My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 74: “With You Alone, My Life Will Be Complete.”

　　The East Palace.

　　Upon the sandalwood throne adorned with cloud-dragon patterns, the Crown Prince, clad in a luxurious black brocade robe embroidered with gold, exuded an aura even more profound than the night outside.

　　His inky black hair was simply secured with a jade hairpin, his phoenix eyes, with their upward-slanting corners, were sharp, and beneath his handsome, pale face, his expression was unreadable.

　　The Jinyiwei on the ground knelt rigidly, their foreheads beaded with cold sweat.

　　Xie Jue's long fingers, with their distinct knuckles, tapped lightly on the table.

　　The voice wasn't loud. Yet, it made everyone present tremble.

　　Xiao Xiangzi respectfully presented the brewed tea.

　　Xie Jue took it, lowered his head and took a sip before speaking slowly, “You said there's a witchcraft curse in Yunze?”

　　The kneeling Jinyiwei immediately replied, “Reporting to Your Highness, the colleagues who went to Yunze sent back word, saying that people have been dying one after another in the territory of Zezhou. They all say it's a warning from heaven, and the people are terrified.”

　　Yunze, originally a borderland, was home to many ancient families, with witchcraft rampant and miasma thick, adding to its mystique.

　　Citizens in the city were dying one after another in bizarre ways, their bodies strangely devoid of any wounds, nor did they die from illness. After much investigation by the Jinyiwei, it was discovered that someone had cast a curse.

　　Multiple deaths, coupled with someone in the city using witchcraft to ‘consult heaven,’ led to a warning about an anomaly in the celestial signs.

　　As a result, a small faction of unrest emerged in Yunze.

　　It's nothing to fear.

　　But Yunze has had too much unrest.

　　Xie Jue's eyes deepened, and he put down his teacup. “From the death of the first person to now, it's been a full month. Why did you only notice something was amiss these past few days?”

　　He dropped a few words, light as a feather, yet heavy with meaning: “A bunch of useless things.”

　　Fei Ying quickly said, “Your Highness, forgive us!”

　　The Jinyiwei sent to Yunze were originally there to monitor unusual occurrences, yet they only noticed it now, when it was already too late, leading to the unrest.

　　They were truly incompetent, or perhaps there was some foul play involved. Otherwise, with the Jinyiwei's capabilities, it's impossible they would have noticed so late.

　　The next moment, Xie Jue said, “Kill them all.”

　　‘Kill them all’ referred to both the unrest faction and the incompetent Jinyiwei.

　　It was utterly cruel.

　　Fei Ying seemed to want to plead, but upon looking up and meeting the Crown Prince's gaze, he immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

　　He was truly foolish.

　　The Jinyiwei sent to Yunze must have made a mistake, so they naturally couldn't be spared.

　　Furthermore, in the Crown Prince's presence, no one gets a second chance.

　　How dare he even think of pleading?

　　The Jinyiwei, having undergone countless trials, were no longer afraid of death, yet they still trembled before the Crown Prince's single glance.

　　Xie Jue waved his hand, and a group of Jinyiwei immediately retreated.

　　……

　　Night deepened, a vast, dark expanse descending, silent and still.

　　In this deep night, rain suddenly began to fall. At first, it was a light drizzle, but then it grew heavier, large raindrops pounding on the leaves with a crackling sound, battering the delicate branches until they swayed precariously.

　　A carriage sped along the road, the horses' hooves splashing the rainwater, leaving a trail of mud.

　　Past the hour of Xū (戌时, 7-9 pm), the Palace gates had long been closed. But when the person in the carriage presented something, the guards on both sides hastily opened the way. The originally tightly closed Palace gates creaked open with a jarring sound in the quiet night.

　　Then the carriage sped inside.

　　The rain was getting heavier.

　　Raindrops streamed down the eaves, wetting the ground. Mixed with the violent wind, they blew in through the doors and windows, causing the candles inside the hall to flicker and sway.

　　The palace servants hurriedly and carefully closed the windows.

