You expect me to serve your mistress? The mistress is driving this scumbag and his entire family cra

Chapter 198 Someone Wants to Harm You

The emperor ignored her argument and impatiently waved his hand, saying, "How dare you assassinate the Empress Dowager! You've got some nerve! Take Jian Shuyan away and give her a cup of poisoned wine."

Upon hearing this, Minister Jian was terrified: "Your Majesty, please forgive me! My daughter never intended to harm the Empress Dowager. She only wanted the Empress Dowager's approval."

The emperor sneered, "Aren't those guards' lives also lives? Such disregard for human life and ruthlessness are to be blamed on you as their father. You are unworthy of being the Minister of Rites. From this day forward, go to the West Gate and become a minor official in charge of the city gates."

The emperor dismissed Minister Jian from his post without batting an eye, not even flinching.

The others also lowered their heads, not daring to breathe.

Fortune and misfortune can change in an instant. In this turbulent and unpredictable court, no one can foresee what will happen the next day.

Honor and disgrace, life and death, are nothing more than a matter of the emperor's lips touching.

Minister Jian knelt on the ground and kowtowed desperately until his forehead was bleeding.

"Your Majesty, spare my life! I beg Your Majesty to spare my life! I beg Your Majesty to spare my life!"

Jian Shuyan collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face, no longer pleading.

The emperor remained unmoved and coldly ordered that the imperial guards immediately step forward and drag the father and daughter away.

Liang Jiang felt a little uneasy.

Perhaps this is the nature of the imperial court: if you don't fight, you're destined to be bullied; if you do fight, your hands will be stained with blood.

A beautiful young woman, because of a single wrong decision, or perhaps because she wanted to please her future mother-in-law, actually lost her life and the honor of her family. What a tragedy!

Jian Shuyan was dragged away by the Imperial Guards without saying a word, her face ashen.

The emperor showed her mercy and gave her the chance to see her family one last time.

In the end, it was Xie Fubai who personally served her the poisoned wine.

Dressed in fine clothes, Xie Fubai hesitated, his face filled with sorrow and suppressed reluctance, his hand holding the wine cup trembling slightly.

Jian Shuyan raised her red and swollen eyes, stared at him blankly for a long time, and then, trembling, reached out her hand to Xie Fubai.

Xie Fubai squatted down in front of her, gripping the wine glass so tightly that the wine spilled out.

Jian Shuyan grinned, her voice strained: "See you in the next life."

Xie Fubai's nose tingled, and his eyes immediately reddened.

"The poison in this wine is very potent, but you won't feel any discomfort."

"Thank you for coming to see me off in person," Jian Shuyan said politely.

Xie Fubai could no longer hold back, and two streams of hot tears rolled down his cheeks.

Jian Shuyan reached for the wine glass in his hand, but he didn't let go.

Jian Shuyan's tear-stained fingertips became entangled with his hand, which was covered in bulging veins.

"How foolish." Jian Shuyan slowly uttered, "I hurt you like that, and almost caused the Marquis and the Princess to get into a lawsuit, don't you hate me at all?"

Xie Fubai wanted to say something, but he couldn't say anything and just shook his head.

Everyone else thinks I deserved it, that I'm a joke, but only you pity me, right? Is there anything else you want to say to me?

Xie Fubai hesitated, then shook his head again.

"Since there's nothing more to say, then let go and let me leave in peace, without any regrets."

Xie Fubai slowly released his hand.

Jian Shuyan took the wine and drank it all in one gulp with great determination, then choked and coughed lightly.

Xie Fubai involuntarily reached out, wanting to pat her back.

Jian Shuyan naturally fell into his arms.

Xie Fubai stiffened, remaining kneeling on one knee and not letting go.

He knew Jian Shuyan was dying; the wine was truly poisonous, almost fatal upon contact with blood.

Jian Shuyan slowly rested her head on his shoulder, her lips close to his ear, and whispered, "You have to be careful, someone wants to harm you, including the Prince of Pingxi."

Xie Fubai tightened his grip on Jian Shuyan's arm, looked down at her, and saw that bright red blood was already seeping from the corner of her lips. Yet she smiled brightly, her eyes crinkling.

"Shuyan, Shuyan!"

