FID – Chapter 937

Chapter 937: Stubborn Beyond Redemption

Perhaps due to her extreme thinness, her slightly swollen belly looked even more pronounced, making it almost out of place. Her eyes, set in her gaunt face, appeared disproportionately large.

She looked at him faintly. Those eyes should have been clear, yet they seemed veiled in a haze, making it impossible to read them.

Feng Mohan rose from his seat and descended the steps slowly, stopping just in front of her.

He reached out and gently lifted her delicate chin. He said calmly, “I once believed that you liked me.”

The woman gave no reply, but as he said those words, she lifted her gaze and looked straight into his eyes. It was as if she were mocking him for the mere suggestion behind that statement.

“I also once believed you were different from the other women in the harem, but you kept appearing before me, again and again… always so coincidentally.”

“That night in Qiande Hall, you climbed onto my imperial bed of your own accord. Shan Lai, I truly want to know. What was your purpose in going to such lengths to approach me?”

The woman’s lips parted slightly as she spoke softly, “Then what does Your Majesty hope my purpose was?”

Feng Mohan released his grip on the woman’s chin and returned to his seat. “Every woman who tries to get close to me has her own selfish motives. You say I am heartless, but how many of the women in this harem have true affection for me?” His tone was cold and indifferent, with a trace of almost imperceptible self-mockery.

“A year and a half ago, you began frequently entering the harem under the pretense of treating and regulating the health of the consorts. A year and a half later, nearly all of them were found to have lost the ability to conceive,”

The man sat in his chair and narrowed his eyes on her. “Was that your doing?”

She did not respond. He continued, “That night I was drunk and took you to bed. I may have been drunk, but that doesn’t mean I was completely unaware. You did something to me, didn’t you?”

Their eyes met. Her expression remained calm, while his gaze had turned ice-cold.

“To condemn someone, all one needs is an excuse. Your Majesty has already decided I’m guilty. No matter what I say, Your Majesty will think I’m making excuses.”

“You haven’t said a single word. How can you be so sure I would dismiss it as an excuse? Let’s set aside the matter of the harem consorts. That night in Qiande Hall—how do you explain it? So many suspicious events, yet you offer not even one explanation, and still blame me for not trusting you?”

The woman’s lashes trembled, but she fell silent again.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly grew tense.

After a brief moment, the emperor sneered, “Even now, you still cling to your so-called dignity, too proud to explain yourself to me? Fine. Fine! You’re stubborn beyond redemption!”

“Guards! Take her to the Clan Court Prison! Since I cannot get the truth from her, we will proceed by law and let the Clan Court conduct the investigation!”

Footsteps of the imperial guards soon echoed from outside. 

Shan Lai’s body trembled slightly. She looked up at the emperor, only to see him flick his sleeve and turn away, not sparing her another glance.

From beginning to end, he had never once asked about the child in her womb.

After she was taken away, Feng Mohan stood alone in the hall for a moment longer before leaving and returning to the imperial study. That day, the emperor stayed in the imperial study for the entire day, seeing no one.

Aside from that incident, everything in the palace remained calm and orderly, as if nothing had changed.

In the blink of an eye, Xue Qinglian’s surgeries were nearing completion.

Only one final operation remained. If successful, Xue Qinglian would fully recover and be like a normal person again.

This final procedure was the most critical part of the entire treatment. The meridians to be repaired were located around the heart.

Any slight mistake during the surgery could cost Xue Qinglian his life, rendering all the efforts of the past two months completely in vain.

Liu Yusheng scheduled the operation for three days later, using that time to make the most thorough preparations possible.

Early on the third morning, Qian Wanjin and Shi Xianrou arrived at the royal residence and waited outside the operating room.

After Liu Yusheng entered the room with Bai Zhu, Qi Xin, Zisu, and Chenxiang, she closed the doors and windows tightly. Lanterns were lit inside, signifying the start of the surgery.

At the same time, news arrived once again from the Clan Court Prison: Xue Zhong was requesting to see Feng Qingbai. It was already the fourth time in half a month.

When he received the message, Feng Qingbai’s expression remained calm, but he finally agreed to the meeting.

After leaving Xue Zhong hanging three times, the man’s patience should be nearly exhausted. It was time for the final round of their game.

The atmosphere in the prison was perennially cold and damp, filled with a rotting stench.

Even after multiple visits, Feng Qingbai still disliked that smell. 

Away from his woman, his obsession with cleanliness would always resurface.

This time, he didn’t go to the deepest cells. Instead, he waited in the punishment room, seated on a chair against the wall.

Xue Zhong was dragged in by the prison guards.

His wheelchair had long since disappeared as the guards had taken Qian Wanjin’s first visit very seriously.

Not only was the wheelchair gone, but the two meals he was given daily were literally just leftover water specially fetched from the tavern.

After being treated like less than a human, Xue Zhong now looked more beast than man. He reeked of a foul stench, hair matted and filthy, clothes tattered and ragged—dirtier than most beggars outside.

“Your vitality is surprisingly strong,” Feng Qingbai said. “You still can’t die after all this.”

Though part of that was because he didn’t want Xue Zhong to die.

“Your Highness flatters me,” Xue Zhong replied. 

Since Feng Qingbai stopped coming, and no longer faced frequent torture sessions, although he was still in a sorry state, he had gotten a little respite and was stronger when speaking.

At least he could still make his voice heard.

“Enough nonsense. Why have you asked to see me?” The man seemed impatient with the small talk. “Remember, this is your only chance.”

“Your Highness, rest assured, I will cherish this opportunity,” Xue Zhong said as he was thrown on the ground. Without a wheelchair to lean on, he couldn’t even sit and could only lie down to talk.

His years of experience and scheming showed. He didn’t reveal the slightest embarrassment.

“Your Highness is keeping me alive because you want to learn the information only I can provide, right? For example, about the massacre at Baicao Valley all those years ago, and whether I had anything to do with your mother’s death. Also, with your intellect, Your Highness must have long suspected the real reason your mother took you and fled the palace,” Xue Zhong chuckled darkly. “I can tell you everything, but you must promise me one condition.”

“You speak. I’m listening. Whether I agree depends on whether your story is worth it.”

“After you learn everything, Your Highness must let me go, and also order Dongyue and Beicang to withdraw their manhunts for me.”

Feng Qingbai said coldly, “If what you say is true, letting you go is no trouble. Your life is of no use to me. Whether I release you or not is just a matter of my choice.”

Fixing his gaze on the man, Xue Zhong stopped smiling. “I hope Your Highness keeps his word.”

After that, he seemed to fall into memories and began to recount the events of the past in detail.

“It all started more than forty years ago, when Baicao Valley was still prosperous and wealthy. I was an elder there, and your grandfather was my brother.”