“I had long suspected you. These were found under Chun Xiu’s bed. You never expected this letter to be in my hands. What you burned was not the original, but a copy forged by Chun Xiu imitating your adoptive father’s handwriting. She anticipated you would eliminate her and secretly left this letter to expose your evil deeds. Virtuous Concubine, you are quite the actress, deceiving both me and the innocent Yuer. Li Xiuqing, do you admit your crimes?” Ming Lengchen said angrily.
“Haha, you finally know my real name. Why did you only reveal this now? If you had spoken earlier, perhaps this foolish Mei Siyu would not have suffered so much,” Xia Waner, actually Li Xiuqing, laughed.
“I wanted to give Mother a chance, thinking she could not be so heartless. Yet, she still took this step,” Ming Lengchen said sadly, looking at the empress dowager sitting nearby.
“My son, everything mother did was for your own good,” the empress dowager cried.
“Destroying my child, is this your idea of good? In that case, I would rather not have such kindness!”
“My son!” The empress dowager approached Ming Lengchen, grabbing his sleeve and begging.
“Guards, execute the Virtuous Concubine by beheading! Take her away!” Ming Lengchen ordered authoritatively, unwilling to let such a cruel woman remain near Yuer and harm his kind-hearted love.
The guards dragged the shocked Xia Waner away. A distant, bitter laugh could be heard – her elaborate schemes ultimately betrayed by her own maid.
He picked up the still-unconscious Mei Siyu, not sparing a glance for his mother, walking away directly. He had promised Yuer he would protect her, yet today he had failed.
He suddenly understood why Yuer was determined to leave the palace. Despite being an emperor with supreme power, he could not protect the woman he loved or their true love.
[Epilogue: Grand Finale]
In the green mountains and waters, the red sun shone on his handsome face. Looking into the distance, a soft crimson hue appeared. Bird calls brought his wandering thoughts back. The young girl in his arms playfully toyed with his hair, displeased by his momentary distraction: “Daddy, why aren’t you paying attention to Nian Yu?”
