Chapter 159 The Wei Family’s Guilt

“When Xiaoxian returned to the Wei family, she said she was disheartened by life in the palace and had lost hope in the Emperor. She wanted the Wei family to help her take the four-year- son and leave the palace to retire in seclusion. Despite her father and mother’s prolonged persuasion, Xiaoxian insisted on this. Her father made it clear that he would never help her. If she dared to do so, the Wei family would not only refuse to help her but also expel her from the family records.”

“But your mother was undeterred and even said she didn’t care about being expelled from the family! Even if the Wei family didn’t help her, she would do it herself. She don’t want to stay in the palace any longer! Her father said that even if she left, she had to leave the Emperor behind. She insisted that it was impossible. You are the emperor child too, and she must take him with her!”

“Helpless, her father had to let her mother pretend to agree with Xiaoxian privately, allowing her to return to the palace first. Once she arranged things outside, they would help her leave.”

Upon hearing this, Shu Yuwan finally understood. If the Empress had truly left the palace with Ah Qing, it would have been a disgraceful situation with the late Emperor. The Wei family feared being abandoned along with the Emperor. However, at that time, she endured everything. By passing away during the late Emperor’s strongest emotional attachment, she ensured that the late Emperor would never forget her.

The Wei family, as Empress maternal family, would be beyond suspicion even if the truth were revealed. The Wei family’s ruthlessness and cunning were truly astonishing!

Wei Guogong continued, “Later, mother visited Xiaoxian in the palace multiple times, but Xiaoxian still insisted on taking youfrom the emperor. Mother had no choice…”

“No choice…”

Wei Guogong couldn’t continue, but everyone present understood.

Wei Wushuang looked at her father in disbelief, and Wei Guogong couldn’t meet his daughter’s gaze or anyone else’s, lowering his head in resignation.

He knew at the time, and he neither agreed nor stopped it.

His relationship with his sister had always been good, and she had always been close to the children in the family. But when faced with the interests of the family, he couldn’t make a choice and could only choose silence.

The Emperor felt a pang in his heart and asked, “Did the dodctor not notice anything?”

Wei Guogong hesitated to speak, and the Emperor’s voice turned stern, “Speak!”

Startled, Wei Guogong had to speak up, “It was… it was a secret medicine passed down with low toxicity, effective only after prolonged use. If not investigated thoroughly… the physician that Xiaoxian usually consulted had been employed by the Wei family.”

Shu Yuwan walked to the Emperor’s side, holding his hand. The Emperor managed a faint smile for Shu Yuwan.

Shu Yuwan couldn’t help but feel a sense of irony. Everyone said that the Empress had received the Emperor’s favor, which extended to the Crown Prince and Wei family, receiving more attention. Who would have thought that a foreign soul like the empress would face such betrayal from her maternal family?

Suddenly, Shu Yuwan thought of her own past life, ending in depression… She remembered not wanting to die, desperately trying to survive.

With a bitter smile in her heart knowing what really happened!

So that’s how it was!

People, before experiencing certain things, never truly understand the depths of human nature!

Before Shu Yuwan could dwell on it further, Wei Guogong, emerging from his sorrow, continued speaking to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, at the time, my parents had no choice. If they had let Xiaoxian take you out of the palace, you would have been deprived of the throne!”

The Emperor’s voice was somber, “In that case, I must thank your family!”

“But I would rather… be with my Mother and lived with her.” The Emperor’s voice carried a rare sense of sorrow.

Shu Yuwan shuddered all over.

Wei Guogong and Wei Wushuang dared not speak any further.

Wei Guogong knew that today, the glory of the Wei family had maintained in the capital for decades was coming to an end!

Indeed, after a moment of silence, the Emperor spoke coldly, “The Wei family conspired to murder the Empress and should be executed in full…”

The Emperor paused before continuing, “Considering the main culprit is deceased, the title of Wei Guogong is to be stripped, and he is to be demoted to a commoner!”

After hearing this, Wei Guogong collapsed to the ground, his eyes losing their luster. The prestigious position of Duke, carefully preserved by generations of the Wei family, was slipping away from his grasp! He didn’t know how he would face his ancestors after death!

Wei Wushuang exclaimed, “Emperor Brother, you can’t do this! The Wei family is the maternal family of Aunt!”

The Emperor, unmoved, looked at Wei Wushuang and coldly declared, “Strip Wei Wushuang of her title as Princess Pingkang and demote her to a commoner!”

Wei Wushuang looked at the Emperor in disbelief. Why was her princess title being revoked when she had nothing to do with this? Was the Emperor trying to destroy my family?

“Emperor Brother, you can’t be so heartless!”

Wei Guogong also rallied, shouting, “Your Majesty, you can’t do this! The Wei family is Xiaoxian’s maternal family. Your actions will only lead to public scrutiny of Xiaoxian and unrest for her in the afterlife!”

The cries and pleas of the father and daughter echoed in the Palace.

However, the Emperor remained unfazed and had Wei Guogong and Wei Wushuang escorted out.

Once everyone had left, Shu Yuwan looked at the Emperor, who seemed troubled, and said, “Jin Er, perhaps the Empress Mother has found peace. Don’t be too upset.”

The Emperor smiled faintly, embraced Shu Yuwan tightly, rested his head on her shoulder, and whispered, “Yuwan, this may sound unbelievable, but if it meant the Empress Mother could live a peaceful and worry-free life, I would trade this throne for it.”

At that moment, a crack seemed to open in Shu Yuwan’s heart, and the Emperor’s tenderness softened her long-held defenses and hardness.

Shu Yuwan whispered, “Jin Er, I believe you.”

“After all, I have given the Wei family a way out. The executioner is dead, and the rest, including Wushuang, are innocent.” The Emperor seemed somewhat self-reproachful.

Shu Yuwan comforted him, “Your mother will surely support your decision.”

She didn’t know if the Empress would support it, but she knew that the current Emperor needed support.

After the imperial decree was issued, the Wei family fell into despair.

To maintain the Empress Mother’s dignity, the decree did not mention the Wei family’s plot to harm the Empress but stated that the Wei family had defied the Emperor. Wei Wushuang was also sent back to the Wei residence from the palace.

Upon hearing this news, Lianzhi hurried to the Wei mansion.