Chapter 281
**Chapter 279: The Fall of the Dan Tai Family**
Li Yuanjing lowered his head and placed a kiss on Shen Wei's hair tips. Once the kingdom was stable and the prince had grown, he would take Shen Wei far away from the intrigues of the court, allowing them to enjoy a peaceful and leisurely life in retirement.
After a while, the exhausted Shen Wei finally fell asleep. Li Yuanjing held her close and gradually drifted off as well.
...
Dantai Yinxue spent the night wide awake, sitting at her desk as the candles burned down, the dawn light gradually brightening outside.
Morning had arrived.
She hadn’t closed her eyes all night.
The palace maid, Xiaomeng, brought in some plain porridge and side dishes, her heart aching as she said, “My lady, please eat something before going back to bed for a while.”
Dantai Yinxue shook her head, her delicate and ethereal face now pale. She gazed at the clusters of chrysanthemums blooming in the morning light outside the courtyard and suddenly said with a hint of self-mockery, “The Empress’s words can’t threaten me.”
Xiaomeng looked surprised.
Dantai Yinxue smiled faintly, “I’m just a bit unwilling... jealous of Chen Fei.”
Before entering the palace, Dantai Yinxue’s beauty was renowned throughout Yanjing. She was skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, possessing both talent and looks, with countless noble suitors vying for her affection.
She had lofty ambitions, wishing to enter the palace as a favored consort. But after entering, she found not only was she denied the Emperor’s affection, but she couldn’t even step out of the small Huayang Palace.
Her pride in her talents and beauty was rendered insignificant in a harem filled with stunning women.
“Xiaomeng, do you know? Lately, I keep thinking about Chen Fei and the Emperor,” Dantai Yinxue murmured. “I remember that night under the moonlight when they strolled in the Imperial Garden. Chen Fei spoke, and the Emperor listened intently, the lofty ruler patiently hearing every word from her lips... They seemed like an ordinary loving couple.”
“At that moment, I realized Chen Fei was different from us noble ladies. She wasn’t the most beautiful, nor the most talented, yet she could reach the Emperor’s heart... Men’s hearts are truly strange.”
Perhaps out of jealousy, or perhaps a deep-seated unwillingness, Dantai Yinxue wanted to drag Chen Fei down into the mire.
Xiaomeng comforted her, “My lady, men are never faithful. Chen Fei may be favored for a time, but that doesn’t mean she’ll be favored forever.”
Dantai Yinxue shook her head in self-mockery, “Perhaps, miracles do happen...”
As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of shuffling footsteps came from outside Huayang Palace. Eunuch Deshun entered, holding a decree, accompanied by four young eunuchs.
Dantai Yinxue’s heart sank, a sudden bad premonition washing over her. She stepped outside with Xiaomeng and knelt on the ground to receive the decree.
“By the Emperor’s command: The snow consort of Huayang Palace, with malicious intent, has plotted against the royal consort... She is to be cast into the cold palace, never to emerge.”
Dantai Yinxue lowered her head, each word from Eunuch Deshun piercing her ears like needles.
She was to be cast into the cold palace.
Being sent to the cold palace was merely a pretext; Dantai Yinxue knew that after entering, all that awaited her was white silk and poison.
A sense of relief and relaxation washed over her. Numbly, she accepted the decree and, glancing at the flourishing autumn chrysanthemums in the courtyard, she tilted her head to admire them for a moment before returning inside to gather her belongings.
As the day brightened completely, Dantai Yinxue left Huayang Palace under the watchful eyes of the eunuchs.
Lan Pin had already been awakened; she stared blankly at Dantai Yinxue’s departing figure. Clenching her handkerchief, she should have felt glee at the news of the detested snow consort being sent to the cold palace.
But for some reason, a sense of shared sorrow flickered in her heart.
...
With the issuance of the decree, the imperial guards moved swiftly, and the once-prosperous Dantai residence in Yanjing was raided.
All the masters and young lords were thrown into the dungeons, subjected to severe interrogations by the Ministry of Justice. Those found guilty faced execution, while others were exiled. Hundreds of servants were detained and sold off.
In a single day, the deep-rooted Dantai family was toppled; it was said that over three million taels of silver, along with countless treasures, were seized and sent to the imperial treasury.
The commotion from the Dantai family’s downfall lasted for half a month before the dust finally began to settle.
...
In the cold palace.
Rats scurried freely across the floor, the crumbling walls could not withstand the autumn winds and collapsed, while wild grass and wild chrysanthemums thrived in the cold palace.
Dantai Yinxue lay alone on a rickety bed, covered with a thin blanket, gravely ill.
In her daze, she heard the creaking of the wooden door. Confused, she lifted her head against the blinding light and saw a slender figure.
It was Cailian.
Cailian held a tray, on which lay white silk, poison, and a dagger.
Dantai Yinxue struggled to sit up.
Cailian’s expression was indifferent. “Thanks to you, Snow Consort, my grandmother was so frightened that she passed away three days ago.”
Dantai Yinxue clutched her chest, letting out a harsh laugh, “Good riddance! You deserve it, you wretched maid!”
Cailian set down the tray and slowly continued, “I came today not only to send you on your way but also to deliver some good news. Your father, far away in Yanzhou, has been sentenced to death for corruption and for taking lives.”
“Your mother and brother have been implicated and imprisoned; your brother was bitten to death by rats in his cell. Your mother is still alive but has been sold into slavery for life. I begged Chen Fei to allow me to personally send you off.”
Dantai Yinxue erupted into a fit of violent coughs, laughing maniacally between them.
Cailian poured the poison down her throat.
After a while, Cailian left the cold palace.
At the entrance of the cold palace, Caiping approached with concern, saying, “Sister Cailian, the lady asked you to rest for three days. I’ll take care of your duties during this time.”
Cailian lowered her head, tears streaming down her face.
Caiping couldn’t bear to see Cailian cry and hurriedly wiped her tears, comforting her, “Don’t cry, dear sister. You’re not alone; I consider you my real sister. We’ll support each other from now on.”
Cailian closed her eyes and nodded deeply.
...
In Kun Ning Palace.
The autumn wind howled, and the courtyard had not been cleaned for a long time, with sycamore leaves covering the ground. Weeds thrived, and wild chrysanthemums bloomed in clusters.
An old matron dozed at the threshold of the Buddhist hall, sleeping soundly until she was suddenly kicked awake. Irritated, she rubbed her eyes and saw the unusually emaciated Empress.
The old matron grumbled, “It’s not yet time for lunch, Your Majesty. Please bear with it a little longer.”
The Empress, dressed in a deep gray autumn gown, wore no hairpins or ornaments, and her dark hair was streaked with visible white strands, making her appear as old as a woman in her fifties or sixties. Clutching her prayer beads, she asked, “Where is Snow Consort?”
The old matron replied, “Snow Consort has been sent to the cold palace; she left yesterday.”
The Empress closed her eyes.
Useless fool, she deserves to die.
The Empress asked again, “What about my family?”
The old matron rubbed her ears and replied sarcastically, “Raided, imprisoned, exiled, and sentenced to death in the autumn. Your entire direct line has been wiped out. You’re lucky, Your Majesty; you still have your life.”
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