The Empress was somewhat confused and returned to her palace.
She opened the thick envelope and found some case files!
As the Empress casually glanced at the letter, her face froze.
No one could articulate the Empress's shock at this moment; she stared at the contents of the letter in disbelief.
"Your Majesty the Empress, I believe this is the last thing your humble subject has done..."
"The letter contains evidence against the Grand Commandant and Marquis Lin'an, which will allow you to remove them both. You don't need to worry too much. Your humble subject has recorded the loyal officials in the court who can be of use to you."
The Empress didn't react immediately.
She blinked, realizing something.
Xiao Ye knew this day would come?
This was the last thing he had done?
The Empress's heart trembled.
Why were the contents of the letter... different from what she had thought?
How could he sincerely help her?
Was Xiao Ye not a treacherous official causing chaos in the court?!
Her breathing became erratic. The Empress sat down on a chair and continued reading.
"During my time as an official, the wealth I embezzled has been entirely given to the people, and they all praise you as an enlightened ruler."
"The Grand Commandant and others were people the late Emperor feared. Their schemes and minds are deep. You, having just ascended the throne, cannot contend with these old foxes."
"However, the late Emperor arranged for your humble subject to be in the dynasty to assist you in becoming a great emperor. In private, your humble subject did not alert them while collecting evidence against the Grand Commandant. The ministers in the court are their people, and I have clearly recorded them in the letter."
"Your humble subject is willing to die for the country. After pacifying the Grand Commandant and the other, Your Majesty can rest easy. Your humble subject is very pleased that you have grown so well; this is the last thing I have taught you."
"An emperor should be heartless. Those whose merits overshadow the ruler should be removed. If the ruler wishes the subject to die, the subject must not live!"
Reading the last few lines of the letter, the Empress's nose began to sting.
Her hands trembled more and more, almost unable to hold the letter.
These were Xiao Ye's final arrangements, paving the way for the Empress's power...
He had been wholeheartedly devoted to her!
He was willing to die on the front lines for her!
The Empress's mind was in disarray; she reread the letter several times.
Xiao Ye had deliberately acted as a traitor, a performance for those ministers!
It was clear who the rebels were.
Xiao Ye had also meticulously recorded the backgrounds of those who could be used by the Empress in the letter.
He had been silently restraining the Grand Commandant and the others for her...
Every step he took was like treading on thin ice, fraught with danger!
"No! I want you back, I don't want you to go to the front lines anymore!"
How could the Empress not understand? The string in her mind snapped, and her heart ached unbearably.
Despite her intelligence, which had always seen her through, she had been foolish with Xiao Ye.
The Empress clenched the paper until it was wrinkled, "Xiao Ye, you sacrificed too much, and my misunderstanding of you was too deep."
It was she who mistook a loyal subject for a traitor; she had misjudged Xiao Ye.
She couldn't let him sacrifice alone; she didn't want him to die for the country.
Her eyes were bloodshot, and the Empress's breathing became rapid and labored.
She thought of how she had repeatedly plotted to kill Xiao Ye and even personally administered poison to him.
The Empress sat stunned in her chair, her heart aching like the sea.
She thought of the burdens Xiao Ye carried, and his restraint and control when facing her.
The Empress's face was devoid of expression, but her heart was riddled with pain.
"It is as it should be."
"Your Majesty can guard this dynasty and become an enlightened ruler who pacifies the world."
"It is as it should be."
"Your humble subject's life is insignificant, as long as Your Majesty can live in joy."
"It is as it should be."
He had fulfilled his mission, handing the dynasty to her.
Understanding the meaning of Xiao Ye's words in the court earlier, the Empress realized how heavy a burden she had placed on Xiao Ye!
The Empress felt a coldness pervade her entire body, like a chilling ice cave!
A bone-chilling cold.
She deeply regretted everything she had done to Xiao Ye.
When Xiao Ye was the only loyal subject she could trust, she only realized it now.
It was laughable.
