NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 73
Every word uttered from her lips was heartrending and deeply moving!
Consort Zhao: "Silence, you Pei Changying! I would never let anyone down, let alone the people. For I, Consort Zhao, am innocent!"
"To save the hundreds of thousands of people in the plague-stricken city, I left the capital at night to beseech the Elder Princess to lead the Imperial Physicians to the stricken city and provide relief!"
"And this arrogant Emperor?"
"Upon learning of this, the first thing he did was to imprison me in the Cold Palace, slandering me as unchaste!"
"And because I refused to admit guilt and 'shook the loyalty of his subjects,' he vented his rage on the Zhao Family, sentencing the families of the Imperial Physicians who had gone to the plague city to prison!"
"What you know, what you have heard, is merely a tenth of the whole story. I, Consort Zhao, have never been unchaste!"
"Though I may not be as resolute and decisive as the Elder Princess, I know the meaning of the word 'shame.' Pei Changying, you threaten my entire clan to make me help whitewash your reputation among the people - dream on! You're delusional!"
"You are truly pitiful, framing my entire clan to justify imprisoning them, even going so far as to wear the green hat yourself......"
Madness, utter madness!
"Consort Zhao!!!"
Trembling with rage, Pei Changying was momentarily stunned into oblivion by her words, one by one. It took him a long while to recover from the shock!
A thunderous roar interrupted Consort Zhao's next words.
Immediately after, the ministers and the people saw the awe-inspiring Emperor, with a ferocious expression, slap Consort Zhao hard across the face.
Consort Zhao's face was instantly marked with bloody streaks, and she was struck down to the ground with great force.
Pei Changying shouted hysterically, "Lies! What she says are all lies! I am the Son of Heaven of this nation, how could I slander such a vile woman! Do you think using such methods will force me to release your clansmen?"
Below the city wall, there was sudden silence.
All the people were stunned, standing frozen in their places.
All the ministers lowered their heads, looking at Consort Zhao with utmost pity, for they were well aware that she was doomed.......
The Zhao Family was doomed as well......
Her pearls and jewelry scattered all over the ground, Consort Zhao slowly rose, leaning against the city wall.
"Hahahahaha——" Her body began to tremble more and more violently, and under Pei Changying's murderous gaze, she suddenly burst into frenzied laughter.
And then!
Consort Zhao abruptly took off her brocade robe, revealing the dense, swollen whip marks on her arms and thighs.
One by one, red and inflamed, a horrifying sight!
Upon seeing these wounds, all the people gasped in horror.
Consort Zhao suddenly stopped laughing, her icy gaze fixed on Pei Changying as she shrieked hysterically, "You say this is false?"
"My imprisonment in the Cold Palace is false?"
"Your slander of my unchastity, my daily torment, is false?"
"Pei Changying, what are you afraid of?"
"When you slandered me, you felt no guilt."
"When you imprisoned the families of the Imperial Physicians who saved hundreds of thousands of lives, you felt no guilt."
"Even when you made me stand here and accuse the Elder Princess of treason, you felt no guilt."
"Now that I recount these facts, word for word, you feel guilt? You're afraid? Hahaha...you're afraid!"
At these words.
Pei Changying had already ordered his soldiers to immediately restrain Consort Zhao and gag her mouth.
But Consort Zhao did not hesitate to jump onto the city wall!
From that height of tens of meters.
She stood radiant, her arms outstretched, facing away from all the people.
She looked at the soldiers too afraid to approach, looked at the enraged Pei Changying, and shouted loudly, powerfully, her words resonating throughout the capital:
"I implore the people to open their eyes and look!"
"The Emperor before you is selfish and willful, arrogantly seated on his lofty throne, viewing all his subjects as mere insects."
"Now, the Divine Lady has descended, allowing all to choose an enlightened ruler. Only with a wise and benevolent ruler can the people's lives improve!"
"Though the Elder Princess is a woman, she has the hearts of all under Heaven!"
"Not only did she save hundreds of thousands of lives in the plague city, but she also brought the sweet potato to feed the people. How does being a woman make her lesser? Is a male Emperor truly nobler than a woman? If nobility is the measure, where was Pei Changying when the plague ravaged the city? Where was he when the people were starving?"
"This world does not belong to men alone, nor to Pei Changying alone! It belongs to all living beings, to those who care for the suffering of the people!"
"I wish for this prosperous age as I desire!"
"I wish for all to find shelter from the sun and never go hungry again."
"I wish for equality among all beings, for women to be free!"
The entire city fell silent!
The people below the walls were all stunned, rooted to the spot!
It was as if their thoughts had been snatched away, their minds blank, gaping at the woman on the city wall who seemed crazed, yet whose every word pierced their hearts.
That radiant woman, ah.
With arms outstretched and a gentle smile, she gazed at the live screen on the city wall, gazing at Gu Sang, her eyes brimming with the brilliant fire of one facing the apocalypse.
Then, resolutely, unhesitatingly, fearlessly, she leapt from the towering wall!
"Whoosh——"
Pei Changying reacted in horror, hastily trying to grab Consort Zhao's arm, but only catching a wisp of her robe as it slipped through his fingers.
"No!! Come back to me!"
"I will not allow you to die! Consort Zhao!"
"I too wish for equality among all beings, for women to be free......" Gu Sang watched the brilliant figure plummet, her eyes reddened with tears.
The wind whipped Consort Zhao's robes, creating a swishing sound.
Consort Zhao seemed to see Pei Changying's panicked, shaken expression, the ministers' looks of horror.
She also saw the awe in Gu Sang's eyes, the admiration - so much, so much that she had never witnessed in her life, looks that belonged to her!
After being so timid for so many years, she could be this great.
Consort Zhao smiled and closed her eyes.
Let my death be the first step in overthrowing this dynasty!
My youth, ah, Consort Zhao is coming for you......
A gust of wind slammed down.
A deafening boom rang in everyone's ears!
"Bang!"
"Ah!!!"
That crimson figure plummeted from the towering city wall, splattering a pool of blood where she lay motionless in the center, a chilling, horrifying sight.
After an unknown period of time, the terrified citizens finally regained their senses.
Then came panic, screams, fleeing, horror, and wailing.
They did not know what emotions to describe their shock, their minds continuously replaying the scene of Consort Zhao leaping to her death: "Consort Zhao is dead!"
"Consort Zhao has jumped from the tower!"
"Deluded Emperor! You disregarded the lives of all the citizens, disregarded the Elder Princess's noble quest for the red yam, slandered your own consort's honor, and even intended to force Consort Zhao to accuse the Elder Princess of rebellion!"
"Such an Emperor is no longer worthy of our trust and allegiance! This court has chilled our hearts!"
"We demand an explanation!"