Arc 2: Part 60
Tong Su received news immediately that 'Xiao Qingwan had burned the deposed emperor's pregnant concubine alive.'
She found it hard to believe. "Has the Princess Consort gone mad?"
The deposed emperor already disliked Xiao Qingwan. How could he forgive her for such ruthless acts?
When the deposed emperor was first made the Prince of Shun'an, Xiao Qingwan, as a concubine, had no chance of becoming a princess consort. Yet, considering her origins from the Xiao family, and for the sake of the Xiao family, an exception was made, and she was promoted to Princess Consort.
Once the deposed emperor was put under house arrest, he gradually indulged in wine and beauty, spending his days in the company of beautiful women.
Xiao Qingwan was extremely jealous and could not stand seeing anyone by his side. She argued with the deposed emperor all day and disrupted the peaceful ambiance of the Shun'an royal residence.
The messenger reported, "Your Majesty, the fire at the Shun'an residence spread to half of the mansion. The dancer and many beautiful women lived together. The Princess Consort of Shun'an... took the opportunity to severely injure several of the deposed emperor's recent favorites and threw them into the fire.”
Tong Su, frowning, stood up and quickly went to find Xiao Lingchen. Upon seeing him, his face was serious, and he had just dismissed his secret guards.
"The latest report—we just learned they began fighting. The deposed emperor slipped up and accidentally killed Xiao Qingwan."
"What?"
Tong Su was startled.
Xiao Lingchen explained, "I've sent people to examine the wound. There's no doubt about it. The deposed emperor rushed back to his residence after hearing the news. Distraught by the terrible scene, he had an altercation with Xiao Qingwan and ended up stabbing her in the heart. By the time the imperial doctor arrived, she was beyond saving."
Tong Su felt a myriad of emotions. "I can't believe it’s come to this."
The fate that Xiao Bai Zhu had experienced in his previous life, being murdered by the deposed emperor, was repeating itself with Xiao Qingwan. It felt like karma.
Xiao Lingchen reached out to hug her, his chin resting on her shoulder. "I’ve sent my men to exterminate everyone in the Shun'an royal residence. I know you dislike her but everyone knows she is your half-sister from the same mother. If she died in vain, people will speak ill of you."
Tong Su softly replied, "I know you're doing this for me."
Now emperor, Xiao Lingchen never referred to himself as the royal‘we’ when talking to her but simply ‘I’.
Sometimes he even called himself "your brother", showing no arrogance in front of her.
Even after all these years of marriage, his clinginess towards her hadn't lessened at all; in fact, it had intensified. He cherished her as if she were the apple of his eye.
Not only among the courtiers, but even among common people, tales of the 'Emperor of Yongzhao's deep affection for his wife' began to spread.
Tong Su has been unable to conceive, but Xiao Lingchen didn’t mind – in fact, he was somewhat pleased. He had started considering candidates for adoption or succession quite early on.
As the Xiao family didn’t have a hefty number of descendants, no one was suitable. He thus ordered people to find intelligent orphans among the commoners to nurture as heirs.
Tong Su asked, "I haven't given you an heir, and the ministers are very dissatisfied. Do you really not care?"
Xiao Lingchen raised an eyebrow, "Who's been gossiping in your ear? Tell Little Thirteen to find that person, pull out his tongue, and lock him in the palace prison!"
Tong Su merely smiled, "No one, I was just asking."
"I'd rather you don't give birth," he murmured, holding her tightly. "I asked the imperial doctor about childbirth; it's too dangerous and painful. I can't stand to see you suffer that. As for the throne, I've had enough of it. I promised peace in the world, and I have returned it to this world."
He whispered in her ear, his handsome face beaming with tender affection, presenting a deadly temptation.
"I have struggled for peace in the world for half a lifetime, the remaining life should be entirely for the person I love. When the child we adopt grows up and can shoulder the throne, we can leave together, how about that?"
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