Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

When Heaven shows mercy to all living beings, why can't it show me a little more mercy?

With a swift stroke, blood splattered across the ground, blooming like crimson plum blossoms in the snow-covered capital.

Thus, a dynasty comes to an end, a new dynasty rises, and the old and new replace each other—the most common evolution of generation after generation.

And the blood-splattered plum blossoms eventually became a legend told over tea.

And I, Ye Xingchen, died on the day of the coup, dressed in the most noble empress's robes, in my favorite winter.

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Outside the palace, chaos reigned; inside, panic gripped the people. Palace maids and eunuchs packed their belongings and fled in all directions.

Tonight, Prince Qing, Gu Chenglin, who had only been on the throne for half a year, died on his imperial bed. Prince Qing died from a slow poisoning, and Ye Xingchen was the culprit.

The moment Prince Qing passed away and the death knell tolled was the moment Gu Chengjie led his troops to besiege the city.

For the past six months or so, the treasury of the Great Jin Dynasty has been strained. Prince Qing, unwilling to impose heavy taxes and exploit the people, has been constantly reducing the food, clothing, and other necessities in the palace, and has even reduced the number of soldiers guarding the imperial city by more than half. If it weren't for Prince Jin's troops stationed on the northwestern border, the border defenses would probably be in danger.

A day ago, Ye Xingchen would have been overjoyed. The day she had been waiting for for so long was finally coming to an end. The person she had been looking forward to was coming to the city to pick her up. She had even thought of names for her future children. She was full of anticipation and longing. All along, apart from Gu Chengjie, she hadn't cared about or longed for anyone else.

But last night, when the wounded guard Mo Han burst into the bedchamber, Ye Xingchen realized that from beginning to end, she had been nothing but a joke, a pitiful pawn. And the person she loved most had only ever used her.

Upon learning the truth, Ye Xingchen sat in the dark palace for an entire night—a long, long night. She thought about many things: Nan Rao, Zhu Ling, and her relatives on Xiyan Mountain.

Thinking back, when she returned to the villa with unwavering devotion, she saw Gu Chengjie riding past on horseback as she climbed the wall to pick fruit. Later, back at the Ye residence, they met again. She was happy when Gu Chengjie brought her trinkets and took the Ye family children out to fly kites. Knowing she was betrothed to the royal family, she felt Gu Chengjie was suitable, initially driven by self-interest, but ultimately falling in love. She confided in him, even agreeing to marry Gu Chenglin to be his inside man when he asked her to do so, blinded by love. Now, it all seems like a cruel joke, a consequence of her own actions.

Now that Ye Xingchen has lost all her trusted confidants, she suddenly realizes that she made a mistake, and one wrong step led to another.

Looking at Prince Qing on the dragon bed, Ye Xingchen felt deeply ashamed, but because Prince Qing was too deeply poisoned, there was nothing she could do to save him.

Mo Han, who had once wholeheartedly protected his master, lay beside her, his blood-stained body gradually growing cold. Ye Xingchen clenched her fists. She had always been so decisive, whether she liked someone or hated someone. Just like how she had left the villa and descended the mountain without hesitation back then.

When Heaven pities all living beings, why can't it show more mercy? In the end, good and evil are both rewarded. Ye Xingchen silently closed his eyes.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, the sun had not yet risen, and the sounds of clashing weapons and the cries of the crowd could be faintly heard outside the palace walls. But the Chongyang Palace was eerily quiet.

Ye Xingchen stood motionless, gazing ahead. Dressed in a fiery red cloak, she had changed into a noble empress's robe, standing before the main hall, her vibrant color and striking presence particularly against the backdrop of the snow-covered ground.

The snow that had fallen all night had stopped, leaving a blanket of white. As the saying goes, a timely snow promises a good harvest; perhaps next year will be better for the people. Ye Xingchen thought. It was as if he had returned to his youth, when he still had hope and longing in his heart. Now, he was all alone, truly having nothing left. Ye Xingchen smiled bitterly.

Footsteps sounded at the palace gate, and Ye Xingchen looked up.

The newcomer dismissed his guards and walked over alone, without even carrying any weapons.

Ye Xingchen looked at him, just like when she first saw him on the wall of the villa. If only life could always be like that first meeting.

In the vast Chongyang Palace, only Ye Xingchen and Gu Chengjie gazed at each other. Ah, people can really be blinded by sweet words. They were so infatuated that they lost their minds. In the end, it was all just self-deception.

"Long time no see, Gu Chengjie," Ye Xingchen said, looking up.

"Heh. Where's the Imperial Seal?" Gu Chengjie asked.

"How long have you been plotting to get this throne?" Ye Xingchen asked coldly.

"You don't need to know that. You only need to know that I will send you on your way today," Gu Chengjie said in a low voice. "It's finally your turn, Ye Xingchen. I can finally avenge Ruohuan." Gu Chengjie sneered, tearing off his last mask.

"If you like Ye Ruohuan so much, why did you become friends with me in the first place?" I asked again.

"Because you have a royal marriage contract, otherwise do you think I would pay any attention to you? All those sweet words you said disgust me to death." Gu Chengjie laughed loudly, "Ye Xingchen, you really are stupid!"

"So, you hate me?" I asked.

“You killed Ye Ruohuan, the woman I cherished like a treasure. How could I not hate you?” Gu Chengjie said coldly. “Besides, you are my eighth brother’s empress, how could I possibly let you live?”

The palace gates were dazzlingly white, almost blinding. Ye Xingchen looked up at the sky; the night of confusion and unease was finally coming to an end. If someone wants to kill you or hate you, they don't really need a reason.

"Then let's go together." Ye Xingchen smiled with relief.

Instantly, the surrounding ground wires caught fire, melting the snow and revealing wooden strips soaked in kerosene, which quickly closed into a sealed wall of fire.

"Ye Xingchen, you're insane!" Gu Chengjie roared, trying to rush out, but he couldn't muster any strength. "What have you done?"

"Gu Chengjie, I can help you, or I can destroy you!" Ye Xingchen smiled contemptuously.

Gu Chengjie rushed over like a madman, grabbing Ye Xingchen by the neck, his eyes bloodshot. Ye Xingchen struggled with all her might, slashing him with her knife and pushing him to the ground.

The poison took effect. Ye Xingchen used the most potent poison, intending to drag him down to hell with her, to perish together in flames, in a spectacular and utterly devastating end.

"Are you insane! Ye Xingchen, stop! I won't kill you!" Gu Chengjie roared.

"It's too late, Gu Chengjie. Let's die together. Consider this the last good deed I, Ye Xingchen, will do." Ye Xingchen smiled with relief.

Gu Chengjie curled up on the ground, trembling and shouting, while the surrounding fire burned brighter and brighter, with flames soaring into the sky.

Ye Xingchen crouched down, picked up the dagger, and wiped the blood off it with the hem of her skirt. The small blade reflected Ye Xingchen's face in the firelight. It was the dagger that had been with her for over ten years, a dagger given to her by a kind person when she was young. He said she should use this dagger to protect herself.

Ye Xingchen smiled, but things didn't go as planned. She betrayed his kindness, and all she encountered along the way was bad luck.

A raging fire, roaring and intense, with black smoke swirling upwards.

Yes, it's all over, and it should be over. Let it all end here.

Ye Xingchen slowly raised his arm.

With a swift stroke of the knife, he fell slowly, like a blood-red plum blossom blooming at the end of deep winter.

In the final memory, the palace gates were smashed open, and a man came bathed in the morning light.

Yes, the sun rose, but Ye Xingchen could no longer see it.