Jian Shuyan coughed violently, and another mouthful of blood gushed out.

Her mind was beginning to wander, and she was gradually becoming less lucid.

Xie Fubai suddenly regretted it again: "I have something to say to you, I have so much to tell you, can you hear me?"

Jian Shuyan looked at Xie Fubai with difficulty, and said slowly and deliberately, "I'm sorry."

His hand fell limply to his side.

Xie Fubai felt a surge of regret. Why, why did he give her such poisonous wine?
I didn't even have a chance to say a word of forgiveness.

The veins on his forehead bulged as he tried his best to suppress his emotions, his hands trembling as he gently closed Jian Shuyan's eyes.

The Jian family members stepped forward to collect Jian Shuyan's body.

He reluctantly let go of her hand and walked away silently.

Gu Xizhi and Liang Jiang came out of the main hall, and Marquis Huaiyuan thanked Liang Jiang repeatedly.

If it weren't for Liang Jiang today, even if he and Xie Wan'er could be temporarily spared punishment, they would still be facing imprisonment.

This wasn't the first time Liang Jiang had saved the Marquis's mansion from danger; she was the mansion's savior.

Xie Wan'er linked arms with Liang Jiang, calling her "Sister Liang" this and "Sister Liang" that very affectionately, her expression changing faster than turning the pages of a book.

Gu Xizhi snorted: "You'll learn from your mistakes. You've caused so many people to worry about you today. Liang Jiang barely slept a wink yesterday in order to wake Lao Qian up as soon as possible. If I don't teach you a lesson, you might not learn your lesson."

Marquis Huaiyuan said, "Once we return to the Marquis's residence, we will go to the ancestral hall to reflect on our past mistakes."

Xie Wan'er's face immediately fell, and she shook Liang Jiang's hand: "Good Liang sister, I call you sister-in-law, please plead for me."

Liang Jiang's face immediately turned red: "You're spouting nonsense again. I was going to plead for you, but never mind. Once your godfather returns to his residence, we should sew her mouth shut first."

Gu Xizhi smiled slightly: "It is a bit noisy, it needs to be dealt with."

As the group was chatting and laughing, they saw Xie Fubai walking ahead alone, looking lost and dejected, and immediately fell silent.

Xie Wan'er quietly nudged Gu Xizhi.

Gu Xizhi stepped forward and gently patted Xie Fubai's shoulder.

Xie Fubai stamped his foot, staring blankly at the glazed tiles reflecting the blinding sunlight. The sunlight was so intense that tears welled up in his eyes.

Gu Xizhi's lips trembled, and she could only utter the two words "Please accept my condolences."

"She is not a woman who seeks power and influence. I believe she has her own compelling reasons."

Xie Fubai seemed to be talking to himself as he said, "Before she died, she told me that someone wanted to harm you and the Marquis of Huaiyuan's mansion, and warned us to be careful."

Gu Xizhi's eyes narrowed: "Perhaps you are right."

"But I realized it too late. There were many things I didn't have time to say before she left resolutely without any regrets. This may become my lifelong regret."

Xie Fubai lifted his foot, dragging his heavy steps, and left.

Liang Jiang and the others stepped forward, but none of them were in the mood for jokes or banter. They left the palace gates in silence.

Xie Wan'er bid farewell to Marquis Huaiyuan and returned to the Marquis's residence to report that she was safe.

Liang Jiang arranged for her own coachman to take Lao Qian back to the Prince of Pingxi's residence.

Gu Xizhi seemed to have something on her mind and remained silent.

A carriage passed by them. The curtain was lifted, revealing a gentle, refined face that smiled at Gu Xizhi.
"Your Highness, what a coincidence! Are you on your way back to your residence? Would you like a ride?"

Gu Xizhi looked up and saw that it was Chu Xiucheng: "No need to trouble Brother Chu, it's just a few steps away."

Chu Xiucheng then noticed Liang Jiang beside him, looked her up and down with some surprise, and joked with a smile, "No wonder, no wonder, it's because Xiucheng has been meddling today."

When Liang Jiang heard him refer to himself as "Xiu Cheng," her heart skipped a beat, and she asked Gu Xizhi, who was standing to the side, "Is this the young master Chu from the Grand Tutor's mansion?"

(End of this chapter)