activa-t Chapter 272 I'll Be With You
Chapter 272 I'll Be With You
Before long, Wang Jingyi was brought in by the guards.
She looked terrified, her hair disheveled, and when she saw the Empress Dowager, it was as if she had grasped at a straw. "Aunt, save me! They say they're going to kill me!"
Seeing her most beloved little niece, the Empress Dowager's usually composed expression changed. She glared at Pei Yuanling, "These matters have nothing to do with Jingyi, why do you have to involve innocent people!"
"Innocent? Your Wang family has enjoyed such a good life for so long, who in your household can be considered innocent?"
Pei Yuanling looked coldly at the Empress Dowager, "Mother, you'd better stop delaying. If you don't hand over the antidote, the next ones to be brought in will be other members of the Wang family."
There was not a trace of pity in his eyes, as if the people in front of him were merely tools to be used at will to achieve his goals.
Seeing this, Empress Dowager Wang knew that the situation was hopeless.
After hesitating for a long time, she finally sighed, "Alright, alright, I'll speak then."
She said, "This Heart-Eating Powder is a rare poison secretly made by the Wang family. Making the poison is simple, but making the antidote is harder than climbing to heaven."
Pei Yuanling frowned. "How is it difficult?"
"The antidote to the Heart-Eating Powder requires the rare Netherworld Flower as its main ingredient. However, this Netherworld Flower is extremely rare, which is why the Empress only has the poison and no antidote."
Upon hearing the words "Netherworld Flower," Pei Yuanling frowned even more deeply.
"The Netherworld Flower? I've never heard of this flower before. Where is it?"
"That Netherworld Flower can only be found in the Valley of Medicine Immortals."
Empress Dowager Wang said indifferently, "But the Valley Master of Medicine Immortal Valley, Daoist Kongkong, has an eccentric personality and has been living in seclusion for many years. It is simply a pipe dream to try to obtain the Netherworld Flower from him."
As she spoke, a smug smile curled at the corner of her lips.
Pei Yuanling's heart sank. Although he had never heard of the Netherworld Flower, he had heard of the reputation of the Taoist Kongkong.
It is said that this hermit has lived in a secluded valley for many years and is already 180 years old. People say that he has cultivated himself into an immortal.
After a moment of silence, he said in a low voice, "No matter how difficult it is, I will try."
Upon hearing this, a hint of confusion appeared in the Empress Dowager's cloudy eyes. "Is it worth it for a traitor?"
"I did not do this for him."
"...For Consort Liang? Then it's even less worth it."
"..."
Pei Yuanling looked at the Empress Dowager, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, "You wouldn't understand."
Empress Dowager Wang scoffed, "At a time like this, why put on such a sentimental act? If you truly love her so much, why have you imprisoned her in the palace?"
Pei Yuanling was silent for a moment, then said, "Back then, I was foolish and blinded by desire. Now, I only want to make amends for my mistakes."
Empress Dowager: "..."
She gazed at Pei Yuanling silently for a long time, as if she were seeing him for the first time.
Finally, as if she were exhausted, she sighed, "Enough, I don't want to concern myself with your affairs anymore. If you can really obtain the Netherworld Flower and save Lu Zhiheng, then you will have accumulated some merit."
After a brief pause, she glanced at Wang Jingyi, who was being held to one side, and after thinking for a moment, she stood up and bowed deeply to Pei Yuanling.
"Your Majesty, I know you hate the Wang family to the core. I don't expect you to let them go, I only ask that you spare their bloodline in consideration of the favor they showed you when you ascended the throne."
Pei Yuanling's dark eyes darkened.
Lu Zhiheng's rebellion taught him a lesson: to cut weeds, you must nip them in the bud.
Now, looking at what the Queen Mother is asking for...
Pei Yuanling idly stroked the jade thumb ring on his thumb with his long fingers. After a long while, he said, "After all, Mother Empress raised me. So, as Mother Empress wishes, Wang Jingyi will stay in Cining Palace to keep you company."
After leaving those words, Pei Yuanling didn't look at Empress Dowager Wang and Wang Jingyi again, and turned to leave Cining Palace with Chen Zhongliang.
