A’li Teng was dead, and Chi Qingbo had fled.

How far he could run depended on his luck.

Tie Ci hoped he wouldn’t give up his treacherous ambitions and would contact the other two chieftains in Yannan.

Naturally, A’dan was waiting for him there.

Murong Yi didn’t chase after him either. He made several gestures toward an empty space.

From the distance came the silver bell-like laughter of girls, gradually fading away.

That day in the Ba tribe village, Tie Ci had already arranged something with Duanmu. She would provide Duanmu with information about his old friend’s whereabouts, and Duanmu would help her. One of those tasks was to eliminate Chi Qingbo’s army hidden in the deep mountains.

Since the insect swarm, Tie Ci had confirmed that the imperial garden assassins were connected to the You father and son. The insect swarm was summoned by parasitic insects, so the vine strips that suppressed them must also be within these mountains. The assassin carried vine strips with him, clearly from some secret training base in the mountains.

Since she had convinced Duanmu, the Ba tribe’s abilities shouldn’t go to waste. So when Murong Yi left the valley a few days later, he was leading Ba tribe members throughout the mountains to find that place full of such vine strips.

Originally this was a needle-in-a-haystack task, but the wonderful thing was that these vine strips could suppress even parasite kings, so naturally all the venomous creatures raised by the Ba tribe would hate them too. The Ba tribe members just had to walk around with their poisonous pets—whichever direction everyone refused to go was the right one.

When Murong Yi found that valley, he discovered it wasn’t just an assassin training ground—the You father and son had hidden troops there.

That was their final trump card, and the source of their confidence to still dare raise blades against Tie Ci after their defeat and disgrace in Kunzhou.

Only none of them had expected that this trump card had long been exposed and eliminated by Tie Ci.

During his joint operations with the Ba tribe, Murong Yi had managed to build quite good relationships. After he and the Ba tribe found that secret camp, they didn’t kill everyone, but took some effort to control that army, gradually making them lose their wits while keeping the You father and son thinking their trump card remained intact.

Otherwise this drama couldn’t have played out to the end. The You father and son would have chosen to flee immediately, inevitably becoming a future threat.

Now the dust had finally settled. Tie Ci turned around and saw the grass-on-the-wall Provincial Commissioner standing far away in the flower hall with officials, all bowing to her.

The officials had watched quite a show today. Each had pale, dazed expressions. Pang Duan led several capable Qianzhou officials, mixed among them, watching for any suspicious moves.

But it was no longer necessary. The You father and son’s power was truly broken. Everyone now wished they could tuck their tails between their legs.

Further away, those courtesans You Jun had invited were even more silent as cicadas in winter.

But one person pushed through the crowd, slowly walking over.

Tie Ci was about to speak with You Weinan when she suddenly saw his expression change. Turning her head, she saw one of those courtesans walking over.

It was Liu Chan’er, former top courtesan of Zuixue Pavilion. When Tie Ci infiltrated the estate as Chun Wa, she had helped. This was someone recommended by Pang Duan and his cousin Shi Dianyi, with Pang Duan handling the connection. Tie Ci didn’t know what methods Pang Duan had used to convince her, but she trusted Pang Duan’s abilities.

But Chi Xue suddenly whispered in her ear, “Your Highness, I just heard some news from the courtesans. They say this Liu Chan’er had an extraordinary relationship with You Jun—she was You Jun’s first woman.”

Tie Ci was stunned. As a leader, she didn’t need to understand every detail, so she only now learned the other party’s identity.

But did Pang Duan know this woman’s background? If Pang Duan didn’t know, he shouldn’t have rashly contacted Liu Chan’er without investigation, bringing hidden dangers to everyone. If Pang Duan did know, how could he be certain he could convince a woman so deeply connected to You Jun, and guarantee she wouldn’t cause problems?

With Chi Xue’s words, Dan Shuang, Wan Ji and others became tense, all stepping forward.

Tie Ci glanced at You Weinan’s expression from the corner of her eye and waved her hand to let her pass.

Liu Chan’er tugged at the corners of her lips, seeming to smile faintly.

She walked past Tie Ci without bowing, then walked past You Weinan, turning her head to look at him.

You Weinan’s lips moved, finally saying, “…Don’t go over there.”

Liu Chan’er smiled and said, “You finally spoke to me.”

You Weinan’s expression became unpleasant again.

Liu Chan’er’s gaze moved past him to look at You Jun’s corpse behind him. You Jun still sat with his legs spread, in an extremely undignified posture. He had been cautious his whole life, yet chose the most unseemly position for death.

