Chapter 325: A Cup of Poisoned Wine

The female official was stunned at first but quickly understood. “This servant will see to it at once.”

The Empress Dowager gave a cold “Mm,” then sank wearily onto the couch, leaning against the large soft cushion. Her temples throbbed with pain.

From the very start, it had been one setback after another.

No matter what, the Ji family’s empire must not fall into the hands of outsiders.

This required careful planning and a gradual approach.

“Regent!”

The surprised voices of the palace maids and eunuchs echoed from outside.

The Empress Dowager’s eyes flew open. She saw a tall, slender figure walking toward her at an unhurried pace, as if taking a casual stroll through a garden. When he came to a stop a few steps away, his shadow cast over her, oppressive and imposing.

A tremor passed through her heart. Her fingers clutched the armrest tightly. “Ji Xuan, when did you return?”

Ji Xuan’s hands hung at his sides, his wide sleeves brushing the floor. A gentle breeze stirred the hem of his robe, making the silver-threaded seawater patterns surge like waves, carrying the force of destruction. Without a sound, it intensified the pressure in the Empress Dowager’s chest. She stared at him warily, full of caution and vigilance.

“Just arrived at the imperial capital,” Ji Xuan said, his lips curving into a faint arc filled with icy mockery. “Didn’t expect to find that Imperial Brother has passed… and even caught quite the show. You never disappoint me—still as cold-blooded as ever.”

Facing his indifferent eyes, the Empress Dowager felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles. She immediately stood up, her face stern. “Aijia doesn’t understand what you’re talking about. Forcing you to separate from Qi Min was to protect the Great Zhou’s empire…”

“Poisoning me—was that because I disrupted the political order, or because I stood in your way?” Ji Xuan’s voice was laced with biting sarcasm. “Imperial Brother thought he had won. Even at the moment of death, he probably never realized that we were nothing more than pawns in your quest for power.”

The Empress Dowager clenched her jaw, glaring at her rebellious youngest son with loathing. “Aijia never saw it that way. It was you who, for the sake of a lowborn woman, struck at your own elder brother and pushed him down the path of seeking immortality. If you had remained loyal and dutiful, acting as your brother’s right hand, how could Aijia have been so heartless as to sacrifice her own kin for the greater good?”

Ji Xuan had long since seen through the Empress Dowager’s nature. A flash of disgust passed through his eyes; he couldn’t even be bothered to waste more words with her. “You tried to murder me, and I imprisoned you in the Guo Temple, sparing your life as repayment for giving birth to me. But what you should never have done—above all else—was lay a hand on Zhao’er (Su Wan). Now that you’ve once again fallen into my hands, there is no need for me to show any consideration for the bond between mother and son.”

A sharp sneer rose on his lips. “When the Son of Heaven (The Emperor) breaks the law, he is subject to the same punishment as a commoner. You, Royal Mother, have committed regicide. As your son, I must carry out justice and sever all ties.”

Clap. Clap. Clap—

Ji Xuan slowly clapped his hands.

Luo Cheng dragged a eunuch forward and threw him at the Empress Dowager’s feet.

The Empress Dowager’s face turned pale with shock. “You…”

Her body trembled uncontrollably, her mind in turmoil. Before she could think of a way to respond, she heard Ji Xuan say, “Today is Imperial Brother’s burial. At this hour, the tomb has yet to be sealed. Why not have the coffin opened for examination?”

“Xuan’er, I am your mother! Do you truly mean to drive me to the brink, leaving me no way to survive?”

The Empress Dowager saw a eunuch holding a tray, upon which lay a cup of poisoned wine, a length of white silk, and a dagger.

Never before had death felt so close. Her jaw trembled. “I never harmed anyone named Zhao’er—there must be some misunderstanding. I know I’ve done many things in the past that hurt you, but I can make amends. If you can’t forgive me, then imprison me in Guo Temple. I will spend the rest of my life there and never take a single step outside.”

“Zhao’er is Su Wan. She is the daughter Minmin bore for me.” Ji Xuan remained unmoved and gestured for the eunuch to step forward. “Choose one.”

The Empress Dowager’s face turned deathly pale. She backed away, unwilling to choose any of the three.

Ji Xuan made a gesture.

