Once her tormentors saw that the seven-year-old was no longer among the living, they ceased their beating.


    At that point, Consort Xi had already ran out of energy and tears.


    Even after she was released from her bindings, she continued lying on the bed of snow, drenched in a pool of crimson against the pure, white surroundings.


    The woman lay there, unmoving.


    Her eyes locked onto the three lifeless bodies ahead of her.


    A-Xue, her smart and cheerful A-Xue.


    Snow fell on the day of her birth, just as it did today. She remembered it clearly, as if it were yesterday. Holding the newborn girl in her arms, she gazed out of the open window in her inner chamber, watching the gentle descent of snowflakes from within.


    A-Yu was her second-born.


    She was born on a windy, rainy night with a delicate constitution.


    She almost didn''t make it. Once she did, the palace physician prophesied that she wouldn''t live past the age of five.


    Ironically, just as she passed the five-year mark, her own father had to murder her, trampling over her tiny life like mud.


    A-Li, her youngest.


    She was born when the plum tree at the palace burst into full bloom, showering the grounds with its delicate petals.


    The poor baby had only lived for three full years.


    She was willful and had a bad temper, but at the same time, she was also sweet and endlessly adorable.


    Just three days ago she asked for another serving of plum candies and Consort Xi said no.


    The little girl ended up throwing tantrums and her mother made her stand in the corner for half a shichen as a punishment.


    Her anguished cries rang inside Consort Xi''s ears.


    She could hear her clearly.


    Oh, how she regretted it all.


    "A-Xue… A-Yu… A-Li…"


    Consort Xi did not know how many times the names poured out of her lips, like an endless chant, the only offering she had for the dead.


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    She only stopped calling out for them when she heard familiar footsteps approaching from a distance, accompanied by the clinking sounds of chainmail boots.


    Even without looking up at the person, she knew who it was.


    The Emperor, Kang Ziyuan.


    Her husband, the one who ordered the punishment.


    The Emperor gave the corpses of her daughters a long glance before he looked down at his broken consort.


    "How does it feel to lose your children, Zhenxi?" He coldly asked.


    Consort Xi said nothing in reply.


    Her silence aggravated Kang Ziyuan even more.


    "This is what happens if you scheme to murder other people''s children," he said through gritted teeth.


    "Thanks to you, Zhenruan lost her child. She almost lost her life from excessive bleeding! Zhenxi, how ruthless can you be? Have you forgotten that she is your younger sister?"


    Right.


    Consort Xi blinked once, a flicker of awareness returning to her.


    Everything that happened to her, happened because of Song Zhenruan.


    This morning, she was still having breakfast with her little ones, unaware of the sinister plot unfolding in the neighboring palace.


    All of a sudden, the pregnant Imperial Consort Ruan complained of a terrible stomachache.


    All of a sudden, soldiers came pouring into Consort Xi''s palace, searching every nook and cranny for any suspicious item.


    And then, they found the abortifacient in one of Consort Xi''s drawers. The same abortifacient was found inside Imperial Consort Ruan''s meal.


    It did not take long for the physician to declare that Imperial Consort Ruan had sadly been unable to keep the baby in her belly.


    The child was gone.


    In his rage and sorrow over Imperial Consort Ruan''s miscarriage, Kang Ziyuan let his impulse take over and ordered for Consort Xi to be punished.


    Because she allegedly plotted and successfully killed Imperial Consort Ruan''s child, she was sentenced to the worst punishment that Great Wu had ever given to a noble consort to date – being flogged with wooden planks while watching her three little daughters freeze to death.


    It all happened within four hours.


    Beautiful memories of Consort Xi''s life by Emperor Kang Ziyuan''s side passed before her eyes in a flurry.


    Her wedding to Kang Ziyuan, long before he ascended the throne.


    The birth of their daughters, each one a blessing from heaven.


    The time they spent together as a family as they wrote one family chapter one after another.


    The scenes burst apart in Consort Xi''s mind, reduced to almost nothing, their fragments carried away by the wind.


    On the brink of losing her consciousness, Consort Xi began to hum something.


    Kang Ziyuan scoffed.


    "Zhenxi, have you lost your mind?"


    But Consort Xi did not reply to him. She continued humming the song.


    Frowning, Kang Ziyuan leaned closer to hear what the song was about.


    It was the lullaby she used to sing to her girls every night before bed.


    "Beautiful pale moon, shining above your head.


    Warm summer wind, blowing at your hair.


    Your eyes are brighter than the brightest stars across the sky.


    In your hand, you hold the most beautiful pearl of the ocean.


    Sleep well, my baby.


    Have sweet dreams, my baby.


    I will always be here, guarding your sleep, my baby…"


    As the final strains of the lullaby lingered in the air, Consort Xi''s consciousness ebbed away.


    Her heavy eyelids slowly fell shut.


    Kang Ziyuan clenched his jaw and barked at the nearby guards.


    "Guards! Take Consort Xi back to her palace! Call the physician to attend to her!"


    Heavy footsteps were heard, rushing toward her.


    Consort Xi, on the brink of death, curled her lips into a sad smile.


    Foolish man, she thought to herself. What was the point of calling a physician now?


    Or rather, foolish Song Zhenxi.