The sight within Tang Yi city was horrifying. Most soldiers in the city were household troops sent by the Prince’s mansion, while the rest were forces recruited by the Zhang family. Zhang Fengtong’s two brothers were spreading news throughout the city, claiming that the imperial court had just suffered a defeat beyond the frontier and was greatly weakened. They announced that reinforcements were on their way, and everyone must defend the city with their lives. They promised that if they eventually captured the imperial capital, everyone would be granted titles and positions, but if the city fell before reinforcements arrived, the entire city would be massacred with no one left to bury the dead.

On streets and alleys, corpses of soldiers who had died in earlier fighting lay scattered about, with no one available to dispose of them. Some had already begun to rot and were simply piled in corners, carelessly covered with straw or tattered mats. The soldiers seemed to have gone days without a proper meal. Their eyes were bloodshot, reflecting a mixture of fear and the desperate gaze of cornered beasts. The air was filled with the foul stench of pus and blood.

The Changle Prince’s mansion was now occupied by Xiao Yintang. The estate was vast, with front halls and back gardens, lavishly decorated. Beautiful maids stood with hands clasped, quietly awaiting orders. Inside and outside the gates were like two different worlds.

As soon as Jia Fu entered, she saw a figure in luxurious clothing standing just inside the door, her body unnaturally straight, almost rigid.

This woman was Zhang Fengtong.

After several years, her appearance had changed dramatically. The round, radiant face Jia Fu remembered was gone. She was now as thin as a rail. Though only in her twenties, she looked middle-aged. Her demeanor no longer showed the composure and steadiness of before; all the gloom and sharpness were revealed in her protruding cheekbones and dark gaze.

She stared at Jia Fu this way, her eyes fixed on her from the moment she entered, unblinking. Suddenly, her pupils moved slightly, turning toward Xiao Yintang.

Xiao Yintang seemed not to notice her at all. He walked straight past her, leading Jia Fu inside and pushing open a door.

Jia Fu slowly removed her cloak and turned to face Xiao Yintang who had followed her in.

Xiao Yintang did not speak, only looking her up and down for a moment, his eyes flickering as he slowly walked toward her.

Jia Fu did not retreat. She met his gaze and said, “Xiao Yintang, if I’m not mistaken, you’ve summoned me now only to use me against my husband. Even if you get what you want, even if your father passes the throne to you, you still fear my husband. Since I’ve come, I won’t fear death. Whether I’m alive or dead, which serves your purpose better—you know that better than I do.”

Xiao Yintang stopped in front of her, staring at her for a moment before his gaze softened. “Since you know this, why did you still come? What did Father say?”

“He fell ill. When I left, he had not yet regained consciousness—”

Jia Fu stared into his eyes. “How did you know I was in the capital? If I hadn’t arrived within ten days, would you have risked everything, destroying both jade and stone together?”

“Guessing you were in the palace wasn’t difficult. My father, during the Ten Thousand Longevity Celebration, held a child up on the Meridian Gate tower. How could I not know who that child was? The so-called descendant of the divine lady…”

He gave a cold laugh.

“He intends to pass the throne to Pei You’an’s son! Since that child entered the palace, I figured you must be nearby. Pushed to such extremes, what do I have left to lose? I was born a crown prince, yet my father shows such favoritism, and Pei You’an has harmed me deeply. During those years imprisoned behind high walls, I wept bitterly day and night, living worse than death! Rather than endure such a miserable existence, today I’d rather fight to the death!”

“If I hadn’t come, and General Liu had breached the city, how would you have released your message? Who in the world would believe your words?”

“I’ll tell you the truth. I knew my father wouldn’t easily agree. This city—I can’t hold it for long. Having made my announcement, I’ve made thorough preparations. Today is the tenth day. I’ve already arranged for people—if you didn’t come, or if news of my death spread, within days, royal clan members and feudal princes everywhere would receive news of this matter!”

His expression grew increasingly agitated, his cheekbones flushed with excitement. “Those royal clan members and feudal princes have lost lands and had their powers restricted over the years. My father has pushed them all into desperate situations. Now, if they learned that the Emperor had an illicit relationship with the Tianxi Empress and that Pei You’an is their illegitimate son, how do you think they would react? What does one false Xiao Yu matter? By then, there might be false Xiao Yus everywhere! As long as my father remains on the throne even one day, this realm will never know peace! Even if he dies, his scandal with the Empress will be known to all under heaven! By then, let’s see how Pei You’an can bear to live in this world!”

