Chapter 1: Death

then on, within a few years, everyone in the court knew the name Yan Huai and they feared him after two battles.Although the world still bears the surname Ji, it is now under the control of the Yan f...How long is a person's life

How long does it take to take a person's life

In just a few days, with just one bowl of medicine, my life was nearly taken…

Xie Shuning leaned listlessly against the window, closing her eyes against the cold wind of early spring.

In the third month of spring when peach blossoms are in full bloom, warmth can be felt. Yet, the wind that blows in our face still carries a bone-chilling coldness. A sudden and heavy cough wracks my body, each gasp for air almost costing me all my strength.

"Mother—"

Little Bao Lan, in her sapphire embroidered jacket, stumbled into the room, pushing the door open with a burst of energy. Her large, bright eyes were fixed on me as if she wanted to leap into my arms.

It's Brother Zhi!

Abruptly opening his eyes, he coughed violently and hurriedly stopped his son.

The maidservant Yue Bai and Lv Cong quickly flew forward.

"Mother, don't you like Zhen'er anymore Why don't you hug Zhen'er anymore" Xiao mumbled, his eyes welling up with tears.

Xie Shuning's heart was breaking.

He was seriously ill, and I was afraid he might infect me if I got too close. Although I felt reluctant to leave him, I could only bear it.

Between coughs, he would wheeze and struggle to straighten up.

Yue Bai advised him, "Young Master, Madam is still sick, so please listen to her."

Ke Zhenge has not been seen for a long time, who would listen to Yuebai's advice this time

"Little one..." she struggled to sit up, "You just have to be good...wait, wait until mother's illness is better..." Her voice trailed off, for how could her illness ever get better

The four-year-old child, with a face full of tears, finally managed to hold them back and declared in a loud voice, "Okay, good girl, Zhi'er. Mommy will also be a good girl and take her medicine. Once I'm better, we'll fly kites together!"

Xie Shuning leaned her head against the window, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

"Young Master, shall I lead you back" Lü Nóng bent over and asked in a soft voice.

Then, Brother Zhen agreed and walked out the door with Green's lead, turning his head back every three steps.

Xie Shuning didn't dare to blink, only staring at that small figure. As she looked and looked, her vision was blurred by tears. The child was still so young, how could she bear to let go Lin Yu zhi didn't want to live, but he couldn't die either.

At that time, Prince Yan Huai was in power. The Xie family had offended him, and now they were barely surviving. Lin Yuanzhi was cowardly and feared death. He worried that he would be implicated because he had married into the Xie family. Taking advantage of a cold, he poisoned his wife's medicine, hoping to kill her and thus be rid of his troubles.

Since the future for Zhen'er is still uncharted, how can she die

Lin Yuanzhi, in his arrogance, declared that only after his death could Zhen'er live a peaceful life. He fails to understand why

It's obvious that he can't be killed by poison, and even if you suffocate him with your rage it won't do any good.

Of course he was afraid of Yan Huai. He was terrified of him to the extreme.

After all, people were afraid of Yan Huai at this time. After the previous emperor passed away, General Yan Huai supported the fifteen-year-old fifth son to ascend the throne, changing the era name to Chengxing, who became Emperor Jia Ming. The emperor was inexperienced, so he was governed by Yan Huai. He is now only twenty-five years old, young in age, but his methods are cruel and ruthless, and he is fickle in his moods. Everyone who sees him avoids him.

It is said that he did not reside in Kyoto for many years, until the age of thirteen when his father, Yan Jing, fell seriously ill. He returned from abroad for the sake of his succession. Within three days of his father's death, he married his stepmother and sent his younger half-brother to the north. A few years later, his stepmother Wan discovered her brother was back in Beijing, but he had him executed by ordering him to commit suicide with a white silk scarf. The following year, he was promoted to the commander of the Jinyiwei, punishing his younger brother. Another year later, he was appointed as the Left General of the Zhongjun Dutufu at an age before he reached adulthood, responsible for overseeing the garrison troops in Beijing. At the age of twenty-two, he ruthlessly absorbed both the East and West factories.

