Everyone gasped in surprise, as if they had heard something not meant for their ears.
"Look, look at it, Mother!" Sun Jun interrupted, his voice rising as he pointed an accusing finger at Li Mei. "I told you she's unfaithful!"
"I didn't do it!" Li Mei yelled out of frustration. "Sun Jun, you bastard! You're actually trying to harm me."
"Presumptuous!" The Imperial Noble Consort's voice cut through the air like a sharp blade, silencing Li Mei.
"I saw it too," another maid stepped forward, her voice shaky but clear. "It was Lady Mei who invited Mr. Fang into her chambers." The maid spoke with confidence.
"I can't believe Lady Mei would do this; with her gentle character, it's so hard to believe.
"I agree," another guest chimed in. "She shames everyone with this act of hers, especially Prince Jun."
"All of you…" Li Mei stammered as she sobbed, her voice shaky and in need of comfort. "All of you are trying to harm me! Do you not fear being punished by the heavens?"
She yelled, her frustration boiling over.
"Li Mei, are you crazy?" Sun Jun retorted.
"Please believe me," Li Mei said, slowly reaching for Sun Jun's hand, but he moved away from her.
She was hurt. She looked around the room, hoping for someone—anyone—to believe her, but everyone had the same look on their faces: Rejection.
The Imperial Noble Consort spoke, her voice filled with authority. "Tradition is clear," she declared. "Any woman who dishonors the family must face the consequences. Guards!"
"No, please, Li Mei pleaded. The guards entered and seized Li Mei. She yelled, fighting against their restraint, "You can't do this to me! I did nothing wrong."
Sun Zhao immediately sank to his knees and performed a polite gesture. "Mother, please, let's wait till father gets back before taking a decision."
"Are you doubting my authority, Zhao'er?" the Imperial Noble consort asked with a calm yet imposing tone.
"I dare not," Sun Zhao quickly defended, lowering his head in respect. "I simply believe this matter should be thoroughly investigated."
"Oh? You mean that I was rash with my decision?" The Imperial Noble Consort asked rhetorically. Sun Zhao simply kept quiet. "His Majesty and the crown Prince are away offering prayers to the late empress at the temple, they won't return until two months. Are you saying we should wait till then before dealing with this?"
"No, mother. I only think we should give it more time—find out what really happened."
"All the evidence points at her. Tell me, if I don't judge this matter, who can?" she asked fiercely.
Sun Jun stepped forward before Sun Zhao could respond, "Mother is absolutely right," he said with eagerness, "It is only right you oversee this matter. Am I not right?" he asked the guests.
"That's right." A guest said in agreement.
"Indeed," another added. "Who else could judge but
Her Grace?"
"But…" Mother," Sun Zhao tried again, but he was stopped by the Imperial Noble Consort.
"Enough!" she snapped at him. "Even as my son, you're not above punishment. Seeing me is the same as seeing His Majesty—someone!" The Imperial Noble Consort commanded, "Take Prince Zhao away and have him canned twenty times."
A sharp gasp rippled among the guests.
"Yes, Your Grace," a guard bowed before turning towards Sun Zhao. "Your Highness, forgive me, please." He motioned for Sun Zhao to lead the way. Sun Zhao stood up gracefully, his expression collected. He led the way while the guard followed suit.
"The Noble Consort is ruthless." one guest whispered to a friend.
"Yes, even her son isn't spared. It's better we all remain in her favor."
From where she was being held, Li Mei raised her voice. "Mother, please believe me! I didn't do it!" she cried out. But the Noble Consort turned away and gestured her hand to the guards, her resolve unyielding.
"Take her away."
Li Mei's cries pulsated through the room as the guards pulled her away. "Mother!"
The guests exchanged uncomfortable glances as the doors closed, drowning Li Mei's voice. But in their minds, one thing was clear: the Imperial Noble Consort's authority was absolute, and to go against her was idiocy.
The cool night breeze hit her face as she was led to the family ancestral ground. A pit had already been dug—deep, dark, and awaiting her. Her chest started to rise in panic as she realized how serious the situation was. She was going to be buried alive for a crime she never committed, and everyone would move on as if nothing had happened. "Why?" she thought. "Why did it have to be her? Was it because she came from a humble background? Because she has no name to herself? Why did she have to go through this cruel fate?"