He laughed wildly. “I don’t mind dying, but I want my father and Pei You’an to suffer a fate worse than death! Even in death, they shall find no peace!”

Even before coming, Jia Fu had expected that, based on her previous life’s knowledge of Xiao Yintang and his obsessive nature, the threats in his letter would certainly not be empty intimidation.

But hearing such words from his mouth, Jia Fu could not suppress her horror.

She stared at the nearly frenzied man before her, cold sweat running down her back, her heart pounding so hard it almost leaped from her throat.

“Xiao Yintang, how did you learn of this? Besides you, who else knows?”

Xiao Yintang stopped laughing and stared at Jia Fu, gradually revealing a strange smile that chilled her to the bone. “A’Fu, honestly, your willingness to come here today is beyond my expectations. Are you trying to probe me? You truly disappoint me. Don’t you know that in this life, you were destined to be my woman, just as I was meant to be the Emperor of this realm? But since you’ve come, I won’t hold it against you…”

He gazed at her, his eyes gradually becoming incredibly gentle as he said softly, “A’Fu, from now on, forget Pei You’an and stay by my side willingly, all right?”

Jia Fu felt a chill down her spine. Suddenly, everything became clear.

From the moment Xiao Yintang called her “A’Fu,” that familiar tone reminded her of her previous life.

She widened her eyes, staring at the man before her in shock.

So he was like her!

“A’Fu, you don’t know that in our previous life, you were already mine. In this life, if I can still become Emperor, you will be my lucky star. I will fulfill my previous promise to you. In this life, I will make you my Empress, and I will treat you so very well…”

He reached out toward Jia Fu, slowly walking toward her.

Jia Fu backed away, retreating until she reached the wall with nowhere else to go. Then she coldly said, “Xiao Yintang, in my previous life, I was imprisoned by you, without name or status, never seeing daylight. Even when you died in the frontier war—the same war happening now—wounded and dying, you wouldn’t let me go, forcing me to be buried with you. Being buried with you was bad enough, but do you know how I finally died? I was still alive when they nailed me into the coffin!”

Xiao Yintang froze, stopping in his tracks. The gentleness in his eyes instantly vanished, replaced by shock.

“Don’t look so surprised. You remember the previous life, and so do I.”

After a long moment, Xiao Yintang finally seemed to react, grinding his teeth. “That wretched woman, how dare she treat you like that! Once I escape this predicament, I will avenge you and never let her go! I’ll repay her exactly as she treated you!”

Jia Fu shook her head. “I’ve long stopped caring about the previous life. I only ask you—was it you who poisoned Pei You’an at Suye City? After his death, you ascended the throne, and the following year, you faced the same frontier war we’re facing now. You envied him, and even after his death, even after you became Emperor, his brilliance still overshadowed you. To prove to your ministers and the world that you were no less than him, you led the army to battle. Yet heaven did not favor you, and you died in that war—truly karmic retribution.”

“I still remember how you feared his ghost in your dreams before your death. It was so in the previous life, and it seems the same in this life. I, a mere woman, have come alone, risking everything—at worst, I face death. But Xiao Yintang, you claim to care for me, yet besides threats, what have you done?”

Xiao Yintang’s eyes revealed a mixture of surprise and embarrassment. His expression gradually cooled, and he remained silent.

Xiao Yintang stared at Jia Fu for a long time before saying coldly, “I am the true Son of Heaven. He was no match for me before. In this life, it won’t be so easy for him to defeat me!”

After saying this, he turned and left the room, locking the door.

The sky gradually darkened. That night, a maid came to attend to Jia Fu. Xiao Yintang himself did not appear again, nor was Zhang Fengtong anywhere to be seen.

Several days passed. Jia Fu was kept locked in that room, completely unaware of what was happening outside.

Late one night, as Jia Fu lay fully clothed on the bed, eyes closed in meditation, tossing and turning, she suddenly heard a faint disturbance outside—what sounded like people shouting. The sound, in the quiet of deep night, was particularly jarring.

