Wang Zijin came to see Li Weiyang, and Zhao Yue told her: “Miss is in the study. Please, Miss Wang, go on in.”

Wang Zijin walked into the study. Li Weiyang was sitting quietly behind the desk, holding a book and reading with a focused expression, as if she hadn’t noticed Wang Zijin’s arrival. After Zhao Yue withdrew, only Wang Zijin and Li Weiyang remained in the study.

Wang Zijin looked at the other woman, but Li Weiyang still didn’t speak, so she turned her head to look around. This study wasn’t very large, but it was elegant. Every item on the antique shelf was a rare treasure, and the books that were everywhere had mostly yellowed pages with curled edges, showing the breadth of Li Weiyang’s reading. She only heard the sound of a page being gently turned. Wang Zijin couldn’t help wondering—the other woman had clearly heard her footsteps coming in, so why was she still pretending to know nothing? Had she done something wrong and angered Guo Jia again?

Wang Zijin thought for a while and decided to continue being patient. She proactively moved an embroidered stool and sat in the study, quietly waiting for Li Weiyang. This wait lasted more than an hour. During this time, Wang Zijin could tell that Li Weiyang wasn’t deliberately neglecting her. The other woman’s expression was very serious. Every time she opened a book, her eyes didn’t waver, and she even carefully wrote critical comments word by word.

Time passed bit by bit until the sun gradually slanted westward and the light in the entire study dimmed. Only then did Li Weiyang close the pages and stand up.

“Zijin?” Li Weiyang smiled. “How long have you been here? I didn’t see you—how rude of me.”

Wang Zijin smiled. At this moment, the evening sun outside the study was falling right on Li Weiyang. Her face was as crystal clear as water, her cloud-like beautiful hair was delicately and skillfully arranged, her skin surpassed ice and snow, yet her face was plain and unadorned by cosmetics.

“Zijin, what are you thinking?”

Wang Zijin smiled slightly: “I was thinking about what book you’re reading that made you so focused.”

Li Weiyang handed the book she had just been reading to Wang Zijin. Wang Zijin glanced at it lightly—the book was called “Seven Records,” a unique copy left from the previous dynasty. She smiled faintly: “I didn’t expect Jia’er to also be quite interested in the way of governing a country.” When she said these words, there was an imperceptible probing quality.

Li Weiyang laughed, her expression calm as water: “Every book here was sent by Father and Fifth Brother, each with its own use, so I’m willing to read them all.”

Wang Zijin pointed to the small, hairpin-neat annotations beside the book and smiled. “So you weren’t just reading—you even took such careful notes!”

Li Weiyang simply pulled the book from her hands and casually placed it on the desk, her tone very peaceful: “I’ve long since developed this old habit when reading books—I can’t change it anymore. Zijin, is there something you came for today?”

Wang Zijin put away her suspicious look and smiled: “Nothing major, just that I haven’t seen you recently, so I came specially to visit.”

Li Weiyang’s expression was half-smiling as she looked at Wang Zijin: “Has the marriage between the Wang family and Prince Jing been settled?”

Wang Zijin looked at Li Weiyang with surprise: “Marriage? What marriage?”

Li Weiyang stared steadily at Wang Zijin, not speaking for a moment. She wanted to know whether Wang Zijin was deliberately pretending not to know or truly didn’t know. Li Weiyang’s expression made Wang Zijin furrow her brows deeply: “Jia’er, what exactly are you trying to say?”

Li Weiyang sighed lightly: “It seems Zijin doesn’t want to tell me the truth.”

Wang Zijin’s smile gradually disappeared. She looked at Li Weiyang: “Jia’er, I may have concealed things from you, but I still know what’s urgent and important. Something as major as the Wang family’s marriage alliance with Prince Jing couldn’t be hidden no matter what, so why would I act like a petty person?”

Li Weiyang’s expression moved slightly: “So you’re saying General Wang Gong has been keeping it from you all along.”

Wang Zijin’s expression changed instantly. She stepped forward and grabbed Li Weiyang’s hand: “Where did you get this news? Is it reliable?”

Li Weiyang said lightly: “I think it’s true.”

All the color drained from Wang Zijin’s face at once. She suddenly turned around and paced rapidly in the study for a few steps, then suddenly stopped, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief: “No, I don’t believe it! Father and Uncle would never use me as a bargaining chip. I knew nothing about this matter.”

Li Weiyang laughed: “I also thought you were deliberately pretending not to know, but now it seems even you were kept in the dark. The General truly can’t be underestimated—without a word, he arranged everything.”

Wang Zijin slowly sat down on the embroidered stool, her expression becoming extremely desolate.

Li Weiyang didn’t disturb her. She could see Wang Zijin was having an internal struggle. She didn’t know what it felt like to be betrayed by family—she only knew the other woman must be very sad right now.

Li Weiyang turned her head and softly instructed Zhao Yue: “Go brew a cup of tea for Miss Wang.”

Only after holding the hot tea and taking a sip did Wang Zijin feel some warmth return to her frozen body. She shook her head: “I really can’t imagine that even close relatives would use me as a bargaining chip. I originally thought…”

Before she could finish, Li Weiyang smiled: “You originally thought that by working desperately hard to become useful to the family, you wouldn’t be sacrificed so quickly, right?”

Wang Zijin wanted to refute but had nothing to say. She had to bite her teeth: “Uncle and the others clearly promised me they wouldn’t use my marriage as a bargaining chip.”

Li Weiyang smirked: “So I really want to know what kind of promise Prince Jing made this time to move the General’s heart…”

Wang Zijin sat on the embroidered stool for a long time, until the tea cup in her hand had gone cold and the sky outside had turned pitch black. Zhao Yue came in to light the candles, then quietly withdrew. Under the candlelight, Wang Zijin’s face appeared pale and her body trembled—clearly she had received a tremendous blow. When she finally recovered, she said to Li Weiyang: “Jia’er, I should go.” Saying this, she stood up to leave. Li Weiyang suddenly spoke: “What are your plans?”

Wang Zijin turned back and looked at Li Weiyang: “No matter what, I won’t marry Prince Jing.”

Li Weiyang suddenly laughed.

Wang Zijin looked at her: “You don’t believe me?”

Li Weiyang gently shook her head: “I just find it very strange.”

“What’s strange?”

Li Weiyang said softly: “In my impression, Wang Zijin is proud and self-respecting, looking down on everyone. The one who could match you would definitely be a first-rate excellent man in the world. Before, you took a liking to Yuan Lie—not because you loved him, but just because you felt he could match you. Now if you settle for second best, Prince Jing is also a very good choice. If Prince Jing can smoothly ascend the throne, if he can fulfill his promises to the Wang family, then you would be the mother of a nation. Being the empress with authority over the realm—what a temptation! Zijin, can you refuse such temptation?”

Wang Zijin’s expression changed: “Jia’er, we’ve known each other for so long—is this how you see me?”

Li Weiyang’s lips curved in a slight smile: “I’m not deliberately testing you, just speaking some honest words for the sake of our friendship. If you don’t want to hear it, then I won’t say more.”

Li Weiyang’s words moved Wang Zijin slightly. She turned and closed the door, saying solemnly: “Jia’er, I’ll only say this once—listen carefully.”

Li Weiyang raised her eyes and quietly gazed at the other woman. In the candlelight, her eyes sparkled, making one’s heart tremble. Wang Zijin’s gaze was serious: “I like your Fifth Brother Guo Dao. I want to marry him as his wife.”

Li Weiyang was stunned. Wang Zijin was deep in schemes and quite cunning—she was definitely not such a candid person. Yet today she had actually spoken such heartfelt words, leaving Li Weiyang momentarily dumbfounded.

Seeing Li Weiyang’s stunned expression, Wang Zijin smiled: “From the moment I was born, I was destined to dedicate my life to the Wang family.” Her finger pointed to her heart. “The Wang family members possess everything, but I always felt I was missing something. Now I finally understand—I was missing a heart that could love someone. After meeting Guo Dao, I always argued with him, but gradually I discovered my gaze always followed him. Today when you told me about the marriage alliance with Prince Jing, I suddenly realized that I had already fallen in love with your Fifth Brother in my heart. I would never love anyone else, much less marry Prince Jing for the family’s benefit.”

Li Weiyang had always thought anyone in the world might say such words except Wang Zijin, because the other woman was as calm and unfeeling as herself. She never imagined Wang Zijin would actually say it, so openly and without concealment. Such an excellent woman—why would she favor Fifth Brother so much…

Li Weiyang’s smile slowly faded. She looked at the other woman, her voice gentle: “Zijin, you should know that if Prince Jing insists on marrying you, even General Wang probably couldn’t refuse.”

The fear was that Prince Jing Yuan Ying would show no interest in Wang Zijin in front of the Duke of Qi’s residence, but behind their backs make a deal with the Wang family. Otherwise, why would those neutral officials from the Wang family strongly support Prince Jing before the Emperor?

Wang Zijin laughed coldly: “Jia’er, to speak frankly, the person Prince Jing truly wants to marry is you. He suddenly changed his mind only to ascend to the throne—I’m just his stepping stone. But I, Wang Zijin, will absolutely not willingly be someone else’s stepping stone, much less give him the chance to kick me aside and marry someone else after he succeeds. Most importantly, I don’t like him, and I can disregard his marriage proposal.”

Li Weiyang smiled: “Perhaps today is the first day I truly know you.” She paused, suddenly thinking that during this time, Wang Zijin had been following her lead in everything, even coming to ask her opinion on all matters. Could it be that…

Seeing Li Weiyang’s expression, Wang Zijin’s face couldn’t help but redden slightly. She said softly: “Fifth Young Master has always liked you very much. If I can gain your favor, won’t we be able to get along harmoniously when I marry over in the future?”

Li Weiyang couldn’t help laughing. She hadn’t expected Wang Zijin to have this kind of consideration, going so far as to flatter her in front of Guo Dao, hoping he would love her by association—this really wasn’t like her character at all. Wang Zijin came forward, her eyes sparkling, gently grasping Li Weiyang’s hand: “Jia’er, I know where your Fifth Brother’s heart lies.”

Li Weiyang lightly furrowed her brows. Wang Zijin smiled and patted her hand: “But I’m confident that one day he’ll fall in love with me, so I’ll definitely wait seriously. As for Prince Jing, he can marry whoever he wants. Even if my uncle agrees to this marriage, let him go marry Prince Jing himself. Princess Ali had the courage to abandon everything and come to the capital for love—naturally I can do the same for your Fifth Brother. You just need to know that the person I love is him, so I won’t harm you. That’s enough.” Finishing, she turned to leave.

Li Weiyang suddenly called out: “Zijin, have you thought about the consequences of refusing this marriage?”

Wang Zijin didn’t turn back, only her voice drifted over faintly: “Naturally I know, and I’m willing to bear them.”

Li Weiyang watched Wang Zijin leave, then slowly sat back in her chair. Zhao Yue came in carrying tea and saw Li Weiyang’s expression was indifferent, not knowing what she was thinking. She couldn’t help asking: “Miss, what’s wrong?”

Li Weiyang slowly raised her head and looked at Zhao Yue with a slight smile: “Sometimes I really doubt whether I’m that accurate at reading people.”

Hearing Li Weiyang speak so strangely, Zhao Yue said: “Is Miss talking about Miss Wang?”

Li Weiyang took a deep breath: “I thought she was an extremely proud woman, and that such women would never willingly stay by Fifth Brother’s side. But seeing her so brave, I feel I misjudged her before.”

Zhao Yue nodded: “This servant also feels Miss Wang is different from before.”

Li Weiyang’s long beautiful eyes grew slightly unfocused: “She’s competitive in everything and never bows to others, but recently she’s been listening to me in everything. This shows she truly wants to please Fifth Brother. But my Fifth Brother clearly knows yet remains unromantic—it really makes one anxious for him.”

Before Li Weiyang’s words had faded, someone outside the window said: “Why be anxious for me? What did I do to provoke you?”

As soon as he spoke, Guo Dao had already walked in. He wore a silver-white robe, had a graceful bearing and spirited air. Li Weiyang looked at him and smiled: “You always like to hide outside windows and eavesdrop without being discovered… But that person just left and you come right after—truly telepathic.”

Guo Dao was stunned, his smile freezing on his face: “You mean Wang Zijin?”

Li Weiyang looked at him with a slightly mischievous smile: “You already know, so why pretend to be confused?”

Guo Dao’s expression grew somber: “How could Miss Wang have fallen for a cripple like me?”

Li Weiyang frowned: “Fifth Brother, why do you say such things about yourself?”

Guo Dao shrugged his shoulders indifferently: “I’m not looking down on myself, but Miss Wang is not a good match for me. I fear I can only disappoint her.”

Li Weiyang’s face darkened: “I don’t believe you truly don’t understand Zijin’s feelings at all. You’ve seen all her changes—why do you act as if you don’t see her many overtures? She argues with you and opposes you all because she likes you. Don’t you really know?”

Guo Dao slowly sat down in a chair, his voice drifting over with a trace of coldness: “Of course I know, but so what? A woman like her will soar to the heavens one day!”

Li Weiyang was silent for a long time before saying: “Then I’ll make a bet with Fifth Brother.”

Guo Dao looked surprised: “A bet? What bet?”

Li Weiyang raised her eyes and looked at him sincerely: “I bet that Wang Zijin will give up everything for you, and that the person who stays by your side in the end will definitely be her.”

Because Wang Zijin had determination, perseverance, and… the courage to go all in. In this, even Li Weiyang felt inferior.

Guo Dao looked at Li Weiyang in surprise. He didn’t know where her confidence came from. In his view, Wang Zijin was just an overly precious and proud woman—only the most excellent men in the world could match her. People like Prince Xu or Prince Jing, whereas Guo Dao was just a useless person who could never wield a sword again. How could he match the Wang family’s daughter? However, he didn’t argue with Li Weiyang. He just smiled faintly: “Then you’ll definitely lose this bet.”

Li Weiyang smiled: “Let’s wait and see.”

The next day, Li Weiyang personally went to the Wang residence again and had a long talk with Wang Zijin in the study for two hours. Coming out of the Wang family, she took a deep breath of fresh air and immediately smiled. Now she was one hundred percent certain that Wang Zijin truly liked Guo Dao and absolutely didn’t want to marry Prince Jing. This way, Prince Jing’s wishful thinking wouldn’t work. Wang Zijin was the brains of the Wang family—as long as she firmly opposed, General Wang would have to consider her wishes.

She was just about to board the carriage when she suddenly saw a person standing in the crowd not far away, quietly watching her. That person wore a black felt robe with head and face covered. Li Weiyang looked at him coldly. The person clearly noticed Li Weiyang’s gaze and suddenly quickened his pace and ran.

Li Weiyang looked at that retreating figure—it seemed to be someone she found extremely familiar. She immediately turned to Zhao Yue: “Chase after him!”

The carriage followed that person in hot pursuit, finally going around the crowd to reach a spacious alley entrance.

“Stop!” Li Weiyang said coldly. Seeing the dead end ahead, the person froze, then slowly turned around, removing the black robe to reveal a charming face.

“Miss Li, I didn’t expect we’d meet here.”

“Neither did I.” After brief surprise, Li Weiyang’s voice was cold: “For the Empress of Dali to actually come to Yuexi’s capital—you’re truly audacious!”

Pingting wasn’t offended but laughed instead: “For my beloved husband, doing anything is worth it,” she declared loudly.

Li Weiyang lightly furrowed her brows: “You came to the capital for Tuoba Yu?”

Pingting nodded, her expression suddenly tinged with loneliness: “Li Weiyang, do you know what my husband has done for you?”

Li Weiyang’s expression was indifferent: “What he’s done—what does it have to do with me?”

Pingting’s face darkened. She looked at Li Weiyang, unable to hide the jealousy in her eyes: “I never imagined you could be so heartless!”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly. The current Princess Pingting was no longer the friend who had helped her in the past. Pingting’s eyes were full of jealousy and endless worry.

Li Weiyang laughed coldly: “Your Majesty the Empress, this is the enemy nation’s capital. I advise you to leave as soon as possible.”

Pingting suddenly stepped back but shouted loudly: “No, I won’t leave!”

Li Weiyang looked at her: “Whether you leave or stay, you can’t change anything. Can one person’s strength reverse the entire situation?”

Pingting bit her lip and looked back at her, seemingly unwilling to back down: “Do you know that for you he didn’t hesitate to launch this war? For you he even imprisoned me, this empress, having people escort me back to the capital. If I hadn’t escaped halfway, I’d probably be confined in the cold palace now. What’s the point of being such an empress? Better to come here, risk my life to see you, and get some answers!”

Seeing her heartbroken appearance, Li Weiyang said: “What do you want to ask?”

Pingting said seriously: “I want to ask what kind of love potion you gave him that makes him unable to forget you?”

Li Weiyang suddenly laughed. She looked at Pingting: “Everyone in this world has a problem—they’re obsessed with what they can’t have, but once they get it, they don’t cherish it. If our positions were reversed, he might launch this war just the same. Don’t be so foolish. He’s a man, and moreover an emperor—he knows what he’s doing. Empress Pei must have promised him sufficient conditions to raise troops, not merely for one woman.”

Men and women see things differently. In Pingting’s view, those ten cities were nothing at all. She firmly believed Tuoba Yu would do this only to obtain Li Weiyang, so hearing Li Weiyang’s calm analysis and judgment, she didn’t believe it at all. She just said coldly: “Li Weiyang, you must come back with me to see him.”

Li Weiyang looked incredulous, then suddenly revealed a mocking smile. Pingting said: “What are you laughing at?”

Li Weiyang said slowly: “I’m laughing at a ridiculous person.”

The other’s resolute tone seemed to sting her eyes. Pingting couldn’t help saying: “What’s ridiculous about me?”

Li Weiyang said quietly: “Pingting, if I return to his side, will there still be a place for you?”

Pingting’s face pulled into a ridiculous expression, eyebrows raised high, like laughing yet like crying: “Even if there’s no place for me, I can’t watch him go mad for you like this.”

Li Weiyang’s gaze pressed down like a thousand pounds: “No, what drives him mad is his inner demon, not me.”

Pingting said: “You truly won’t come with me? Here you’re just a minister’s daughter, but once you return with me, I can guarantee you whatever position you want—even this empress position of mine can be given to you!”

Li Weiyang looked at Pingting, gradually showing disbelief. Pingting had truly risked her life to love Tuoba Yu. The words of that naive and romantic young girl from before were still vivid. Before, Li Weiyang had thought she didn’t understand anything, but now it seemed Pingting’s feelings ran deep as the sea… What kind of woman could let go of her beloved man, even willing to risk everything to come to the enemy capital just to invite her rival back? Unfortunately, she could never return to Tuoba Yu’s side, so she could only firmly refuse.

“I’m very sorry, Pingting. Although I once considered you a friend, matters are matters—I won’t go back with you, nor will I become Tuoba Yu’s concubine. I can only let you make this trip in vain.” Finishing, Li Weiyang waved her hand, signaling the driver to turn the carriage around.

“Li Weiyang, stop!” Pingting said coldly.

Li Weiyang lightly furrowed her brows: “I’ve said everything I need to say. I won’t go to Dali with you. Please go back.”

“Then I can only be impolite to you.” Pingting said coldly.

Li Weiyang froze, then slowly smiled: “So you came prepared. I never imagined the kind and lively Pingting from before would become like this.”

“Neither did I.” Pingting’s gaze was sharp. “I never imagined, Weiyang, that your heart would be colder than I thought—cold to the extreme!”

Li Weiyang wasn’t angry but laughed lightly: “Do you think you can detain me?”

Pingting smiled through gritted teeth: “I can’t, but someone can.”

As soon as she spoke, a figure appeared behind Pingting. After seeing that person clearly, Li Weiyang narrowed her eyes: “So it’s Lord Ying—Pingting, do you know who you’re dealing with?”

