A sound came from the prison cell. Su Ziluo turned his wheelchair and looked toward the noise.

He saw Wen Che, Ji Yinshu, and Jingrong approaching from the dim corridor.

The three figures stood outside the cell.

Su Ziluo showed no surprise, as if he had anticipated this all along.

Ji Yinshu looked at him after several days in prison – he was still so clean and composed, so melancholic and worried. Those obsidian eyes held indifference, as if he had seen through all matters of life and death in the world, fearing nothing.

“You still came.” His tone was light, a smile spreading across his lips.

Wen Che opened the cell, and several people walked inside.

The dim cell was filled with coldness, a chill that penetrated to the bone.

How had Su Ziluo endured this?

Ji Yinshu couldn’t hide her worry and heartache for a moment. Her eyes moistened as she looked at him and asked: “Are you well?”

Su Ziluo nodded lightly: “No need to worry.”

Simple words yet mixed with many emotions.

After several seconds of silence, Su Ziluo looked at Wen Che and said in a low voice: “If I’m not mistaken, you’ve already learned the truth?”

Eh?

Wen Che was surprised: “Could it be you also know?”

“I only guessed at it, didn’t dare confirm it. Since you’ve come at this time, it means I guessed correctly.” He looked as if he understood everything, saying directly, “During these days in prison, I thought through everything from beginning to end. There were too many suspicious points, too many coincidences. Clearly someone behind the scenes was controlling everything. The purpose was to make our Wen and Su families kill each other.”

He too used such words as “kill each other”!

Speaking of this, he found it both laughable and somewhat tragic, saying: “I just never imagined that the person who wanted to put me to death would be the sovereign to whom my Su family has been loyal all our lives.”

Wen Che also felt chilled in his heart, saying: “It’s not just you who didn’t expect it – we also didn’t expect the Emperor would join with Grand Tutor Yi to strike from the shadows, laying out such a grand scheme.” As he spoke, he looked at Ji Yinshu and Jingrong, “If not for Miss Ji and Young Master Jing investigating the truth clearly, we might still be kept in the dark. Coming this time is not only to tell you the truth, but also to find a way to save you.”

Hearing this, Su Ziluo smiled slightly.

“Rare, truly rare.” His eyes held a trace of sorrow as he recalled past events, taking a deep breath and saying: “Years ago, our two families fought together against Dalin’s troops. My father took four arrows to save yours! But you charged into the encirclement and only rescued your father, leaving my father to be killed by that General Ji of Dalin. I was also severely wounded and taken to Dalin as an orphan. All these years, whenever I close my eyes I see the scene of my father dying before me. Toward your Wen family, I have harbored extreme hatred! Previously when I secretly sent people to obstruct you from retrieving Prince Jing’an’s body, it wasn’t to kill you – it was just that the knot in my heart was difficult to untie, impossible to let go! Now in my great difficulty, your Wen family wants to help me. This is truly rare.”

In these words, there was some irony.

And this matter, Su Ziluo had never mentioned to outsiders.

Everyone only knew the Wen and Su families were at odds.

Little did they know it was for this reason!

Wen Che felt guilty: “You and I grew up together. In my heart I’ve considered you a brother for life, even now it’s the same! Back then your father sacrificed his life to save others. Before dying, he told me to take my father and leave first. I never expected such consequences would result, but I’ve always kept this debt of gratitude in my heart. Everyone in my Wen family will remember it for life. Today you’re in difficulty – we cannot stand by and watch you die. Even if it means trading my life for yours, I won’t hesitate.”

Word by word, undoubtedly sincere.

“Ziluo, I’m sorry.”

At this moment, the knot in Su Ziluo’s heart seemed to settle. He said: “With these words from you, all the grievances between our two families… are hereby canceled!”

No one wants to spend a lifetime in hatred.

With things having reached this point today, what is there that cannot be forgiven?

Wen Che’s heart trembled slightly, his eyes reddening.

For a moment, he couldn’t speak a word.

After a short while, Su Ziluo looked at Ji Yinshu and Jingrong, somewhat sorrowfully: “After you leave here, leave Yanjing immediately. Go as far away as you can.”

Ji Yinshu shook her head: “We’re not leaving.”

“Don’t be foolish. If the Emperor wants to kill me, no one can save me!”

Jingrong said: “Not necessarily. There’s still a chance in everything.”

“Jingrong, if you still remember the debt you owe me for saving you back then, agree to this – take Miss Ji and leave.”

“You know that’s impossible.”

“If you don’t leave, the Emperor will definitely eliminate all threats. When that time comes, only more people will die, and you’ll be in danger too.” His expression was solemn, “I’ve already put life and death aside, no longer seeking to live. But you’re different.”

His decision was made.

To him, life and death were but matters of an instant.

Regardless of all this, Ji Yinshu was very insistent: “How could we just abandon you and leave? If something happens, we’ll be uneasy for the rest of our lives. I also won’t allow anything to happen to you!”

Hearing these words, Su Ziluo’s heart ached faintly.

He had underestimated his position in Ji Yinshu’s heart.

He had thought…

He smiled bitterly.

At this moment, Shu Tian hurried in to inform them: “There’s not much time left. You should go.”

Wen Che had secretly opened channels to bring people in this time. They couldn’t stay too long.

Su Ziluo then said to Wen Che: “Go out first. I have some words to say to them alone.”

Wen Che nodded and left, instructing Shu Tian to continue delaying.

In the cell, the atmosphere was oppressive.

Su Ziluo looked at the two people before him and said: “Don’t you want to know what really happened back then?”

Ji Yinshu and Jingrong showed confused expressions.

Quietly waiting for what came next.

After a long while, Su Ziluo finally said: “Lie’er is dead!”

Ji Yinshu was shocked.

That child who couldn’t speak used to accompany Su Ziluo constantly. Coming to Qujiang this time, that child was no longer there. She had speculated, been puzzled, but never thought… it was true!

“Why did this happen?”

“On the road back to Qujiang years ago, I encountered an ambush. Lie’er died saving me. I was fortunate to survive and return to Qujiang covered in wounds.” His voice choked slightly, then he looked at Jingrong, “They said they were acting on your orders. Of course I didn’t believe it! Because in my eyes, you Prince Rong were an upright and honorable person who dared to act and take responsibility. Otherwise, Shu’er wouldn’t have given everything for you! These years I kept wondering – who really wanted to kill me then? Could it really have been you? This question always troubled me. Only these past two days did I understand – the one who wanted to kill me… was the Emperor to whom my Su family has been loyal all our lives. He hoped I would die on the road, to eliminate the Su family’s power at court. But I was foolish enough not to know, still devoting myself wholeheartedly to Qujiang, working until death.”

How laughable!

How tragic!

“Three years ago, I discovered you barely alive in a merchant caravan. Lie’er’s death and that question never left my heart. So I brought you back to Yanjing, wanting to ask you face to face once you recovered your memory. So I kept it hidden all along. Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.” Speaking of this, tears welled in his eyes as he turned his gaze to Ji Yinshu, “I thought I had completely let go of my love for you, but the facts prove I hadn’t.”

Ji Yinshu met his sorrowful gaze.

Tears had long since fallen from the corners of her eyes.

“Leaving you was the most foolish, most regrettable thing I’ve ever done in this life. Losing you… is the saddest thing in my life! So I was selfish once, concealed this matter, and thoroughly played the villain for once, causing you to be separated for three years.”