The usually bustling street should have been full of people, but now it was cold and deserted. Curfew was everywhere—without a command token, there was simply no way to pass through. Yet in this silence, a luxurious carriage traveled slowly along the road. Finally, the carriage passed through the prosperous streets and stopped before a courtyard.

Zhao Yue stepped forward to knock on the door. Someone from inside came to open it, cursing all the while: “So late at night, I already said we’re not receiving customers today, not receiving customers. Who’s knocking in the middle of the night! Can’t you wait?”

Opening the door, the old woman with heavy makeup saw Zhao Yue standing at the entrance. She froze at first, then glanced at the carriage behind, immediately frightened out of her wits, her bones going soft. She quickly knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly while slapping her own mouth: “I’ll beat this old hag who dared to offend the noble personage…”

Zhao Yue looked at her with disgust and said sharply: “Where is the person sent over this afternoon? Have you settled her properly?”

“Oh my, what are you saying? The noble personage gave orders—how would I dare not comply? Please come in, quickly come in…”

Madam Sun got off the carriage, looking at this scene in confusion.

Li Weiyang smiled: “If after going in to look you feel this punishment isn’t enough, feel free to kill her with one sword.”

Madam Sun nodded and strode inside. Her life now had no other goal except seeing the murderer of her own daughter receive retribution—only then would she feel truly satisfied. Entering the courtyard, Madam Sun said coldly: “Where is she?”

The old woman quickly said: “In the back courtyard, in the livestock shed—”

Madam Sun looked at Li Weiyang inexplicably, but she just smiled slightly: “Let’s go.”

Arriving at the livestock shed, they heard extremely strange sounds. Madam Sun peeked in and was immediately dumbstruck, frightened into stepping back three paces, almost unable to speak.

The old woman smiled obsequiously: “Madam, don’t be shocked. I’ve run this pleasure house for decades and figured out how to handle girls’ minds. When they first enter this courtyard, plenty claim they’ll sell art but not their bodies. But which one has managed to keep herself clean? I just followed the old rules—fed her some medicine and found her two men. But who knew this woman would go crazy—two weren’t enough. Even without a tongue, she still wailed while clinging to the men. I’ve never seen anyone so shameless! That said, those of us working in pleasure houses know that even if you’re pure as ice and jade, no one’s erecting a chastity memorial for you, right? We’ve seen plenty, but never anyone so utterly shameless—the men just left and she went looking for things herself, even daring to shove a shovel in there… Oh my, it was terrifying. Now she’s even gotten into the livestock pen, and we can’t stop her no matter how hard we try!”

“You all, quickly pull her out!” The old woman—no, the madam—shouted while calling over several men in short shirts to drag the person out. Soon, several people twisted her arms and tore at her clothes to pull her out. The woman wailed loudly, clinging desperately to that wild dog. Even with her hands severed, she used her body to reach for it but couldn’t—discovering the person dragging her was a man, she clung to him regardless, as if she had no face left at all, rolling in the mud, just clinging to the man and refusing to let go—annoyed, that person gave her a vicious kick.

The madam cursed loudly: “I’ve seen shameless people, but never anyone this shameless! Let go!” But that woman still bit onto the man’s trouser leg, shamelessly clinging to him, wishing she could stick her entire body to him.

“Ptui, truly disgusting!” the man cursed under his breath and delivered several more kicks to her body.

Madam Sun hadn’t expected to see Princess Anguo like this. That beautiful face was now covered in the excrement of pigs and dogs. Originally so high and mighty, looking down on all living beings—now she was degraded into the very dirt. The madam must have fed her some kind of drug, making her desperately search for men everywhere. Without men, she even sought out wild dogs and wild pigs… Such things were simply unprecedented.

Li Weiyang wore a snow-white fox fur cloak, with a purple satin dress underneath, making her features appear even more refined. She watched this scene with no excessive expression on her face, slowly saying: “Using torture is too crude. I also can’t bear to see those scenes of flying blood and flesh. So this ending is most appropriate for Anguo.”