Liu Chan’er looked for a while, seeing You Weinan’s hair was disheveled, she reached out to tidy it for him, but You Weinan stepped aside.

Liu Chan’er wasn’t angry, smiling, “Fine, I won’t touch you, and I won’t go over there either. Let me dance for him here, alright? In the past, he loved watching me dance most.”

Hidden anger flickered in You Weinan’s eyes. He shifted slightly and turned his head away.

People followed behind Liu Chan’er, carrying her chime and hanging it from a beam.

Tie Ci noticed Liu Chan’er was actually wearing iron shoes with very sharp points.

Such iron shoes could probably be used to kill people too.

Obviously Wan Ji and the others thought the same. They approached with predatory gazes, forming a circle.

But Tie Ci couldn’t stand it anymore and waved for them to move aside. “Blocking everything—how can she dance?”

The guards retreated awkwardly. The flower hall was now spacious and empty, with You Jun still sitting with his head down, facing Liu Chan’er.

Liu Chan’er didn’t look at him. She concentrated on preparing for her dance, just as she had for decades past.

This was her respect for her own artistry as a courtesan.

But Yun Qiao, who had competed with her for a lifetime, kept staring at her tightly, finally unable to help saying, “Hey, the man’s already dead—what are you dancing for him for? How did you get so stupid the more you lived? You’re looking for death, aren’t you?”

Dancing for a dead man in front of his enemies—wasn’t this suicide? Lucky the Crown Princess was magnanimous. If it were someone else, let this fool try it!

Liu Chan’er turned to smile at her, saying, “I won’t dance anymore after this. You’ll be Kunzhou’s top courtesan then.”

Yun Qiao spat, “I don’t need you to yield to me!”

Ding! The chime sounded clear and melodious, drifting into ears and hearts.

Liu Chan’er raised both sleeves, striking the chime. Her waist swayed with the chime in the wind.

The next instant, she began to dance.

Unlike the graceful, elegant dance one might imagine, her dance was actually vigorous and passionate, grand and sweeping, possessing strength and explosive power that didn’t match her petite, slender frame.

Her whole body exerted force—sleeves, waist, knees, toes, even her flying hair. When she soared and danced in the air, a flame-colored wind seemed to flash before everyone’s eyes, or a thousand-petaled lotus bloomed before them. Each petal tip reflected the sun’s brilliance, turning and crossing on the shimmering lake surface. All the scenery was dominated by this fierce beauty.

The chime never stopped, its rhythm resonant. Listening carefully, it sounded like a melody, but this melody didn’t match her bold dance style. Instead it was clear and gentle, giving her entire person and dance a strange yet beautiful sense of discord, like a celestial demon straying into hell.

She was also as flexible as a demon, able to grasp her ankle with her wrist, press her head to the ground. The chime swayed gently in the wind, and when she danced around it, she looked like ribbon coiled around the chime, or like a long whip that could bend at will.

This strange dance captivated everyone present. Tie Ci thought the tune was pleasant, like a folk song from the Central Plains. She glanced at the bowed You Jun, thinking that for someone like You Jun—an unvalued, inwardly suppressed concubine’s son—Liu Chan’er with her delicate appearance but vigorous dance might truly suit his taste.

Because he too had always yearned for an all-consuming bloom.

To control his life like a dancer controlled her body.

While thinking this, she suddenly realized that for such an exhausting dance, Liu Chan’er seemed to have been dancing too long.

This would harm her body.

Was she planning to use all her life’s strength for this one dance…

She suddenly saw Liu Chan’er leap up and actually hang upside down from the chime. Her downturned face directly faced You Jun, and for that moment their gazes seemed to meet.

She smiled sadly.

Then her toes suddenly sprang up.

In that instant Tie Ci’s heart jumped and she instinctively raised her hand, but was already a step too late.

Chi! A light sound. Liu Chan’er’s legs forcefully traced a circle in the air, and the iron shoe tips struck heavily against her own forehead.

This motion also made her drift down lightly from the chime like a bloodstained withered leaf, landing right beside You Jun.

Her head rested on You Jun’s leg, blood gurgling from a hole in her forehead.

The entire hall fell silent.

No one had thought of or seen such a way to die.

Only one person rushed over even faster than Tie Ci.

“Mother!”

You Weinan’s voice was heart-wrenching.

He rushed to Liu Chan’er’s side, frantically trying to stop up that bloody hole. But the iron shoe tip had stabbed into her forehead as decisively as a dagger. When his palm covered it, he could only feel blood and life flowing away endlessly.

