65 Ch 65: Gory Scenery, Take Care of Yourself

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From the outside, it is clear that pandemonium is occurring within the Yuan Manor. With apprehension to confirm such assertion, a hand pushes the door open, unraveling the appearance of a gory scenery.

Absolute chaos.

Yuan Zi Yan's eyes widen, expressing a grave look. Dropping everything in her hands, she covers her mouth rather hesitantly, unsure of what to do. General Li looks around in extreme disturbance.

The pathway to the guest room, once an undulating slope of green lawn, is now a featureless surface which lays lifeless bodies and shattered objects. Rain washes down the color of red, which spills across the flat ground.

Standing over the bodies are unfamiliar Imperial Guards. After completing their task, they shove their bloody swords back into their scabbards. The Eunuch, not fond of the reek of blood, expresses a distasteful look.

He carefully handles and lifts up the Emperor's Edict, "Yuan Zi Yan, receive the Edict!"

Yuan Zi Yan could not recover her senses and speech. She remain silent and lifeless, with terror written all over her face.

The Eunuch awaits with vexation, "Impudence! Why aren't you kneeling?"

"Miss Yuan," A foggy voice says.

It speaks again, "Kneel!"

"Miss Yuan!"

It is a crime to not kneel be forth the Emperor's Edict. General Li has enough strength to reach Zi Yan before her spirits were overcome with emotions. Hardly being able to speak, she sullenly kneels down.

"The Emperor has issued this edict to pardon Yuan Zi Yan, for she had succored to reveal the Eighth Prince's Plan. The Yuan Manor had volunteerily became proactive in treason and corruption, hence they have received their punishment. Yuan Zi Yan, accept the Edict!"

Nothing of the sort had ever occur to her that she would witness such scene. No alarm of any kind. Not rencontre. And now it happened to her, all because she decided to unravel the secrets behind the Imperial Palace.

She finally did it.

But at what cost?

Innocent lives are lost because of her.

With a vacant stare, Yuan Zi Yan accepts the Edict while kneeling in despair. The Imperial Guards dispatches and the Eunuch continues with his departure.

Silence.

Yuan Zi Yan takes a deep breathe and glances around her. Rain drenches down, wetting every part of her clothing.

Tears begin to fill her eyes. She harbors fear; her pulse quickens again.

"Uwah..." She unrestrainedly lets out a cry. The sound of sorrow fills the empty air. She sobs and sobs, wandering past the spiritless bodies. She searches for any signs of life. Nothing.

Even when rain pours down, she keeps searching. General Li does the same.

For a second, Zi Yan sights a familiar figure, who is laid on the side.

Yuan Zi Yan taps the body, before turning the person around. It's Xi Ning, whose throat was slit by a sword. The rain has already washed the blood away, although more continues to gush out.

Xi Ning is gone, yet her eyes are still opened. No pulse. No breathing. She was slaughtered violently.

"Xi Ning..." Zi Yan digs her nails into her own skin, weeping in distress and pain, "There is a human life inside of you.. Don't they know that?" She laments, wiping her tears. Her hands rest beside Xi Ning's cheeks, before she gradually helps Xi Ning close her eyes. "Please forgive me, Xi Ning."

Momentarily, General Li beckons for Yuan Zi Yan, "Miss Yuan! Your maid-- She doesn't have long!" She quickly responds and approaches her. Zi Yan spots Xiu Ying, who has a sword pierced into her stomach. Blood drips out from her mouth.

"M-Miss..." Xiu Ying lets out softly; her teeth is covered in blood.

Zi Yan carefully picks up and lays Xiu Ying in her arms, "Y-Yes? I-I am here," She wipes the tears from her swollen eyes away.

Xiu Ying tilts a smile, "Look, Miss." She unravels an item in between her arms, "I protected the shoe you made for me. I got a bit of my blood on it, but it's still as good as new. I did a good job.. Didn't I?"

Tears blur the sight of Zi Yan as she is taking a glance at Xiu Ying. "I see.." She sobs uncontrollably, starting to shake and hiccup. "You did a very good job." Zi Yan sobs so much, her chest begins to ache.

"Why are you crying.. Miss..?" Xiu Ying forces her hand up to touch her Miss' cheeks. "Elder Miss.. When Xiu Ying is gone, please take care of yourself, okay?" She murmurs with a hint of pain.

"Mhm.. I'm listening." The Elder Miss responds, her voice scratchy. A desperate sadness envelopes her.

"Miss.. You have to dry your hair after you take a bath, alright?"

Zi Yan nods, "Mhm."

"I bought you your favorite candies. They are in the second drawer.. Next to your dresser, okay?"

"Mhm.."

Xiu Ying coughs, "D-Don't eat too many at a time, alright?"

"Mhm,"  She sniffs.

"And.. Don't sleep too late. You tend to get headaches when you sleep late, okay?"

Zi Yan nods with hiccups, "Okay, I promise."

With a melancholic and regretful grin, Xiu Ying continues, "What else.." Her eyes begin to close up, "Oh, and Miss.."

"..I will miss you. Will you miss me?" Xiu Ying's pulse weakens, as her hand gravitates downwards.

"Ah," Zi Yan whimpers as she catches Xiu Ying's hand. She attempts to joyously look at Xiu Ying before she goes, "Of course I will miss you, silly."

There, they sit, on the tarnished red tiles. The rain pours down heavily, even after Xiu Ying's body becomes perfectly still.

"..."

The sound of pouring rain dominates again.

Yuan Zi Yan weightlessly wanders towards the Yuan Manor's front gate. Kneeling under the Heavens, she kowtows her head down on the ground again. This time, she forces her head down so hard, the sound of her skull hitting the ground can be heard.

General Li screams Zi Yan's name, yet Yuan Zi Yan does not budge.