Chapter 301 - Bu Yunqing vs. Old Lady Feng

“Mother!” Baili Junyi’s face changed, “You said that you were set up by the Empress. Then how could you make such a rash decision?”

Bu Yunqing turned to look at Baili Junyi. Seeing his forehead covered in sweat because of anxiety, she was gratified, “Junyi, since this matter was started by me, let me end it.”

As she spoke, she looked at Old Lady Feng and asked, “Do you dare to bet with me? Do you dare to hand over the list?”

Baili Junyi stepped forward and knelt in front of Baili Qingcang, “Father Emperor, this bet is too hasty. Please make the decision.”

Shen Ninghua knelt down with Baili Junyi.

“Father Emperor, no matter what, one thing is clear. The Zhao Family indeed has the intention to rebel. This is a crime that would make the entire clan executed. Mother was set up by someone just because she had hatred in her heart, but even if she didn’t drug the former Empress, the former Empress would still have to die after the conspiracy of the Zhao Family was exposed and thoroughly investigated.”

Old Lady Feng’s face was gloomy as she glared at Shen Ninghua. “Princess Zhaohua, I don’t think you have the right to speak here. Since Noble Consort Xian has already agreed, how could I say no.”

“Old Lady Feng!” Shen Ninghua turned around and said coldly, “Even if we don’t make a bet, the Biyun Pavilion and the Qingtian Pavilion will be eradicated. Do you think you can contend against the Da’an Kingdom and Father Emperor with the help of a mere Zhao Family?”

Shen Ninghua’s gaze was cold, and her tone was aggressive. Bu Yunqing was very important to Baili Junyi. She couldn’t just watch her suffer.

“It’s only a matter of time to find out the list. You know that you have committed a serious crime, but you did not take the initiative to offer the name list to His Majesty as a gesture of repentance, and you even threatened the imperial consort. This is preposterous!”

Old Lady Feng was rendered speechless. After a while, she sneered at Shen Ninghua.

“You really have a glib tongue, but unfortunately, no matter how you defend yourself, I take the bet. You can have a try and see if you can eliminate all the hidden forces of the Biyun Pavilion and Qingtian Pavilion.”

As she spoke, she glanced in Baili Qingcang’s direction and turned back to Shen Ninghua, “Remember, if you can’t eliminate all the forces of we Zhao Family, even if only a single person survived, it is enough to threaten His Majesty’s life. Do you dare to make this bet?”

Shen Ninghua wanted to say something but was stopped by Bu Yunqing, “Ninghua, back down.”

Baili Junyi and Shen Ninghua looked up at Bu Yunqing and shouted at the same time, “Mother!”

“Both of you, get up!” Bu Yunqing said to Baili Junyi and Shen Ninghua. Then, she walked up to Old Lady Feng and said, “Don’t get His Majesty involved. It’s my own idea to bet with you. It has nothing to do with others. You hand over the list, and I will give you my life. The bet will then be finished. Do you understand?”

Old Lady Feng laughed, and her eyes were filled with the pleasure of revenge, “Alright, remember your words. Do you dare to clap hands with me as an oath?” As she spoke, she raised her palm.

Bu Yunqing sneered and clapped Old Lady Feng’s palm without hesitation.

“Clap! Clap! Clap!”

“Mother, why did you do this?” Baili Junyi stepped forward to stop her, but it was already too late.

Bu Yunqing ignored his question and turned to the palace maid behind her, “Bring me the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Let Old Lady Feng write it now. I think she can’t wait any longer.”

“There’s no need. I’ve already prepared that list.” Old Lady Feng took out a small delicate box from her sleeve. Then, she took out a piece of silk from the box, “All names have been written on this silk, along with their contact information and the location of each branch.”

Bu Yunqing took it over and examined it carefully, “How do you prove that this is true?”

“You can ask His Majesty to send someone to investigate it, or you can interrogate these people. Some of them will definitely confess to you. I am all alone, and I have no worries. These people are Zhao Family’s servants. Since the Zhao Family is done, they should die together as well. I won’t let them continue to live at ease.”

Bu Yunqing handed the silk to Baili Qingcang.

Shen Ninghua glanced at the names and identities of the Biyun Pavilion’s members. It was roughly the same as what Qing Que had told her before. Qing Que did not know about the Qingtian Pavilion’s members, so Shen Ninghua couldn’t verify the information about the Qingtian Pavilion. Shen Ninghua’s heart sank slightly. This list was most likely true.

Old Lady Feng patiently waited as Baili Qingcang checked the list. After Baili Qingcang ordered people to put away the silk, Old Lady Feng looked at Bu Yunqing with excitement in her eyes, “Noble Consort Xian, what are you waiting for?”

Baili Junyi stepped forward and stood in front of Bu Yunqing with an imposing demeanor, “If you want to kill my mother, kill me first.”

Old Lady Feng’s face froze up, and her lips were trembling. After a while, she whispered, “You are a good son. I understand that. Who can watch their mothers die?”

Shen Ninghua turned around and wanted to plead with Baili Qingcang. Suddenly, her pupils trembled, and she looked at Bu Yunqing in disbelief, “Mother, you have taken the poison?”

Hearing that, Baili Junyi turned his head abruptly and was shocked, “Mother? Ninghua, what’s going on?”

Bu Yunqing covered her chest with one hand and said with a faint smile, “It’s time. I’ve lived long enough.”