Upon hearing the resounding slam of the palace gates of Cining Palace shut, Empress Dowager Wang slumped onto her phoenix throne, her well-preserved and dignified face suddenly appearing to have aged by more than ten years.
"In the end... it was all for naught..."
She murmured to herself, her cloudy eyes filled with unspeakable helplessness and sorrow.
Only after being freed from her restraints did Wang Jingyi throw herself into the Empress Dowager's lap, calling out in shock, "Aunt..."
Empress Dowager Wang then came to her senses, looked at her once carefree little niece, raised her hand to touch her head, and sighed deeply: "From now on, you will stay with me in Cining Palace."
Seemingly understanding the meaning behind the Empress Dowager's words, Wang Jingyi paused for a moment, then burst into tears, unable to stop crying.
***
The Qingzheng Hall was completely quiet.
"Yinyin, you should just give up. There's no way you can get the Netherworld Flower from Medicine Immortal Valley."
Pei Yuanling gazed at the haggard woman who was desperately staying by the bedside, his voice growing increasingly low, "The Valley Master of Medicine Immortal Valley, Daoist Kongkong, is eccentric and has lived in seclusion for many years. He would never easily give away the Netherworld Flower. Besides, with this back-and-forth request for the medicine, it's uncertain whether Lu Zhiheng can even hold on until then..."
"Do not."
Chu Qingyin raised her fair and bright face, her eyes bloodshot, and stared straight at Pei Yuanling: "Aheng was poisoned to save me. How can I just watch him die? Even if it is as difficult as climbing to the sky, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will not give up."
Her eyes were firm, as if nothing could shake her resolve.
Seeing her like this, Pei Yuanling felt a pang of sadness in his heart.
He wanted to ask if, had he been the one to rush over first that day, she would have protected him just as she had protected Lu Zhiheng.
But he swallowed the words back down.
The most useless thing in the world is "if".
Now that she knew that the Netherworld Flower could be used as a medicine to detoxify, Chu Qingyin wasted no more time. She hurriedly packed her bags and asked Pei Yuanling for a travel permit and a Ferghana horse that could travel a thousand miles a day.
Pei Yuanling saw that she was determined to leave, and knew that if he tried to stop her, it would only make her hate him more.
Since she's going, then let her go.
We have to make her give up completely.
However, "I will go with you."
Chu Qingyin paused, looking at him in astonishment, "I went to Medicine Immortal Valley to ask for medicine for Aheng, what are you doing there?"
Pei Yuanling's dark eyes remained calm as he looked back at her: "I'm worried about leaving you alone."
Chu Qingyin: "..."
She pursed her lips, her expression turning cold, and said, "Pei Yuanling, you should know that we can't go back. Even if... even if Aheng can't be saved in the end, I will never accept you again."
Hearing her indifferent tone, Pei Yuanling forced a smile and said with a wry smile, "I know."
He said, "I don't expect you to forgive me or fall in love with me again. I just want to make up for the mistakes I made in the past."
As he spoke, he glanced at Lu Zhiheng, who was lying unconscious on the bed, and lowered his dark eyes slightly: "I have failed you, I am sorry, my father... I am sorry to Crown Prince Zhangxian, I am sorry to Lu Zhiheng."
"The sins of the father are to be paid by the son. If we can save Lu Zhiheng's life, it can be considered as my compensation to the Zhang Xian lineage."
In terms of bloodline, Lu Zhiheng is his cousin.
Pei Yuanling had also privately investigated that old witchcraft case, and indeed there were many suspicious points.
And based on his understanding of the late emperor…
The late emperor was indeed a heartless and selfish person.
Chu Qingyin was shocked that Pei Yuanling would say such a thing, but she didn't dare to believe him completely.
But she didn't have time to think about these things. Seeing that he wasn't stopping her, she figured if he wanted to come along, so be it.
Following Pei Yuanling's instructions, the luggage and horses were quickly prepared.
Before leaving, Chu Qingyin took a deep look at the unconscious Lu Zhiheng, then leaned down and quickly placed a light kiss on his cheek: "Aheng, wait for me to come back."
The man on the bed was pale, his eyes still tightly closed, seemingly oblivious.
Seeing this, Chu Qingyin felt a pang of sadness. She forced back the tears welling up in her eyes, took a deep breath, and then turned to leave Qingzheng Hall.