A large - scale palace coup was quietly resolved just like this.
Wanyan Tuo took the armistice agreement and returned to the Northern Rong tribe, while Chai Ronglie was left in the capital city.
However, Xiao Wang didn't rush to take Chai Ronglie's life. Instead, he locked him up in the imperial prison.
Not only did he have to endure all 72 types of punishments in the prison, but he also had to receive hundreds of lashes every day.
He had led the Northern Rong army to harm the border people for decades and committed countless atrocities.
How could Xiao Wang let him die so easily?
Although Xiao Qi had committed the capital crime of plotting to usurp the throne, the emperor, out of father - son affection, couldn't bear to punish him personally.
So, he handed Xiao Qi over to Wanyan Tuo to be taken back to the Northern Rong tribe.
After all, the Northern Rong tribe had lost a general in the capital city, so they were given a prince in return.
As for how the king of the Northern Rong tribe would punish him, that was the Northern Rong tribe's business.
As soon as the emperor gave the order, the queen fainted on the spot.
After waking up, perhaps having lost all hope of living, she hanged herself in the cold palace.
As for Gu Kexing, the mastermind of the whole incident.
He was beheaded on the Golden Luan Hall on the spot, and his head was hung at the city gate for a full three days.
It also proved Gu Kexing's words that the road to the throne was always covered with blood.
It's just that no one knew if he had ever thought that it would be his own blood when he said those words.
There was also another thing that became the talk of the town among the people in the capital city.
That was that Miss Song the Second had a recurrence of her old illness, and this illness was extremely severe. She might not survive this winter.
In the Song Prince's Mansion, a doctor walked out of Ruan Jiu's room with a frown and shook his head at the Prince of Song.
"Your Highness... prepare for the worst..."
After hearing this, the Prince of Song gritted his teeth with a solemn expression.
This was a huge blow to him.
It wasn't because he was so worried about Song Qingyu, but because he knew that once Song Qingyu died, the Song Prince's Mansion would be finished.
Just then, Xiao Wang and the Princess came to visit.
The Princess ignored the Prince of Song and walked straight into Ruan Jiu's room.
As soon as she entered, she saw Ruan Jiu lying weakly on the bed with her eyes closed. Instantly, her tears couldn't hold back anymore.
She stepped forward and tightly held Ruan Jiu's hand, softly calling out, "A Yu, I'm here to see you."
Her voice was choked with sobs, full of grief.
Hearing the voice, Ruan Jiu lifted her heavy eyelids.
She smiled and said, "Why are you crying? I'm not dead yet."
For some reason, seeing the Princess crying like this, Ruan Jiu felt a little uncomfortable in her heart.
Song Qingyu and the Princess were like sisters. She didn't know how sad the Princess would be when she faked her death and escaped.
"A Yu, you won't die! Brother Crown Prince will definitely save you!"
The Princess bit her lip tightly, trying to hold back her falling tears.
But this only made her body tremble more violently.
Ruan Jiu comforted her, "Yongning, I'm very happy to have known you in this lifetime. If I die, you must live well and see this world for me."
She thought that these must be the words Song Qingyu wanted to say to the Princess.
After hearing this, the Princess buried her whole face in her arms and her body kept trembling.
Ruan Jiu sighed helplessly.
She couldn't replace Song Qingyu forever.
Just then, Xiao Wang walked in with a cold face.
He coldly scolded the Princess, "Don't cry in front of A Yu. What does it look like?"
After hearing this, the Princess wiped the tears on her face randomly, stood up.
She opened her mouth slightly, then bit her lip and ran out.
After the Princess left, Ruan Jiu propped herself up and sat up. There was no trace of weakness on her face anymore.
Seeing Xiao Wang's slightly red - rimmed eyes, she frowned slightly.
Presumably, Xiao Wang had just heard what she said to the Princess, which made him think of Song Qingyu again.
So she said, "I didn't expect the Crown Prince to be so sentimental."
Xiao Wang rubbed his eyes, turned his face to the side, and said coldly, "The wind and sand outside are strong. I just got something in my eyes accidentally."
Ruan Jiu pursed her lips. Where was there any wind and sand in the Song Prince's Mansion?
However, she didn't intend to expose Xiao Wang's lie.
She smiled and asked, "Have all of Gu Kexing's followers been dealt with?"
Xiao Wang turned his face and nodded.
Ruan Jiu thought it made sense. Since the palace coup that day, the emperor had handed over most of the affairs in the court to Xiao Wang.
With Xiao Wang's ability, dealing with these things should be no problem.
For a moment, the room fell silent again.
After a while, feeling the atmosphere a bit awkward, Ruan Jiu said, "Your Highness, you'd better go back first. After all, it's not good for others to see me like this."
Although Xiao Wang knew that she was faking the illness, others thought that she was terminally ill.
If others saw her talking to Xiao Wang in good condition now, wouldn't the truth be exposed?
After hearing this, Xiao Wang pursed his lips.
He wanted to turn around and leave, but his feet felt as if they were filled with lead, as heavy as a thousand catties, and he couldn't take a single step.
"Have you really thought it through?"
Xiao Wang's throat tightened, and it took him a long time to ask this question.
"Huh?"
Hearing Xiao Wang's words, Ruan Jiu was first shocked, then quickly realized that he was asking if she was really going to fake her death to get rid of the identity of Song Qingyu.
So Ruan Jiu nodded and replied, "The matter has been resolved. Everything should return to the way it was."
A trace of loneliness flashed in Xiao Wang's eyes.
Return to the way it was.
But he seemed to have forgotten what he was like originally.
"What are your plans after that?" Xiao Wang continued to ask.
Ruan Jiu pursed her lips and thought for a while. "I should go back to Qinzhou. After all, all my family members are in Qinzhou."
"Then... will you come back?"
"No, I won't come back."
Ruan Jiu had discussed with Xie Jingchu, and they had unanimously decided to go back to Qinzhou. Moreover, the Shen family had also moved back to Qinzhou.
During the time in the capital city, she always felt a bit unsteady.
She couldn't wait to go back and see her parents and elder brothers.
Moreover, Xie Jingchu had said that after they returned to Qinzhou, he would marry her into his family with the grandest ceremony.
Thinking of this, Ruan Jiu's eyes were full of hope for the future.
But for Xiao Wang, it was like a thunderbolt exploding in his mind.
Ruan Jiu's words undoubtedly meant that they would never have a chance to see each other again in this lifetime.
Xiao Wang tightened his fists, and his eyes were full of gloom.
"May your wishes come true."
-
Three days later, Ruan Jiu took the medicine for faking death that she had prepared long ago.
Soon, white mourning flags were hung all over the Song Prince's Mansion, and mournful wails kept coming from the mansion.
For a moment, everyone felt sorry for Miss Song the Second, the talented young lady in the Song Prince's Mansion.
On the day of the burial, it snowed in the capital city, which was a rare occurrence.
Overnight, the heavy snow covered the entire Chang'an Street, adding a touch of sadness to Song Qingyu's death.
That night, a group of black - clothed men came to the cemetery.
By the light of the moon, they waved their shovels at the mound on the ground.
The soil of the newly buried grave was soft. Soon, the mahogany coffin under the mound was exposed.
But when the coffin was opened, all the black - clothed men were stunned.
Ruan Jiu, who should have been lying in the coffin, was gone!