　　The flickering candlelight gradually stabilized.

　　The palace servants inside the hall held their breath, carefully attending to their duties, not one daring to make a sound.

　　Compared to the stillness inside, outside the wind howled and the rain lashed down, the night boundless. Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder illuminated the dark sky for a fleeting moment.

　　A figure emerged from the rain, pulling down the hood of their cloak to reveal a face as delicate and radiant as a blooming flower.

　　Grand Eunuch An, guarding the entrance, widened his eyes in disbelief at the arrival. The next moment, he hurried inside to report.

　　“Your Highness, the Eldest Miss Xiao has arrived.”

　　So late at night, the Eldest Miss Xiao would come to the East Palace?

　　Since the Eldest Miss Xiao returned to the Xiao family, first because of her status as a Xiao family miss, then because of the Xiao family's reputation, and later because of her conflict with His Highness, she had never taken the initiative to come to the East Palace again. Therefore, her arrival this late was something An Zhong never expected.

　　At the same time, this also made An Zhong wonder, what could the Eldest Miss Xiao possibly want at this late hour?

　　Xie Jue's hand holding the brush paused, leaving a blot of ink.

　　After a moment, he merely lowered his eyes and said, “She's rather swift. When will she ever be so concerned for me?” 

　　“Let her in.”

　　Grand Eunuch An immediately went out to invite her.

　　His Highness had unleashed a massacre today because of the Yunze incident; no one was allowed to see him.

　　At this time, the only person who could enter was probably the Eldest Miss Xiao.

　　Yun Ling's cloak was somewhat damp from the rain. Upon entering the hall, she removed it and handed it to a nearby palace servant.

　　This revealed a beautiful sky-blue silk gown embroidered with gold butterflies, accentuating her slender waist and captivating beauty.

　　The servant quietly took the cloak and withdrew. Grand Eunuch An, seeing this, discreetly retreated as well, carefully closing the door behind him.

　　Only the two of them remained in the hall.

　　Yun Ling stood a few steps away from him, watching him without speaking.

　　The hall was filled with a faint, fragrant smoke, and a quiet stillness hung in the air.

　　Xie Jue put down his brush after making the final stroke on the memorial, his handsome brows furrowed slightly. He said lightly, “Coming in the rain... you must have something to see me about.”

　　His tone was certain.

　　Yun Ling's clear, apricot eyes gazed directly at him. Her soft, red lips parted, and she uttered a single word, “Yes.”

　　“For Xie Jinjia?”

　　Yun Ling nodded again. “Yes.”

　　Pressing her lips together, she thought for a moment before speaking directly. “After Jinjia divorced my brother, she went to Guanyun Temple. She has already learned of the crimes committed by Yu Fei and only wishes to practice Buddhism in the temple, atoning for Yu Fei's sins and praying for Empress Zhaohui.”

　　“But there's one thing she can't let go of, and she asked me for help.”

　　Yun Ling said, “She was already weak from premature birth, and then she learned of her mother's crimes and divorced my brother... After all these blows, she's become pitifully thin and frail. I really can't bear to see it.”

　　So she came to the East Palace.

　　Xie Jue rose from his chair, descended the steps, and stopped before Yun Ling. His thin lips twitched slightly. “Xie Jinjia isn't entirely foolish. You are the only one in the world who dares to ask me this.”

　　“So, for her, you braved the rain and came here in the dead of night?” Xie Jue already knew the reason for her visit.

　　And it was precisely because he knew that he was angry.

　　In the past, she had also defied his orders several times for Xie Jinjia. Even if the incident involving her falling into the water was part of a plan to leave the Palace, it couldn't erase her protective feelings for Xie Jinjia.

　　And now, it's still for Xie Jinjia that she's come to the East Palace in the dead of night.

　　To beg him.

　　Even knowing that he might be displeased because of it.

　　In her heart, probably many people are much more important than him.

　　Xie Jue's eyes darkened. He raised his long fingers and wiped away the raindrops clinging to her cheek. “What does she want?”