Luo Cheng stepped forward and seized the Empress Dowager.

“Ji Xuan! Are you really going to commit matricide today? All for that whore Qi Min? That wretched little brat she had with Su Jihong—are you even sure she’s your blood? Don’t be fooled by her. You’re just playing the part of a convenient father!”

A deep, bitter regret burst forth in the Empress Dowager’s eyes—regret for ever giving birth to this unfilial son who would now commit matricide. With hatred in her voice, she cursed, “If you kill me, you will face retribution… urgh….”

The eunuch clamped her jaw and forced the cup of poisoned wine down her throat.

Luo Cheng watched her swallow, then flung her to the floor.

Her intestines felt as if they were being pierced by blades. An excruciating pain twisted through her entire body. Her complexion shifted from blue to pale, her body trembled uncontrollably, and she screamed hoarsely in agony. The veins on her forehead bulged, her eyes nearly popped from their sockets, and her nostrils flared rapidly as she struggled to breathe.

Ji Xuan watched coldly as she convulsed a few times, then collapsed to the floor, unable to move, a rasping heh heh sound coming from her throat.

“You’re greedy for life, fearful of death, and obsessed with power. But in the end, you did give birth to me. So I won’t kill you. You’ll live. Live well, and watch as Jingyun governs Great Zhou into peace and prosperity. Watch as Minmin and I share a bond of deep love. Watch as every one of your people is eliminated.”

A sudden smile curved Ji Xuan’s lips. “If you died, that would be a release. No, this is better. This is the ending you deserve.”

The Empress Dowager’s pupils contracted, filled with terror. She opened her mouth, trying to speak, but no sound came out.

Watching Ji Xuan turn to leave, she desperately tried to reach for him, but her body would not respond. She could only stare helplessly as he walked away.

“Hetui!” Luo Cheng spat directly on her face. “Poisonous woman, don’t you dare die from rage. I’ll burn three sticks of incense every day, praying to Buddha to bless you with a long life.”

Bang—the door slammed shut.

Darkness fell over the Empress Dowager, a darkness that foretold the rest of her days would be spent in endless shadow.

The mere thought of it was enough to drive her to the brink of collapse, plunging her into utter despair.

——

Su Wan remained in the palace and did not go to the Imperial Tomb.

Anxiously awaiting news, she had yet to hear anything about Ji Wufeng or the Empress Dowager. Instead, what reached her first was the report that Ji Xuan and Qi Min had arrived in Great Zhou and were already in the capital. Before she had a chance to ask where the two of them were, she received word from Qi Fifth —something had happened to Gu Qingsong at the new residence.

Su Wan was stunned for a moment, then wasted no time. Without delay, she left the palace and hurried back to the residence.

When she arrived at the new residence, the ground had clearly been washed with water—still damp—and the scent of blood lingered in the air.

Mrs. Hu was waiting at the entrance. Seeing Su Wan rush over, her expression filled with worry, she said, “He’s in the east wing.”

Su Wan ran to the east wing, where the doctor was treating members of the Qi Family Army—removing arrows and bandaging their wounds. Fortunately, none were fatal, and they were not in serious condition.

From inside the room came the sound of Mother Gu and Gu Baozhu weeping.

Su Wan’s face was ashen. As she walked inside, she asked Mo Yuan, “What happened?”

Mo Yuan replied, “A fire bomb went off. He threw himself on top of it when it exploded—shrapnel pierced his chest. The situation is critical.”

Su Wan saw Gu Qingsong lying there, his complexion tinged with blue. His upper garment had already been removed, and the doctor had done a basic job of stopping the bleeding.

She removed the blood-soaked cloth. The wound over his left chest was the most severe—two or three shards were deeply embedded. It truly did not look promising.

“Go to the pharmacy and fetch my medicine chest, now,” Su Wan ordered Mo Yuan, then turned to the doctor who had just stepped aside to rest. “You two—come help me.”

The doctors hurried over. Su Wan quickly scribbled down several prescriptions and handed them over. “Prepare these medicines immediately. The most urgent is the pain-relieving powder.”

The doctors immediately went down to prepare the medicine.

Mother Gu, as if seeing her pillar of support, asked anxiously, “Wanwan, can he be saved?”

“There’s a fifty percent chance,” Su Wan replied.