Chapter 46: Terminal Stage of Being Love-Struck? Beyond Saving, Just Await Death

Who could blame Qin Ye for being a good person?

Xue Yulang was burdened with numerous crimes and thrown into the Heavenly Prison, while the Xue family’s possessions were confiscated and they were exiled. Madam Xue, weeping bitterly, went to beg her daughter-in-law, the princess, for help, only to find the princess’s residence surrounded by palace guards, with no one allowed to approach.

Upon hearing the news, Huayang immediately headed for the palace. The guards couldn’t stop her—she broke through with ease, for they dared not truly harm her. Once inside, she didn’t see Qin Ye, but rather encountered the Empress.

The Empress was still dressed in her priestess’s robes.

“Huayang, go home.”

“Mother, Yulang is innocent. He’s been framed. I ask to see Father, to beg him to do justice for Yulang.”

“Huayang, your brother is actually still alive.”

“What? My brother is alive? Does Father know? We can talk about this later. Mother, you must help me. I can’t live without Yulang.”

The Empress sighed. “When you were born, you were your father’s first child, the eldest daughter of the Eastern Palace, and your imperial grandfather personally granted you the title of Princess Huayang. When your father ascended the throne, fearing for your future, he ignored the ministers’ objections and added to your fief to ensure your safety. Your fief is no less than those of favored princes. If you wish, you could have as many Yulangs as you want.”

Huayang frowned. “But there’s only one Yulang. He’s special.”

“If he treated you sincerely, even if he were talentless and mediocre, your father would have no objections to him. But do you really think you can hide what kind of person he truly is from your father?”

The Empress rebuked her sharply. “Initially, I blamed your father, thought him heartless and merciless. But now, it seems I should blame myself. I shouldn’t have raised you and Yun’er so naïvely, so foolishly pure. You’ve always brooded over your aunt’s marriage, but do you know what she did back then? You only saw her humbly beg for her husband’s life, but did you know that, when her pleas failed, she ordered his execution by flogging? Afterward, your father protected your aunt, and to this day, she remains Princess Chang of Anguo, enjoying endless honor.”

“My aunt…”

“After that, you seldom saw her. You thought she wasted away for a man, too ashamed to face anyone? You’re wrong. She kept countless handsome attendants in her residence. I feared you would be led astray, so I kept you two apart. Now that I think about it, I am the one most deeply shackled by so-called rules and propriety. Huayang, from today, you’ll leave the capital and go to your own fief. There, you may live as an honored princess and do as you please.”

“Mother, may I take Yulang with me?”

The Empress took a deep breath and, unable to restrain herself, smashed a teacup on the table. “Yulang, Yulang, Yulang! Has he eaten your brain? If you can’t bear to part with him, then go to prison with him. Be a pair of ill-fated lovers together!”

Joy lit Huayang’s face. “I am willing to live and die with Yulang.”

The Empress: …

Fine, fine, at least now she could sympathize with the Emperor.

As Huayang wished, she went to prison. This time, Qin Ye had nothing to do with it—the Empress personally ordered that Huayang receive no special treatment. Her fine robes and jewels were stripped away; she wore only a thin prison garment, her hair loose and wild, as she was pushed into a filthy, foul cell. Even the straw mats stank.

Huayang could not endure it and began banging wildly on the cell door, demanding someone clean up for her. No matter how hard she beat the door, no one came.

Xue Yulang, who still held a sliver of hope, now fell into utter despair.

Seeing no guards, Huayang gave up and instead turned to fuss over Xue Yulang, concerned for his well-being.

“So you’re saying you ended up in prison on purpose, just for me?”

“Yes, Yulang. For you, I’m willing to do anything.”

Huayang grasped his hand, but the tormented Xue Yulang finally snapped. He slapped her, then beat her with fists and feet.

Thankfully, the guards arrived in time, dragged Xue Yulang away, and gave him a savage beating on the spot.

The guards were distraught. They’d been ordered not to give Huayang any special treatment, but that didn’t mean they could let her be abused. If a princess of such noble birth was beaten in prison, would they keep their heads? They would, thanks to Qin Ye’s guarantee. Even he hadn’t expected Xue Yulang to blame Huayang for everything and dare raise a hand against her.

After this, Xue Yulang lost even the privilege of a single cell and was thrown in with the most vicious criminals. Within days, Xue Yulang realized just how fortunate his previous treatment had been, but it was already too late.

After a brutal beating, Huayang awoke silent and withdrawn. Still, she resolved to see Xue Yulang one last time.