To make her sober, the madam poured down a basin of ice-cold water. Princess Anguo shivered and seemed to gain a moment of clarity. But at this moment she no longer showed her former noble and imposing appearance—her face was deathly gray, hair disheveled, clothes already torn to shreds, covered in filthy marks. Li Weiyang smiled: “Oh, are you a bit clearer now?”

Princess Anguo suddenly looked toward Li Weiyang, unable to speak, her eyes full of hatred making one’s hair stand on end. But Li Weiyang just sighed lightly: “Killing someone is just a matter of a nod. If you hadn’t tortured Second Sister-in-law so cruelly back then, I wouldn’t treat you this way today.”

Saying this, she clapped her hands. Guards beside her stepped forward and in moments stripped Princess Anguo completely naked, then sprinkled some yellow powder on her body. The powder stuck to her flesh and carried a strange fragrance. Princess Anguo made terrified sounds but couldn’t speak a word as she was thrown into that box.

Countless snakes immediately coiled around her. She was horrified to the extreme, desperately rolling, trying to climb out of the box. But the snakes seemed to like some scent on her body, coiling tighter and tighter around her, forcibly burrowing into her ears and nose. Her hand tendons were already severed—she could only twist and convulse, desperately trying to escape. But those snakes penetrated everywhere, filling every orifice on her body. Before long, they were gnawing their way out from her belly, churning out her intestines, until she stared with wide eyes, stopping her breath in extreme agony… That scene was terrifying to the extreme. Even Zhao Yue lowered her head. The madam and others were so frightened they froze completely, trembling and not daring to look. Finally, the lid of the box was suddenly closed. Li Weiyang slowly said: “Let it end here.”

Madam Sun watched the entire process. First stunned, then she began to laugh loudly. Laughing and laughing, she laughed until tears came, then bent over, laughing as if she couldn’t stand anymore.

Li Weiyang looked at Madam Sun, but her eyes revealed a trace of faint pity. She knew Madam Sun didn’t feel psychological satisfaction, but rather the pain she had been suppressing in her heart was drawn out. Sure enough, she heard Madam Sun say loudly: “Good, this is best, this is most satisfying! She was the most noble person under heaven. My daughter was just an ant for her to trample. Now with her ending like this, only now do I have the face to see Yanjun and say: Mother watched with her own eyes as your enemy received retribution!”

Coming out of the courtyard, Madam Sun looked back once more, then slowly said: “Princess, thank you.”

Li Weiyang nodded: “Madam needn’t thank me. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have known when General Sun would act.”

Madam Sun gave a cold laugh: “That dog—he won’t have a good end either!” The formerly gentle and restrained Madam Sun was gone. She had followed her husband in military campaigns for many years. The military bearing on her had originally been worn away by the luxurious life in the capital, but now it reappeared on her, adding some fortitude to her features.

Li Weiyang smiled: “I’m afraid even if Madam wanted to save him now, it’s too late.” Tuoba Yu was no longer what he used to be. He wouldn’t spare rebels…

Madam Sun’s expression was cold, a flash of deep loathing in her eyes: “His affairs are completely unrelated to me from now on! From this day forward, I’ll take Yanjun’s ashes and leave the capital, returning to my hometown. For this matter, I must ask your help.”

Sun Yanjun had already married into the Li family. Her coffin would naturally be buried in the Li family ancestral grave. That’s why Madam Sun made this request. Li Weiyang pondered for a moment, turned to a guard beside her: “Take Madam Sun there.”

This was truly an impolite request. Madam Sun hadn’t expected Li Weiyang would actually agree. Seeing her like this now, her eyes couldn’t help but well up with tears: “Thank you.”

Li Weiyang sighed: “Madam Sun, this parting may mean we never meet again. Please take care.”

Madam Sun walked two steps, then suddenly turned back, showing some worry on her face: “I’m afraid—what if…”

Li Weiyang’s voice was clear and cold, carrying not a trace of worldly air as she spoke slowly: “Don’t worry. You were never here today. The person here was just a crazed woman.”

