“The entire clan executed… the Cui family… Elder Sister…”
Father. Mother. Brother. Sister-in-law. And her newborn niece…
It felt as though an immense force had seized Cui Yaoning’s heart, squeezing so tightly she could scarcely breathe. Darkness swallowed her vision, and she collapsed straight to the ground.
“Yaoyao!” Pei Yu rushed forward, his eyes burning with fury as he shouted at the maids and servants in the room, “Where is the physician? Go fetch the physician at once!”
The room descended into chaos. The maids hurried out to summon a physician.
Pei Yu sat at the edge of the bed, his expression grim and filled with regret.
‘If I had known it would come to this, I should never have told her.’
He had not expected her to speak of divorce. Fortunately, the Cui family had fallen, otherwise, he feared her brother would have taken her back.
Fortunately… now Yaoyao could only depend on him.
Pei Yu gripped her hand tightly.
The room grew unnaturally quiet, even the sound of breathing was distinct. Ruiniang twisted her handkerchief nervously and called softly, “Pei Lang?”
Pei Yu glanced at her, his eyes dark and brooding. He had no desire to say another word to her. With a curt command, he ordered several maids to escort her back to the side courtyard.
Because Cui Yaoning had always been frail, she needed medical attention every few days. Pei Yu had therefore retained a skilled physician at the residence. At the maids’ urging, several physicians hurried in with their medicine boxes.
After examining her, the physician prescribed medicine. Tao Shuang went to fetch the herbs and supervised as the maids decocted them, then brought the bowl in for Xingyu to help feed it to the madam.
“I’ll do it,” Pei Yu said in a low voice.
Xingyu lowered her head and replied gently, “The physician said Madam has suffered a sudden surge of anger and must not be agitated again. If she sees the Duke upon waking, I fear…”
She trailed off, bowing her head even further.
Pei Yu’s expression shifted several times before he finally stepped aside.
After the medicine was administered, some time passed…
Cui Yaoning gradually regained consciousness. Her gaze slowly focused. She bit her lip as Pei Yu’s words echoed over and over in her mind.
Each sentence was steeped in blood. Even from his brief account, one could imagine how many lives would be lost in this witchcraft case.
She closed her eyes, and tears slipped silently down her cheeks.
The current emperor had reigned for ten years without an heir, shaking the very foundation of the realm. It was the birth of the Crown Prince, her brother-in-law, that silenced the restless vassal emperor . Overjoyed, the Emperor proclaimed a general amnesty and established him as Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was resolute and upright in handling state affairs, gentle and benevolent at home. The court had praised him endlessly, claiming he possessed the virtues of the founding emperor. His position had been secure.
How could he possibly have practiced witchcraft?
Someone must have framed him deliberately.
Cui Yaoning knew she ought not to resent the Emperor.
But she could not stop herself.
Her elder sister had married into the Eastern Palace at fifteen. The Cui family and the Crown Prince’s fate had long been intertwined. When disaster struck him, how could the Cui clan possibly escape?
Hundreds of lives extinguished.
How could she not hate?
A stabbing pain pierced her chest. Forcing herself upright, she asked hoarsely, “What about the young prince?”
Pei Yu hurried forward. “He is still young, the only bloodline of his majesty. His Majesty showed mercy. He has merely been imprisoned, his life has been spared.”
Mercy?
To refuse to acknowledge wrongdoing is perverse. To know one’s wrongdoing yet refuse to correct it is perverse.
Cui Yaoning’s heart filled with bitter sarcasm.
“The imperial family is truly cold-blooded,” she thought. “After giving such a disgraceful posthumous title, did the Emperor ever remember the happiness he felt when the crown prince was born?”
And Pei Yu as well.
Because of their marriage ties and because he had once been the study companion of the Crown Prince’s younger brother, Prince Qi, the Crown Prince had always treated him generously. Otherwise, how could he have risen to the position of Vice Minister of Revenue at the age of twenty?