　　Yun Ling's eyelashes fluttered. The news she'd heard from Xie Jinjia echoed in her mind.

　　Apparently, a cup of poison wasn't enough to quell the Crown Prince's hatred. After Yu Fei's death, her body was dismembered, her bones crushed, and her remains burned—not even a corpse remained.

　　She wasn't even buried in the Imperial Concubine's cemetery.

　　It was as if they wanted her to have no remains, to be unable to find peace for eternity.

　　It was truly... too cruel. (T/N: Yes, it's cruel. But what about Empress Zhaohui? She and her unborn baby were poisoned, stabbed multiple times, and then her soul was shackled in a dark room for almost eleven years so that it would dissipate and prevent her rebirth. Yu Fei reaped what she sowed!)

　　Xie Jinjia knew that her mother's crimes were unforgivable, and she only wished to spend the rest of her life in quiet devotion, atoning for Yu Fei's sins. She didn't dare ask for anything more, only for a small piece of Yu Fei's ashes, to fulfill her filial duty.

　　So she had come to Yun Ling for help.

　　After listening to Yun Ling, Xie Jue let out a dry laugh. “So she wants Yu Fei's ashes.”

　　“And you, feeling pity for her, have come to beg me?” He slowly lowered his head, his long fingers holding her cheek, looking into her eyes. “What if I refuse?”

　　In all the world, only Yun Ling dared to make such a request of him.

　　But it was precisely because Yun Ling had made this request that the violent emotions within Xie Jue surged even more intensely.

　　Again and again, she sided against him for others.

　　“What will you do?” Xie Jue's thin lips were pressed together, his jaw tight. “Will you fight with me for her?”

　　The storm raged outside, but inside the hall, it was deathly quiet, so quiet that he seemed to hear their breaths.

　　She tilted her head back, gazing steadily into his eyes.

　　She saw the suppressed intensity in his brows and eyes, the taut line of his lips, every expression on his face filled with anger and resentment.

　　Yun Ling raised her hand, taking hold of his fingers, then firmly shook her head. “No.”

　　Xie Jue's expression faltered.

　　Yun Ling then pulled his hand down, separating their fingers before intertwining their hands tightly together.

　　The warmth from their palms mingled.

　　Yun Ling looked at him, her tone earnest and sincere. “I understand that in the past, I plotted against Your Highness for the Princess, and I never firmly, definitively reciprocated Your Highness's feelings. Therefore, seeing me here, Your Highness assumed I was pleading for the Princess, fearing that I would once again defy you for her sake.”

　　“But that's not the case,” she shook her head, tightening her grip on his fingers. “I came to the East Palace because I couldn't bear it. Jinjia has suffered so many blows, she's become so haggard and is on the verge of collapse. She's truly pitiful, and my heart aches for her. So, when she begged me for help, I couldn't refuse her.”

　　She spoke each word clearly,

　　“But I also feel for Your Highness. The pain of losing your mother, the deep wound... who can understand it? To spare Jinjia's life was already an act of mercy; how could I dare ask for anything more?”

　　“My compassion for Jinjia is compassion; my heartache for Your Highness is love. It's a difficult situation for me. After careful consideration, I came to the Palace late at night only to convey Jinjia's request,” Yun Ling took a slow step forward, releasing his hand to gently embrace his waist. “That's all.”

　　“Whether Your Highness agrees or not, I have nothing more to say.”

　　“No one can blame Your Highness for what happened back then. Jinjia doesn't dare to demand anything; she only asked me to inquire on her behalf.”

　　The slight furrow between Xie Jue's brows smoothed imperceptibly.

　　He raised his arm, returning her embrace, closing his eyes.

　　“Our Ah Ling always knows how to comfort me.”

　　Always able to effortlessly soothe his anger.

　　The rain outside gradually stopped, the wind dying down as well.

　　A tranquility returned.

　　Raindrops rolled down the eaves, one by one, clear and crystalline.