Pingting raised her head: “Of course I know! Lord Ying, I hope you’ll keep your promise and hand Li Weiyang over to me!”

Ying Chu shook his head and smiled, patting Pingting’s shoulder: “Thank you. If you hadn’t deliberately revealed your face to lure her here, she wouldn’t have been caught so easily.”

Pingting’s expression changed: “You didn’t say—”

Ying Chu waved his hand. Two men in black appeared beside him and grabbed Pingting from left and right. Pingting’s color changed dramatically.

Li Weiyang sighed: “I told you long ago that making deals with tigers is very dangerous.”

Pingting was shocked and finally understood, but it was already too late. The men in black covered her mouth and nose and dragged her away.

Several feet before Li Weiyang’s eyes, Ying Chu stood quietly.

At such close distance, Li Weiyang discovered Ying Chu’s appearance was somewhat strange. He was at least in his thirties or forties, yet the exposed half of his face still looked like that of a young man in his early twenties. There might be people in this world with methods to preserve their youth, like the beautiful Empress Pei, but there would never be anyone who hadn’t aged at all—unless they were a monster. Li Weiyang’s heart grew cold.

Ying Chu just smiled: “Li Weiyang, if I hadn’t let Pingting lure you out, you wouldn’t have come. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”

“What do you want to do?” Li Weiyang got down from the carriage and stood calmly in place: “Do you think you alone can kill me?”

“Of course not. I know you were born with phoenix destiny—this is something no one can change. If I wanted your life, it would be going against heaven, and I’d suffer divine retribution in the future. This is why I’ve held back all along.”

“Absurd…” Li Weiyang said coldly.

Ying Chu seemed to see through her thoughts and smiled: “I also find it absurd that someone like you would have the same phoenix destiny as Huaizhen—I can hardly believe it. But somehow your fate was strangely twisted and became unpredictable… Perhaps this is because you’ve killed too many people and have too much murderous aura.”

Li Weiyang understood very clearly that if she had followed her previous life’s course and married Tuoba Zhen, her fate would have followed what Ying Chu said. But she had twisted her own destiny, so naturally this fate changed too…

Ying Chu snapped his fingers. A ball of blue flame rose from his palm and floated before Li Weiyang’s eyes. His tone was extremely cold: “When you should act but don’t, you’ll suffer the chaos—even if it means defying heaven, I must protect the person I want to protect, so… I can only say I’m sorry.”

Zhao Yue watched him warily. She whistled lightly, and several black figures appeared around them, silently surrounding Ying Chu. However, he just smiled slightly and clapped his hands. The moment the flames leaped up, waves of smoke dispersed. These black figures swayed and all collapsed to the ground, unable to move, instantly losing consciousness.

Li Weiyang’s expression changed slightly: “So Lord Ying came well prepared.”

Ying Chu smiled lightly: “Those without martial arts skills will be fine if they touch this smoke, but the greater one’s skill, the less one can withstand it—unless they’ve taken the antidote beforehand… I know these assassins sent by Prince Xu are formidable, so I had to prepare thoroughly. You’re a very intelligent woman—even I’m no match—but unfortunately, no matter how smart, you’re still just an ordinary person—Zhao Yue!”

Zhao Yue silently drew her long sword from her waist. When Li Weiyang heard him mention taking the antidote in advance, her expression had already changed slightly. Seeing this scene, she felt all the blood in her body suddenly turn ice cold.

Ying Chu sighed: “You probably never imagined the Zhao siblings were already under my control. From the very beginning, your most trusted maid was my person. I went to great lengths to send them to your side to monitor your every move at all times!”

“So this was all your conspiracy?” Li Weiyang said in a low voice. “All this time Zhao Yue has held back, just to strike me hard at this critical moment?”

Ying Chu’s lips curved in an unfathomable smile.

Li Weiyang understood. If Zhao Yue had been secretly passing information to Ying Chu all along, she couldn’t have remained completely unaware. Most importantly, the other woman had been lurking by her side the whole time, never helping Ying Chu or contacting anyone—this kind of spy would only play a crucial role at the most important moment. She had always been suspicious, so over time she would naturally let her guard down with Zhao Yue, especially since she had accompanied her all the way to Yuexi and even protected her through countless hardships…

“Zhao Yue, kill her!”

Zhao Yue’s eyes were profound, her movements swift, but her long sword wasn’t aimed at Li Weiyang—it lunged at Ying Chu instead. Caught off guard, Ying Chu was actually approached and stabbed by her, blood immediately flowing.

“Zhao Yue, have you gone mad?” Ying Chu shouted angrily. “Don’t you recognize who your master is?”

“I’m very sorry!” Zhao Yue shouted loudly. “My master… is Li Weiyang!”

This scene happened suddenly. Ying Chu’s restraint was instantly broken, the smoke disappeared without a trace, and the guards who had fallen all stood up. They exchanged glances and rushed at Ying Chu together. With a wave of his sleeve, Zhao Yue and the other guards were all forced to stagger back from the surging force. Ying Chu let out a long whistle. A long sword appeared from his sleeve, and as he wielded it, several guards all fell. Three more had their heads severed by one sword stroke, blood splattering everywhere. The originally quiet alley had become a bloody slaughterhouse. Ying Chu forced Zhao Yue back with one sword stroke and in an instant had reached Li Weiyang. Li Weiyang couldn’t retreat in time—his long sword was already descending toward her head. Zhao Yue didn’t hesitate to throw herself forward as if sacrificing her life, blocking Li Weiyang. The long sword cut through her back and sliced Li Weiyang’s arm.

Zhao Yue collapsed softly, and those guards had already rushed over swiftly. Ying Chu was about to kill them one by one when he suddenly covered his mouth with his sleeve and coughed incessantly. In a moment, the sleeve showed deep red blood stains—clearly he had also been injured earlier. Li Weiyang was slightly surprised. Seeing he couldn’t succeed, Ying Chu laughed coldly and fled in panic.

Zhao Yue stared blankly as Li Weiyang held her, as if completely unaware of what had happened, but tears flowed down her face. Li Weiyang sighed lightly and said to the guards: “Let’s go back.”

Returning to the Guo residence entrance, blood still flowed from Zhao Yue’s wound and the tear stains on her face were very blurred. Li Weiyang said lightly: “After we go back, you don’t need to say anything.”

Zhao Yue understood, showing joy in her eyes: “Miss, you’re willing to forgive me?”

Li Weiyang looked at her wound, her voice containing a sigh: “Everyone has their own position. That you could pull back in time makes me very happy. It’s just your older brother…”

Zhao Yue bit her teeth: “I’ll immediately find a way to notify the master.”

Li Weiyang gently shook her head: “I think… it’s probably too late.”

Zhao Yue was shocked, showing panic on her face: “Miss…”

Li Weiyang looked at her and said lightly: “Was it you who betrayed my mother’s residence location?”

Zhao Yue lowered her head, her voice even more guilt-ridden: “No… it wasn’t. Miss acted so discreetly that my brother had no way to know. Lord Ying only had this servant follow Miss and didn’t let me interfere in these matters.”

Li Weiyang let out a light sigh of relief: “Then let this matter rot in your stomach—never mention it again.”

“Li Weiyang…”

In her dream, that calling voice was sometimes far, sometimes near, sometimes hidden, sometimes visible. Voice after voice called until Li Weiyang’s mind wavered, inexplicably feeling her body grow colder and colder with the calling.

“Li Weiyang…”

That voice became clear. Li Weiyang opened her eyes wide and saw a person sitting quietly by the bed.

He wore a smile on his face, which should have been very handsome, except knife scars crisscrossed it, destroying that originally familiar face.

Tuoba Zhen—she would absolutely never forget this face.

“What, did you think you’d gotten rid of me?” Tuoba Zhen smiled. On that fierce face appeared an extraordinarily peculiar smile, his voice long and drawn out: “I’ve been waiting for you to come. One day you’ll come, won’t you? Actually, you’ve never forgotten me, have you? Even in the middle of the night when you wake from dreams… you often see my face.” His black hair suddenly rose. On that face, his eyebrows lifted, his eyes were misty—if not for a trace of icy smile at the corner of his mouth, no one would suspect the various secrets and schemes concealed behind this face.

“No, I’ve gotten rid of you—you’ve already lost.” Li Weiyang suddenly sat up, her right hand pulling the dagger from under her pillow. In a flash of cold light, the dagger plunged deep into his chest.

She struck viciously, stabbing straight into the chest. Blood gushed out. Her pale hand was covered in bright red. Between the dagger’s icy touch and the blood’s warmth, Li Weiyang only felt her body trembling, the hatred in her heart going mad. She had gotten rid of the past—she had already gotten rid of it!

Tuoba Zhen lowered his head. A few strands of hair fell before his face. On his still pale face remained an expression of excitement and even madness.

“You’ll never be able to get rid of me in this lifetime. Even if you marry someone else, even if you start over, you’re just deceiving yourself, deceiving yourself!”

The ghost laughed wildly. Li Weiyang suddenly woke up!

Sunlight filled the entire room. The bed curtains were layered upon layered. The fragrance from the incense burner made her momentarily unable to distinguish where she was. Lianyu lifted the curtain: “Miss, you’re awake?”

Li Weiyang unconsciously touched her forehead, only feeling somewhat stifled. She said: “What time is it now?”

Lianyu saw Li Weiyang’s complexion wasn’t good and quickly said: “It’s already the hour of chen. This servant originally wanted to wake Miss, but Madam came to check and said Miss has been too tired recently, so she told this servant not to wake you.”

It was already past breakfast time—she had actually slept so deeply. Li Weiyang frowned. This had never happened before. Lianyu reached out her hand, but Li Weiyang suddenly said coldly: “What are you doing?!”

Lianyu was startled, her hand holding the brocade cloth frozen in midair: “Miss, this servant… this servant just wanted to wipe the sweat for you.”

Li Weiyang gently shook her head as if trying to clear her mind somewhat: “I’m fine.”

Lianyu carefully glanced at Li Weiyang’s expression, only feeling something wasn’t right about her. Her gaze unconsciously lowered, and she said in a small voice: “Miss, let this servant change your bandage.”

Yesterday Li Weiyang’s carriage was attacked, frightening Madam Guo. Although Zhao Yue fought desperately to protect her, Li Weiyang still received minor injuries, leaving a wound on her arm. Li Weiyang glanced at Lianyu and said lightly: “No need.” Then she got straight out of bed.

Lianyu added: “Madam, First Young Madam, and Fifth Young Master all sent people to inquire after you. This servant told them Miss hadn’t woken yet and didn’t want to disturb you. They all said it was fine and that Miss should come to the main hall when you wake up.”

Li Weiyang looked at herself in the bronze mirror, only feeling her chest roiling with blood and energy, but not knowing the reason. She forcibly suppressed it with a sip of tea and said coldly: “I understand. You may go.”

Lianyu looked at Li Weiyang’s expression and felt she was very strange today. Her usually kind face seemed frozen like frost. Feeling uneasy, she didn’t dare say more and quietly withdrew.

In the main hall, Wang Zijin had already arrived. Guo Dao was accompanying her in conversation. Seeing Li Weiyang arrive, Princess Ali was the first to stand up: “Jia’er, are you feeling better?”

“I’m fine.” Li Weiyang said lightly and sat directly to one side.

Wang Zijin said with concern: “Jia’er, I’ve invited a physician who specializes in treating external injuries. You definitely won’t have any scars in the future.”

Li Weiyang looked at her with an indifferent expression: “No need.”

Wang Zijin was shocked. She had never seen Li Weiyang show such a cold expression before. Li Weiyang’s face always carried a smile, but today her expression was so cold, as if devoid of any feeling.

Guo Dao sensed something wrong: “Jia’er, what’s wrong with you? Why don’t you look well?”

Li Weiyang only felt a splitting headache. Hearing this suddenly, her brows furrowed even tighter: “I said I’m fine!” Princess Ali approached caringly, wanting to take Li Weiyang’s hand, but Li Weiyang pushed her away as if shocked. Princess Ali was dumbfounded: “Jia’er, what’s wrong with you?”

Li Weiyang only felt the place Princess Ali had touched burned with pain. She bit her teeth and shook her head: “Nothing.”

Guo Dao quickly said: “The Crown Prince departs today. Since you’re not feeling well, go rest first.”

Li Weiyang shook her head: “No, I must go see.”

Seeing her so stubborn, Wang Zijin gently persuaded: “What could be more important than your health? You should—”

“I already said I must go!” Li Weiyang’s voice was as if quenched in ice, shocking Wang Zijin into silence.

Li Weiyang realized her impropriety. Her expression softened slightly as she apologized: “I’m just somewhat unwell. I’m sorry—I’ll leave first.”

Watching Li Weiyang turn and leave, Wang Zijin looked back at Guo Dao and Princess Ali in surprise: “What’s wrong with her?”

Guo Dao was also lost in thought. Hearing this, he snapped back and smiled: “Probably just in a bad mood.” But his smile faded. Li Weiyang controlled her emotions extremely well and had never been so irritable. Her behavior just now was as if she couldn’t control herself at all…

This was so unlike her! What on earth had happened!

The Guo and Chen families didn’t react much to the Crown Prince’s campaign. On the contrary, Empress Pei’s followers began building momentum for the army. Before they had even departed, it seemed victory could already be foreseen.

The Guo family’s carriage traveled all the way to outside the city. Dark clouds rolled in the sky, with thunder rumbling from time to time. Li Weiyang lifted the carriage curtain and looked far into the distance at the Crown Prince standing among the crowd. Those who had specially come to see him off could only stand not far away. At this moment, large drops of rain began falling. Li Weiyang’s gaze passed through the chaotic crowd and fell on a black-robed man not far ahead.

It was Ying Chu!

He surveyed the troops before him with dignity, smiling calmly and composed.

“He came too!” Li Weiyang stared at him, her gaze stern.

She saw Ying Chu raise his left hand high with dignified authority, pointing toward the sky. In an instant, the thunder clouds in the sky suddenly rolled and dispersed. The rain disappeared. Sunshine emerged from behind the clouds with a smile.

Everyone was shocked watching this scene. Lianyu couldn’t help exclaiming: “Miss, this person truly has divine powers!”

Li Weiyang laughed coldly: “Divine powers? He just calculated the timing accurately. A charlatan—he should have died long ago!”

Lianyu was shocked by the killing intent that suddenly emerged in her tone, looking at Li Weiyang in surprise. But seeing her expression grow increasingly gloomy, her face very pale, and her lips completely bloodless.

Ying Chu’s expression was calm, showing no trace of pride. He declared loudly: “Heaven protects us—the dark clouds have dispersed. This campaign will surely triumph from the start! Respectfully sending off His Highness the Crown Prince!”

The great army continued forward. Along the official road on both sides, many common people gathered to watch the excitement. Walking among the troops, Crown Prince Yong Wen wore golden armor. His handsome and valiant appearance attracted the adoring gazes of many women. He rode his horse with a smile on his face, but his mind pondered the various events of recent times, gradually sensing something wasn’t quite right. Yet at this point he could only continue forward without being able to regret it. Thinking of Empress Pei’s various arrangements before departure, he recovered his confidence.

The Guo residence’s carriage had already returned to the Duke of Qi’s residence entrance. Guo Dao was the first to come out, his face full of smiles: “Jia’er, Prince Xu is about to return to the capital!”

Having just gotten off the carriage, Li Weiyang’s mind shook. She was about to say something when she suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. Guo Dao’s expression changed drastically. He rushed forward to catch Li Weiyang, shouting angrily: “Lianyu, what’s going on!”

Before Lianyu could defend herself, Li Weiyang had already fainted. Guo Dao’s face was extremely ugly as he swept her up in his arms, shouting loudly: “What are you all standing around for? Quickly fetch a physician!”

Having just seen the Crown Prince off and returned to his residence, Ying Chu hadn’t purchased a mansion but had been living in the palace all along. Empress Pei had specially issued an edict bestowing a separate courtyard. The entire courtyard had not a single delicate flower—instead there were several trees, one of which was an ancient tree requiring several people to encircle it. Because of this, the entire courtyard was shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere. Even on sunny days, little sunlight could penetrate.

As Ying Chu entered the courtyard gate, a young eunuch was sweeping the yard. Seeing him enter, he quickly stood respectfully and bowed: “Lord Ying, you’ve returned.”

Ying Chu made a sound of acknowledgment. Without pausing, he walked straight past and entered the main room. He casually removed his outer robe and picked up the cup beside him that was still steaming, taking a shallow sip. As the refreshing fragrance spread in his mouth, the man recalled his earlier conversation with Li Weiyang. He closed his eyes thoughtfully, carefully reviewing the memory several times. When he opened them again, a faint sinister expression had appeared on his face.

Li Weiyang, your time has come.

Duke of Qi’s Residence

“Physician, how is my daughter?” Madam Guo asked anxiously.

The physician pondered for a moment before saying: “Madam Guo, rest assured. It’s just the hot weather combined with Miss Guo’s excessive worrying that caused her to suddenly vomit blood. There’s nothing seriously wrong. I’ll prescribe two remedies—she’ll be fine after taking them.”

Madam Guo breathed a sigh of relief and instructed the servants to see the physician out. Guo Dao quickly asked: “Mother, how is little sister…”

Madam Guo shook her head: “It’s nothing—just overtired.”

Guo Dao’s heart relaxed slightly: “Then we should be more careful from now on.”

Madam Guo naturally understood this. She sat at Li Weiyang’s bedside and touched her pale face, growing increasingly worried: “This child—her thoughts are just too heavy…”

Lianyu stood to one side, her expression rather poor. She always felt Miss’s sudden personality change, irritability and anger, and collapsing without warning seemed less like illness and more like being possessed…

The physician was right—Li Weiyang’s body quickly recovered. Only her complexion still didn’t look very good, but after inviting several physicians who all said there was nothing wrong, Madam Guo could only instruct her to be more careful.

The weather grew hotter and hotter. Li Weiyang grew bored staying in her room and simply came out for a walk. Lianyu and Heye followed her instructions to maintain a not-too-close, not-too-distant distance. After walking a few steps, a person appeared on the bridge ahead.

Prince Jing Yuan Ying stood not far away. His blue robe was soft and smooth in texture—when the wind slightly lifted the hem, it would ripple like flowing water. His handsome face had distinct features. Looking at her, his eyes held deep emotions that could almost make one sink into them. Li Weiyang’s steps didn’t pause as she walked over and stopped before him.

“I heard you weren’t feeling well, so I specially had the Imperial Medical Director prepare calming pills.” After several days, Yuan Ying seemed to have completely forgotten their last unpleasant parting. His eyes held a smile as he extended his hand, revealing a snow-white porcelain bottle.

Appearing immediately upon hearing she wasn’t well—such thoughtfulness would truly move any other woman.

Li Weiyang looked at the porcelain bottle and suddenly smiled: “Thank you. I accept it, but…” Her face held a smile, but the corner of her mouth carried a trace of mockery: “You clearly know, don’t you? No matter what you do, I won’t be moved.”

Yuan Ying froze, looking at her without speaking. Seeing a leaf fall onto Li Weiyang’s hair in the wind, he wanted to reach out and remove it, but Li Weiyang naturally avoided his gesture.

Li Weiyang said extremely coldly: “Since Your Highness has no other business here, Jia’er will take her leave first. I’ll find another opportunity to return the courtesy to Your Highness.” Saying this, she signaled Lianyu to take the porcelain bottle, bowed to Prince Jing Yuan Ying, and turned to leave.

Yuan Ying reached out wanting to grab her hand, but ultimately reason prevailed and his hand fell. He silently thought to himself: Li Weiyang, what will it take to warm your iron heart? No matter what I do, won’t you ever notice? Pain, anguish, and conflict flashed across his face. He stood frozen in place until someone patted his shoulder. Only then did Yuan Ying react: “It’s you?”

