(Qian Renxue · Beautiful Image 13)
A side hall of the Crown Prince's Residence.
Qian Renxue sat upright in the seat of honor, once again disguised as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
"Reporting to Your Highness!"
After returning to the Crown Prince's Residence, the captain of the guards dropped to one knee and respectfully reported.
"Prince Xue Xing's Residence has been subdued!"
"Prince Xue Xing and Fourth Prince Xue Beng have both been executed!"
As he spoke, the captain waved a hand.
Two guards stepped forward carrying two coffins.
"Excellent!"
Qian Renxue nodded in satisfaction, rose, and walked over to the two coffins. Looking down at the corpses of Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng, she finally felt at ease.
Now that Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng had been eliminated,
she could begin preparing for her coronation!
Several days later, in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Grief-stricken sobs rang out from Xue Ye's bedchamber.
The elderly emperor, who had ruled the Heaven Dou Empire for decades, had finally succumbed to the ravages of the chronic poison.
In the court hall, all the civil and military officials had gathered.
Dressed in plain white mourning clothes, Crown Prince "Xue Qinghe" knelt before Xue Ye's coffin, sobbing uncontrollably, utterly consumed by grief.
"Father-!"
"You left us so suddenly! Your son had yet to repay your kindness. How could you bear to abandon me-!"
Qian Renxue's performance was flawless. Her anguished sobs brimmed with a dutiful son's grief and reluctance to accept his father's sudden death.
Every official in the court was moved to tears.
After her bout of weeping,
Qian Renxue slowly rose and turned toward the assembled officials. Tears still streaked her face, but her voice abruptly turned bitter and cold.
"My ministers, do you know why my father passed