The Beauties of the Song Dynasty - Chapter 53
Before the east wind could arrive, something happened outside the palace that caused Wanlan great distress.
Xue Suxin is dead.
The person who brought the news to Wanlan was Wang Ji'en. It was only said that Xue Suxin died of an illness outside, and no one knew what happened that night. However, Prime Minister Xue beat Xue Weiji half to death that night, as if Suxin's death was related to him. However, Xue Weiji, who was covered in blood, did not utter a sound. He looked at Suxin's body all night without saying a word or showing any expression.
Wanlan, whose movements were restricted, was extremely anxious in Qinlan Palace, but she was also helpless. Suxin's asthma had worsened considerably since Prime Minister Xue brought her back from Junzhou, and after another trip to Junzhou a few days ago, she returned extremely weak. Despite her frail body, she was still restless; she was truly courting death!
What did Su Xin do the night she left? What did it have to do with Xue Weiji? Could it be Zhao Dezhao's doing again? If Su Xin's death is truly related to him, she swears she will never let him get away with it!
"...Lan'er!"
Wanlan was startled and looked up abruptly, finding Yongqing standing in front of her with an angry expression. She raised her lips and asked, "What's wrong, Imperial Sister?" When did she arrive? How did she get in?
"What are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and come out of the palace with me!" Yongqing said as he pulled her up and walked out.
"Leave the palace? Where to?" Before the question could even leave her lips, Wanlan had already been pulled out of the bedchamber by Yongqing. She stared blankly at the Qinlan Palace, which suddenly seemed empty, completely dumbfounded. "Where have all the guards gone?"
"Didn't you already know about Miss Xue's passing? Your father, remembering your past relationship with her, granted you permission to leave the palace today to see her one last time. He even specially sent me to pick you up. Can't you hurry up?"
Yongqing pulled her along as they hurried out of Qinlan Palace, boarded the waiting carriage outside, and headed straight for the Xue residence.
The Xue residence was already covered in white. As soon as Wanlan got off the carriage, she saw Xuan'er. Xuan'er said that the prince knew that she would definitely leave the palace today to see Miss Xue one last time, so he asked her to come to the Xue residence early to wait for her.
Wanlan had no mind to care about what was going on around her. With Xuan'er's help, she staggered into the hall and stared blankly at the white banners fluttering in the air. The huge coffin in the center of the hall stung her eyes and brought tears to her eyes on the spot.
She had been in and out of hospitals since she was a child, and had witnessed too many life and death incidents. She clearly understood the fragility of human beings and the impermanence of life. But no matter what, those people had nothing to do with her. Although she had sad times, none of them had ever caused her such heart-wrenching pain as today.
The woman lying in that coffin was her confidante, the one with whom she had shared her deepest feelings, the one who had been devoted to love and disregarded everything else. How cruel fate was to let her die so young!
Upon hearing that Princess Yongqing and Princess Qin had arrived together, Xue Juzheng rushed to the hall, only to find Princess Qin lying listlessly on the coffin, while Princess Yongqing stood silently to the side, gesturing for him to be quiet. Xue Juzheng sighed knowingly, secretly shedding tears as he stepped aside, and waved for the servants who were about to speak to leave.
"Where is Xue Weiji?" Wanlan asked in a trembling voice, slowly turning around to stare at Xue Juzheng. Tears welled up in her eyes as she shouted sharply, enunciating each word clearly: "Where is Xue... Wei... Ji?!"
Xue Juzheng was taken aback by her furious expression and replied with a cupped hand: "Your Highness, I do not know where that unfilial son has gone."
Wanlan choked back a sob, forcing back the tears welling in her eyes, and sneered, "I don't know! Very well... very well..." She straightened up and looked at everyone in the hall, then lowered her voice and said slowly, "You all go find Xue Weiji immediately! You have half an hour. Dig him out of the ground, even if you have to dig three feet into the ground!"
