Everyone outside was startled and instinctively knelt down. Vice General Zhang very much wanted to say that His Majesty had only given an order—there was no need for everyone to kneel, right?
But when he looked up at the Emperor’s expression, his legs went weak, and somehow he found himself kneeling in a mass with everyone else.
The Emperor’s rage meant floating corpses for a thousand miles and rivers of blood.
“Gu Chaonan has plotted rebellion against his sovereign, deceived his ruler, and attempted to assassinate the Empress—his crimes are unpardonable!” Each word Gu Chaobei spoke was like a death sentence. Looking at the distant junction of sky and courtyard wall, he said coldly, “He may be killed on sight. Reward: ten thousand taels of gold.”
Everyone kowtowed. They accepted the order but hesitated. Vice General Zhang kept wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. After hesitating for a long time, he carefully asked, “Your Majesty, who should be ordered to pursue and eliminate him?”
Gu Chaonan was still connected to Prime Minister Gu. Although he was already a traitor, if they truly followed orders and killed him, how could they navigate the political world afterward?
Everyone had their concerns, which showed somewhat in their expressions.
Gu Chaobei calmed his emotions and after a moment of silence said, “I will go personally.”
“This…” Vice General Zhang was shocked, pointing toward the room. Her Majesty the Empress hadn’t regained consciousness yet and hung between life and death—His Majesty wanted to personally lead troops to pursue the rebels?
Gu Chaobei offered no explanation. He turned and went back into the room, once again closing the door.
The person on the bed had her eyes tightly shut. Imperial Physician Liu had already prepared to remove the arrows. The Emperor asked, “What are the Empress’s chances of survival?”
Imperial Physician Liu covered his neck, hesitated for a moment, then very honestly wrote a character on his册.
Three out of ten.
The Emperor took a deep breath, clenching his hands. “Remove them.”
If she lived, he would stay with her. From now on, no matter the storms or changing years, he would stay with her until the moment they entered their coffins.
If she died, then he would raise Sigu until he could assume the throne, and then he too would go down to accompany her. She had waited for him so long—on the road to the Yellow Springs, she would surely wait for him a little longer too.
She had always been dignified and elegant, while he was carefree and casual. She had once said that even with plain food and simple tea, if someone devoted themselves to you wholeheartedly, that was happiness. He hadn’t been able to give her happiness—instead, he’d let her suffer many grievances. She had desperately defended the capital for him, then risked her life to defend Ye City for him, and each time he arrived too late. This time, he had nearly never seen her again.
He truly was a poor husband. Yet in his reckless youth, he had dared to climb through her window and brazenly declare he would marry her. After marrying her for so long, he still hadn’t been able to give her peace and security.
Even now, with her life hanging by a thread, he suddenly didn’t dare stay in this room. After saying those two words, he despicably wanted to leave.
“Wait…” His throat tightened. Watching Imperial Physician Liu about to begin, the Emperor spoke. “Wait for me to look at her once more.”
Imperial Physician Liu stopped and very tactfully turned to heat the knife and needles he would use. Gu Chaobei walked to Shen Guiyan’s bedside and carefully, meticulously memorized her brows, eyes, and features in his heart. Then he lowered his head and gently kissed her pale lips.
“If she doesn’t survive, you need not inform me.” Gu Chaobei forced a smile. “I’m going to kill the rebels. I’ll be quite busy. If by chance she survives, no matter when, you can send someone to notify me. I’ll be waiting by the Li River.”
Listening, Imperial Physician Liu couldn’t help muttering softly, “Why not stay and watch?”
“If no one comes to notify me, I’ll assume the Empress loves mountains and rivers and has gone traveling afar.” Gu Chaobei straightened, speaking as he walked out. “I won’t listen to anything else.”
Imperial Physician Liu was stunned. Watching Gu Chaobei open the door and leave, he inexplicably felt somewhat tragic too.
This was clearly a coward’s escape, yet it made him feel sorrow permeating the entire room. For the first time, the Emperor’s retreating figure made this half-century-old man’s nose sting.
Gu Chaobei left the room and walked rapidly away, his face pale. It was dusk, and darkness would soon fall, yet the Emperor went to the military camp and without a word mobilized troops, saying, “Pursue Gu Chaonan. Depart now.”
The soldiers had fought a great battle today and were all exhausted. Gu Chaobei had commanded the battle and should be even more tired. But the Emperor before them was like someone injected with adrenaline—he mounted his horse and rapidly assembled soldiers to rush toward the Li River.
Even battle-hardened commanders could barely keep up, yet the Emperor acted as if nothing was wrong and didn’t allow any rest the entire way.
In the Governor’s Manor, Imperial Physician Liu removed the arrows from Shen Guiyan and carefully watched her reaction. Shen Guiyan remained unconscious, and her breathing grew even weaker. Feeling her pulse, Imperial Physician Liu’s pupils constricted slightly.
