She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 508 - 507: Each and Every Charge Is Enough to Warrant the Mass Execution of the Yan Family

Chapter 508: Chapter 507: Each and Every Charge Is Enough to Warrant the Mass Execution of the Yan Family

What neither of them had anticipated was this.

It seemed Qin Jun cherished his granddaughter, Qin Erya, even more than they had imagined.

Before Yan Hongzhao had a chance to send word, people from Qin Jun’s side had already approached.

"... With the Crown Prince surrounded by enemies on all sides, Old Qin is willing to step forward to clear His Highness’s name, but His Highness refuses to meet with Old Qin. I hope the Crown Princess Consort can meet with Old Qin. Before the ascension to the throne, we should settle this matter," the messenger said with utmost respect.

Yan Wanqing responded without changing her expression and ordered all the servants in the outer court to be changed the same day.

The reach of Qin Jun was indeed too long.

It even stretched into the back of the Imperial Palace.

When the day of their meeting arrived.

Being still weak from childbirth, she donned a black fur lined hooded cloak, the edges rolled with soft fox fur.

With Cong Ge personally supporting her, she boarded the tightly sealed palanquin and left the palace.

"Miss, this servant is still somewhat worried, leaving the palace in secret—if the Crown Prince finds out, I fear it will lead to trouble," Cong Ge said anxiously in the carriage.

The Crown Prince held the miss in such high regard; the slightest stir caught his utmost concern.

If His Highness found out she took the miss, who had not yet completed her confinement, to see Qin Jun, he would likely be furious.

Yan Wanqing looked down to hide her bitter smile, "If I had told him, he wouldn’t have allowed me to come out."

If she didn’t come, the matters of the former court would continue fermenting, with unimaginable consequences.

Now that Qin Jun took the initiative to propose a private resolution, negotiating terms, having Qin Jun face those students would naturally be better than them making a stand.

"I hope things can be smoothly resolved, then we should hurry back to the palace." At that moment, the carriage came to a stop, and Cong Ge removed the blanket from Yan Wanqing. Once the carriage was steady, she stepped down.

"Miss, take it slow." Cong Ge reached out to help her.

Usually, even when pregnant, Yan Wanqing would get on and off the carriage herself, never needing anyone’s help.

But now, she reached out for help, relying on Cong Ge to slowly walk down the steps—just because she always felt as if her internal organs were hollow and shaking loose in her abdomen, making her unstable.

Furthermore, her footsteps were also unsteady, rendering her much clumsier than usual.

"My master has been waiting inside for a while, please, come in," Zhang Quanzhong said, his wrinkled face appearing as he opened the courtyard gate.

This place was one of the Qin Family’s annexes, close to the Imperial City, and aside from maids and servants coming to clean, no one would stay here.

"Thank you," Cong Ge slightly nodded to Zhang Quanzhong, supporting Yan Wanqing as they stepped inside.

At that moment, with a "creak," the wooden door closed behind them.

Zhang Quanzhong hunched his body, leading the way with respect, and Yan Wanqing followed with her servant.

Unbeknownst to them, outside, a drunken Qin Huai was composing poetry under the moonlight with his rowdy friends, stumbling in their direction.

Inside the room, charcoal was burning.

It was very warm.

When Yan Wanqing entered, Qin Jun was standing with his back to the door, fiddling with the incense.

His expression was focused, his movements extremely gentle, his hands trembling, yet still able to execute the task.

"Old Qin," Yan Wanqing spoke up first.

Upon hearing her voice, Qin Jun turned around, setting down his tools, and stepped forward to kneel in salute.

Cong Ge immediately raised her hand to stop him, "Qin Jun is advanced in years; let’s dispense with these formalities."

Qin Jun revealed an awkward smile, "Thank you, Crown Princess Consort."

The room was filled with incense and charcoal fires. Yan Wanqing felt somewhat stifled, so she stayed by the opening for fresh air. She nodded slightly and said, "It’s getting late. Although Qin Jun and I have never directly confronted each other, we’ve had our fair share of friction. Since I am here today, let’s speak frankly."

