The snow fell furiously, piling thick layers on the eaves of the cold palace.
"Squeak--"
The eunuch pushed open the door, looking at Yun Feng who was turned into a "human swine" and stuffed into a jar with disdained eyes. Covering his nose to avoid the overwhelming stench, he waved towards the back, "Everyone, get a move on. The Empress had made clear that we cannot delay!”
A young eunuch glances at the 'human swine', murmuring, "This is too tragic..."
He hadn't even finished speaking when the older eunuch interrupted, scolding, "If you don't want to die, shut up!"
Awakening covered in a bucket of cold water, Yun Feng looked at the mocking eunuch who was pleased with her awakening. “You awoke just in time for the coronation ceremony of the Empress!”
The wind wailed, as sharp as a knife in the background.
Yun Feng weakly opened her eyes.
Not far away, her step-sister, Yun Qing, dressed in phoenix coronet and red wedding robe, was stepping slowly towards the man dressed in traditional wedding attire, looking as heavenly as a deity. Yun Qing gave a shy smile, softly leaning into the man's embrace, "Brother Heng, from now on, I am your Empress."
Yuwen Heng held Yun Qing's hand and replied affectionately, "I am the Emperor; you are the Empress."
“Whimper——”
Yun Feng's shoulders shuddered violently. She opened and closed her mouth, but no sound came out, and she could do nothing but whimper uncontrollably.
What an "I am the Emperor; you are the Empress"!
A crimson hue stained her eyes, bringing memories of whispers beside the bed and intimate moments.
Her gritted teeth, creaked much like the emptiness in Yun Feng's heart.
Late at night, within the cold palace.
Having just undergone the enthronement ceremony, Yun Qing appeared here, gazing at the pitiful state of Yun Feng. She couldn't help but stifle a laugh, feeling immensely satisfied, "Sister, you should congratulate me today as well. At last, I have ascended to the throne of the empress, while you, you're nothing more than a lamb being led to slaughter!"
Yun Feng stared at Yun Qing resentfully, the words sticking in her throat, unable to be uttered.
"Why aren't you speaking, sister?" Yun Qing seemed to recall something, laughing manically, "Oh, I forgot that you've had your tongue removed and can't talk... The eldest legitimate daughter of the Yun Family has actually fallen onto such straits, it's quite lamentable. Sister, all of this is because you're too foolish, and you deserved to be used!"
Dressed in her gorgeous royal attire, Yun Qing maliciously raised Yun Feng's chin, "Yun Feng, the entire family of Jiang Clan - 234 people in total - were ordered by Brother Heng to be executed, including your infant nephew."
The Jiang Clan was Yun Feng's maternal family.
She'd heard the terrible news three days ago, all these are the consequences of her misplaced trust in a man.
It's her fault! She was the one who brought ruin to her maternal family!
Yun Feng's face was so cold that it was almost numb with no traces of expression, only her eyes fixated on Yun Qing, as though intending to tear her apart.
"There's no need to look at me like that. Brother Heng's loved one was always me. He married you merely to make use of the Jiang Clan." Yun Qing said with a warm smile, her tone, however, was devastatingly cruel, "Bring the person in, let my dear sister have a good look!"
Once the small child was brought in, Yun Feng's pupils contracted sharply, a look of shock finally spread across her emotionless face.
The child was only six years old, just stepped into the room and was brutally shoved to the ground. His body shivering, trying to crawl his way towards Yun Feng with feet dyed in blood, it was apparent that they were broken. As he crawled to Yun Feng's side with tear-filled eyes he exclaimed, "Mother, mother, Si has finally seen you!"
At this moment, Yun Feng showed no joy of a mother and child reunion. Instead, she looked towards Yun Qing in panic.
What was she up to!
"Mother, Si missed you so much." With no fear in his eyes when looking at the disfigured Yun Feng, Yuwen Si started to blow on her exposed wounds, his eyes were filled with affection, "Mother, don't hurt, Si will blow on it for you—"
Yun Feng choked back her sobs, urging Yuwen Si to escape as soon as possible.
How could he, a prince, end up in such a filthy place?
Yun Qing watched the sentimental scene between mother and son, clapping her hands: "How touching indeed. Dear sister, as your younger sister, I'll fulfill you and let you two stay together forever."
At this moment, the royal eunuch stepped forward to announce the royal decree in a cold, unfeeling voice.
"Depose Empress Yun, Depose Crown Prince Yuwen Si, for committing high treason. Two cups of poison wine as their punishment."
How could this be!
Si'er was Yuwen Heng's biological prince. Even the cruel tiger doesn't eat its cubs. And yet, he's coldly resolved to such a heartless decision.
Was she blind to think Yuwen Heng would be a good man to her? All these years, she meticulously planned for him, devotedly aiding his ascent to the throne, ungrudgingly and loyally given everything. And what did she receive in return? Massacre of her maternal relatives, she being disposed off, her conferred title of Empress taken away, and now, even her own son, Si'er was about to be executed.
She had even deluded herself until now that maybe he was just misguided.
Ridiculous. Her, Yun Feng, was indeed ridiculously naive in this lifetime.
Yun Feng's frail body trembled like a sieve, a broken, strained cry escaped from her throat with mad desperation: "You.. will all die a bad death!"
Upon hearing her curse, Yun Qing was taken aback, before she burst into laughter: "Rest assured, I will live a good life with brother Heng. As for you — come, proceed!"
The eunuch approached Yun Feng and Yuwen Si forcefully pried open their jaws, and mercilessly poured the poisoned wine in.
"Mother, if I could stay with you, Si'er won't be afraid." Yuwen Si held tightly onto Yun Feng's ragged body, corners of his mouth dripping with black blood, enduring the excruciating pain, "Si'er is not afraid of death, Si'er fears losing mother, fearful of never seeing her again."
Yun Feng set her gaze on Yuwen Si, her face reflecting gut-wrenching agony: My Si'er...
Yun Feng died with eyes wide open, a hint of regret and deep hatred filling them: "If there's a next life, I won't let anyone walk all over me! I will grind the people, who harm me, to dust and scatter their ashes!"
Yuwen Heng appeared at the door, disdainfully cast his gaze upon the disgusting figure on the ground, and tenderly held Yun Qing in his arms: "Aren't you afraid of getting your hands dirty by dealing with such matters yourself?"
Yun Qing weakly chuckled: "Heng, without witnessing her last breath myself, my heart would not be at ease."
The pair slowly fade into the distance, leaving a stark silence in the cold palace.
The old eunuch watched as the mother and son embraced. A brief look of pity flashed through his eyes before he sighed and lowered his head: "Quick, throw her into that dry well! And don't forget to seal off the well's cover!"
