Chapter 275: The Death of Ms. Yang II

Chapter 275: Chapter 275: The Death of Ms. Yang II

Upon stepping out of the palace, she saw the imposing figure of Xiao Yunfeng standing at the entrance, a row of palace guards behind him.

“Thinking of leaving?” Xiao Yunfeng said sinisterly.

It was all because of this woman’s restlessness that things had reached this point. With Xiao Ce gone, what support did he have left? As Emperor, he depended entirely on Xiao Ce. How long could he maintain his position without Xiao Ce strategizing for him? Moreover, Xiao Ce possessed the greatest martial prowess among the three of them—father and sons—and could even be considered the strongest in the Beijiang Kingdom. Those who coveted their position were most wary of Xiao Ce, the former Emperor, who possessed both courage and strategy.

Ms. Yang met Xiao Yunfeng’s bloodshot eyes. She shivered and quickly stepped back.

Xiao Yunfeng advanced a few steps, forcing Ms. Yang to retreat into Fengqi Palace.

Xiao Yunfeng waved everyone else away. He confronted Ms. Yang, backing her into the bedchamber until she collapsed on the floor.

This frenzied Xiao Yunfeng was too terrifying.

Ms. Yang trembled as she stared at him.

Xiao Yunfeng crouched down, his large hand shooting out to grip Ms. Yang’s neck. “It’s all your fault, you stupid woman!” he said viciously. “I brought you here to enjoy a life of comfort, and you damn well act so pretentious! Pretentious for what? Go to hell with me!”

Xiao Yunfeng tightened his grip.

“No… no…” Ms. Yang choked out, panicked, as she clawed at Xiao Yunfeng’s hand, barely managing to utter the denial.

“No? Then why do you act like a resentful shrew all day, even giving me the cold shoulder? If not for that, why would Mother have sought you out? Father, to stand up for you, argued with Mother, making me suffer! Now that Father’s gone, are you satisfied?”

Xiao Yunfeng’s killing intent intensified as he spoke.

Ms. Yang’s mind was in turmoil.

She didn’t understand why things had developed this way. She had tried to compromise and endure, yet it was all deemed her fault.

Ms. Yang struggled for breath, coughing laboriously. “COUGH… COUGH… COUGH…”

Watching her struggle, Xiao Yunfeng felt a grim satisfaction.

He said, “I’ve told you before, the only way out of this place is death. Perhaps if you die, all problems will be solved. With no more conflict, no more disputes, the realm will be at peace.”

“Our… son…” Ms. Yang glared at him, her voice rasping.

“Son?” Xiao Yunfeng said coldly. “He’s not yours alone. Once you’re dead, I’ll raise him better.

If he’s a son who won’t listen to me, what use is he? There are so many women in the Imperial Palace; I refuse to believe I can’t have a son more outstanding than Xiao Han.

”

“You… you’re… de… ranged…” Ms. Yang accused, pointing a trembling finger at Xiao Yunfeng. Unfortunately, his grip on her throat was so tight she could only force out a few broken syllables.

“Heh. Deranged? Perhaps I am,” Xiao Yunfeng said. Then, his eyes narrowed, and he tightened his grip. Ms. Yang’s eyes widened, and her flailing hands dropped limply.

When he felt the woman in his grasp go still, no longer breathing, Xiao Yunfeng collapsed to the ground. He cradled Ms. Yang’s lifeless body, hot tears streaming down his face.

Visions flashed through his mind: their wedding, their time as fugitives, the birth of Xiao Han, their days in Qinghe Village…

Deep down, he still cared deeply for Ms. Yang, but she…

His tears soaked his robes.

The warmth gradually faded from the body in his arms.

“Father! Mother!”

Xiao Han’s anguished cry shattered the silence of Fengqi Palace.

「The next day, a funeral carriage departed from the capital of Beijiang Kingdom, heading towards Qinghe County in Daqian.」

Onboard, besides the coachman, were Xiao Han and his younger brother. Neither brother looked back, their departure resolute.

Xiao Yunjing, having used his lightness skill to hasten his journey, arrived the next day.

Gu Qingli finally let her anxieties subside.

「The day after his arrival, Xiao Yunjing received a message by carrier pigeon. He was greatly shocked by its contents.」

“Li’er, look!” Xiao Yunjing rushed back into the room, handing the note to Gu Qingli.

