The Double-Chapter 651 - 199: Bestowing Death_2

Empress Dowager Liu still didn’t move, desperately trying to avoid it, even attempting to rush out and push the door open. The Imperial Attendant exchanged a glance with the two little eunuchs at his side. The little eunuchs immediately restrained Empress Dowager Liu. Liu, having lived a life of luxury in the palace for years, had no way to break free and soon lost her strength. The little eunuchs skillfully pinned down her hands and feet. One pried open her mouth and poured down the poison wine forcefully.

After the wine was poured, the little eunuchs released her. Empress Dowager Liu clutched at her own throat, desperately reaching into her mouth to try to vomit out the poison she had ingested. Her clothes were all disheveled, and her chignon had come undone. Tears and mucus streamed down her face, leaving no trace of her former image.

She didn’t care about anything else and just kept retching on the ground, as though this was the most urgent matter. However, as she continued to do so, she started to vomit blood. Gradually her body slumped, and she collapsed on the ground, her eyes wide open. Her body convulsed a few times before she stopped moving altogether.

Empress Dowager Liu was dead.

The Imperial Attendant instructed the little eunuchs to clean up the room and then left. Not far away in the garden, the Empress Dowager and Emperor Hongxiao were talking.

Most of the time, the Empress Dowager copied Buddhist scriptures in Cining Palace, only occasionally stepping out for a walk. The palace was brimming with the charm of spring, with bright flowers blooming in large bunches. Emperor Hongxiao had just finished his court session not long ago and had run into the Empress Dowager here, engaging in conversation.

The Imperial Attendant who had delivered the poison wine to Empress Dowager Liu came to report back. Once it was confirmed that Liu was dead, Emperor Hongxiao nodded in acknowledgement, and the junior eunuch then withdrew.

The Empress Dowager sighed.

"Mother, are you feeling pity for Empress Dowager Liu?" Emperor Hongxiao asked.

The Empress Dowager shook her head, "Recently, too many people have died. I feel, it’s not peaceful."

Starting with Princess Yongning, there had been a continuous string of deaths—Shen Yurong, Consort Li, the Ji family, assassins in Yanjing City, and now Empress Dowager Liu. Indeed, the number was quite high.

"They brought it upon themselves," Emperor Hongxiao said indifferently, "Mother is kind-hearted, but you can’t stop people from reaping what they sow."

The Empress Dowager laughed. When she smiled, she appeared as graceful and gentle as she had been in her youth, "Has Your Majesty announced the death of Empress Dowager Liu to the world?"

Emperor Hongxiao replied, "Yes."

"Prince Cheng hasn’t made a move," the Empress Dowager remarked with a sigh, "after all, it’s a matter between mother and son."

Even when Empress Dowager Liu was condemned to death, no one came to the palace to save her. Prince Cheng didn’t even have agents in place to rescue Liu from the palace should circumstances change. From the beginning to the moment before Liu’s death, nothing happened in the palace.

It was uncertain whether Prince Cheng had miscalculated this or if he simply didn’t care about Liu’s fate. Now it seemed more likely the latter. Because even if it were a miscalculation, if he truly cared for his mother like a good son, he would have found a way to make some noise rather than letting Liu die like this.

Emperor Hongxiao lamented, "Yes, in the end, they are mother and son."

The Empress Dowager looked at Emperor Hongxiao and said, "You have also been tired these past few days, Your Majesty. You should take care to rest more."

Emperor Hongxiao agreed. They too were mother and son, and usually, there wasn’t much friction between them. But if Empress Dowager Liu and Prince Cheng, being a biological mother and son, could each fly away in the face of disaster, what would happen to the Empress Dowager and Emperor Hongxiao, who weren’t biologically related if they faced their own troubles one day? Would they maintain the calm they currently had?

No one could predict.

The Empress Dowager asked, "Your Majesty, I heard that Prince Cheng caused a disturbance at the gates of Huangzhou City, and the Military Defense General rushed to the rescue. Is... Yanjing in danger?"

"Mother need not worry," replied Emperor Hongxiao, "I’ve already ordered General Zhaode to march back to the capital to defend and resist the enemy. Given the urgency of their travel, they will surely arrive before Prince Cheng reaches Yanjing."

"Zhaode General..." the Empress Dowager’s face was inscrutable as her voice trailed off slowly, and it was unclear what she meant.