Since she dared to do it, she dared to take responsibility. Princess Anguo was killed by my hand, completely unrelated to you, Madam Sun—that was Li Weiyang’s meaning. She was originally someone with nothing. To achieve her goals she could stake everything, risk it all. How could she fear others’ revenge… Moreover, those who needed to be sent away had already been sent away.

Madam Sun departed. Zhao Yue glanced at that box and shivered: “Miss, what should we do now?”

“Grind her bones to ash and scatter them.” Li Weiyang’s expression was as calm as clouds and wind. Grind bones to ash—even as a ghost, she could only be a wandering spirit forever, never finding the path to reincarnation.

Zhao Yue glanced back again, saying softly: “What about them—” Li Weiyang lowered her eyelids: “Mother Zhao, how many girls have you taken in this past year?”

That madam called Mother Zhao smiled obsequiously: “Not too many, not too few—exactly thirty.”

Li Weiyang spoke as if making idle conversation: “Oh, thirty. How many survived?”

Mother Zhao sensed something wrong in the conversation and smiled: “What are you saying? My place isn’t some lowly establishment. A few who caught diseases were sent away, but most are still here!”

“Yes, all still alive. Most were groomed by you and sold into popular brothels. Two were disciplined by you until they were completely submissive and sent to Censor Zhang. Unfortunately, Censor Zhang always liked playing with twelve or thirteen-year-old girls. These two children didn’t survive past this spring. Four more who didn’t obey were beaten by you until their skin split and flesh tore, then sold to the lowest class brothels. The last five caught diseases but were thrown by you onto mass grave hills—your methods are most vicious, which is why everyone in this trade fears you. Even innocent young girls on the street, powerless and without influence—if you took a fancy to them, you’d use any means to get them and turn them into money trees. Am I right?”

Mother Zhao felt a bit afraid in her heart but boldly said: “Noble personage, these are all our trade rules. I took your money and did the job for you. Now you’re blaming me instead—that’s not right!”

Li Weiyang sighed, her tone becoming even more gentle: “Do you know why, among all those places that train girls, I sent my enemy to you?”

Mother Zhao gave the thugs beside her a look, signaling them to go out and find people. But the guards had already drawn their long swords, surrounding them in the middle. Mother Zhao felt even more afraid, but forced herself to appear calm: “How… how would I know!”

Li Weiyang’s voice was very soft, very slow, like whispers between lovers: “That day on the street, I saw you viciously beating a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl. Because she absolutely refused to go back with you, you broke both her legs right in front of people, didn’t you?”

Mother Zhao’s voice trembled: “This… I was disciplining my girl. They were all bought by me! If they don’t obey, naturally they must be disciplined! What’s it to you!”

Li Weiyang smiled, her expression calm: “Mother Zhao’s methods are so good, that’s why I sought you out. What, you still don’t understand even now?”

Mother Zhao immediately understood and knelt before her: “The noble personage thinks highly of me. How would I dare make things difficult for you? Even if heaven strikes me with thunder, I absolutely won’t reveal a single word about today’s events.”

Li Weiyang gently brushed her spotless dress, saying softly: “I’m not afraid of you speaking out. I just don’t like seeing your face.” Saying this, she raised her hand, making a gesture of no mercy. In her view, there was no right or wrong in this world. This Mother Zhao and the men in this house had harmed countless innocent young girls. Dying like this was already letting them off easy. Rather than saying she sought them out, it was better to say from the very beginning she had planned to send these people on their way.

Don’t blame her for being heartless. Blame only Mother Zhao for never accumulating virtue. Li Weiyang left the screams behind her and slowly walked out. Now, she still had more important matters to attend to.

At this moment, sixty kilometers from the capital, Tuoba Zhen’s military camp. Originally, having obtained the military tally, he could command two hundred thousand troops. To dispel Tuoba Yu’s suspicions, he had prepared to continue advancing, but due to unexpected heavy snowfall, his forces couldn’t proceed. This provided the perfect excuse to set up camp on the spot.

In the tent, all was quiet. Suddenly, the broken, intermittent sound of a flute could be heard. It sounded like a beginner, unskilled, practicing repeatedly. A young woman sat with her head lowered, earnestly practicing. Tuoba Zhen walked over and saw her repeatedly handling a bamboo flute.

