The Sovereign – Chapter 90

Volume Five: Remembering a Lifetime in the Sound of a Breaking Heart

Imprisoned in the Imperial Dungeon

Besides you being the most suspicious, who else could it be!

On the way back from Yi Mansion, Yi Qinghuan was devastated and fell into a state of depression, seeming ready to faint at any moment. Yun Jin stayed by her side throughout. Upon hearing that Qin Junlan was at Qixia Palace, Yi Qinghuan felt distressed – at a time like this, why was she still meeting that woman at Qixia Palace?

However, just as they reached the palace gates, news came that Qin Junlan had coughed up blood and fainted, causing Yi Qinghuan to hurry towards Fengluang Palace. Chen Qing guarded Qixia Palace without leaving a step, as this series of upheavals would inevitably cause great waves of disturbance. Her only mission now was to protect Liu Qianxun.

The rainy night stretched on, continuing until dawn. The sky appeared to have split open (metaphor for heavy rainfall), with the celestial river ( poetic term for heavy rain) pouring down onto the mortal world, drenching Jidu. Meanwhile, Fengluang Palace was bustling with activity, with all imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy being summoned. Three hours had passed without effect, and the physicians gathered to discuss Qin Junlan’s strange symptoms.

Yi Qinghuan sat in the hall, weakly supporting her forehead while Qiushui massaged her shoulders for relaxation. She had cried so much that her eyes were slightly swollen from excessive grief. She couldn’t even protect the last bloodline of the Yi family – how could she face the ancestors of the family? Whenever she thought of this, she felt like crying and harbored even more hatred for the assassin.

“Mother Empress, Imperial Sister hasn’t awakened yet, but you mustn’t collapse,” Yun Jin remained by her side, and despite feeling as if a thousand-pound stone was weighing on her heart, she still consoled Yi Qinghuan.

She was more worried about Qin Junlan than anyone else, as she had never seen Qin Junlan so weak, lying inside unconscious.

At this moment, Chief Physician Guan led all the imperial physicians to bow before Yi Qinghuan and report on Qin Junlan’s condition.

“Reporting to the Empress Dowager and Princess Consort, Her Majesty’s symptoms are truly peculiar. We unanimously diagnose it as poisoning, but we cannot find the source of the poison nor any traces. We truly have no way to proceed…”

“What do you mean ‘no way to proceed’?” Yi Qinghuan spoke with slight anger, making Chief Physician Guan tremble. “Through examination of Her Majesty’s blood, we found no traces of poison. This is neither a case of sudden anger nor blood rushing upward, but rather symptoms triggered from within. It’s truly…”

“You all!!” Yi Qinghuan was too angry to speak, already heartbroken and now seeing Qin Junlan in such a state, she was rendered speechless with anger.

“If you cannot find the symptoms, then keep searching. If you cannot develop an antidote, there must be ways to alleviate the condition. Don’t tell me that after examining Her Majesty, none of you can even prescribe a single remedy.” Yun Jin’s expression was severe, her suddenly displayed authority making others fear her – the usually gentle and refined Princess Consort apparently had such a side to her.

“We shall do our utmost!”

Yi Qinghuan didn’t even have the strength to rebuke them and waved her hand to dismiss the group. As she gradually recovered from her complex emotions of grief and worry, regaining her rationality and ability to think, she found it suspicious that Qin Junlan had been poisoned while the assassin was still at large.

“Li Yue.” Yi Qinghuan began to investigate the matter from the beginning.

“This servant is here.”

“How did Her Majesty’s poisoning occur? How did he suddenly start coughing blood? Weren’t you all at Qixia Palace?”

Li Yue felt there was no way to hide this anymore, as so many people had witnessed Her Majesty coughing blood, and the Empress Dowager would certainly discover the truth of the matter, so she answered: “Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Her Majesty had placed the Princess under house arrest, then suddenly showed signs of poisoning. This servant is at fault, please forgive me.”

“House arrest? Poisoned at Qixia Palace…” Yi Qinghuan’s expression turned cold, immediately sensing that everything was connected to Liu Qianxun. “Someone, summon Princess Qinghe for an audience.”

Li Yue stepped forward and kowtowed, “Empress Dowager, Her Majesty issued an edict that the Princess must not leave Qixia Palace.”

