Xie Jia Yan stood beneath the ladder, lost in thought for a long time, until a gust of wind blew past, and a leaf drifted down before his eyes.
Xie Jia Yan looked up. The pear tree was laden with fruit, and a faint fragrance of ripe pears wafted through the air.
She had been looking forward to it since March, saying the pear tree grew well and the fruit was exceptionally sweet. She would climb the ladder to pick them every year, and this year, she could openly pick and eat them in the courtyard.
Xie Jia Yan gave a bitter smile, suppressing the fire that threatened to burn within him. He was not worthy!
He was destined for a solitary life; why should he drag her down with him?
The Gu family was more suitable for her. Even if the Zheng family's fortunes declined in the future, it would not greatly affect the Gu family. The Gu father and son had achieved their current positions through their own abilities. Gu Tingyun could offer her a lifetime of stability, something he could not.
Taiji Hall
The nanny by Consort Li's side quickly confessed. She had given the arsenic to Wang Ning Qing. Having spent half her life in the palace, she naturally had her own connections, but she did not want to implicate others and took the blame herself.
Her life had been saved by her mistress, so dying for the Wang family was a worthy end.
She had originally been sent by the Wang family to care for the Empress. However, the Empress had recently suffered a miscarriage, and her attendants were all long-serving staff who did not require new additions.
At that time, the Third Princess's marriage was being arranged, and Consort Li had assigned several of her personal attendants to accompany the Third Princess upon her departure. She was then assigned to Consort Li's palace by the Empress Dowager.
The Emperor received the letter from Xiao Che. The envelope had not yet been opened, bearing Wang Ning Qing's personal seal.
The Emperor held the letter, his expression unreadable for a long time, as if lost in memory. No one dared to disturb him, and Xiao Che was also curious about the letter's contents.
The so-called secret letter was more like an elegy, mourning his sister while reminiscing about their past.
Wang Ning Qing's full sister was naturally the late Empress Wang. She was the youngest daughter of the Wang family, named You Ling. Raised in seclusion, she knew nothing of the world's ugliness and treachery, like a delicate flower.
The Wang family had not intended to send her to the palace. If not for that fire that disfigured the second branch's fourth daughter, she could have had her own stable life.
The Wang family had lost too much in that fire. The Empress brought her into the palace out of pity for her orphaned state and to follow the late Emperor's wishes, silencing the gossip of the world.
Everyone knew who was behind that fire, but even if it was self-deception, the act had to continue.
She was naive and unaware; who had malicious intentions, who harbored ulterior motives? And who made her fall in love only to withdraw?
...
In this struggle of fratricide, no one was wrong. We all stood on our most advantageous ground, arguing our cases, scheming and plotting. Even if it led to eternal damnation, it was a deserved end.
But you, you did nothing. If there was a mistake, it was mine. I should not have agreed to my aunt's request to send you into the palace.
Jiaojiao, your brother comes to beg for your forgiveness!
Jiaojiao, Jiaojiao!
The Emperor's gaze lingered on those two words, and a sharp pain shot through his chest. The letter in his hand was already stained with blood.
"Your Majesty!"
"Father!"
Two voices called out. The Emperor's body slumped onto the imperial desk.
Xiao Che rushed forward: "Father..."
The Emperor's eyelids fluttered. "The Empress, will the Empress..." He did not finish his sentence and fainted.
"Summon the imperial physician, quickly summon the imperial physician." Xiao Che had never been so panicked. He picked up the unconscious Emperor and placed him on the dragon bed.
The imperial physician arrived in a hurry, his forehead beaded with sweat.
The Emperor had been overworking himself, and his health had been poor for years. The last time he had vomited blood, the physician had warned him against excessive joy or sorrow, as it could lead to a stroke. It had only been a short while, and now he was vomiting blood again. The situation was not good.