Jia Fu climbed down from the bed and rushed to the window. Through the nailed-shut window frame, she saw bright flames rising from the direction of the mansion’s main gate.

Another wave of shouting broke out, suggesting someone was forcibly trying to break in.

Jia Fu glanced around, pulled out a candle, and gripped the bronze candlestick with its pointed base in her hand, hiding the handle in her sleeve. She had just concealed it when she heard urgent footsteps outside. The locked door was suddenly kicked open by Xiao Yintang. With a grim expression, he strode in, saw Jia Fu hiding in the corner, grabbed her, and hurried toward the back garden.

The imperial troops hadn’t yet broken through, but the city itself had already fallen into chaos. Somehow, news had spread throughout the city that the imperial court had won a great victory at the frontier and was sending heavy troops this way. The talk of reinforcements for the city was entirely fabricated. The city was in a panic. Tonight, a group of hungry mansion guards had banded together, killed one of Zhang Fengtong’s brothers, and attacked the mansion. Zhang Fengtong’s other brother was leading his men in defense, and the situation was out of control.

Xiao Yintang, without a word, forcibly dragged Jia Fu toward the back garden. They passed through a hanging flower gate, rushing to a rockery, which he pushed with all his might. Behind the rockery, a door was revealed. Xiao Yintang tried to push it open but couldn’t. Looking down, in the moonlight, he saw an iron chain across the door.

Xiao Yintang seemed shocked and angry. He immediately kicked at it fiercely, but the door was sturdy and wouldn’t budge. Xiao Yintang then drew the long sword from his waist and hacked at it with all his might. The blade struck the iron chain, sending sparks flying in the darkness.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, where are you going?”

A soft voice suddenly came from behind.

Jia Fu turned to see a figure slowly emerging from behind a cluster of trees. Moonlight illuminated Zhang Fengtong’s face.

She still wore her magnificent palace attire, a phoenix crown on her head gleaming in the moonlight. Her eyes fixed on Xiao Yintang with an eerily ambiguous smile.

Xiao Yintang glanced back at her, then continued hacking at the chain. With a loud clang, his precious sword broke in two.

“You want to escape through this secret passage to rebuild your forces in the future? This chain is made of black gold; you cannot cut through it,” Zhang Fengtong said with a smile.

Xiao Yintang roared, “So this is your doing, you wretched woman!”

He spun around and strode toward Zhang Fengtong, grabbing her collar when he reached her.

“The key!” he shouted fiercely. Suddenly, his body froze as if struck by a heavy blow, and he slowly hunched over.

With a soft sound, Zhang Fengtong pulled out the dagger she had just plunged into his abdomen.

Xiao Yintang fell to the ground, clutching his stomach with an expression of agony, staring at Zhang Fengtong in disbelief.

“You… wretched… woman…”

Zhang Fengtong stepped back, staring at Xiao Yintang writhing in pain on the ground, laughing coldly. “Your Highness, since marrying you, I have given you my heart and soul, never wronging you in any way. After you were deposed, I worried about you day and night. To have a chance to rescue you later, I even harmed my daughter. I Fugned madness, and to avoid suspicion, I even consumed my filth. After leaving the palace, I persuaded my family to work secretly for you, finally rescuing you. But how did you treat me? Based on that woman’s lies, you wanted to bury me alive? And promise her the position of Empress? How ruthless of you!”

She laughed. “Let me tell you the truth—the rumors in the city these days were all my doing! Since you want me dead, how could I let you live alone? If we must die, we should all die together.”

Having said this, she left Xiao Yintang and walked toward Jia Fu, the dagger in her hand gleaming.

Jia Fu was stunned by the sudden turn of events. Seeing Zhang Fengtong approach, her eyes glowing, ghost-like, Jia Fu turned and ran back to the hanging flower gate, only to find that Zhang Fengtong had locked it too. There was nowhere to escape.

Zhang Fengtong had caught up, raising her dagger and thrusting it fiercely at Jia Fu.

Jia Fu gripped the candlestick tightly, turning the pointed end outward. Before Zhang Fengtong could reach her, she swung her arm. Zhang Fengtong caught off guard, cried out in pain as the sharp end of the candlestick slashed her wrist, immediately drawing blood.

