Chapter 305
**Chapter 303: The Past of the Xie Family**
Shen Wei sighed as she finished her tale. "The Wu family is truly pitiful. She was poisoned during her early pregnancy, leading to multiple miscarriages and severe health deterioration. Now, she's been poisoned again and won't live past three months... If Lan Pin knew the truth, she would be heartbroken."
Li Yuanjing was indifferent to whether Wu was pitiful or not. He had been plotting to suppress the Xie family, gradually stripping away their power. The evidence of the Xie family's corruption and oppression of the common people had long been uncovered by the Tiger Guards, piling up like a mountain.
What he lacked was a spark to ignite the downfall of the Xie family.
After hearing Shen Wei's gossip, Li Yuanjing immediately found the key to breaking the deadlock. He wrapped his arm around Shen Wei's slender waist, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Poisoning the matriarch is a crime that deserves punishment. I will send the Ministry of Justice to investigate tomorrow and ensure Wu receives justice."
Shen Wei quickly flattered him, "Your Majesty is wise."
---
In the depths of Huayang Palace that night.
Crash—
A vase shattered on the floor, scattering shards everywhere. Lan Pin sat on the ground, clutching her mother's letter, weeping inconsolably.
"Mother..."
"Why... why is the truth like this..."
In the letter, Wu's words dripped with sorrow, recounting how she had been deceived by her husband.
**More than twenty years ago, the eldest daughter of the Xie family was crowned empress. The Xie family basked in glory, poised for even greater heights. But no one expected Empress Xie to suddenly sever ties with her family, even joining forces with the late emperor to suppress them.
The young head of the Xie family, Xie Ji, fell in love with a wine seller named Zhao. They secretly pledged their lives to each other. However, under family pressure, Xie Ji was forced to marry the noblewoman Wu.
On the day of their wedding, Zhao was drunk at the tavern. In her inebriated state, she was taken by a lecherous patron and subjected to unspeakable acts.
Devastated, Zhao attempted to take her own life. When Xie Ji learned of this, he was both heartbroken and furious, blaming all the wrongdoing on Wu.
He pretended to care for Wu, but in reality, he despised her. He even refused to consummate their marriage, using drugs to keep Wu unconscious while sending a servant to her bed instead.
After Wu became pregnant, Xie Ji secretly administered miscarriage-inducing drugs, causing her to lose child after child. Lan Pin, Xie Fanglan, was born from Wu's unknowing union with a servant.
Wu's health deteriorated, leaving her unable to bear sons. Under Xie Ji's manipulation, Zhao was elevated to concubine.
For years, Xie Ji feigned indifference towards Zhao, while they secretly met and swore eternal love.
By the time Wu learned the truth, she was already gravely ill.**
In the room, Lan Pin cried out in despair, her fingers cut by the sharp shards, blood pooling around her.
The maid, Tong'er, also teared up, kneeling on the ground. "My lady, please don't be sad... Heaven has eyes; evil will eventually be punished."
Lan Pin shook her head in agony. "Tong'er... I... I am the daughter of a servant. My mother came from a noble background, yet she suffered such humiliation... How could my father be so cruel? How could there be such disgusting men in this world..."
Lan Pin closed her eyes. She remembered her father's kind smile from her childhood, the gentle embrace of Aunt Zhao. Her father, Xie Ji, had treated her so well, as if he wanted to present her with the best of everything in the world.
He always said, "Fanglan, you are your father's most cherished daughter, the hope of the Xie family. When you grow up, you will surely become a revered empress."
He had played his role too well.
Who would have thought that his kindness was merely a hypocritical facade? Over the years, Xie Ji instilled in Xie Fanglan the notion of "family above all," ultimately tossing her into the palace as a stepping stone for Xie Fanghua.
"What should I do, Tong'er?" Lan Pin slumped to the ground, letting out a desperate wail.
She saw no hope; despair and pain filled her insides, causing tears to stream down her face.
---
The next day, at the Xie residence in Yanjing.
In the early morning, the most beautiful autumn chrysanthemums in the courtyard were carefully picked by the maids and placed in a tray, sent to the boudoir of the second young lady, Xie Fanghua.
Before the silver mirror, Aunt Zhao smiled gently, picking up a pale purple chrysanthemum and pinning it in Xie Fanghua's dark hair.
"Beautiful! My daughter is truly lovely," Aunt Zhao beamed with satisfaction. She told Xie Fanghua, "When your father returns to the capital in two days, I will discuss with him the right moment to send you into the palace."
Xie Fanghua's lips curled into a smile. "Mother, don't worry. I will surely win the Emperor's heart."
She resembled the favored Consort Chen, sharing similar interests. The Emperor would surely take a liking to her.
Xie Fanghua continued, "Mother, I heard that Consort Chen sent a physician to check on Wu yesterday. I'm worried that the physician might uncover something."
Aunt Zhao replied, "The two physicians sent by Consort Chen are useless. One is old and senile, easily bribed with a thousand taels of silver. The other is young and inexperienced; I watched him fumble while checking Wu's pulse. Clearly, he is just a name-dropper with no real skill."
With two incompetent physicians, nothing would be discovered.
Xie Fanghua finally felt relieved.
Aunt Zhao continued to dress her daughter, as if adorning a prized artwork. Just then, a young maid rushed in, breathless. "Madam! It's bad! It's really bad!"
Aunt Zhao's hand slipped, causing Xie Fanghua's eyebrows to be drawn unevenly.
"What’s all the fuss about? This is no way to behave," Aunt Zhao scolded.
The maid replied, "The Empress Dowager's decree has arrived!"
Aunt Zhao froze momentarily. The Empress Dowager?
It was well-known that although the current Empress Dowager hailed from the Xie family, she had never been on good terms with them. Over the years, she had never offered the Xie family any support.
A bad premonition crept into Aunt Zhao's mind as she hurried out to greet the decree.
The messenger was Mama Qian, the most senior maid by the Empress Dowager's side. Behind her was a palanquin, with four eunuchs waiting beside it.
"Mama Qian, I apologize for not welcoming you properly. What is the Empress Dowager's command?" Aunt Zhao spoke respectfully.
Mama Qian replied coldly, "The Empress Dowager has learned of Wu's serious illness and is very concerned. She has sent me with a decree to bring Wu into the palace for treatment."
Aunt Zhao's breath caught in her throat.
Bring Wu into the palace?
Aunt Zhao quickly protested, "Mama Qian, my sister is too ill to move; she simply cannot go to the palace—"
"How dare you, a mere concubine, defy the decree?" Mama Qian's gaze was sharp as a knife, showing no regard for a concubine's status.
Mama Qian strode into the Xie residence, leading the palace attendants to fetch Wu.
Aunt Zhao clenched her handkerchief tightly.
She despised Mama Qian's condescending gaze—one that looked down upon her as if she were less than human.
Years ago, when Aunt Zhao sold wine at the tavern, the wealthy patrons who indulged in drink had looked at her with the same disdainful, mocking eyes.
As if she were an ant.
Aunt Zhao refused to be belittled.
She had worked hard to become a respected concubine of the Xie family, and now she was on the verge of rising to greatness. Yet today, a single cold glance from Mama Qian shattered the self-esteem she had built over the years.
Mama Qian was efficient, quickly having the unconscious Wu carried into the palanquin and taken into the palace.
"Madam, what should we do?" the young maid asked anxiously.
Aunt Zhao took a deep breath, gazing at the yellowing leaves of the parasol tree at the entrance of the Xie residence, and calmly said, "Write a letter to the master immediately. Something is about to happen."
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