A Jun, she called affectionately, hoping the bond they shared would touch his heart. "I didn't do it. I swear I didn't. You must believe me." She cried silently, clenching her chest tightly, like it was being struck by an arrow.
She turned and faced Jing Yan, who had no expression on her face. "We've been great friends since childhood. We grew up together. You know I didn't do what they're accusing me of. Tell them, tell them I didn't do it. I'm begging you." She was on her knees, her hands clasped together, pleading.
"I'm innocent." she lamented. "Why? What have I done wrong? Why should I be subjected to this humiliation?" She choked on her words as she sobbed hard, her breath hitching. Her voice was harsh, a sign of the frustration and pain she was going through. "Why do you refuse to believe me? Why?" she yelled.
The guards grabbed her and pulled her towards the pit. Tears flowed down her face like a waterfall as she looked at Sun Jun one last time.
"You're my husband! If no one believes me, you're supposed to!" she cried. "I've done so much for you these past years. I never asked for anything in return, nor did I argue. Because I love you. Because I believed you'd protect me." Her voice broke, but Sun Jun remained silent, offering her no solace—just an unbreakable silence that shattered her heart.
"I know what you've done," Li Mei said suddenly. Her voice trembling but filled with pique. "You and Jing Yan—you think I don't know? You betrayed me. You both planned this!"
Sun Jun looked down, his face etched with guilt, but it quickly vanished as it came.
"I won't forgive you!" Li Mei yelled as she lunged forward and tightened her hands around Sun Jun's throat. Sun Jun staggered back, attempting to rip her hands away, but his effort proved abortive. Li Mei's fingers were firmly in place. "I hate you!" she snapped.
Your Highness! The guards rushed to intervene, but before they could pull her away, Sun Jun reached into his inner pocket and produced a dagger. With deliberate force, he plunged it into Li Mei's stomach.
Li Mei finally released him and staggered back, her breath becoming rapid. She coughed up blood, and her robe quickly soaked with blood. She clutched her stomach in pain, and her vision became blurry, but she was able to make out Sun Jun and Jing Yan's faces in the dark, a sinister smile etched on both faces.
"You…" she muttered, her voice breaking in shock. "I gave you so much, sacrificed so much for you, and this is how you repay me?"
In that moment, memories flooded her mind. She recalled how she had been chosen to marry Sun Jun, not for love but for her ability to help him in court. She was intelligent, smart, and logical.
These traits earned her respect and praise from everyone, including the royal household.
She had treated Sun Jun with respect, showered him with love and affection, but he had never reciprocated. The truth was—he never loved her. He only saw her as a tool to achieve his political ambitions. All along, his heart belonged to Jing Yan. But she had known. She wasn't stupid.
She had decided to ignore the secret meetings, the stolen glances, hoping that one day he would truly see her. But here she was—betrayed, harmed, and damaged. Sun Jun had fed her a toxic brew when she was carrying their child. He had tricked her into taking it, convincing her it would help the baby.
But the poison had led to her miscarriage. She lost the baby, and her womb was no longer fertile. That was when she realized he had never wanted her, nor did he desire to have children with her. Her entire life had been based on lies, deceit, and betrayal. The very people she trusted had brought her to her end.
She stumbled backwards and collapsed into the pit. Everything, once full of life, and so much light became dark. She could hear the faint sound of animals, almost as if mocking her for her foolishness. Love had led her here, throwing her into the dark abyss, where she would be lost forever, never to be heard from or remembered by anyone again. Flashes of her life flickered before her eyes; she saw herself, a reflection of her true self—a woman who had offered a hand, a shoulder, a listening ear. She saw a woman who gave without question, a woman who trusted without reserve, a woman without self desires, who prioritized and found joy in the well-being of others. And now, this was the price.
Her virtues—love, trust, Patience, and forgiveness—had ruined her; they were her weakness. Had she known better, her fate would have been different. A wave of betrayal washed over her as she muttered resolutely, "If I'm ever born again, I won't let them destroy me." A single tear, a silent reminder of the life she lived, traced her cheek.
Her vision gave in and her last breath dissipated into nothingness.