Though the Emperor himself enjoyed appreciating music, he greatly disliked imperial family members indulging in musical instruments, because such things most easily led to neglecting proper duties. So although Tuoba Zhen was extremely fond of the flute, he never showed this before anyone. Not only that, he never touched the flute in his residence either, so everyone naturally assumed he couldn’t play.

In truth he was very skilled with the flute and also loved hearing those beautiful sounds, those melodious tunes. Only, what he loved, he couldn’t let anyone know. She mistakenly thought that hearing her play the flute would displease him, so she hid in the bedroom to practice. Her flute playing was very thin, extremely crude—completely a beginner’s. She seemed discouraged and put down the flute, but then picked it up again to practice repeatedly.

He suddenly smiled and proactively walked over: “What’s wrong?”

“This… this…” She suddenly seemed startled, lifting a face that was refined and gentle, yet extremely familiar to him. “I… I saw you left it to one side… I thought… I thought… I was just trying…”

He instantly perceived her thoughts. She thought he loved it but wasn’t skilled, which is why he never touched it. “You’re learning this to make me happy?” he heard himself ask. That woman blushed and lowered her head without speaking.

He smiled slightly, picked up the flute and played a tune. Seeing her surprised and delighted expression, he couldn’t help smiling: “Do you like it? Then I’ll play just for you to appreciate. Father Emperor dislikes princes neglecting their duties, so don’t tell anyone.”

She was stunned, her eyes rippling with water, seeming very puzzled.

The scene shifted. He gently placed an ornate crystal hairpin in her hair through the mirror. A blush slowly spread across her face. Against her snow-white skin, he thought to himself—though this woman before him was beautiful, she only had some special charm, ultimately couldn’t compare to those breathtakingly gorgeous women. But Li Changle was the legitimate daughter of the Li family after all. If he wanted her, it could only be in the future. For now he absolutely couldn’t make a move, or it would certainly affect his struggle for succession. Since that was the case, he’d put away his thoughts of her for now and properly court the person before him… So he gently pulled her into his embrace, brought his lips to her ear, and said in a teasing but earnest tone: “Truly beautiful. Indeed my most beloved beauty.”

She naturally smiled with complete satisfaction. She was always so easy to deceive. No matter how dignified and magnanimous, clever and decisive she was outside, before him she was always the most gentle, most compliant woman. So he could still make good use of her. He smiled gently, stroking her hair. This way he didn’t have to see her face, could avoid those eyes pure as black crystal, carefully choosing his words: “At the Empress Dowager’s and Mother’s residences, I’m counting on you to manage everything…”

At that time, she had just married over for one year.

The scenes seemed very chaotic. At a banquet, when assassins attacked him, everyone scattered in flight. He was inadvertently wounded by a traitor and fell to the ground. At the critical moment, she threw herself over—that long sword pierced through her heart…

“Husband, for you to die, Weiyang has no regrets.”

Next, a cup of amber wine was presented before him, but she took it with a charming smile: “Crown Prince, this cup of wine should be offered by your younger sister-in-law first.”

Afterward, though imperial physicians treated her in time, she still struggled bitterly for three days and nights before barely surviving.

Soon the scene changed again. In an endless desert, he was examining military intelligence in his tent when she suddenly appeared, covered in dust, delivering a secret report to his hand. Before she could speak, she had already collapsed in his arms from exhaustion due to traveling through the night without rest…

Later, it was he who contracted plague. She dismissed all palace servants and stayed by his side without leaving for even a moment…

The final scene was her face full of tears, eyes crazed, every word an accusation: Tuoba Zhen, how can you face me!

Tuoba Zhen, how can you face me! That voice seemed to echo in his ears.

