Leng Yiqing gently turned to the side and subconsciously patted him.
Both of them immediately woke up and, seeing the many people around them, awkwardly sat up in bed, deliberately creating distance between themselves. Leng Yiqing's face turned bright red with embarrassment.
"It's good that you're awake!" General Leng and Duan Feng both breathed a sigh of relief.
"Su Zhengyang, what are you doing here?" Su Yunmo asked, somewhat annoyed.
General Leng smiled awkwardly: "He came here looking for me."
"General Leng!" Su Yunmo greeted him politely.
"Hmm!" General Leng responded casually.
Su Zhengyang disregarded everything else. From the moment he realized there was a serious problem, he was determined to get to the bottom of things and save his mother. Putting everything else aside, he anxiously asked General Leng, "Tell me, is there some story about my mother and father that we don't know?"
"Why do you ask that? And what's with your outfit?" Su Zhengyang's questions reminded General Leng of something he had been wondering about.
Ignoring the presence of others, Su Zhengyang told them about his conversation with his mother that day.
"I left here at my mother's behest. But over the past two weeks, the more I think about it, the more I feel there must be something wrong. I also realize that perhaps my mother is putting herself in danger, which is why she was in such a hurry to send me away? But among people my mother's age, I only know you and my uncle. I beg you to tell me, did something happen back then?" Su Zhengyang opened his heart to these people. This was his last hope.
General Leng sighed, shook his head, and solemnly said to the large group of people in front of him, "Although I am not entirely certain whether this matter led to the Empress's thoughts today, we must hurry into the palace to stop the Empress from taking any further action, otherwise, the consequences will be beyond our control."
Hearing his exaggerated account, they dared not question him. But what exactly had happened? Su Yunmo had his own version of events. He hadn't expected everything to happen so quickly and suddenly. His actions had finally paid off. Thinking of Leng Yiqing, whom he had once used, Su Yunmo apologetically held her hand tightly.
"Yiqing, are you sure you won't regret this choice?" General Leng unexpectedly shifted the question to Leng Yiqing.
"No regrets!" Although the reason was unclear, she answered honestly.
"Duan Feng, are you sure you're sworn to serve Prince Yun to the death?" General Leng once again turned his attention to Duan Feng, who seemed to have nothing to do with the matter at hand.
"Yes!" Duan Feng replied readily.
"Good! Duan Feng, take my military tally and immediately go to the military camp to gather all troops. Also, arrange for several messengers to gather all troops from various locations and have them all wait outside the palace gates. If we still haven't come out by evening, you will directly storm the palace." General Leng regained his battlefield decisiveness.
"Yes!" Upon receiving the order, Duan Feng didn't hesitate for a moment and flew out with the military token.
"Why?" Su Zhengyang asked, puzzled.
"It's time to tell you everything! Let's go, let's save my sister!" Blood is thicker than water, and General Leng still had to go save her.
After General Leng spoke, no one asked any more questions. Without lingering, General Leng, Su Zhengyang, Su Yunmo, and Leng Yiqing hurried towards the palace.
Whatever it may be, if General Leng says he will stop it, then they will stop it! If General Leng says he will save it, then they will save it together! All to prevent that irreversible tragedy from happening.
Chapter 54: Past Entanglements
However, when they arrived, they were ultimately a step too late.
Su Haotian was unexpectedly summoned to Fengyu Palace by Bai Yuyan, who said it was about the Crown Prince. Su Haotian rushed over because he hadn't heard from the Crown Prince in a long time, and moreover, he had heard that the Crown Prince hadn't been in the Crown Prince's residence and no one knew his whereabouts.
He had always believed that Su Zhengyang was simply out having fun, traveling and sightseeing. But now, Bai Yuyan had solemnly invited him to Fengyu Palace, so this matter must not be so simple.
Su Haotian's heart pounded. Although he didn't like this son, he was still the Crown Prince! Perhaps he should order a city search; the Crown Prince's disappearance was a serious matter!
Unexpectedly, the quiet Phoenix Feather Palace remained as peaceful as ever, without any movement. There were no imperial guards outside, and the eerie tranquility was like the calm before a storm.
Bai Yuyan simply kept Su Haotian company while he drank tea, without mentioning the Crown Prince. An hour had passed since they arrived at Fengyu Palace, but Bai Yuyan still seemed unwilling to discuss the Crown Prince. Su Haotian sensed something was amiss.
He calmed his nerves and asked in a composed manner, "Empress, why have you summoned me here?"
"Heh!" Bai Yuyan sneered, "Let me tell you a story!"