How heartless. How treacherous.
If her father and brothers were still alive, they would never have allowed him to be so brazen.
Cui Yaoning closed her eyes, and tears streamed silently down her cheeks.
Seeing the sorrow etched on her face, Pei Yu softened his voice. “Yaoyao, calm yourself. When His Majesty issued the decree, he said that women who have married out will not be implicated.”
Cui Yaoning came back to herself at his words. She had not expected that he thought her tears were born of fear. For a moment, she felt as though she had never truly known him. Disappointment filled her eyes.
Pei Yu did not notice.
After a brief silence, he continued gently, “The physician said your body is weak. You should stop taking those medicines. After all, it’s only a child. Why harm your health for that?”
Cui Yaoning had always been frail. Before her marriage, the physician had warned that she was too young and should recuperate for several years before consummating the marriage. Yet she had wanted to bear a child for Pei Yu, so she had secretly continued taking fertility medicines.
She said nothing.
After a pause, Pei Yu added, “After Ruiniang gives birth, I’ll have someone send her away. You can raise the child yourself. I’ll make sure all the servants speak with one voice, that he has only you as his mother. Yaoyao, don’t worry. No one can replace your place in my heart.”
Cui Yaoning was so angry she nearly laughed. “You bring me filthy, foul things and expect me to accept them? Do you take me for a refuse collector?”
Knowing she had just learned of the Cui family’s downfall, Pei Yu assumed her temper was due to grief and did not take offense. He sighed. “Yaoyao, that is my flesh and blood.”
She shot back, “So I must allow an illegitimate child to stain the name of the Cui clan of Qinghe? Pei Yu, you may not care for your reputation, but I do!”
His face darkened instantly. “And what of your noble lineage? With a single word from the Emperor, the Cui family was destroyed. You are now the daughter of a disgraced house. You should be more careful with your words and conduct.”
“You cannot even tolerate one child? I am truly disappointed in you!”
With that, he turned and left.
Cui Yaoning felt as though something was lodged in her chest, suffocating her. A sudden sweetness rose in her throat. She turned her head and a mouthful of bright red blood spilled out, soaking her snow-white night robe.
Darkness swallowed her vision. She lost consciousness entirely.
Before blacking out, she vaguely heard the anguished cries of Xingyu and Tao Shuang.
“Young miss, young miss, wake up! The Old Madam has returned from Chang’an!”
“Miss?”
“The other young ladies of the manor have all gone early to pay their respects. If you arrive late, I fear the Second Madam will seize another chance to make cutting remarks.”
The voices around her were a blur.
It felt as though someone was speaking, but the words were faint and indistinct, as if separated by a layer of mist. The harder she tried to listen, the more distant they seemed.
The Old Madam…
What Old Madam?
The old lady of the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence had passed away before she married Pei Yu. Besides her, who else in that household could be called Old Madam?
The Second Madam…
Whom were they talking about?
Cui Yaoning struggled to open her eyes.
What greeted her sight was a red silk bed-curtain embroidered with pearls and jade. It was as light as smoke, shimmering with iridescent hues, catching the rising morning light so that the entire space seemed like a fairyland.
She stared, stunned.
This pearl-embroidered canopy had been a birthday gift from her father and brothers when she was thirteen. Crafted at great expense by master artisans, there was not another like it in the entire Great Zhou.
She had cherished it dearly. Yet on the journey to the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence after her marriage, the carriage had met with an accident, and the finest piece of jadeite had shattered in two. Heartbroken, she had ordered Xingyu to pack it away at the bottom of a chest, never to be taken out again.
But now…
The jade was whole.
Was this a dream… or…?
Cui Yaoning stared at it blankly.
When Xingyu saw her eyes open, she cried out in delight, “Miss is awake! Miss is awake! Tao Shuang, quickly call Sister Baoqin to help Miss dress and do her hair!”