Chaos of Ming 1628

The house was dimly lit, with only a faint light coming through the window lintels, and everything inside remained as it was.

Only the bed was a recently replaced ice bed, which was taken care of and maintained by a dedicated person every day.

Madam Ke lay on the sickbed, her body covered in preservative powder and deliberately frozen on an ice bed, yet she still emitted a strange smell.

Fortunately, the incense in the room was so strong and pungent that it was hard to detect unless you looked closely.

He sat down. The person on the bed was horribly pale, covered only by heavy rouge, devoid of any vitality.

He just lay there, quiet, unlike usual.

Wei Zhongxian recalled that the two of them were each other's only support in the deep palace, and their relationship was also one of shared honor and disgrace, life and death.

Madam Ke was supposed to be Wei Zhongxian's root, his warmth in his loneliness.

Wei Zhongxian lightly touched the edge of the bed with his fingertips, his voice hoarse and low, without a trace of ruthlessness, only deathly desolation: "Everyone else fears me and fawns over me, but you alone have seen my lowly and destitute state without the slightest disgust."

"Now that you've left first, this vast palace and its overwhelming power hold no meaning for me whatsoever."

After saying this, Madam Ke's hand suddenly fell off the bed. It was just a change in the body caused by someone being dead for too long.

Wei Zhongxian was quite frightened and quickly stood up, his face full of tension: "Are you blaming me?"

"No, you shouldn't blame me."

"It was clearly you who doted on that young man. It was just one visit to the palace gates, and you left with him, even..."

He found it difficult to speak the rest. Even more so because that young man possessed a happiness he could never give.

Only at this moment did Wei Zhongxian shed all the effeminate and oppressive demeanor he displayed in front of others, and he no longer put on airs. Even though the person on the bed was dead, he felt as if he had returned to his former self.

He simply sat quietly beside her, listening to her rambling. Whenever she showed the slightest displeasure, he would immediately restrain himself, gently soothing her, never daring to scold her in the slightest.

However, with messages arriving one after another from Jiaohe County via carrier pigeon, he, far away in the capital, could not tolerate those all-night revelry.

"The new ruler can no longer tolerate our coexistence. Keeping you alive will be the biggest handle he can use against me in the future."

"Your idea is good, but it's too dangerous and risky. We both need to think about future generations."

"I have no choice but to sacrifice you to save my own life."

After Wei Zhongxian finished speaking, he stood up.

She raised her hands and wiped her face, a gesture that revealed her utter exhaustion. When she removed her hands from her face, it was as if a completely different person had been there just moments before.

Wei Zhongxian's face was devoid of any tenderness; he simply roared, "You stubborn and incorrigible Ke Shi, you refuse to listen to my teachings!"

"Since you remain unrepentant and still wish to confuse the royal bloodline, you must not be spared!"

Suddenly, the sound of something breaking came from inside the room...

In the capital, the news spread like wildfire.

The Emperor specially ordered a yellow notice to be posted, announcing this to the world:

The wet nurse, Madam Ke, defiled the inner palace, harmed the imperial bloodline, abused her power and disrupted the government, and secretly possessed forbidden imperial items. Her crimes were heinous and she deserved to be beaten to death.

Now that Wei Zhongxian has reported this, a thorough investigation is needed, and the Hakka family's property has been confiscated.

The news had already excited the public. Only Wei Zhongxian remained secluded, refusing visitors for three consecutive days.

Meanwhile, in the mansion.

One carriage after another entered through the back gate, each loaded with heavy gold and silver objects.

Wei Zhongxian stood in the backyard, his eyes filled with unfathomable emotions.

Sun Qing and Yang Qingqing stood at the back, silently counting as they entered the carriage.

There were a total of twenty-three carts, all filled with money and valuables that had been smuggled out of the house before Madam Ke's property was confiscated. Among the carts were countless gold, silver, and jade artifacts, but Wei Zhongxian didn't even glance at them. The only thing he held in his hand was the embroidered pillow that Madam Ke loved most. He looked at it again and again, his eyes filled with reluctance.

After a long while, he turned around and looked at Sun Qing: "Now, we have no interest in these material possessions."

