Chapter 1592: If you must die, please die according to my requirements

Xiao Changsheng's face was sallow, looking listless. After the prison guards helped him into the side room, they retreated.

Imperial Consort Xiao rushed forward eagerly, reaching out to support him, unable to hide her excitement.

"You've lost weight! Did they humiliate you or torture you?"

Xiao Changsheng waved his hand. After sitting down, he said, "They didn't torture me; I'm just ill, which is why I look haggard. You don't need to worry about me, Consort."

"How could I not worry?" Imperial Consort Xiao's eyes were red, and she was beautiful even when crying.

"Why is our fate as siblings so bitter! We only lived a few good days, and now..."

She cried uncontrollably.

Xiao Changsheng felt uncomfortable in his heart and signaled Prince Ning to console her.

Prince Ning supported Imperial Consort Xiao as she sat down. "Mother, it's not easy to see Uncle; don't just cry. You have many things you want to say to Uncle, don't you?"

Imperial Consort Xiao took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears. "Changsheng, did they give you a hard time?"

"Difficulties were inevitable, but I didn't suffer any physical pain. Don't worry, Consort!"

"I can't stop worrying. A few days ago, that woman summoned me into the palace and humiliated me. I endured it with great difficulty. I know exactly what kind of temper that mother and son have. The late Emperor was truly blind. He trusted her, and he trusted the new Emperor. What talk of benevolence—it's all fake. Those old things in the Secretariat are all blind!"

"Consort, watch your words! This is not the Prince Ning mansion; this is the Heavenly Prison, the territory of the Ministry of Justice. Don't forget, Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen of the Heavenly Prison is a Ninth-Rank warrior; if he wants to eavesdrop, we can't stop him. I beg you, Consort, don't talk nonsense!" Xiao Changsheng wished he could kneel to his own sister.

Matters had reached this point; could she not just stop being sharp-tongued? Was she afraid she wouldn't die fast enough, or afraid that Emperor Taixing wouldn't have a handle on them?

His head hurt!

His sister had been favored for decades and had long since developed an arrogant and overbearing temper. She was no longer the shy and sincere Xiao girl from her youth.

He looked at Prince Ning, signaling with his eyes for him to persuade her more often on weekdays to avoid saying the wrong thing.

"Now I can't even speak." Imperial Consort Xiao complained.

No one echoed her, and they even showed expressions of disapproval.

She suddenly felt bored.

"I know! Don't worry, I have a sense of proportion in my heart. That Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen is the late Emperor's man, not the current Emperor's man, and certainly not that woman's man."

"How can you tell? Why are you so certain, Consort?" Xiao Changsheng asked.

Imperial Consort Xiao snorted. "I just know. In any case, even if Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen eavesdrops on our conversation, he won't leak it. You can rest assured."

Xiao Changsheng and Prince Ning exchanged a look, not pursuing the matter further. They both guessed that the late Emperor must have told the Consort something for her to make this judgment.

"Even if Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen won't betray us, you should still think twice before speaking, Consort. Lest you get used to saying things and suddenly blurt them out, becoming a handle." Xiao Changsheng continued to persuade her.

Imperial Consort Xiao was dissatisfied. "I came to visit you today, why do you keep lecturing me? Changsheng, what should we do next? If you need us to do anything, just say it."

"Consort, you don't need to do anything. After you go back today, close your doors and don't go out; claim illness if you must, or read books if you must. In short, keep to your duties and don't let anyone get a handle on you."

"Keep to our duties? You think that mother and son will let us go? You are truly naive." Imperial Consort Xiao's face was full of defiance, her eyes filled with contempt and disdain. "The more we keep to our duties, the more unscrupulous they become."

"What else can we do?" Xiao Changsheng questioned. "Consort, don't take risks lightly. The Secretariat is not a display, and the late Emperor's last edict is even less of a display. Make good use of these two things, and saving your life won't be a problem, and preserving your wealth is also possible."

Imperial Consort Xiao:...

She had too many ideas, and in the end, they all turned into a sigh; she no longer argued or struggled.

Having ideas was useless.

Her mood became increasingly gloomy.

"Uncle, what is the situation with this illness? Is someone targeting you, or is it your own choice?" Prince Ning opened his mouth, hitting the nail on the head.

Xiao Changsheng lowered his head, pondering whether he should tell the truth.

"Does Uncle have any difficulties? Is someone threatening you?"

"Changsheng, who would dare threaten you? Is it from the palace?"

"Don't guess wildly; it has nothing to do with the palace. It's my own reason. I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on, and I'm afraid that if I comply with their wishes, I will harm you. You... don't come to visit me anymore. Just pretend I'm dead."

"Has Uncle made up his mind?" Prince Ning didn't even blink, staring fixedly at the other man.

Xiao Changsheng gave a grunt of acknowledgment. "Rest assured, even if I die, I won't implicate you."

"Uncle misunderstood; that's not what I meant." Prince Ning defended himself.

Xiao Changsheng smiled, looking indifferent.

Whether that was what he meant didn't matter; he knew what he had to do.

Imperial Consort Xiao remained silent. She stood up, came to Xiao Changsheng, and held him in her arms, tears streaming down her face.

"Consort!" Xiao Changsheng looked up at her.

Imperial Consort Xiao took a butterfly-shaped gold headpiece inlaid with blue sapphires from her hair and took out a gold-cast cylinder from the middle. Pressing the mechanism, the cylinder unfolded to reveal a gold needle inside.

She handed the cylinder to Xiao Changsheng. "If you really can't hold on, use this. A light prick, and you will die immediately, without pain. It is said that when you die, you will see immortals!"

"Mother!" Prince Ning was shocked.

Clearly, the person most afraid of Uncle dying was Mother, yet the person who personally delivered the poison was also Mother.

Prince Ning didn't understand.

Fearing Uncle would die, yet actively sending him to his death—what was the intention?

Xiao Changsheng understood vaguely. He took the gold cylinder and called out, "Sister!"

Imperial Consort Xiao cried and laughed, holding the other man's face. "How many years has it been since you called me sister? You brat, calling me Consort all day long; I almost forgot we were siblings."

"Sister, what is this?" Xiao Changsheng spread his hands. The gold cylinder was crafted exquisitely; looking at the craftsmanship alone, it was worth more than the gold itself. It was absolutely the handiwork of palace craftsmen! Too exquisite! Folk masters couldn't make such beautiful gold jewelry.

Imperial Consort Xiao gently stroked Xiao Changsheng's face. "This is poison! When I was in the Eastern Palace, the late Emperor gave it to me. He said it was a poison passed down from the ancestors of the imperial family. It is said that the formula came from the Great Yu Dynasty and is the means of immortals. It can make people leave without sorrow or pain. If you are lucky, you might even see immortals."

"Sister, do you believe such rumors?"

"Why wouldn't I believe it? There are many secrets in the palace. Some secrets are never told to outsiders, and even I only know a little bit. Remember, if you must die, use this poison. Never entrust your life to outsiders. Do you hear me clearly?"

"I heard."

"Promise me!" Imperial Consort Xiao was incomparably solemn, more serious than ever before.

Xiao Changsheng's heart skipped a beat. He realized that there were still words left unsaid in his sister's words. This poison was not only mysterious in origin but also very precious.

He gritted his teeth. "Sister, can you reveal a little?"

"No! You just need to remember my words and do as I say. If... if you don't take this poison, I will hate you, and I won't let you have peace even after death!" ===== CHAPTER 1593 =====