Emperor Hongxiao fell silent as well. The wind swept up the leaves on the ground, carried them into the garden next to the sugar pavilion. The swirling water gobbled up a leaf as well.

And then it disappeared without a trace.

...

Inside the Jiang Family residence, Jiang Yuan Bai received a letter.

The gatekeeper handed the letter to Jiang Yuan Bai and said, "Master, I dozed off for a moment at noon. When I woke up, this letter was already in my bosom. I don’t know who delivered it, I went out and asked around, but everyone said no one entered the house. The letter is addressed to you, Master... Shouldn’t you open it and have a look?"

Jiang Yuan Ping and Jiang Yuan Bai were talking when the servant barged in and handed over a letter, which surprised them both. For the past few days, Jiang Yuan Bai had grown haggard without a change of clothes. He stared suspiciously at the letter in his hand, thought for a moment, and then opened it to read.

The letter was short with only a few lines of text. After Jiang Yuan Bai had read it, his expression was complex and indecipherable.

"Big brother, what does the letter say?" asked Jiang Yuan Ping.

"It’s Jiang Li..." Jiang Yuan Bai frowned and said, "Jiang Li is now in Huangzhou, Prince Cheng’s men took her there, and she was rescued by Duke Su. Now Jiang Li is with Duke Su."

"Jiang Li has been found?" Jiang Yuan Ping was initially overjoyed. These days, to find Jiang Li, Jiang Yuan Bai practically turned Yanjing City upside down, but all was in vain. Everyone said it was likely she had been taken out of the city. But now, searching outside the city, where to start and how to find her, the hope was growing faint. Suddenly, hearing the news that Jiang Li had been found, Jiang Yuan Ping also heaved a sigh of relief.

But then he looked at Jiang Yuan Bai curiously, "Saved by Duke Su? How did Duke Su come to save Jiang Li?"

"Perhaps it was a coincidence," Jiang Yuan Bai said with furrowed brows, "He has met Jiang Li before."

"But big brother," Jiang Yuan Ping was still puzzled, "Duke Su isn’t someone who likes to meddle in other people’s affairs. Not to mention Jiang Li, even with the Jiang Family, he doesn’t have much of a relationship. Would he be so kind as to save Jiang Li?"

Jiang Yuan Bai also harbored doubts. Jih Heng was a man of unpredictable mood swings and fickle temper—a fact well-known to everyone. Terms like ’kind-hearted’ and ’soft-hearted’ were hardly associated with Jih Heng. If Jih Heng came across someone in trouble, he would most likely keep out of it. Even if something happened to him and Jiang Yuan Ping, Jih Heng would probably only stand by and watch the drama unfold, let alone lending a helping hand.

Yet, the letter said otherwise.

Involuntarily, Jiang Yuan Bai recalled the last birthday celebration of Old General Jih, who had specifically invited only Jiang Li to attend. Although Jiang Li herself didn’t know why, Jiang Yuan Bai always felt there was more to it, that Jiang Li was keeping something from him.

But now was not the time to inquire into the relationship between Jih Heng and Jiang Li. Jiang Yuan Bai instructed the servants outside, "Prepare a horse, send someone to Huangzhou City at once, and bring the Second Miss back to the mansion!"

"Big Brother," Jiang Yuan Ping held Jiang Yuan Bai’s hand, "That’s not wise!"

"Why not?" Jiang Yuan Bai looked at him.

"Now is a time of chaos in Huangzhou. Prince Cheng’s troops are still outside the city and haven’t retreated. If you attempt to retrieve her at this moment, I’m afraid it might backfire. Since those people kidnapped Jiang Li, it was clearly targeted at her. If Jiang Li appears in their sight, it may actually put her in danger. On the other hand, staying with Duke Su is much safer. You and I both know of Jih Heng’s capabilities; even if all of Huangzhou falls, Jih Heng is likely to come out unscathed. It’s much safer for Jiang Li to be with him than with someone else."

"I don’t trust him," Jiang Yuan Bai said. "Jih Heng’s intentions are inscrutable; who knows what he’s up to!"

"Big Brother," Jiang Yuan Ping said, "If he had ulterior motives, he wouldn’t have bothered to save Jiang Li from Prince Cheng’s hands. Even if he wanted to use Jiang Li for some scheme, he would still ensure her safety. You need not worry. At this point, with Zhaode General soon returning to the capital, you might as well consider what our Jiang Family should do next!"