Xiao’an watched his retreating figure, her eyes filling with a trace of melancholy. Hong Gu thought she would be angry, but she wasn’t.

She seemed more worried than anything.

Seeing the three attendants and Ming Yanchu also immediately mount their horses and follow, Hong Gu said in a low voice: “Old Ancestor, don’t worry. Great Zhou is His Majesty’s responsibility. His Majesty will definitely return.”

Xiao’an sighed. After a long while, she finally spoke: “Ah Hong, this palace mother isn’t worried about him not returning. Back then when he thought A’luo was dead, it was during his most impulsive years of youthful vigor, yet didn’t he still return in the end? Now what hasn’t he experienced? No matter what happens to Feng Suzhen, this palace mother believes he will definitely return.”

Hong Gu nodded, then asked somewhat puzzled: “Then what is Old Ancestor still worried about?”

“But,” Xiao’an smiled bitterly, “whether he can hold on, this palace mother doesn’t know. If I had known earlier, I would have… would have given him a promise beforehand, promising that even if the Feng woman stayed in the army, I would never harm her in secret.”

“Where in the world are there so many ‘if I had known’? You simply couldn’t make such a guarantee. If she were here, you’d always want to kill her.”

A voice leisurely interjected. Xiao’an was startled and looked up to see Lian Xin, who had emerged from the neighboring tent upon hearing the commotion.

“What do you understand!” She had just scolded when Lian Xin suddenly continued: “Moreover, Sixth Brother didn’t let Huaisu come here also because he worried about defeat. He feared she would die with him. We are imperial family – whether living or dying, we must maintain this dignity. She isn’t, so there’s no need to forfeit her life. She can live well. Mother Empress, you needn’t blame yourself. If there’s still a chance, be more tolerant toward them in the future. Don’t be like forcing Brother Chang’an, making him have no choice but to wander the world.”

Xiao’an was actually rendered speechless by her, stunned for quite a while without being able to say anything. Her brow couldn’t help but furrow. Looking at this daughter, she felt she still had the same features as before, still childish, yet somehow seemed to have suddenly grown up and become unfamiliar.

“Get back to your tent! You just need to take care of yourself!”

Feeling angry, she took Hong Gu and turned to leave. Seeing that the Lian brothers were about to enter the tent with the ministers and generals for further discussion, she called them over: “Seventh Prince, Ninth Prince, please come sit in this palace mother’s tent. This palace mother has something to say.”

The Lian brothers turned around, somewhat surprised, but both their eyes showed resistance and indescribable hatred.

Xiao’an pretended not to see it and went in first.

Yan Da and Murong Ding exchanged glances. The former said: “Seventh Master, Ninth Master, please attend to your business first. We ministers will wait in the tent.”

Lian Jie nodded slightly and entered Xiao’an’s tent with Lian Qin.

“What is it?” He asked indifferently, his tone cold.

Xiao’an was deeply involved in the late emperor’s death. Previously, to deceive Quan, Chao, and the officials, he had always remained composed. Now that everything had been laid bare, he had no need to continue acting. Lian Yu, knowing Lian Qin’s temperament well, had only revealed the truth to him the night before the memorial ceremony. Lian Qin’s resentment these days wasn’t entirely feigned.

But at this moment, no one needed to pretend. Whether it was loathing or hatred, it was all written clearly on their faces.

Looking at the two men, Xiao’an suddenly waved for Hong Gu to withdraw. Hong Gu was her confidant – over the years, what words couldn’t she hear? This action surprised not only Hong Gu but also the Lian brothers.

“This palace mother called you two here,” seeing Hong Gu leave, the melancholy in Xiao’an’s eyes deepened. She paused before saying, “to speak some heartfelt words with you brothers.”

The two showed no expression, watching coldly from the sidelines.

Xiao’an smiled, and the sharpness in her brows seemed to disappear in an instant. She was just an ordinary woman.

“Though this palace mother has lived a life below one person but above ten thousand, ruling the world as empress, I have lived bitterly.”

Lian Qin suddenly laughed, his tone full of contempt: “Empress Dowager, put away this false act. If you suffered, how many people in this world would still be fortunate!”

Xiao’an acted as if she hadn’t heard his sarcasm and continued: “This palace mother killed your imperial father out of necessity. I’m not saying this to seek your forgiveness. You two are nothing to this palace mother – your forgiveness isn’t important to me. It’s just that since you two have sided with His Majesty, you actually understand in your hearts that the late emperor’s death didn’t have much to do with your Sixth Brother. Even if he hadn’t acted then, the late emperor would have surely died. The man was already severely ill. This palace mother’s sword struck his vital point – the only difference would have been how much longer he could have lingered.”

“His Majesty acted only to transfer this palace mother’s sins onto himself. When he descends to the Yellow Springs in the future to face our ancestors, it will be his crime.”

“You needn’t try to exonerate Sixth Brother. We understand his intentions! Otherwise, we two wouldn’t be standing here today.” Lian Jie coldly interrupted her: “The one we hate most in our hearts was always you.”

“If you understand, then this palace mother is at peace,” Xiao’an’s gaze tightened, then she smiled with relief and said softly: “If we lose this battle, we’ll all face death. But if Heaven blesses us and we can win, once the war ends, this palace mother will return my life to you two. This palace mother begs you to assist His Majesty well. The twenty-year agreement – this palace mother will honor it. He shouldn’t die.”

