In the front hall.
Song Yanqing watched An Ning erge and quickly bowed, "Your humble servant greets the Empress."
"Sit... *cough cough cough*." An Ning gestured to Song Yanqing, and suddenly began to cough.
The palace attendant quickly stepped forward, gently patting her back.
An Ning hadn’t expected that just a slight lapse in attention could lead to such coughing.
Indeed, she had been rather careless with her health.
"What is wrong, Your Majesty?" Song Yanqing asked with concern.
"Caught a cold, a few doses of dicine will make it better." An Ning replied calmly.
"The weather has been bitterly cold recently; I hope Your Majesty takes care to stay well." Song Yanqing advised.
"Don’t worry, I am a doctor, I understand my own health." An Ning said indifferently, "Today I summoned you to discuss Gu Xingchuan."
"I anticipated that Her Majesty would discuss Gu Xingchuan with . And, I must confess, I underestimated the influence Gu Xingchuan had at court this ti. Even though the rebellion happened six months ago and the court’s animosity should have sowhat eased, when His Majesty returned, the courtiers beca excessively agitated over the matter. His Majesty had intended to diffuse the tension, but unknowingly his conciliatory attitude angered the ministers further, resulting in a collective petition demanding severe punishnt for Gu Xingchuan."
"Yesterday, I spoke with Xiao Jinxing and reviewed the ministers’ morials, realizing the imnse pressure Xiao Jinxing was under. So, I don’t wish to burden him further; I intend to ask if there are any viable ans to persuade the civil and military officials to spare Gu Xingchuan." An Ning did not hide her thoughts from Song Yanqing.
Song Yanqing sighed, "To be candid, before Her Majesty approached , His Majesty already sought my counsel on Gu Xingchuan’s matter. I can sense that His Majesty does not harbor intense personal animosity towards Gu Xingchuan; it’s rely about providing an explanation to the officials. However, for the cri of treason, the punishnt is exterminating nine clans. Moreover, unlike the Bai Family, Gu Xingchuan hasn’t established military rits or achievents. His Majesty’s direct appointnt of Gu Xingchuan as Pri Minister had already incited dissatisfaction among many courtiers. Although Gu Xingchuan was indeed capable, and no faults were found with him, gradually his position was accepted. But now, Gu Xingchuan’s sudden rebellion has rekindled the indignation of those who once doubted his virtue, developing into the current situation."
"Who are these people?" An Ning asked.
Struggling to find a way to save Gu Xingchuan without troubling Xiao Jinxing.
"Many." Song Yanqing responded, and unabashedly added, "To put it plainly, aside from myself, most of the civil and military officials likely wish to execute Gu Xingchuan as a warning to others."
An Ning bit her lip.
"Thus, if Her Majesty seeks to win over the courtiers one by one to spare Gu Xingchuan, it’s simply unfeasible. Both His Majesty and I considered persuading those most vocal in secret, but realistically, it would involve nearly all officials of Daxuan Kingdom, which is implausible. Plus, it’s not just the officials anymore; Gu Xingchuan’s rebellion has spread throughout Daxuan Kingdom, and the common people also await justice against Gu Xingchuan."
"Is there no other way to save Gu Xingchuan?" An Ning asked Song Yanqing.
"While stabilizing His Majesty’s regi, while calming the hearts of the people, and while going against the trend to rescue Gu Xingchuan, at least for and the Emperor, there hasn’t been a better solution found yet." Song Yanqing was candid.
aning, by conventional ans, there’s truly no way to save Gu Xingchuan.
Xiao Jinxing and Song Yanqing can’t do it, how could she possibly succeed?!
"Your Majesty." Song Yanqing looked at An Ning’s deanor and couldn’t help but speak, "Actually, like you, I don’t wish for Gu Xingchuan to sacrifice himself. Gu Xingchuan isn’t bad; it’s precisely his goodness that led him to this extre. I also feel it’s a pity for Gu Xingchuan to die. Yet, from the perspective of the broader situation, only by Gu Xingchuan’s death can peace be restored. It’s not only stabilizing His Majesty’s reign, offering an explanation to the officials, but also an escape for Gu Xingchuan, who is weary from living."
Indeed.
Gu Xingchuan’s death is beneficial for Xiao Jinxing; it serves as a deterrent.
Gu Xingchuan’s death is beneficial for Gu Xingchuan too; he can avoid living a life burdened by tarnished reputation and achieve liberation.
But what about her?!
If Gu Xingchuan were truly dead, would she genuinely not care, and live easily and freely?!
She would only continuously harbor guilt towards Gu Xingchuan, consistently living in self-reproach.
"Think about it, Your Majesty; Gu Xingchuan has loved you for so many years. Your humble servant wonders if you have felt the bitterness of unrequited love, but I have experienced it, and truly, it’s worse than death. Thus, if Gu Xingchuan concluded his life this way, perhaps it’s his best ending." Song Yanqing offered words of comfort.
An Ning looked at Song Yanqing’s sincerity.
Listening to the rational explanations Song Yanqing provided.
"I haven’t given up on the thought of Gu Xingchuan’s death. When Gu Xingchuan abandoned himself and sought to starve himself, I also tried to accept his death. I also felt perhaps death would be his release. However, no matter how I self-persuade, ultimately I can’t do it, cannot watch him die before my eyes, and cannot accept that he would die because of ." An Ning spoke, her voice low, seemingly suppressing her pain while striving for calmness.
Song Yanqing watched the Empress, montarily unsure how to continue.
Despite saying so much, advising Her Majesty greatly, truly calming down and contemplating Gu Xingchuan’s death is still filled with reluctance.
For ultimately, a living person, soone originally close, soone whose life should have shone brilliantly, is about to disappear forever... Death itself is the greatest sorrow in the world; no one can truly accept it with equanimity.
The Empress’s inability to let go is indeed understandable.
But from His Majesty’s standpoint, ruthlessness is the only option.
Gu Xingchuan chose a path of no return for himself; it’s rely that his choice was uninhibited, disregarding how much regret and sorrow he left for the living!
Song Yanqing suddenly pondered.
If Gu Xingchuan were truly to be executed by His Majesty, the possibility between the Empress and His Majesty would truly cease.
Even if Gu Xingchuan died appropriately, even if Gu Xingchuan held no grievances, even if the Empress could understand and not resent His Majesty.
Yet, the Empress’s conscience couldn’t possibly allow her relationship with His Majesty to be founded on Gu Xingchuan’s sacrifice.
Their paths would indeed diverge completely because of Gu Xingchuan.
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