Chapter 365: Pass the decree: the Crown Princess collapses and dies from extreme fright!

"What are you saying!"

"What are you talking about!"

The string of tragic news made Du Gu Mi Luo feel a buzzing in her mind, and the false façade she had just assumed shattered inch by inch like fractured crystal.

She suddenly lifted her eyes; her beautiful eyes now stared wide and round, the blood vessels in them spreading like spiderwebs, fixed tightly on Yuwen Ze before her, as if she were going to devour him alive.

"My father is a pillar of the state, the Grand Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, how could he be guilty!"

"And how could he have committed suicide!"

"Yuwen Ze, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Du Gu Mi Luo's voice suddenly rose sharply.

It was so sharp it seemed to pierce the silence of the hall.

While speaking, she raised her hand and pointed rigidly at that mocking face, her fingernail almost stabbing his nose tip.

The scarlet brocade nightgown quivered with her vigorous movement, the hem sweeping over the cold floor and stirring up a little dust.

I simply cannot accept this reality.....

Yuwen Ze straightened, leisurely brushed the non‑existent dust off his robe.

That smile was like honey soaked in ice, sweet yet laced with bone‑chilling cold.

He lowered his gaze at the woman's outstretched hand, his eyes flicking over the knuckle, then let out a low chuckle, the trailing end drawn out, full of unspoken amusement.

"Father‑in‑law is more than just guilty?" He seemed to have heard some amusing gossip, his eyebrows raised higher, even the lines at the corners of his eyes filled with mockery, "He committed the great crime of treason and rebellion!"

Yuwen Ze sidled to the window, the soft light falling on half his face, making that smile stand out even more.

A few wax plum blossoms were inserted in a blue‑ceramic vase on the windowsill.

He reached out, folded one, his fingertip gently crushing the petals, the pink‑white powder scattering onto the dark cuff.

Yuwen Ze calmly turned, spreading his palm to reveal the clump of mashed flower mud, and thoughtfully added, "Of course, it's not just him and Zhao Qian; Yan Zhi Tui, Yang Qin and their ilk have also been brought to justice!"

Good news truly is good news.....

But only for him, for the Yuwen Clan!

"Even Uncle Yang, Uncle Yan..."

Du Gu Mi Luo's back suddenly tensed, she murmured, struggling to digest the tragic news, then suddenly realized something and blurted, "No!"

"That's not right!"

"You just said it was your A Xiong who cleared them?!"

Those beautiful eyes were filled with disbelief.

She had been shocked by the sudden information, without thinking it through.....

Only now did she belatedly recall the person Yuwen Ze had mentioned who acted...

His A Xiong!

One must know that Yuwen Ze is the sole son of Yuwen Hu, having no blood brothers, yet he has someone who, though not a true elder brother, surpasses a brother.....

"Exactly!"

Yuwen Ze gave a slight nod, his smile deepening, and said loudly, "Besides my A Xiong, who else in Chang'an could, in a single night, sweep them away with thunderous methods and eradicate them in one stroke?"

When the words 'A Xiong' were mentioned, the mockery on Yuwen Ze's face vanished, replaced by a near‑proud arrogance.

Even the corners of his eyes and the tips of his eyebrows took on a bright hue, starkly different from before.

"Chen Yan... hasn't he already died?!"

Du Gu Mi Luo seemed to have a bucket of ice water poured over her head; her whole body tremor halted abruptly, and she even forgot to breathe.

The face that had just flushed with anger instantly lost all color, leaving a nearly absurd pallor.

In those wide, bulging eyes, anger and despair were forcibly pushed aside, making room for a huge, bewildered astonishment.

She opened her mouth, her voice trembling like a withered leaf in autumn wind, the trailing end almost dissipating in the air, "Dead from the assassin's concealed weapon's deadly poison?!"

She staggered back half a step, her lower back striking the cold edge of the dressing table.

The bronze mirror reflected a frantic, bewildered shadow, disheveled hair, and empty eyes.

Du Gu Mi Luo didn't understand; she couldn't fathom how the dead could be alive again?!

And they also eradicated Zhao the elder Pillar of State and those uncles?!

Could there truly be a miraculous elixir that revives the dead in this world?

"What kind of person is my A Xiong?"

Yuwen Ze lifted his head, gave a contemptuous smile, his eyes full of pride and disdain, and retorted, "The martial artists your father bribed could never harm him, could they?"

If you don't join the game, you see A Xiong like a frog in a well watching the moon in the sky.

If you do join, you see A Xiong like a mayfly glimpsing the blue sky!

Even if the Du Gu clan were wiped out, they could never match A Xiong.

"You... you actually know those assassins were arranged by my father?!"

Du Gu Mi Luo's pupils suddenly contracted to a point, as if an invisible hand had seized her heart, her breath caught in her throat.

The confusion that had lingered in her eyes was now suddenly covered by an even deeper, raging tempest.

That look of astonishment froze on her face, and even the trembling of her scarlet nightgown became rigid.

She never could have imagined that Yuwen Ze actually knew all this.....

"Exactly!"

Yuwen Ze stepped a few paces forward, bringing the clump of flower mud to her eyes; the rotting scent mixed with a lingering fragrance hit her face, and he said with a half‑smile, "From beginning to end, I have always known....."

A spark in the charcoal basin suddenly burst with a pop.

It made the playful glint in his eyes shine astonishingly, like a cat watching a mouse struggle.

"Then why do you still grieve each day, constantly washing with tears... and so on!"

Du Gu Mi Luo was startled, blurted it out subconsciously, but halfway through her words got stuck in her throat.

As if something were gripping her tightly, her fingertips suddenly clutched the edge of the dressing table, and the pads of her fingers sank deep into the carved groove.