Both Lian brothers saw shock in each other’s eyes. No one had expected Xiao’an to be willing to sacrifice her life for Lian Yu. The affection between mother and son was undoubtedly deep, but when Xiao’an originally adopted Lian Yu as her heir, her initial intention was still to consolidate her own and the Murong family’s power.

Xiao’an seemed to see through their thoughts and sighed deeply: “He has done enough for this palace mother. I truly regard him as my own son, even closer than Xin’er. He was my first child. My Murong family indeed owes him. This palace mother’s brother killed his mother. Even though I cannot forgive Feng Suzhen either, that’s a separate matter…”

Speaking to this point, she shook her head: “You may leave. This palace mother has said all there is to say. When the time comes, I will certainly keep my promise.”

“Did we say we agreed? Don’t think you’re so righteous!” Lian Jie said coldly and strode out of the tent. Lian Qin was startled, then followed.

Outside the tent, Lian Jie closed his eyes deeply. Behind him, Lian Qin said in a low voice: “Actually, she didn’t need to say it. No matter how much I hate, I can’t bring myself to harm Sixth Brother. Seventh Brother, Sixth Brother does owe you, but not because he killed Imperial Father, but because he took the throne that seemingly belonged to you. Seventh Brother… would you want to kill Sixth Brother?”

“I don’t know. When we were young and went hunting, I was young and impetuous, chasing prey far and getting separated, nearly killed by tigers and leopards. He risked his life to save me. He has always had talent for governing the country, and my abilities are far inferior to his. I don’t value this throne either. It’s just this feeling of being kept in the dark… And no matter how wrong Imperial Father was, he shouldn’t have been disrespectful to him…” He irritably waved his hand: “Let’s not talk about it. Now let’s just hope Li Huaisu hasn’t met with serious trouble.”

Lian Yu had secretly returned to the palace and was now at the place where Suzhen had disappeared.

The three attendants and Ming Yanchu stood behind him. Lian Yu crouched halfway on the forest ground, deeply examining the blood-stained area ahead.

Ming Yanchu said in a low voice: “Your Majesty, last night Ji Fufeng abducted Judicial Official Li. Zhuque was injured and pursued them. Later Bai Hu arrived and rescued me. We followed the blood trail Zhuque left all the way here, but at this point, we lost the clues.”

Ji Fufeng was the tall, thin attendant’s name.

In the forest lay the corpses of two imperial guard attendants. Additionally, there were two large pools of blood in the forest, about two to three zhang apart. One was dark red, deeper in color, the other lighter and more vivid. Between them were intermittent blood stains. Further ahead, the blood traces suddenly disappeared, but there was a semi-circle of lime powder. Soon even this trail vanished. Not far from where it disappeared, several characters were written crookedly: “Don’t search, already dead, Zhen.”

The last character “Zhen” wasn’t even finished – the final stroke was incomplete.

Lian Yu gently traced these bloody characters with his long fingers trembling slightly.

“Master, what does Judicial Official Li mean? Are there clues hidden in these characters? Look, if she could write these words, she must still be safe. How could a dead person leave writing…” Everyone was alarmed. Seeing them all hesitating to speak, Bai Hu fearlessly asked first.

For a long time, there was no sound. Just when everyone thought Lian Yu didn’t want to speak, they saw him slowly stand up.

“She’s not leaving any clues. The meaning of these words is simple – with two armies at war, she’s telling me not to search for her. She will try to escape, and if she can’t escape, she will kill herself rather than become my burden.”

Lian Yu’s voice was extremely low.

This time everyone fell completely silent. After a moment, Xuanwu smiled: “Master, listen to what you’re saying. Wasn’t this person abducted by that traitor minister Quan Feitong? In this subordinate’s view, no matter how much he hates Judicial Official Li, after all they did bow to heaven and earth together, so he wouldn’t kill her. Taking her away is at most to threaten you to surrender. Haha.”

After he finished speaking, the other three glared fiercely at him.

Threatening Lian Yu to surrender wasn’t much better than Suzhen meeting with disaster. Ming Yanchu seemed to think of something and exclaimed: “No wonder Judicial Official Li would leave such writing. She must have guessed the traitor’s intentions—”

“No,” Lian Yu interrupted him. “She’s probably not been taken by Quan Feitong. If Zhuque had continued to pursue and entangle here, Ji Fufeng, in his anger, would have had two choices: first, to kill, or second, even if Huaisu stopped him, he would spare Zhuque’s life but couldn’t take her away to become his burden – he would definitely leave her here. Now Zhuque has disappeared, which exactly indicates there was a third group of people present. Moreover, look at these two blood pools – one is dark, showing signs of poisoning. This blood is Zhuque’s. The other is bright red. The dark blood came first, the red blood after. If all this blood was left by Zhuque, then after being poisoned, the toxin would have resolved itself as she walked?”

“Xuanwu was right about one thing – Quan Feitong wouldn’t kill Huaisu. Based on my understanding of Quan Feitong, this man wouldn’t stoop to threatening his opponent’s surrender with a woman. Huaisu must understand this point too.”