“What is it?” Gu Qingli asked, noting Xiao Yunjing’s grave expression as she took the note and read it.

“This… How is this possible? Yunjing, is this news reliable?” Gu Qingli couldn’t believe what the note said.

“It can’t be wrong. The Secret Sect’s people never relay false information.” Xiao Yunjing’s heart grew heavy.

How could Ms. Yang possibly have died? She was only in her thirties. Besides, they had all consumed Li’er’s spiritual spring water and were in excellent health.

Gu Qingli patted the still-dazed Xiao Yunjing. “Did something happen in the Beijiang Imperial Palace? Quickly send some people from the Secret Sect to investigate. Sister-in-law wouldn’t have died without reason. Also, send someone to bring Xiao Han here.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll see to it immediately.” Xiao Yunjing snapped back to his senses and hurried out, tripping over the threshold as he left.

As soon as Xiao Yunjing left, Gu Qingli summoned Yun No. 20.

“Yun No. 20, how many days does it take to travel from the Beijiang Kingdom to our location?”

She needed to make preparations. If someone died, they wouldn’t bury her in the Beijiang Kingdom; if they were bringing her to Daqian, they would surely be returning to Qinghe Village.

Yun No. 20 considered for a moment before replying, “Approximately ten days.”

Given that it was snowing, ten days was a conservative estimate.

“Understood.” Gu Qingli dismissed Yun No. 20 with a wave of her hand and sat alone in the room, pondering how Ms. Yang could have died.

Ms. Yang had a cheerful disposition; she wouldn’t have committed suicide. The likelihood of her dying from illness was also slim, as they all possessed the medicinal pills she had given them. Could she have been assassinated? That didn’t seem right either. If she were assassinated, why would Xiao Han and his brother bring her body back to Daqian? Wouldn’t it be better to bury her in the Beijiang Kingdom? After all, they were royalty now. And it was the two brothers themselves bringing her back. Where were Mr. Xiao and Second Brother Xiao? Why weren’t those grown men escorting her?

Gu Qingli racked her brain but couldn’t fathom the reason. She decided to stop dwelling on it. After all, wouldn’t they find out once they arrived?

「Gu Qingli and her husband spent the next ten days in uneasy anticipation.」

「On the tenth day, at noon, two carriages entered the Xiao Family courtyard.」

“Third Uncle, Third Aunt.” As soon as they alighted from the carriage, Xiao Han and his younger brother knelt before Xiao Yunjing and Gu Qingli.

“Quick, get up.” Xiao Yunjing helped the two boys to their feet.

The two boys looked haggard, their eyes red, bloodshot, and swollen like walnuts.

Gu Qingli quickly had someone take the brothers to wash and freshen up, while Xiao Yunjing immediately began arranging Ms. Yang’s funeral.

Due to prior preparations, everything was quickly set in motion: erecting the mourning tent, preparing for the rites, selecting a burial site…

Gu Chang’an arrived with his sons and daughters-in-law to help with the arrangements…

Finally, when there was a lull in the evening, Gu Qingli asked Xiao Han what had happened.

Xiao Han took a deep breath. “Third Uncle, Third Aunt,” he began, “Mother was not happy in the Imperial Palace at all. She wanted to come back here. She said that although Qinghe Village is poor, everyone works hard, is kind, and lives happily…”

“Then, what happened to your mother?” Gu Qingli prompted gently.

“Father strangled her,” Xiao Han said, his voice flat. “He said it was all Mother’s fault, that she should have just dutifully played her role as Empress…”

Xiao Han had found out when he returned from his studies for lunch. He walked in to see Xiao Yunfeng cradling Ms. Yang, crying and muttering, repeatedly saying she was ungrateful and didn’t know what was good for her.

He had been terrified and bewildered.

He sat on the ground for a full half-hour before dazedly getting up and asking someone to notify his Second Uncle.

Only when Second Brother Xiao arrived at the palace to look after Xiao Yunfeng did Xiao Han call his younger brother. He had someone prepare Ms. Yang for burial, informed Second Brother Xiao of his intentions, and then, without even bidding farewell to Ms. Jiang, he took Ms. Yang’s coffin and departed the capital of Beijiang Kingdom.

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