Suddenly, as if struck by a flash of thunder, the blood in her whole body froze in an instant.

Instantly, Du Gu Mi Luo jerked her head up, the shock in her eyes nearly spilling over: "You… you staged it just for me!"

"You wanted to use my eyes to mislead my father!"

At that moment, she finally understood Yuwen Ze's true intention in doing so…

He performed it for her, then through her, to convey it to her father.

To make her father think he was truly immersed in the grief of losing his brother, and to convince them from every angle…

Chen Yan is dead!

They thought the entire plan was progressing smoothly.

Yet this was precisely the trap set by her husband…

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ze lightly clapped his hands, a playful glint rising in his eyes, praising: "No wonder you're the legitimate daughter of the Du Gu clan, truly as icy and clever as snow!"

"Got it on the first guess!"

There's nothing he can do; Yuwen Ze can't be of much help, so he can only provide support…

Having been exposed for so long, he has at least picked up a few acting skills from A Xiong.

"You… you… you…"

Du Gu Mi Luo raised her hand, her knuckles trembling wildly from extreme anger, her fingertips pointing rigidly at Yuwen Ze's face, which seemed praising but was actually mocking.

She had underestimated him all this time.

It's not just a change of temperament; it's a complete transformation…

To use her as an accomplice—how terrifying!

"Madam, don't be so agitated!"

Yuwen Ze leisurely brushed aside the hand she pointed, let out a light laugh, and soothed.

His voice was extremely slow, bearing an almost gentle patience; his gaze swept over her rapidly rising chest, lightly tapped his forehead as if just remembered, and said: "Oh right, I forgot to tell you, the three top‑ten martial heroes your father hired are actually also A Xiong's men…"

"How could that be?!"

Du Gu Mi Luo only felt a buzzing in her ears, as if thunder exploded inside her skull, and darkness flickered before her eyes.

Staggering backward, a scattered pearl hairpin tripped her foot, and she crashed heavily onto the dressing table.

The bronze mirror trembled, reflecting her face pale as paper.

The eyes that once always held a hint of pride now stared wide and round, the terror in her pupils like waves whipped up by a gale, layer upon layer.

No wonder Chen Yan didn't die…

What a huge scheme!

"Anything is possible in this world!"

Yuwen Ze raised his head, enunciating each word carefully: "My father, my A Xiong, have been scheming for this day for a long time!"

He had seen his father's and brother's tireless concerns and layered schemes with his own eyes.

"This…"

Du Gu Mi Luo was startled, quickly made a decision in her heart without hesitation, and slammed her knees onto the icy floor tiles, producing a muffled thud.

The scarlet brocade nightgown spread out, like a flower that suddenly withered, stained with broken porcelain and dust on the ground, no longer retaining any of its former elegance.

She lifted her face; all her former pride now turned into a humble plea, her voice trembling as if crawling on the ground: "Crown Prince, Crown Prince, could you, for my sake, spare my brothers and sisters, and the members of the Du Gu clan…"

"I promise to keep them obedient!"

Du Gu Mi Luo knew clearly that her father's life could not be saved, and now she could only use her status as Crown Princess to protect the surviving members of the Du Gu clan…

While her own pride and dignity were insignificant.

As long as the Du Gu clan remains, there will be a day to avenge all humiliation!

"Fine." Yuwen Ze pursed his lips and slowly uttered two words.

"Really… really?!"

Du Gu Mi Luo, upon hearing this, trembled all over, her eyes filled with disbelief, fearing Yuwen Ze might change his mind, quickly said: "Thank you, Crown…"

Before she could finish, she only heard Yuwen Ze continue: "Madam, don't rush to thank me yet!"

"First, you must stay alive first…"

"What do you mean by that?"

Du Gu Mi Luo was momentarily stunned, and asked subconsciously in confusion.

A bad premonition rose like a tide.

At the same time, a chill surged from her feet to the top of her head, crawling up her spine.

Could it be that he intends to kill her…?!

Yuwen Ze's faint smile at the corner of his mouth suddenly faded, the Dark Hawk swirling in his eyes like ink infused with Poison, instantly staining his pupils: "Count the time; the toxin in your body should be taking effect now…"

"You… you placed… uh!"

Du Gu Mi Luo, realizing belatedly, trembled as she looked at Yuwen Ze; before the word Poison could leave her mouth, a scorching, sweet, fishy taste surged in her throat.

"Pfft!"

The next second, a mouthful of dark red blood spurted violently from her mouth corner.

It splashed onto the cold floor tiles, resembling a red plum blooming in the snow, shocking to the eyes.

Yuwen Ze retreated a few steps with a disdainful air, letting out a light laugh: "Du Gu Mi Luo, go to the underworld to reunite with your father, your brothers and sisters, and your clan!"

"Spare me?"

"Waiting to take revenge?"

"Just now… you gave me… to eat… mandarin fish soup… it was Poison…" Du Gu Mi Luo's blood pearl rolled down her chin, dripping onto her disheveled collar, and she spoke weakly.

"Mandarin fish soup is not Poison…"

Yuwen Ze shook his head, smiled, and said, "It's just that there's a trigger inside!"

"The Poison is in your daily bird's nest soup!"

"Yu…wen… Ze… you… so… cruel!"

Du Gu Mi Luo's vision became completely blurred; that face bearing Dark Hawk flickered in the blood‑colored haze, half seen, half hidden.

After uttering the last few words in this world, she tilted her head to one side, her pupils scattered, leaving only a dead silence…

Yuwen Ze watched her life drain away, expression blank, unruffled, and ordered, "Send the decree down: the Crown Prince's Consort died instantly from excessive fright!"