Chapter 78: Utter Annihilation (Part One)

“Yue’er!”

After all, the bond between mother and daughter is strong. While everyone else stood in shock, Lady Han was the first to react, crying out in anguish as she rushed forward and swept Helan Minyue’s limp body into her arms. Her voice trembled with tears as she called out, “Yue’er, Yue’er, what’s happened to you? Yue’er, Yue’er…”

In just a brief moment, Helan Minyue’s complexion had shifted from pale to a bluish-black. No matter how fervently Lady Han called to her, the girl could not respond. Her large eyes were glazed, two trails of clear tears streaming down her cheeks, while blood bubbled relentlessly from her small cherry lips, trickling along her mouth in a thin line. It was clear her life was at its very end.

“How can this be? Heavens…”

“Someone, someone, hurry…”

“Save her! Summon the imperial physicians, quickly!”

Lady Han’s desperate rush awakened the entire hall from their stupor. In an instant, chaos erupted—everyone cried out in alarm, their voices tangled together in a cacophony so loud that no one could make out what others were saying.

“Quick, protect the emperor!”

The moment Helan Minyue collapsed from poison, Li Xian had already sensed the danger. Yet, with the situation unclear, he chose not to stand out, pretending to be stunned like the others. When the crowd erupted, Li Xian seized the moment to pull Li Xian, his tone urgent. Then, springing to his feet, he strode rapidly toward the dais where the emperor sat. Li Xian, startled at first, quickly followed, his height and long legs giving him an advantage as he rushed ahead, grabbed a standing lamp, and positioned himself at the emperor’s side, holding it like a spear.

“Silence! Anyone who crosses this line shall be executed without mercy!”

Li Xian, though still somewhat frail, had grown into the stature of a young man. With the lamp in hand, he drew a line in front of himself, roaring to impose order on the chaotic crowd. His heroic presence was commanding, overshadowing Li Xian, who, still a mere child, could not muster the same authority.

“Imperial Guards, protect His Majesty!”

Emperor Gaozong, timid by nature, was already trembling with fear from the sudden upheaval, forgetting his duty to restore order. In contrast, Empress Wu remained calm. Once Li Xian had quelled the chaos, she rose with a face like still water and commanded in a thunderous voice, her presence formidable.

“Your Majesty, we have failed to protect you and deserve death!”

Such commotion in the hall could not escape the notice of the Imperial Guards stationed outside. Without an imperial command, none dared act, not even Xue Rengui, the Grand General of the Left Imperial Guards, who had arrived from the banquet with his troops standing below the hall. Only when Empress Wu’s command rang out did Xue Rengui lead his men into the hall, first restoring order, then approaching the dais and bowing deeply to ask for forgiveness.

“I—I am unharmed. General Xue, you’ve arrived just in time. Quickly, see how Yue’er is doing!”

Only after Xue Rengui’s troops subdued the chaos did Emperor Gaozong regain some composure, though his lips still twitched anxiously. He could not bother with formalities, waving his hand impatiently and urgently asking about Helan Minyue’s condition.

“Yue’er, Yue’er, why have you gone so soon? Yue’er, ah…”

Though the turmoil had not lasted long, the poison Helan Minyue suffered was deep. Before Xue Rengui could arrive, she had already passed away. Poor Lady Han, upon realizing her daughter no longer breathed, broke down in wretched sobs, but barely had she uttered a few cries when a sudden stabbing pain seized her abdomen. Her face contorted in agony, and with a groan, she spewed a mouthful of blood, splattering Helan Minyue’s already stiffening corpse. Dizzy, Lady Han collapsed atop her daughter’s body, unconscious.

“Ah, Yue’er, Xiaoshun, Yue’er…”

Seeing Lady Han fall, also vomiting blood, Emperor Gaozong was gripped by terror and grief, crying aloud in despair. Overwhelmed by heartbreak and fear, his eyes rolled back and he fainted, causing the entire hall to gasp in alarm.

“Quick, summon the imperial physicians!”

Seeing Gaozong collapse, Empress Wu became anxious, her voice betraying her terror. She could not help but panic—her power and position depended entirely on Gaozong. If anything happened to him, her days of influence would be over. No matter which son ascended the throne, none would allow her to act as she pleased; though she might retain some honor, her political life would end, an outcome the ambitious Empress Wu could never accept.

