me to give birth to his children… other children are accidents… and he promised me that he would protect Yong’er and help him ascend the throne…”

“Ascend the throne? … Maybe.” “Zhao Xuan” said “hmm”: “But, after you die, the Crown Prince can still ascend the throne. That wouldn’t count as breaking his promise, right?”

He clapped his hands: “In this case, the Emperor’s love for you is indeed as deep as the sea! After all, he is willing to let your foolish son inherit his throne, and he’s not afraid of ruining the Da Liang dynasty.”

Such mocking words fell into the Empress’s ears, making her feel a chill in her heart.

She lowered her eyes, finally losing that arrogant air, and lowered her head, asking in a soft voice, “Who exactly are you? What do you want to let me go? I can give you gold, silver, jewelry, titles and fame… as long as you want, I will help you get it…”

“Zhao Xuan” raised his hand to interrupt her, “Whether I let you go or not, doesn’t matter.”

“The one who wants to kill you today is the Emperor.”

The Empress kept shaking her head: “No… I don’t believe it…”

“Zhao Xuan” walked up to the Empress step by step, and kicked her in the shoulder, staggering her.

“This is to avenge your maid from back then.” Then, he drew his sword.

The Empress hunched over slightly, moving backwards, her eyes filled with fear. “What do you want to do?!”

“This is to avenge your insults from back then…”

“Zhao Xuan” raised his foot and stepped on the Empress’s wrist, then pretended to sever her tendons one by one.

Midway, because he found her too noisy, he stuffed one of his shoes into her mouth. “Noisy.”

After finishing his assessment, he calmly lowered his eyes and continued his work, as if treating a work of art, his posture pious and serious.

By the time he finished all this, pulled out his shoe, the Empress was already mentally dazed, barely alive.

Her voice became hoarse and shrill, and she had endured the most painful moments. She raised her eyes from the pool of blood, looking at “Zhao Xuan”: “What exactly… is my grudge with you? Do you have to… be so cruel?!”

“Cruel? I’m cruel?” “Zhao Xuan” glared: “Aren’t you cruel?”

“Just a little bit! Just a little bit!” He gritted his teeth, his face full of anger: “I was about to confess! He would have agreed to me! He could have agreed to me!”

“It’s all you! It’s all you!”

The Empress was in a terrible state, lying on the ground, and smiled evilly when she heard this: “Your lover has long gone to hell, if you feel sorry for her, then go down and accompany her…”

“Dare to curse him?! Are you tired of living?!” He stepped on the Empress’s mouth, preventing her from saying those unlucky words.

“Lover?” “Zhao Xuan” raised his hand and grabbed the Empress’s hair, “What is your maid worth? Others just used her to cover their ears, but you actually believe it?”

The Empress couldn’t dodge, and screamed miserably as her hair was grabbed. “Help… Save me…”

“Zhao Xuan” pulled her up and threw her to the ground: “Look at your state now, do you look like an Empress at all?”

The Empress raised her head, her hair disheveled, and pleaded almost hoarsely, “Zhao Xuan!… No… no matter who you are, you shouldn’t be someone from the palace, right? I still have the final say in the back palace, since you said she didn’t die, as long as you tell me who your lover is, I will definitely help you bring her back, you just… spare my life…”

“Zhao Xuan” looked at the time and shook his head: “That’s a good idea, I’m a little tempted to consider it.”

“But first, that person is very difficult to deal with, never responding to soft approaches, I’m sure you can’t handle it. And… he’s not someone from your back palace…”

“Second… I’m sorry, I’m not here to kill you today. The person who wants to kill you… is behind.”

He patted the dust on his body and hands, and wiped the blood stains on his hands with a handkerchief, then stepped away gracefully.

“Oh, by the way.” He turned back and smiled: “It seems you have also offended an even more difficult guy to provoke. After all, you have today’s consequences, it should be no less than his work.”

“Who?” A resentful gaze stared over, with blood and tears.

“It’s all the blessings you left behind from the sins you committed.”

“Sins?” The Empress muttered in place…

Perhaps because she had committed too many sins, she couldn’t remember for a moment which enemy was waiting for an opportunity to take revenge.

“Zhao Xuan” didn’t say anything more.

The Empress’s hands and feet were broken, she couldn’t stand up, she could only lie on the spot, she struggled to raise her head, looked at “Zhao Xuan”, gasping for breath in her death throes: “I already know who you are! Aren’t you afraid that I’ll reveal your identity?!”

“The Empress may well guess and go say it, but unfortunately… some people won’t spare your life.”

“Zhao Xuan” strode away, and after a long time, the sound of arrows whizzing through the air rang out behind him.

Soon after, the Imperial Guards methodically cleaned up the traces of the scene.

The next day, the palace announced the mourning.

The Empress was attacked and died from several arrows from an assassin.

The Emperor was grieved, suspended court for three days, and the whole country mourned.

The following year, the Crown Prince established his own residence, and the Emperor agreed to let him supervise the country.

In October of the same year, Wei Yan was appointed Prime Minister.