You Weinan panicked for a while, then could only look up at Tie Ci. Tie Ci gently shook her head at him.

Not looking at You Weinan’s pale face, Tie Ci only gazed at Liu Chan’er. After a long moment she said, “I’m sorry.”

Because she had brought her here, ultimately leading to You Jun’s death, Liu Chan’er died because of this.

If she had known earlier that Liu Chan’er had deep feelings for You Jun, she wouldn’t have chosen to have Pang Duan contact Liu Chan’er. It wasn’t safe for them either.

But Liu Chan’er gently shook her head, saying, “I chose this myself…”

Tie Ci was surprised.

Did she mean she knew her own identity and the purpose of infiltrating the estate?

Then why did she still bring her in, ultimately leading to her own death?

“Your Highness, before you came to Yannan, I already knew you…” Liu Chan’er smiled softly. “Courtesans throughout the world have your portrait. Many courtesans privately keep longevity tablets for you…”

Tie Ci fell silent.

She knew why.

Many years ago, the Empress Dowager had suddenly decided to tattoo and exile all courtesans in the world. It was she who found a way to protect them.

It was true that every courtesan in the capital kept tablets for her.

But the Empress Dowager’s edict didn’t reach Yannan. Courtesans in this independent territory shouldn’t have such gratitude toward her.

“…At that time I was still in the capital… just beginning to show promise in a pavilion. I was about to earn the silver to save my seriously ill mother when suddenly the Empress Dowager’s edict came. Someone in the brothel who was jealous of me immediately reported false charges against me, having her lover from the government office come tattoo my face first…” Liu Chan’er smiled at Tie Ci. “You saved me and my mother. Later I left the capital, and my mother could die peacefully in Yannan, all thanks to your grace.”

Tie Ci thought she could have chosen not to remember, and certainly didn’t need to repay with her life. So many years had passed, and it wasn’t personal favor to her. Even among those many courtesans in the capital, not everyone necessarily remembered now.

There were always people who put loyalty and righteousness first.

“…Actually A’jun was also my benefactor… When I first came to Yannan, I faced no little ostracism. It was A’jun who promoted and protected me, giving me today’s status. He wanted me to leave the brothel, but I said I wanted to continue dancing, and he agreed. He was actually a very good person…” Liu Chan’er lay on You Jun’s leg, looking up at his lowered face with a bitter smile. “…Kindness must be repaid, and feelings must also be returned. When Master Pang came to find me, I thought it over… If he really… I would just accompany him…”

She slightly raised her face to look at Tie Ci. “…And this child, I beg Your Highness, for the sake of my small service, give him a way to live. This child was born from my womb, so pitiful…”

Tie Ci closed her eyes.

She understood now.

Liu Chan’er chose to repay kindness and betray her lover, ultimately seeking a way out for You Weinan.

Otherwise You Weinan was also You Jun’s son, and You Jun’s great treasonous crime warranted execution of nine generations.

Liu Chan’er resented that her son, as a concubine’s child, had to bear storms and assassinations for the legitimate heir, never enjoying a day of true paternal love, yet still had to sink together with them in the end.

Perhaps she therefore also resented You Jun, so she would rather die together but still wanted to protect You Weinan.

In this world, when loyalty, righteousness, and kindness couldn’t all be fulfilled, if one couldn’t use base means to balance them, then only life remained.

You Weinan knelt beside his parents, head deeply bowed, never speaking.

Liu Chan’er’s breathing gradually weakened.

Finally she raised her hand toward You Weinan’s ear, seemingly still unwilling to give up her obsession, wanting to tidy the disheveled hair at his temples.

After all these many years, leaning from the second floor of Zuixue Pavilion, she had always been able to see her son with fine horses and fragrant carriages, followers like clouds, gracefully walking through crowds.

Her Weinan was always neat, particular, refined, beloved by everyone.

How could his hair be messy?

This time You Weinan didn’t step aside. He slightly leaned forward to meet her.

But Liu Chan’er withdrew her hand just before touching him, rubbing the blood on her fingertips and smiling, “Never mind. Mother is dirty.”

These were the last words she spoke in her life.

A moment later, kneeling You Weinan let out a lone wolf’s howl.

Tie Ci looked at him, at Liu Chan’er sleeping peacefully on You Jun’s leg, at A’li Teng who smiled peacefully even in death, at the bewildered You Weixing further away, and through You Weixing, she also saw the pool of blood You Weixuan had left in the bridal chamber.

Tie Ci closed her eyes.

Most heartless are imperial families.

One general’s success built on ten thousand bones.