“Your Majesty, the emperor is not in grave danger. His heart could not bear the shock and needs rest, without further disturbance. We will prescribe medicine to calm his spirit.”

Gaozong, always frail, traveled with a retinue of imperial physicians. At Empress Wu’s command, the guards quickly summoned them. The physicians crowded around the emperor, examining him, discussing quietly among themselves. At last, Physician-in-Chief Su Zhenghe stepped forward and cautiously reported to Empress Wu.

“Very well, thank you, Physician Su. Let all of you take great care—do not let His Majesty be further disturbed. General Xue, I order you to escort the emperor back to the palace at once.”

“Yes, your servant obeys.”

Xue Rengui, prudent by nature, was perplexed by the hall’s dramatic events but dared not inquire, nor wished to be involved. Hearing Empress Wu’s command to escort the emperor, he gladly accepted, instructing his men to carry the emperor.

“Wait, General Xue. Today’s events are suspicious. Until matters are clear, no one present may leave. Leave half your men; I have use for them.”

Before Xue Rengui could stand up, Empress Wu spoke again.

“Yes, I obey.”

With Gaozong unconscious, Empress Wu was now the highest authority present. Though her orders bent the rules of court etiquette, they could be justified as expedient. Xue Rengui dared not object, hesitated briefly, then agreed, calling a deputy to quickly explain and then leading his troops to escort the emperor out, guarding his gilded carriage as it returned to the palace.

Whether by intent or oversight, Xue Rengui never once attended to the two bodies lying in the hall—Helan Minyue and her mother. Empress Wu, likewise, made no mention. As Xue Rengui departed, Lady Han, not yet dead, still lay atop her daughter’s corpse, her faintly rising back signaling she clung to a thread of life. But Empress Wu said nothing, and amid everyone’s hidden thoughts, none dared speak out. All could only watch as Lady Han’s breathing grew weaker, until it faded entirely.

Dead. At last, they were dead. Poor mother and daughter, who might have enjoyed wealth, chose instead to pursue imperial favor—and lacked the means to succeed, dying in vain. Heaven pity them; what ill fortune to have such a sister, such an aunt. What a waste—two valuable pawns, gone just like that! Staring at the bodies lying in the hall’s center, Li Xian felt a surge of emotion, lamenting the injustice of Helan Minyue and her mother’s deaths, but more so regretting the loss of his preferred outcome. Yet the dead were gone; further thought was pointless, and Li Xian quickly shifted his attention to Empress Wu, hoping to seize some advantage in the confusion.

Once Xue Rengui departed, the hall fell silent. No one dared speak; all stood with bowed heads and hands at their sides, hardly daring to breathe. The only sound was Empress Wu’s footsteps as she paced back and forth, her presence suffocating.

“Your Majesty, I—I…”

After pacing a while, Empress Wu suddenly stopped, turned, and cast her chilling gaze upon Wu Weiliang, who trembled in the corner. Instantly, Wu Weiliang’s body stiffened, and he hastily tried to explain, but nerves got the better of him—he stammered, his lips twitching, unable to articulate a single word.

“Wu Weiliang, do you know your guilt?”

Empress Wu looked coldly at him, and as he failed to speak, she suddenly raised her voice in a stern command. Wu Weiliang’s knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor.

“Your Majesty, please see the truth! I am innocent, truly innocent—I do not know how poison came to be in the tofu. Your Majesty, I am wronged, I beg you to order a thorough investigation and clear my name!”

Wu Weiliang, well aware of his cousin’s ruthless methods, was terrified by her harsh words and broke down in tears, pleading for justice, his dignity as a high official nowhere to be seen.

“Your Majesty, we are truly innocent! Please, Your Majesty, have mercy for our filial devotion and help us—we are wronged!”

Seeing the dire situation, Wu Huaiyun quickly knelt beside Wu Weiliang, banging his head in supplication, their cries of distress merging, drawing the attention of all present.

“Filial devotion? What a fine filial devotion!”

Had Wu Huaiyun not mentioned “filial devotion,” it might have passed. But at his words, Empress Wu’s expression twisted slightly, her teeth clenched as she let out a cold snort, as if recalling some deep and bitter hatred…