The Daily Life of a Concubine

Chapter 88 - Execution

Zhao Jinrui truly did not dare to make this matter public, but wasn't he the one who had set the trap early on? This mother and son had fallen right into it. Prince Duan was certainly going to die; how could such a base-born bloodline be allowed to remain? It would tarnish the imperial bloodline.

"Not afraid," Zhao Jinrui admitted openly, "but that doesn't prevent me from sending you both to your deaths; I've already found excuses for you."

Indeed, this was also why he allowed Tan Xiang to return to the imperial city with his last breath. He wanted the world to know that everything stemmed from Prince Duan's ambition for the throne. As for Tan Xiang, he was guilty, but also had merit; it wasn't just the execution of nine clans—at the very least, three clans would be purged.

Who told the Tan family to be so powerful? By the time the next emperor ascended, no one could predict which surname would hold the throne.

Upon hearing his words, Empress Dowager said, "You, I have devoted my heart to praying for the Da Yue Dynasty for many years and have never managed the harem. What excuse do you have to make me die?"

"And Prince Duan? He has always trusted you as his imperial brother. All he did was under your command. What excuse do you have to execute him?"

Even at this point, the Empress Dowager still couldn't see the situation clearly. Zhao Jinrui felt somewhat weary. It was indeed hard to reason with fools.

"Is that so?" Zhao Jinrui didn't want to waste time with them. He had thought that after suffering for so many years, revenge would feel exhilarating, but seeing the mother and son in such a state, Zhao Jinrui did not feel true happiness; instead, he felt somewhat melancholic.

"Prince Duan conspired in Jiangnan; such a crime deserves the destruction of his family, doesn't it? Though he is nominally of the royal family, he has heirs. What do you say? How about I execute those people?"

Looking at the two on the ground, who were going insane, Zhao Jinrui no longer wished to say a word.

"I will leave you with intact corpses. Because Prince Duan conspired against the throne and harbors intentions of rebellion, I am mindful of your filial piety and allow you to go to the Dazhao Temple to pray for the country"

With every step, Zhao Jinrui chanted a sentence until he exited the main door, leaving behind two words that made the mother and son tremble, "Execute them."

The emperor's figure vanished.

"No, you cannot! I raised you for over twenty years; you cannot treat my son like this!" The Empress Dowager crawled crazily towards the door, but alas, the light at the entrance slowly closed.

Prince Duan on the ground was already too frightened to move. He never expected such an ending. Regret filled him. He shouldn't have listened to De Zhong, shouldn't have rebelled, and most importantly, shouldn't have coveted the throne.

Without keeping them waiting long, the dark guards dressed in eunuch attire entered with poison wine.

The Empress Dowager wanted to resist, but as a woman, how could she match the strength of the dark guards? She could only be force-fed the poisoned wine while filled with resentment.

Prince Duan was in a similar situation, except he did not resist. His hands and feet had been rendered useless; he could only watch as they fed him the poisoned wine. After drinking, he wore a look of relief. The only regret was perhaps that he couldn't protect his offspring.

Zhao Jinrui left the Ci'an Palace, wandering aimlessly in the harem. Unknowingly, he arrived at the Changchun Palace.

Looking at the tightly closed palace doors, he sighed and left with his people. When he stopped again, he had already reached the Lanyue Pavilion.