Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 163

Chapter 163 - Xie Ping Guards the Imperial Mausoleum

The dungeon was dim and damp.

Xie Ping had been locked in here for three whole days. Even when rats scurried right by her feet, she no longer had the slightest reaction.

She had been constantly wondering why she had ended up in such a state... When all was said and done, it was because she had been too greedy. She had wanted to climb higher, to become a prince's consort, and to stand at the pinnacle—never imagining that falling from such heights would hurt this badly.

She still remembered that before the marriage had been finalized, Mother had asked her whether she truly wanted to marry into the prince's estate.

Mother had said she was giving her one more chance to choose, and no matter what choice she made, Mother would always stand by her side.

Yet now, why wasn't Mother here?

She wanted so desperately to see Mother, to ask Mother what she was supposed to do...

Clutching her knees, Xie Ping wept in silence.

Right then, she heard footsteps approaching from the distance. She remained slumped against the wall without reacting in the slightest.

Those locked in here were all heinous, desperate criminals; every day, several people were dragged out to be beheaded in public view.

She did not know when it would be her turn.

Clang!

The sound of a lock turning resonated right beside her ears.

She raised her head, only to see two figures draped in black cloaks stepping into her cell.

The two removed the hoods covering their heads.

A sudden flash of pleasant surprise lit up her eyes. "Father! Brother An! You've finally come to see me!"

Xie Jingyu looked at her. "You've suffered quite a bit, haven't you?"

Xie Ping's tears cascaded down instantly. "It's so bitter, it's unbearable here! Father, quickly find a way to get me out! I don't want to stay in this damned place for another moment!"

"Eldest Sister, here are a few of your favorite dishes and pastries." Xie Shi'an opened the food container and placed it on the floor. "We have half an hour to speak. Eldest Sister, eat something first."

Ever since she had been locked up, Xie Ping had only received a single bowl of porridge each day—and moldy porridge at that, utterly impossible to swallow. She had long been starved half to death.

Casting all etiquette and upbringing to the wind, she picked up the food and shoved it into her mouth, devouring it ravenously and gulping down water in great drafts. With food finally in her belly, she felt far more comfortable at last.

"Ping'er, Prince Anjing's crimes have been firmly established. As his princess consort, it is impossible for you to walk away unscathed," Xie Jingyu spoke. "Once the funeral arrangements for Prince Anjing and Noble Consort De are concluded, it will be the day of your execution."

Xie Ping sobbed, "Father, I don't want to die! I'm only thirteen years old; my life has only just begun..."

"I will ask you only one question." Xie Jingyu's throat was hoarse to the extreme, and every word brought a sharp ache to his vocal cords, but he had to say it. "Are you willing to drag out an ignoble existence, or do you wish to die a worthy death?"

Xie Ping froze violently. "W-What do you mean by that?"

"Prince Anjing is dead. As the widow of a traitorous rebel, do you really think you can live a good life?" Xie Shi'an looked down at the rats in the corner. "Believe it or not, even if the Emperor spares your life, Prince Anjing's remaining faction will never let you off, Noble Consort De's maiden family will make things difficult for you, and the spittle of the public alone will be enough to drown you. From now on, you would only be able to live like a rat in the shadows, barely scraping by on your last breath."

"So, what you mean is that I should just die?" Tears still stained Xie Ping's face, yet a bitter smile surfaced on her lips. "You are my closest kin... Do you truly wish for me to die that quickly?"

"Noble Consort De slit her own throat. Not only was she spared from posthumous punishment, but the Emperor also preserved her noble title and ordered her buried in the imperial mausoleum according to her rank. The public is already praising her for her supreme love and righteousness," Xie Jingyu looked at her and said. "Noble Consort De is an exemplar; you should follow her lead."

Xie Ping pointed at the clean, empty plates on the ground. "I had no choice from the very start. You... you already poisoned the food, didn't you?"

Xie Shi'an shook his head. "The Xie family killing you carries a completely different meaning from you taking the initiative to prove your loyalty through death."

"Ping'er, I still remember the day you were born: countless magpies flew to our home. The moment you came crying into this world, you allowed me to experience the joy of fatherhood for the very first time," Xie Jingyu said softly. "The first word you ever spoke was 'Daddy.' It was I who held your hand as you learned to walk, and I who taught you to recite your first primers... You are the child I doted on most, sharing the exact same blood as me. In this entire world, the person who loves you most is me... But when living in this world, one cannot merely care for one's own children; the family clan is the true foundation. The Xie family finally managed to establish itself in the capital with great difficulty; we cannot collapse... Ping'er, you are a good child. Father knows you will make the most correct choice."