"I……"
"Bang!" When the group arrived at the entrance of Phoenix Feather Palace, they found it unusually quiet, which further confirmed their suspicions. So they decisively broke down the door and entered, only to be met with this scene.
"What day is it today? Why are you all here?" Su Haotian was incredulous, yet he also sensed something was wrong. He stood up, straightened his back, and reasserted his dignified image. But unexpectedly, he felt weak all over and collapsed to the ground.
Even so, he maintained his domineering presence as emperor: "You... Bai Yuyan... what have you done to me? Guards!"
There was no sound from outside the door.
"Someone come here!" No one in the room made a sound.
"Stop shouting! I came here today to tell a story. Since everyone is here, let's settle all our grudges and grievances together!" Bai Yuyan was unusually calm, sitting upright.
No one spoke, including Su Haotian, all of whom were shocked by Bai Yuyan's resolute expression.
"Since I dared to invite you here, I naturally made preparations. No one will come, so you don't need to call. And we both don't have much time left, so don't speak, listen to me slowly. After I finish speaking, I will make sure you die knowing exactly what happened!" Bai Yuyan said calmly.
"How dare you! You dare to murder me!" Su Hao was trembling with rage, placing all his hopes on those people. But none of them moved, as if they were just there to listen to a story.
General Leng sat quietly and said, "Sister, tell me what's bothering you! It was all your own choice. I came here to save you. But since you've chosen this path of no return, we can only respect your decision. It's better to join him sooner rather than later."
"Mmm!" Bai Yuyan nodded with a smile, a blush rising on her cheeks.
Su Haotian finally ran out of strength to shout and could only listen quietly.
——Separation Line——
Twenty-three years ago
Bai Yuyan was just an ordinary woman who could have lived a loving life with her husband. But unexpectedly, her husband, Ling Mofei, was mistaken for an assassin by the then Crown Prince, Su Haotian, and stabbed to death.
Upon learning of the situation, she wanted revenge. However, because Su Haotian was the Crown Prince, she, a weak woman, had no way to act. So she thought of her cousin, General Leng, who was a general in the court.
She pleaded repeatedly, concealing the fact that she was already married. Because of kinship, General Leng finally agreed to her request and successfully helped her enter the Crown Prince's residence, becoming a concubine.
To prevent the crown prince from realizing she was no longer a virgin, she got him drunk. When everything was done flawlessly, she escaped the wedding night.
She did all this simply to gain the Crown Prince's favor, kill him when he was completely unprepared, avenge her husband, and then escape.
However, she suddenly discovered that she was two months pregnant. With no other choice, she had to secretly contact the imperial physician to help her conceal the truth, and they agreed that she would be told it was a premature birth during delivery.
As time went on, she realized that what she needed now was not the Crown Prince's life, but her son's future. So she gradually began to plan their future. In order to gain General Leng's help, she often arranged for her son, Su Zhengyang, to spend time with General Leng's daughter, Leng Yiqing, cultivating their relationship from a young age.
Eighteen years later, when the late emperor realized that Su Haotian was unsuitable for the throne and intended to pass it on to Su Yunmo, the son of another concubine, Su Haotian sensed this shift. Just as Su Haotian and his confidants were discussing how to eliminate Su Yunmo, Bai Yuyan overheard them. Bai Yuyan immediately promised that she could help them.
Under various pressures, Su Haotian agreed to Bai Yuyan's joining. They then investigated Su Yunmo's preferences and gradually gained her trust. Finally, using the pretext of a treasure land in the East Sea with many rare and exotic items, they lured Su Yunmo away. They then plotted to murder the late emperor and forge a will to pass the throne to Su Haotian.
After Su Haotian ascended the throne, he did indeed fulfill his promise and made Bai Yuyan his empress and Su Zhengyang his crown prince.
However, Bai Yuyan knew far too much. After Su Haotian's trusted confidant was killed, Bai Yuyan became more vigilant. For her future safety, she decided to move the real imperial edict to a safe place, hoping it would serve as a life-saving measure.
Fortunately, Bai Yuyan was the Empress, and she was also a woman recommended by General Leng to the former Crown Prince's residence, so Su Haotian did not take any action against her for the time being.
This gave Bai Yuyan more time. So, three years ago, she plotted to murder her cousin's wife, who was also General Leng's wife. She orchestrated the whole spectacle at the funeral, allowing Su Zhengyang to marry Leng Yiqing smoothly, making everything seem so natural and logical.
Only then did she feel at ease handing the will to General Leng, revealing all the past events, and threatening that they were now in the same boat.