Shen Ninghua couldn’t care about anything else. She quickly held Bu Yunqing’s wrist, wanting to take her pulse to see how she was.

But Bu Yunqing pulled back her hand and said, “Ninghua, stop it, nothing will help. I took an unsolvable poison. No matter how skillful you are, you can’t save my life.”

Shen Ninghua ignored her refusal and grabbed her wrist. After checking her pulse, her face turned pale, “Mother, you… you consumed Faded Beauty.”

Hearing that, Baili Junyi’s face turned deathly pale. He asked, “Ninghua, is there any antidote?”

Shen Ninghua shook her head and said, “Whoever takes it will die. It is a rare poison in the world, and there is no antidote. Mother, this poison had long been lost. How could you have it?”

Bu Yunqing stood up straight, her face becoming increasingly rosier, just like a healthy person. She said, “Your Majesty, do you want to know where I got this poison?”

Baili Qingcang asked calmly, “Did you bring it here from the Great Yue Kingdom?”

“I didn’t expect you to know it.” Bu Yunqing chuckled. “I brought it here from the Great Yue Kingdom. Back then, I insisted on marrying you against the wishes of Father Emperor, Mother Empress, and Imperial Brother. They said that you were just taking advantage of me, but I didn’t believe them at all. So, before I ran out in a fit of pique, I brought this unsolvable poison, Faded Beauty, from the palace.”

“Father Emperor, Mother Empress, Imperial Brother? Isn’t she an ordinary civilian? How could she have Father Emperor and Mother Empress? Is she a princess?” The surrounding officials couldn’t help wondering as they sized up Bu Yunqing.

Many of the officials were shocked. There was only one princess who married the Emperor. Could she be Princess Yunqing from the Great Yue Kingdom?

Baili Qingcang asked with a complicated look, “You should have a chance to drug me. Why didn’t you do it?”

Bu Yunqing’s lips turned crimson as if they were going to bleed. Hearing this, she smiled.

“I did have a chance. I had many chances to do it. Before I left the imperial palace, I was reluctant to do it. After I was persecuted and forced to leave the palace, I was unable to get close to you. I thought I would do it after I came back, but I found that I just couldn’t do it!”

As Bu Yunqing spoke, she staggered and almost fell to the ground. Baili Junyi wanted to hold her but was stopped by Shen Ninghua.

Baili Qingcang had already stepped forward to support Bu Yunqing. “Yunqing…”

Bu Yunqing looked into Baili Qingcang’s eyes and said, “Your Majesty… Baili Qingcang… I’m dying. Don’t lie to me. Tell me, do you have a heart?”

With a cold face, Baili Qingcang answered, “I do.”

“Then do you have me in your heart?” Her gaze was serious, radiating with hope that even she herself did not notice.

“Why do you bother yourself with this?”

“That means no.” Bu Yunqing laughed, tears falling down her face. “I hate you, Baili Qingcang! I hate you! I hate you forever!”

“Of course you can hate me.” Baili Qingcang sighed deeply and closed his eyes.

The poison took effect, and the severe pain went all over Bu Yunqing’s body. Bu Yunqing was tortured into trembling all over, but she kept speaking.

“Xia Jingyan didn’t marry you, but you kept her in mind for a lifetime. Zhao Huiying was deposed by you, but she had been your legitimate wife for twenty-five years. What about me? I betrayed my country for you, and I risked my life to give birth to a son for you. I was disfigured because of you, and I suffered a lot for you. But in the end, I got nothing…”

With a complicated look in his eyes, Baili Qingcang said, “Since that’s the case, don’t have anything to do with me in your next life.”

Bu Yunqing looked up, and her eyes focused again.

“No, I won’t let you go. I won’t let you off in the lives to come. Baili Qingcang, I know that your imperial mausoleum has been built. I am an imperial consort, and I can be buried in the side tombs. If I die, bury me there.”

“You don’t have to…”

Bu Yunqing finally could not help but spit out a mouthful of blood, “I will wait for you. There’s still something unsettled between you and me. I will wait for you even after I die. You… You promise me!”

“Alright,” Baili Qingcang nodded heavily, “Alright, I promise you. After I die, let’s take time to figure out how much I owe you and how I shall repay you.”

A gentle smile slowly spread over Bu Yunqing’s face. Her smile was warm as if she had no regret. “Okay…” After saying that, she slowly closed her eyes and stopped breathing, but her smile didn’t disappear.

Baili Junyi was stunned for a long time. Tears fell from his cheek, and he roared in pain, “Mother!”

Old Lady Feng laughed. She turned around and walked to the coffin in the middle of the hall. She reached out and carefully stroked the coffin.

“My daughter, I’ve helped you get rid of the murderer. You can rest in peace. But the Crown Prince is pitiful. He cares about the people of Da’an Kingdom, His Majesty, and you, but he doesn’t care about himself. You must bless him in heaven.”

The Crown Prince stepped forward to support Old Lady Feng. “Grandmother.”

“Your Highness, take care of yourself.” Old Lady Feng dodged his hand and gave him a serious look. Then, she took two steps back and ran forward abruptly. She crashed into Zho Huiying’s coffin and died.

Hearing the noise, Baili Qingcang came to his senses and quickly asked someone to check her.

“Your Majesty, Old Lady Feng is dead.”
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