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In the imperial palace, the Second Prince and the Empress were thrown into a panic upon hearing news of the Crown Prince's disappearance, followed by reports of uprisings throughout the capital.
The Second Prince hurriedly gathered his loyal guards and the Imperial Forest Army in a desperate attempt to resist. Although the Imperial Forest Army was composed of elite soldiers, their numbers were far too few against the Iron-Blooded Army, making their resistance as futile as a mantis trying to stop a chariot, quickly collapsing under the overwhelming force.
Soon, the army broke through multiple defenses and invaded the Inner Palace. Realizing that the situation was dire, the Second Prince attempted to flee but was intercepted by the Crown Prince's confidants.
"Second Prince, today is the day you pay for your sins!"
The Crown Prince coldly regarded his once-arrogant rival, his eyes devoid of any mercy, filled only with endless killing intent.
The Second Prince collapsed to the ground, his face ashen. The arrogance he once displayed had vanished, leaving only fear and despair in the face of death.
Meanwhile, in the rear palace, upon hearing news of their defeat, the Empress realized she could not escape her fate and attempted to poison herself in a desperate act.
However, the Crown Prince had anticipated this and had arranged for her to be restrained.
"Empress, did you think you could escape so easily? The crimes you and Father committed against my mother must be paid for today!"
The Crown Prince fixed his gaze on the Empress, his voice trembling slightly with anger.
At that moment, the Emperor sat in the Golden Hall, filled with regret. He never imagined that his moment of weakness would lead to such a disaster. He should not have shown mercy; he should have eradicated the threat completely.
Xiao Tianming looked at the Emperor and spoke calmly.
"Father, did you not foresee this? From the moment I learned of my mother's unjust death, I began planning all of this."
A flicker of panic crossed the Emperor's eyes as he attempted to regain control of the situation.
"Tianming, I... I know I was wrong. I was deceived by that Demon Empress, which led me to commit this grave mistake. You have already taken charge of the situation. If you are willing to step back, you can still be the Crown Prince. We are father and son after all..."
The Crown Prince abruptly interrupted the Emperor, letting out a cold, sharp laugh.
"Father, did you ever consider sparing Mother when you and the Empress conspired against her? Now, my younger brother has committed unforgivable crimes—he plotted to usurp the throne, formed factions for personal gain, and harmed loyal subjects. Each of these is a capital offense. And you, as the ruler of this nation, have allowed your personal feelings to blind you, letting treachery run rampant in the court. You cannot escape responsibility for the chaos that has ensued!"
The Emperor's grip tightened on the armrests of the dragon throne, his knuckles turning white as he argued back.
"I am the sovereign of this nation; my actions are based on my own considerations. Your mother's family has grown powerful and poses a threat to my throne. How could I sit idly by? Your current actions are leading me into a position of unkindness and injustice! Do not forget that royal blood flows through your veins; this is an act of treason!"
The Crown Prince laughed in anger.
"Father, you will stop at nothing to preserve your throne, yet now you use royal blood to threaten me. Everything I have done is merely in accordance with heavenly principles. Your actions have long strayed from the virtues expected of an emperor. Under your rule, this realm will only descend into ruin. Today, I will restore order and bring clarity back to the court!"
The Emperor's expression darkened further as he realized that the Crown Prince was no longer the child he could easily manipulate. Regret flickered in his heart for not having dealt with him more decisively in the past, but he refused to concede verbally.
"Hmph! Do you think you can easily succeed? My Imperial Guards are still here; they will fight to protect me and the safety of this palace."
The Crown Prince remained unfazed and replied coldly.
"From the moment you and the Empress caused Mother’s death, you ceased to be my father. Today, you will witness how I execute both your most beloved son and your woman!"
Upon hearing this, the Emperor's muscles twitched violently, a glimmer of fear flashing in his eyes before it was replaced by fury. "Xiao Tianming, how dare you! I am the Emperor! If you lay a finger on them, it would be regicide and usurpation! The people of this realm will never forgive you!"
With a wave of his hand, the Crown Prince ordered the soldiers behind him to swiftly bring forth the Second Prince and the Empress.
The Second Prince had long lost his former arrogance; his face was as pale as paper, and his legs trembled weakly. If not for the soldiers supporting him, he would have collapsed to the ground.
The Empress, her hair disheveled, was filled with fear and despair, continuously muttering pleas for mercy.
Seeing this scene, the Emperor's heart tightened. He wanted to rush forward to protect them, but was blocked by the soldiers wielding their long spears.
He shouted hoarsely, “Xiao Tianming, you cannot do this! They are your family!”
Xiao Tianming coldly regarded the Emperor. “Family? Did you think of family when you laid hands on Mother? Today, I will repay you in kind!”
With another wave of his hand, the Executioner stepped forward, the gleaming blade in his hand reflecting a cold light under the sun.
The Second Prince, terrified, lost control of himself and cried out for mercy; the Empress fainted from shock.
The Emperor closed his eyes in despair, knowing that he had lost all power and could no longer prevent this tragedy from unfolding.
With a command given, the blade flashed through the air, and the heads of the Second Prince and the Empress rolled to the ground, blood gushing forth and staining the hall's floor red.
The Emperor slumped onto the Dragon Throne, his gaze vacant as he stared ahead, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. His heart was filled with regret and pain, but it was all too late to turn back.