However, she promised General Leng that as long as Su Zhengyang's position as crown prince was preserved, Leng Yiqing would definitely become empress when the emperor came to power. But if anything happened to her, her son and daughter would inevitably be implicated.
Of course, General Leng made it very clear at the time that if they dared to do anything to his daughter, he would definitely rebel. So the two of them reached an agreement and stood on the same side from then on, which is why Bai Yuyan always wanted Su Zhengyang to treat Leng Yiqing well.
☆ Chapter Fifty-Five: The Grand Finale
After hearing this, Su Yunmo smiled even more brightly: "Heh, what a coincidence. After I went to the East Sea, I did discover something strange. But after returning from the East Sea, I found that things were suspicious. I secretly investigated and spent a long time figuring things out. But I had no evidence, so I had to give up."
"So, all these years, you've actually been plotting to reclaim the throne, haven't you? You have enough economic power to monopolize the entire Celestial Empire, but you can only rely on me for military strength, so you started with Qing'er. Is that right?" General Leng finally understood Su Yunmo's predicament and purpose in doing all this.
He did nothing wrong; he was simply reclaiming what was rightfully his. He just used the wrong methods, hurting others and himself in the process. Fortunately, the ending is good.
"You... Bai Yuyan... I treated you so badly, and yet you killed my wife, you... I will kill you today to avenge her!" General Leng's cold sword was already pointing straight at Bai Yuyan's heart.
"Mother!" Su Zhengyang exclaimed.
“Zhengyang, your surname is Ling, not Su. You must remember, this person is your father’s killer. General Leng wants to avenge his wife, don’t you also want to avenge your father?” Bai Yuyan remembered that hatred from many years ago until her death.
Holding the dagger handed to him by his mother, Su Zhengyang hesitated.
"Hahaha, how ridiculous! I raised someone else's son for decades without even knowing it. I treated my enemy as a confidant and thought I was very clever. In reality, I'm a complete fool. I, the emperor, am nothing more than a tool you use to gain wealth, power, and glory." Su Haotian finally saw the truth of the matter.
However, the poison Bai Yuyan had already taken effect. Just as Su Haoqi's blood rushed to his head, a stream of blood gushed from his heart, and then blood flowed from his seven orifices. He immediately collapsed and died.
"Hehe, no need for General Leng to do anything, Brother Fei has already come to pick me up!" Bai Yuyan smiled and closed her eyes, as if waiting for her Brother Fei to arrive and take her away. Soon after, she left in a hurry, just like Su Haotian.
"No! Mother!" Su Zhengyang cried hysterically. How could he bear this reality? What should he do? Unable to accept such a change in status, Su Zhengyang became somewhat mentally unstable.
He simply sat beside Bai Yuyan, repeatedly saying, "Mother, don't sleep. Take me to see Father!" The dagger slipped from his hand; he forgot to scream, lost in thought.
The sight of blood and sorrow pierced Leng Yiqing's eyes. She clung tightly to Su Yunmo's side. Whether it was manipulation or deception, he was ultimately a wounded person.
Seeing Leng Yiqing's resolute choice, General Leng took out the long-hidden secret edict from the hidden compartment of his sword: "Now that the matter is settled, Prince Yun, do you intend to accept these?"
Su Yunmo looked at Leng Yiqing and said gently, "I'll listen to Qing'er!"
"General!" Duan Feng led his troops into Fengyu Palace. "All the generals have successfully occupied Ganfeng Hall and other palaces. Everything is awaiting your command."
"Su Yunmo!" General Leng gave Su Yunmo all the decision-making power without hesitation.
Su Yunmo simply looked at Leng Yiqing. Ever since Leng Yiqing left, he had realized that if he had to choose between the world and her, he would definitely choose Leng Yiqing. But now, when he could have both, he hesitated.
He feared that even if he truly gained control of the world, in Leng Yiqing's heart, he would still be the one who used her.
But if he gives up, who else can succeed him? A country cannot be without a ruler for a day, especially with the Emperor's will making him the rightful heir. If that whole drama hadn't happened, even without using Leng Yiqing, the position would have been his anyway.
"Mo! That position was originally yours!" Leng Yiqing's words, though spoken softly and like a whisper in his ear, strengthened Su Yunmo's resolve.
He knelt directly before General Leng and accepted the belated imperial edict.
General Leng respectfully helped him up. Then, leading the crowd, they all knelt down, shouting, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
——Separation Line——
Su Yunmo, holding the late emperor's edict, ascended the throne and changed the country's name to Yizheng. The year of his accession was the first year of Yizheng.
Leng Yiqing became Empress and abolished the entire system of concubines in the harem. From then on, there was only one woman in his harem, who was also the only Empress.