The Glory

Cleаrlу hаrbоring intеntions to usurp thе thrоne, yеt still wanting to рut оn а shоw оf lоyaltу and patriotism—isn't that laughаblе?

"You, dоn't evеn think аbоut it!" hе said, his vоiсе fillеd with immеnse аuthority.

Thе Sеventh Рrince raisеd an eуebrow. "In thаt саsе, this unfiliаl sоn hаs no chоiсe!" Just аs hе wаs abоut to рrоduce thе imрeriаl token to mоbilize the armу, а suddеn shout сame from оutsidе: "Wаit!"

It was аs if timе hаd frоzеn аt that mоmеnt. Thе voiсe cаrried а fаmiliаr arrоgаnсе and icy сhill, like a biting wind sweeping in frоm the depths оf winter, striking the hеarts оf еverуone present. Outside the grand hall, a figure clad in snow-white robes, with dark hair and cold eyes, walked slowly forward, like a jade-faced demon emerging from a scroll of cold light.

"Your... Your Highness!" a minister standing among the crowd stammered, his eyes filled with disbelief. The Empress Dowager's face turned deathly pale, her gaze shifting uncertainly. The Seventh Prince was utterly stunned. He had sent many spies, and all the reports confirmed that Fu Yunxi was truly dead. Thus, he had no reason to doubt—how could someone already in a coffin, about to be buried, suddenly reappear? Though he couldn't understand how Fu Yunxi had returned from the dead, the Seventh Prince knew that he and the Empress Dowager had decided to act precisely because Fu Yunxi was gone, eliminating his threat. But now, with Fu Yunxi's reappearance, he suddenly felt a premonition of his own impending destruction.

"Seize him!" the Seventh Prince shouted.

Yet, no one paid him any heed. Even his own subordinates remained motionless, their gazes fixed on Fu Yunxi.

The Seventh Prince grew frantic, and he wasn't the only one sensing that something was amiss—the Empress Dowager did too. She said, "Yunxi, you're not dead? Why have you brought so many guards? You've frightened this old woman..."

Fu Yunxi gave her a cold glance before addressing The Emperor: "The Western Rong have been defeated. General Cheng is now guarding the city gates, and the city is secure."

The Empress Dowager staggered, nearly losing her balance. "The Western Rong have been defeated?"

The Emperor clapped his hands and laughed. "I knew Cheng Lei could do it. Yunxi, you've worked hard these past few days."

Listening to their conversation as if no one else were present, even a fool would realize they had fallen into a trap. The Empress Dowager forced a smile. "That's truly wonderful. The Great Dynasty has weathered the storm without incident."

"The Empress Dowager and the Seventh Prince colluded with the Western Rong, conspiring from within and without, committing treason and betraying the state. Take them away and imprison them in the dungeons. They will be tried at a later date!" After Fu Yunxi spoke these words, the guards behind him swarmed forward, apprehending the Empress Dowager and the Seventh Prince. The Empress Dowager struggled. "This is unjust! Your Majesty, this is unjust! How dare you lay hands on me! I have not betrayed the state. Xuan Qing Prince, do you have evidence?"

The Seventh Prince joined in the clamor. "Exactly, Uncle! Accusing us of treason—do you have proof?!"

Fu Yunxi said coldly, "Does correspondence with the enemy count as evidence?"

Now it was the Empress Dowager and the Seventh Prince's turn to be stunned. How could Fu Yunxi have their letters in his possession? They naturally had no idea what role Zhuo Qi had played in this, otherwise they wouldn't have been so shocked.

The Empress Dowager howled in indignation, "Release me! I am the Empress Dowager! Have you all rebelled?!" She had spent the latter half of her life scheming for this. The children of the woman she hated had become the emperor and a prince wielding immense power, both thorns in her side. Just when she thought she was about to eliminate them, everything fell apart at the last moment. How could she accept this?"Father, your son was wrong, Father! I beg you to spare my life!" The Seventh Prince also cried out. The crime of colluding with the enemy and treason was a capital offense once implicated, especially since he was the main culprit. He did not want to die; his ambitions had not yet been realized—how could he die? The Emperor had always treated him well. If he pleaded for mercy, considering their father-son relationship, surely he would be spared.

Unfortunately, until the Seventh Prince and the Empress Dowager were taken away, the Emperor did not utter a single word.

"I have fulfilled my duty without dishonor," Fu Yunxi said.

"You have done well," the Emperor replied, returning to his high seat and looking down at the trembling officials below.

Crisis is a touchstone; in critical moments, loyalty and treachery are clearly distinguished.

After cooperating in this long performance, they had finally captured them all in one net. It was time to settle the accounts.

Time flowed like water, covering all undercurrents. The capital regained its tranquility. If not for the public execution three days later, people might even have thought that the Western Rong's invasion of the Great Dynasty and the rebellion of the Seventh Prince and the Empress Dowager were nothing but a dream. However, facts proved it was not a dream. In critical moments, loyalty and treachery were clearly distinguished. The Emperor purged the court of ministers and carried out sweeping reforms. Those with ulterior motives and those who had formed factions with the Empress Dowager and the Seventh Prince were all thoroughly eradicated without mercy. For example, Prince Wei's entire family was exterminated to the ninth degree of kinship.

Zhuang Shiyang was also implicated and was directly exiled to the borderlands for hard labor. Though it was called hard labor, the journey was long and treacherous, and many lost their lives along the way, especially someone like Zhuang Shiyang, who was accustomed to a comfortable life. Indeed, within a day, it was said that Zhuang Shiyang had died of a serious illness on the journey. Though it was said this way, what truly happened was self-evident. When Han Yan heard this news, she felt nothing. She thought she would be happy because Zhuang Shiyang was her enemy from her past life—he had caused her mother's death and allowed the wives and concubines in the mansion to bully her—but she did not. She thought she would feel melancholy because, after all, Zhuang Shiyang had allowed her to live peacefully in the Zhuang mansion for over a decade, giving her a place to live—but she did not. She simply accepted this fact calmly. She suddenly realized that for people who were insignificant in her life, even emotions were superfluous.

As for the Empress Dowager's evil deeds, including secretly harming Consort Jing in the palace, they were all announced to the world. The people could not help but sigh for the Emperor and the Xuan Qing Prince. Considering she was the late Emperor's lawful wife, the Emperor granted her the dignity of a whole corpse. The worst fate befell the Seventh Prince. As a son, he had raised a sword against his father; as a subject, he had betrayed his sovereign and communicated with the enemy—truly the gravest of crimes. He was sentenced to death by a thousand cuts and was not allowed to be buried in the imperial mausoleum after his death. On the day the Seventh Prince was executed by dismemberment, many commoners went to watch, but no one felt sympathy for him. Resorting to any means to seize the throne was one thing, but what was truly detestable was betraying his own country. This was what angered the people the most.

Han Yan did not go to watch that day.

Ji Lan said, "Miss, should we go and see?" The Seventh Prince had secretly caused so much trouble for their young lady. Now that he was finally punished—evil receiving its due retribution—it was a relief. How could they not go and witness it themselves?"If you wish to go, then go by yourself." Han Yan smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes, making her appear not very happy.

Shu Hong glanced at Han Yan with some concern. Naturally, Han Yan could not be happy. Although the matters concerning the Empress Dowager and the Seventh Prince had come to an end, Fu Yunxi's cold poison had yet to be cured. As time passed day by day, Fu Yunxi's condition grew increasingly severe. How could Han Yan feel at ease? Yet they were not miracle doctors and could offer no help in this matter.