Guo Dao stood behind him, looking at him with a trace of sympathy: “Want to have a few drinks together?”

Yuan Ying smiled slightly: “Alright.”

The two left together, but Guo Dao unconsciously looked back at Li Weiyang’s retreating figure with a puzzled expression.

“You all go out first. Don’t come in unless I call for you.” Upon returning to her room, Li Weiyang instructed Lianyu and the others as soon as she entered.

The two maids were quite obedient. After acknowledging, they withdrew directly. Before leaving, they even left the door ajar for Li Weiyang.

Only then did Li Weiyang’s gaze fall on a small box sitting on the table. The surroundings were quiet, as if no one had been there, but Li Weiyang’s face revealed an expression that was half-smile, half-not.

“Usually you’re quite bold—why are you hiding today and refusing to show yourself?” Li Weiyang spoke.

The surroundings were quiet with no response. Li Weiyang raised her eyebrows and walked toward the table.

The area remained completely still. A delicate wooden box on the table was tied with a rope clasp. Li Weiyang’s slender fingers pulled left and right, and the clasp naturally fell away. The contents of the box came into her view. Inside was a pair of round, adorable, and utterly charming clay dolls. They weren’t molded particularly exquisitely, but their features and expressions were extremely lifelike. Li Weiyang picked up the one that resembled herself by five or six parts and examined it with interest for a while before putting it back. Then she picked up the other clay doll to look at—this one was clearly a miniature version of Yuan Lie.

Holding this clay doll in her hand, Li Weiyang said expressionlessly: “If you don’t come out, I’m going to smash this doll.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a figure jumped down from the roof. The person immediately came over to look at her, his expression as pitiful as could be, a pair of bright eyes filled with starlight: “I made this with my own hands—don’t you like it?” Seeing the porcelain bottle that Li Weiyang had casually placed on the table, his eyes filled even more with displeasure. What the—this porcelain bottle was far inferior to the clay dolls he’d made, so why accept it…

By now, how could Li Weiyang not understand his thoughts?

She kept a straight face, looking at Yuan Lie who had only now been willing to come out, saying lightly: “Don’t tell me this pair of dolls is your gift to me!”

Yuan Lie acted like a large dog—in front of her he only lacked drooping ears to show his grievance: “Of course not.”

Li Weiyang stared at him for a full minute. Seeing he still kept his ears drooping, she finally had no choice but to helplessly reach out her hand wanting to ruffle his hair, but he caught her hand instead. Yuan Lie looked at her seriously, his exhaled breath almost brushing her face: “I’ve missed you so much.”

Li Weiyang’s face grew somewhat hot: “Let go.”

“I won’t.” A muffled voice came from his mouth. As he said this, he had already buried his head on her shoulder, his long arms suddenly embracing her waist and holding her tightly. In the end, Li Weiyang had no choice but to patiently pat his back, softening her voice: “Why did you suddenly come back?”

“Because I missed you too much. When I saw the situation at the front lines improving, I immediately requested permission to return,” he said softly by her ear after a moment of silence.

At this moment, every breath was filled with Yuan Lie’s scent. Li Weiyang felt somewhat dazed in the warm atmosphere enveloping her. After a long while, she finally curved her lips slightly: “At least you came back in time.”

Actually, no matter what gift you give me, I’ll like it—simply because you’re different from everyone else.

“As soon as I returned, I heard you were injured. Let me see.” Yuan Lie set the little doll aside, then gently lifted her sleeve and unwound the wrapped cloth, frowning: “Ying Chu is truly audacious.”

Li Weiyang smiled: “It’s just a minor external injury.”

But Yuan Lie called out loudly: “Bring the wound medicine!” Lianyu responded: “Yes.” Soon she brought over a medicine box. Yuan Lie carefully had Li Weiyang sit down, used clean cotton to dip in alcohol to clean her wound, then carefully applied medicine and wrapped it with cloth.

His movements were very careful, single-mindedly focused.

Li Weiyang only felt her restless emotions ease slightly. She said softly: “You made quite a splash at the front lines.”

Yuan Lie raised his head and couldn’t help laughing: “They were just too incompetent. But—I won a great victory, shouldn’t I get a reward?” Finishing, he smiled easily, and without waiting for her response, cunningly planted a gentle kiss on her cheek, saying reluctantly: “I’ll go to the palace to check in, then come back to have dinner with you.”

Li Weiyang smiled as she watched him leave, but as soon as he left, her expression slowly began to change. Something was wrong with her—her blood boiled incessantly throughout her body, her heart pounded, what was happening to her…

The next day, Li Weiyang accompanied Madam Guo to offer incense. On the way back, she leaned against the carriage drowsing the entire time. Princess Ali asked curiously: “Jia’er, what’s wrong with you lately? Your spirits are very poor.”

Li Weiyang opened her eyes and shook her head: “I’m fine.”

Princess Ali and Madam Guo exchanged worried glances. Madam Guo said: “Let’s have another physician come look at you later.”

“There’s no need, Mother. They all say the same thing—nothing more than overwork.” Li Weiyang refused outright.

When the carriage stopped outside the Duke of Qi’s residence, Madam Guo reached out to tuck the hair falling over Li Weiyang’s forehead behind her ear: “If you’re tired, have dinner sent to your room tonight. You needn’t come to the front courtyard—just rest directly.”

Li Weiyang forced a smile: “Yes.”

Guo Dao was sitting in the garden reading. Seeing his mother and sister return, he quickly came forward to greet them. Just as he was about to joke a few words, he noticed Li Weiyang’s expression seemed somewhat strange.

Guo Dao asked with concern: “What’s wrong with you?”

Madam Guo also looked at Li Weiyang. Indeed, seeing her daughter’s complexion wasn’t very good, her heart sank: “Jia’er, are you feeling unwell?”

Li Weiyang saw the two staring at her intently: “Really, I’m fine. You needn’t worry so much.”

But Madam Guo wouldn’t let it go. She directly called Lianyu and instructed: “Go brew a bowl of medicine for Miss.” Then she turned back to question Li Weiyang about her condition repeatedly. Li Weiyang smiled and hugged her: “Mother, you’ve been busy all day and must be tired too. Don’t worry about me!” Toward this woman, she could never directly refuse. That kind of heartfelt concern made her both anxiously accept it while feeling threads of warmth.

Guo Dao also said to Madam Guo: “Mother, since little sister is tired, let’s leave first. You’ve been tired all day too—you should rest well!”

Princess Ali also considerately urged: “Madam, go rest. We’re here!”

Seeing she wouldn’t leave and Li Weiyang wouldn’t go rest, Madam Guo had to nod: “Alright.” She looked at Li Weiyang somewhat uneasily: “Jia’er, then Mother will leave first. If you feel worse, you mustn’t hide it.”

Princess Ali accompanied Li Weiyang back, only leaving after repeated admonitions. Li Weiyang sat back at the table, took a sip of the tea Lianyu handed her, and showed a thoughtful expression: “Is Zhao Yue better?”

“In response to Miss, Sister Zhao Yue’s injuries are much better. In a couple days she’ll be able to serve you.”

Li Weiyang nodded. Recently everyone had been asking where she felt unwell. Actually, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to say—she just didn’t know how to explain. The unease in her heart came from an intangible, invisible sense of crisis, an intuitive sensitivity developed from long experience with life and death. She couldn’t grasp any clue—how could she explain it to them…

At this time, Lianyu came forward again: “Miss, shall you bathe and change clothes first?”

Li Weiyang had a mild cleanliness obsession. If she returned from outside and conditions permitted, she would always bathe and change first, putting on clean clothes before doing anything else. Lianyu knew this well.

Li Weiyang nodded: “Go prepare.”

After the large wooden tub filled with hot water was carried in, Li Weiyang removed her clothes and stepped in, sinking down and closing her eyes, allowing the warm water to cover her chest, neck, eyes, forehead… As she tried to relax, scenes from this period flashed rapidly through her mind. What exactly had gone wrong? If she only relied on intuition to act, she could easily fall into others’ traps. But ignoring the inexplicable unease in her heart also felt wrong. Li Weiyang felt she needed to properly organize her thoughts to root out that point making her feel uneasy.

Whether it was the water being too hot or staying in the water too long, the roiling blood energy in her chest gave her the illusion her entire body was about to explode.

Outside, Lianwu hadn’t heard Li Weiyang’s voice for a long time. Panicking, she pushed the door open: “Miss!”

With a splash, Li Weiyang emerged from the water with a pale face, saying softly: “I’m fine.”

Lianwu’s heart relaxed slightly. She quickly fetched clean clothes to help Li Weiyang dry off and dress.

Outside the window, bird calls were crisp, but the person inside still hadn’t awakened.

In the outer room, Lianyu had just brought the clean clothes Miss would change into today. They’d been fumigated with fine incense—the scent was elegant yet pleasant. At this moment, Heye walked in from outside and asked: “Miss still hasn’t woken?”

Lianyu replied casually: “Miss wasn’t feeling well yesterday. Sleeping in a bit is normal.”

Heye glanced toward the inner room, seeing no movement at all there. Suppressing the unease in her heart, she said: “Lianyu, I don’t know why, but ever since I woke up this morning my eyelid keeps twitching. I keep feeling something will happen. Do you have any calming pills? Give me one!”

Lianyu couldn’t help reaching out to pinch her cheek: “You’re so fussy. Don’t I have a red lacquer cabinet in my room? The calming pills are in an ivory-colored porcelain bottle. That’s something Miss bestowed—very precious. If you want to take one, go get it yourself.”

“Got it, I’ll just take one pill, then I’ll be fine to work.” Heye smiled, thanked her, and turned to lift the curtain and go out.

Lianyu saw her leave and couldn’t help glancing toward the inner room again, muttering to herself: “Strange, talking about this, why do I also feel somewhat anxious?” Thinking that Miss still hadn’t risen, truly contrary to her usual habit of early to bed and early to rise, Lianyu set down her work and tiptoed in.

She could see the beautiful bed curtains hanging in the inner room, vaguely making out a figure. Lianyu stood beside the bed and couldn’t help calling out softly: “Miss?”

Li Weiyang’s voice was somewhat hoarse: “Mm… Is it light out…”

Lianyu replied respectfully: “It’s already broad daylight. Earlier Madam sent someone to check once. Knowing Miss hadn’t risen, she left first.”

Sounds came from behind the thin curtain. Li Weiyang sat up: “I understand.” Li Weiyang rubbed her head—she didn’t know if she’d caught a chill these past two days, but her head ached faintly.

Lianyu hurried to the outer room to fetch a set of clothes, then served Li Weiyang in dressing. Li Weiyang looked in the bronze mirror—reflected was an abnormally pale face. She lightly applied some rouge to her cheeks before saying lightly: “Lianyu, in a while go to the front courtyard to invite a physician. My head feels heavy—I probably caught a chill.” Seeing Lianyu’s face show an anxious expression, she soothed: “It’s nothing serious. No need to let everyone know. Once the physician prescribes medicine and I take it, I’ll be fine.”

This meant not to alarm Madam… Lianyu looked at her young miss’s slightly pale complexion. Perhaps she really had caught a chill. Her heart finally settled down: “Miss, rest assured. This servant knows what to do.”

After the physician examined Li Weiyang, he only prescribed a common remedy. Li Weiyang had someone brew the medicine and drank it, feeling somewhat better. She thought it was just a common cold, but when she got up a day later, her headache was even worse. This time Lianyu didn’t dare conceal it anymore and quickly summoned Madam Guo.

Madam Guo sat by the bed, tears flowing: “Jia’er, how do you feel? Does your head still hurt? What’s wrong? How did you suddenly fall ill again…” Then she turned to scold Lianyu, Heye, Zhao Yue who had hurried over, and the other servants attending Li Weiyang: “How are you all serving Miss? Miss became this ill before you said anything—you actually dared to hide it before!”

Li Weiyang lay on the bed, her voice somewhat weak: “Mother, don’t blame them… It was daughter, it was daughter who didn’t want you to worry, so… I told them not to say…”

Lianyu fell to her knees with a thud, saying through tears: “Madam, it’s all this servant’s fault. Please punish this servant, Madam!” The Guo family masters had always been lenient with servants, but something like this happening wasn’t a small matter.

Madam Guo looked at the several people kneeling on the ground but ultimately didn’t punish them. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to—first, her daughter’s illness truly came too quickly for anyone to anticipate. Second, they were now her daughter Guo Jia’s personal servants. Even if punishment was warranted, it should be her daughter’s decision. Thinking this, Madam Guo said: “Stand aside for now. Don’t interfere with the physician’s examination!”

As she spoke, footsteps sounded outside. Besides yesterday’s physician, several other physicians kept by the household also hurried in carrying medicine boxes. After examining her, the physician’s face showed disbelief, repeatedly saying: “How is this possible? When I examined Miss yesterday, she only had a slight ailment. How could it become so severe overnight?”

Hearing this, Madam Guo’s face had long since paled. Beside her, Guo Dao was also shocked and quickly asked: “Physician Xu, how is my sister’s condition exactly?”

This Physician Xu came from a family that had produced seven generations of Imperial Physicians, with profound inherited knowledge and his own special skills. Most importantly, these several people had been invited by the Duke of Qi through various channels. Their family backgrounds had all been thoroughly investigated—their entire livelihoods were controlled by the Duke of Qi’s residence, making them difficult for others to bribe. So they were always the most trustworthy.

Physician Xu carefully chose his words: “From Miss’s pulse, it’s floating and tight—truly symptoms of cold… “

Madam Guo and Guo Dao, hearing it could only be diagnosed as common cold, were already very doubtful. Looking at the pale face of the young woman on the bed, their hearts rose again. Madam Guo asked uneasily: “If it’s just a cold, why is it so severe?”

Earlier they’d also heard from Lianyu that a physician had examined her and prescribed medicine yesterday. Why had her condition suddenly worsened so dramatically overnight? Could the medicine have been wrong? Guo Dao also thought of this and quickly had someone fetch the leftover medicine dregs. Having the other physicians examine them together, the conclusion was that it was appropriate, making everyone even more confused.

Li Weiyang’s sudden illness even alarmed Princess Chenliu, who specially summoned an Imperial Physician from the palace to treat Li Weiyang. But the final result was still symptoms of cold, leaving everyone helpless. A cold should recover quickly, yet there was no sign of improvement. In just a day and a night, Li Weiyang, who had still been conscious, now occasionally slipped into unconsciousness.

Yuan Lie stood before the bed like this, silently watching the woman on the bed, his palm gradually clenching, fingertips digging into his palm. Beside him, Guo Dao looked exhausted, bloodshot eyes making him appear somewhat haggard. He said in a low voice: “…Just two hours ago, she woke once, but she couldn’t even drink porridge. Counting today, she’s gone nearly two days without food or water. Even the Imperial Physician says… says it’s cold symptoms. But if it were merely common cold symptoms, how could she become like this…”

Yuan Lie’s eyes were as deep as if they encompassed the night. After a moment, his hoarse voice said: “I’ll definitely find a way.”

Returning from the Duke of Qi’s residence, Yuan Lie went directly into his study. He sat in the carved chair as if waiting for something. Soon knocking sounds came from outside. Yuan Lie said coldly: “Enter.”

Several black-clothed attendants entered the room like shadows and knelt on the ground.

Yuan Lie’s cold gaze swept over them one by one before asking: “Have you found anything?”

One person respectfully replied: “Reporting to Your Highness, this subordinate investigated carefully. Not only has there been nothing unusual within the Duke of Qi’s residence during this time, even the area around the residence is the same as usual.”

Yuan Lie lowered his gaze, his expression growing gloomy. Li Weiyang had started with just a headache, gradually becoming bedridden, and now even during the brief times she woke, she couldn’t drink a mouthful of water or eat a bite of food. Would such symptoms be cold symptoms? Ridiculous! They all thought she was seriously ill, but Yuan Lie felt this matter definitely wasn’t as simple as illness. Thinking this, a person suddenly flashed through his mind.

Narrowing his amber eyes, Yuan Lie said coldly: “Nalan Xue—you’re not unfamiliar with this person, right? Now, this prince commands you to go to her grave immediately and dig up her ashes!”

One person was shocked: “But that person’s ashes were clearly…” taken away by the Guo family’s Second Young Master!

Yuan Lie laughed coldly: “Taken away? Others don’t know! Anyway, Weiyang built her a cenotaph—you just put some random powder in to make a show of it!”

After they left, Yuan Lie looked at the ring on his finger, saying in a low voice: “Weiyang, I will definitely save you.”

Less than half a day after giving these orders, news came back that it was done.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Lie said in an extremely cold tone: “Have people guard the ashes overnight. If that person still doesn’t come, scatter the ashes in the river!”

As a result, at dusk a personal guard brought a “visitor” back to Prince Xu’s residence, throwing the person to the ground. The guard captain reported: “Your Highness, this person was acting suspiciously outside the prince’s residence!”

The man thrown to the ground fell rather hard. After struggling for quite a while, he finally covered his face and slowly raised his head. The result—he immediately met Yuan Lie’s gaze, his expression instantly stunned: “How can it be you!”

Yuan Lie laughed coldly: “Why can’t it be me? Young Master Jiang.”

Jiang Tian’s expression immediately became extremely bitter: “Prince Xu, ever since leaving, I’ve been living carefully and properly, never participating in Jiang family matters. Why won’t Prince Xu let me go?”

Yuan Lie’s face showed a half-smile expression, staring tightly at Jiang Tian. Seeing the other’s face grow paler, he finally said mockingly: “Jiang Tian, should I say you’re clever or confused? You think I don’t know about what happened between you and Nalan Xue? From when Nalan Xue started saving people, Jia’er said her techniques were very familiar. It’s just that seeing she had no ill intent, she didn’t want to expose her! You’re still pretending!”

Jiang Tian’s already pale face now lost even half a trace of color. Deep fear filled his eyes. He closed them, and after a long while said as if liberated: “…Yes, Nalan Xue’s medical skills—I taught them…” Then he assumed an attitude of letting himself be slaughtered.

But Yuan Lie suddenly bent down, grabbing his front and yanking him up from the ground, his eyes looking at him like at a dead man: “You think I went to such great trouble to capture you just to kill you? Jiang Tian, don’t value your own life too highly!” Saying this, he violently threw him to the ground.

Jiang Tian coughed for a good while before resignedly looking at the cold-expressioned Yuan Lie, saying with a trace of pleading: “As long as you spare Nalan Xue’s ashes, I’ll do whatever you ask.”

Yuan Lie said coldly: “Good, you said it! Men, prepare the carriage!”

After Jiang Tian got in the carriage, facing Yuan Lie sitting opposite watching him coldly, courage retreated, leaving Jiang Tian with only fear. “That…” He wanted to ask where they were going and what they’d do, but was swept by Yuan Lie’s bone-chillingly cold gaze and immediately shrank back. Yuan Lie ignored him. Throughout the journey, the carriage was so quiet one could hear pounding heartbeats. Jiang Tian tried to make his body as small as possible, afraid of angering this person whose face bore murderous intent.

Only when the carriage stopped did Yuan Lie speak again—just two words: “Get out.”

Jiang Tian had already disguised himself. Now he looked like an old man past fifty with graying beard and hair. Yuan Lie wasn’t afraid of being seen by others. He directly kicked open the carriage door, his gaze coldly looking at the other. Jiang Tian tremblingly walked out. Yuan Lie jumped down from the carriage, walking ahead of him toward the main gate.

Around them, guards from Prince Xu’s residence clustered. Jiang Tian didn’t even have a chance to run. Having reached this state, he also didn’t plan to run—running wouldn’t work anyway. Better to properly work for the other party to earn good treatment. Even so, raising his head to look at the plaque on the main gate, the four characters “Duke of Qi’s Residence” still made his eyes tighten, his back unconsciously soaking with sweat.

