Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife-Chapter 577: What’s the Point of Living Like This?

Chapter 577: Chapter 577: What’s the Point of Living Like This?

"Mother, it’s my fault, it’s my fault. These past few days I’ve been living in constant fear and confusion, speaking out of turn. Please, Mother, don’t take it to heart!"

When Qi Junji heard that Empress Qiao had a way to save him, a gleam instantly shot out from his dull eyes. He crawled forward on his knees, quickly embracing Empress Qiao’s legs, crying bitterly.

Empress Qiao frowned at his filthy appearance, and the maid beside her immediately scolded, "Men and women should maintain a respectable distance, Crown Prince, how could you conduct yourself like this?"

Only then did Qi Junji realize how wretched he looked, dirty and disheveled, and it was no wonder Empress Qiao looked at him with disdain.

He quickly released her, feeling ashamed, "Mother, please punish your reckless son!"

Empress Qiao looked at him, calmly saying, "My son, are you weary of your current life?"

"Weary, of course weary. Mother, I was previously blinded by ambition, only wanting to become Emperor. But now I realize it’s all an illusion; only wealth and glory are real. I no longer wish to be Emperor, just a wealthy and idle Prince!"

"An idle Prince? Hahaha..."

Empress Qiao laughed aloud, a hint of sarcasm flashing in her eyes.

"Mother?"

Qi Junji was stunned, looking up at her, not understanding why his mother was laughing.

However, he instinctively felt that Empress Qiao’s smile was off, even a little cold.

Empress Qiao looked at him, gently dusted off her clothes, and took a few steps to the side.

"Oh, my son, are you still dreaming? Since ancient times, treason has been a capital crime. Either succeed and become Emperor, exalted and supreme, or fail and die disgraced! And you still think you can become a leisurely Prince? What a dreamer!"

These words hit Qi Junji like a bolt from the blue.

Wanting a life of luxury, was it all just a dream?

Was it just a dream?

How could this be?

"Mother!" he cried out, eyes filled with despair, "If my death is inevitable, then why have you come? To mock me?"

"Inevitable death?" Empress Qiao shook her head, "No, the Emperor won’t kill you. He’ll imprison you for a while, then demote you to a commoner and exile you a thousand miles away! This would be a way of sparing your life, yet for you, this life is worse than death!"

Indeed, Qi Junji’s face turned deathly pale, utterly devoid of life.

For him, it truly was a fate worse than death.

He was a Prince, once the Crown Prince, living a life of unparalleled prestige, admired by all, enjoying endless wealth, fine wines, delicacies, and beautiful women. Such a life was like that of a god. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

But now, not only would he become an ordinary commoner, he would even be exiled a thousand miles to some desolate place to live out his days?

That was worse than death, better to be spared the humiliation and torment!

"Mother, is this the method you spoke of to save me?"

Qi Junji could barely suppress a laugh, sarcastic in nature.

With all your talk of saving me, this was the solution you offered?

"My son, I haven’t finished speaking yet! You’ve no hope, but think about your Princess Consort, think about your children. Can you bear to let them live such lowly lives, wandering homeless, perhaps even dying of disease or hunger along the way?"

With these words, Qi Junji fell into utter despair.

He wasn’t heartless; he still had feelings for his wife and children, even loved them dearly. During his days in prison, he had thought about this issue.

But it was too heavy a burden to dwell on, too painful to consider deeply.

Yet today, Empress Qiao laid this harsh reality before him, leaving Qi Junji to close his eyes in torment, clutching his head, groaning in agony.

Watching his pitiful state, Empress Qiao felt even more disdain, speaking coldly, "My son is a man of feeling; surely you don’t want them to suffer this fate too, do you?"

After a long while, Qi Junji slowly raised his head, "Then, Mother, do you mean my wife and children can be saved?"

Empress Qiao nodded slightly, "Yes, you are beyond saving, but your wife and children need you to save them!"

"Me? Hahaha..." Qi Junji let out a mocking laugh, "Mother, I’m sitting in a cell, how can I save them? How?"

"You can do it. As long as you die, they can live on!"

These words turned Qi Junji’s face ashen!

"Mother, what are you saying? You want me to die? Why? I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die! Mother, didn’t you say that Father wouldn’t kill me? He won’t, so why should I die?"

"Because living would be worse than death for you! Living so pitifully is worse than dying. At least in death, you can retain your reputation, protect your wife and children. Isn’t your death worth it?"

Empress Qiao took a deep breath and continued, "Once you die, the Emperor will feel guilty. Afterward, he will transfer that guilt onto your wife and children. Although they may not live as luxuriously as before, they can at least live comfortably!

And you... instead of dying in a foreign land, you can leave a whole body, be buried in the Imperial Mausoleum, and not become a wandering ghost. Isn’t that enough?"

Empress Qiao’s words were deafening, leaving Qi Junji stunned. After a long while, he burst into laughter.

"Yes, Mother is right. Now it seems only this way can I die with purpose! But I’m unwilling! Why did they win? Why did I lose? Based on what!"

Qi Junji roared, his eyes filled with bloodshot lines, based on what?

"Because they had help!"

Empress Qiao, seeing Qi Junji’s despairing look, smiled strangely.

"Son, do you know who you lost to?"

"Wasn’t it... Consort Li and them?"

When Consort Li and Qi Junlian came with those Silver Armored Soldiers, Qi Junji knew he was finished.

So, he had always thought he lost to Consort Li, lost to his Ninth Brother.

"No, not them! They don’t have the capability!"

"Then... who was it?" Since he was going to die, he wanted to die knowing the truth, so he strained to listen.

"Li Qingmu! No, I should say... Qi Junmu!"

"Wha... what?"

Qi Junji abruptly raised his head, eyes filled with disbelief, staring at the opulently dressed woman opposite him in shock.

Qi, Jun, Mu?

"You didn’t expect it, did you? Haha, years ago, when remnants of the Chen Country wanted to rise, they fabricated a false Seventeenth Prince, unaware that the true Seventeenth Prince was already in the court, and deeply loved by the Emperor!"

Empress Qiao sneered. If it weren’t for Pang Wenzheng telling her, she would have been kept in the dark.

"Now do you understand why the Emperor went to great lengths back then to create a fake Li Qingmu, producing a sham execution?

Did you think it was to confuse the enemy?

Ha, the best way to confuse the enemy is with truth, the more authentic, the better. And with Qi Yun’s ruthless determination, if Li Qingmu were just an ordinary minister, he would have sacrificed him!

But he didn’t! He swapped him out because he wanted to protect him!

Because, he was the Emperor’s most cherished Prince, the little Seventeen!"

Empress Qiao’s face was icy cold, enunciating each word forcefully!

She was also unwilling to accept this fate!