When Song Shuhao heard her mention Xue Liangyue, she didn't expect that Xue Liangyue would actually... She couldn't control her expression for a moment. Xie Lanyan felt relieved when she saw her change of expression, but she didn't stay any longer and left quickly.
·
Upon seeing Empress Dowager Feng's keepsake once again, and hearing her indication that Empress Dowager Feng was in Changchun Palace, Song Shuhao was filled with doubt and uncertainty, unsure whether to believe it. Changchun Palace was a cold palace, rarely visited by anyone, but with the recent upheaval within the palace, it was unlikely to be as secure as before.
After two or three days, her condition improved slightly, and Song Shuhao decided to go and see her. She secretly knocked out a palace maid, changed into the maid's clothes, and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was watching, quickly made her way to Changchun Palace. When she finally found Empress Dowager Feng, she was already barely breathing.
Empress Dowager Feng held Song Shuhao's hand, her voice trembling, "Shuhao, I beg you, you must find a way to rescue His Majesty... As long as His Majesty can get out... as long as... there must be a way..."
"If you still remember the kindness I showed you by taking you in, and the kindness I showed you by avenging your parents, then you must agree to my request... otherwise, I will not be able to die in peace..."
Looking at the dying Empress Dowager Feng and hearing her struggling to say these words, Song Shuhao finally nodded, grasped Empress Dowager Feng's hand, and said, "This servant promises you, even if it costs me my life, I will do my best."
"Thank you," Empress Dowager Feng said weakly, then added, "Outside, Xiao Shi will be back." Song Shuhao nodded again, understanding the meaning behind her words, but then felt Empress Dowager Feng's hand suddenly lose its strength. Looking at Empress Dowager Feng again, she saw that her eyes were closed and she was no longer alive.
Leaving Changchun Palace and quietly returning home, Song Shuhao's mind was filled with Empress Dowager Feng's words. She knew very well that she was powerless... Prince Ning, being at the border, was like a distant flood that couldn't quench her immediate thirst, and the only thing she could possibly rely on was Zhao Jian's uncertain feelings.
She knocked out a palace maid and sneaked out. When Zhao Jian reappeared, he didn't question her at all. Song Shuhao knew that he must know what she had done and who she had met to be so calm.
Xie Lanyan said that the emperor was imprisoned in a water dungeon and was being tortured every day. She remembered that the emperor was already injured when Zhao Jian's men captured him, and he probably wouldn't last much longer. She had been unconscious for several days, and now... it had been seven or eight days.
She needed time to figure out how to get to the water dungeon and to find out the tokens and keys she might need, but she didn't know if the emperor could hold out that long. Even if she couldn't rescue him, she had to; if he really died there, it would be a relief.
Lying on the bed, Song Shuhao sighed softly. When she turned to look at Prosecutor Zhao, after a long pause, a smile finally appeared on her face. She was putting on an act, which Prosecutor Zhao might not like, but she hoped he would cooperate and let her finish the act so that they could have no further dealings.
It's a good thing for everyone.
Fortunately, Inspector Zhao was somewhat cooperative. Despite his illness, he prepared a table full of food and wine and drank a lot of it with him until he was truly drunk. Even after finding the token and key on his person, he didn't wake up. However, when they arrived at the water dungeon and saw Zhang Yu, intending to take him out, Inspector Zhao refused to pretend to be confused as before.
The play could no longer continue.
When Song Shuhao saw Zhang Yu, she knew he was about to die. Zhang Yu was covered in wounds and had no strength left, and she herself was also seriously injured; neither of them could escape far.
So it was clear from the beginning that neither of them could get out. But she had no choice, no other option. Even knowing it was a dead end, she still had to take it.
When Zhao Jian extended his hand to her, inviting her to return, Song Shuhao could only shake her head in refusal. She hadn't come with the intention of living, so how could she possibly go back with him? This world, everything in it, truly belonged to him, but what did it have to do with her?
Looking at the people standing with Zhao Jian, Song Shuhao saw Xie Lanyan and Xue Liangyue, and understood why there were so many people. They had all witnessed her betraying Zhao Jian to save the emperor; even if Zhao Jian wanted to spare her life, he would have to think carefully. If she were Xie Lanyan, she certainly wouldn't tolerate the existence of someone like her.
Now, there's no need to pretend anymore.
