Chapter 1263: Chapter 1263

Everyone held their breath, staring at her in stunned silence.

Madam Zuo’s face was streaked with tears, her gaze sweeping over the crowd with despair and bitter hatred.

To walk this earth, under an unjust Heaven, encountering the cold and warmth of human nature, the fickleness of the world, the scheming plots and treachery—these had shattered her final thread of faith in continuing to live.

She still remembered what her mother had told her before passing away: that no matter what, she had to go on living. No matter how bitter life became, she must endure it and never entertain the thought of hanging herself, because as long as one remained alive, there was hope.

She had promised her mother—but she could no longer keep that promise.

One of her hands clasped tightly with Jin Wei’s, while with the other, she forcefully drew out the dagger.

Jin Wei groaned softly, and at last, life left his body.

At that moment, the dagger, still warm with Jin Wei’s blood, once again pierced through Madam Zuo’s chest.

She slumped over his body, holding their child close, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

Perhaps out of pity for this woman, no one stepped forward to stop her.

If she didn’t take her own life, what awaited her in the Ministry of Punishment’s Prison was a fate worse than death—torture so cruel that her frail body could never endure it.

It would only lead to a more wretched demise.

The three lifeless bodies—two adults and one child—were soon carried out of the residence. Jin Wei and Madam Zuo’s hands were clasped so tightly that it took two guards great effort to separate them.

One of them thought to himself: committing such an atrocity must surely bring retribution; what terrible luck to be assigned such a task.

When they were dumped onto the snow outside, the guards, perhaps out of a faint sense of goodwill, placed Jin Wei’s and Madam Zuo’s bodies together, with the child between them.

"How pitiful. Young Master Wei was an extraordinary figure, and yet he met such a tragic end."

"Dying , he won’t even be allowed into the family tomb, will he?"

"Of course not. If his corpse isn’t desecrated, he’s already fortunate. It’s likely he’ll be tossed straight into the Random Burial Mound."

The sudden deaths of three people sent ripples through the Prince Jin Residence, and the other madams soon learned the horrifying truth—that the man who had shared their beds these past days had not been His Highness King Jin at all, but the recently suicided Young Master Wei.

They were terrified out of their wits. The faint of heart were driven into hysteria, some even descending into madness outright.

One madam, who was pregnant, fainted on the spot.

The belly she had taken such pride in—it contained a bastard child...

This disgraceful affair was unprecedented, shocking everyone.

Duke of National Defense shifted all the blame onto the deceased Jin Wei, and brazenly declared, "If His Majesty wishes to convict this old minister, I have no complaints. It is indeed my fault for bringing shame upon the Imperial Family, for failing to properly oversee my household and its youth. I humbly await Your Majesty’s punishment."

Ha! He had orchestrated everything, harboring ambitions to usurp the throne, and yet now he would reduce his crime to mere negligence in supervision?

Even now, he continued spouting lies and justifications—truly ruthless and heartless.

The Emperor sneered coldly and roared in anger, "Men! Take the Duke of National Defense... to the prison!"

The Duke, still brimming with confidence, raised his head high and extended his arms, allowing the guards to bind him and escort him to the dungeons.

Half the empire’s power rested in his hands; he simply did not believe the Emperor dared to lay a finger on him.

Confronted by the roomful of kneeling subjects, the Emperor, consumed with rage, suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The onlookers panicked, chaos erupting in the hall.

Eunuch Wan, frantic, screamed at the top of his lungs, "Someone! Call the Imperial Physician! Quickly! His Majesty has vomited blood out of anger!"

Gu Youyou moved to step forward, but Jin Zijin grabbed her arm to stop her.

"After an incident of this magnitude, how could the Emperor not cough up some blood to match the scene King Jin arranged?"

Gu Youyou was momentarily stunned and wondered: could it be that the Emperor did it on purpose?