As the days naturally passed, Li Nishu's heart gradually forgot Tan Ye, and then she came to have the current Emperor.
Speaking of this, the Noble Consort sighed, "His Majesty treats me... really very, very well. So well that during that time, I thought, wouldn't it be wonderful if there were only him and me in this world? What if he wasn't the Emperor, and I wasn't a concubine, wouldn't that be even better?"
The Noble Consort gave a bitter smile. Even Song Chaoyu could see that she truly loved the Emperor.
The past events did not add any pain to the Noble Consort's eyes; instead, they brought more composure and calmness. "It was only later that I realized. Perhaps, as Tan Ye said, I didn't love him that much back then. It was more of a vague liking for him, which is why after so many things happened, I was so at a loss and didn't understand Tan Ye's pain, nor did I know how to help him."
The Noble Consort's fingers lightly tapped on the nearby table, her tone filled with endless regret. "Actually, if I could have married Tan Ye, perhaps we could have lived a good life. But fate played a joke on us. In the end, although my uncle and aunt's actions were not intentional on my part, I still wronged Tan Ye. And the lives of their entire Tan clan, an entire village!"
She gave a bitter smile. "Later, it wasn't that I didn't inquire about my uncle and aunt's whereabouts. I only knew that they left the capital not long after that incident and died in the martial world."
The Noble Consort shook her head and sighed. "Perhaps even heaven could not bear their actions, and they died on a boat hijacked by water bandits. And my father and mother both passed away in previous years. The misfortunes and setbacks of the Li family probably began with harming the Tan family. Even now, I still don't know if my father and mother knew their uncle and aunt's identities, nor do I know if they were involved in the events of that year."
Even Mu Changxi had never met his maternal grandfather and grandmother, but Song Chaoyu felt that they must have known something about that incident.
Even after many years apart, Fan Lao Er and his wife had lived in the Li family for so long, how could they have shown no signs at all?
It was just that they hadn't told Li Nishu, and probably hadn't expected such severe consequences.
With that, the Noble Consort paused, falling into a long silence.
Finally, it was Mu Changxi who spoke first, "My Lady, have you not thought all these years that Tan Ye might still be alive?"
"Never."
Recalling that stormy night, the Noble Consort still felt a tremor of fear. "On that stormy night, when he came to find me with his body full of wounds, I thought he wouldn't survive. You didn't see how much blood he left behind after he left my room. It took me a very long time to clean the floor. You also don't know how astonishing his body looked, covered in injuries!"
The Noble Consort's hand gently stroked her chest. "I even thought that day that Tan Ye probably wouldn't even be able to leave the capital before dying. Those who offered rewards for his head were still pursuing him. And for so many years afterward, I haven't had any news of him."
Mu Changxi nodded, then asked again, "Then do you believe this time it was Tan Ye's doing? Can you be sure?"
The Noble Consort hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "I should be certain. The Tan family and the Little Qin Kingdom... apart from Tan Ye, who else could I know? And he said in his letter that he would take revenge on me and make me experience the feeling of their Tan family's most potent 'Imperial Cold Poison.' Isn't this exactly the same as my current situation?"
"Good."
Now that he understood the current situation, Mu Changxi no longer hesitated.
His gaze grew firmer. "Then now, as long as we find this Tan Ye, we can save you and Jingran."
"No!"
Seeing Mu Changxi like this, the Noble Consort suddenly shook her head. "Chang'er, Mother does not want you to do this!"
"Why?!"
Mu Changxi's brow furrowed deeply. Song Chaoyu knew that he was probably a little hurt.
The Noble Consort's intention had been the same all along. "Whether I knew about it or not back then, the demise of their Tan clan was indeed related to our Li family. What Fan Lao Er and his wife did, they can never repay such a sin in this lifetime! This is what the Li family owes the Tan family. If my death can bring an end to it, then why not?"
The Noble Consort was not just thinking of the Tan family; she was also thinking more deeply. "They say, when will the cycle of revenge ever end? If you kill Tan Ye today, his descendants will come to kill you tomorrow. This cycle, when will it end?"
The Noble Consort's eyes were deep. She stepped forward as if to take Mu Changxi's hand, but after seeing the rash on her hand, she withdrew it. "Let all of this end before me. If my death can appease Tan Ye's hatred, then everything will be worth it."
"No, it's not worth it!"
Unknowingly, Mu Changxi's hands were clenched into fists at his sides. "Mother, that's just what you think is worth it! You don't owe the Tan family anything. If they want to blame, they should blame your uncle and aunt! If you die like this, how will you explain to Father Emperor?"
"It doesn't matter, Chang'er."
The Noble Consort's smile was filled with peace and tranquility. "Before I die, I will tell the Emperor all these matters. Let the Emperor know that I am willing to die. After my death, perhaps he will cherish you more."
"I don't want such cherish!"
Mu Changxi's eyes reddened. "To speak a treasonous word, your son has never felt that Father Emperor truly cherished him! Perhaps he had no choice back then and had to send your son to the Southern Kingdom. But during those years, he rarely even sent letters to your son! Whether it was your son in the manor or Qian Shan in the Southern Kingdom, it was all taken care of by Mother!"
Mu Changxi finally couldn't help but pour out the words in his heart at this moment. "All these years, the only one who truly cared about your son was Mother! How can Mother let your son lose you so soon after returning to your side!? The people your son cares about most, besides Ah Yu, are you! Mother, even for your son's sake, please stay in this world, okay? There are many ways to atone for sins. We can find that Tan Ye and atone in other ways!"
These words did move the Noble Consort.
She had never known that Mu Changxi thought this way in his heart.