Daming: After self-explosive time travel, Lao Zhu's mentality collapsed

"Why is it you?!" Chu Ze looked at the person in front of him in disbelief.

The black shadow turned out to be... Shen Yue’s personal maid, Xiaolan!
Xiaolan covered her wound and groaned in pain.

"Why? Why do you do this?" Chu Ze couldn't understand. Xiaolan had always been loyal to Shen Yue, why would she harm her?
Xiaolan laughed bitterly and said, "For revenge! For my sister!"

"Your sister?" Chu Ze was even more confused.

"That's right!" Xiaolan's eyes were filled with hatred, "My sister was killed by Shen Yue!"

Chu Ze then remembered that many years ago, when Shen Yue was still a royal concubine, there was a personal maid who was beaten to death by Shen Yue because she made a mistake.

Could it be that Xiaolan is the sister of that palace maid?

"Your sister made a mistake and she deserves it!" Chu Ze said.

"No, she's not wrong!" Xiaolan shouted hysterically, "She was framed by Shen Yue! Shen Yue was jealous of her beauty, so she designed to kill her!"

Chu Ze was silent. He didn't know whether what Xiaolan said was true or not, but now, it was too late to say anything.

Xiaolan struggled to stand up, pointed at Chuze and said, "Chuze, even if I die, I will drag you to hell with me!"

After saying that, Xiaolan suddenly pulled out the dagger and stabbed herself in the chest.

"No!" Chu Ze wanted to stop him, but it was too late.

Xiaolan fell in a pool of blood, looking at the sky with empty eyes.

Chu Ze stood there blankly, his heart filled with shock and grief.

He could never have imagined that Shen Yue's miscarriage was due to such a reason.

He could never have imagined that Xiaolan would actually sacrifice her life for revenge.

Chu Ze slowly squatted down and picked up Xiaolan's body, feeling mixed emotions.

He didn't know who he should hate or blame.

He only knew that all this was because of him, because he failed to protect Shen Yue.

If he had discovered Xiaolan's abnormality earlier, perhaps such a tragedy would not have happened.

Chu Ze held Xiaolan's body and left the cold palace.

His figure looked particularly desolate and lonely under the moonlight.

After returning to the palace, Chu Ze buried Xiaolan's body next to Shen Yue's grave.

He hoped that in another world, they could reconcile.

After dealing with all this, Chu Ze sat alone on the dragon throne, lost in thought.

He began to reflect on himself and his actions.

He realized that he had always been too conceited and too confident.

He thought he was invincible and could control everything.

But in reality, he had no control over anything.

He couldn't even protect the woman he loved.

Chu Ze's heart was filled with regret and self-blame.

He knew that he had to change, to become stronger and more mature.

Only in this way can he protect the people he wants to protect and prevent similar tragedies from happening again.

At this moment, a eunuch rushed in. "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!" the eunuch said in panic, "The Queen Mother... The Queen Mother..."

The eunuch's voice was shaking so much that he could barely speak clearly, "The Empress Dowager...she has passed away!"

Chu Ze was struck by lightning, and the teacup in his hand fell to the ground and broke into pieces. He stood up suddenly, and the hem of his dragon robe swept across the ground, making a rustling sound. The Queen Mother? How could it be? He had visited her a few days ago, and although she was unwell, she was fine.

"What's going on? Tell me in detail!" Chu Ze's voice was low, with a barely perceptible tremor.

The eunuch knelt down and told the whole story. It turned out that when the Queen Mother learned about Shen Yue's miscarriage, she was heartbroken. In addition, she was already weak and sickly, and eventually she fell ill. The imperial doctors were helpless and could only watch the Queen Mother's condition worsen.

Chu Ze felt as if a huge rock was pressing down on his heart, making him breathless. Shen Yue and the Queen Mother, the two most important people in his life, died one after another within a month. How could he bear this?

He staggered out of the bedroom, looked up to the sky and howled, his voice filled with grief and despair.

"what--"

This long roar echoed throughout the imperial palace and the entire capital.

……

The Queen Mother's funeral was held with great ceremony, and the whole country was in mourning. Chu Ze, dressed in plain clothes, stood solemnly in front of the mourning hall, accepting condolences from all officials.

His heart was filled with endless sorrow and regret. If he had discovered Xiaolan's abnormality earlier, perhaps such a tragedy would not have happened. If he had cared more about the Queen Mother, perhaps the Queen Mother would not have died of depression because of Shen Yue's matter.

But there are no ifs in this world.

After the funeral, Chu Ze became even more silent, and spent the whole day in the imperial study, reviewing memorials and handling government affairs. He seemed to want to devote all his energy to work to numb himself and forget the pain in his heart.

However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not forget the voices and smiles of Shen Yue and the Queen Mother. Their figures, like a nightmare, entangled him and made him restless.

One day, Chu Ze was reviewing memorials when he suddenly heard a commotion outside.

"What's going on?" he asked, frowning.

A eunuch ran in hurriedly, "Your Majesty, there is a woman outside the palace gate, and she wants to see you."

"Woman? What woman?" Chu Ze was a little impatient.

"She said...she is Concubine Shen's sister."

Chu Ze raised his head suddenly, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, "Shen Yue's sister? Let her in!"

A moment later, a woman in plain clothes walked into the imperial study. She looked somewhat similar to Shen Yue, but there was a hint of heroism between her eyebrows.

"I am Shen Xue, a commoner, paying my respects to His Majesty." The woman bowed gracefully.

Chu Ze looked her up and down and asked, "Are you Shen Yue's sister?"

"That's right." Shen Xue raised her head and looked directly at Chu Ze, "I came here this time to seek justice for my sister."

Chu Ze's heart moved, and he asked, "What do you know?"

Shen Xue took a deep breath and said, "I know that my sister's miscarriage was not an accident, but someone deliberately harmed her."

Chu Ze's face suddenly turned gloomy, "Who is it?"

"It was Xiaolan." Shen Xue said word by word, "Xiaolan's sister was beaten to death by Concubine Shen. Xiaolan deliberately harmed her sister in order to get revenge."

Chu Ze clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his flesh. He had long suspected that Shen Yue's miscarriage was not an accident, and now that he heard Shen Xue's confirmation, he could no longer suppress the anger in his heart.

"Xiao Lan, you are so bad, Xiao Lan!" Chu Ze gritted his teeth and said, "I have treated you well, and you dare to do such a thing!"

Shen Xue looked at Chu Ze's angry expression and was secretly happy. The purpose of her trip was to sow discord between Chu Ze and the harem and seek benefits for her family. (End of this chapter)