“Must not leave? I consider her the most suspicious! Are we to let the suspected poisoner of Her Majesty roam free? Go quickly!” Yi Qinghuan angrily commanded the Chief Eunuch, who nodded repeatedly and hurried out.

With so many calamities piling up, even Yun Jin lost her judgment. Liu Qianxun was indeed suspicious – she didn’t even know where Liu Qianxun went after leaving loquat forest that day. But Qin Junlan had been so good to her, why would she harm her? Yun Jin couldn’t believe it.

She stood by the dragon couch (imperial bed), looking at Qin Junlan’s pale, bloodless face. Even in sleep, her brows were furrowed – what was causing her such pain? Yun Jin’s heart ached as she sat beside the bed, adjusting the covers while gazing at the face she had been enchanted with for years, always so beautiful. Her peerless grace was unmatched, yet how had she become so vulnerable?

Chaoyan, please wake up! Yun Jin only dared to call her name in her heart. She longed to see Qin Junlan awake, commanding the world with authority. She loved seeing her high above, like heaven’s favored child, looking down upon the world, while she herself was content just gazing up from afar.

Rather than being able to approach her only when she was gravely ill, she would prefer to watch over her from a distance.

She could endure marrying someone she didn’t love just to be able to see Qin Junlan often, she could endure Qin Junlan falling in love with Liu Qianxun, another woman, but she couldn’t tolerate Qin Junlan being deliberately harmed. When she heard this matter involved Liu Qianxun, she too became suspicious – if it were true, how could she allow Liu Qianxun to remain in the palace?

The Chief Eunuch brought Liu Qianxun to Fengluang Palace. She knelt on the ground, silent, not responding to any of Yi Qinghuan’s questions. Only when Yun Jin walked from the inner palace to the hall did she slightly raise her head, focusing her gaze, “How is Her Majesty?”

“Still unconscious,” Yun Jin replied coolly.

“Sister Jin’er, may I see her?” Liu Qianxun asked hopefully, her usual pride and coldness nowhere to be seen. Yun Jin could sense her sincerity and felt her heart softening, but as she hesitated, Yi Qinghuan interjected, “You dare ask to see her when you’re suspected of harming Her Majesty?”

“Is it really related to you?” Yun Jin’s tone was full of doubt. She didn’t know how many complicated matters were involved; she only cared about the circumstances of Qin Junlan’s poisoning, but Liu Qianxun remained silent.

Her heart filled with bitterness – even Yun Jin didn’t trust her. She couldn’t blame Yun Jin, how could she know that she was her own sister? Their relationship wasn’t deep; it was her one-sided hope for true sisterly affection with Yun Jin, but she was wrong.

Yun Jin’s love for Qin Junlan was an undisputed fact. At this crucial moment, she only cared about Qin Junlan, how could she consider anything else? Perhaps in the future, only Yun Jin would remain by Qin Junlan’s side. So be it – if it were anyone else, she might have felt reluctant, but if that person was her own sister, what was there to object to? After all, Yun Jin cherished Qin Junlan more than anyone else in the world.

Even though her heart felt like it was being gnawed by ten thousand ants, she had to swallow it down. She had no other wishes; she just wanted to see her Yan’er one more time. If it was Shura Sect’s poison, ordinary people couldn’t solve it – only she could examine Qin Junlan’s poisoning condition. But… but Qin Junlan hated her so much she wouldn’t even let her touch her. Now, even visiting her had become an impossible dream. Once so deeply in love, now reduced to this state – no one could understand Liu Qianxun’s pain.

In an instant, everyone in the palace turned against her. She became like an isolated island, facing suspicion, contempt, and even mortal danger. She had nothing to say; facing those accusations and suspicions, she had no defense. Was she innocent? No. She had foreknowledge of this matter. Was she the direct perpetrator? No. But nothing could be resolved merely through explanations.

She couldn’t escape blame, yet she was also wronged, but none of that mattered to her. She couldn’t be bothered to explain, nor did she care to defend herself. Now, her only concern was Qin Junlan’s condition.

“Empress Dowager! Princess Consort!” Li Ruo, who was in charge of investigating the assassination attempt, had conducted extensive searches both inside and outside the palace. Apart from some people from Suyuan Tower being secretly captured by the Shadow Guards, Qin Junlan hadn’t implicated Qixia Palace, but they discovered that Ye Ming had disappeared.