Seeing Yuan Lie look at him, Jiang Tian hurried to follow. The steward looked him up and down, his face showing joy: “Prince Xu, the matter is urgent. Please go directly to the back to speak with Madam.”

Madam Guo had been waiting with longing eyes. Seeing Yuan Lie, she immediately walked forward: “Prince Xu, where is the miracle doctor you invited?”

Yuan Lie pointed at him: “Madam Guo, it’s him.”

Before Jiang Tian could say anything, Guo Dao was already pulling him toward the courtyard: “If so, please, miracle doctor, quickly examine my sister!”

Jiang Tian didn’t speak, being forcibly dragged into the main room. Upon entering, even more people watched him. However, idle people were quickly cleared out. Only Jiang Tian, Yuan Lie, Madam Guo, and the Guo family young master who’d pulled him in remained in the patient’s room.

Looking at the woman on the bed with closed eyes, motionless, Jiang Tian suddenly felt a sense of unreality. That such a formidable woman would have such a fragile moment was hard to imagine. He extended his hand to take Li Weiyang’s pulse. Those beside him held their breath, quietly awaiting his verdict. After a moment, Jiang Tian, who had closed his eyes, opened them, his expression appearing very strange.

Madam Guo quickly asked: “Physician, what illness does my daughter have?”

Jiang Tian looked at Madam Guo, then at Yuan Lie standing to the side, hesitating.

Yuan Lie’s heart sank. Looking coldly at Jiang Tian, he said: “Just speak directly.”

Seeing this, Jiang Tian could only sigh deeply and slowly say: “To be honest, this young lady has… not an illness. Forgive this one’s incompetence—I truly don’t have the ability to cure this young lady.”

What? Not an illness?

Not only was Madam Guo shocked, even Yuan Lie, who had already suspected, grew increasingly gloomy. He pressed: “Not an illness—could it be poison? Can’t you cure poison?”

Jiang Tian smiled bitterly and shook his head: “If it were poison, that would be manageable. Unfortunately, it’s neither illness nor poison. Why she became like this, I truly don’t know.”

The room fell into deathly silence. The several people inside were all stunned by this news. When they came to their senses, Madam Guo immediately looked at Yuan Lie as if seeking help. The saying about seeking any cure in desperation applied perfectly to this devoted mother.

Yuan Lie stared tightly at Jiang Tian, as if judging whether his words were correct. From Jiang Tian’s face, Yuan Lie couldn’t see a trace of joking. His heart felt as if pressed by a thousand-pound stone. Yuan Lie’s expression was gloomy and uncertain. After quite a while, he spoke again: “Before she wakes, you cannot leave here. Food, clothing, housing will all be arranged for you. As for whether you can keep your life depends on whether she can recover. You should understand what to do, right?”

Jiang Tian smiled bitterly. What didn’t he understand? Things had reached this point—he’d long since lost control. So he nodded: “Rest assured. Although I cannot make this young lady recover, delaying for some time is still possible.” The implication: if you want her to wake, you still need to seek other experts. What he could do was limited.

Yuan Lie didn’t look at him again, turning to look at Madam Guo: “What do you think?”

Madam Guo looked at her daughter lying on the bed, her dim expression hiding emotions about to go mad. She said in a low voice: “Prince Xu, that the miracle doctor can make such a promise is already fortunate. Let it be this way. Delaying one day is one day. As long as we can quickly find a method, Jia’er will always wake up, right? Dao’er, do you know any extraordinary people? Now that physicians can’t cure Jia’er, we must think of other methods. We can’t… can’t…” The final words she still couldn’t speak.

Guo Dao pressed his lips tight. Clever as he was, he thought of an even more serious problem and said in a low voice: “Mother, Prince Xu, this matter cannot be leaked. If there truly is a mastermind behind the scenes… once they discover we’re taking action, I fear they’ll interfere, which would actually obstruct saving Jia’er. This must be done secretly.”

Madam Guo nodded, somewhat neurotically gripping her handkerchief: “Dao’er is right. I’ll properly restrain the servants.”

If there was no mastermind, even she wouldn’t believe it. Not illness, not poison—staying properly in the Duke of Qi’s residence, yet suddenly falling ill and not waking? Why didn’t anyone else collapse—why did her Jia’er have an accident? Someone must be doing something. Unfortunately, despite exhausting their minds, they couldn’t find any clues, which was truly chilling. If she knew who was responsible, she absolutely wouldn’t let that person go!

Yuan Lie spoke at this time with an unquestionable tone: “Leave this matter to me. Even if I have to turn heaven upside down, I’ll definitely find a way!”

Yuan Lie left the room. Zhao Yue suddenly chased after him: “Master, my older brother he…”

Yuan Lie turned his head, his gaze coldly watching her.

Zhao Yue’s legs went weak and she knelt on the ground: “This servant… this servant… absolutely did not plot to harm Miss!”

“Naturally I know this. Weiyang kept you by her side—she must have known everything already.”

Zhao Yue bit her teeth. This time Zhao Nan hadn’t returned with Yuan Lie—she’d vaguely guessed something. Yes, the master and Miss were both so clever—how could they not know? She suddenly raised her head: “Master, this servant suspects Miss was struck by parasitic poison!”

The column had marched continuously for seven or eight days. Much of the grass along the roadside had been grazed bare by warhorses; looking into the distance, the landscape was mottled with patches of green and yellow. Pei Xiao sat inside a spacious, comfortable carriage. He was an aide the Crown Prince had reassigned from a collateral branch of the Pei family for this campaign and had been granted the title General of Chengguo.

Because he had suffered an accident during the march and broken his leg, he had specially arranged for a young woman from a common household to accompany him and tend to his needs. Just as he was grinning and about to steal a kiss from the beauty, a soldier outside suddenly announced,

“Reporting to the General—Vice General Zhang requests an audience!”

Hearing this, Pei Xiao’s face immediately darkened. He thought to himself that this Zhang Lian usually seemed quite clever—how could he have such poor judgment? He lifted the carriage curtain and poked his head out: “What is it!”

Zhang Lian was waiting, his face showing panic. Seeing Pei Xiao poke his head out from the carriage, he quickly rushed over, saying: “General, there’s trouble!”

Pei Xiao looked at him with displeasure, saying slowly: “Trouble? What trouble could there be?”

Not to mention they had fifty thousand crack troops here—just the Crown Prince behind them supervising was enough to deter those miscreants. They were still at least half the journey from the border. What trouble could there be at this time? Vice General Zhang looked left and right, urgently saying: “This must be reported to you secretly!”

Pei Xiao frowned. The other’s urgency didn’t seem fake. Could there really be some major trouble?

“What are you afraid of? There are no outsiders here—speak!”

Seeing this, Vice General Zhang finally told Pei Xiao everything he’d learned, one by one. After hearing it, Pei Xiao’s expression immediately became ugly. Pei Xiao had followed Pei Yuan campaigning everywhere in the past, indeed establishing considerable military achievements. But in recent years, the Emperor had transferred him back to the capital. With good food, good drink, and comfortable living, he’d long since lost his ambition to establish merit and fame. Combined with his daily expenses increasing, he’d used all kinds of tricks to make money. This time being appointed by the Emperor to campaign, large amounts of military provisions and funds were distributed. This truly made him see red. Originally Pei Xiao hadn’t thought of this, but his vice generals all had their minds on making money, inciting Pei Xiao to reach for the military provisions and funds. Now someone had leaked this matter, and rumors spread throughout the army.

“General, the urgent matter is to block these rumors and prevent them from continuing to spread. Otherwise it will be extremely disadvantageous to you and to His Highness the Crown Prince!” Vice General Zhang urged.

Pei Xiao somewhat regretted touching those provisions: “I should never have touched those provisions and funds!”

Vice General Zhang said: “Almost everyone in the army does this—you’re not the only one, General. What are you afraid of? I fear there’s an inside traitor deliberately provoking the soldiers’ dissatisfaction with you, General!”

Pei Xiao’s heart sank. He felt Vice General Zhang’s words made sense. In the Yuexi army, which generals didn’t embezzle military funds? Why was it that as soon as he embezzled some, trouble immediately came—this wasn’t normal! If as Zhang Lian said, someone was secretly sabotaging, that would make more sense.

Thinking this, Pei Xiao said to Zhang Lian: “What you say is quite reasonable. This matter likely has Prince Jing’s people sabotaging behind the scenes. You take men right now and arrest those rumor-mongering soldiers! If they refuse to reveal the mastermind, execute them on the spot!”

Vice General Zhang cupped his fists: “This subordinate obeys!” With a pull on his mount’s reins, taking the personal guard army Pei Xiao assigned him, he went to arrest people.

Pei Xiao yawned, saying to the surrounding soldiers: “Alright, continue marching!” Then he dove back into the carriage to continue dallying with the charming young woman, not taking this minor rumor to heart. What he didn’t know was that just as his men began arresting people everywhere, rumors about Pei Xiao embezzling soldiers’ provisions to line his own pockets spread like a snowball rolling rapidly through the great army. Simultaneously spreading was news of Pei Xiao ordering the execution of innocent soldiers. For a time, the marching speed gradually slowed while resentment steadily rose.

When the Crown Prince learned of this, the situation was clearly already difficult to salvage. For this, he was quite beside himself with rage.

“Has his brain filled with water? To actually do such a thing at such an important time!” It wasn’t that he opposed the Pei family making money, but you had to choose the occasion and timing for making money, right? Was now the time to make money! Prince Jing’s faction all had their eyes wide open, urgently waiting to catch them red-handed. Pei Xiao was basically handing evidence into their hands! After staying in the capital so long, had even his brain rusted? The Crown Prince simply began doubting why Father Emperor would send such a person, ostensibly giving the Pei family an opportunity but clearly making him lose face!

“Your Highness Crown Prince, now is not the time to be angry. We must first suppress these rumors and prevent them from spreading!” a general beside the Crown Prince advised. This was clearly someone deliberately finding excuses to disturb military morale. Even if not for this matter, they’d definitely find other excuses!

The Crown Prince’s expression grew cold: “Pass my order—confine General Chengguo! Once I investigate the cause, I’ll definitely give all soldiers an explanation!”

The Crown Prince was trying to first pacify hearts, making a decision of great impartiality for everyone to see. But before they could go arrange this, a rider was already racing over. The rider tumbled right off his horse to the ground, crawling and rolling to reach the Crown Prince: “Report—”

The messenger reported: “Your Highness Crown Prince! The troops ahead have mutinied!”

Mutinied! These three words—everyone who heard them, including the Crown Prince, all changed color dramatically. This truly was the worst possible outcome! The Crown Prince’s face darkened, his voice distorting: “Speak quickly! What exactly is the situation ahead!”

After hearing the full story, if Pei Xiao were before him now, the Crown Prince truly wanted to draw his sword and stab him several times. Truly useless—at such a critical moment to use such a handling method. Could heaven be destroying the Pei family?

Military mutiny was like an avalanche on a snowy mountain—in an instant it rolled into a sheet. As he spoke, the clamor in the distance could be heard even here. One could feel the restlessness in the air.

The Crown Prince said coldly: “Follow me to check the situation ahead!”

However, when he reached the slope and looked down, the emperor’s flags suddenly rose like a dense forest across the mountains and fields. The mountain forests were also filled with earth-shaking shouts. The army of tens of thousands was in complete chaos. Countless fierce generals charged and killed throughout the military formations. Crazed war chariots rolled open bloody paths after bloody paths.

The Crown Prince made an immediate decision, ordering: “Retreat! Retreat immediately!” If they delayed, even his trusted troops might be lost here! Although he hated Pei Xiao to death in his heart, that was still a Pei family member. After experiencing an internal battle in his mind, the Crown Prince gritted his teeth, turned his horse’s head, and finally led his men to flee toward the capital.

Pei Xiao’s situation at this moment was extremely terrible. As soon as the mutiny appeared, he was terrified. After his fleeing carriage was completely surrounded by mutinying soldiers, he still tried to invoke his general’s status to scare those people away. Who knew—it instead provoked even greater fury from the soldiers.

“You can’t kill me! I’m a general! I’m imperial kin! If you kill me, you’ll all be executed!” Being swarmed and dragged from the carriage and bound with rope, Pei Xiao saw the people around him all red-eyed. Knowing he might truly die here, he couldn’t care about a general’s dignity anymore and simply shouted loudly.

As soon as Pei Xiao finished shouting, the surroundings suddenly quieted.

The mutinying soldiers looked at each other—indeed, a trace of hesitation arose in their hearts. Yes, Empress Pei and Crown Prince Yong Wen were this guy’s blood relatives. If they really killed him, their entire families would be punished…

“Why aren’t you quickly releasing this general?!” Seeing this, Pei Xiao’s heart, which had risen to his throat, finally settled in his belly.

But before he could feel smug for long, someone suddenly shouted from the crowd: “Don’t be fooled by him! The law doesn’t punish the masses—as long as he’s dead, the Emperor can’t possibly kill us all! But if we let him leave alive, he won’t spare us! Everyone present will die if we die—but implicating our families would be truly terrible! Kill him!”

With this shout, the crowd that had quieted down became noisy again. The law doesn’t punish the masses—even if the Emperor wanted to punish them, even if the Pei family and Crown Prince wanted to settle accounts, with so many people, who could they kill? Conversely, if they let this person go, he’d already seen the faces of everyone around him. Once he returned, how could he possibly spare them?

From the originally quiet carriage suddenly came a woman’s scream. Then a beautiful young woman was dragged from the carriage and thrown heavily to the ground.

“Look everyone! Our brothers are going to the front lines to fight the enemy in bloody battle, but this bastard not only embezzles our blood and sweat money but also brings a beautiful concubine to enjoy himself during the march! Look at what this woman wears and has on her head—all silk and satin, gold, silver, and agate! The cups they use for drinking are worth a fortune! Look at what we’re wearing—the armor is all last year’s old armor, and what we eat and drink is all the worst! We can’t even fill our stomachs! Tell me, should such a general be killed?!”

“He should be killed!”

“Kill him!”

“Kill this pair of dogs!”

Seeing the fact that Pei Xiao’s carriage hid a woman, all the soldiers immediately burned with rage. They didn’t ask that these generals lead from the front, but taking their blood and sweat money to play with women while disregarding their lives—such a general must be killed to quell the fury in their hearts! The first person rushed over and chopped down with a blade. Pei Xiao screamed. Blood spurted seven feet high, spraying on his face. But before he could sever Pei Xiao’s head, other guards hacked him to death with chaotic swords. More mutinying soldiers rushed over. One person quickly grabbed Pei Xiao’s corpse while another raised his blade and brought it down. With a pfft, a huge head rolled to the ground. The young woman beside them covered her ears screaming. Before she could flee, she too was cut down by a blade.

After this event, these mutinying soldiers had completely gone mad.

The Crown Prince had now led his twenty thousand loyal men fleeing toward the capital. Throughout the journey, his heart practically rose to his throat. Only when the sounds of killing and shouting behind gradually faded did he relax slightly. Once he recovered, his resentment toward Pei Xiao could no longer be controlled and erupted.

“Truly more than useless—a complete failure! Even if he hadn’t died, I wouldn’t have spared him!” Thinking of Pei Xiao’s incompetence and stupidity, the Crown Prince nearly ground his teeth. But at present, he still had to save face for the Pei family. The Crown Prince immediately said to his trusted followers: “This mutiny was instigated by spies. Pass down the order—if spy traces are discovered again, kill without mercy!” This wasn’t all. He tore off his inner garment sleeve, dipped his finger in blood, wrote a blood letter, and gave it to a trusted aide: “Deliver this letter immediately to my mother in the capital. There must be no mistakes!”

With Empress Pei holding down the fort and maneuvering in the capital, even if the Pei family and he couldn’t escape punishment this time, at least they wouldn’t meet a miserable end.

The Crown Prince couldn’t help feeling secretly fortunate that Mother Empress had already arranged proper personnel around him. These most loyal twenty thousand men were his protective talisman! If not for their timely protection, he wouldn’t have been able to escape from those people’s trap.

The cavalry sent out had just left when someone fled in disarray from behind, riding a horse and wearing personal guard armor. Seeing he’d finally caught up to the Crown Prince’s troops, his face burst with incomparable joy, but he was blocked outside and couldn’t approach.

“Let him come over,” the Crown Prince said.

As soon as this person reached the Crown Prince’s horse, before opening his mouth to speak, he first broke down crying.

Seeing this person’s appearance was quite familiar, looking carefully—it was actually a Pei family branch member who followed by Pei Xiao’s side. The Crown Prince’s heart sank. He glared at the person with a gloomy expression. Seeing him still crying endlessly, he showed an impatient expression: “Crying and wailing—what kind of appearance is this! Speak—what exactly happened?”

Only then did the person raise his head, still with tears, his face full of hatred: “It’s the General he… he was killed by traitors! Your Highness Crown Prince, you must avenge the General! He died so miserably—his corpse wasn’t even whole! This subordinate risked this life to escape. All the others… all died!”

The Crown Prince immediately froze on his horse. Only after a moment did he recover.

Although he’d been extremely resentful of Pei Xiao’s stupid behavior before, now truly hearing news of his death, the Crown Prince found it somewhat hard to accept. That was after all an important Pei family member who died in a ridiculous mutiny before even campaigning. If Mother Empress learned of this, would she blame him for being useless?

But thinking again, this mutiny always needed someone to take the blame. Pei Xiao’s death was just right!

The Crown Prince increasingly felt staying here was unsafe and directly said: “Stand aside! I have my own judgment on this matter!” He reined in his horse and looked around, that handsome face already gloomy to the extreme. This place—something wasn’t right! “Pass the order—return to the capital immediately!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the earth suddenly trembled. From ahead came the faint sound of strong, crisp horse hooves, as if countless cavalry were rolling in. After a moment, dust flew up and a troop of horses already blocked their path. At the very front of this unit, a capable-looking man sat dashingly on a tall horse, coldly smiling at him. Prince Jin! How could he be here? The Crown Prince immediately recognized the person and felt especially strong unease in his heart.

Before he could speak, Prince Jin had already raised a scroll of imperial edict high, loudly proclaiming to the Crown Prince and the twenty thousand soldiers behind him:

“All officers and men listen to the order! The Crown Prince connived with Pei Xiao to embezzle provisions and execute loyal subjects. His Majesty has issued an edict deposing the Crown Prince’s position and ordering him escorted to the capital for trial!”

Prince Jin’s voice was extremely penetrating. Everyone was shocked. An imperial edict? Could the previous rumors be true! The ordinary soldiers looked at the supreme commander ahead with somewhat strange gazes.

Looking at Prince Jin who seemed to descend from heaven, the Crown Prince’s heart was already in chaos.

Wasn’t Prince Jin Mother Empress’s vassal? Hadn’t he joined Mother Empress together with Prince Qin?! Why would he appear here!

Seeing the other finish reading the edict and look at him with a serious face, the Crown Prince laughed coldly with considerable disdain: “Prince Jin, I thought you could use some clever tricks! Turns out it’s only this—trying to use a forged edict to trick me into surrendering? You’ve calculated well, but unfortunately I won’t fall for it! You’re merely a prince, while I am the dignified Crown Prince of Yuexi! Even if Father Emperor truly wanted to depose me as Crown Prince, it wouldn’t be your turn to proclaim the edict! You say you hold an imperial edict—who can prove it for you? When I reach the capital, I’ll naturally explain everything clearly to Father Emperor!”

Prince Jin smiled slightly: “Crown Prince, Father Emperor doesn’t want your life. Why must you defy the imperial edict and argue sophistically?”

The Crown Prince raised his eyebrows, saying coldly: “Prince Jin, if you dare continue blocking my path to the capital, don’t blame me for turning hostile!”

Prince Jin’s expression was exceptionally calm: “So His Highness the Crown Prince is determined to resist the edict?”