Everyone in the hall was stunned by the aura she exuded, and for a moment no one moved, including Princess Yongqing and Prime Minister Xue. Wanlan's eyes narrowed, and with a heavy flick of her sleeve, she shouted, "What are you all dawdling for! Go find the people!"
Xue Juzheng snapped back to his senses and ordered all his servants to drink the wine to search for the person. He was about to leave when Wanlan called out to him, "Lord Xue, please wait. Wanlan has something to discuss with you."
Wanlan, trying her best to calm her agitated emotions, walked over to his side and asked softly, "Lord Xue, may we move to the study?"
"sure."
"Lan'er!" Yongqing rushed over, looked her and Xue Juzheng up and down, and called out, "There are only the three of us left here. Is there anything you can't let me know? If you want to go to the study, I'll go too!"
Wanlan glanced at her sideways, her earlier coldness fading away. "Lan'er will naturally not leave her sister behind. Let's go."
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Regarding the death of Su Xin~
I'll write a special feature about her later~
It might not be that quick... but I'll definitely write it... *sweat*
Stay tuned!
Thank you to all my friends who have supported me!
Your support is my motivation!
Chapter 61, How Many Tears, How Much Hatred (1)
My internet went down a couple of days ago~~ just quietly~~
Please forgive me for updating so late~~
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When Xue Weiji was carried back to the mansion, he was so drunk that he could barely stand. Wanlan ordered people to leave him in front of Suxin's mourning hall, then left her and Xue Weiji alone, and ordered everyone else to leave and not to enter at will.
It was already sunset, and the Emperor had only given Wanlan one day. She knew she couldn't stay there any longer. Within the limited time, she had to resolve the doubts that were weighing on her mind, or she would be unable to eat or sleep peacefully.
The person in front of her was disheveled and his face was dirty. He was a far cry from the dashing and handsome young man she had met at first glance. If she didn't look closely, she probably wouldn't have recognized him.
"I'm asking you, where did Su Xin go that night? What did she do?"
The man lying limply on the ground remained motionless, ignoring her questions. Wanlan bit her lip, squatted down beside him, and reached out to brush away his messy hair. Looking at his haggard face covered with stubble, she almost softened and stopped pressing him for answers. However, he might be the only one who knew what happened to Suxin that night, and she had to ask.
She swallowed back her sobs, sat down beside him with her knees drawn up to her chest, leaning against Su Xin's coffin behind her, and slowly spoke in a low, hoarse voice: "Actually, I know even if you don't say it. Even if Su Xin didn't go to find Zhao Dezhao, it must have been related to him. The reason I have to know the truth is just to use it to weigh whether I should forgive Zhao Dezhao. If Su Xin really died because of him, I will never give up!"
Seemingly feeling cold, she tightened her arms around her knees, resting her chin on them, her gaze unconsciously falling on the smooth ground. "Do you know? Sister Yongqing said that everything started because of me. If I had married Zhao Dezhao back then, none of this would have happened today. Or perhaps she meant that if I hadn't lost my memory and forgotten Zhao Dezhao, then Zehua and I wouldn't have developed feelings for each other, and none of this would have happened."
“Young Master Xue…Brother Xue…” Wanlan bit her lip, forcing back the sobs that were about to spill, but she couldn’t stop the tears that had already fallen. “Tell me how Suxin died, otherwise I will feel that I killed her. If it weren’t for my existence, none of this would have happened…none of this would have happened…” Why did she come to the Song Dynasty? She disrupted everything but couldn’t stop it. What was the purpose of her existence?
"It's none of your business."
Xue Weiji, who had been motionless for a long time, spoke quietly. He still kept his eyes closed and remained motionless, saying in a very hollow and flat voice, "I killed Suxin. It has nothing to do with you."
Perhaps not expecting him to respond so quickly, Wanlan paused for a moment, then looked at him sharply, "What did you say?"
Xue Weiji slowly opened his eyes, but his eyes were lifeless and empty, which startled Wanlan. She suddenly realized that the person in front of her was as lifeless as a dead man.
Such intense despair is enough to destroy all the will of a normal person!
What exactly happened?