My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 16: Bite Her Mouth

　　Yun Ling knew very well that the Crown Prince would never take a palace maid as his concubine. He loathed lowly palace maids, so how could he possibly take her? She had intended to use this opportunity to seek a position of some sort. She was the nominal head maid, but she had no real power.

　　She realized that the threats, using the jeweled hairpin as a pretense, were merely meant to intimidate her. He would never allow any of the palace maids around him to have any private contact with his confidants.

　　She could return the jeweled hairpin to Lord Xiong.

　　But…

　　“Those rumors, I’m truly afraid I won’t be able to handle them properly. There are many ‘old hands’ in the palace, and they won’t listen to me.”

　　“If they don’t listen, kill a couple and they will,” Xie Jue said casually, his expression unchanged.

　　“Report to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the one in Kunning Palace...I'm afraid she's not going to make it.” A eunuch with a panicked expression rushed in to report.

　　Xie Jue lifted his gaze, “So soon?”

　　A smile didn't reach his eyes, instead, there was a hint of ruthlessness. “Indeed, a short life… Let's go, take a look.”

　　He got up and took two steps, then suddenly turned his head to look at Yun Ling, “You come with me.”

　　Yun Ling bowed, “Yes.”

　　……

　　The resplendent Kunning Palace exuded an air of decay and deathly silence.

　　The once magnificent Empress, now with her hair disheveled and her face gaunt, was tortured to resemble a dead dog.

　　Every day someone came to feed her different pills. She would not die after taking them, but it was like a maggot on the tarsal bone, gnawing at her internal organs and making her feel so painful that she wanted to die. 

　　The Empress was in such agonizing pain that she had lost her sanity. She lay sprawled on the ground, too weak to struggle, and it was clear she didn't have long to live.

　　Only when she heard a shout from outside, “His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince has arrived,” did she manage to struggle and raise her head. Her eyes blazed with hatred and animosity. “If I had known this would happen, I would have made you die even if I risked being discovered.”

　　For years, she had meticulously planned each step, believing she had successfully stunted his growth. But she never imagined he would turn out to be a hidden wolf, lurking in the shadows.

　　Back then, she had sent several palace maids to serve him, hoping to find an opportunity to assassinate him, but her attempts failed. She had to slowly make plans again.

　　The Empress spat out her hatred, “It's a pity you escaped.”

　　Xie Jue responded as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world. “They were nothing but fools, just like you.”

　　And they thought they could kill him.

　　The Empress, knowing her own life was nearing its end, had no fear of provoking him. Her expression twisted with rage. “Fools? Don't you know that I first had someone feed your mother poisoned wine, and then stabbed her to death with a knife, over and over again!” Her voice cracked with madness as she finished.

　　“What's the use of you being the Crown Prince now? Your mother's bones are dried up in the yellow earth, and she may never be reborn. Haha—”

　　The crazy laughter lasted for a long time, but Xie Jue remained impassive, his expression unchanged.

　　To him, the Empress’s ranting was nothing more than the desperate struggle of a dying woman.

　　He asked the people beside him in a calm voice, “What do you think I should do with her?”

　　Yun Ling pulled a short dagger from her sleeve, handing it to him. Her expression was calm, “Revenge for your mother is filial piety.”

　　Xie Jue took the dagger, examining the sharp blade. He nodded cruelly, “That makes sense.”

　　“How she stabbed her, over and over again, I shall do the same, a hundredfold, a thousandfold.”

　　The Empress, finally seeing the dagger, panicked. She scrambled backward, “What are you doing? You want to kill your mother?”

　　She pointed at Yun Ling, screaming, “You bitch, you're nothing but a dog! I'll—”

　　Before she could finish, she let out a heart-wrenching scream. The crimson, warm blood splattered across Yun Ling's face. Her eyelashes fluttered, her heart pounding at the sight before her.

　　It was the first time she had witnessed such a bloody scene firsthand.

　　She was facing the man's cruelty and bloodlust, his violent ruthlessness.

　　Yun Ling, however, didn't react. Turning away, she calmly instructed, “Close the door.”

　　The heavy door creaked shut, sealing out all light. It was like descending into an endless hell.

　　The Empress lay on the floor, barely alive, blood staining the ground. Her expression was like a demon's, “Even as a ghost, I won't let you go—”

　　Xie Jue, impatient, delivered the final blow, ending her life.

　　“She was just a dog by my mother's side,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion.

　　He tossed the knife aside and slowly rose to his feet.

　　Finally, she was dead.

　　Only revenge could appease the spirits of the dead. Only Li Lian'er's life could grant his mother peace.