“You’re saying Ye Ming isn’t in Qixia Palace?” Yi Qinghuan once again cast suspicious eyes at Liu Qianxun, demanding: “Her Majesty was poisoned in your Qixia Palace, and your personal guard has vanished – how do you explain this?”

“I have nothing to explain,” Liu Qianxun replied emotionlessly. She knew she would inevitably be implicated in this matter, but she had been unwilling to leave. Now it seemed it was just her wishful thinking – perhaps Qin Junlan had long wished never to see her again, even wanting to kill her personally.

What an ironic truth – if not for the poison attack, perhaps she would have found release, dying by Qin Junlan’s hand would have left her with no regrets in this life.

Yi Qinghuan gave a cold laugh, stood up, and circled around her. Indeed, women who resembled Liu Zhu were all trouble. “Let’s see how long you can remain stubborn. Guards! Take Liu Qianxun and her maid to the Bureau of Execution! Question them thoroughly!”

If the true culprit of this bloodshed couldn’t be caught, someone would have to pay the price!

“Mother? There’s still no concrete evidence pointing to Liu Qianxun. Shouldn’t we follow Imperial Sister’s wishes and keep her under house arrest until she wakes up to make the final decision?” Yun Jin instinctively wanted to plead for Liu Qianxun. Despite her many doubts, when it came to actual imprisonment, she inexplicably felt soft-hearted.

“Yun Jin, have you lost your mind? What spell has Liu Qianxun cast on you? The poisoning occurred in Qixia Palace, Ye Ming is missing, and she didn’t show up when the young princess died – what does this tell us? Isn’t it obvious enough? She must be involved in this.” Yi Qinghuan felt disgusted seeing her cold, noble, yet defiant manner, reminding her of Qingyu’s resolute departure years ago.

Yun Jin was rendered speechless under Yi Qinghuan’s aggressive pressure. If Liu Qianxun truly was the one who harmed Qin Junlan, wouldn’t her tolerance and protection make her an accomplice?

Seeing the guards not moving, Yi Qinghuan’s anger grew, “What are you standing there for? Don’t you understand my orders?”

Li Ruo had to signal his subordinates, and several Imperial Forest Guards stepped forward, looking at each other, hesitant to lay hands on her. They seemed to hold a kind of reverence for her, also wary of the Emperor’s former favor towards her, and only said: “Princess, please come with us, don’t make us use force.”

Liu Qianxun raised her eyes to meet Yi Qinghuan’s gaze, gave just a cold smile, and surrendered willingly. This action made Li Yue worried – she had witnessed Liu Qianxun’s martial arts skills. If she wanted to resist, probably nothing in the palace could contain her. Escaping from the palace would be effortless for her, yet despite having multiple opportunities to leave, why was she accepting her fate?

Could it be that she really just wanted to wait for Her Majesty to wake up? Others might not know Qin Junlan’s feelings, but Li Yue understood clearly. If they executed Liu Qianxun while she was unconscious, the consequences would be unimaginable… Li Yue thought worriedly, my master, please don’t sleep any longer, the palace is about to be turned upside down.

Liu Qianxun stood up, looking only at Yun Jin, “Sister Jin’er, please let me see her just once?”

Yun Jin remained silent, refusing to let her heart soften, “Wait until you clear your name, then come see her.”

“I just want to look at her once, even if from afar at the doorway, please…” Liu Qianxun cast a pleading look at Yun Jin. When had she ever lowered herself like this before? Now she had no desires or demands, caring nothing for missions or status – she just wanted one good look at her.

Yun Jin’s brows furrowed tightly, but before she could answer, Yi Qinghuan erupted again, “What are you all standing there for? Drag her away!”

Two guards grabbed her arms, one on each side, forcefully pulling her away. Liu Qianxun showed no resistance, placing all her hopes on Yun Jin, continuously murmuring, “Sister Jin’er, Sister Jin’er…”

Her powerless calls echoed through the great hall, until she was taken away without seeing Qin Junlan even once. Waiting for her was only the sunless cell of the Bureau of Execution. Her former glory and pride, her previous coldness and nobility, all drowned in this merciless palace.

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