"According to the agreement we reached earlier, the bodies of Song Ling's family will be handed over to our Qingyun Sect for full disposal."
Inside the Zichen Hall, the Qingyun Sect Leader and Emperor Yuanyou sat facing each other.
The two old men almost simultaneously picked up their teacups, taking a light sip to ease the tension.
Of course, we will proceed with this process in secret, so as not to damage the dignity of the Great Qi imperial family.
The old man felt he was being quite considerate. Given how Song Ling's family had treated Ah Huan, it wouldn't be excessive for him to go blow up their coffins directly.
Emperor Yuanyou was conflicted. In his heart, he wanted to agree, but he also felt they were, after all, his own bloodline. Would handing them over so casually lead to condemnation by his ancestors a hundred years later?
Seeing Emperor Yuanyou silent, the old man's face darkened.
"In that case, I will take Ah Huan back to Qingyun Realm."
"Then... you'd better take the bodies."
Emperor Yuanyou hastily spoke up, afraid that a second's delay would mean losing his precious granddaughter.
Let the ancestors condemn him if they must; he had his reasons for doing this!
"Good. We will go dig up the corpses tomorrow night."
"Oh, and don't forget Song Heng's body," Emperor Yuanyou even added, as if afraid the old man might forget.
The corner of the old man's mouth twitched.
This Great Qi Emperor truly despised Song Heng.
"Don't worry. We'll help you clean up the trash while we're at it."
At the same time, in the Eastern Palace.
"What do you want the bodies for?" The full contingent of the Eastern Palace's wings had gathered, a rare occurrence, to celebrate the belated arrival of "peace."
With fine wine in his belly, Cheng Guang couldn't help but ask the Qingyun Sect disciples.
"I know! The Qingyun Sect has very high requirements for sword techniques. Their bones can be used to test the sharpness of sword energy."
Ugh—
Cheng Guang felt like vomiting.
Wrong. Master probably wants to test the keenness of weapons.
Zheng Fang began to feel aches all over his body.
"You're both wrong. Master will definitely send them to the Mystic Physician, to see if they can be ground into powder for medicine."
Gu Zheng also started to feel a chill.
If Ping Wang (Prince Ping) had known his bones would end up in the hands of the Qingyun Sect after death, one wonders if he would have regretted being born into this world.
"Regardless, it's nothing more than they deserve."
It was already the twelfth lunar month, bitterly cold, and Shen Qingping's complexion seemed especially pale.
His voice, as he spoke, seemed to carry a hint of cold air.
You are very suited to join our Qingyun Sect. Although you have no martial arts foundation, you would surely be a prodigy in learning formation arrays.
"Master likes you very much too."
Qingling walked over to Shen Qingping and spoke in a low voice.
He could see that although this man before him was physically weaker than others, his temperament was the most unyielding, just like... a wolf in the snow.
Hearing this, Song Yu shot to his feet. Poaching his people right in front of him? The Qingyun Sect had no shame!
But then he saw Shen Qingping rise with a smile, meeting Qingling's gaze. "No, thank you."
Several years ago, I already signed an indenture contract.
What a pity.
Qingling's expression dimmed.
He had still wanted to lure this man back to the Qingyun Sect to be the next sect leader. The young lady's tutor, with such ruthless methods, was most capable of commanding the respect of the entire sect.
He really didn't want to be burdened with sect affairs anymore!
Song Yu breathed a sigh of relief, and the others also relaxed slightly.
Only Cheng Guang stared dumbfounded at Shen Qingping. The 'indenture contract' this person just mentioned...
Could it be the position of Prime Minister?
If it were anyone else, he might still have a chance to compete, but if it were this one...
Cheng Guang felt extremely wronged. Was the order of appearance really that important?
......
As the year-end approached, Emperor Yuanyou, with thunderous methods, punished the many court ministers who had sided with Song Heng. Edicts flowed continuously, stained with blood, yet Emperor Yuanyou showed not a hint of softness.
He was old, and he wanted to use his remaining time to clear all obstacles for his child.
No one pleaded for mercy, and no one dared to.
Ping Wang's Mansion.
"Is it almost New Year?"
Now, the vast Ping Wang's Mansion held only Chang Ling'er. After Lady Chang's death, Chang Ling'er seemed to have been forgotten by everyone, staying in the Li Garden every day.
"Soon."
Only one old maid was ordered to watch over Chang Ling'er.
The sound of footsteps approached. Chang Ling'er looked at the guard before her.
"Second Miss Chang."
Hearing this address, Chang Ling'er was taken aback.
The bodies of Prince Ping's family have been secretly exhumed and handed over to the Qingyun Sect for disposal. The Crown Prince has ordered Princess Consort Ping's body to be moved to the Chang family ancestral graves. You may go pay your respects.
"Qingyun Sect?"
The maid on the side carefully explained the recent events to Chang Ling'er.
Chang Ling'er listened, crying and laughing by turns, finally looking up at the sky. "Aunt, the princess has the Qingyun Sect protecting her. You can rest at ease."
That night, Chang Ling'er changed into her favorite clothes.
Snow began to fall from the sky, the first snow of the year.
"Nanny, personally take this letter and give it to the guard outside the mansion gates."
Watching the nanny walk away, Chang Ling'er foolishly laughed. The princess now had a powerful backer, so she could go to the underworld to find her aunt.
Not just her aunt, but also her father and mother.
She had clung to life for so long in this world, missing them terribly.
A candle was knocked over. The flame caught the fabric in an instant and began to burn. In less than a quarter of an hour, the Li Garden was engulfed in raging flames.
In the moment before losing consciousness, Chang Ling'er's vision was completely blurred.
Yet within that blur, she seemed to see that year again. She was sitting on the swing in the courtyard, her father pushing her gently yet firmly from behind. She swung very high.
A young man suddenly barged into her sight like that, a smile on his lips, calling her 'Ling'er, cousin.'
From then on, her heart was lost.
And she began walking towards a bottomless abyss.
The greatest mistake of Chang Ling'er's life was falling in love with Song Yanzheng.
Outside Ping Wang's Mansion, the nanny's legs felt as heavy as if filled with lead. Trembling, she opened the letter in her hand—it was blank paper.
Clearly, it was just to send her away...
The nanny wept uncontrollably.
The fire burned for a full two hours, consuming the entire Ping Wang's Mansion.
The once splendid Ping Wang's Mansion was now left with even its walls blackened. Passersby dared not linger, afraid of being haunted by something sinister.
Upon hearing of Chang Ling'er's death, Emperor Yuanyou merely ordered her to be buried in the Chang family ancestral graves.
"Yu'er, I feel that place, Ping Wang's Mansion, is inauspicious," Emperor Yuanyou frowned. "Why not demolish it?"
"It is indeed inauspicious,"
Song Yu agreed. "Tomorrow, I will have the Ministry of Works start demolishing it. In my opinion, Chang Ling'er's fire actually burned well."
"It burned away all the filthy things hidden within Ping Wang's Mansion."
Denied proper burial after death, their dwelling burned to ruin.
Such vengeful ghosts, how could they possibly re-enter the cycle of rebirth?
Song Yu raised his eyes to look at the snowflakes outside the window, his heart trembling slightly.
If only... if only he could also have a chance to start over, a chance to protect Ah Huan anew.
How wonderful that would be...