　　Yun Ling quickly offered a handkerchief, but he didn't take it, his gaze fixed ahead. She couldn't help it, so she took the handkerchief and gently held his hand, carefully wiping the blood from his fingers.

　　Just as she finished wiping, Xie Jue strode forward, approaching the inner chamber. He moved a vase, revealing a small, cramped secret room. Even more chilling was the fact that this tiny chamber held an array, twelve chains binding a doll in the center. The doll had a birth date written on it, creating an eerie and terrifying sight.

　　Xie Jue drew his sword from his waist and with a single stroke, severed the chains, shattering them into four pieces.

　　“This is a Soul-Binding Array,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

　　Yun Ling gasped, “A Soul-Binding Array?”

　　Yun Ling once heard from the old maid in the palace that this was a vicious formation used by the harem in the previous dynasty to lock the souls of those who died unjustly.

　　Because it was too vicious, the palace had long banned it.

　　“Since my mother passed away, the palace has held a ritual every year; this is the eleventh year.”

　　Yun Ling knew this; it was a ceremony the Emperor specifically held to commemorate the deceased Empress. The entire palace admired the Emperor's deep affection for the late Empress Zhaohui.

　　As if sensing her thoughts, Xie Jue suddenly let out a cold laugh. “That wasn't a commemoration,” he said, “It was suppression.”

　　Yun Ling looked up in disbelief.

　　Suppression...? !

　　Then, looking at the shattered array on the ground, she suddenly understood. The birthdate written on the doll was that of the late Empress Zhaohui.

　　“If twelve years are completed, she won't be able to reincarnate.” Xie Jue looked at the scattered remains, his voice growing colder. “He doesn't want my mother to be at peace, he wants her, year after year, to be unable to reincarnate, to be reduced to ashes, to never be reborn.”

　　Yun Ling learned a shocking royal secret.

　　She now understood the old Emperor's hypocrisy and cruelty, his insidious wickedness.

　　He pretended to be kind and affectionate, but in reality, he secretly murdered his original wife—the woman who had helped him ascend the throne—and even sought to prevent her reincarnation for generations. His cruelty was monstrous.

　　This is why the Crown Prince before her became so tyrannical and filled with hatred.

　　“Your Highness has avenged the Empress, she can finally rest in peace.” Yun Ling said softly, “But I wonder how Your Highness has endured all these years, forced to live like this.”

　　“It must have been incredibly difficult.”

　　Silence fell around them after she spoke.

　　Xie Jue turned his gaze to her, looking at her quietly for a long time.

　　“Those who harmed her, I won't let a single one of them escape.” He left without looking back. “Have these things removed and announce Li Lian'er's crimes to the world. As for her death…”

　　Yun Ling finished his sentence: “She committed suicide out of fear of being exposed.”

　　Xie Jue curled his lips, “Mm.”

　　Emerging from the secret chamber, he found the palace gates already open. Xie Jue stepped out, and as he turned, bathed in the moonlight, he saw a pale, young face. A sheen of sweat glistened on the smooth forehead.

　　Clearly startled, she still tried to maintain an appearance of composure.

　　He mocked her, “I thought you weren't afraid. Are you scared now?”

　　Yun Ling had intended to hide her fear, but he had seen through her. Her eyes curved slightly as she said truthfully, “I am a little flustered, Your Highness, but it's nothing serious.”

　　She pursed her lips, “Next time, I will do better, Your Highness.”

　　This was her first time facing such a bloody scene, and fear was her natural reaction. She couldn't hide it, nor did she want to. Everyone has weaknesses, but she wanted to show the Crown Prince that she wasn't afraid of this, that she was determined to do better next time. She wanted the Crown Prince to know she was someone he could use.

　　Xie Jue fixed his gaze on her for a moment, then flicked his sleeve and left.

　　Later, the news spread within the palace that the deceased Empress Zhaohui had been cursed using witchcraft and forbidden techniques, and that the perpetrator, fearing punishment, had committed suicide. Upon hearing this news, the imprisoned Seventh Prince was heartbroken and, not long after, took his own life in his cell.

　　The Third Prince, found guilty of treason, was also imprisoned. Zhang Guifei was stripped of her title and deposed. Overnight, the Zhang family of He Ping, once powerful, crumbled into ruin like decaying wood.

　　As for the Empress, she was originally just a servant to the previous Empress Zhaohui. Her family were merely blacksmiths, with no real power base, making their downfall even easier.

　　The two factions within the palace were completely purged. The power dynamics within the harem had been dramatically reshaped, leaving the position of the High Lady-in-Waiting vacant. It was unclear who would be chosen for this influential role.

　　After taking care of the Empress's affairs, Yun Ling returned to the East Palace to report to Xie Jue.