"Should the servants leave first?" Zhang Quanzhong asked carefully from the side, ready to walk out.

Cong Ge seemed reluctant; she waited for Yan Wanqing to speak.

"No need, Cong Ge is my confidante, and the old steward must have followed Qin Jun for many years. Both sides know each other well; it’s better to stay," Yan Wanqing didn’t want to face Qin Jun alone.

One was a man past his prime, and the other was a woman who had just given birth and had not yet recovered.

Both of them were in vulnerable positions.

Having someone around provided assurance—if anything went wrong, it would be difficult to explain.

"Crown Princess Consort is considerate; let’s all stay then," Qin Jun nodded in agreement.

They started discussing the main topic.

"Old man Qin has asked Your Highness over today to request an antidote for the unworthy eldest daughter of the Qin Family, Qin Erya. If Your Highness, with your broad mind, could let bygones be bygones, this old man would be willing to clear the Crown Prince’s name to the whole world," Qin Jun spoke, his gaze slightly opaque, "Of course, if the Crown Princess Consort does not wish to provide the antidote, the Crown Prince, being the most outstanding student of this old man, won’t be neglected by me."

Yan Wanqing listened to him finish, her eyes signaling to Cong Ge.

Cong Ge took out a small jar from her sleeve and slowly placed it on the table.

"This is half of the antidote. The other half will be personally delivered by me after the Crown Prince’s ascension ceremony," she said.

The vermillion jar stood out conspicuously on the table.

Yan Wanqing’s voice was soft, laced with fatigue and a husky quality, "There are many things upon which Qin Jun and I do not agree, but there is one thing we concur on—that is hoping the Crown Prince rises to fame without any tarnishing of his reputation."

"Everybody says I, Yan Wanqing, am the disaster of troubled times, a star of calamity to my parents, and unworthy of the Crown Prince, pure and bright as the moon. I believe Qin Jun thinks the same... Yet, of all the women in the world, none are as willing as I am to give their all to him."

"It is not that he chose me to be Empress, but that I am worthy."

Yan Wanqing spoke sincerely.

Between her and Xiao Pingfeng, it was a mutual appreciation, a bond deepening across life and death, and past hatreds to finally choose each other.

Such a bond would not have them easily give up on one another.

Qin Jun seemed to take in her words.

He nodded as if enlightened.

The moonlight outside the window was obscured by the passing clouds, hidden halfway, leaving only a hazy luminescence.

"... The old man knows the Crown Prince and you have gone through a lot together, and of course, the relationship between you cannot be easily destroyed by others." He paused, then shook his head.

Yan Wanqing narrowed her eyes slightly, "If Qin Jun is aware, then why does he shake his head?"

"The old man shakes his head because Your Highness’s words are overly confident." He looked up, his eyes filled with undisguised scorn, as if the filthiest thing in the world was before him.

That look was completely unmasked.

"The Marquis of Zhènguó dedicated his life to Loyalty and Righteousness, embodying these ideals throughout his existence, even dying in battle at Governor’s Office Pass for the people, moving those who heard to tears, and saddening those who saw. What a heroic spirit!" He pointed straight at Yan Wanqing.

"But you! You have destroyed the Loyalty and Righteousness your father has built with his flesh and blood thoroughly!"

"Yan Wanqing! ’A rat may have its skin, but a man without decorum is dead. A rat may have its teeth, but a man without restraint is ripe for death. A rat may have its limbs, but a man without courtesy ought to die sooner!’ You secretly manufacture weapons, collect grain, recruit soldiers, privately train Dead Soldiers, and raise your sisters to be as indecorous as you, so self-righteous. Not only that, you have betrayed your loyalty, colluded with the traitorous Demon Empress of the former dynasty, forced the late emperor to his death before the Golden Throne Hall—every single offense is enough for the extinction of the entire Yan Family—!"