Chu Yanxi immediately understood Ling Mohan's intention. He wanted a life for a life; only if he died could Feng Ruoyan be kept safe.
After a moment of silence, Chu Yanxi seemed to make up his mind and spoke indifferently, "I agree, but you must guarantee that after I leave, you will let Feng Ruoyan go, find her a safe place, and not mistreat her in any way."
"This general promises you."
Ling Mohan agreed to Chu Yanxi's request without hesitation. Feng Ruoyan was not a threat at all. Even if Feng Ruoyan were sane, he would not be afraid, let alone her current state of foolishness.
Besides, even if he let Feng Ruoyan go, she wouldn't live much longer.
"Ling Mohan, a promise is a promise. This Prince wants you to swear that if you break your vow today, you and Feng Jin will be separated and never see each other again!"
Ling Mohan's eyes immediately darkened, his displeasure evident. A killing aura erupted around him. How dare Chu Yanxi use Feng Jin as a wager. Did he truly not want to live?
Chu Chenyi vaguely sensed the oppressive killing aura emanating from Ling Mohan and swallowed nervously. How could Chu Yanxi be so foolish as to bring up Feng Jin? He was practically asking for death, and he couldn't blame anyone else.
"Ling Mohan, are you afraid to swear?"
"I can agree to any other condition, but not Feng Jin!"
"No, you must swear a poisonous oath with Feng Jin as the wager. If you dare to go back on your word, then Feng Jin..."
A dagger flew out, piercing Chu Yanxi's shoulder blade. Chu Yanxi cried out in pain, his brows furrowed, and the agony on his face could not be concealed.
"Do you really think I dare not kill you? If you push me too far, I will kill you first, and then make Feng Ruoyan accompany you to the grave!"
"You dare!" Chu Yanxi shouted forcefully through the pain, but he was inwardly trembling. Ling Mohan was indeed capable of such an act.
Hesitating for a moment, Chu Yanxi wisely decided to take a step back. "Then swear. If you dare to go back on your word..."
"I, Ling Mohan, swear to the heavens that if I violate the promise made today, may I die without a burial place!"
Without giving Chu Yanxi any chance to threaten him, Ling Mohan directly uttered the oath.
"Are you satisfied?"
Chu Yanxi said nothing more. The matters he was worried about had been resolved, and he had no more regrets in this life.
Seeing his silence, Ling Mohan took out an exquisite porcelain bottle from his embrace and tossed it at Chu Yanxi's feet. "You know what to do with the rest. There's no need to be too explicit."
With that, Ling Mohan turned and walked away. Chu Chenyi, who had come along to watch the spectacle, also turned and left. Since the main character had departed, what was he, merely an accompanying guest, still doing standing there foolishly?
After they left, Chu Yanxi let out a cold, self-mocking snort after a long pause. A sardonic smile played on his lips as he slowly rose from the ground. He tore a strip from his robes, bit his finger to draw blood, and wrote a confession.
A man about to die wished to shoulder all the blame himself, so that he could protect his mother.
After finishing the blood confession, Chu Yanxi placed it aside and finally looked at the porcelain bottle on the table.
He picked it up with trembling hands, a faint smile gracing his lips. It was a smile of utter relief, a smile from the bottom of his heart. It seemed that Chu Yanxi had finally let go of all his burdens.
He poured all the medicine from the bottle into his mouth and sat down cross-legged, straightening his clothes. He had lived a life of utmost nobility, and even in his final moments, he would maintain his dignity.
A sharp pain in his abdomen told him the poison was taking effect. He took out a jade pendant from his embrace. This was the pendant Feng Ruoyan had accidentally left with him when they first met and she departed hastily.
He had always kept this jade pendant close to his person. It was worth it to exchange his life for Feng Ruoyan's.
Chu Yanxi clutched the jade pendant tightly. Even after his breath had ceased, his grip on the pendant did not loosen.
The prison guards who came for their routine check saw that Chu Yanxi was still and moved forward to investigate. Discovering he had no breath, they immediately shouted in alarm, "The Third Prince has passed away... The Third Prince has passed away... The Third Prince has passed away..."
Feng Ruoyan, who was being held in another prison cell, was cradling a pillow. Upon hearing the guards' loud cries of "The Third Prince has passed away," the pillow dropped from her hands. Tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes, and she spat out a mouthful of dark blood before collapsing weakly.
...
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, the Third Prince... the Third Prince..."
"Speak quickly, what happened to the Third Prince!"
Emperor Xuanwen asked urgently, a sudden wave of worry rising in his heart.
"Your Majesty, news has arrived from the prison that the Third Prince... the Third Prince has passed away!"
Upon hearing this news, Emperor Xuanwen felt his mind reel. His steps faltered, and with the support of the eunuch beside him, he managed to sit down on a chair.
"Your Majesty, please compose yourself. The Third Prince committed suicide. A blood confession was also found beside the Third Prince."
The eunuch presented the blood confession to Emperor Xuanwen and then respectfully withdrew, bending at the waist.
Emperor Xuanwen looked at the blood confession, his hand trembling as he reached out to pick it up. After reading the contents, he felt an overwhelming heartache, and tears welled up from the corners of his eyes.
He had originally intended to mete out a lighter punishment to Chu Yanxi once the situation had calmed down, at least to save his life. But... he had not even had time to issue his imperial decree before Chu Yanxi had poisoned himself and died.
He had taken all the blame upon himself just to spare the Empress.
"Your Majesty, the Third Prince's body still lies in the prison. We must arrange for his burial as soon as possible. Your Majesty must also make other arrangements."
Emperor Xuanwen sighed, appearing several years older. "Have someone select a good burial site and ensure he is laid to rest with proper ceremony. There must be no neglect."
"Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will arrange it immediately."
"Wait!" As the eunuch was about to leave, Emperor Xuanwen called him back.
"Take my imperial decree and release Lady Liu from the cold palace. Move her to Chongyang Palace and ensure she is well cared for. Let her live out her remaining years in Chongyang Palace."
Chu Yanxi's blood confession was filled with him taking all the blame upon himself. He was using his own life to beg for mercy for Lady Liu.