Rebirth: The General's Illegitimate Daughter

Chapter 15 The Past

The eunuchs guarding Fengyuan Hall watched as the coughing woman knelt outside. After a while, one with keen eyes recognized her as the Empress, who had been confined to Fengzao Palace due to illness for over a year. He quickly reported to the Emperor's close eunuch, Xue Yong, who then hurried outside to confirm her identity. It was indeed the Empress, and she must have heard about the recent news.

Xue Yong signaled for the other eunuchs to help the Empress up and then rushed inside to kneel before the Emperor, who was engrossed in reading memorials. "Your Majesty..."

The Emperor glanced up and continued his work, "What's the matter? Speak properly."

Gathering his courage, Xue Yong finally spoke, "The Empress is kneeling outside. She might have learned about the incident." He prostrated himself, not daring to move.

The hall fell silent. The Emperor put down the memorial, "Did I not order you to seal Fengzao Palace's news? You are becoming more and more useless." He placed the brush down on the table with a sound that echoed in Xue Yong’s heart. The Emperor stood up and briskly walked outside before Xue Yong could respond.

Kneeling on the ground, the Empress gripped the snow-covered ground, trying to numb her inner torment. She had recently overheard Green Shang talking with other palace maids about ministers petitioning the Emperor, accusing her father of treason. The evidence was said to be irrefutable, and the entire Qin family had been imprisoned, except for her, who remained oblivious and powerless.

Her father had served the country faithfully his entire life. How could he possibly commit treason? There must have been some mistake. Thinking of her mother and her sister, who had just returned to the Qin residence, she felt another pang of anguish. The snow in her hand melted from her abnormal body heat.

The Emperor walked outside and saw her. She was lying prostrate, her thin frame showing through her clothes. His expression was unreadable as he walked down the steps and silently helped her up.

She looked at the man in front of her, her husband of five years, the ruler of Da Huai. She hesitated but then broke free and knelt again, her eyes red with tears. "Your Majesty, I don’t believe my father would commit such a heinous crime. Please, investigate this thoroughly and clear my father's name."

"Enough!" The Emperor rebuked coldly. "The evidence is conclusive. What do you want me to investigate? Look at you. What have you become, Qin Zhaoxi? Do you not have the dignity of an Empress?" He glared at the kneeling servants behind her. "Help the Empress back to Fengzao Palace. If she suffers any harm, you will pay with your lives!"

Stunned, Qin Zhaoxi looked up at her husband. As the maids helped her up, she desperately clutched his hand, her voice breaking, "Please, save my father. He is innocent. Xu Rong, I beg you..."

The maids, fearing for their own lives, forcefully lifted her. She continued to plead with the man in front of her until she could no longer hold his hand. Her eyes turned hollow, tears streaming uncontrollably, and she eventually fainted.

She fell ill, her condition fluctuating between consciousness and delirium. When she finally regained full awareness, it was half a month later. By then, the entire Qin family had been executed, their bodies buried in a desolate mountain outside Shengjing—the Emperor's final act of mercy.