allonlinenovel Chapter 527 Joy of Life 83
Chapter 527 Joy of Life 83
Better to kill a thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free.
Logically speaking, given Emperor Qing's methods, it would have been absolutely impossible for the Empress Dowager to have known about this matter and come to Guangxin Palace in time to rescue people.
But the Crown Prince is still the Crown Prince. Even though he has been terrified by Emperor Qing, he still has some ability.
He decisively set fire to the palace, using the fire to completely cover up the fact that Emperor Qing had massacred people at the palace gates, and also to let the Empress Dowager know that something had happened at the Eastern Palace.
The Empress Dowager was the Empress's aunt and the Crown Prince's grandmother. Even though she didn't know how the Eastern Palace had caught fire, she was even less aware that Emperor Qing had ordered the massacre of the palace.
But as long as they know that something happened in the Eastern Palace, it will be enough to make this Empress Dowager, who has been neglecting her duties for a long time, show up.
The Empress Dowager brought the Empress and the Crown Prince to her palace and personally led a group to Guangxin Palace to rescue them.
She only had three children in her life: Emperor Qing, Prince Jing, and Li Yunrui. Li Yunrui was her only daughter and the child she loved the most. She couldn't bear to watch her die.
"Kill me." Li Yunrui's voice suddenly became calm, even revealing an eerie gentleness. She looked directly into Emperor Qing's eyes, her voice becoming even softer, yet carrying an undeniable killing intent: "If you don't kill me today, I will definitely kill you one day."
A resolute expression appeared on Li Yunrui's face, and the emotions that had been suppressed for many years finally erupted in despair at this moment.
Over the years, she had become accustomed to following in Emperor Qing's footsteps and scheming for him.
Even though she was furious about Emperor Qing's move to hand over the Imperial Treasury to Fan Xian, she only retaliated against Emperor Qing by destroying Li Chengqian, and never had the thought of killing him.
However, Emperor Qing's words just now filled her with despair and successfully ignited her murderous intent.
Li Yunrui still loves Emperor Qing, but that doesn't stop her from wanting to kill him now.
"No one in this world can kill me, including you."
Emperor Qing knew Li Yunrui well and knew that she wasn't lying, but his expression remained calm.
Unaware of the situation inside, the Empress Dowager, in her anxiety, simply ordered her men to forcibly break down the door.
Emperor Qing paid no attention to this. He simply squatted down and approached Li Yunrui. His eyes were no longer cold as before, but were filled with a complex and unfathomable meaning.
Li Yunrui didn't know what he was thinking, but she didn't say anything. She just looked at the man she had loved for half her life with adoring eyes.
Much later, just as the palace gates were about to be breached.
Emperor Qing suddenly reached out a hand and gently stroked Li Yunrui's cheek, his tone filled with unprecedented tenderness as he whispered, "You are my own sister, I will not kill you."
This moment of warmth contrasted sharply with the previous indifference, instantly bringing tears to Li Yunrui's eyes.
However, this only strengthened his resolve to kill Emperor Qing.
She didn't know if this was Emperor Qing's last act of leniency, or another form of humiliation.
But she would rather Emperor Qing end her life cleanly and decisively, just like he did with Ye Qingmei, than continue to live a wretched and miserable existence.
For her, Emperor Qing's leniency was an even crueler form of torture.
Because this means that in her silent contest with Ye Qingmei, she has forever lost to Ye Qingmei.
Li Yunrui's entire life was a comparison with Ye Qingmei.
Whether in his career or in love, he was always chasing after Ye Qingmei, but he could never reach her level.
Ye Qingmei established the Imperial Treasury and the Supervisory Council, building a successful career; while Li Yunrui preferred not to marry in order to take charge of the Imperial Treasury, and at the same time constantly tried to interfere in the Supervisory Council in an attempt to prove her abilities.
Ye Qingmei's involvement in court intrigues influenced the selection of the heir apparent; Li Yunrui, on the other hand, maneuvered between the two princes, secretly pushing forward the struggle for the throne.
Ye Qingmei was in love with Emperor Qing; Li Yunrui was also deeply in love with Emperor Qing.
Ye Qingmei borrowed a seed from Emperor Qing to give birth to Fan Xian; while Li Yunrui also borrowed a seed from Lin Ruofu to give birth to Lin Wan'er.
Ultimately, Ye Qingmei died as a result of Emperor Qing's schemes and became a part of history; however, Emperor Qing spared her life, leaving her to struggle in endless regret and pain.
Ye Qingmei became an irreplaceable presence in Emperor Qing's heart.
She was nothing more than a shadowy follower; even though she devoted all her heart and soul to the cause, she could only live in Ye Qingmei's shadow.
She can neither win nor escape; she can only be gradually swallowed up in this endless comparison.
She lost to Ye Qingmei forever, becoming a complete failure.
Li Yunrui's eyes were red, and tears rolled down her cheeks like beads from a broken string. At this moment, her sorrow and despair reached their peak.
Everyone shed tears, which was very pitiful.
However, Emperor Qing did not stop there. Instead, he turned and walked towards the door, finally stopping three steps away from the palace gate.
The moment he stood still, the palace gate was suddenly smashed open, and with a loud "bang," the heavy door panels bounced violently to both sides.
The white-haired Empress Dowager, supported by palace maids, stepped into the main hall.
"My son..." The Empress Dowager's voice carried a hint of anxiety and helplessness.
"Empress Dowager!" Emperor Qing reached out to greet her, and the palace maid supporting the Empress Dowager immediately stepped aside tactfully: "Empress Dowager, it's getting late, let me help you back to rest."
The Empress Dowager's gaze passed over Emperor Qing and landed on Li Yunrui, who was lying paralyzed on the ground inside. Seeing that she was still alive, she breathed a sigh of relief.
She didn't ask Emperor Qing why he had slaughtered the palace servants of the Eastern Palace and Guangxin Palace, nor did she inquire what mistakes the Crown Prince and Li Yunrui had made. She simply glanced at Emperor Qing with a complex expression, slowly nodded, her voice calm yet tinged with a hint of compromise:
"Yes, it's getting late, I really should rest."
……
"What exactly did you do to provoke such a furious reaction from His Majesty?"
The Empress, with tears still on her face, raised her hand to slap Li Chengqian, but he quickly grabbed her wrist.
At this moment, Li Chengqian was no longer weak in front of Emperor Qing. He said coldly, "Mother, at this moment, instead of asking me what I have done wrong, you should think about how to save the lives of my son and me."
Li Chengqian was the prince who most resembled Emperor Qing, except that he was very good at disguising himself and always appeared kind, benevolent, humble and polite in front of others.
When facing the Empress, he was even more respectful and filial, and never showed the slightest disrespect.
This was the first time the Empress had ever seen him so cold and ruthless, and she was momentarily stunned.
After a long while, a look of sorrow appeared on the Empress's face. She covered her mouth with her sleeve and sobbed, "If you don't tell me what happened, how am I supposed to know how to help you?"
The empress came from a prominent family and became the empress and mother of the nation upon entering the palace. However, before she could enjoy this glory, the destruction of her family completely crushed her.
The bloodshed that night terrified her and caused her extreme pain. These two enormous negative emotions almost drove her to the brink of insanity.
Her fear of Emperor Qing was so deep-seated that they had only met a handful of times in the past decade.
The Emperor's slap today, and the hint of murderous intent he inadvertently revealed, reminded the Empress of that night from years ago.
At this moment, she was filled with anxiety and unease, and her usual composure was nowhere to be seen.