Chapter 2799 - 2798: A Tragic Death

Chapter 2799: Chapter 2798: A Tragic Death

Huizong instructed a secret investigation, yet the matter was deliberately leaked by someone with motives.

The deposed Empress Lin Jiao’er was shocked and urgently called her son and daughter over.

Their daughter Zhao Yuji was only seven years old, and their son Zhao Kang was five, having just been established as the Crown Prince.

This incident clearly targeted her and the Crown Prince.

She knew, regardless of their defense, the outcome would always be they had illicit dealings with their relatives and intended to rebel.

Crying, she instructed Zhao Yuji, "Yuji, you are now old enough to help your mother look after your brother. The palace is no longer suitable for you to stay in; take your brother and leave tonight!"

Zhao Yuji raised her brows, "Why is this?"

Lin Jiao’er replied, "Someone has deceived your father, saying your mother colluded with your uncle to rebel. Your father fears the interference of the harem in governance the most, and he is sure to believe the rumors. Quickly leave the palace, go outside and seek your uncle, lest you suffer an unnecessary calamity."

Zhao Yuji calmly said, "Mother, if we leave now, wouldn’t it fall right into the traitor’s plot and confirm the act of rebellion? Daughter will go explain to the father; he has always loved the daughter dearly and will believe me."

Lin Jiao’er stopped her, "Your father is no longer the father he was before; he will not believe us. Listen to your mother, take your brother and leave the palace, and don’t ever return to the Capital City."

She placed the prepared storage ring on her daughter’s hand.

Inside were clothes, food, gold, and silver, enough for Zhao Yuji and Zhao Kang to live for a lifetime.

Zhao Yuji knew the situation was urgent; holding her mother’s hand, she cried helplessly.

Zhao Kang stood foolishly at the back, still unaware of what was happening.

At this moment, outside the deposed Empress’s palace, the Imperial Army shouted, "Search carefully, do not let the Princess and Crown Prince escape!"

Lin Jiao’er was shocked, quickly wiped her tears, and instructed the palace maid beside her to take Zhao Yuji and Zhao Kang away.

The maid picked up Zhao Kang and immediately left through the back door, dragging the crying Zhao Yuji.

Outside, they found the palace attendant responsible for transporting waste buckets, hiding the Crown Prince and Princess inside.

The palace attendant was loyal to the Empress, had planned early, and drove the coach out of the city as usual.

The Imperial Army searched the deposed Empress’s palace but did not find the Crown Prince or Princess after half a day.

A young captain asked the deposed Empress, "Empress, Your Majesty has ordered to see the Crown Prince and Princess; please hand them over to this humble captain, do not make things difficult for me."

Lin Jiao’er glared angrily at the young captain, "Su General, you are a descendant of Grand Marshal Su Yuanjing; how can you be complicit with traitorous ministers and commit evil deeds?"

The young captain furrowed his brows, "Forgive me, Empress; this humble captain is only following orders. Right or wrong, the Emperor will decide. Empress, do not make more mistakes, please bring out the Prince and Princess!"

Lin Jiao’er said angrily, "They are not in my palace, and I have not seen them. Let the Emperor blame me if he must."

"This?"

The young captain, sensing something was amiss, immediately ordered the palace gates sealed and inspected passing vehicles carefully.

He stayed in the deposed Empress’s palace for half an hour before someone reported that before the palace gates were sealed, only one waste cart had left the palace.

The young captain ordered the Empress detained, rushed out to pursue with his men.

He had cultivation level, and his steed was a Golden Feathered Eagle King.

He exited the palace gates, called for his steed.

He chased outside the city and within the time of one incense stick, found the waste cart in a dense forest.

He swiftly descended from the Golden Eagle, holding a long spear to block the waste cart.

The cart driver, startled, swiftly held the reins, stammering at the young captain, "Who is so bold to dare block the palace’s carriage?"

The young captain’s eyes fixed on the cart, coldly shouted at the driver, "You have great courage to hide the Crown Prince and Princess in a waste bucket. If this matter spreads, what face remains for the Royal Family?"

The driver, knowing there was no escape, raised his hand and summoned a long knife, shouting at the young captain, "I am entrusted by the Empress to send the two out of the city. Even if I die today, I will not hand them over to you!"

He whipped the horse’s rear; the horse, frightened, pulled the waste bucket out furiously.

The young captain cursed, "Bold!"

He swung his long spear to try and block the carriage, but the driver struck one knife and cut him off.

Both had cultivation level, and they fiercely battled in the woods.

With a strong family background and tutelage from his master, the young captain was just a step away from becoming a True Immortal.

He thrust his spear, carrying Mahayana Realm power, pierced through the driver’s throat.

The driver clutched his spear, expended his last strength to resist, ultimately self-detonated his Primordial Spirit, intending to perish together with the young captain.

With a massive explosion, a swath of trees instantly toppled.

The young captain did not expect such firmness; hurriedly threw a protective dharma treasure to shield against the shockwave.

But as it was late, still he was blasted away by the shockwave.

After catching his breath and pursuing the carriage again, he only saw it had fallen off the cliff.

The waste bucket sank into the river beneath the cliff, scattered and drifting everywhere.

He watched from above for a while, waited to regain strength, led his army down to search the waste buckets.

He also rode the Golden Eagle searching all directions.

But nowhere did he find the Prince and Princess.

The young captain returned to report, the Emperor heard and furiously ordered the deposed Empress brought over for personal questioning.

Upon learning her children fell off a cliff, the deposed Empress turned pale, tears streamed down, fainted several times.

Huizong had her awakened with water, angrily shouted, "Wretched woman, where on earth have you sent my children?"

The deposed Empress, hair disheveled, weakly lay on the floor, raised her head to gaze at Huizong, coldly laughed crazily, "Wretched woman? I, dignified as a nation’s Empress, became the wretched woman in your mouth? If it weren’t for you believing rumors, secretly investigating your children, would I have sent them out of the palace?"

Huizong fumed, "So, it is my fault instead? I merely ordered them investigated, did not order anything done to them. What on earth were you thinking, forcibly sending them out? Could it be, as rumored, you indeed colluded with Duke of Wu to rebel?"

The deposed Empress cried loudly, "Emperor, why have you become like this? My Lin Family, loyal across generations, diligently guarded the Great Song’s realm for you, when ever harbored thoughts of rebellion? Why do you repeatedly believe traitorous ministers, let loyal officials of the court suffer unjust grievances?"

Li Shishi added fuel by the side, "Presumptuous! How dare you, as the Emperor’s consort, utter such heresy towards the Emperor? Where is the palace’s etiquette? Where is your former Empress’s etiquette?"

The deposed Empress, red-eyed, glared at Li Shishi, staggered up, cursed at her, "Fox Demon, you seductress harming the ruler. One day, you’ll face retribution!"

Huizong cursed, "Impudence, have you gone mad enough?"

The deposed Empress laughed bitterly, "I am mad, I am mad. This Great Song realm, my dignified Heavenly Son husband, how did he turn into this? My Lin Family, a house of loyalty and valor, how can you so malign us?"

From somewhere unknown she produced a sword; everyone present was startled, swiftly drew their long spears to shout, "Drop the sword!"

Huizong was frightened, retreating, "Empress, what are you trying to do?"

The Empress gazed at him sadly, "Emperor, farewell. In the next life, I will be your wife again."

She wiped the sword across her throat, blood sprayed out.

Her frail body tumbled into a pool of blood, eyes coldly fixed on Li Shishi.