The Crown Prince said angrily: “What resisting the edict—yours is a forged edict!”

Seeing Prince Jin’s troops still showed no intention of clearing the road, the Crown Prince grew anxious, afraid that if he delayed returning to the capital, some change would occur there. He simply directly ordered the twenty thousand men he led to kill Prince Jin.

At his command, an even worse situation finally appeared before him—everyone remained motionless, as if unaware.

Across from him, Prince Jin smiled at him, as if mocking his ignorance and foolishness. After freezing for a moment, the Crown Prince shouted at the generals on both sides who remained completely still: “What are you all standing there for? Quickly seize him!”

The surroundings remained eerily quiet. Those familiar faces one by one seemed to have become strangers. They all watched him with cold gazes. The Crown Prince looked at them, feeling his heart suddenly drop into an ice pit, extremely cold. “You all…” He had already vaguely sensed something, but his heart still held hope, wishing he had guessed wrong.

“Crown Prince, I ask you one more time—will you receive the edict or not?” Across from him, Prince Jin held the imperial edict, having restrained his earlier expression, looking at him seriously.

The Crown Prince lowered his head. A low laugh came from his mouth, then the laughter grew louder and louder. Laughing to the end, the Crown Prince raised his head, tears flowing down. If he still didn’t understand at this point, he would truly be stupid to the extreme!

He only now understood that Father Emperor had indulged the Pei family, indulged Empress Pei all these years, fundamentally to let them gradually corrupt and walk toward their own destruction. Including this time—Pei Xiao’s greed, the military mutiny—the hand behind it all was his good Father Emperor! He had once thought the ones who most hated him and most wanted to destroy the Pei family were Prince Jing and the Guo family. Now he finally understood—the one who most hated the Pei family and most hoped for its destruction was the current Emperor! And these twenty thousand men were sent to him by Mother Empress. She had clearly said these people were absolutely loyal and wouldn’t betray, but now they had betrayed.

Mother Empress had deceived him. From the very beginning, Mother Empress sent him to his death. Knowing Father Emperor wanted to kill him, knowing this was all just a trap, Mother Empress still resolutely sent him personally into the death ground.

These were his birth parents—people he had never truly understood.

They both wanted him dead.

Why! Why… why were they all so cold and cruel? The Crown Prince’s heart seemed to bleed, his body also very cold, cold from inside out.

Thinking of how since childhood, to earn one word of praise from Father Emperor, to make himself more worthy of the Crown Prince position, he continuously studied etiquette, continuously read books and studied history… The Crown Prince suddenly laughed wildly. He felt he was truly extremely foolish!

“So in everyone’s eyes, I was the biggest joke!” He laughed until he almost couldn’t catch his breath. Thinking of Mother Empress’s profound hatred and love for Father Emperor, his tears accompanied his laughter, continuously flowing down, dripping into the earth. “Mother Empress! You’re just a fool yourself!” Then with a swish, he drew his sword and placed it at his throat.

“I know Father Emperor wants to kill me, and Mother Empress also wants me dead. Since that’s so, even if I return to the capital alive, I’ll only die in humiliation. Prince Jin, this time I can only disappoint you—I won’t go back.”

The Crown Prince declared loudly. Seeing the situation was bad, Prince Jin was about to rush forward when he saw a spray of red blood mist scatter. The Crown Prince fell from his horse and collapsed on the ground.

Prince Jin dismounted and walked to his side. The Crown Prince’s eyes remained open, not knowing whether he was looking toward the capital or at himself—dying with eyes unclosed.

Human hearts are more treacherous than mountains and rivers, harder than ascending to heaven. To his death, the Crown Prince sought an answer, but unfortunately, to his death he didn’t understand.

Not just the Crown Prince—even Prince Jin didn’t understand. Truly didn’t understand.

Prince Jin looked at this scene and sighed: “His Majesty has ordered—living we must see the person, dead we must see the corpse. Bring the Crown Prince back to the capital.”

Several days later, the fifty thousand troops successively returned to the capital, camping in turn at military camps near the capital, awaiting the Emperor’s decree. They brought back news that Crown Prince Yong Wen had committed suicide in fear of punishment. Meanwhile, General Pei Xiao who had gone on the campaign was posthumously charged with several serious crimes. The Yuexi Emperor publicly denounced him as a state pest. The censors roundly cursed him. Dead as he was, he still wasn’t allowed a general’s funeral but was forcibly stripped to a commoner—showing the severity of punishment.

Hearing this news, Yuan Lie set down the cup in his hand. His slender fingers crossed before him, his face bearing a trace of ruthlessness that hadn’t appeared in a long time, his eyes holding bone-deep coldness and fierce destructiveness.

He said expressionlessly: “It won’t be much longer now.”

Eunuch Wang pushed open the study door. Seeing Yuan Lie watching him expressionlessly, he quickly said to Yuan Lie: “Your Highness, His Majesty just sent someone saying he wants you to enter the palace immediately. There must be some urgent matter!”

Yuan Lie’s heart sank. Previously he’d been summoned to the palace temporarily many times—sometimes because the Emperor wanted him to play chess or talk, but many other times because the Emperor suddenly fell ill and in extreme emotional instability summoned him to attend. What would today’s situation be?

After Yuan Lie entered the palace, the Emperor’s trusted aide was already waiting here. Seeing Yuan Lie exit the carriage, he immediately ran over as if seeing a savior, saying breathlessly: “Your Highness, you’ve finally come! His Majesty has been waiting for you!”

Yuan Lie didn’t say much, directly boarding the sedan chair they carried over, then asking: “His Majesty’s health…”

That eunuch said in a low voice beside the sedan: “When you arrive, you’ll naturally know.” Then he had people carry the sedan like flying toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Upon reaching the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yuan Lie didn’t greet anyone. With a cold handsome face, he followed behind this eunuch. Before even entering, he already heard screams inside. The Emperor had fallen ill again? Thinking of how each time the Emperor fell ill he would have violent and unpredictable temper, Yuan Lie couldn’t help frowning.

“So His Majesty has fallen ill again?” In Xingchen Hall, Empress Pei sat quietly, holding a cat in her arms.

The young eunuch kneeling before her didn’t even dare raise his head once, replying in a trembling voice: “In response to Your Majesty, exactly so. This time His Majesty’s illness seems more severe than ever. Today he’s repeatedly summoned important ministers—even Prince Jing and Prince Xu were both called to his bedside for questioning…”

The smile at the corner of Empress Pei’s mouth grew colder: “You’ve worked hard. Go down and receive your reward.”

After this person left, she released the cat in her arms, then sighed. On her beautiful face was an indescribable eerie feeling: “Your Majesty, having killed your own son, how do you feel now…”

Her voice was gentle, her tone so eerily it made one’s heart tremble with fear. After a moment, Empress Pei, having restrained these expressions, stood up, walked past the frolicking cat, all the way to outside the great hall. She stood on the high steps, gazing toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation, expressionlessly saying to the eunuch who followed beside her: “Go check on Ying Chu. Ask how things are going.”

The eunuch responded: “This servant will do it immediately.”

Hall of Mental Cultivation

Yuan Lie looked at the middle-aged man unconscious on the bed, his eyes profound, not knowing what he was thinking. Old Eunuch Zhang Zhong walked over at this time, placing a cup of hot tea on the table beside Yuan Lie, urging: “Your Highness, we don’t know when His Majesty will wake. You waiting like this dry isn’t a solution—drink some tea and rest first.”

Yuan Lie pulled at the corner of his mouth: “Eunuch Zhang is thoughtful.”

Eunuch Zhang smiled, said nothing, and withdrew to the side.

Yuan Lie’s brows were tightly furrowed. Right now Li Weiyang was waiting for him at the Guo family to save her, but he couldn’t extricate himself here—he had to wait for the Emperor to wake… Thinking of earlier when he’d seen the Emperor, before he could say a word the other had fainted to the ground, complex emotions settled in Yuan Lie’s eyes. These several matters coming together definitely couldn’t be explained by one word: coincidence.

Half an hour later, Prince Jing appeared outside the Duke of Qi’s residence. The steward directly let him in. Guo Dao came out to greet him. Yuan Ying was too lazy for pleasantries and directly asked: “How is her condition?”

Actually from Guo Dao’s expression he could already guess the result, but Yuan Ying still escapingly hoped to hear an affirmative answer. Unfortunately, Guo Dao was destined to disappoint him. Yuan Ying’s heart immediately sank to the bottom. Several days had already passed—he still couldn’t believe Li Weiyang would actually collapse. Perhaps because this woman had always appeared with an image of extreme toughness, so much so that they all forgot the other was also just a fragile woman.

He slowed his steps outside Li Weiyang’s bedroom. The bright daylight was all shut out. The faint medicinal smell in the air filled mouth and nose. Then he saw Li Weiyang lying on the bed. Her appearance was originally extremely beautiful—a pair of eyes like autumn water, calm and clear yet carrying fierce coldness, made him both hate and love. But now her originally soft features were so dim as if without a trace of vitality. In just two days she’d thinned as if deformed. Yuan Ying only looked once and couldn’t bear to look more, turning his head away.

“Prince Jing, please speak over here.” Guo Dao said timely from the side.

Prince Jing turned his head back again, gazing deeply at Li Weiyang on the bed, finally nodded and walked out.

Deep night. Lianyu dozed in the room. Zhao Yue, because her body hadn’t fully recovered, had also been sent to rest, leaving only Heye sitting under the lamp, quietly watching over Li Weiyang. A cold wind blew. Heye stood to close the window, but a black shadow flashed by. Before she could make a sound, she had already silently collapsed.

That black shadow smiled slightly, landing on the ground, walking step by step toward the bedside. Lianyu suddenly awoke. Just as she was about to cry out in alarm, that person lightly waved his sleeve. Lianyu only felt her whole body go weak—clearly still conscious yet already powerless to resist, unable even to make a sound.

Li Weiyang on the bed suddenly opened her eyes, a pair of clear beautiful eyes coldly staring at the other.

Ying Chu smiled: “Miss Guo, Prince Xu has been detained in the palace. No need to worry—I’ll send you out of this sea of suffering right now.”

Li Weiyang seemed to move but softly fell back on the pillow, yet her gaze contained sharp cold light.

Ying Chu said: “Actually I didn’t want to kill you either. This blood curse is too vicious—once cast, it greatly harms my own lifespan. But you’re truly too much of an obstacle. Ordinary parasitic poisons can’t affect you, so I could only sacrifice more myself.” He sat down at Li Weiyang’s bedside, his voice extremely gentle, like whispers between lovers: “Finishing you off now, you won’t suffer too much either.”

“Is that so?” A cold voice rang out. Ying Chu was shocked and whirled around. Under the candlelight, from behind the screen walked a figure with handsome brows and beautiful eyes, cold gaze, a face carved as if by divine axes and chisels—exquisite, appearing dazzling and bewitching under the candlelight.

It was Prince Xu Yuan Lie, who should be in the palace!

Ying Chu stood from the bedside, looked at Li Weiyang, then stared at Yuan Lie, suddenly laughing: “So your entering the palace was a diversion.”

“You used the stratagem of luring the tiger from the mountain—naturally I can use your own methods against you.” Yuan Lie said word by word.

Ying Chu laughed loudly: “You think this can capture me? Unfortunately, unfortunately, once this blood curse is cast, it’s fight to the death. Even if you capture me, there’s no way to save Li Weiyang’s life.”

Yuan Lie sighed lightly: “Not necessarily.”

At this time, from all four sides of the room surged numerous black-clothed capable guards, eyeing Ying Chu like tigers watching prey. These people were all ruthless—individually fierce and merciless. Ying Chu was forced to fight. After just a few moves he was already sweating profusely. Suddenly a great force attacked Ying Chu’s back. Ying Chu instinctively threw the person behind him to the ground. Unexpectedly, Yuan Lie drew his bow and nocked an arrow. A silver light shot toward Ying Chu’s throat. Though he dodged sideways, several black-clothed men had already pounced from behind, surrounding Ying Chu in the center, sealing all his escape routes.

At the doorway, Wang Zijin suddenly appeared, shouting loudly: “Remove his mask!” Yuan Lie flew up, yanking off half of Ying Chu’s mask. Everyone simultaneously looked at Ying Chu’s face. With this look, everyone froze! On Ying Chu’s other half face, there were no scars at all—instead there grew a human face!

That face was half the size of a normal face, yet had eyes, ears, nose and mouth complete. The eyes were tightly closed with no hair—the form was extremely horrifying. One could even see blue blood vessels under the skin and blood flowing inside. Moreover, this face was covered with scars—knife wounds and burn wounds, as if someone had tried to completely dig out this face but couldn’t succeed. Even though these black-clothed men were all excellent assassins, they’d never seen such a terrifying scene and all stepped back!

Ying Chu screamed and covered his face. Wang Zijin gritted her teeth: “That’s his weakness!”

Yuan Lie shouted angrily: “Restrain him!” The several black-clothed men finally awakened, forcibly suppressing nausea and rushing forward. Ying Chu only cared about covering his face, completely regardless of everything. Yuan Lie severed the hand covering his face with one sword stroke. Ying Chu screamed continuously and fiercely lunged at Yuan Lie. Those black-clothed men quickly entangled him. One person saw the opportunity and without hesitation stepped forward with a sword thrust toward his face. Ying Chu cried out in shock. The second face on his face suddenly ruptured. Large amounts of blood and filth splattered. An incomparably foul stench spread, making one almost vomit.

Ying Chu’s movements abruptly stopped. He opened his eyes wide, standing dazedly in place, then fell backward like this, his body violently convulsing. Yuan Lie walked to his side, looking down at him: “Only your death can save her.”

Ying Chu stared at Yuan Lie, an eerie smile appearing in his eyes.

“You think you’ve won? No, never…” After saying this, Ying Chu stopped breathing.

Yuan Lie frowned, hurrying to check Li Weiyang’s condition. The instant Ying Chu died, Li Weiyang barely propped up her body to sit. Yuan Lie quickly embraced her, unable to hide the wild joy in his heart: “Weiyang!”

Li Weiyang smiled lightly: “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

Yuan Lie’s nervous fingers trembled. Li Weiyang grasped his hand, turned to look at Wang Zijin: “Thank you.”

Wang Zijin just smiled, then walked in: “You all clean this up.”

Guo Dao had been at Wang Zijin’s side the whole time. Only now did he press: “What exactly is going on?”

Wang Zijin said solemnly: “I told my master all about Jia’er’s condition. He told me the most obvious place is easiest to overlook. We wanted to find Ying Chu’s weakness but kept being blind to his true weakness, so I guessed his vital point was behind that mask.”

Li Weiyang glanced at Ying Chu being carried out, saying softly: “What illness is this?”

Wang Zijin said: “It’s a human-faced boil. Ying Chu did too many unconscionable things, especially parasitic poisons—all extremely damaging to virtue. So heaven punished him like this. This also became his only fatal weakness throughout his body.”

Li Weiyang sighed lightly: “Knowing I was struck by the blood curse, why didn’t he just wait a bit?”

Wang Zijin smiled: “I think he wasn’t at ease.”

Indeed, Li Weiyang was too cunning. Ying Chu wasn’t at ease, so he borrowed the opportunity to explore at night. In fact, his excessive caution and care caused him to fall into Yuan Lie’s trap instead. If he’d truly waited for the blood curse to take effect, Li Weiyang would naturally die.

Only then did Jiang Tian crawl out from under the bed, patting his chest: “Too frightening! I’ve never seen such a terrifying thing in my life!”

Yuan Lie kicked him: “Get away!”

Seeing her precious daughter wake again, Madam Guo who came upon hearing the news couldn’t help tearing up, choking out: “Jia’er, you’ve finally woken!” During this time, Madam Guo felt she could barely hold on. She didn’t dare imagine if this daughter had another accident, she herself would probably— But now it was good, her daughter had woken!

“Mother…” Li Weiyang instinctively called out.

Madam Guo quickly said: “Child, don’t rush to speak. The miracle doctor said after you wake, have you drink some porridge first, then rest and you’ll recover.” She lovingly touched Li Weiyang’s face as if the young woman lying on the bed was the world’s most precious treasure.

Lianyu at this time carried over a bowl of porridge: “Madam, let this servant feed Miss.”

“No need.” Madam Guo directly took the bowl into her own hands: “I’ll do it. You help Jia’er sit up.”

Lianyu quickly helped Li Weiyang sit up, placing a soft cotton cushion behind her. Taking a sip of the porridge Madam Guo fed her, Li Weiyang felt her senses seemed awakened by the sweet fragrance of thin porridge. The cold air that had been at her heart gradually dispersed. Because someone beside her kept staring at her like a tiger watching prey, while drinking porridge Li Weiyang had to glance over.

Seeing both Yuan Lie and Guo Dao staring at her unblinkingly, she slightly pulled at the corner of her mouth, showing them a reassuring smile.

With thin porridge moistening her, Li Weiyang felt considerably recovered. Her originally dry and rough throat also became much clearer. After drinking the entire bowl of porridge, seeing Madam Guo’s face full of relief and lingering fear, looking directly at her with panic and unease in her eyes, Li Weiyang handed the bowl to Lianyu beside her, saying in a low voice: “Mother, it’s all daughter’s fault for making you worry again.”

“Silly girl, look at what you’re saying!” Madam Guo wiped the corners of her mouth with cloth, chiding: “You’re Mother’s daughter. If Mother doesn’t worry about you, who would she worry about? However, Jia’er, Mother isn’t afraid of being tired, but Mother always hopes you can be healthy and live to old age, with many children and grandchildren, peaceful your whole life. This time truly frightened Mother—Mother almost thought… thought she wouldn’t see you wake…”

Speaking here, Madam Guo shed tears again, her voice choking.

“Mother is so afraid of losing you again!”

Li Weiyang gave Guo Dao a look—go comfort Mother, don’t just watch!

Guo Dao also feared Madam Guo’s barely recovered body would collapse again, so he and Li Weiyang sang in harmony, quickly making Madam Guo turn tears to laughter. Only then did Li Weiyang’s heart settle. Seeing Madam Guo’s face show fatigue, Li Weiyang smiled obediently and sensibly: “Mother, hasn’t daughter turned danger to safety? You must also pay attention to your health. Rest assured, this time I’m truly recovered.”

Madam Guo was finally persuaded away by Li Weiyang. Guo Dao glanced at Wang Zijin and smiled: “I still have some matters to consult you about.”

Wang Zijin smiled silently and followed him out together.

Yuan Lie, who had been standing not far away quietly watching her, only now walked over. Without avoiding suspicion, he sat directly beside her bed. Without speaking, he just gazed deeply at the person before him. If possible, he wanted to knead her into his heart and never let go. He was so afraid—on the surface he looked very composed, but actually his heart was clenching. He was truly afraid she would sleep and never wake…

Yuan Lie’s expression all fell into Li Weiyang’s eyes. He was afraid… This version of him, she wasn’t unfamiliar with. Every time, it seemed to be because of herself. Thinking this, Li Weiyang’s eyes suddenly grew gentle: “I’m already well. Don’t worry about me.”

Yuan Lie tightly embraced her with tremendous force, as if afraid she would disappear again. Under the candlelight, his face was handsome and gentle. Li Weiyang smiled: “I’ll always be here with you.”

Two days later, Tuoba Yu on the southern battlefield was imprisoned by court officials due to a political upheaval in the army. The warfare thus ended. Da Zhou, seeing the situation was bad, also immediately submitted a peace petition. The Duke of Qi triumphantly returned to court.

Before dawn, the streets were utterly quiet.

Soon, a carriage turned out from the street corner, a bright red lantern hanging at the carriage head, swaying slightly with the carriage’s movement. From far away, one could see the character “Guo” written on the lantern.

