Who are you?
Looking at Gongsun Zan before him, a look of seriousness flashed in Li Qiankun's eyes. This man was clearly a ruthless character, and he was afraid that he was in grave danger this time.
Gongsun Zan glanced at him and laughed, "I am General Gongsun Zan of the Great General of the White Horse. This time, I am here on His Majesty's orders, specifically to find you, the former Crown Prince!"
"You specifically came to see me?"
Upon hearing this, Li Qiankun's courage vanished by more than half, replaced by boundless fear.
The Li Clan also originated from rebellion. After his grandfather and father successfully rebelled, they slaughtered the entire royal family of the previous dynasty. Now that this person has specifically sought him out, their chances of survival are slim.
"Don't panic, stay calm!"
The empress, unable to bear the sight, helped her son up and scolded him before turning to Gongsun Zan.
She said in a deep voice, "General Gongsun, is it? My son and I are now like stray dogs. Can't Your Majesty spare our lives for Shenle's sake?"
She had already relinquished the title of Empress and was speaking in a pitifully humble manner, because she knew that she could no longer be assertive, otherwise her son would definitely not have survived.
"Yes, we are relatives. My younger sister is your emperor's woman, I am his brother-in-law, and my mother is his mother-in-law. Please spare our lives!" Li Qiankun grabbed at the last straw and argued.
Gongsun Zan glanced at the two men, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, and said in a low voice, "The Emperor could have spared your lives, after all, you can't cause any more trouble, but unfortunately..."
"What's a pity?" Shangguan Yan's expression changed. Had something unexpected happened?
Gongsun Zan glanced at her, then took out an imperial edict from his robes, held it high above his head, and solemnly said, "Your subject Li Qiankun, receive this edict!"
Splash!
The people below knelt on the ground. This was an imperial edict, symbolizing the emperor's personal presence, and the surrounding soldiers instantly knelt down as well.
Seeing this, Li Qiankun almost ground his teeth to powder. He was actually forced to kneel to receive the imperial edict; this was an utter disgrace. If he had the chance to take revenge, he would make sure Lin Yi died without a burial place.
Bang!
He gritted his teeth and knelt down, saying in a deep voice, "This sinful subject accepts the imperial decree!"
snort!
Gongsun glanced at him and opened the imperial edict in his hand.
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees!"
" Princess Shenle Kagura of the previous dynasty was virtuous and kind, a model for all women. Therefore, she is hereby appointed as Empress of the Western Palace, to be the mother of the All Under Heaven."
Hiss!
Upon hearing this, Li Qiankun and his mother Shangguan Yan were stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.
They had anticipated that Princess Shenle would face great difficulties, but they never expected that Princess Shenle would actually become Empress. Although she was the Empress of the West Palace, with an East Palace above her, she was still an Empress.
Li Qiankun exclaimed joyfully, "There's hope! There's hope!"
Shangguan Yan nodded excitedly. Her daughter was indeed capable; she had captured the heart of the new emperor, Lin Yi.
Even Shangguan Yundun couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, as if good days were about to begin again.
Cough cough!
Gongsun Zan glanced at the group and said, "You're celebrating too soon!"
"The sinner Li Qiankun acted perversely, hindering the unification of the North and South, causing more people to perish in the war. He also massacred more than 100,000 members of the Southern aristocratic families. In order to avoid bringing shame upon the Empress, Li Qiankun is hereby ordered to be executed as a warning to others."
So be it!
Rumble!
The following sentence struck Li Qiankun like a hammer blow, causing him to collapse to the ground. He had actually been sentenced to death, which instantly turned his previous excitement into despair.
How could he allow his sister to become empress while he himself was sentenced to death? How could he possibly allow his sister to be disgraced?
He couldn't help but look at his mother. The imperial edict didn't mention his mother, which meant that as long as his mother lived, he could only rely on her.
"To be given death?"
Shangguan Yan's vision blurred, and she nearly collapsed to the ground. Looking at Gongsun Zan in disbelief, she exclaimed, "General Gongsun, Mingzhu has become Empress, why still order Qiankun's death? He's Mingzhu's brother!"
Just as you step into heaven, you instantly plummet into hell—that's just too difficult!
Gongsun Zan glanced at him, then took out a letter from the side and handed it to her, saying quietly, "This is a letter from the Empress to you. You should understand after reading it!"
"A letter from home?"
Shangguan Yan's eyes lit up, and she quickly opened the envelope. On the large sheet of paper was only one large character.
[Forest!]
puff!
Shangguan Yan coughed up a mouthful of blood, and suddenly understood some things she couldn't understand. No wonder Lin Yi wanted to appoint his daughter as empress; the price was probably the annihilation of the Li Imperial Clan.
Looking at the word "Lin" that opened and closed in front of her, she could vaguely see the traces of tears falling on it from her daughter's tears.
Although the letter contained only one word, it actually revealed her daughter's decision to completely abandon the constraints of her Li Imperial Clan identity and become a daughter-in-law of the Lin Clan.
She couldn't help but laugh bitterly, "Being born into the Wang Clan, there really isn't a single one who's easy to deal with. No wonder she's the Emperor's eldest princess!"
With just one word, not only will Crown Prince Li Qiankun die, but the Third Prince Li Yunmiao will also be doomed. This daughter is indeed ruthless.
"Mother, I don't want to die!" Li Qiankun's expression changed drastically; he was really going to die.
Looking at her pleading son, Shangguan Yan gently embraced him and sighed, "My son, the victor is king, the loser is villain—that's only natural. How can a man kneel and beg his enemy!"
puff!
Li Qiankun's voice abruptly stopped!
Looking at the dagger in his chest, his face turned deathly pale. He stared at his mother in disbelief, realizing that she had actually killed him with her own hands.
Looking at her son, Shangguan Yan felt as if she had returned to the way he used to cuddle in her arms as a child, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
She said bitterly, "My son, your father is Emperor Li Anlan of Great Ning, and you are the Crown Prince of Great Ning, the future Emperor of Great Ning. An emperor must die a worthy death; you cannot bring shame upon your father!"
Don't worry, your mother is coming to be with you!
After saying that, she took out a pill and swallowed it. Before Gongsun Zan could stop her, it was already over.
"Madam, you didn't have to die. The Emperor has already spared you!" Gongsun Zan looked at Shangguan Yan, who was bleeding from all seven orifices, and couldn't help but sigh. It was beyond saving.
This poison is lethal; it kills instantly upon contact with blood.
Shangguan Yan sneered, "I am the Empress of Great Ning, how can I live in disgrace? I will be watching Lin Yi from heaven and see what his fate will be!"
Gongsun Zan was speechless; this empress certainly had some charm.
However, with the deaths of the father and son, the remnants of the Great Ning royal family were basically gone, which was a relief.
Gan Ning, standing to the side, curled his lip and said irritably, "This crazy woman, you've killed so many people, it's uncertain whether she can even go to heaven, yet she's still watching over our Emperor from there."