From then on, his power tilted the world.

*

After saying all this, Wei Yan raised his eyes and asked Yu Shuli: “Do you have a fragmented impression?”

Yu Shuli nodded: “I still have that memory, but I don’t know so many details.” He pondered for a moment, hesitated for a long time, and still asked: “So… you knew that the Third Prince was fake at that time? But that’s not right, you were clearly surprised when Dong Siwen said it last time.”

Wei Yan said: “These are what I found out after Dong Siwen reminded me, not what I knew before.”

“Then what did you know before?” Yu Shuli blinked at him: “Where does your hostility towards Wanyan Jun come from?”

“Where does my hostility come from, don’t you know?” Wei Yan lowered his eyes to look at him: “He likes you.”

Yu Shuli’s ears turned red: “Then you can’t be so domineering… It’s other people’s freedom to like someone.”

“Of course it’s okay to like someone else, but it’s not okay to like you.”

“I didn’t know before…” Yu Shuli reached out to pull him in a flattering manner, coaxing: “Don’t be jealous, isn’t everything about me yours now?”

“Then do you know when he changed his identity?”

“Um, do you remember, not long after he returned to Xizhao, the Third Prince had a serious illness and stayed behind closed doors.” Wei Yan said: “It was during that time.”

Yu Shuli was surprised: “Since he’s been replaced for so long, what does he want from staying in the Imperial Palace alone and away from home!”

Wei Yan looked at him: “What do you say he wants?”

“I… how would I know.” Wei Yan’s gaze was hot, and Yu Shuli unconsciously turned away.

“Naturally, it’s to find a chance to get close to you. His obsession with you is not shallow.”

Yu Shuli’s ears turned red, and he buried his head in feigned death: “Anyway, I don’t know.” He muttered: “No wonder he didn’t bother me for so many years, it turns out it was because he was replaced. I was wondering why he was so diligent sometimes…”

“If he didn’t need to use Zhao Xuan’s identity, I’m afraid he would have already taken an inch.”

Yu Shuli looked at him sideways: “You kept my time so tight, how could I have time to take an inch with others? Every year when I come back from the expedition, aren’t I taken by you to this and that…”

Wei Yan pursed his lips tightly, pulled him into his arms, and asked in a low voice, “If… if I couldn’t stop him back then, if he confessed to you at that time, would you have agreed to him?”

“Agree to what? I didn’t understand love or anything like that at that time, right? I would probably give him a good friend card, and then just drift apart.” Yu Shuli muttered: “I mainly just couldn’t stand his irresponsible behavior.”

“Meaning… if he took responsibility for that palace maid, you would have agreed to him?” Wei Yan raised an eyebrow.

Yu Shuli chuckled, holding Wei Yan’s face: “Let me see whose big glutton is here, this sour vinegar, you’re still holding it and drinking it?”

Wei Yan: …

“Don’t be playful! Answer me.” Wei Yan’s lips landed on Yu Shuli’s neck, his voice low and hoarse: “Death wish question, if you don’t answer well, don’t blame me for punishing you.”

“Punish what?” Yu Shuli’s eyes lit up: “Speaking of this, I’m not sleepy anymore…”

Wei Yan bit his neck in a punitive manner.

Yu Shuli hissed and pushed his head away.

“Actually, I’ve always been pursuing a lifetime of one love.” Yu Shuli put away the playfulness on his face and asked seriously, “Wei Yan, will you want to take concubines in the future?”

“Why take concubines?” Wei Yan casually played with Yu Shuli’s hair, then leaned over and gave him a light kiss. “It’s enough for me to support you, I can’t afford to support others.”

“But… your mother and grandmother’s side…” Yu Shuli said sullenly, “After all, the elders’ ideas must be respected.”

Wei Yan paused, and after a long silence, he said in a low voice: “Ji An, if you want to take concubines… it’s okay too.”

The words were almost squeezed out of his throat, sounding very reluctant.

Yu Shuli suddenly raised his eyes and looked at him: “What did you say?!”

“I said…” Wei Yan took a deep breath, his eyes a little red, and said seriously, “I know that you are the only descendant left in your clan, I agree that you can take concubines, and I also allow you to keep a descendant. But…”

He paused and said, “There can only be one.”

Yu Shuli pressed his tongue against the root of his teeth, silent, but his chest was sour.

Wei Yan was actually able to compromise to this extent for himself.

He was such a proud person.

Yu Shuli didn’t want Wei Yan to be wronged, but he wasn’t good at saying sweet love words, so he could only express himself with actions.

He stroked Wei Yan’s Adam’s apple with one hand, and held down Wei Yan’s hands with the other.

Wei Yan was still rambling about what to remind him, and was very dissatisfied when he saw that he was absent-minded: “Are you listening to me? I’ve already compromised like this…” He looked so pitiful.

Yu Shuli looked at the beauty’s lips opening and closing, and couldn’t help but lean closer.

Wei Yan frowned: “What are you doing?”

Yu Shuli: “I can’t understand, I want to kiss.”