Guo Su wore court robes, eyes slightly closed as if resting, but outsiders didn’t know that at this moment, he was mentally calculating various matters. Guo Cheng silently sat to one side, also not speaking. The atmosphere inside the carriage was somewhat oppressive, as was it outside. On both sides of the carriage followed more than ten riders, each with burly physiques and fierce eyes. Leading the procession at the very front was a young general riding a horse—wearing an official robe of the fourth rank, also not uttering a word, his handsome face taut, eyes sharply scanning everything before him. This was Guo Dun. Having established military merit, he’d now been granted the title General Weixin.

Approaching the Imperial City, the sky still wasn’t light, but carriages multiplied. All along the way, everyone exchanged pleasantries or nodded in acknowledgment, then proceeded together toward the Imperial Hall.

Recently His Majesty’s health had deteriorated daily, court sessions grew fewer and fewer, worrying court officials immensely. However, everyone swallowed these words. Between people’s brows they still couldn’t help revealing some anxiety, their hearts even more carefully calculating which prince had the chance to ascend the throne in the future, so they could establish good relations early with the future power holder.

“Why hasn’t His Majesty come out today?” A bearded man turned to another and said.

“Ai! I’m afraid today’s morning court can’t convene!” That person shook his head slightly.

This kind of waiting had become routine for the ministers, because His Majesty now attended court for shorter and shorter periods. Today he probably couldn’t come again.

Just as everyone whispered among themselves, a shrill voice shouted:

“Her Majesty the Empress arrives!”

Her Majesty the Empress? In the Imperial Hall, the ministers’ faces immediately showed stunned expressions, clearly not quite understanding what was happening. Ever since Crown Prince Yong Wen’s suicide and Pei Xiao’s execution, Empress Pei had stayed indoors, secluded in her own palace. Even noble ladies rarely saw her anymore. Why would she suddenly appear in this court today?

Empress Pei, supporting herself on a eunuch’s hand, walked step by step toward the high seat in the hall.

From entering the hall, Empress Pei’s lips had maintained a half-smile arc. When she reached the dragon throne in the center of the hall, she stopped, slowly turning around, with an imposing presence no less than Yuan Jinfeng’s, looking down from above at the ministers in the hall.

Female officials following Empress Pei had already drawn a beautiful pearl curtain before the dragon throne. Empress Pei’s beautiful appearance and shocking presence, after everyone’s brief glimpse, disappeared behind the pearl curtain. But that vague watching gave people an invisible oppression, making one uncomfortable throughout.

Through the pearl curtain, Empress Pei’s eyes swept over these people below one by one.

“We greet Her Majesty the Empress! Long live the Empress, long live, long long live!” The ministers seemed to suddenly awaken together from their shock, shouting in unison below, voices echoing endlessly in the Imperial Hall.

Long live?

Empress Pei curved a smile, her delicate jade hand gracefully raising: “Dear ministers, rise—”

The voice wasn’t loud, but enough for everyone in the Imperial Hall to hear clearly.

Why would the Empress come to the Imperial Hall today? Though she was Empress, she was only a woman, moreover a Pei family daughter. With His Majesty’s tough attitude in recent years, he also couldn’t possibly allow a Pei family daughter to openly interfere in state affairs.

As if not seeing everyone’s doubtful, disdainful, even bewildered gazes, Empress Pei said unhurriedly: “His Majesty has been unwell recently. Court affairs are temporarily delegated to this palace to handle. Do all of you have any matters to report today?”

Though these words weren’t loud, they carried an unquestionable authority. After finishing, she sat in a position to the right of the dragon throne.

“Your Majesty Empress, when will His Majesty be able to attend morning court?” The speaker was Chen Shang standing in the civil officials’ ranks. He was one of the Three Dukes with considerable prestige in court. Even His Majesty had to give him some face. Seeing Empress Pei appear at court today, naturally he was displeased.

Chen Shang’s question also voiced other ministers’ thoughts—they just dared be angry but not speak against this Empress.

“His Majesty’s condition is only suitable for quiet rest. That’s why he had this palace act as regent. Naturally this palace also hopes His Majesty’s dragon body can recover soon, so I can also remove this heavy burden from my shoulders!” Facing questioning, Empress Pei wasn’t flustered at all, saying calmly.

However, her gaze toward Chen Shang carried some coldness. Though the coldness vanished instantly, her lotus face had always worn a faint smile. Even across a hanging curtain, she remained graceful, beautiful, noble.

Hearing Empress Pei’s explanation, the ministers immediately whispered among themselves.

Just then, Duke of Qi Guo Su stepped from the ranks, cupping his fists: “Since His Majesty’s dragon body is ailing, we ministers can only wait until His Majesty’s dragon body recovers before discussing state affairs. Daily governmental matters—each ministry should presumably maintain usual order. The Empress resides in the rear palace and hasn’t engaged in court affairs. To suddenly take charge might not necessarily do better. Empress, wouldn’t you say?”

No movement came from behind the hanging curtain. Guo Su continued: “However, today with the Empress here, this old minister has a strange matter to tell all civil and military officials!”

Speaking here, he looked deeply at Empress Pei sitting behind the hanging curtain.

“Oh, what matter makes the Duke of Qi so solemn?”

“Several days ago my daughter Guo Jia suddenly fell unconscious and was diagnosed with parasitic poisoning. Afterward we managed with great difficulty to capture the person who administered the poison—but this person was precisely Your Majesty’s beloved minister Ying Chu! I dare ask Your Majesty—what is your view on this!” Guo Su raised his eyes to look at the woman seated high behind the curtain, with an aggressive air.

The Guo brothers stood expressionlessly in the ranks, not surprised by their father’s sudden attack.

Empress Pei said in a bland tone: “What does Ying Chu killing people have to do with me? I can understand the Duke of Qi is overtired from state affairs and says such things at court—this isn’t strange. However, please Duke, watch your words and actions.”

Guo Su no longer concealed his long-suppressed fury. Sharp gaze shooting directly at the figure behind the curtain, he snorted coldly: “If one doesn’t want others to know, one shouldn’t do it. Your Majesty Empress, you surely know in your heart what you’ve done. Must this old minister say more? Ying Chu has already confessed that the plot to harm my daughter was on your orders!”

He raised his hand, pointing straight at her.

But Empress Pei behind the curtain remained proudly unmoved, not even changing her speaking tone. She said lightly: “Duke of Qi, do you know the crime for slandering a nation’s Empress?”

“When Ying Chu met his end, the Guo household all witnessed it with their own eyes. Not only this—the Wang family can also testify for me!” Guo Su said coldly.

The two had already torn away the harmonious facade still covering them moments ago, confronting each other in the great hall.

“So it’s like this?” Empress Pei behind the hanging curtain suddenly laughed. A cold voice also came forth: “Duke of Qi, since you keep saying there are witnesses, then where is the matter’s first party Ying Chu? Where is his testimony?” In the last sentence, it had become fierce questioning.

“You…” Guo Su was about to speak when he heard Empress Pei continue: “Since Ying Chu personally admitted everything, why not have him say it again here before all civil and military officials!”

Guo Su’s gaze was icy: “Your Majesty, you clearly know Ying Chu won’t betray you, much less testify against you. That’s why you say this!”

Guo Cheng stepped forward, his gaze cold and somber: “I dare ask Your Majesty—what exactly is His Majesty’s condition? Where is the decree instructing Your Majesty to act as regent?”

Empress Pei finally changed color dramatically, her expression full of murderous energy like the bitter cold of midwinter: “What are you doing? Questioning me?! Duke of Qi, you used Guo Jia to frame me—that’s not enough? You even indulge your son in being discourteous at court! Guards, seize them!”

Hundreds of fully armed Imperial Guards rushed into the hall, all pointing long swords at the Duke of Qi. The cold glinting sharp edges made one momentarily unable to open their eyes. At this time, the Duke of Qi saw flames rising to the sky in the distance and heard sounds of killing. He whirled around, staring at Empress Pei: “Your Majesty, what are you doing?”

In such a short time, sudden trouble emerged. The ministers in the hall had long been shocked speechless by successive tremendous changes. Glimpsing Guo Su’s angry eyes, unspeakable hatred in his expression—old foxes like Chen Shang immediately understood. Empress Pei was using the Emperor’s absence to attack the Guo family. Instantly scanning the hall, they didn’t see Prince Xu or Prince Jing. Clever ministers all showed shocked expressions. Where had they gone? Were they not in the palace, or had they already been eliminated by Empress Pei?

From behind the hanging curtain came Empress Pei’s sighing voice, gentle as if pitying the Guo family: “Duke of Qi, you command four hundred thousand troops and are deeply trusted by His Majesty, yet repeatedly provoke imperial authority. Not only continuously buying hearts in the army, now you even secretly plot rebellion, colluding with Prince Jing to harm His Majesty! Now His Majesty is gravely ill, yet you show no remorse. Taking advantage of the situation to stir up trouble, attempting to overthrow the court, slandering me! In your words and actions, which point still qualifies you as a pillar of state? I, as Empress of Yuexi, how can I sit by and watch you, this petty person, continue running rampant? So… today is the day of your execution! Seize them! If anyone resists, kill without mercy!”

Inside the great hall, the atmosphere suddenly grew as cold as winter wind blowing through.

The chaotic sounds outside had fallen silent, but the soldiers surrounding the entire hall in three layers inside and out—one could see them crystal clear!

Was this forcing the palace?

Or rebellion?

With such a formation, was she planning to catch all the assembled ministers in one net, or only wanting to topple the Guo family? Everyone’s legs and feet couldn’t help going weak, hearts trembling.

The Duke of Qi said angrily: “Empress Pei, you think killing me will gain you military authority? The east, west, south, and north gates are all guarded by His Majesty’s trusted men. Can you successfully force the palace?”

Empress Pei smiled: “Is that so? Unfortunately, these four gates have now all fallen into my hands.”

The Imperial Guards had all pledged allegiance to Empress Pei?! Everyone looked toward Prince Qin’s direction, but Prince Qin watched coldly from the side without making a sound.

Empress Pei stood on the high steps, her sleeves fluttering in the wind, appearing somewhat unreal.

Blades were already at the Duke of Qi’s throat. Suddenly urgent horse hooves sounded outside the great hall. These definitely weren’t palace guards. The originally composed Empress Pei’s expression changed slightly. Riding horses in the palace was forbidden—she’d already identified what those hoofbeats represented… Fortunately, the hanging curtain blocked in front, and the assembled ministers below were also looking outside, not noticing her loss of composure.

“Stop! Who are you…”

“Halt! How dare you…”

“They’re not Imperial Guards! Quickly stop them!”

“Ah—”

The Imperial Guards were now clashing with the newcomers outside. Accompanied by a scream, chaos suddenly erupted outside. People in the great hall couldn’t see what was happening outside. At this extraordinary time, no one would be foolish enough to join the commotion—all waited for an outcome.

In everyone’s quiet and anxious waiting, finally footsteps came from far and near.

“This prince has come late. Duke of Qi, you’ve suffered. Please forgive me!” Against the light, a figure walked in from outside unhurriedly. A long sword hung at his waist, his face wore a faint smile—one couldn’t distinguish whether that smile carried mockery or other meaning. But from far away one could smell the bloody scent on him. When people saw clearly who had come, all gasped.

Yuan Lie! Not only him—behind Yuan Lie followed over a thousand guards in fine armor, all imposing. Wherever they walked, those Imperial Guards who’d rushed into the hall had to slowly retreat, making way for them.

Yuan Lie’s personal troops all opened their crossbow mechanisms, aiming at Empress Pei standing far away. A eunuch shouted angrily: “How dare you!” Before he could react, an arrow suddenly pierced his chest. No one expected the battle to end so quickly.

If Yuan Lie could enter like this, did it mean the Imperial Guards outside were no longer a concern?

Seeing Prince Xu lead troops into the great hall, Empress Pei’s faction was equally shocked beyond measure!

Empress Pei watched the farce below coldly, her attitude still composed and calm: “Prince Xu, you lead troops and brazenly break into the imperial palace. Could you be colluding with the Guo family, openly rebelling?”

“Rebelling?” Yuan Lie smiled meaningfully, pulling from his bosom—actually producing a scroll of yellow silk cloth. “What bad luck—I’m only following orders, and this is His Majesty’s personal writing, bearing the imperial seal…”

Prince Xu actually held an imperial edict?!

Everyone’s hearts stirred at this moment. Compared to the Empress who had always had poor relations with the Emperor, the imperial edict in Prince Xu’s hand—trusted and valued by the Emperor—seemed more authentic!

Yuan Lie simply unfolded the yellow silk completely, reading aloud: “Prince Xu Yuan Lie is honest in character, loyal to sovereign and country, naturally intelligent… We specially issue this edict ordering him to temporarily manage state affairs. We hope all ministers will wholeheartedly assist!” He directly had the important ministers beside him examine it. After several old ministers scanned it from beginning to end, they respectfully returned it to Yuan Lie and all knelt down: “We ministers obey the edict!”

“Rise!” Yuan Lie said lightly.

From this moment, the one truly managing state affairs became Prince Xu Yuan Lie, not the so-called Empress.

“Empress Pei, you forged an imperial edict. Even now, won’t you repent?” Yuan Lie stared at that pearl curtain, saying word by word.

But Empress Pei seemed not to hear his words. She stared unblinkingly at Yuan Lie through the pearl curtain, but suddenly laughed. In her laughter was a trace of strangeness and some inexplicable tenderness.

What was she laughing at? Had she suddenly gone mad?

No one knew, nor wanted to know. Everyone present clearly knew—by now the Pei family was utterly finished. The imperial edict in Empress Pei’s hand was fake. Using military force to suppress everyone, she was outmatched by another. At this point, what chance of victory remained?

“If Your Majesty is still waiting for Pei family reinforcements to arrive, this prince advises you not to harbor delusions. General Pei Yuan was already assassinated. The Pei family army is now leaderless, long since in complete chaos.” Prince Qin suddenly spoke.

Empress Pei looked down at Prince Qin: “A fence-sitter like you isn’t worthy to speak with me!”

“Seize her! Keep her alive!” Seeing she still refused to surrender, Yuan Lie directly ordered.

No sound came from within the pearl curtain. When people rushed over, they discovered behind the curtain were only several trembling maids and eunuchs. Empress Pei had long since vanished!

“Damn it, how did she escape?!” Yuan Lie shouted angrily.

The entire imperial palace was jointly sealed off by Prince Xu, Prince Jing, and Prince Qin. All eunuchs, maids, and concubines had to stay in their rooms without leaving. Other people searched everywhere for the Empress’s trail.

“Reporting to Your Highness, no trace of Empress Pei has been found!”

Hearing this news, Yuan Lie’s first thought was to immediately seal off the entire city—they couldn’t let Empress Pei escape from the capital.

But now at this time, if she could exit the palace, she might not be able to exit the capital. They absolutely couldn’t let her escape!

Outside the Imperial City, a series of horse hooves approached from far and near. During morning court, the streets were deserted. In the quiet, sudden horse hooves were truly alarming. Pei Shi couldn’t help feeling uneasy. He looked back at the troops behind him, secretly gritting his teeth, steeling his heart, saying coldly: “Full speed ahead!” To quickly seize the initiative, Pei Gang and Pei Yun brothers had already led men to the palace first. But to avoid alerting the Guo family, Prince Jing and others, the men they took were truly limited—only selecting some elites. The troops behind Pei Shi were the Pei family’s trump card! They’d infiltrated near the capital early. Taking advantage of the still-dark dawn, with help from Pei family guards at the city gates, they entered the capital. Though several thousand troops, their military bearing was orderly and disciplined. Besides horse hooves, there were no other sounds.

Previously, because the Crown Prince died and Empress Pei requested not to emerge, young direct-line Pei family descendants all perished completely—the Pei family had suffered heavy damage and had to turtle up. Only after recuperating this long did they catch their breath. If this military uprising could succeed, so what if there was no Pei family bloodline prince? Propping up a puppet emperor could still let the Pei family stand again in court!

A deputy general came over, saying in a low voice: “General, we’ve sent people ahead to investigate. Everything is normal.”

Though the palace should have no problems, they still had to act carefully. Pei Shi’s eyes looked toward the imperial palace direction, his heart excited, yet he still ordered: “Pass the order—proceed according to original plan!”

Looking at the sky—it was still very early. From here entering the imperial palace, coordinating from inside and out, annihilating those disobedient people—time was absolutely more than sufficient. At the palace gate, Pei Shi personally walked at the front, awaiting the agreed signal. But before any signal could arrive, over ten thousand men surged from high ground on both sides and from forests, forming tiger-wing dragon-tail formation, rapidly surrounding the Pei family soldiers.

One person rode out on horseback, reining in his warhorse several dozen paces from Pei Hui, his expression stern, saying lightly: “Pei Shi, you’ve brought troops to the Imperial City—do you have a War Ministry transfer order?”

Pei Shi saw clearly the person was Duke of Qi Guo Su, who should have been captured. His expression changed dramatically. Killing energy surged skyward. Cold light flashed in his eyes: “Duke of Qi plots treason—seize this man! Rich rewards!” Before his words faded, he’d already drawn his waist saber from its sheath, spurring his horse to strike at Guo Su.

Though the Pei family’s elite troops were all quite excellent, the generals and soldiers the Duke of Qi brought mostly came from military backgrounds, skilled in coordinated combat. Using perfect military formations, they divided the Pei family army, and even the fiercest blades ultimately couldn’t withstand the continuously surging new Guo family troops. People in the Pei forces kept falling. Those continuing to fight grew fewer and fewer.

Blood flowed down Guo Cheng’s face. The blade in his hand gradually curled. He instinctively swung his sword, his gaze coldly watching the flying flesh and blood of corpses before him. In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the Pei family army that had been resisting valiantly all surrendered. Pei Shi had died in the chaotic battle from random arrows, his corpse beheaded with one stroke, the head hung high before horses.

Guo Su again divided troops and deployed generals, dispatching a contingent immediately to the aristocratic district to assist city guards in maintaining order. With this battle, the Pei family’s treasonous name was now openly established—no need to be cautious with them anymore.

The palace was in complete chaos, yet outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation was quiet and eerie. Pei Huaizhen lightly lifted her steps, walking up the white marble stairs toward inside the hall. At this time, the sun had already risen high. The glazed tiles reflected dazzling light, making the Empress’s eyes gleam eerily. Everyone thought she would escape from the palace, but she didn’t leave—instead she came here.

Inside the great hall, incense burned. It was empty without a single person.

With a creak, she forcefully pushed open the sleeping chamber door. Outside light instantly flooded in. The originally dim hall suddenly brightened. A person stood with their back to her, as if having waited for her a long time! Pei Huaizhen slowly walked in, stopping seven or eight paces away from Li Weiyang.

“I didn’t expect you’d be quite bold, daring to enter the Emperor’s sleeping chamber like this,” Pei Huaizhen mocked.

Li Weiyang didn’t look at her, only turning to glance at the Yuexi Emperor still sleeping on the dragon couch, smiling: “Is being Empress so wonderful that it made you willing to abandon a noble family daughter’s dignity, compromise in every way, flatter extensively, even use secret medicines to please a man? If not for the Pei family’s various secret methods provided to you, I fear Crown Prince Yong Wen would never have had the chance to be born.”

After Li Weiyang finished speaking, the atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

Pei Huaizhen seemed slightly angry but composed herself: “You really understand others’ weaknesses and know where stepping hurts most.”

Li Weiyang finally raised her head, staring directly at Pei Huaizhen: “How you lived in the Yuexi palace truly doesn’t need my judgment, but what you did in Dali does concern me… Pei Huaizhen, I ask you—were my grandmother and mother killed by people you sent?” That scene was Li Weiyang’s nightmare every midnight—blood on the ground, faces losing vitality one by one, corpses without warmth one after another. Former relatives turned to dust in an instant. Li Weiyang’s eyes became sharp, staring tightly at the woman opposite, pressing the question.