In the adjacent room, the First Prince accidentally knocked over a cup with a “crack.” Nuo’er quickly entered the room to clean it up, saying as she worked, “My mother says breaking things is unlucky. Your Highness, quickly repeat after this servant: ‘May this breaking bring peace.'”
Ming Sigu looked at her with disdain, turned his head away, and said nothing.
Vice General Zhang was wiping his sword. The blade was too sharp, and he accidentally cut his hand. A crow flew in from somewhere and called out twice above the Governor’s Manor. Instantly, everything around seemed to darken.
The Emperor traveled without rest and quickly caught up with Gu Chaonan’s remnant forces. Gu Chaonan probably hadn’t expected the Emperor to arrive so quickly and was somewhat at a loss.
Yellow-clad soldiers surrounded the blue military camp. Both Gu Chaonan and Xu Mengdie came out.
Behind them was the Li River—they had nowhere to retreat. The Emperor’s expression ahead clearly showed he hadn’t come to accept surrender but to annihilate them completely.
Xu Mengdie was somewhat dazed. Looking at Gu Chaobei’s face, she murmured, “If not for me, you would have died long ago.”
She had saved Gu Chaobei’s life, yet now he was driving her to desperation. Why did fate always toy with people so? In her previous life, she was beheaded by Shen Guiyan for harming Gu Chaobei. In this life, would she be driven to death by the Emperor for harming Shen Guiyan?
It shouldn’t be like this. Everything had been within her plans—they could have captured Ye City, killed the Emperor, and returned to install a new emperor. Why had Gu Chaobei returned so quickly, so very quickly?
One step later, and her plan would have succeeded completely.
“Your Majesty.” Gu Chaonan looked at Gu Chaobei from afar, his voice tinged with sigh. “You came in person.”
Gu Chaobei said nothing, only quietly raised the bow and arrow in his hands.
He aimed first at Xu Mengdie.
Xu Mengdie trembled slightly, shaking her head. “No… I’m just a mere woman. My crime doesn’t warrant death. If Your Majesty wants to capture these remnant forces without losing a single soldier, you shouldn’t kill me!”
Laughing mockingly, Gu Chaobei shook his head. The fury filling his chest could only be cleansed with fresh blood. Slaughter it would be—so what? Right now, he felt nothing at all about human lives.
Gu Chaonan pulled Xu Mengdie behind him, looking at Gu Chaobei. “Your Majesty, this criminal’s fault cannot be atoned for even with my life. This criminal is willing to surrender, but begs Your Majesty not to kill Mengdie!”
Xu Mengdie gritted her teeth. “Are you mad? All we can do now is fight with our backs to the water. If you surrender, neither of us will escape.”
“Why keep trying to escape?” Gu Chaonan sighed heavily. “Mengdie, we took the wrong path. Here, it’s already a dead end.”
“I don’t believe it.” Xu Mengdie laughed coldly. “In my last life, I died so miserably, yet I was able to live again. Heaven never blocks all paths.”
Gu Chaobei slowly drew his bow full, ignoring their words. If Gu Chaonan was blocking, then he’d kill him first.
Who was it that once told him: survival in this manor is difficult, but if we brothers stand united, we need not fear others bullying us? And who always stood behind him like a true elder brother, helping him, assisting him, conquering half the empire for him, earning his complete trust—yet all along harboring treacherous intentions, ready to stab him in the back like this?
Don’t blame the Emperor for being heartless—when the Emperor had feelings, he’d already learned his lesson well enough.
The arrow flew extremely fast. Gu Chaonan closed his eyes, but Xu Mengdie forcefully pushed him aside.
The flying arrow pierced flesh. He wondered if it hurt as much as the arrows in Yan’er’s body. The Emperor quietly watched the person standing ahead and finally asked, “What are you doing?”
Xu Zhuangzhou coughed, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the ground.
“Her Majesty the Empress owes this commoner a life, and this commoner has come to collect it.” Xu Zhuangzhou stood perfectly straight, his face rarely showing a smile. “This commoner wishes to beg Your Majesty to spare this commoner’s sister.”
Gu Chaobei’s eyes darkened. A reinforcement commander stepped forward and said quietly, “To bring Her Majesty the Empress back into the city, this person performed meritorious service.”
If he hadn’t conspired with Vice General Zhang and willingly offered himself to be hung from that mast, the Empress probably couldn’t have returned.
The Emperor’s expression softened somewhat. He said in a low voice, “Yes, he saved Yan’er’s life, which is why Yan’er is still alive now.”
Yan’er was still alive.
After a moment of silence, Gu Chaobei said, “I grant your request. I’ll spare your sister’s life.”
Xu Zhuangzhou breathed a light sigh of relief. His body fell straight to the ground, raising some dust. Blood seeped into the mud and sand, its color very dark.
Xu Mengdie was dumbfounded, staring at him for a long time before slowly walking over. “Zhuangzhou?”