She had to find Xiao Ye immediately.
She had to bring back her beloved Xiao!
It must still be possible; it must not be too late!
Hearing the Empress's command, the eunuchs and ministers who rushed in looked at the Empress in fear.
At this moment, her expression was more terrifying than anything.
With a cold expression, the Empress said hoarsely, "Go to the front lines and bring back Chancellor Xiao. He doesn't need to fight the battle; I need to see him immediately!"
The ministers were all stunned. Seeing the Empress's gloomy and anxious face.
Soon, someone was dispatched to the front lines to inform Xiao Ye to return.
Even if Xiao Ye could help the dynasty fight, the Empress didn't want him to continue.
There were many others who could help her, but Xiao Ye was irreplaceable...
She didn't want him to go to his death!
That night, the palace was thrown into turmoil. The ministers aligned with the Grand Commandant were all arrested.
With this evidence, Xiao Ye had also rounded up the Grand Commandant's faction.
Many ministers also pledged their loyalty to the Empress!
She was now without fear.
The Grand Commandant and Marquis Lin'an were arrested the next day, full of bewilderment and confusion. "Your Majesty, why are you arresting this old subject and others?"
"I was foolish and mistook you for loyal subjects!"
The Empress's expression was cold and rigid. She threw the incriminating evidence at the Grand Commandant and the others.
The Grand Commandant and the others vehemently denied it, but it was all to no avail.
The Empress ordered the Imperial Guards to take the Grand Commandant and the others to the dungeon to await judgment!
The remaining rabble was no longer a concern!
However, Mu Qinglan's greatest desire was news of Xiao Ye; she wanted to wait for Xiao Ye to return.
The flowers Xiao Ye had given the Empress also held suspicions, leading her to arrest the physician.
The physician, who had previously claimed the flowers were poisoned, confessed in a panic after the Grand Commandant and others were arrested.
"These flowers are not poisonous... it was Marquis Lin'an who told the grassman to say that..."
Although she had already known, Mu Qinglan's heart ached.
Her regret was too late; she had forcibly sent Xiao Ye to the front lines.
The poison in him had not been cured, and this battle was a matter of life and death.
Hahaha, I am foolish!
The Empress laughed in extreme anger. She drew a sword.
If not for Xiao Ye's letter, she would have been completely manipulated by these people.
She had even considered herself brilliant, with calculations that rivaled an emperor!
The Empress's gaze turned dark and terrifyingly cold. Amidst the physician's fear, she slit his throat with a sword.
Those sent to the front lines had been delayed in bringing back news.
The Empress had no mind to deal with court affairs, only hoping Xiao Ye would return.
Finally, a deputy general brought back joyous news.
"Chancellor Xiao has achieved victory on the front lines with his troops!"
At that moment, countless ministers were overjoyed.
Mu Qinglan was also somewhat excited. She eagerly asked, "Chancellor Xiao has won? Is he injured? Has he returned?!"
The deputy general's expression suddenly froze.
The Empress had a bad premonition. She heard him say mournfully, "Chancellor Xiao died on the battlefield, hit by more than a dozen arrows, and had mortally wounded the enemy leader before falling!"
Buzz!
The Empress's mind went blank. An unseen shadow enveloped her, her anticipation instantly shattered.
She would have preferred to receive news of defeat, as long as Xiao Ye could return.
Chancellor Xiao is dead. He died before receiving my apology!
Mu Qinglan's expression turned ice-cold, her aura as terrifying as hell.
Everyone standing beside her felt the gloomy and violent atmosphere.
"Chancellor Xiao cannot be dead; I don't believe he is dead..."
Even when she had plotted a hunting ground, Xiao Ye couldn't die.
Could it be true, as he had said, that if the emperor wished him dead, he would not live?
Then I regret it, I regret it so much.
I would give you everything if you would just return safely.
Tears rolled down the Empress's eyes, astonishing everyone around her.
"Where is Chancellor Xiao's body?"