　　Xie Jue held her waist. “The Duke of Yingguo also submitted a memorial, offering the full strength of his clan to erect a stele and write a biography for my mother, but I rejected it.”

　　After the revelation of Yu Fei's crimes, the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion had also suffered disgrace in the following years.

　　Although the Duke of Yingguo was a loyal subject, his entire clan was destined for ruin and decline.

　　The entire Duke of Yingguo’s Mansion paid the price, with no possibility of restoration.

　　“Yu Fei’s ashes are of no use to me. Since Xie Jinjia is willing to spend the rest of her life praying for and atoning for my mother, giving her the ashes is fine.”

　　“But I intend for all of them to meet an unhappy end, to have no peace.”

　　“They all deserve to die.”

　　The bloodlust in his words shocked Yun Ling.

　　Patricide, fratricide... for revenge, he had killed countless people over the years. Everyone connected to Empress Zhaohui back then, except for the currently suffering Emperor Jingning, had been eliminated.

　　Revenge was only right.

　　But so many years had passed, and his hatred had not diminished in the slightest; indeed, he seemed increasingly trapped and consumed by it.

　　When one is so immersed in hatred that they cannot escape, they are actually imprisoned by it themselves.

　　This was what Yun Ling didn't want to see.

　　Therefore, her initial feeling upon entering was correct; he truly radiated killing intent.

　　Yun Ling shook her head in his arms, “Don't.”

　　She forcefully grasped his hand, her gaze intense, her expression serious. “But I want Your Highness to have a fulfilling life.”

　　Xie Jue lowered his head to look at her.

　　Yun Ling said, “I'm not asking Your Highness to let go of your hatred; after all, the pain of losing a mother is something no one can forget.”

　　“I just don't want Your Highness to be consumed by hatred. If hatred stirs up your rage, leaving only killing in your heart, it will not be a fortunate thing for Your Highness.”

　　“A life for a life, karma will take its course. Since those people are already dead, they have paid the price. Your Highness may not be able to relieve your hatred because of this, but you should calm your heart instead of sinking deeper into hatred.”

　　It wasn't just Yu Fei.

　　Even the subsequent Empress, the Seventh Prince, and the Third Prince, all suffered the same fate – their bones crushed and bodies burned.

　　Therefore, his reputation for violence and tyranny remains deeply ingrained in people's minds.

　　Thinking about it now, many of his methods were excessively cruel. She couldn't even begin to imagine the amount of remonstrances and accusations that would arise from this.

　　If Empress Zhaohui knew, she would certainly not want to see him in this state.

　　Yun Ling looked up at him. “When I told Your Highness that I cared about your bad reputation before leaving the Palace, it wasn't entirely false. I don't want Your Highness to be consumed by hatred, I don't want Your Highness to bear such a tarnished name,”

　　Her eyes were open, her eyelashes trembling, yet her tone was incredibly earnest.

　　“Our Highness deserves a better, more fulfilling life.”

　　Her words fell silent in the hall.

　　Although spoken in such a gentle voice, her words were like a gurgling spring, capable of washing away and soothing the rage within him.

　　Actually, he didn't care about the so-called ill-repute.

　　But she cared so much, even worrying about it, and telling him so earnestly.

　　She wanted him to have a fulfilling life.

　　It was such a persuasive sentence, making him want to agree without thinking.

　　An unknown amount of time passed.

　　Half the candles in the hall had burned away.

　　Xie Jue slowly bowed his head, looking into her eyes. His fingers traced her face.

　　“With you, my life will be complete.”

　　Yun Ling understood the implication in his words. The worry lines on her brow relaxed, the corners of her eyes curving slightly upwards. A soft smile bloomed in her almond-shaped eyes.

　　“May our love blossom like flowers under the full moon, our hearts forever bound together.”

　　She threw her arms around him. “I wish to grow old with Your Highness.”

　　Forever bound together, growing old together.

　　What beautiful words.

　　Xie Jue's thin lips curved into a smile. He lifted her chin with his fingers, cupping her face, and leaned down to kiss her.

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