Xie Ping's face was already drenched in tears.

"Alright, the hour is late. We shall take our leave."

Supporting Xie Jingyu, Xie Shi'an walked out of the dungeon, their footsteps fading farther and farther into the distance.

Covering her mouth, Xie Ping sobbed uncontrollably, her muffled wails echoing in the dark.

She was afraid of pain, she was afraid of death, she was terrified out of her mind—yet she was left with no other choice...

With trembling hands, she reached up to feel for a hairpin in her hair, only to suddenly recall that her hairpin had already been confiscated by the jailers the day she entered prison...

She looked down at the porridge bowl on the ground, smashing it against the stone with a sharp crack. Picking up a ceramic shard, she pressed it against her neck. The moment she pressed down even slightly, the sharp sting made her burst into loud, agonized tears.

Time and again, she tried to build up her own resolve.

Without her realizing it, dawn broke.

Footsteps sounded near the entrance and came to a halt right before her cell. The lock was opened, and two jailers strode inside, hauling her to her feet.

"What are you doing?!"

Xie Ping's voice was shaking violently.

Were they dragging her to the Meridian Gate for execution right now?

She should have died bravely earlier, rather than having her head severed from her body in such a wretched manner...

"Behave yourself!" a jailer barked coldly. "The Emperor has issued a decree: you are to be sent to guard Prince Anjing's tomb at the imperial mausoleum, never to take a single step beyond it for the rest of your life!"

Xie Ping struggled violently all of a sudden. "No! I don't want to!"

After the deaths of several previous emperors, many imperial consorts had been sent to guard the imperial mausoleum, and most had ended up committing suicide, unable to endure the humiliation.

Why was it humiliating? First, life there was bleak and grueling; not only were three meals a day never guaranteed, but one also had to do every chore by oneself. How could those imperial consorts, delicate branches raised on boundless wealth, endure such hardship?

Second, because the imperial mausoleum was under constant construction across generations, the place was filled entirely with men—either eunuchs or imperial guards. A woman guarding the tombs with no one to protect her would naturally be subjected to torment and humiliation.

Even those former consorts guarding the late emperors' tombs had met such fates; as the widow of a traitorous rebel, she would undoubtedly suffer far more inhumane treatment.

"It's not up to you to refuse!"

The two jailers dragged her out of the prison and shoved her into a carriage.

The news of Xie Ping being sent to guard the imperial mausoleum for Prince Anjing quickly traveled back to the Xie family.

Xie Jingyu was so furious that he smashed a teacup. "She truly couldn't bear to end her own life! I should have strangled her with a rope to save the Xie family from such utter disgrace... Cough, cough, cough!"

"Master, please calm your anger," Tingyu hurriedly offered him his medicine. "You must nurture your health back first before attending to these matters..."

Xie Jingyu drank the medicine in a single gulp.

His illness had originally almost completely recovered, but with the catastrophe at Prince Anjing's Estate, his vital energy and blood had surged in agitation, causing his condition to relapse severely and leaving his body frail and weak.

He truly lacked the energy to fret over these matters any longer. After taking his medicine, he lay down to rest.

Tingyu tucked the quilt over him, then anxiously headed to Sheng Residence to look for Yun Chu.

"Madam, the Master's illness seems to be growing heavier..." Worry gathered between her brows. "Perhaps Madam could invite Imperial Physician Qin once again to examine him?"

Yun Chu set down her account book and raised her gaze. "Does Concubine Yu know how much silver it costs to invite that senior imperial physician just once?"

"No matter how much silver it costs, he must be treated," Tingyu said with her head lowered. "Money lost can be earned again, but if the person is gone, everything is lost."

Yun Chu tossed the account book over. "Look closely, Concubine Yu. How much silver is left in our Xie Manor's public accounts?"

As a former senior maid of the General's Manor, Tingyu was naturally literate and skilled with numbers. When she reached the final page, her entire person was utterly stunned: in the Xie family's accounts, there were barely over a thousand taels of silver left.

The monthly stipends for the entire household alone amounted to several hundred taels. Added to the daily expenses for firewood, rice, oil, and salt, the monthly expenditure was at least one thousand taels. In other words, the Xie family's silver was only enough to sustain the household for one more month.