lcionline Chapter 300 This game of chess has only just begun.
Chapter 300 This game of chess has only just begun.
The handwriting on the letter was somewhat blurry, but the content was still clearly legible.
"emperor:
I am guilty, and my death is no loss. But now that things have come to this, there are some truths I must tell.
The Empress did indeed have a difficult childbirth and was unable to give birth to a prince.
It was I who took it upon myself to send someone to bring a baby boy from the common people to replace the one born to the Empress.
The Empress was unaware of this matter; it was all done by me alone.
My intention was to protect the Empress's position, but I never expected to cause such a grave mistake. I deserve to die a thousand deaths, and I am willing to accept my fate.
I urge Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and not to take your anger out on innocent people.
Your subject, Wei Xizhong, kowtows.
The emperor crumpled the letter into a ball and slammed it to the ground. "Nonsense!"
He knew that this letter was the Duke of Wei's last resort.
In order to protect the Empress, he took all the blame upon himself.
Unfortunately, it's too late.
Jing'an Residence
"The Wei family has fallen, and the Crown Prince's true identity has been exposed," Doctor Qian said softly. "Now, it's up to the Emperor to decide what to do."
Chu Ruohan nodded slightly, "It is quite unexpected that the Duke and Duchess of Wei would choose to immolate themselves."
Dr. Qian sighed, "They planned all their lives, but they never expected to end up like this."
"Traitors and rebels deserve to die."
Chu Ruohan's tone was devoid of any pity, "How many people did they harm to deserve this fate?"
"I have avenged my great grudge, but I feel little joy in my heart." Doctor Qian stared at the setting sun outside the window, his voice low and bitter.
Chu Ruohan poured Dr. Qian a cup of hot tea, her eyes filled with a hint of doubt.
"Dr. Qian, the truth about what happened more than ten years ago has finally come to light. The Wei family has fallen, the Empress has been sent to the Cold Palace, the Crown Prince's true identity has been revealed, and the Tian family has avenged their great grudge."
"Isn't this exactly what you've been dreaming of?"
Doctor Qian took the teacup, but simply held it in his hand, letting the steam rise slowly and dissipate into the air.
“More than ten years,” Dr. Qian’s gaze became distant.
"Back then, I narrowly escaped death because I went outside the city to gather herbs that day. When I returned, it was already...it was already..."
Dr. Qian closed his eyes, and tears silently streamed down his face.
"From then on, I went into hiding, changing my name and identity, just so that one day I could find out the truth and seek justice for the Tian family."
Chu Ruohan listened quietly without interrupting.
"But now, the revenge has been taken, but none of my family members will ever come back."
Dr. Qian put down his teacup; his palms were red from the heat, but he seemed completely oblivious.
"Who would have thought that people's hearts are so treacherous, that they would wipe out an entire family just for their own selfish interests."
Dr. Qian closed his eyes. "It's all over."
Chu Ruohan nodded gently, but sighed inwardly.
This game has only just begun.
Meanwhile, in the Cold Palace, the Empress sat quietly by the window, gazing at the moonlight outside.
Her eyes were vacant, as if she had lost all hope.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a figure quietly entered.
The Empress looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
"How did you come?"
The person who arrived was the Empress's trusted maid. Zhi Qiu cautiously approached the Empress and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Master and Madam...they..."
The Empress gripped Zhi Qiu's shoulders tightly. "What happened to them?"
Zhi Qiu choked up and couldn't speak, but handed a note to the Empress.
The Empress unfolded it and her face turned deathly pale.
"They...self-immolated?"
Zhi Qiu nodded, tears streaming down her face. "The master left a will saying that the matter of the Crown Prince's true parentage was entirely his doing and had nothing to do with the Empress."
The Empress's hands trembled slightly, and tears silently streamed down her face.
She remembered her father's strictness, her mother's gentleness, and her spoiled younger brother...
They gave everything for her, and in the end, they chose this path to protect her.
"Father... Mother..." The Empress's voice was almost inaudible, "Your daughter was unable to fulfill her filial duties, but I will repay your kindness in the next life."
"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has learned of this matter and is requesting an audience with the Emperor to plead for Your Majesty."
The Empress looked up abruptly, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes before fading away.
"Over the years, I have always loved him as my own son."
She wiped away her tears, stood up, and straightened her clothes.
"Zhi Qiu, go back and tell the Crown Prince to stop pleading for me. My fate has already been sealed."
Zhi Qiu left the Cold Palace in tears.
The empress was left alone, quietly awaiting her fate under the moonlight.
Meanwhile, inside the emperor's bedchamber, the crown prince knelt on the ground, pleading desperately.
“Father, whether I am your biological son or not, the kindness of Mother in raising me is real.”
The crown prince, with tears streaming down his face, pleaded, "Father, please spare my mother's life, considering her many years of service to you."
The emperor remained expressionless, coldly staring at the crown prince kneeling on the ground.
This child, whom he once regarded as his own, now appears to be someone else's son.
This feeling is like being pierced by a thousand arrows.
"You may leave." After a long silence, the emperor finally spoke, his voice filled with deep weariness.
"Father!" The Crown Prince wanted to say something more, but was stopped by a look from the Emperor.
"I said, get out."
Left with no other option, the crown prince had to leave.
Before leaving, he took one last look at his father, whom he had once deeply respected.
That once majestic figure now appears so lonely and desolate.
The following day, the edict to depose the crown prince was issued. The empress, having confused the royal bloodline, was given poisoned wine and forbidden from being buried in the imperial mausoleum after her death.
The deposed crown prince took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the Cold Palace.
The once high and mighty empress now wears coarse linen clothes, her hair is disheveled, and there are still bruises on her neck from being pinched by the emperor.
Upon seeing him, the empress managed a weak smile.
"Yunheng, you've arrived."
The deposed crown prince could no longer hold back and knelt on the ground with a thud, tears streaming down his face: "Mother!"
The Empress's gaze remained calm. "All of this is the work of fate."
She reached out and gently stroked her son's face: "Yunheng, do you remember when you were little? When you were sick and had a fever, your mother stayed by your side all night, wiping your sweat and feeding you medicine."
The Crown Prince grasped the Empress's hand and nodded: "Your son remembers."
"At that time, I thought, even if you are not my biological child, I raised you as my own flesh and blood, so aren't we mother and son?"
Two tears slid down the Queen's cheeks. "Over the years, I have indeed made many mistakes, but my love for you has never been fake."
The crown prince choked up and said, "I know, I know that Mother loves me the most."
The Empress raised her head and looked out the window: "The Wei family is gone, and you can't keep your position as Crown Prince either."
"Yunheng, you are still alive, that's enough. The Emperor has finally softened his heart."