“Sister.” Xu Zhuangzhou had already closed his eyes but was still smiling as he spoke. “Grand Tutor Zhou said that those who act wrongly will surely be punished. You don’t like listening to advice, so I won’t advise you about anything. Having lived once more, don’t force what doesn’t belong to you.”
Xu Mengdie looked at him with vacant eyes. Had she ever forced anything? Every step—wasn’t it all rightfully hers?
This truly was an annoying person. It was clearly he who had caused her to lose Shen Guiyan as a trump card, caused her and Chaonan to be trapped here by the Li River, yet it was also he who ran out to block this arrow for her.
Was she supposed to forgive him? This kind of brother—she wouldn’t want him in the next life. This person who betrayed her—even if he died, she wouldn’t feel heartbroken.
Muttering softly under her breath, watching Xu Zhuangzhou stop breathing, his body growing colder and colder in the wind and sand, the tears in her eyes still couldn’t help falling one by one, landing beside his corpse.
“In the next life, we’ll still be siblings.”
Smiling as he was beheaded with her, smiling as he went to die for her—who would want to see this kind of fool again!
“Mengdie.” Gu Chaonan pulled her up, saying quietly, “When we return to the capital, let’s give Zhuangzhou a proper burial.”
“If you want to return to the capital, you go.” Xu Mengdie’s voice was hoarse. “I’m not going back.”
The Emperor snorted coldly and waved his hand, ordering the soldiers behind him to attack. Gu Chaonan had already wanted to surrender, but caught in this standoff with Xu Mengdie, Gu Chaobei grew impatient.
Iron cavalry trampled all around. Xu Mengdie shouted loudly, “Deploy troops!”
The people around held their swords and blades, looking at Gu Chaonan at a loss. Gu Chaonan closed his eyes and reluctantly nodded. He’d indulge her this final time—this would be the only time.
Before they could even collect Xu Zhuangzhou’s body from the ground, people all around had already surged forward. Someone’s horse hooves trampled over Xu Zhuangzhou’s body. Xu Mengdie’s eyes widened as she screamed.
“No!”
The crowd couldn’t be stopped. Since this was the final battle, who could hear anything else?
Xu Mengdie struggled free from Gu Chaonan’s restraint like a madwoman and ran toward Xu Zhuangzhou’s corpse. Horse hooves and feet trampled wantonly. All around were people fighting and killing. Xu Mengdie cried with her mouth open. When knocked to the ground, she slowly crawled in that direction.
Gu Chaonan tried to pull her back, but Gu Chaobei’s second arrow had already left the string.
With a “whoosh,” the Emperor’s feathered arrow flew into his chest with full force, piercing his heart.
“I’ll take the ten thousand taels of gold myself.” Gu Chaobei laughed lightly, dropped his bow, and quietly watched Xu Mengdie frantically scrambling through the crowd.
She hadn’t had time to turn around yet, still searching for her beloved brother.
He would spare her life—when he made a promise, he kept it. Gu Chaobei watched quietly for a moment, then rode his horse back to the rear.
With their commander dead, the remnant forces almost immediately surrendered. When the moon rose to the center of the sky, Gu Chaobei heard a commander report, “All remnant forces have been captured.”
“Mm.” The Emperor nodded.
“How should Gu Chaonan’s body… be handled?” the commander asked quietly.
The Emperor said, “Make a fine coffin and send it back to the capital. Say that he died gloriously in the great battle against the barbarians.”
The commander went to carry out the order.
Gu Chaobei stood by the Li River watching the moon on the water, quietly waiting.
Nothing remained on the battlefield but corpses. Xu Mengdie sat to one side, dirty and disheveled, very confused. No one came to touch her, but no one came to receive her either.
Where was Chaonan? She couldn’t find Zhuangzhou, but she could have him help her search. Xu Mengdie thought—his eyesight was better than hers, he could surely find Zhuangzhou’s body faster. She would take him back to the capital. He wanted her to live, so she and Chaonan would give up everything and live well.
But she couldn’t find Chaonan either.
Someone came to tell her Gu Chaonan was dead. Xu Mengdie didn’t take it in. She’d only not seen him for a moment—how could he possibly be dead?
She also waited by the Li River, waiting for Chaonan to come get her, and then they would bury Zhuangzhou together.
The sky gradually brightened. The Emperor had sat on his horse all night. A commander came over with concern. “Your Majesty, aren’t you returning to Ye City?”
“No, I’m waiting for someone.” Gu Chaobei smiled devastatingly. “If I don’t receive word, I’ll return a bit later.”
Waiting for what person? The commander very much wanted to ask, but seeing the expression on the Emperor’s face, he suddenly felt choked up.
If Yan’er was all right, Imperial Physician Liu would send someone to notify him. He feared missing that person, so he’d wait two more days.
The waters of the Li River flowed on, endlessly flowing.