"You told me to bring it, so I brought it."

Wei Zhongxian's tone carried a hint of helplessness: "Tell me, what should our family do next?"

Sun Qing's heart stirred as he gazed at the gold and silver. It would be a lie to say he wasn't excited. He had meticulously planned every step of the way, all for this large sum of money.

"The gecko sheds its tail!" Sun Qing said decisively.

Yang Qingqing suddenly turned her head, stared at Sun Qing, and her eyes darkened.

Wei Zhongxian murmured these four words, then let out a bitter laugh, his eyes filled with helplessness: "Is this truly the only way?"

After Madam Ke's death, eight pregnant women were found in her residence. Madam Ke's son, Hou Guoxing, cried out that he was innocent, but in addition to the pregnant women, a large number of dragon robes, dragon and phoenix ornaments, and prohibited gold and silver items were also found in the mansion.

They could not escape their guilt long ago.

"Grandfather," Yang Qingqing's voice was slightly hoarse, "Now, in the court, the officials are rising up in retaliation, submitting memorials to impeach us one after another."

"I'm afraid the current emperor will take some action sooner or later."

At this point, Yang Qingqing was filled with worry.

Logically speaking, Wei Zhongxian now has both manpower and money at his disposal. If he really wanted to rebel, it wouldn't be difficult for him.

In contrast, Zhu Youxiao's power was weak, so he did not pose much of an impact.

Yang Qingqing had an idea...

With just a glance, Wei Zhongxian understood what Yang Qingqing was thinking. He gave a bitter smile and looked at Sun Qing again.

Sun Qing said, "A gecko cuts off its tail," but whose tail is it that's being cut off?

Wei Zhongxian wasn't very literate, but that doesn't mean he was a fool. Just as a gecko can regrow its tail after it's severed, it can also be fatal.

The death of Madam Ke saddled Wei Zhongxian with the reputation of a traitor. The eunuch faction was already in a state of panic and disarray. Now, if he dared to cut off his own tail like a gecko, how could he face anyone?

"Godfather!"

A gasp rang out from outside the door, and Cui Chengxiu, his official robes disheveled, stumbled in.

Before he could even see who was in front of him clearly, he knelt down with a thud: "Godfather, please, save your child!"

"These days, the memorials impeaching me have piled up like a mountain; I simply cannot bear it any longer!"

Cui Chengxiu, who was once so arrogant, was now completely gone. His voice trembled as he pleaded, "If you don't take action soon, I'm afraid I'll lose both my official position and my life."

Wei Zhongxian stood there quietly, his face devoid of any smile, and slowly shook his head.

His eyes were cold and terrifying: "The new emperor has made up his mind, and the entire court is attacking him. The internal and external situation is already in complete chaos."

"Our family is also overwhelmed and simply unable to protect you completely."

At this point, Wei Zhongxian was also heartbroken: "I clearly foresaw this day, why wouldn't you believe me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Cui Chengxiu froze on the spot, his last glimmer of hope instantly shattered.

He went limp and collapsed to the ground, knowing full well that all was lost.

Looking at Sun Qing standing to the side, he suddenly chuckled, "It's you, it's all your fault!"

"Godfather, if you continue to believe in this person, I'm afraid..."

"He was the one who saved our lives." Wei Zhongxian's voice was mournful, his back still turned to Cui Chengxiu: "What happened today is truly your own fault."

"Let's go back!"

After uttering those few words, Wei Zhongxian no longer looked at the people behind him.

Cui Chengxiu trembled. Even Wei Zhongxian refused to take action, so who could protect him?

"Godfather!" Cui Chengxiu suddenly stopped struggling, slowly knelt on the ground, and kowtowed heavily to Wei Zhongxian: "I'm afraid I won't be able to serve you properly in the future."

"But before that, your child will surely cleanse you of the real scourges around you!"

After saying this, Cui Chengxiu's eyes instantly sharpened. He abruptly stood up, a sharp knife in his hand, and charged towards Sun Qing.

"It's all your fault, you ignorant brat, that you've ruined us all!"

"Even if I die, I'll take you with me!"