In this final meeting, Xue Yulang was unrecognizable—his hair matted, his body filthy, his wounds festering with foul-smelling pus. Crawling to the cell door, he broke down in tears. “Huayang, I was wrong. Forgive me, please. I love you so much that when I learned you’d been imprisoned for me, I lost control and hurt you. Forgive me, please ask His Majesty to release me, or at least help me move to another cell. I beg you, Huayang!”

Something seemed to shatter in Huayang’s mind. She crouched down, reaching out as if to touch his swollen, bruised face, but in the end, she pulled her hand back, unable to bring herself to do it.

“What about your cousin, and Xing’er, and Liu’er? Don’t you want them?”

“They’re nothing to me. I love you. Only now do I realize it—Huayang, I want only you. Let’s live happily together, just the two of us.”

Thinking he had a chance, Xue Yulang gazed at her with what he thought were loving eyes, but his battered, tear-streaked, snot-smeared face made it impossible to see anything but ugliness.

Huayang rose and stepped back.

“Huayang—no, Huayang, didn’t you say you loved me? That you’d do anything for me? How can you abandon me, leave me?”

She retreated farther and farther until she finally turned and ran. She didn’t know where she was going—only that the love she’d cherished seemed like nothing at all. She’d believed she loved Xue Yulang deeply, willing to do anything for him. But when his true nature was exposed, once his handsome façade was gone, she suddenly understood she’d only ever loved his face.

Only when she could run no farther did Huayang stop, standing blankly before bursting into laughter—at Xue Yulang, and at herself.

Huayang fell ill. When she recovered, she went to a temple outside the capital and chose to become a Taoist nun.

As for Xue Yulang’s two children, Huayang returned them to their birth mother.

Xue Yulang was sentenced to exile. The Xue family was not further harmed, but they lost everything—the proud son who once brought them glory, the princess daughter-in-law who brought them honor and wealth. Now, they had nothing.

Huayang’s choice to become a nun was something Qin Ye had never expected. The Empress wore her Taoist robes only for show. When she once questioned whether the emperor was an impostor, her behavior bordered on rebellion, yet Qin Ye merely ordered her confined for reflection. The Empress followed her father’s example, reciting Taoist scriptures and praying for Qin Yun’s well-being. When news of Qin Yun’s transformation arrived, the Empress’s heart gradually found peace.

As for Huayang, the Empress sighed and let her be. Sometimes, a life of quiet cultivation in the mountains is far more peaceful than the chaos of the mortal world.

Xie Hua overcame all obstacles and reached the final round of the palace examination. Qin Ye assigned a random topic, and Xie Hua delivered a passionate speech that tore the mask of hypocrisy from the aristocratic clans. Most of the ministers, themselves members of those clans, were furious, accusing Xie Hua of blasphemy and heresy, and petitioned the emperor to strip her of her honors. Qin Ye was unmoved; instead, he appointed her top scholar of the examination.

Afterward, Qin Ye visited Qin Yun, who now seemed ever more ethereal, yet grounded. Qiu Ruhai, whose genes were indeed remarkable—no wonder he was coveted by two emperors—had abandoned the academy after Qin Ye stripped Qin Yun of the crown prince’s title, choosing instead to travel the world. His youngest daughter, now the Empress, had taken up reciting Taoist scriptures. His granddaughter, Princess Huayang, after her great awakening, had gone straight to the mountains as a Taoist nun. As for his grandson, well, he remained in the mundane world, still bound by its ties.

Qin Yun, having lost his status and everything else, started anew, learning first how to live as an ordinary person. Setting aside the revered words of the sages, he discovered the myriad facets of life, far beyond what any book could encompass. Free from those constraints, he began to understand Xie Fanghua’s actions. Together, they supported each other through adversity. When Xie Fanghua resolved to sit the civil service exams, Qin Yun did not object—in fact, he approved. Their relationship grew ever closer; now, their feelings for each other were mutual and deep.

When they met again, Qin Yun’s eyes were filled with pure joy.

“Father…what you did was right. I am not suited to that position, nor should I have been forced into it. The way things are now is just fine.”

Qin Ye nodded, gratified—see, the child had found his way, gained true understanding at last. Who says retreating to the mountains for cultivation isn’t a path forward?

Once she embraced her true nature, Huayang became a maverick Taoist: bold, outspoken, and unafraid to challenge anyone. Her arguments were sharp and well-founded, leaving her opponents speechless. In the end, she became famous throughout the land, earning the title of Lady Scholar.

Having settled most matters, Qin Ye abdicated, letting Qin Ming become emperor—a diligent and conscientious civil servant—while he took the Empress to the mountains as well. A collective retreat into cultivation.

Qin Ye did not live much longer. Before he died, he ensured Xie Fanghua would not be charged with deceiving the emperor, freeing her from worry and allowing her to continue shining in the court.