The Crown Prince watched the scene before him, feeling no joy, only an endless sorrow. He knew that although this path of revenge had allowed him to settle scores, it had also cost him dearly.
In the days that followed, the Crown Prince began a thorough purge of the Second Prince's supporters. In the court, those officials who had once colluded with the Second Prince were dismissed from their posts, investigated for their crimes, had their properties confiscated, and were exiled to the borders.
The Chancellor's Residence was in chaos as well.
The Chancellor and his wife understood that their collusion with the Second Prince had put them in grave danger now that the Crown Prince was in power.
Desperate, they thought of Shen Qing, believing she might be their only lifeline. With faces full of shame, they approached her and pleaded, "Daughter, please save the Chancellor's Residence. We know we were wrong and promise to change our ways."
Shen Qing coldly replied, "You don't understand your mistakes; you are merely facing death."
Looking at the couple before her, she felt nothing but disdain and mockery. "Save you? In your past life, you indulged Lin Yue in tormenting and framing me. Did you ever consider today’s outcome?"
If you want me to save you now, it is not impossible—unless you personally kill your precious daughter, Lin Yue.
The Chancellor and his wife hesitated. Although they loved Lin Yue dearly, they found themselves forced to make a difficult choice in this life-or-death situation. After a fierce internal struggle, the Chancellor gritted his teeth. "Very well. The Chancellor's Residence has raised her for so many years; let this be our repayment for our nurturing."
Lin Yue looked at her parents in disbelief, shock and despair filling her eyes. Her lips trembled as if she wanted to say something but was choked by this sudden turn of events.
"Father, Mother, how can you be so cruel? I am your daughter!"
Lin Yue's voice quivered with tears as her body shook slightly from fear and anger.
The Prime Minister's Wife turned away, unable to meet Lin Yue's gaze. Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered softly.
“ Yue'er, this is all the result of your own actions. If we do not proceed this way, the entire Chancellor's Residence will cease to exist.”
The Chancellor's expression was grim as he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as if gathering his last ounce of courage.
“At this point, there is no other choice. Yue'er, do not blame your father; this is the punishment you deserve.”
Lin Yue shook her head frantically, her hair disheveled around her face, and a hint of madness flickered in her eyes.
“No, I don’t believe it! You must be lying to me; you must be trying to scare me, right?”
However, the sword in the Chancellor's hand did not waver.
With a piercing scream, the blade plunged into Lin Yue's body, blood instantly staining her clothes.
Lin Yue’s eyes widened in disbelief and despair as she slowly collapsed to the ground, her breath fading away.
The Chancellor Couple stared at Lin Yue’s lifeless body, collapsing in grief as tears streamed down their faces.
Though this was a choice made out of desperation, the pain of personally killing their beloved daughter after raising her for so many years felt like a thousand arrows piercing their hearts.
The Prime Minister's Wife fainted on the spot, and the Chancellor seemed to age ten years in an instant, his gaze hollow and filled with despair as the sword clattered to the ground.
The Chancellor's Residence did not escape retribution either; they were stripped of their positions and wealth, and those who once relied on the Chancellor's Residence quickly distanced themselves from it.
The entire family was exiled to a remote place, enduring hardships and suffering along the way, ultimately spending their remaining days in regret and pain.
The once bustling and illustrious Chancellor's Residence now lay in desolation and despair. The servants had scattered like birds and beasts, leaving behind an empty courtyard that seemed to mourn the grandeur of the past and the loneliness of the present.
In the streets, the common folk were abuzz with speculation. Some claimed that Shen Qing had foreseen the downfall of the Chancellor's Residence and had sought refuge elsewhere to live in seclusion.
Others whispered that she had been caught up in the power struggle and had met with misfortune. But the truth remained a mystery to all.
Under the governance of the Crown Prince, the nation slowly began to regain its vitality.
On a sunny day, Shen Qing strolled through the bustling marketplace as she often did.
The market was alive with a throng of people, the sounds of vendors calling out and laughter intertwining, filling the air with the essence of life.
Suddenly, a commotion ahead caught her attention.
She looked up to see a group of people surrounding a man dressed in plain clothes. He stood tall and dignified, exuding an innate noble aura despite his simple attire.
As Shen Qing approached, she recognized him as Xiao Tianming, who was out on an incognito visit.
At that moment, Xiao Tianming spotted Shen Qing, and a glimmer of surprise flashed in his eyes.
He pushed through the crowd and quickly walked up to her, a gentle smile gracing his face.
"Shen Qing, what a coincidence to meet you here today. It truly is fate."
Shen Qing slightly bent her knee in greeting.
"Your Majesty, it has been a long time since we last met. Seeing the market so lively, it must be due to Your Highness's capable governance that the people can live in peace and happiness."
Xiao Tianming waved his hand and smiled.
"This is the result of our collective efforts," he replied.
The two walked side by side through the market, admiring the surroundings while discussing their experiences and feelings from recent days.
Unbeknownst to them, the past hatred and pain seemed to have been cast aside, replaced by a longing for the future and a sense of hope.
Since the reckoning at the Chancellor's Residence, those painful memories had been sealed away.
She was no longer the vengeful woman driven by hatred but rather a woman who had embraced life anew.
The days spent at the Chancellor's Residence felt like struggling in darkness; Lin Yue's provocations and the Chancellor Couple's indulgence had shackled her with humiliation and resentment.
But now, all of that was behind her. She was free—not just in body but also in spirit, experiencing a rebirth.
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