Chapter 2: Tragic Death in the Back Alley

Dugu Yan's veins were bulging and he coldly shouted, "Shut up, wretch! I spared your life out of old feelings, but you remain unrepentant and have insulted the king. Guards, take this wretch away and throw her into the alleys of West Street to keep the royal prison clean!"

West Street alleys, the den of beggars! Jiang Chenhe laughed uncontrollably. She pointed at Lu Chengjun and said word by word, "I saved this wretch in the West Street alleys, thinking she was a pearl in the dust, worn down by the cruelty of the world. I brought her back to the Jiang family, supported her step by step. Yet, Dugu Yan, you sent me to the West Street alleys. Haha, you really know how to repay kindness, don't you?"

Jiang Chenhe laughed hysterically, but saw Lu Chengjun's face change drastically. She had transformed into someone so delicate and lovely, pulling Dugu Yan's sleeve with tears in her eyes, "Brother Yan, please, don't send Xiaoxi to the West Street alleys. She has so many wounds, how can she withstand the winter cold? Let the imperial physician dress her wounds!"

Lu Chengjun knelt on the ground, looking desolate. Dugu Yan helped her up, sighing, "Jun'er, you are too kind. This wretch caused you to lose our child, yet you still plead for her. If you want to dress her wounds, I won't stop you, but she must be thrown into the West Street alleys!"

"No, Brother Yan, don't harm Xiaoxi, please don't—" Lu Chengjun cried out, clinging to Dugu Yan's sleeve. She seemed to be in extreme grief, her body stiffening. Dugu Yan was startled and reached out to embrace Lu Chengjun, shaking her, "Jun'er, Jun'er—"

However, Lu Chengjun remained unresponsive, her eyes tightly shut. Dugu Yan felt heartbroken. His gaze swept coldly over Jiang Chenhe, as if filled with disgust. "Hurry up and throw this wretch out!" he said, then turned and left in quick strides.

Jiang Chenhe watched coldly. She knew this was another act staged by Lu Chengjun. By using such means, she appeared to be pleading for herself, but in reality, she made Dugu Yan hate her even more. Lu Chengjun was gradually pushing her into the abyss, taking the blame for Dugu Yan, while secretly tarnishing her reputation, causing her family to distance themselves from her, making the Jiang family despise her, and the noble concubine resent her...

Unfortunately, she had been too naive at that time, too naive. She thought she had nurtured a pearl, but instead, she had harmed herself and the Jiang family. Jiang Chenhe was filled with regret, but she was powerless. Her body was dragged away by the eunuchs, someone dressed her up and changed her clothes, but her wounds were left untreated before being thrown into the West Street alleys.

The winter's cold wind carried snowflakes. Jiang Chenhe leaned against a dilapidated low wall. In less than a moment, her new clothes had been stripped off by the beggars, leaving only a few scraps of cloth to cover her body.

Jiang Chenhe knew this was another deliberate arrangement by Lu Chengjun. Her body was already frozen, and she keenly felt her life slipping away bit by bit, as if being slowly cut by a blunt knife.

At that moment, she saw a grand procession approaching. It stopped in front of her, and soon, countless commoners surrounded her. "Look, isn't that the empress's procession?"

"Yes, why has the empress stopped here?"

"Look, the empress is coming out. Why is she crying in front of that beggar?"

"Oh, what beggar? That's the remnant of the Jiang family. She caused the empress to lose her dragon son. The empress is so kind, not only does she not blame her, she also pleads with the emperor to pardon her. When the emperor refuses, the empress personally comes to take her back!"

"The empress is truly compassionate!"

"Yes, who can deny that? It's a pity that this remnant of the Jiang family may not be grateful! The Jiang family dared to rebel, they should be exterminated! The empress and the emperor are too merciful!"

"That's right..."

The voices of the commoners reached Jiang Chenhe's ears intermittently. Her body trembled violently as she watched Lu Chengjun continue to weep insincerely. Suddenly, her eyes widened, her body already frozen, but in an instant, it seemed as if her anger had melted the ice. She madly lunged at Lu Chengjun, wanting to strangle her, but she was kicked away, and then a barrage of rocks, vegetable leaves, and rotten eggs rained down on her.

"Jiang family remnant, ungrateful wretch, how dare you lay hands on the empress? Kill her, kill her!" The crowd went mad, rushing forward to punch and kick Jiang Chenhe.

Jiang Chenhe burst into laughter, tears streaming down her eyes. She looked up at the sky, screaming in anguish, "Heaven is unjust, heaven is unjust! I, Jiang Chenhe, have done good all my life, and the Jiang family has served the country and the people. We have not received any good in return. Instead, the wicked have gained fame. I refuse to accept this, I, Jiang Chenhe, refuse to accept this!"

Her voice was piercing, as if shattering the heavens. Suddenly, a colorful auspicious cloud appeared in the sky, swiftly enveloping Jiang Chenhe's soul, then disappeared.

The celestial music echoed faintly, leaving the commoners stunned!

"It's a deity, a deity!"

Lu Chengjun was shocked, her body trembling uncontrollably. How could this be possible? How could this be possible?