　　“All of the Empress's belongings have been burned, and I've arranged for craftsmen to renovate the Kunning Palace.”

　　Kunning Palace was once the residence of Empress Zhaohui. The lingering presence of the second Empress, who had occupied the place for years, was an affront to Xie Jue. He ordered a thorough renovation.

　　Xie Jue grunted in acknowledgment, continuing to review the official documents.

　　Yun Ling pondered for a moment before stepping forward and respectfully asking, “Now that there is no head for the Six Bureaus, there is no one to manage the affairs of the inner palace, and everything has become disorganized. Lady Yu has just sent someone to inquire about Your Highness's plans.”

　　Yu Fei, mother of the Fifth Princess, now holds the highest position in the harem following the Empress's death and Zhang Guifei's imprisonment. Logically, she is in charge of the harem and its six bureaus. However, with the Emperor gravely ill, Xie Jue, as regent, has yet to issue any orders. Growing impatient, Yu Fei sent someone to inquire with Yun Ling.

　　She felt compelled to bring it to his attention.

　　Such an important matter, yet the Crown Prince behind his desk seemed not to hear. He remained indifferent, engrossed in the official documents before him, not even lifting his eyelids.

　　Yun Ling simply waited quietly.

　　The hall fell into a heavy silence, the emptiness amplifying a sense of oppression.

　　Half an hour passed before a sound broke the silence - the sharp click of a brush being laid down. The crisp sound reverberated in the hall, making hearts jump.

　　Xie Jue took a cup of tea from a nearby eunuch, sipping it lightly before rising and walking towards Yun Ling.

　　He didn't mention Yu Fei or the management of the palace. Instead, his narrow, phoenix-like eyes swept over Yun Ling, and he asked, his voice flat, “Do you know that Li Lian'er was once a maid in my mother's service?”

　　Of course, Yun Ling knew.

　　Empress Li Lian'er's story was indeed legendary. She rose from a lowly palace maid to become the Empress of a nation. Though she strictly forbade anyone in the palace from mentioning her past after she became Empress, and all the palace servants kept their mouths shut, everyone knew her story.

　　Yun Ling didn't understand why he suddenly brought up this matter, but she could only answer truthfully, “This servant knows.”

　　“She was my mother's personal maid,” Xie Jue said, his voice low. “My mother treated all the palace servants well, but she was especially kind to Li Lian'er. She trusted her completely. Yet, she betrayed my mother from behind, plotting her death.”

　　So, this was the root of his aversion to palace maids. He was using these words to warn her!

　　Yun Ling's eyes flickered involuntarily.

　　And sure enough, in the next instant…

　　Xie Jue's brow furrowed, his voice cold and deliberate, “Being too kind to a servant can lead to regicide.”

　　Yun Ling forced herself to remain calm. She knew he was blinded by hatred, and Li Lian'er's crime lay in her actions, not her position. But she couldn't possibly say such a thing. Without hesitation, she bowed low and said, “This servant is utterly loyal and would never betray Your Highness.”

　　“Loyal... heart,” Xie Jue ground out the words, his gaze cold as he watched her. “How loyal are you?”

　　Yun Ling immediately looked up, her expression sincere and earnest. “Even if the sea dries up and the stones crumble, I would never hesitate to die—” The last word was drowned out by the clash of their teeth.

　　Xie Jue pinched her face, lifting her head, and leaned down to bite her lips fiercely. “So loyal?”

　　Yun Ling froze, her lips stinging from the bite.

　　His grip was strong, and she instinctively flinched back from the pain. “Your Highness, this servant…” It wasn't what she meant.

　　He showed no mercy or tenderness, his bite so forceful it threatened to tear through her lips. It wasn't a kiss, but rather like a ferocious wolf, sinking its teeth into the jugular of its prey.

　　She had no idea why he was suddenly acting this way.

　　But she understood his brutal warning and the power he wielded.

　　He was far more sinister and unpredictable than she had imagined.

　　Xie Jue quickly pulled back from her soft lips, watching her slightly furrowed brows and damp eyes, a chilling disdain in his eyes. He scoffed coldly, “Sweet words.”

　　Before she could react, he released her, turning his back. “The world is unpredictable, fate is not set in stone. Even those born into nobility can fall into the dust if they lack wisdom. Those of humble origins can rise to great heights through their choices and their own efforts.”

　　Yun Ling tilted her head, remaining motionless, as if she didn't understand.

　　Xie Jue's eyelashes slowly lifted. “The position of Head Lady of the Six Bureaus is yours. You will oversee all Six Bureaus and act as the proxy for the entire palace.”

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