“Slut! You slut! I must kill you!”

Zhang Fengtong clutched her injured hand, jumping with rage. Her phoenix crown had fallen askew, yet she remained remarkably fierce, still gripping the dagger tightly as she stumbled toward Jia Fu.

Terrified, Jia Fu could only circle the courtyard, desperately avoiding her. Finally, under cover of darkness, she hid in a hollow of the winding rockery.

“Slut! Come out!”

Zhang Fengtong, appearing deranged, shrieked curses while wildly slashing at bushes and rocks with her dagger, producing clanging sounds.

Jia Fu held her breath, not moving a muscle.

“Slut! Slut!”

Zhang Fengtong’s voice grew closer and closer. Just as she was about to reach her, Jia Fu felt a chill down her spine. As she turned to flee again, suddenly, she heard an agonized scream.

Through the gaps in the rockery, Jia Fu saw that Xiao Yintang had somehow managed to get up from the ground.

He stood behind Zhang Fengtong, the broken sword in his hand thrust straight through her back and out through her chest.

Zhang Fengtong’s figure froze. The dagger in her hand fell to the ground with a clink.

Moonlight illuminated her twisted face. Her eyes were fixed, and she slowly turned, whispering, “Crown Prince, you…”

Xiao Yintang’s face was cold as ice. He yanked out the broken sword, and Zhang Fengtong collapsed at his feet. After a moment of struggle, she grew still, one hand still clutching his ankle tightly.

Xiao Yintang pulled his leg away in disgust, kicking her body aside. He tore off a strip of his clothing to bandage his abdominal wound, then looked around and called, “A’Fu, where are you? Come out, I’ll take you away from here.”

Outside, the sounds of fighting suddenly grew louder. The flames rose high, engulfing nearly half the mansion.

“A’Fu! You can’t hide! If you don’t come out now, I won’t be so kind when I find you…”

He continued calling as his footsteps drew nearer. Jia Fu curled herself into a tight ball in the hollow, not daring to breathe.

Finally, the footsteps passed by. Jia Fu was just beginning to calm herself, but before she could breathe a sigh of relief, she felt a chill on the back of her neck, and a voice spoke behind her: “Come out.”

Jia Fu slowly turned her head to see Xiao Yintang standing behind her, his sinister gaze fixed on her hiding place in the moonlight.

Just then, hurried footsteps approached from beyond the hanging flower gate, followed by Liu Jiushao’s voice: “Deposed Crown Prince, you are surrounded! If you surrender now, there might still be a way out for you!”

Xiao Yintang’s figure suddenly stiffened. He turned to look at the torchlight beyond the gate, lost in thought for a moment. Then he bent down, yanked Jia Fu from her hiding place, and held her tightly in his arms. He shouted harshly, “Liu Jiushao, who do you think you are to speak to me? I am the Crown Prince! Go and summon the Emperor! If he comes in person, I’ll accept whatever punishment he gives! Otherwise, do you know who this woman is that was sent into the city the other day? She is in my hands right now. I can die with her, and it would be worth it!”

There was a series of banging sounds at the hanging flower gate as it was forcibly broken open. In the torchlight, Jia Fu saw a figure standing beyond the gate. The flames illuminated his outline—still in armor, his demeanor solemn, his gaze fixed on her.

In that instant, Jia Fu’s heart raced wildly, her eyes burning with tears that threatened to spill over.

Xiao Yintang had set a ten-day deadline, and his letter had revealed his derangement. Having spent years by his side in her previous life, Jia Fu knew his nature well. To prevent him from becoming desperate, she had come alone, hoping only to pacify him.

She had prepared for the worst on this journey, knowing she might not return.

In his previous life, at the last moment of his life, Pei You’an had knowingly drunk poisoned medicine, smiling as he faced death. No one understood better than Jia Fu the shame and deep suffering he had endured because of his birth. When she made her decision, she thought less about the potential chaos and bloodshed that might ensue if the secret was exposed and more about how she could not tolerate the possibility of him becoming the subject of idle gossip.

She could not tolerate it at all. Even if her power was small, even laughable, even if it meant her death, she would do everything in her power to protect him.

“Pei You’an!” Xiao Yintang suddenly cried out.

