Late at night.

Jiang Liannan knelt inside the Qing Frost Palace, his hair disheveled and scattered. The marble floor beneath him was icy cold, sending waves of chillness through his palms, causing his frail body to shudder uncontrollably.

The surrounding lights were incredibly bright. On ordinary days, he loved filling the entire hall with candles, illuminating the darkness as if it were daylight. Despite its extravagance, Cold Xu would simply laugh it off and dismiss it as a mischievous act.

But now, the bright candlelight is particularly ironic, as it illuminates Jiang Liannan's embarrassing appearance very clearly. He can even see his ghostly reflection in the marble.

Outside came the sound of footsteps, the sound of a group of imperial guards approaching. Then, with a creak, the doors of the grand hall swung open, allowing a chilling gust of wind to rush in, piercing to the bone. Along with the cold breeze entered the expressionless head eunuch, Qin San, who was followed closely by two other eunuchs, each carrying a tray covered with a white cloth.

The door closed with a creaking sound.

Jiang Liannan looked up and saw Qin San looking down at him with disdain in his eyes, and suddenly felt afraid. His teeth even started to chatter as he said, "Manager Qin, I want to see the Emperor, I want to see the Emperor! I don't want to die, I don't want to die..."

Qin San snorted coldly, his disdainful gaze growing even stronger as he responded, "But His Majesty has no desire to see you. He has condemned you to death, so you might as well end it gracefully and take your leave!"

"No, it's impossible. Leng Xu has always been good to me. He... he... he's my older brother!" Jiang Liannan grasped onto a lifeline, crawling on his knees towards Leng Xu. His deep, beautiful eyes glistened with tears, looking charming and pitiful. "How could he bear to let me die? He won't let me die. I need to see him, I need to see him!"

If this were in the past, Qin San would have felt extremely anxious and worried if he saw him crying, fearing that the emperor would vent his anger on himself. But now, when he saw him crying, there was only disdain in his heart. Qin San even spat on him.

"You ungrateful wretch! Do you even appreciate how well His Majesty has treated you? But how have you repaid His Majesty?!"

Jiang Liannan suddenly froze in place.

Qin San said, "Although your identity is that of a servant, His Majesty treats you as a precious treasure in the palm of his hand. Even if he had initially considered using you as a tool, everything that happened afterwards, if it weren't for him genuinely caring about you to some extent, do you think you could have come this far in the palace? If he didn't indulge you and desire to give you a chance, would His Majesty have allowed you to easily make contact with the outside world? Jiang Liannan, from the moment you harbored even a slight desire for the throne, His Majesty had already known. Yet he endured until now, precisely because you are his brother. However, you arrogantly refuse to know your place and refuse to restrain yourself, relentlessly pushing him into a corner. Do you not understand that when he has no way out, it will be the time for your grave to be dug?"

Jiang Liannan's tears fell from his eyes in an instant.

Yes, it was his own dissatisfaction. From the moment he learned that he was the prince, and should have been the emperor, he was blinded by hatred. Later, when he learned that Leng Xu deliberately confined him in the palace, intending to keep him useless, his hatred and desire erupted uncontrollably. He hated Leng Xu for taking away everything that he should have had, for raising him to be arrogant and incompetent. He then entertained forbidden thoughts of joining foreign officials to seize his throne.

How could Ke Lengxu possibly endure it any longer?

He should have known long ago that he was not suitable for that position. Even if he became the emperor, how could he possibly do well? He was nothing more than a puppet for the foreign ministers, paving the way for the vassals!

It's ridiculous how he is being used by others without even realizing it, and yet he continues to dream of being an emperor!

After all, Leng Xu is an emperor. How could he allow others to snore on his bed? It's only natural for him to desire his own life when he covets the imperial throne. Moreover, he himself destroyed his brotherly bond with his own hands! If he doesn't give himself death today, what else is there for him to do?!

And what face does he have left to live in this world? Although he is foolish and reckless, he still understands the principles of propriety and integrity. Asking him to truly kneel before Leng Xu, sobbing and repenting like a dog, is simply impossible... And Leng Xu probably wishes for his death too, right?

Now, there's only one path to death.

Jiang Liannan looked slowly through teary eyes at the two eunuchs holding trays.

He had been living in the palace for four years, naturally having heard about it - three feet of white silk, a cup of poisoned wine, choose one of the two.

He said, "I understand, give me the poisoned wine."

Qin San waved his feather duster, and one of the eunuchs placed a plate containing poisoned wine in front of him on the ground.

Jiang Liannan trembled as he picked up the wine with his shaking hands. However, it seemed that he had something else in mind as he looked at Qin San, speaking in a humble and sincere tone. "Please, I beg you to inform His Majesty that my father is unaware of this matter. Please beg for mercy on his life..."

He said this, and tears rolled down his sharp and pretty chin, dripping into the wine.

He, however, had no time to spare and hurriedly bowed to Qin San.

Qin Sanyuan's originally ice-cold face revealed a trace of a complex expression.

Jiang Liannan held the jade goblet, watching as ripples danced across the surface of the liquor. He observed the candlelight reflecting on the wine, resembling a moon hidden behind clouds, hazy yet delicate.

There are beautiful scenes in the world, but unfortunately, he no longer cherishes his own life.

Tilting his head back, a bitter and icy liquid rushed down his throat.

The jade bottle fell to the ground and shattered into several pieces, and bright red blood dripped onto the ground, resembling red plum blossoms blooming in the depths of winter.

The young emperor stood by the window, with the magnificent palace outside and the beautiful moonlight. However, the moon was not full, adding a touch of desolation and melancholy.

Not long after, Qin San entered with a bow and said, "Your Majesty, the traitor Jiang Liannan has been executed."

The emperor's body suddenly trembled upon hearing the words. In an instant, he turned around, revealing a slightly pale and handsome face. "When did I command you to execute him?"

Qin San was startled, then suddenly realized something. He widened his eyes in shock and hastily knelt down on the ground, saying, "I deserve death, Your Majesty!"

The entire hall was quiet, with only the fragrant smoke rising from the burning incense in the golden censer.

The emperor gradually calmed down, and the handsome face returned to its usual sternness: "Did the Crown Prince falsely convey a royal decree to me?"

Qin San dared not raise his head, his forehead pressed tightly against the icy ground. "The Prince is doing this for His Majesty and for the sake of the nation…"

The emperor remained silent for a moment and finally asked, "Before his death... what did he say?"

Qin San truthfully said: "He said that Jiang Yushi was unaware of the situation, and he implores Your Majesty to spare Jiang Yushi's life."

Upon hearing this, the emperor appeared somewhat disappointed, yet also somewhat relieved. Finally, he replied, "Understood."

Qin San still dared not raise his head. He knew that the Emperor was in a bad mood at the moment, so he prostrated on the ground and didn't even dare to breathe.

After a long pause, the Emperor said, "Go to the Yushi Mansion and report the death. Just say he died from a sudden illness. You...comfort Yushi Jiang well. Also, bury him in the Imperial Prince Mausoleum and don't let anyone know."

"Yes, this servant will take her leave." Qin San secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and then bowed before leaving.

The expression on the emperor's face remained calm, but his clenched fist seemed somewhat unusual.

"Ah Qing..." he muttered, his voice barely audible.

His ink-black eyes slowly closed, concealing all the unknown sentiments within.

Just like this deep night, shrouding all the joys and sorrows, loves and hates, grievances and resentments of the world in darkness.

The wind blew, leaving no trace behind.