Why hate?
What trapped the Yan Empress was never a person, but the imperial order, the rules under the system, the inescapable fate of a woman.
Even her death back then was due to frustration that no medicine could cure, not because anyone poisoned her.
"I have never hated Consort Ju, just as you said, there is always a reason behind any strife in the rear palace, be it for favor or for a child, it is all within reason." Chang Yan spoke calmly. "Even our fight today is simply each of us trying to gain power, winner takes all."
The insight and understanding of the 14-year-old boy made Ju Lianruo glance at him in surprise. For a moment, she even thought, if only this was her child.
Coming back to her senses, she could only end with a bitter smile.
She was very clear on her own lineage, she sighed as she bent down to grab the prostrating Zhu Changhong, "Pull yourself together and kill everyone, only then can you take that position."
It was as if her personality split.
Ju Noble Consort was not cruel enough to persecute every life, but she would also not show mercy to her enemies.
Having dominated the rear palace for 20 years, her hands could not be considered clean, her personality was stubborn and decisive.
"Your father the Emperor has chosen someone else to be the Crown Prince, he has abandoned you, why do you still cling to that bit of father-son affection?" Ju Lianruo berated, "It's winner takes all, do you understand? From the moment you fought with the Ju Family for power, there was no way back."
"But Chief Guard Li has rebelled, all the people the Ju Family had planted have been killed, Mother look clearly." Zhu Changhong somehow erupted with strength, "We have no chance left to turn the tables."
"Who said there is no chance." Ju Lianruo's face was cold, "Look who's behind me, and think about how I got in here."
As if reminded, everyone in the Shentian Palace hall turned their heads back, only then did they see the barely visible Commander of the Imperial Guards behind her.
Not the imperial guards, not the imperial guard chief, but the commander of all the imperial guards.
The man stroking his sword wearing a black cloak stood quietly and silently outside, his mere presence the greatest deterrence.
Previously everything was under control within the Shentian Palace hall, with only around a hundred imperial guards involved, split between the Ju Family and the Second Prince, as they firmly controlled the four main gates.
The purpose was to prevent the news from leaking out and leading the thousands of imperial guards over.
They didn't expect that they would end up alerting the Commander of the Imperial Guards, who then stood unwaveringly behind the Ju Family.
Chang Yan pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Zhu Changyu's eyebrows sunk as he seemed to be weighing something.
Only Zhu Changhong clambered up in shock and unease, asking "Since when does the Ju Family have ties with the Commander of the Imperial Guards? If there were ties, why didn't you take action earlier and had to save the day now?"
"We were old acquaintances from before." Ju Lianruo's eyes were cold and stern. "He was able to take the commander position with the Ju Family's support."
So the Commander of the Imperial Guards was actually the Ju Family's biggest trump card?
Yet Zhu Changhong still had doubts, constantly thinking back to his memories.
"We're running out of time Chang'er." Ju Lianruo deeply understood the danger of delay, pointing to the dagger on the floor giving off a white glow, "Go, kill all of them."
Zhu Changhong hesitated, as if remembering something.
"Go, Chang'er." Ju Lianruo raised her voice.
It was rare for Zhu Changhong to not move.
"Chang'er!" Ju Lianruo's voice grew louder and louder.
Zhu Changhong returned to his senses, wanting to speak yet hesitating. "Mother Consort, stop this, don't make more mistakes, we won't fight for this throne anymore, alright?"
"What nonsense are you speaking?" Ju Lianruo was shocked. "The Ju Family spent so much effort and resources to arrange all this, and is willing to give up half our family fortune, yet you want to back down at the critical moment? How did I give birth to such a useless child?"
"No Mother Consort, that's not it." Zhu Changhong shook his head. "You always wanted me to take the throne, but never considered whether I loved that position, or had the ability to rule the country. And now you don't even ask me if I'm willing to kill my own brothers."
"We grew up together in this imperial city, we have the same father, we may scheme against each other in the dark, but why does it have to involve life and death? I can't do it, I can't imagine how heartbroken and devastated Father would feel. Mother Consort, don't make more mistakes, don't disappoint Father anymore okay?"
He seemed to have lost too much strength from the pain as he knelt before his mother pleading desperately, eyes occasionally glancing towards the Commander of the Imperial Guards, also pleading.
"Obsession? So you know it's obsession?" Ju Noble Consort laughed. "He and I were childhood sweethearts, I couldn't get the position of Empress, now I have to give up the position of Crown Prince too? Why? I wasn't able to nurture your ability to rule, but I will nurture a grandson with that ability. The Ju Family has done so much for us mother and son, I can't let down my maternal family."
"If you won't do it, then I will!"
Her personality was truly decisive and vicious. Pushing Zhu Changhong aside, she picked up the blade from the floor and stabbed towards Zhu Changyu.
Before anyone could react, before the Commander of the Imperial Guards could make a move, the kneeling Zhu Changhong stumbled to his feet and used his body to block the glint of the dagger.
"Puchi"
The sound of metal sinking into flesh.
Enduring the pain with all the pampering he grew up with, blood leaked from the corner of Zhu Changhong's mouth, "Mother...don't make more mistakes...the imperial guards are not the Ju Family's men, they are Father's confidants."
"Your eyes have been blinded by obsession. Now is time to turn back while you still can, don't go on so single-mindedly."
"There is a place for you in Father's heart, Father will protect you. Winners and losers, so what? You will not become a loser."
He seemed to have lost too much strength from the pain, speaking with heavy pants.
"Chang'er, don't try to frighten Mother Consort." Ju Lianruo was flustered for only the second time in her life. "It's only bleeding, you won't die. Someone come, call the Imperial Physician, call the Imperial Physician."
But following Zhu Changhong's lips parting again, the blood that came out was tinged black.
Helped over by Jiang Chengfeng, Wen Zhiyun sniffed the dagger, "It's Wolfsbane, blood-dissolvable quick-acting poison."
Zhu Changyu's ruthlessness fully displayed - not only did he want his two brothers to kill each other, he wanted them undoubtedly dead.
"Poisoned?" Ju Lianruo completely collapsed. "Someone come, give the antidote, give antidote!"
Zhu Changhong's mouth opened again, spitting out black red blood.
He could feel his life quickly draining at an extremely fast rate. As the most timid and useless of the princes, he should be cowering in his mother's embrace bawling.
Yet somehow, there was a faint sense of relief in his heart.
Perhaps he was tired of his mother controlling his life all these years. Perhaps he never found meaning in all that scheming and fighting, not even as entertaining as watching two crickets fight.
He always had to keep various counters in mind, putting on an unperturbed front, only to expose an ugly side when something unexpected cropped up.
Was he about to be free now?
Zhu Changhong suddenly grinned, the agony from his organs churning seemed to lessen significantly. He felt time was running out. Taking one last look at the kneeling Commander of the Imperial Guards, "Tell Father...not to be upset, not to be sad, I'm very happy...I'm actually happy."
He had no chance to say more.
He resented his mother's control, but also felt his mother's love.
He felt happy he could leave his mother, which didn't prevent him from wanting to protect his mother in his final moments of life.
At the same time, he tried his best to comfort his father, the man who carried him on his shoulders - don't be upset, I'm very happy.
I'm really very happy.
