Chapter 32: You Actually Dare to Threaten Us!
"Prince, Suluan's every word was true. It was just that time wasn't on our side and we missed each other. The one in Suluan's heart has always been Prince!" Yao Suluan's tearstained face was like the sight of raindrops on a pear blossom.
"There is a good chance right now. This prince has escaped from the prison. We can leave together!" Ye Liyu pulled Yao Suluan and made to walk outside, but Yao Suluan abruptly shook him off.
"You're not willing?" Ye Liyu looked towards Yao Suluan coldly. His heart shattered into splinters of ice.
"No… Suluan is willing to go with Prince, but…" Yao Suluan was flustered. For a moment she couldn't come up with anything to say.
"But you can't bear to part with the wealth and glory here. You can't bear to part with that dazzling throne of the empress. Yao Mowan was right, this was a blessing in disguise. If it hadn't been for this incident, this prince would've continued to be stupid and allowed you to manipulate me!" Ye Liyu's feelings died. He had asked himself to be given the post of defending Secluded Province and squandered seven entire years for the sake of a ruthless scheming woman like this! It hadn't been worth it! It really wasn't worth it!
"It's Yao Mowan again! If it weren't for her, how could we have fallen to this point? Did Prince's head become muddled after taking a trip to the prison!?" The fury in Yao Suluan's heart overflowed again. She hated Yao Mowan to the point that she even dreamed about skinning her alive.
"It's that this prince's head has cleared. Yao Suluan, from now on, this prince has no further relationship with you!" Ye Liyu turned around descively to leave, but Yao Suluan blocked his way.
"Prince… His Majesty… Did he say anything about how he planned to deal with Suluan?" Yao Suluan looked towards Ye Liyu anxiously.
Ye Liyu stood there silently for a long while before he finally spoke.
"This prince has already taken the blame for everything in front of Imperial Older Brother and asked him not to make things difficult for you, but you probably understand how Imperial Older Brother is like better than this prince. Suluan, you should fend for yourself." After saying this, he left the palace without hesitation.
Yao Suluan watched as Ye Liyu left and her gaze gradually dimmed. She understood Ye Hongyi's personality too well. If it weren't for that, she wouldn't have made sure to keep a card hidden! Yao Mowan, you want to crush this consort? It won't be that easy!
In Guan Osprey Palace, Yin Xue repeated the conversation between Ye Liyu and Yao Suluan to Yao Mowan.
"Master, when this subordinate came back, Ye Liyu had already left the imperial city. Should we send someone to follow him?" asked Yin Xue.
"Although Ye Liyu's a little domineering, his crimes aren't severe enough to call for his death. Since he's left, then let's just leave it at that. This consort is just worried that after all of this happened, Ye Hongyi would target Junqing again. Tell Liu Sha to protect the esteemed prince carefully. If something happens, it's better to expose his presence if it could guarantee Ye Junqing's safety." Yao Mowan's gaze was solemn and filled with unconcealable worry. If her guess wasn't wrong, Ye Hongyi's suspicions had probably turned towards Ye Junqing now. Right now, she was just waiting for Ye Hongyi to make a move so that she could counter it.
By noon the next day, news of Ye Liyu and Yao Suluan's rendezvous in the palace had already spread through the entire palace. All sorts of rumors spilled out of the palace. When Ye Liyu was executed at noon, it was taken to be the imperial court silently confirming this scandal.
Later that day, An Bingshan happily carried a cup of poisoned wine, a meter of white silk, and a dagger into Pure Flower Palace.
"By His Majesty's orders!" declared An Bingshan. He narrowed his eyes with schadenfraude as he looked towards Yao Suluan who was bowing in front of him.
"This subject wife Yao Suluan receive the decree."
"His Majesty said that Consort Li can choose one of these three." An Bingshan placed the tray on the table, then flicked his horsetail whisk back as he said this. Yao Suluan slowly got up. As she looked at the things in the tray, her eyes turned cold.