It wasn’t that he felt no guilt. In many years after, every time he thought of that face, that voice, he would be entangled by terrible nightmares. Even though his heart had long become cold and cruel in the struggle for power, he still couldn’t face those crazed eyes, that blood-crying accusation. Why treat someone who deeply loved him so cruelly—he kept asking himself this afterward, but he found he couldn’t find an answer. Every time he saw that face, he couldn’t bear it. Her existence seemed to remind him of that terrible past, those cruel days of abandoning humanity to fight for the throne… If he could completely rid himself of this woman, he could wash away everything from the past. This thought was so contradictory that even he couldn’t explain it. But no matter what he did, that voice was so shrill, so unforgettable, terrifyingly heart-wrenching.

Tuoba Zhen suddenly woke from the nightmare, only to find himself sitting in the tent, a military map before him, only an oil lamp on the table.

How could this be? Why would he have such a dream? Tuoba Zhen looked at his own hand in disbelief. Why would he dream of Li Weiyang, and in such a strange dream…

“Third Prince, previous life’s cause, this life’s effect—now you understand everything, don’t you?” At this moment, an ice-cold voice sounded from outside the tent. Tuoba Zhen suddenly stood up and shouted sternly: “Who!”

A figure in a black robe walked in from outside the tent. He wore a smile, a red mole between his brows stunningly beautiful, carrying a demonic color: “Third Prince, besides me, who else could it be?”

Seeing it was him, Tuoba Zhen relaxed and slowly sat down: “Why didn’t you announce yourself?”

“Your Highness, we have a cooperative relationship. Naturally the people outside won’t stop me.” Jiang Hua smiled, shaking off his black cloak, his face showing no trace of his former madness.

“What did you mean just now? What should I understand?” Tuoba Zhen suddenly remembered this matter, his thick brows immediately furrowing.

Jiang Hua smiled: “Just now I merely employed a small trick to let you see some things we’ve never been able to understand.”

Tuoba Zhen was even more confused, but his heart suddenly shook. He vaguely felt Jiang Hua wasn’t speaking carelessly: “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“What if I said everything just now truly happened? The reason Li Weiyang has always disliked you, refused to accept your feelings, even regarded you as a dangerous flood or savage beast—it’s all because of this—”

“No! Have you gone mad?! Spouting such nonsense!” Tuoba Zhen felt a surge of towering rage. He hated being toyed with most. Unable to help himself, he shouted angrily, quickly stepped forward and drew his long sword, holding it across Jiang Hua’s neck, saying coldly: “What sorcery did you use!”

But Jiang Hua just smiled, gently pushing away his long sword with two tsk sounds: “Why is Third Prince so impatient? Fine, since you want to know, I’ll tell you. This time when I went to Yuexi, I informed Empress Pei about Princess Anguo’s conflict with Li Weiyang. By chance, beside Empress Pei was a ghost shaman with spiritual powers. That person told me that your birth date and time, Tuoba Zhen, destined you to become Emperor of Great Li, and Li Weiyang similarly should have the fate of an empress. Unfortunately, you two had enmity in your previous life, and your destinies clash. Now no one can see your future—”

Large beads of sweat appeared on Tuoba Zhen’s face. His hawk-like eyes stared coldly at Jiang Hua, as if trying to find traces of lies on his face. But Jiang Hua’s expression was very calm, even carrying a hint of probing: “He said he could only see you had enmity, but didn’t know what kind of enmity. He also said after death, people generally don’t have souls. But if they truly do, it must be because their obsessions in life were too deep or they had too much resentment and unwillingness, finally becoming vengeful ghosts, wandering in the mortal world or reincarnating in the human realm. And Li Weiyang is exactly such a case—what did you see in your dream?”

Tuoba Zhen suddenly stepped back, murmuring: “How is this possible? How can this be possible?”

He had always been the most cold-hearted and composed person. The dream scene just now had already horrified him to the extreme. What Jiang Hua said now made him even more unable to believe.

“This blood jade can let you see visions of the past, but—” Jiang Hua carefully observed his expression, trying to find clues from it. Then he suddenly took out a jade pendant that seemed to have blood flowing within it, carrying an indescribable eeriness.

But Tuoba Zhen had already regained his composure in the fastest time. He snatched it away, saying coldly: “You spout complete nonsense. I’ve heard enough! I invited you here to fulfill your promise, not to have you go mad here!”