Pei Huaizhen laughed coldly: “So what if it was me?”

Li Weiyang took a deep breath, saying lightly: “I suppose besides you, no one else could find the people I wanted to protect so precisely. One matter after another—finally it’s time to settle accounts.”

Settle accounts?

Pei Huaizhen raised her eyebrows, phoenix eyes curving: “Is that so? How unfortunate.” But her words contained not a trace of regret. “Anyway, I’ve already avenged Anguo. Even if you kill me, so what? Can your relatives come back to life? Li Weiyang, even if you laugh last, who’s left beside you? Just a lonely person! Moreover, since you risked entering the palace today, you needn’t even be this lonely person anymore!”

Outside the hall, several screams suddenly came. Li Weiyang’s expression didn’t change, but her heart already had an ominous premonition. Seeing triumph in the other’s expression, she feared there was a backup plan.

Pei Huaizhen saw her eyes flicker and already knew Li Weiyang had guessed. She couldn’t help smiling slightly: “Did you hear? Doesn’t the sound seem familiar? Though this is his sleeping chamber, I’ve also arranged personnel and mechanisms here. Not one of the people you brought can leave here alive. This place will also be your burial ground!”

Sure enough, as she spoke, several more screams rang out. Counting before and after, the eighteen personal guards Li Weiyang brought should have few remaining. Soon, black-clothed men entered the inner hall, reporting to Pei Huaizhen: “Reporting to Your Majesty, this subordinate has checked—all eighteen guards ambushed outside have been executed!”

Eighteen people? Li Weiyang’s eyes flashed.

Pei Huaizhen nodded, phoenix eyes glancing at Li Weiyang with a slight smile: “Tie her up too. Remember, treat her well.”

Unexpectedly, Li Weiyang’s voice abruptly rang out at this moment.

“Pei Huaizhen, are you afraid?”

Pei Huaizhen looked at her coldly with a laugh: “Perhaps you have something more to say? Too late—I don’t want to hear it.”

Speaking thus, she seemed to want to see fear appear on Li Weiyang’s face. But to Pei Huaizhen’s disappointment, even at this critical moment Li Weiyang’s expression remained calm. No—the corner of Li Weiyang’s mouth curved, even revealing a trace of mockery.

“Pei Huaizhen, your daughter is already dead, and the Crown Prince is dead too. Pitifully, they never knew until death that their mother only used them as chess pieces to manipulate, not truly caring for them! Princess Anguo being so arrogant, cruel and unrepentant—wasn’t that deliberately cultivated by your indulgence? What mother would indulge her daughter like that? What mother who loves her daughter would have her sell her appearance to toy with officials? I really want to know what you’re thinking inside—why do this…”

“…Though my relatives were killed by you, they all truly cared for me, loved me. And you? You never loved your children, never enjoyed so-called family affection. As for the Yuexi Emperor, your husband—how much of him did you get? In his heart, perhaps even court ministers were more important than you. Someone like you has the nerve to call yourself a nation’s mother? Self-deception to your degree is truly a realm unto itself.”

“Pei Huaizhen, you’re truly a pitiful creature.”

Intense hatred burst from Empress Pei’s eyes: “So what? I’m his lawfully wedded Empress! I’m the mother of this nation of Yuexi! Besides me, who else deserves to sit on this phoenix throne?”

“Empress is just the last fig leaf. Did he ever truly treat you as a wife? Did he ever truly respect and love you? Even basic dignity was just charity given for the Pei family’s sake—what does it have to do with you?” Li Weiyang’s tone was leisurely, words like knives.

“If not for the Pei family, how would he have sat on the emperor’s throne back then!” Empress Pei’s willow brows furrowed deeply, breath slightly disordered—clearly truly angered.

Li Weiyang’s expression was calm, but her heart was calculating time. Actually, she hadn’t brought eighteen people to the Hall of Mental Cultivation this time, but nineteen. Those eighteen dead were personal guards she’d brought. The remaining one was her especially trusted maid Zhao Yue. Earlier when trouble occurred outside, hearing Empress Pei’s assassins report eighteen dead—could she hope Zhao Yue could bring her a surprise? If during this time she delayed, Zhao Yue brought reinforcements…

But facts proved that even if Li Weiyang calculated well, there would be uncontrollable surprises.

“Truly a clever child, but playing tricks before me, you’re still too green,” Pei Huaizhen suddenly laughed loudly.

“I never planned to turn back. Li Weiyang, accompany me to hell together!”

Pei Huaizhen waved her hand. Several black-clothed men waved fire starters in their hands. In moments, they ignited the hanging curtains on both sides of the palace. The material caught fire instantly, flames rapidly spreading.

Li Weiyang hadn’t expected the other would do this. Her expression changed. In a flash, surrounding curtains had burned into sheets—no point trying to stop it. Watching Pei Huaizhen stand there smiling as before, Li Weiyang felt her hands and feet go ice cold. At such a critical moment, the other didn’t want to escape but wanted to perish together with the Emperor!

“Miss!” Zhao Yue’s shout suddenly came from outside the hall. Li Weiyang’s heart leaped with joy, but the current situation was still developing in an uncontrollable direction. She’d calculated everything except that this woman had truly fallen in love with Emperor Yuan Jinfeng. Because of deep love, at the final moment she abandoned her only chance to survive, choosing to descend to the Yellow Springs with the person in this palace…

Li Weiyang glanced at Yuan Jinfeng lying unconscious on the dragon couch, raising her eyes to look at Empress Pei.

“You’re mad.” To be willing to perish herself just to drag someone to hell.

But Pei Huaizhen didn’t even glance at Li Weiyang, directly walking slowly to the Emperor’s side, gently touching his face, smiling.

Li Weiyang looked at the guards at the hall entrance. Clearly seeing the flames, these people remained motionless like statues. They were all assassins Empress Pei had carefully cultivated. At this time, they still loyally executed their master’s orders. Even if their master was going to die, they still continued executing without the slightest retreat.

When Yuan Lie, found by Zhao Yue and informed of the situation, rushed to outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, what he saw was the scene of flames soaring inside. Seeing the raging fire burning inside, his heart nearly stopped. If the information he received was correct, then Weiyang should be inside right now!

His face instantly lost all color. Then leaping up, with several bounds he entered the great hall, rushing straight toward that sleeping chamber being scorched by fierce flames. But he only had time to shout “Weiyang” once before being locked by killing intent, forced to draw his long sword and fight with the attacker.

Li Weiyang happened to look over at this moment, just seeing the instant Yuan Lie rushed in. Her heart also violently stopped.

“Weiyang!”

That person flew into the fierce flames, that handsome face showing familiar anxiety. Seeing her safe and sound, his eyes brightened. But immediately a black-clothed man darted from the side, blocking his path, engaging in combat. Across this burning fire wall, Li Weiyang could still clearly see this young man’s appearance. When had he grown so much?

Her Yuan Lie had indeed grown up.

Though she’d long known this fact, at this moment across the great fire, suddenly feeling she might remain here forever, the only reluctance that rose was toward him… And seeing him appear at her most critical moment, the emotion surging forth wasn’t worry but joy…

“Everyone’s here now…” Under the firelight’s reflection, Pei Huaizhen smiled wildly. Her smile was extremely beautiful, her gaze locking onto Yuan Lie with a half-smiling expression. Then she lowered her head, softly saying by the Emperor’s ear: “See? Your most precious son has come.”

Black-clothed men emerged one wave after another. Assassins blocked Yuan Lie’s path completely. His form leaped several times. In his anxiety, his swordsmanship became increasingly strange. Cold light flashed frequently. At the same time, Zhao Yue had just killed a black-clothed man. Seeing the situation, she quickly came to support but was entangled again.

Watching the fire grow fiercer, Yuan Lie in the fight was extremely anxious. Carelessly, his left shoulder was slashed by a sword. Blood immediately gushed out. His leg went soft, directly kneeling on one knee. Several surrounding black-clothed men raised swords together, greeting him. Yuan Lie rolled on the ground at the critical moment. Their swords fell on the ground, sparks scattering everywhere. This scene made Li Weiyang’s heart rise too. Continuing like this, they’d all die here!

From the other side of the fire, Li Weiyang’s voice came. At this time, she remained calm, carrying only slight urgency, yet seemingly not moved by her own life or death, only purely urging him to leave.

“Yuan Lie, leave quickly!”

Yuan Lie said nothing, again killing one person. Seeing he was still some distance from Li Weiyang, his toes touched down and he rushed forward urgently.

A black shadow flashed. Another person suddenly appeared, short blade chopping directly at Yuan Lie’s vital point. Yuan Lie barely dodged.

Inside the hall, flames soared. Things continuously fell from above. This place was about to become a sea of fire. The great fire burned fiercely—flames could be seen even from far outside.

Someone came upon hearing news, seeing this scene of flames soaring.

“The Hall of Mental Cultivation is on fire! Quickly put out the fire!” Finally, someone shouted loudly.

Prince Jing Yuan Ying, leading people over, watched his men engage the black-clothed men in combat. Gazing at the rolling black smoke rising from the hall, his expression was gloomy, no longer showing his usual spring-breeze smile.

Time wouldn’t wait. In this short time, the inner hall had already been burned by the fire with crackling sounds. Inside the sleeping chamber, Yuan Jinfeng came to hazily. Seeing Yuan Lie rush into the chamber and black-clothed men chase in to entangle him in combat, his originally lifeless eyes immediately became sharp. Suddenly leaping from the bed, he pushed away Empress Pei. His form was extremely fast—in moments he’d killed the assassins entangling Yuan Lie. “Leave quickly!” Seeing Yuan Lie actually looking at him with a shocked face, Yuan Jinfeng shouted coldly.

“You…”

“What are you standing there for? Quickly take her away!” Forcefully pushing Yuan Lie, Yuan Jinfeng ordered: “There’s a tunnel here. You and she quickly exit through the tunnel!” Speaking, he rapidly pressed the mechanism beside the antique shelf. A secret passage revealed its entrance. At this time, burning wooden beams kept falling from above, all foretelling this palace was about to collapse.

“Go quickly!”

Seeing reluctance appear on Yuan Jinfeng’s face, Yuan Lie suddenly understood. He cried out: “Father Emperor, don’t!” Wanting to grab him, but the other used all his remaining strength to push both him and Li Weiyang into the tunnel together.

Yuan Lie only felt a great force pushing him backward. He instinctively reached out but didn’t catch the other in time. The entrance above had already closed. The last scene he saw was Yuan Jinfeng in yellow robes standing above, seemingly smiling at him.

“Lie’er, live well—”

Until he could no longer see Yuan Lie, the sword in Yuan Jinfeng’s hand no longer paused, like a blood-stained flower blooming across surrounding people’s chests and bodies. Each blood flower displayed the most beautiful splendor in the fierce flames. Turbid black traces wound across the ground—dried blood. Unfortunately, after exhausting his strength to kill the last assassin, he no longer had power to support his tottering body. With a tremendous boom, the Hall of Mental Cultivation shook violently. Overhead beams fell one by one. One even struck his left leg, pinning him beneath.

Soaring flames had surrounded the sleeping chamber. Yuan Jinfeng, burning hot beyond endurance, summoned his last trace of strength to barely crawl from beneath the fallen column, struggling toward the tunnel. At this time, Empress Pei suddenly pounced over, tightly gripping his shoulders. The Emperor no longer had strength to break her restraint, gradually falling into delirium before death. His vision blurred as if seeing his beloved woman’s figure. His beloved Qixia was beckoning to him. Yet the real woman’s persistence, that terrifying insistence on dragging him to hell together, forced him to resignedly close his eyes.

In the firelight, Empress Pei’s voice was gentle, accompanied by crackling flames, enunciating like jade: “Yuan Jinfeng, the Crown Prince was the biological son of you and that slut Qixia.”

The Emperor’s eyes flew open wide, staring at Empress Pei in disbelief.

Empress Pei smiled as peacefully and beautifully as a maiden: “You not only neglected that child for many years but also personally killed your most beloved son.”

“No! No! This is impossible!” The Emperor’s color changed dramatically. Yuan Lie resembled Qixia so much—how could he not be their son!

Empress Pei smiled mysteriously, saying gently: “This is the price for your deceiving me. Remember? You promised to share life and death, never betray me.”

The Emperor’s shocked and furious expression seemed to please her. She laughed loudly.

The Emperor’s chest roiled. Outside were overlapping shouts of killing, struggling screams… All the chaos seemed to recede from him… In his world, only her devastatingly beautiful smile remained.

The fierce flames gradually engulfed both people.

In the raging inferno, someone seemed to be laughing loudly. That laugh—one sound after another, like crying, making listeners’ hearts turn cold.

The laughter filled with bone-deep sorrow finally seemed to carry fulfilled joy, gradually lowering, thin as gossamer, finally slowly extinguishing in the raging flames.

And the era belonging to Yuan Jinfeng thus passed.

—

The tunnel entrance had long since closed. Outside sounds gradually lowered. Li Weiyang was tightly held in Yuan Lie’s embrace. Those figures in the firelight gradually blurred. At this time, Li Weiyang inexplicably couldn’t withdraw her thoughts from that ball of fiercely burning flames. Though Empress Pei’s mournful laughter had disappeared, it still echoed in her ears, not dissipating for a long time.

Yuan Lie held her tightly. Because Li Weiyang’s foot had been injured earlier by falling debris, when Yuan Lie discovered this, he carefully picked her up. His form was slightly unsteady. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his bewitchingly handsome face. Even so, he still didn’t put down the person in his arms.

This lifetime, he would never let go.

After the tunnel entrance closed, the entire passage seemed swallowed by darkness. Yuan Lie fumbled out a fire starter from his body. At this time, Li Weiyang had also recovered. She gently pushed Yuan Lie: “Put me down. I’ll walk myself.”

Hearing this, Yuan Lie didn’t speak, only silently holding her a while longer. His action seemed to be confirming the person in his arms was unharmed. Li Weiyang just quietly allowed Yuan Lie to hold her. His unease and tension—she saw it all. Time passed slowly like this, as if a century had gone by. Only then did Yuan Lie release her, but still held her hand.

Fingers interlocked—some words needn’t be spoken yet could warm both their hearts. Yuan Lie took down a torch from the wall, holding it in hand, saying to Li Weiyang:

“Let’s go.”

He led Li Weiyang deeper into the tunnel. The passage wasn’t straight but winding like a maze. After walking a long time, they reached a slightly more spacious area. Yuan Lie used his torch to light surrounding torches, then helped Li Weiyang sit down.

“I didn’t expect he would do this…” Complex colors seemed to tinge Yuan Lie’s handsome face.

Li Weiyang used her sleeve to wipe the ash staining Yuan Lie’s face. Her hand was tightly gripped by Yuan Lie. His complex mood, his unwillingness about his origins—Li Weiyang had always known. At this time, she could feel the sadness in his heart. Yet this version of him wasn’t what she wanted to see.

“He had no regrets… and passed away peacefully…” Li Weiyang gripped Yuan Lie’s hand in return, slowly saying.

Yes, Yuan Jinfeng departed willingly, because he could finally see the person he loved most in this life. As for Empress Pei… Li Weiyang felt momentary indifference, then the corner of her mouth curved in an imperceptible smile. After rebirth, she calculated daily—calculating others, yet wasn’t she also calculating herself? But she’d miscalculated one thing—the easiest to discover yet most overlooked thing.

That was the human heart! So she hadn’t expected Empress Pei would actually perish together with the Emperor.

“Yes, I know!” Yuan Lie rested his head on Li Weiyang’s shoulder, just like when he was small.

“Empress Pei… also got her wish!” Yuan Lie said indifferently.

“Yes! She also got her wish. Though she couldn’t get His Majesty’s heart, in the end she and His Majesty could be together forever…” Li Weiyang sighed.

She’d still underestimated Empress Pei. The Pei family falling to today’s state was probably orchestrated by Empress Pei herself. She loved Yuan Jinfeng so deeply. This profound love had penetrated her soul, making her love until she lost herself. Precisely because of such intense love, she watched Yuan Jinfeng indulge the Pei family, indulge children in misconduct—his purpose was to hollow out the Pei family’s power. But Empress Pei didn’t care. Even if the family walked toward destruction because of Yuan Jinfeng’s indulgence, she wouldn’t intervene.

All of this, only because she loved one person—loved that man who gave her supreme glory yet broke her heart! Her intelligence, her calculations, her strategies, her cruelty, her coldness… even her everything existed for him alone, only for him.

Empress Pei must have long anticipated today’s situation, so she’d long decided that regardless of what became of the Emperor—mad or dead—she would be with him.

Only because her heart could no longer hold anything else. What was the Pei family? What was the empire and state? None compared to that person’s soft words to her… Yet for her entire life, Empress Pei couldn’t obtain Yuan Jinfeng’s love. So even in death, she had to take Yuan Jinfeng with her.

This fire perhaps burned down the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but fulfilled Empress Pei’s greatest wish!

Only her wish came too heavily! Even Li Weiyang had to be shaken by it.

“Ouch!” Lost in thought, Yuan Lie beside her suddenly seemed in pain, crouching down holding his leg.

“What’s wrong?” After a stunned moment, Li Weiyang quickly leaned over asking.

“Weiyang, my leg is injured—it really hurts…” Yuan Lie said pitifully, even showing puppy-like grievance in his eyes.

“Let me see quickly—where are you hurt?” Li Weiyang’s heart shook. She immediately wanted to check his leg.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Lie avoided her, but continued pitifully: “Don’t! Better not look. I think this leg is ruined. If you look, you’ll definitely feel heartache… Then…”

“…” Li Weiyang didn’t speak, because she knew Yuan Lie would definitely continue.

“Then… what if you feel guilty and want to pledge yourself to me? I… though I don’t want to take advantage of someone’s misfortune, I definitely won’t be able to resist agreeing…” Yuan Lie raised his eyes to look at her, bright black eyes filled entirely with her.

Eyes brilliant as stars—Li Weiyang watched in a daze. Before her eyes seemed to float his stubborn expression in the sea of fire, insisting on not surviving alone. The person before her was her Yuan Lie, hers alone. Li Weiyang’s face slowly bloomed with a smile beautiful as summer flowers. She gazed steadily at Yuan Lie before her, slowly opening her mouth: “…Alright, then prepare to agree.”

She knew Yuan Lie’s leg injury was feigned, but… but it didn’t matter. This was the first time after rebirth she decided to follow her own heart—marrying a man, marrying Yuan Lie who belonged only to her.

“You… what did you say?” Yuan Lie’s originally smiling face froze completely. Then, overjoyed beyond measure, he pressed: “Weiyang, say it again—what did you just say? Is… is this agreeing to me? Are you really prepared to marry me? I didn’t hear wrong, did I?”

Li Weiyang smiled and nodded: “You didn’t hear wrong.”

“Weiyang…” Indescribable joy instantly filled Yuan Lie’s every limb and bone. His violently beating heart was about to overflow from his chest. After quite a while he finally reacted, picking up Li Weiyang and spinning in circles: “Wonderful! Weiyang, you’re mine—”

—

The capital seemed peaceful, but in just a few short days, the situation had already changed dramatically.

Now the throne was vacant. Court ministers and capital citizens were all speculating who would succeed to the throne. Among all those qualified to inherit, Prince Jing Yuan Ying’s power was undoubtedly strongest, simply because behind him stood the military-commanding Guo family and Consort Guo Hui. Many court ministers were quite wary of the Guo family. Weighing all considerations, the throne’s successor seemed to have been secretly decided.

But… after Pei Yuan’s death, Prince Xu Yuan Lie actually dispatched people to take over all Pei family armies, and with thunderous methods executed twenty-three generals who refused to obey, rapidly controlling the situation. Prince Xu’s support was also key to who could ascend the throne.