She knew she had no right to criticize anyone, but when she saw Xue Liangyue, she couldn't hold back. They had once lived and grown up together, but time had pushed them forward, leading them down completely different paths. No matter how they went, it shouldn't have turned out this way.
After her death today, Xie Lanyan can finally get what she wants. She wasn't particularly kind enough to grant her wish; some outcomes were already predetermined when she didn't choose to side with Prosecutor Zhao. Even if Xie Lanyan hadn't specifically guided her, the outcome would have been the same.
"You just want to be a pair of star-crossed lovers with him, right? I'll grant your wish!"
Hearing Zhao Jian's words, Song Shuhao still found it all laughable. Did his constant claims of not caring mean he assumed she had someone else in her heart, and that's why she "betrayed" him? Or was it that he held a knife to her throat, just an inch closer, and he could take her life?
She gripped the long sword without a second thought; her palms bled, but she felt little pain. The emperor leaned heavily against her back. Was he about to give way? Song Shuhao turned her head slightly and whispered encouragement, hoping he could hold on a little longer.
She can make one last effort.
“Prosecutor Zhao, if you insist on not letting us leave, then start with me. I may be foolish and ridiculous, but I would never do something so ungrateful. In this day and age, the country is no longer a country. Do you expect me to live by humbly currying favor with you?”
“Even though you never loved me, we were married for five years. From the age of twenty to twenty-five, I followed you and never did anything to wrong you. I thought that if you still cared about our relationship, you would understand that we were on different sides and it had nothing to do with right or wrong... But in the end, you still only wanted to kill me.”
As Song Shuhao calmly spoke these words, she deliberately brought the long knife in Zhao Jian's hand towards her own throat. Zhao Jian momentarily released his grip, ultimately not daring to actually kill her. But before she could utter her threatening words, the person behind her collapsed first.
She glanced at the fallen emperor, his eyes tightly closed, seemingly lifeless. Then Song Shuhao sensed another figure flash in front of Zhao Jian. She turned her gaze, and saw Xie Lanyan already holding the long knife.
Without Zhao Jian's hesitation, Xie Lanyan thrust her long knife towards Song Shuhao, piercing her heart. Song Shuhao saw Zhao Jian push Xie Lanyan away and, in the blink of an eye, catch her in his arms. But what was the point?
Song Shuhao thought to herself that she was finally free.
She closed her eyes slightly and then opened them again. Grabbing Zhao Jian's collar, she looked at his pained face and uttered her last words to him—
"Prosecutor Zhao, if there is an afterlife, let's not meet again."
I truly don't want to see you again.
Author's Note: Finally finished writing at 6 AM =v=
*
The female lead is not perfect; she cannot be right in every action, flawless in every word, or please everyone.
In my eyes, she's just an ordinary person, healthy in body and mind, striving to live a life without regrets. =v=
Because of the influence of their parents, having witnessed the most beautiful relationships, they wouldn't think that Prosecutor Zhao or Zhang Yu would be good partners.
Rather than saying I'm soft-hearted, it's more accurate to say I can't unconditionally and naturally accept other people's kindness. Moreover, relationships between people are mostly built through interaction.
-
In this life, she truly and completely accepted Zhang Yu, body and soul, when she jumped from the city wall and he caught her. It was a moment of trust, like entrusting her life to him. This will be described in the next chapter. Her attraction to Zhang Yu was also largely due to that fleeting, breathtaking glance. -3-
Anyway, to sum it up, there's a red envelope giveaway for comments on this chapter, so please chime in! =3=
Chapter 96 Update
It wasn't until Lü Chuan reminded her twice and congratulated Ling Xiao that she snapped out of her daze. Ling Xiao happily accepted the imperial decree and couldn't wait to take Song Shuhao to see the marquis's residence bestowed upon her by the emperor.
Even though Zhang Yu had mentioned rewards for good performance, Ling Xiao, preoccupied with saving his own life, hadn't held out much hope. Now that the imperial decree had been issued and rewards were pouring in, why not take it?
Feeling like a former serf had been transformed into a landlady, Ling Xiao suddenly became incredibly confident. Now that she was a marquis, an official, rich, and had a house, could Prince Ning still force her to marry?!
Ling Xiao felt uneasy about getting married at the age of twenty-one, even though she knew that many people were already mothers in their teens... but others were others, not her.