Jiang Hua was truly curious what Tuoba Zhen had seen in the dream to make him lose control like this. But he just smiled slightly: “What I promised you, I’ll naturally do. This time at the border, I’ve already explained clearly to Grandfather. Within ten days, his five hundred thousand troops will support your successful seizure of the throne. But I’ll say this up front—regardless of what grudges or entanglements you and Li Weiyang have, I want her life!”

Tuoba Zhen gave a cold laugh: “What I promised you, I won’t go back on either.”

Jiang Hua smiled, seeing him put that blood jade into his chest, reminded as if casually: “The ghost shaman said this blood jade can only be used once. I just used it, so even if you wear it on your body it’s useless.”

Tuoba Zhen looked at him coldly, his voice seeming to discard even the last trace of emotional fluctuation: “I’ll get to the bottom of the mystery eventually, but all this has nothing to do with you.”

Jiang Hua curved his lips. Those spring-water-like eyes flashed with a cold, eerie light as he said indifferently: “Then, I hope our cooperation goes smoothly.” Then he glanced outside the tent: “The time should be about right now. General Sun should have news.”

Tuoba Zhen walked outside the tent, looking at the distant sky. His heart was intensely speculating—what exactly had happened in the capital? Why had Sun Chongyao still not sent any signal? Had he failed to successfully enter the palace? Or was he discovered midway? No, unless someone could perceive that Sun Chongyao was his man… But how could that be possible? For Princess Anguo’s matter, Sun Chongyao had completely broken with him on the surface and joined Tuoba Yu’s camp.

Though Li Weiyang was sinister and vicious, she had one fatal weakness—for people she liked and valued, she would always risk her life to protect them. So though she acted nonchalant on the surface, in her bones she was someone who valued relationships and righteousness. Moreover, she was very clever. Clever people had one characteristic—they liked to judge others by themselves. She herself would stop at nothing to avenge Sun Yanjun, so of course she would think Sun Chongyao was the same—that he would avenge his daughter by joining Tuoba Yu. But she couldn’t understand men’s determination and ambition to achieve great things. Helping Tuoba Yu, Sun Chongyao would at most be a minor general. But helping Tuoba Zhen, he had promised him the position of Prince with a Different Surname. What glory that was! Would Sun Chongyao refuse?

He wouldn’t—even unto death, even betraying his own daughter and wife, he would agree. This was the difference between men and women—Tuoba Zhen sneered coldly. So Li Weiyang wouldn’t discover Sun Chongyao’s betrayal, much less know their plan. Everything should proceed very smoothly.

However, he waited until the sky brightened, yet the pre-agreed signal never ignited—Tuoba Zhen returned to the main tent with a gloomy expression. Jiang Hua gave a cold laugh: “Military campaigns emphasize favorable timing. In my view, Sun Chongyao has probably already been captured. But this doesn’t matter. You still have two hundred thousand troops. As long as you’re determined, you can seize the throne without his help.”

Tuoba Zhen looked at him coldly: “You want me to bear the crime of rebellion?”

If Sun Chongyao had successfully controlled the palace and the Imperial Guards controlled the capital, then all public opinion would be in Tuoba Zhen’s hands. He could completely say Tuoba Yu poisoned the Empress Dowager and intended to murder the Emperor, that Sun Chongyao led troops to protect the sovereign, and his two hundred thousand troops were returning to eliminate treacherous ministers—the actual purpose was to control the Emperor to command the nobles. Of course, this couldn’t fool those who truly understood, but for him, this facade of peace was extremely important. A throne obtained through rebellion would never sit very securely, so he had been waiting for Sun Chongyao’s news. Legitimately controlling the capital would allow him to grasp everything firmly. By then, even if Duke Luoguo suddenly acted up, he would have ways to deal with him.

But now, if he rashly raised troops, the entire world would know Tuoba Zhen plotted rebellion and usurped the throne. And this crime would certainly follow him for his entire life, even if he became emperor.

Jiang Hua scoffed: “Hesitation brings disaster. Since you’ve already come this far, there are no arrows that can be turned back, Third Prince!”