From then on, within a few years, everyone in the court knew the name Yan Huai and they feared him after two battles.

Although the world still bears the surname Ji, it is now under the control of the Yan family. Even within the imperial palace, he behaves as if he owns the place, showing no restraint or hesitation.

Everyone avoids him. Lin Yuandao is just a fallen marquis, someone you can't even avoid running into. Besides, the Lin family now has Mrs. Wen, so he wants to do everything he can to cut ties with the Xie family – it's only natural.

But, his coldness still chilled his heart and teeth.

If he didn't care about face, he would probably just barge in with a knife and kill him.

A faint scent of coppery sweetness filled the air, and the snow-white handkerchief was stained with patches of crimson. Xie Shuning vomited, ignoring the maid's panicked state, tossing aside the handkerchief and falling into a deep sleep, her face pale. After an unknown amount of time, she woke up from her slumber in a cold sweat, clutching the brocade quilt as she gasped, "Where is Young Master"

The maidservant, Lü Nong, was adding incense to the gilded cloisonné incense burner when she heard this and was startled. "Young Master won't return to his quarters," she said, "He has taken people to the garden."

Xie Shuning thought of the dream she had just had, her heart was numb, gritted her teeth and said: "Go find it! Send Young Master back to his room!"

Before she could speak again, she noticed Green Cong’s hand tremble as she held the silver spoon. Her heart skipped a beat. Just as she was about to say something, Zhou Shi, Mother of Qin'er, sounded from outside the door, “Madam, it’s not good—”

Hurry and have someone bring him in.

As soon as she entered, Zhou's face was pale with shock. "Thud," she knelt down before him, crying, "The Young Master drowned..."

The few short words struck Xie Shuning's ears like thunder, causing her to startle. She cried out, "Yue Bai!" "Help me!" Yue Bai, worried for his mother, but also shaken by her words, immediately took a thick cloak and draped it over her. Lü Cong, however, rushed to stop her.

Xie Shuning looked coldly: "It's really that the young master doesn't want to return to the house" She coughed twice, gritting her teeth to the point of almost being ferocious.

Lǜnóng trembled, then loosened her grip.

When Zhou saw this, she burst into tears and rushed forward: "Madam... I deserve to die a thousand deaths..."

Xie Shuning stood in silence, not even glancing at anyone.

Weakened and exhausted, he leaned heavily on Yue Bai as he walked. Even taking a breath felt difficult, let alone the energy to argue with Zhou.

Though the residual poison has not yet been eliminated, his illness has persisted for a long time. Even being able to walk and speak is already difficult.

However, at this moment, thinking of Zhener, her steps grew faster and faster, she ran like the wind, her cloak trailed behind her, her hair flying in the wind, her shoes almost coming off.

A cold wind, like a sharp knife, pierced into his eyes, making him forget to breathe. Suddenly, he bumped headfirst into a cold chest.

"Chin-er has gone."

The voice from above was extremely cold, and the hands clutching his shoulders were also icy.

Instinctively, he slapped out: "Let go!"

Lin Yuan held onto the slender shoulder tightly, his voice filled with pain and frustration: "Do you know that Xue Luo lost her child after falling into the water trying to save Zhen'er!"

Will Wen Xue Luo save Zhen Er

What a joke!

Xie Shuning stared up at Lin Yuanzhi's handsome face with wide eyes. She wanted to laugh, but all that came out was a tired sob. "Even a tiger doesn't eat its own child," she choked out, "Lord Hou, you really have taken in a good concubine... Let go of me. I want to see Zhener."

"You—" Lin Yuanshen loosened his hands slightly, "Don't you understand what I'm saying"

Xie Shuning lowered her eyes and brushed his hand away without even a slight tremor. "You're afraid that the Xie family will drag you down, yet how come you're not afraid of being implicated by Wen Xueluo"

Wen Xueluo's family was once very glorious. When she was only two years old, she was betrothed to Yan Huai, the son of a Duke. Although the two never ended up together, everyone knows that Yan Huai's things can only be discarded and cannot be picked up by others.

