The Destiny of Going to Hell

Fuling gently helped An Lingrong up and said softly, "I do have two ideas, but it depends on what you decide, Sister An."

Tears were still falling from An Lingrong's eyes. She looked up at Fuling in confusion, "Sister, what do you mean by that? Which two ideas? Please tell me clearly, sister."

Fuling said calmly, "Although one plan can solve the problem today, I am afraid there will still be endless troubles in the future; the other plan can solve it permanently, so that you don't have to worry about it in the future."

An Lingrong was even more confused after hearing this. "Then of course we should choose a permanent solution."

Fuling picked up the tea beside her and handed it to her, comforting her: "Don't worry, listen to me carefully first, and it won't be too late to make a decision later."

"The first idea is to ask your father to resign. You need to personally plead guilty to the emperor and state that your father, as the magistrate of Songyang County, failed to stop Jiang Wenqing from taking away the silver in time, which is a serious crime."

"However, the emperor did not kill your father immediately, which is really a great favor from the emperor. You can beg the emperor to spare your father's life in consideration of your dedication to serving the emperor."

"Although your father made a mistake, he was really cowardly and had no ill intentions. You can say that your father has realized his mistake and dares not serve as an official in the court again. He is willing to retire and return home to be an ordinary rich man to spend the rest of his life."

An Lingrong listened from the side and thought that this idea was quite feasible.

"As for the other idea, it is much simpler. That is to let your father die in prison, so as to appease the emperor's anger, and then put an end to it all, without any more troubles."

An Lingrong's eyes widened, and she was shocked for a moment, "Sister? This..."

"If your father can make a mistake today, will he not make the same mistake again in the future as an ordinary person? Besides, you are now considered a favorite concubine. Maybe one day he will use your identity to cause a bigger disaster."

There was a hint of indifference in Fuling's words, but every word was heart-wrenching.

"I am only giving you two suggestions. The final decision is up to you."

After Fuling finished speaking, she quietly waited for An Lingrong's answer.

An Lingrong bit her lips tightly, as if there were thousands of voices warring in her heart.

She understood that Fuling's words made sense, but it was really difficult for her to send her father to his death with her own hands.

However, if he didn't do this, his father might get into bigger trouble in the future, and even implicate himself and his mother.

I thought of my father's neglect of me, my father's complaints about my mother, and my mother's eyes that were half blinded from doing embroidery.

That’s right, it was all my father’s fault. It was this man who caused all the suffering for my mother and myself.

Sister Fuling is right. Who knows what big things he might do in the future.

Thinking of this, a feeling of determination surged in An Lingrong's heart.

After a painful struggle, An Lingrong finally made up her mind.

A trace of determination flashed in her eyes, and she said with a trembling voice: "Sister, I have decided to choose the second idea... Please help me, so that my father can rest in peace in prison..."

Fuling looked at her with a hint of admiration in her eyes. She was right.

Although An Lingrong is timid, she is actually very ruthless.

"Since you have made up your mind, I will do my best to help you. But this matter must be kept secret, and no clues must be left behind."

An Lingrong hesitated and asked softly, "But if we do this, sister, won't people think that my father committed suicide out of fear of punishment?"

Fuling smiled gently and shook her head slightly.

"Of course not. What we need to do is to let him die to show that he is fully aware of his sins and is willing to take responsibility for them with his life."

She paused, then continued, "Not only must he pretend to commit suicide, but he must also write a letter of apology in blood."

"Sister An, it shouldn't be a problem for you to imitate your father's handwriting, right? This blood letter should be written with deep feelings, so that people can read it and understand the injustice in your father's heart."

An Lingrong nodded slightly when she heard this, and then, under Fuling's careful arrangement, An Lingrong secretly sent someone to deliver the poison into the cell.

Not long after, her father "died" quietly in prison.

A perfect smile appeared on Fuling's lips. From the moment she decided to win over An Lingrong, she had foreseen that such a day would come.

She knew very well that relying solely on equality, respect and love was far from enough, and she had to have a handle to prevent any accidents.

Soon, the news that An Bihuai hanged himself in prison to prove his innocence spread throughout the capital.

Along with it came a letter written in blood by An Bihuai.

After receiving the blood letter, Yinzhen just glanced at it and put it down. Then he got up and went to An Lingrong's residence.

When An Lingrong saw Yinzhen coming, she quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you. May your Highness be blessed with good health."

However, Yinzhen walked forward on his own without offering her a hand to help her. He just said calmly, "Get up."

An Lingrong knew in her heart that Sister Fuling was right, and the Emperor must have doubts in his heart.

So she tilted her head slightly as Fuling said, wiped the tears from her cheeks with her hands, and put on a forced smile.

"Why is the Emperor here at this time?"

Yinzhen sat upright on the couch. Seeing her red eyes and pitiful appearance, he said calmly, "I heard about your father's situation and wanted to come and see you."

After hearing this, An Lingrong sighed softly, with a hint of sadness in her voice: "Although my father didn't make much progress as an official, he at least managed to preserve his reputation in the end."

"If my father were to die with the name of committing suicide out of fear of crime, I would find it even more unbearable."

Yinzhen drank a sip of tea in silence and looked at her deeply: "Lingrong, do you think reputation is more important, or power and status?"

An Lingrong's heart skipped a beat. Sure enough, every word was just as Sister Fuling had guessed.

She understood that the emperor had a bad reputation, which was why he asked this question.

So, she lowered her eyes and spoke sadly as Fuling had taught her.

"If you are honest, you won't be afraid of what others say. Unfortunately, my father is not as determined as others, so he did something like dying to show his determination."

After hearing her words, Yinzhen silently twirled the jade rosary in his hand, and after a while he said, "I will make you a concubine and change your title. You have always been gentle, so you will be called Rou. You don't have to be sad, and you don't have to be afraid that your father will implicate you."

An Lingrong quickly knelt down to thank the emperor. Her delicate shoulders trembled slightly, and her voice was filled with gratitude and awe: "Your Majesty, I kowtow to thank you for your grace."

She secretly admired in her heart that Sister Fuling was really amazing. She even guessed that the emperor would associate this matter with her and might be soft-hearted and give her a promotion.