Tuoba Zhen sat down again. His right hand gripping the tea bowl squeezed hard for a full moment. When his hand gradually opened, the tea bowl also split into six or seven pieces, the clear tea and thin porcelain stained with traces of blood. He suddenly stood up and said coldly: “Order the three armies—return to the capital immediately!”

Tuoba Zhen, in full military dress, stood on the high platform before the main tent. Before him were two hundred thousand troops, well-equipped and well-trained, ready to march. They gathered before him, standing in formation without the slightest disorder, utterly silent. Tuoba Zhen called out loudly: “Everyone, I just received urgent news that Tuoba Yu has launched a rebellion in the capital. He’s holding His Majesty hostage and poisoned the Empress Dowager to death. His wolfish ambitions are known to all—truly heinous crimes!”

Everyone below held their breath listening to him speak, the scene extremely quiet.

“Traitorous ministers and unfilial sons—everyone has the right to execute them! Are you willing to return to the capital with me!” Tuoba Zhen’s hawk-like eyes stared unmoving at those below. The atmosphere was extremely tense for a moment. He had arranged several trusted subordinates hidden in the crowd who could respond to him at any time. Moreover, he held the imperial edict and tiger tally—he could mobilize these two hundred thousand men.

However, complete silence—no one answered. He asked again. Still no one answered. At this moment, Tuoba Zhen’s expression underwent subtle changes. Could something have happened to those people he arranged? His gaze swept through the crowd, but everyone looked at him expressionlessly. How could this be?! He had clearly arranged everything perfectly—

Seeing this situation, Jiang Hua couldn’t help frowning.

At this moment, someone in the crowd suddenly called out loudly: “Third Prince, are you looking for these people?”

Tuoba Zhen’s gaze suddenly sharpened. He saw over ten severed heads roll out from the crowd one after another. Though bloody, he still recognized at a glance that the owners of these heads were precisely his trusted subordinates. His heart shook greatly as he shouted angrily: “Who! Who is it!”

Several generals walked out from the crowd. One of them laughed loudly: “Third Prince, His Majesty’s decree is here. Please receive the edict.”

Tuoba Zhen’s expression underwent enormous changes in an instant. His eyebrows trembled uncontrollably, his lips pressed into a straight line: “What did you say?! Where would His Majesty have a decree! And who are you!”

That person gave a cold laugh: “I am the Army Supervisor sent by His Majesty! His Majesty worried that Third Prince was leading troops for the first time and feared some mishap, so he ordered us to support from afar, escorting Your Highness all the way to the Southwest border.”

Tuoba Zhen finally understood. The Emperor had never trusted him. The supervisor he sent wasn’t truly for escort, but to monitor him. In the other party’s hands was just an edict, so light and flimsy, yet so heavy. In Tuoba Zhen’s eyes, this meant his death was near.

Before his eyes immediately appeared Li Weiyang’s face with that faint smile, slowly overlapping with that person in his dream.

He finally understood the meaning of that dream now—if not for enmity in the previous life and grudges in this life, why would she destroy his grand plan! At this moment he had forgotten his relentless persecution of Li Weiyang, only thinking of how she had wronged him! He clenched his teeth tightly, blood already seeping from his tooth roots. So this was what they meant by retribution! Though his hatred for Li Weiyang was intense, it only stayed in his heart for an instant. Because he now had more important things to consider—how to resolve the situation before him!

Jiang Hua saw this and already knew the great undertaking could not succeed. He quietly stepped back several paces, quickly rushing to the rear of the main tent. Just as he was about to find a horse prepared early to leave, several black-clothed guards suddenly appeared behind him. He heard someone laugh softly: “Third Young Master Jiang, it’s been many days. Are you well?”

This voice to Jiang Hua’s ears was like falling into hell in an instant. It was her—how could she be here?! He slowly turned around, his gaze ice-cold: “Li Weiyang, you’re actually here.”

Li Weiyang just smiled: “This journey wore out the legs of four horses. To arrive here before dawn was truly not easy.”

Jiang Hua gave a cold laugh: “So these two hundred thousand troops were merely a trap to bury me.” His voice had once been like striking jade and metal, completely untainted by worldly dust. Now it was full of exhaustion and tension, like a bowstring about to snap.