"Oh, almost forgot to explain them to Your Highness. Your Highness can choose the poisoned wine or the dagger to make your mouth calm down. Of course, if Your Highness feels that not being able to speak is no different from being dead, you can choose to use the white silk to commit suicide. This eunuch will just give a small recommendation. A straightforward death still can't compare to a carefree life. If it was this eunuch, this eunuch would choose the poisoned wine. It's not very painful. After all, using the dagger to cut out the tongue is too bloody and the sensation's not anything pleasant either." An Bingshan looked towards Yao Suluan with a slight smile as he gave this detailed explanation.
"This consort wishes to see His Majesty!" said Yao Suluan coldly, but An Bingshan just laughed.
"His Majesty is too busy to see you right now. You should hurry up. This eunuch still has a lot of other things to do!" urged An Bingshan.
"This consort has something very important to tell His Majesty, it regards the empress Yao Moxin. If His Majesty ends up in an awkward position because of you, this consort can promise that your end will definitely be no better than this consort's!" warned Yao Suluan coldly. The cold light in her eyes made An Bingshan hesitate. After a long moment, An Bingshan decided not to take this risk and sent people to report Yao Suluan's words to Ye Hongyi.
After about the time for an incense stick to finish burning, Ye Hongyi appeared in the main hall of Pure Flowers Palace. Yao Suluan couldn't recall when was the last time that Ye Hongyi had appeared in her palace.
"Your Majesty, Her Highness Consort Li…" Just as An Bingshan was about to speak, Ye Hongyi cut him off.
"Everyone, leave! An Bingshan, guard the doors. Without our decree, no one is to be allowed in!" Ye Hongyi's voice was low and deafening like that of a heavy bell. An Bingshan knew that Yao Suluan's words had definitely angered the dragon countanence, so he immediately withdrew with the younger eunuches. When the city gates caught on fire, the fish in the moat also suffered. He had no desire to be implicated in this matter.
The moment the palace doors closed, Ye Hongyi stormed over and grabbed Yao Suluan by her collar to shove her towards the wall.
"Yao Suluan! You actually dared to threaten us!" Ye Hongyi's eyes were extremely dark as he glowered at Yao Suluan.
"This subject wife doesn't dare. This subject wife just wanted to live." Since Yao Suluan had already laid her cards of the table, she didn't bother to beat around the bush anymore. Her eyes were like still water as she looked at Ye Hongyi.
"Who knows about what happened with Yao Moxin?" Ye Hongyi was shocked by how unpreturbed Yao Suluan was. He silently remarked that he had underestimated this woman! If he had known earlier, he would've gotten rid of her along with Yao Moxin!
"Currently, only Your Majesty and Suluan knows, but Suluan had prepared a fail-safe. Even if Suluan becomes a mute, the fact that Your Majesty had killed the empress and your own child will spread through great Chu. Everyone will know." Yao Suluan's lips curved. There was anger in Ye Hongyi's eyes, but she could also see fear. This fear will allow her to live.
"Yao Suluan! If you dare to spread nonsense, we will destroy Yao Residence and have all nine generations of your family wiped out!" Ye Hongyi's grip on Yao Suluan's collar tightened, causing Yao Suluan to suffrocate.
"Alright! Then Suluan won't even have to go through the trouble of getting rid of that heartless Yao Zhenting and that Yao Mowan who deserves to die by a thousand cuts! It'd be perfect! Your Majesty should give the decree right now! Suluan can't wait!" Yao Suluan's face was turning purple from lack of air, but her voice was light.
"Yao Suluan! You're truly malicious!" Ye Hongyi gritted his teeth as he tightened his fingers around Yao Suluan's throat. He really wanted to just snap Yao Suluan's neck right now! However, at the last moment, he just threw her to the ground. He couldn't take this risk. If what happened with Yao Moxin got out, the people with intentions would definitely make use of this information to destablize his country!
"Cough cough… Suluan's malicious? Your Majesty shouldn't forget who it was that told Suluan to spread rumors that Yao Moxin's achievements are greater than that of the emperor's which showed that she, as a woman, was usurping authority! Who was it that placed the evidence in Suluan's hands and had Suluan frame a hero for the crime of planning a revolt? And Water Ripple Pavilion, who was it that told Suluan to find the so-called witness? Ye Hongyi, if it's a discussion about maliciousness, Suluan truly can't compare to you!" Yao Suluan gasped hard for air as she revealed everything that had happened back then.
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Credits: Translated by Chiyomira
[Chiyomira's Corner]
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