Lin Yuan went too far and provoked the ire of others.

He knew, but only came to blame Deng Wenxueluo for not being generous enough.

"Xie Shuning!" He was indeed annoyed.

Xie Shuning turned her head and walked away, walking so fast that when she reached Qin'er's room and heard the cries of the maidservants, her feet suddenly stopped.

He seemed so familiar... I thought I had just seen him before...

Push open the door and walk in, you see Qin'er, thin and small, curled up in a brocade quilt, like a flower embroidered on top, pale without a trace.

My heart felt like it was being held in an invisible hand, the pain so intense that I could barely stand.

Lin Yuandzhi rushed into the room, reaching for him. For the first time, she acted like a shrew and started fighting with him.

Someone outside was shouting, "Auntie, you can't go in—"

But no one dared to truly stop Wen Xue Luo. Xie Shu Ning vomited out a mouthful of blood, and when she collapsed beside Chen'er, someone had already rushed in and knelt down: "It's all my fault, I wasn't able to pull the young master in time..."

"How is this your fault!" Lin Yuan hurriedly came to help.

Wen Xue Luo shook her head, refusing to get up, crying with tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in the rain. The red plum blossom on her clothes was stained with a dark crimson from her tears. Lin Yuanzhi felt his heart ache seeing this. He turned his head and glared at Xie Shuning: "How long will you kneel before you give up You know in your heart that Zhen'er is troubled, how could I be well Xue Luo even lost her child trying to save Zhen'er, why are you being so cruel"

"Lady, you killed me... it's all my fault... it's my fault..." Wen Xue Luo wept bitterly, kneeling at her feet, her voice weak and pitiful. Her demeanor was heartbreaking, but secretly, she held onto Xie Shuning's hand in an unseen corner, her long fingernails like water lilies, piercing deeply into Xie Shuning's flesh: "Let me atone for the Prince..."

"Bring Lady Wen back!" Lin Yuanzhi frowned and shouted towards the door.

At that spark of lightning, Wen Xue Luo suddenly lifted a tear-stained face. Her eyes, like those of a venomous snake, were locked on him. With lips barely parted, she spoke in a voice as low as a whisper: "I knew long ago that my child wouldn't survive. Now using it to save your son... it's a fair price."

Xie Shuning was struck dumb with shock, her heart aching fiercely. Tears streamed down her face, soaking straight onto Wen Xueluo's clothes.

Wen Xue Luo instinctively wanted to dodge, but Zi was indeed weak, moving slowly.

Xie Shuning, despite being frail, suddenly unleashed a terrifying strength. With one hand, he covered Wen Xue Luo's mouth, and with the other, he pulled a hairpin from her hair, plunging it into her throat with all his might.

Wen Xue Luo let out a muffled grunt, struggling to move.

However, Xie Shuning gripped it so tightly that her knuckles turned white, stopping it from escaping.

When Lin Yuanzhi turned back, he saw Wen Xue Luo kneeling by Xie Shuning's side, looking pitiful. He immediately felt rage rising in his chest and was about to speak when Xie Shuning softly called out his name, using his given name.

He thought he had misheard. He followed the sound and saw her waving at him. He was taken aback, hesitated for a moment, then walked forward cautiously. He first looked down at Wen Xue Luo and asked in a low voice, "Have you figured it out"

"Yeah, it's obvious..." Xie Shuning murmured softly, "I'm cold, hug me..."

He looked up, confused and impatient, but still bent down and hugged her. Wen Xueluo was still lying there. He became suspicious and just as he was about to let go of Xie Shuning, a sharp pain suddenly came to his chest.

He lowered his head, gazing at the ground. His gaze was fixed on a hairpin he wore in his hair.

That was Xie Shuning's dowry.

……

This day was a springtime day in the second year of Emperor Jia Ming's reign.

The weather was fine, with a gentle spring breeze.ly unleashed a terrifying strength. With one hand, he covered Wen Xue Luo's mouth, and with the other, he pulled a hairpin from her hair, plunging it into her throat with all his might.Wen Xue Luo let...