EBE Chapter 486: He plunged the dagger deep into his own chest.
Chapter 486: He plunged the dagger deep into his own chest.
Shou'an Palace.
When Gao Xian, Xie Yanli, and the others arrived at Shou'an Palace, the entire palace was unusually quiet.
The palace gates were half-closed, and the palace guards were kneeling on the ground, their faces pale.
Xie Yanli went inside.
The moment I stepped into the hall, a faint yet nauseating smell of blood filled the air, lingering like a wisp of silk.
Without stopping, he walked straight into the inner hall along the dimly lit corridor.
In the center of the inner hall, he saw Meng Ze.
He was covered in blood, squatting on the ground with his hands hanging down between his knees, blood dripping from between his fingers.
Hearing footsteps, Meng Ze looked up.
He slowly looked at Xie Yanli, his throat bobbing slightly.
“I remember everything.”
Xie Yanli froze on the spot.
At this moment, Gao Xian, who was following behind, also entered the hall.
I didn't understand at first when I heard that.
Do you remember now? What do you mean?
But then, he frowned and smelled the strong, chilling stench of blood.
His expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly pushed Xie Yanli aside, striding into the bedchamber.
"Mother--"
A roar almost tore through the night.
The person on the bed was covered in blood, their nightgown soaked through, and the brocade quilt was now a dark red.
His white hair was stained with blood, his head was slightly tilted to the side, and his eyes were half-open, as if he still had the fear before his death.
"Mother!!!"
Gao Xian rushed over uncontrollably, knelt down in front of the bed, and checked the Empress Dowager's breath with trembling hands.
"Someone come here! Summon the imperial physician! Quickly, summon the imperial physician!!"
He roared like a madman, his eyes bloodshot, his voice distorted, "Seal off Shou'an Palace for me!!"
Chaos erupted outside the hall.
Guards, eunuchs, and palace servants rushed in, kneeling before the hall, none daring to utter a word.
Gao Xian used almost all his strength to keep from going mad inside the hall.
He turned his head and slowly looked at Meng Ze, who was sitting in a pool of blood, as if he had suddenly realized something.
"It's you?!"
Meng Ze did not deny it, but just looked at him quietly.
Gao Xian's eyes were bloodshot. He rushed uncontrollably to Meng Ze, grabbed his neck tightly with both hands, and spoke in a hoarse, almost manic voice.
"It was you! You killed Mother! You're a madman! You killed her!!"
Meng Ze's neck turned white from being choked, and his breath became labored, but he did not struggle, letting him roar and scratch wildly.
His face showed no fear, only an indescribable coldness and desolation.
Gao Xian stared at him closely, his emotions on the verge of collapse.
Suddenly, he froze.
He looked at the face covered in blood.
The outline, the eyebrows and eyes...
How could he look so much like Xie Yanli!
Gao Xian's hand trembled slightly, and his voice was hoarse.
"You...who are you?"
Meng Ze's Adam's apple bobbed. "I am Xie Yanli's biological father."
“At the same time…” He stared into Gao Xian’s eyes and said, word by word, “I am your elder brother.”
"My name is Gao Qiyuan."
boom--
Something seemed to explode in Gao Xian's mind.
His lips trembled, and he even loosened his grip, staring blankly at the man in front of him.
Gao Qiyuan.
"No, impossible..." Gao Xian murmured, his face pale, and he took two steps back, his voice filled with instinctive rejection and fear.
"Weren't you dead? How are you still alive?"
"You, you've been dead for over twenty years!"
Gao Xian seemed to have been struck hard by a heavy hammer, and staggered two steps.
Leaning against the pillar, he murmured hollowly, "How could this be... how is this possible..."
"More than 20 years ago, the Empress Dowager sent assassins to ambush us on the mountain road, trying to kill us."
“At that time, Nianchu was already pregnant.”
Meng Ze lowered his eyes, his fingertips unconsciously curling slightly.
"In the end, I fell off a cliff with serious injuries, and she gave birth to the child on a dilapidated wooden bed."
"After that, I was stabbed more than a dozen times."
Gao Xian stood in the hall, his body seemingly nailed to the spot, even his breathing became unsteady.
He stared blankly at Meng Ze.
He never expected things to turn out this way.
This was something he hadn't expected at all, yet he had anticipated it...
It turns out that this is how it is...
Gao Xian's mind was completely blank at this point, and he couldn't think of anything.
It just keeps repeating itself, how could this be?
When he was a child, he heard many people talk about his elder brother, the emperor.
Everyone praises him.
It is said that the eldest son of the emperor is intelligent, kind, and has made outstanding military achievements.
He was the best candidate for crown prince, but unfortunately he died young.
He couldn't remember how old he was when he first heard about these things, but he did remember that whenever people mentioned this name, their tone was always respectful.
When he was young, he secretly thought how wonderful it would be if his elder brother were still alive.
But now, the truth has been revealed.
It turned out that the Empress Dowager had personally orchestrated the murder, driving the Emperor's brother to his grave and not even sparing his wife, who died such a tragic death.
Gao Xian's face gradually paled, and his fingertips trembled slightly.
He knew his mother had made a mistake.
But he... couldn't hate her.
She was the one who gave him life, raised him, and protected him deeply.
He was taught from a young age how to conduct himself as a ruler.
He knew that those mistakes, those blood debts, were all for him, for pushing him to this supreme position.
But he couldn't bring himself to hate his elder brother...
He was driven to the brink of despair by his mother, his wife died tragically, and his children were scattered...
Gao Xian felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if it were being ripped apart by a knife, and a mouthful of sweet, metallic taste suddenly surged up his throat.
"cough--"
He shuddered violently, and a mouthful of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
Xie Yanli immediately stepped forward and supported his shoulder.
Gao Xian was helped to sit down, and he looked up at Xie Yanli with a complicated and indescribable expression.
"You are the child born to the eldest prince's wife back then?"
Xie Yanli said in a deep voice, "Yes."
"No wonder……"
Gao Xian gave a bitter smile.
He always felt that he and Xie Yanli got along very well, like brothers.
Unexpectedly, the two of them were actually related by blood.
“I have no regrets about killing the Empress Dowager,” Meng Ze said at this moment.
"This matter must be settled eventually. I can't get my revenge unless I use this method."
"She has to pay the debt she owes."
He paused, looked at Gao Xian, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
"But you are related to the Empress Dowager by blood, and this is something that is difficult for you to accept."
"Similarly, I also have people I care about now."
As he spoke, he glanced at Xie Yanli.
He went through so much trouble to find his son...
His only child with Nianchu.
Unfortunately……
After saying that, he suddenly raised his hand, and a cold light flashed from his sleeve.
Everyone was startled and had no time to react.
Meng Ze raised his hand and plunged the dagger deep into his chest without hesitation.
"puff--"
Xie Yanli's pupils contracted sharply, and he almost instantly screamed, "Father!!"
He lunged forward and caught the falling Meng Ze, his voice suddenly becoming hoarse.
"What are you doing?! Are you crazy?!"
Meng Ze's face was as pale as paper, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat, but his eyes were surprisingly clear.
He struggled to lift his eyes and looked at Gao Xian.
“Killing the Empress Dowager is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of her family. I know my sins are grave.”
"But I beg you... don't take your anger out on him..."
"Yanli is innocent..."
"I will pay for the sins I have committed..."
Before he could finish speaking, a sharp pain shot through his chest, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.