Chu Yanxi immediately understood Ling Mohan's intention, which was to trade one life for another. Only if he died could Feng Ruoyan's safety be guaranteed.
After a moment of silence, Chu Yanxi seemed to have made up his mind and spoke indifferently, "I agree, but you must promise to let Feng Ruoyan leave after I'm gone, find her a stable place, and not mistreat her in any way."
"This general promises you."
Ling Mohan agreed to Chu Yanxi's request without a second thought. Feng Ruoyan was not worth mentioning. Even if Feng Ruoyan were herself now, he would not be afraid, let alone her current state of idiocy.
Moreover, even if he let Feng Ruoyan go, she would not live much longer.
"Ling Mohan, a promise is a promise. This Highness wants you to swear, if you break your promise today, you and Feng Jin will be separated and never see each other again!"
Ling Mohan's eyes immediately darkened, and his displeasure was evident. A murderous aura erupted from him. How dare Chu Yanxi use Feng Jin as collateral. Did he truly not want to live?
Chu Chenyi vaguely sensed the oppressive killing intent emanating from Ling Mohan beside him and couldn't help but swallow nervously. Why did Chu Yanxi have to bring up Feng Jin? Wasn't this exactly what Chu Chenyi was worried about? If he was rushing to his death, then he couldn't blame anyone else.
"Ling Mohan, are you afraid to swear?"
"I can agree to any other request, but not Feng Jin!"
"No, you must swear a solemn oath with Feng Jin as the stake. If you dare to go back on your word, then Feng Jin will..."
A dagger suddenly flew out, piercing Chu Yanxi's shoulder blade. Chu Yanxi cried out in pain, his brows furrowed tightly, his agony undeniable.
"Do you really think I dare not kill you? If you push this general too far, I'll kill you first, and then have Feng Ruoyan join you in death!"
"You dare!" Chu Yanxi said loudly, enduring the pain, but inwardly he was trembling. Ling Mohan was indeed capable of such a thing.
After hesitating for a moment, Chu Yanxi wisely decided to take a step back, "Then swear, if you dare to go back on your word..."
"I, Ling Mohan, swear to heaven, if I break my promise today, may I die without a burial place!"
Ling Mohan spoke the oath directly, leaving no room for Chu Yanxi to blackmail him.
"Satisfied?"
Chu Yanxi said nothing more. His worries were resolved, and he had no regrets in this life.
Seeing his silence, Ling Mohan took out a delicate porcelain bottle from his懷 and threw it at Chu Yanxi's feet. "You know what to do with the rest. There's no need to explain further."
With that, Ling Mohan turned and walked out. Chu Chenyi, who had followed to watch the spectacle, also immediately followed. Since the main character had left, what was the point of him, a mere attendant, standing there foolishly?
After they left, Chu Yanxi let out a self-mocking cold laugh after a long pause. A cold smile curved his lips, and he slowly stood up from the ground. He tore off a strip of cloth from his clothes and bit his finger to draw blood, writing a blood letter.
As a man about to die, he only wished to take all the blame upon himself to protect his mother.
After finishing the blood letter, Chu Yanxi placed it aside, his gaze finally falling on the porcelain bottle on the table.
He shakily picked it up, a faint smile gracing his lips. It was a smile of genuine relief, as if Chu Yanxi had finally let go of all his burdens.
He poured the contents of the porcelain bottle into his mouth. Chu Yanxi sat upright and adjusted his clothes. He had lived a life of unparalleled nobility, and even in his current predicament, he intended to maintain his last shred of dignity.
A sharp pain in his abdomen told him the medicine was taking effect. He took out a jade pendant from his怀. This was the jade pendant Feng Ruoyan had dropped when she left in a hurry the first time they met.
He had always kept this jade pendant close to him. Now, using his life to exchange for Feng Ruoyan's life was worth it.
Chu Yanxi clutched the jade pendant tightly. Even after he breathed his last, his hand did not loosen its grip on the pendant.
The jailers who came for their rounds saw that Chu Yanxi was motionless and stepped forward to check. Upon discovering that he had stopped breathing, they cried out in alarm, "Third Prince has passed away... Third Prince has passed away... Third Prince has passed away..."
Feng Ruoyan, who was imprisoned in another cell, was hugging a pillow. When she heard the jailers shouting that the Third Prince had passed away, the pillow in her hands fell to the ground. Tears uncontrollably streamed from her eyes, and she spat out a mouthful of black blood before collapsing weakly.
...
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, the Third Prince... the Third Prince he..."
"Speak quickly, what happened to the Third Prince!"
Emperor Xuanwen asked anxiously, a sudden wave of worry rising in his heart.
"Your Majesty, news has come from the prison that the Third Prince... the Third Prince has passed away!"
Upon hearing this news, Emperor Xuanwen felt his head 'buzz!' His steps faltered, and with the support of the eunuch beside him, he managed to sit on a chair.
"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. The Third Prince committed suicide, and a blood letter was found beside him."
The eunuch presented the blood letter to Emperor Xuanwen and then retreated respectfully with his head bowed.
Emperor Xuanwen looked at the blood letter, his hand trembling as he reached for it. After reading the contents, he felt an overwhelming heartache, and tears welled up in his eyes.
He had originally planned to deal with Chu Yanxi leniently once the situation had blown over, at least to save his life. But he hadn't expected that before his imperial decree could be issued, Chu Yanxi had already poisoned himself.
He had taken all the blame upon himself just to protect the Empress.
"Your Majesty, the Third Prince's body is still in the prison. We must quickly arrange for his burial. Your Majesty must also make arrangements."
Emperor Xuanwen sighed, looking as if he had aged several years in an instant. "Have someone select a good place and bury him properly, without any negligence."
"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will arrange it immediately."
"Wait!" Emperor Xuanwen called out to the eunuch just as he was about to leave.
"Take my imperial decree and release Madam Liu from the cold palace. Relocate her to Chongyang Palace and take good care of her. Let her live out her days in Chongyang Palace."
Chu Yanxi's blood letter was filled with him taking all the blame upon himself. He was using his own life to beg him to spare Madam Liu.