Li Weiyang rarely wore men’s clothing, a green scholar’s robe that lent her jade-like features a bit of masculine heroic spirit. But her voice was very gentle: “I originally thought you had truly gone mad and wanted to just let it go. But I never imagined you were feigning madness on the surface, even ignoring Concubine Jiang’s death while secretly acting out a fine play with Tuoba Zhen!”

Just let it go? That would only make him live in pain forever. No one understood Li Weiyang’s intentions better than he did! Jiang Hua laughed loudly, but his laughter seemed like lamentation, or perhaps sorrow: “Yes, I’ve been thinking of how to defeat you, willing to feign madness, thinking I’d successfully evaded your surveillance. Only now do I realize you never intended to spare me.”

Li Weiyang smiled faintly: “Third Young Master, between you and me, it’s fight to the death. Those were your words. I’ve always remembered.”

At this moment, for some reason the sky whipped up wild winds that pressed on one’s eyes, making them hard to open. The snowflakes grew larger and larger. Jiang Hua lifted his face and gave a cold laugh: “You think you’ve won? Do you know my grandfather’s five hundred thousand troops are about to attack the capital? By then, you and Tuoba Yu—who can escape death?!”

Li Weiyang suddenly covered her lips and laughed lightly twice. Seeing Jiang Hua’s surprised expression, she said with sarcasm: “So your intelligence is this poor. Didn’t you know? Just two hours ago, Duke Jiangguo was assassinated at the front. His eighteen trusted generals were all executed in one night. Now those five hundred thousand troops have already been taken over by His Majesty’s trusted subordinates! What a pity—just one move behind.”

Jiang Hua’s pupils constricted in that instant: “You’re lying to me?”

Li Weiyang sighed: “I wish I were lying too. But you know, I have no need to lie. You can’t mobilize these two hundred thousand troops here, just as you have no way with those five hundred thousand. Now, what will you do?”

Jiang Hua hadn’t expected everything carefully planned would end like this. But he was a person of such resilient character—a series of thoughts flashed rapidly through his mind. Without thinking, he dropped to his knees: “Princess, please spare my life! I can be like Fifth Brother, never returning to the capital for the rest of my life!”

The Jiang Hua before her was completely different from that stunningly brilliant Third Young Master Jiang of before.

Li Weiyang hadn’t yet spoken when she saw Jiang Hua had already crawled on his knees before her, his face full of guilt as he tried to grab her dress hem. At that moment, a brilliant flash of light shot swiftly from Li Weiyang’s side, entering through Jiang Hua’s open mouth and piercing his palate. Jiang Hua’s entire body fell backward, in extreme pain but unable to die immediately, his eyes wide with fury. Li Weiyang seemed to have anticipated this. She merely crouched down and looked into his eyes.

Jiang Hua looked at her, a final ray of divine light passing through his eyes. He struggled, breathing in broken gasps that vaguely formed a sentence: “I haven’t lost…”

Those final four words—he still cared about his win or loss.

Li Weiyang didn’t notice the eerie smile at the corner of Jiang Hua’s lips, only said softly: “No, you still lost.” Zhao Yue pulled out the long sword. Jiang Hua’s pupils immediately dilated, blood flowing from his mouth. The cold smile still remained on his face—that scene was truly horrifying to the extreme.

Li Weiyang watched as Jiang Hua fell before her, but from his sleeve rolled out a glint of cold light—a blade merely the length of a finger. Her face showed a trace of regret: “You weren’t begging for mercy from me. You wanted to take the opportunity to kill me.” This person Jiang Hua was not only clever but also resilient in character. Li Weiyang smiled—he was a worthy opponent. Unfortunately, he was too proud, never willing to admit defeat to the end. Sometimes, winning or losing wasn’t important. Only by staying alive did one have the chance to win.

Zhao Yue gave a cold snort: “This person plotted treachery. His death is truly deserved.”

Li Weiyang didn’t answer her. Her gaze looked far toward the distant square. The one who truly deserved to die was Tuoba Zhen.