The next day, Madam Guo received an imperial summons to enter the palace early in the morning. Though the Guo family found this strange, they didn’t think deeply—assuming Consort Guo Hui had some private matters to discuss with the Duke’s wife.

Inside the sleeping chamber, several palace maids stood with lowered heads. Consort Guo Hui sat on a soft couch, wearing a white dark fish-pattern satin skirt, her hair arranged simply with only two paired hairpins. Her entire appearance looked exceptionally plain. It was currently the Emperor’s mourning period—dress and adornment naturally differed from usual. The Duke’s wife sitting on a stool beside her was the same, wearing a plain dark green long dress with no accessories.

Soon, a palace maid approached carrying a tray with two lotus-white porcelain tea bowls containing newly tributed tea leaves. The maid placed the tea bowls on tables beside Consort Guo Hui and the Duke’s wife, then withdrew again.

“Consort Hui, have you been well recently?” Madam Guo asked with concern. The Consort’s complexion looked worse than previous days.

“Still manageable! Just that with His Majesty’s passing, various trivial matters have been numerous—quite exhausting!” Consort Guo Hui said. However, mentioning the Emperor, a trace of sadness still flashed through her eyes.

Madam Guo couldn’t help sighing softly. The late Emperor and Consort Guo Hui were husband and wife after all. Now that the late Emperor was gone, how could she not be sad? But from now on, there would be good days ahead. With Guo family support, Prince Jing succeeding to the throne would happen naturally. Henceforth, Consort Guo Hui would be the Empress Dowager.

“May Your Highness take care of your grief and precious health—that’s most important!”

“Naturally. Actually, I invited sister-in-law into the palace today because there’s a matter I wish to discuss with you.” Consort Guo Hui picked up the tea bowl at her side, lifting the lid to take a light sip, concealing the difficulty in her eyes.

Madam Guo composed herself: “What matter might it be?”

“Sister-in-law knows Yuan Ying has always admired Jia’er, but… alas, I won’t say more about past matters. Sister-in-law, I fear this child still hasn’t given up.”

Madam Guo felt slightly stunned, quite uneasy in her heart.

Consort Guo Hui said with worry: “I know Jia’er has no such feelings toward Yuan Ying, but Yuan Ying’s temperament… I can’t stop him much longer. You must make early plans.”

Madam Guo acknowledged. Just then, a female official entered: “Consort Hui, His Highness requests you take your medicine.”

Consort Guo Hui froze, then smiled: “My illness has long recovered. No need for medicine.”

But the female official holding the medicine bowl didn’t lower it, directly bringing it before Consort Guo Hui.

Consort Guo Hui’s expression was extremely ugly. Madam Guo frowned. The Consort finally gritted her teeth and drank the medicine in one gulp: “You may go!”

But the female official smiled: “Your Highness, Prince Jing ordered this servant to attend closely. This servant dare not leave her post without permission. Please don’t blame this servant, Your Highness.”

Madam Guo watched this scene in shock. Consort Guo Hui sighed deeply. Afterward, neither brought up this matter again. Madam Guo accompanied Consort Guo Hui chatting about household matters for a while before taking her leave to return home.

When Madam Guo’s carriage reached the Guo residence entrance, someone was already waiting for her. Li Weiyang wore a simple, unadorned white long dress with purple crabapple dark patterns, only a pearl silver hairpin in her hair—restrained and elegant.

“Mother, you’ve returned!” Seeing Madam Guo about to exit the carriage, Li Weiyang quickly walked over, taking Madam Guo’s hand from a maid and helping her slowly step down.

“Why did you come outside too? The wind is so strong—why didn’t you add a cloak?” Madam Guo touched the somewhat cool fingertips in her palm, lightly scolding, yet her eyes were full of doting affection.

“Mother, it doesn’t matter. I don’t feel cold. Let’s go inside first.” Speaking, Li Weiyang supported Madam Guo walking toward inside the residence.

Guo Dao also greeted Madam Guo at the entrance. But when Mother just exited the carriage, her brows seemed to carry a trace of worry. Yet when she saw Li Weiyang, it dispersed. He secretly speculated—could something unpleasant have happened during today’s palace visit?

Inside Madam Guo’s courtyard, Li Weiyang passed over the chrysanthemum tea.

Opening the tea lid, the chrysanthemum fragrance instantly spread. Madam Guo only felt warmth in her heart, her eyes slightly reddening. She didn’t want her daughter married into the imperial family. The palace’s scheming and deception—she’d witnessed it. How could she bear to let her precious daughter go there?

“Mother, what’s wrong? Did something unpleasant happen during today’s palace visit? Why not tell daughter…” Li Weiyang asked in a gentle tone. If she hadn’t encountered something, Madam Guo wouldn’t be so melancholy. After all, she was a great family’s daughter who’d experienced considerable storms. Whatever she encountered in the palace today likely concerned herself. Vaguely, Li Weiyang already had an answer in her heart.

She was so certain because Madam Guo’s gaze toward her today carried more difficulty than usual.

“Mother is fine, fine—just got water vapor in my eyes earlier. Don’t panic!” Madam Guo pulled Li Weiyang’s hand, gently patting it. She didn’t dare look at Guo Jia’s eyes anymore, afraid of inadvertently revealing something that would make her daughter worry too.

On the return journey, Madam Guo had been thinking about what Consort Guo Hui mentioned today. After much consideration, she decided to temporarily not tell Jia’er—first discussing with her husband and sons before deciding what to do.

“Alright, Mother is also tired and wants to rest a while. You go back first!” Madam Guo said lovingly, a trace of complexity drifting through her eyes, but she quickly lowered her gaze.

“Yes.” Li Weiyang obediently nodded without saying more, then led Lianyu out.

Li Weiyang walked in silence, countless thoughts floating through her mind. Madam Guo perhaps thought she’d concealed it well, but unfortunately from the moment she dismounted, the slight change in how she looked at herself had already been noticed. That reluctance and sadness—she’d never seen before…

The small flower hall in Madam Guo’s courtyard remained brightly lit all night like daylight.

With Empress Pei’s death, the entire Pei family was subsequently convicted of crimes. The Pei family had completely collapsed—it should be a joyous time. Yet the atmosphere inside was excessively silent. Above everyone’s heads seemed to hang enormous shadows, expressions as somber as stagnant water.

“Husband, what should we do?” Madam Guo asked worriedly. At this moment, she’d completely lost the composure she’d shown when seeing Consort Guo Hui.

“Jia’er is my heart’s treasure. Moreover, she has no romantic feelings toward Prince Jing. If we force her to marry Prince Jing, I fear it will ruin her entire life…” Madam Guo looked at Guo Su, slowly saying.

Madam Guo didn’t want to force Guo Jia. She also knew this child’s temperament. What she wanted was Guo Jia’s happiness, not wealth and glory. Though marrying Prince Jing could possibly make her the future Empress—supreme honor for the entire Guo family—if obtaining this honor required exchanging her precious daughter’s lifetime happiness, she’d rather not have it.

Guo Su naturally understood his wife’s meaning. But in the current situation, directly refusing Prince Jing definitely wouldn’t work. The stakes involved couldn’t be ignored.

Guo Dao also frowned tightly, saying nothing. He’d long since noticed Yuan Ying’s feelings for Li Weiyang were very passionate and deep. But Yuan Ying wasn’t suitable for Li Weiyang. Soon Yuan Ying would ascend the throne. Naturally, there’d be no shortage of women around him. Not to mention the relationship between Li Weiyang and Prince Xu couldn’t allow outsiders to interfere. So no matter what, he had to find a way to prevent this.

Guo Su’s heroic brows furrowed tightly. He had to consider not just his daughter’s marriage but the entire Guo family’s interests and honor: “Wife, rest assured. I’ll handle everything properly. When necessary, even if it means breaking with Prince Jing, I’ll respect Jia’er’s wishes.”

For a moment, no one spoke again.

The Imperial Palace.

Yuan Lie looked expressionlessly at the man sitting opposite him.

“Yuan Lie, I won’t give her up. You should go back.” Yuan Ying directly stated the other’s purpose in coming here. Regarding Li Weiyang, he wouldn’t back down.

Yuan Lie smiled lightly. Yuan Ying’s reaction was already within his expectations.

“Look at this first before speaking.” Speaking, Yuan Lie grinned as he pulled a paper from his sleeve: “This is a copy of His Majesty’s succession edict. Do you want to know who’s written as the throne’s successor?”

A succession edict?

Yuan Ying’s eyes narrowed slightly, but cold light flashed. At this time, Yuan Lie producing this edict was clearly threatening him. He didn’t need to look to know what it contained. The slender fingers hidden in his sleeve had already curled, tightly clenched into fists.

After all calculations, he’d miscalculated this step—never expecting Father Emperor still kept this card for Yuan Lie.

Father Emperor, we’re also your sons, yet your heart only holds Yuan Lie!

“You know I’ve always disdained the throne. I only want to be an idle prince. So His Majesty’s edict states that if Prince Jing is unvirtuous, Prince Qin and Prince Jin can both ascend. Of course… if they’re also unfortunate, there are other imperial clan members. The throne won’t remain vacant. The condition I’m proposing—you’ll certainly consider carefully, right?” Yuan Lie curved his lips, revealing a brilliant smile that made Yuan Ying angry just seeing it.

Trading the throne for a beauty—no matter how you calculated it was a suitable deal. Yuan Ying wouldn’t refuse.

Before the other could react, Yuan Lie continued: “As long as you give her up, this paper edict will become a worthless document, never made public.”

“…” Yuan Ying stared coldly at the brilliantly smiling Yuan Lie. At this moment his expression was extremely complex—impossible to discern what he was thinking. He just remained silent without a word.

Seeing this, Yuan Lie stood up, slowly saying: “Consider carefully!” With that, he turned and walked out.

Yuan Ying still maintained his earlier posture unchanged, but his eyes followed Yuan Lie’s departing back until he could no longer see it, never shifting his gaze. He’d thought about eliminating the problem at its root. If he could capture Yuan Lie now, then seize that edict and destroy it… No, he couldn’t do this. Yuan Ying immediately rejected this idea. That person was Yuan Lie. Without complete preparation, that person would never swagger here like this…

Yuan Ying frowned, suddenly overturning the table before him. Documents rolled across the floor. Damn Yuan Lie!

Today, the Duke of Qi’s residence looked no different from usual. Guo Su departed before dawn as always to attend court. But this time, Madam Guo actually escorted him all the way outside the residence. Her expression was inexplicably complex, carrying an uneasy restlessness.

In the Imperial Hall, civil and military officials had already lined up properly. During the late Emperor’s mourning period, all court matters were temporarily handled by Prince Jing Yuan Ying.

“Prince Jing, this is a joint petition from the ministers. Please review it!” Chen Shang handed a memorial to Prince Jing.

Receiving the memorial, Prince Jing opened it to look. His expression immediately changed dramatically. About to speak, he saw Chen Shang suddenly kneel with robes lifted, loudly proclaiming:

“Prince Jing, the nation cannot go one day without a ruler! This memorial is jointly submitted by all ministers, earnestly requesting Prince Jing to prioritize state affairs and succeed to the throne. Only thus can we stabilize the people’s hearts and continue the ten-thousand-year foundation!”

“We ministers earnestly request Prince Jing to ascend the throne!” After Chen Shang’s words, all other ministers knelt prostrate. Though some among them disagreed, with the general trend, they could only follow. For a moment, all civil and military officials had knelt, earnestly requesting Prince Jing to succeed to the throne.

“This…” Yuan Ying’s face showed difficulty, as if the next moment he would refuse. Seeing this, the assembled ministers immediately continued:

“Your Highness, a vacant throne will invite covetous eyes, shaking the nation’s foundation. It will also make surrounding small nations extremely covetous. If truly so, the nation is in peril…”

Some old ministers couldn’t help showing tears, as if about to cry. Some had already cried aloud, as if the scene of national collapse had already appeared.

Yuan Ying silently surveyed the full court of ministers. His expression seemed to struggle. After a long while, his look gradually settled, his eyes becoming more resolute. He loudly proclaimed: “If so, I will certainly not fail the assembled ministers’ expectations!” With that, he turned around, walking step by step toward that golden dragon throne in the Imperial Hall. Upon reaching before the dragon throne, he slowly turned around. His sharp gaze swept over the ministers below.

This feeling—how long had he waited for it? So long he seemed to have forgotten…

“We ministers kowtow to His Majesty! Long live, long live, long long live His Majesty…” Amid the ministers’ kowtowing voices, Prince Jing Yuan Ying slowly sat upon this throne symbolizing the Emperor’s limitless power.

The court then began rewarding achievements. Guo Su’s face showed no expression, but his heart held some anxiety. If Yuan Ying issued an edict today ordering Guo Jia to marry him, they could only disobey the imperial command!

“Duke of Qi!” Yuan Ying called, summoning Guo Su back to reality.

“This subject is present!” Guo Su stepped from the ranks.

“The Duke of Qi’s residence assisted me in eliminating national pests this time—the achievement cannot be overlooked. Is there anything you wish me to bestow?” Yuan Ying asked with a smile.

Guo Su’s heart shook slightly, but his facial expression remained unchanged: “This subject dare not claim credit. I can only devote all my energy to continue serving Your Majesty loyally!”

Guo Su already held the Duke of Qi title. He couldn’t be promoted much higher. Moreover, for the Guo family’s safety, not claiming credit was the correct choice. Yuan Ying seemed to see through Guo Su’s thoughts, still issuing edicts conferring titles on Guo family members one by one. However, when the edict finished, there was no mention of Guo Jia, much less ordering her to marry Yuan Ying. Guo Su was shocked internally but maintained exceptional composure outwardly.

Why did Yuan Ying so easily let her go? This was completely unlike his character!

After court dismissed, Guo Su hurried back to the Duke of Qi’s residence. Madam Guo quickly stepped down to greet him. As soon as Guo Su lifted the carriage curtain, he heard Madam Guo’s voice: “Husband, how did it go?”

“Wife, rest assured—nothing happened!” Guo Su pulled her hand, comforting her.

Wild joy surged across Madam Guo’s face.

“Yes, the sky has cleared…” Only after his parents had gone inside did Guo Dao raise his head, looking at the dispersing clouds on the horizon, softly saying.

Though no one else heard Guo Dao’s murmuring, his heart gradually relaxed. Future life surely wouldn’t be so perilous anymore…

—

**Ten Years Later**

In a courtyard behind Prince Xu’s residence, tea fragrance permeated the air.

Li Weiyang sat at the table, smiling, her eyes more relaxed than ever before. On the table before her sat a tea set. Her delicate jade hands picked up the water pot, slightly tilting it. A crystal-clear water stream poured into the tea bowl.

Beside her sat an extraordinarily handsome man. He propped his head on one hand, beautiful and profound amber eyes watching Li Weiyang unblinkingly, the faint smile at his lips making hearts drunk and enchanted.

“What—after watching all these years, still haven’t seen enough?” Li Weiyang passed the jade lotus tea bowl to the man, smiling throughout.

Yuan Lie grasped her withdrawing hand, gently rubbing it, his face showing a smile sickeningly tender: “Even watching a lifetime… still not enough.” Those bright eyes unabashedly showed his love. Li Weiyang pulled twice but couldn’t extract her hand. Her fair face faintly reddened. She didn’t know if after marriage his bewitching degree had greatly increased, but every time he did this, Li Weiyang felt her resistance much weaker than before. Especially when he smiled with crinkled eyes and leaned close, she couldn’t help blushing each time. Yet he found this amusing, constantly teasing her—she couldn’t get angry or annoyed.

Yuan Lie’s smile deepened. He still wouldn’t let her go, leaning forward to whisper by her ear with a low laugh: “Weiyang… let’s have another child?” Hearing this, Li Weiyang immediately tried to push him away and escape, but he caught her hand instead. An ambiguous atmosphere spread between them… Just then, an inopportune person appeared.

“Mother, Mother! Little brother took my osmanthus candy! Wuu…” A small figure rushed in from outside like wind, directly throwing herself into Li Weiyang’s arms. Behind her followed a little boy who also ran over to Li Weiyang’s side, pulling her sleeve. His cute little face looked up: “Mother, Sister ate too much candy, so I wouldn’t let her eat more. I didn’t bully her!”

Their appearance made Yuan Lie’s mouth twitch. He had to force himself to sit back properly with a stern face. Seeing their eyes only held Mother with no Father, he felt even more jealous.

Before he could speak, another person entered breathlessly. Looking at the brows and eyes—three parts resembling Li Weiyang—none other than Li Weiyang’s brother Li Minzhi. Today’s Li Minzhi had grown taller, his baby-fat face becoming more handsome. His large eyes were especially spirited, always flashing with cunning light. He grabbed both little children’s faces: “Fanhua, Xiyue, you two are making trouble again, aren’t you? Your skins itch!”

Fanhua kissed Li Minzhi’s face with a smack, her little head rubbing against his neck left and right: “Little Uncle, forgive me!”

Xiyue completely lacked a little boy’s self-awareness, having learned his father’s shamelessness to perfection. He pretended to blink, as if truly about to cry pitifully: “Little Uncle, let me go! I won’t misbehave again!”

Li Minzhi chuckled: “Stop pretending—you two are sly little things!” Finishing, he carried the two little ones out. They struggled, waving their arms in protest!

Watching the three of them play and tussle again, Li Weiyang’s face involuntarily showed a smile.

Originally somewhat gloomy, Yuan Lie’s heart softened seeing this scene. He walked over to stand beside her.

“What are you thinking?” he asked quietly.

Only then did she collect her thoughts, smiling softly: “Mm, thinking of you…” and the children.

“Really?”

“Really,” she responded.

Warmth suddenly came from her fingertips. Without looking, she knew his large hand had enveloped hers. Their fingers interlocked, their hearts without distance.

One life, one generation, one couple—Yuan Lie had once promised her this. Now he’d truly achieved it. Ten years wasn’t long, but for them, these ten years held countless moments, also nurturing their children. The time definitely wasn’t short either.

Now she and he were very happy. In the near future, they might have arguments like ordinary couples, might even quarrel. But having experienced so much, they would treasure each other more, not easily abandoning their feelings for each other.

“Is Fifth Brother still fleeing everywhere… Ten years already, and he’s still evading Zijin like this.” Li Weiyang glanced at the family letter on the desk, sighing.

Yuan Lie said disdainfully: “He can’t escape from Wang Zijin’s grasp.”

Li Weiyang smiled: “Yes, Zijin said even if she has to use love potions or enchantment, she’ll definitely tie him up and bring him back to marry.”

Yuan Lie shook his head repeatedly: “Truly a terrifying female demon.”

Yuexi’s history—a new page had already turned. The history belonging to Yuan Jinfeng had long passed. People seemed to have forgotten this former Yuexi Emperor. After Prince Jing Yuan Ying ascended the throne, he suddenly died within half a year. This shocked everyone. His death didn’t greatly impact the dynasty itself. Prince Xu and Prince Qin both supported the gentle-natured Prince Jin to ascend, quickly stabilizing the situation. The new ruler’s scholarly elegance, tolerance and grace gradually soothed the shadows in people’s hearts.

Li Weiyang asked softly: “Yuan Ying he…” Prince Jing had been healthy and finally achieved his long-cherished wish. How could he suddenly die…

“Who told him to keep sending people to steal the succession edict? He brought this on himself…” Yuan Lie stretched lazily, smiling: “By the way, I still need to write a memorial requesting half a year’s leave to take you to Liaozhou to see the dragon boats…”

Li Weiyang couldn’t help laughing, raising her head to check the sky, reminding: “I heard Yunzhou’s egg yolk pastries are very good.”

Yuan Lie embraced her, kissing her lips lightly then heavily, his arms tightening inch by inch. The corner of his mouth curved in an intoxicating smile: “Then let’s request a year.”

[THE END]