What happened next became a blur in Jiang Yunshu’s memory.
Her scream first drew the palace maids, and their screams in turn summoned the eunuchs.
Eunuchs rushed in, eunuchs rushed out.
The imperial physicians arrived, all kneeling on the ground before a tall, jade-like man, trembling as they reported, “His Majesty has passed away.”
His Majesty has passed away?
Jiang Yunshu repeated the words silently in her mind over and over before finally grasping their meaning…
The emperor was dead.
Dead before her eyes.
Dead on her wedding night.
Did this have anything to do with her? Would she be implicated? How could she prove she hadn’t killed the emperor?
Was there… was there anyone who could help her?
Jiang Yunshu’s ears felt as if they were filled with water, her eyes clouded as if by mist. Frantically, she searched the room for someone who could testify on her behalf, only to realize that everyone—except her—was kneeling before that tall, jade-like man.
Wait! This was the inner palace. The emperor was dead, so why was there still a living man here?
The emperor had been tall, but the man before her was even taller, leaner.
Dressed in purple robes with a golden belt that accentuated his slender waist, beneath that wide belt were legs that were exceptionally long and straight.
Though lean, Jiang Yunshu could tell that beneath those purple robes was a body of taut muscle.
A military officer?
But how could a military officer appear so deep in the inner palace?
Jiang Yunshu stared blankly at his face.
If the emperor’s features had been youthful and handsome, this man’s face was… so beautiful it stole one’s breath.
In both this life and the last, Jiang Yunshu had never seen anyone so breathtakingly beautiful.
His features were flawless, as if an immortal had descended to the mortal realm.
The emperor was dead, and everyone was gripped by terror—yet his brows remained relaxed, his dark eyes devoid of any emotion.
Then, abruptly, those dark eyes turned toward her.
“When His Majesty passed, only the Lady of Handsome Fairness was at his side.”
“Might the Lady of Handsome Fairness enlighten us as to what happened?”
In an instant, every pair of eyes in the room fixed on her.
But the combined weight of all those gazes was nothing compared to the terrifying intensity of this man, whose beauty seemed otherworldly.
The way Xie Lin looked at Jiang Yunshu was like a leopard eyeing its prey.
A leopard that wasn’t hungry yet—one that wanted to toy with its quarry before devouring it.
His gaze made her tremble. Jiang Yunshu dug her nails into her palms, forcing herself to stay composed.
This was her only chance to prove her innocence!
She took a deep breath and spoke clearly, concisely, recounting everything from the beginning:
“Tonight, His Majesty was heavily intoxicated. When he entered the room, his steps were unsteady, his body reeking of wine…”
“As soon as he lifted my veil, he collapsed onto the bed. I thought he had fallen asleep and tried to adjust him into a more comfortable position…”
“Then I saw him vomiting blood—incessantly.”
“I screamed in fright, and then… all of you arrived.”
As Jiang Yunshu spoke, Xie Lin never took his eyes off hers.
What exquisite eyes.
The first time he had seen them, they sparkled like they held countless stars.
Now, they were misted over, like a lake shrouded in rain.
And yet, the owner of these eyes still had some courage. Despite her fear, she had recounted everything clearly and logically.
A pity. No matter how clearly she spoke, it wouldn’t matter.
The emperor was dead, and childless concubines were to be buried with him.
This was a law established by the founding emperor of the Great Qi Dynasty—one that no subsequent ruler had dared to defy.
Regardless of how the emperor had died, Lady Jiang would have to follow him in death.
What a waste of such beautiful eyes… Perhaps he should pluck them out and keep them?
But then Xie Lin remembered how eyeballs, once removed, would quickly shrivel and emit a foul odor. The thought instantly dampened his interest.
Never mind.
Better to spend these last few days observing the many shades of emotion those eyes could still reveal.
Xie Yan was quite pleased with the starry brilliance and the misty sorrow he had already witnessed.
He wondered—what would those eyes look like in the moment before death?
At the thought, his thin lips curved slightly, a flicker of amusement playing at their corners.
When the time came, he would not blink. He would watch those eyes intently—especially in that final moment…
The instant the light faded from them would surely be exquisite.
To savor that ultimate despair, Xie Lin deliberately offered her a sliver of hope.
“It seems His Majesty’s death had nothing to do with Lady Jiang.”
“Escort the Lady of Handsome Fairness to a side chamber to rest.”
None of the palace maids dared move, but Taoye and Zhezhi, who had been cowering in a corner, immediately stumbled forward, supporting Jiang Yunshu on either side as they led her out.
The three of them retreated to the farthest side chamber—though in such a small wing, “farthest” wasn’t very far at all.
Jiang Yunshu could still catch the faint metallic tang of blood in the air. She couldn’t tell if the scent had drifted over or if it still lingered in her nostrils from earlier.
Only then did she voice the question burning in her mind:
“Who was that man just now?”
Taoye’s voice trembled. “The Seal-Holding Eunuch… Xie Lin.”
Jiang Yunshu froze. “That was Xie Lin?”
The name of the Seal-Holding Eunuch, the East Bureau’s Director Xie Lin, was known to all—infamous throughout the land.
The emperor had been frail by nature, incapable of governing, and had placed absolute trust in Xie Lin.
For years, state affairs had rested entirely in Xie Lin’s hands, allowing him to manipulate the court and plunge the realm into chaos.
Jiang Yunshu had heard many tales of Xie Lin—all describing him as ruthlessly venomous.
So in her mind, Xie Lin had always been a sinister, twisted old eunuch…
No one had ever told her Xie Lin was this young. Or this devastatingly beautiful!
Most eunuchs, after undergoing castration, developed stooped postures. Yet Xie Lin stood with unnatural straightness, his bearing unmistakably that of a seasoned warrior.
In short, Xie Lin was nothing like Jiang Yunshu had imagined…
“Miss… is the emperor truly gone?” Taoye’s trembling voice snapped Jiang Yunshu back to reality.
Jiang Yunshu: “Dead beyond doubt.”
Taoye and Zhezhi clung to her, dissolving into tears.
“What do we do now?! Miss is only sixteen—must she really be buried alive with the emperor?”
Jiang Yunshu stiffened.
Right. She had forgotten.
Even if she hadn’t killed the emperor, his death meant she wouldn’t survive either.
Jiang Yunshu murmured, “What a waste…”
Zhezhi sobbed uncontrollably. “Yes! Miss should never have entered the palace!”
Jiang Yunshu: “I mean, since I’m going to die anyway, I should have just claimed I killed the emperor! At least I’d have gone down in history! What a wasted opportunity!”
