Huanzhu Time Travel: Yan Luo's Unbreakable Love in the Yong Dynasty

Chapter 517: The Truth Takes a Shocking Turn, Where Does Love Belong? (The Finale)

Morning light streamed through the carved windows of the Cold Palace, casting dappled shadows on the blue brick floor. The Empress huddled in a damp corner, her magnificent robes soaked through with night dew, a gold hairpin askew in her hair. Trembling, she touched the bronze mirror, and the reflection in it made her pupils shrink—the once beautiful woman was now withered and gray, her temples streaked with frost.

"Impossible..." Her fingertips traced the mirror's surface, her voice hoarse, "I clearly changed my appearance, how could this be..."

The sound of chains being dragged echoed from the depths of the Cold Palace. Xiao Yanzi, dressed in a plain gauze dress with a silver bell given to her by Yongqi at her waist, slowly stepped into this dark and gloomy place. In her hand, she held half of a butterfly-shaped gold seal, the evidence found on the assassin from the Western Regions.

"Your Majesty, how have you been?" Xiao Yanzi's voice was as cold as ice as she glanced at the figure huddled in the corner.

The Empress suddenly looked up, a ruthless glint flashing in her cloudy eyes: "Who exactly are you? How can you see through my Gu poison?"

Little Swallow threw the golden seal to the ground, the crisp sound startling the crows under the eaves: "I also want to ask you, why is this butterfly-shaped golden seal exactly the same as that concubine's dowry?"

The Empress trembled violently, her withered fingers gripping the hem of her skirt tightly: "You... how did you know about that concubine?"

"Because I found your and that concubine's birth dates in the General's Mansion's secret files." Xiao Yanzi took two steps closer, her white gauze skirt sweeping across the moss on the blue bricks. "The year of Yi Chou, the month of Ding Hai, the day of Xin Mao, is not only your birthday, but also the day that concubine passed away."

The Empress suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, the sound echoing through the Cold Palace: "That's right! I am that concubine! I was unwilling to die in your father's conspiracy, so I used the Soul-Seizing Gu to possess your body and be reborn!" She staggered towards Xiao Yanzi, her fingernails turning bluish-black, "It's all your fault! If you hadn't interfered, I would have already seized power by virtue of being the Empress!"

Little Swallow dodged to the side, her long whip wrapping around the Empress's wrist: "So the night Lin Xiaoyan fell into the lake, you deliberately led her to Chengqian Palace?"

"Hahahaha!" The Empress laughed until tears streamed down her face. "I will make your father's darling daughter witness firsthand the evidence of his treason! It's a pity she's so foolish, actually trying to protect that tyrant with her life!"

Outside the Cold Palace, Yongqi and the Emperor stood in the shadows of the palace walls. The Emperor, watching the two locked in a struggle within the Cold Palace, gripped the stone bricks tightly with his fingers: "So, the death of that concubine back then was actually orchestrated by General Lin..."

Yongqi gripped the sword hilt tightly: "Your Majesty, Miss Lin Xiaoyan..."

"Stop talking." The Emperor closed his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Take the Empress to the Imperial Clan Court. I want to interrogate her myself."

Three days later, at the Peony Pavilion in the Imperial Garden. Little Swallow leaned against the vermilion railing, toying with the half of the golden butterfly seal in her hand. Yongqi draped a fox fur coat over her from behind, his fingertips inadvertently touching the butterfly birthmark on her wrist—it bore a striking resemblance to the mark on the Empress's neck.

"Still thinking about those things?" Yongqi's voice was deep and resonant, like the sound of pine trees.

Little Swallow turned her head, her gaze falling on the eaves of the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the distance: "Why has the Emperor refused to see me?"

Before the words were finished, footsteps echoed from the corridor. The Emperor, dressed in a black casual robe, had a jade pendant at his waist that jingled softly with each step. His face was haggard, and his eyes were bloodshot: "Minister Lin, I have something to show you."

The three arrived at the Imperial Study. The Emperor opened a sandalwood box containing a yellowed blood-written letter: "This was written by Consort Na before her death."

The little swallow unfolded its pages with trembling hands, the handwriting faded like tears: "Xiao Yan, don't trust anyone..."

"So...so my father really is..." Xiao Yanzi suddenly coughed violently, blood staining her white gauze sleeves. Yongqi hurriedly supported her, but saw that the birthmark on her neck was glowing with an eerie red light.

"Soul-capturing Gu!" The Emperor's pupils constricted sharply. "The Gu poison that the Empress planted in you back then is still there!"

Yongqi drew his dagger, cut his fingertip, and dripped blood onto Xiaoyanzi's lips: "Do you still remember the vow we made on the grassland? To share the same bed in life and the same grave in death!"

Little Swallow gazed at his bloodstained fingertips and suddenly recalled her past life in the world of Huanzhu. She opened her mouth and took the crimson stain into her mouth, a warm sensation spreading from her throat throughout her body. The birthmark on her neck gradually faded, turning into a pale red scar.

"Yongqi..." she leaned weakly on his shoulder, "Shall we go back to the grasslands?"

The Emperor gazed at the beautiful couple, a look of relief flashing in his eyes: "Go. I promised you that if the truth is found, you will be free."

As the moon rose above the willow branches, Xiao Yanzi changed into the hunter's attire prepared by Yongqi, with his newly forged deerskin pouch tucked into her waistband. The two walked hand in hand toward the palace wall, their clothes fluttering in the night wind, resembling the young boy and girl who once galloped across the grasslands.

"Yongqi, do you think we'll ever come back?"

“Yes, we will.” Yongqi squeezed her hand. “When the world is at peace, we will come back and tell the children about the moonlight in the Forbidden City.”

On the city wall, the emperor watched their disappearing figures and threw the half of the butterfly-shaped gold seal into the brazier. In the instant the flames rose, he seemed to see again that year, amidst the apricot blossoms and light rain, a graceful figure peeked out from behind the sedan curtain, smiling radiantly.

(End of the book)