Pei You’an’s gaze lifted from Jia Fu’s face to his, his eyes profound. He waved his hand, and the soldiers withdrew. Liu Jiushao also retreated, and soon only he remained outside the gate.

The two men stood facing each other across the hanging flower gate.

“Xiao Yintang, if you’re still a man, release her!”

He said, throwing his sword to the ground between them with a clang, then removing his protective armor and discarding it.

The harsh moonlight poured down from the blue sky, casting a straight, slender shadow on the ground.

Xiao Yintang gradually straightened his chest and raised his head, staring at the man outside the gate for a moment. Suddenly, he began to laugh. The laughter grew louder until it became wild, tears streaming from his eyes: “Pei You’an! You took my A’Fu, you took my throne, and now you’ve come to take my life? You, the base-born child of an illicit union! By what right do you contest all this with me? How perfect! Since there is a Yu, why should there be a Liang? It’s time we settle this between us!”

With wild eyes, he pushed Jia Fu away and walked toward Pei You’an. His steps were heavy at first, then suddenly quickened. He bent to grab the sword on the ground. Pei You’an rushed forward, kicking it away. The sword flew from its scabbard. Xiao Yintang lunged desperately, grasping the hilt and gaining possession of the weapon.

With the sword in hand, a cold gleam flashed as the blade thrust toward Pei You’an.

“Fu’er, stay back!” Pei You’an shouted, snatching up the black-gold scabbard from the ground to block the sword. With a dull sound, the scabbard was cut in two.

Jia Fu wiped away the hot tears that spilled from her eyes and got up from the ground. She ran to the fallen Zhang Fengtong, picked up the dagger that had dropped, and rushed back. With a shout, she threw the dagger toward the unarmed Pei You’an.

Almost simultaneously, with a swift sound like thunder, the cold sword slashed across Pei You’an’s arm.

Pei You’an’s momentum did not stop. He leaped and caught the dagger with his other arm.

Jia Fu stood behind a rockery, her eyes wide, watching the two figures fighting to death in the moonlight. Her hands gripped the rocks tightly, barely able to breathe.

An inch longer, an inch stronger. With the sword in hand, it was like a chess game where Xiao Yintang had gained the advantage from the opening move.

The sword’s killing intent was palpable. Each of his strikes was precise and vicious. One moment of carelessness from his opponent would result in injury. Pei You’an avoided more than a dozen lethal attacks, gradually retreating to the wall with nowhere left to go.

“Pei You’an, in your previous life, you were no match for me and died by my hand. In this life, it will be the same!”

“Die!” He sneered, slashing the sword directly down at Pei You’an once more.

Instead of dodging, Pei You’an lunged forward to meet it. With a dull sound, the sword tip pierced deep into his left shoulder. In that same instant, quick as lightning, as the look of satisfaction had not yet faded from Xiao Yintang’s eyes, Pei You’an’s hand flashed back, and the dagger blade was pressed against Xiao Yintang’s throat, accompanied by a flash of blue light swift as lightning.

The cold breath of death instantly enveloped them.

Xiao Yintang’s figure froze suddenly. His eyes widened as he stared at Pei You’an, the two pairs of eyes just inches apart.

“If you have the courage, kill me!” Xiao Yintang’s forehead veins bulged as he gnashed his teeth, speaking each word deliberately.

Pei You’an stared at him for a moment, silent, then exerted pressure, causing the dagger to cut a bloody line across Xiao Yintang’s neck before pressing it against the pulsing major artery on one side.

Just then, another series of hurried footsteps approached from behind. Liu Jiushao, who had withdrawn earlier, now personally escorted a sedan chair forward. The chair stopped nearby, and Li Yuangui lifted the curtain. A figure slowly emerged.

The man wore a blue robe and cloth shoes. He looked ahead and walked in step by step.

Xiao Lie had arrived!

Pei You’an turned to look, his gaze dark. After a long while, he finally slowly released the dagger in his hand, dropping it to the ground. He pulled out the sword still piercing his shoulder and walked toward where Jia Fu stood, his steps faltering.

Jia Fu rushed out from behind the rocks and embraced him tightly, only to feel his body grow heavy against her before he collapsed to the ground.

…

As if waking from a long sleep, Pei You’an slowly opened his eyes to find himself lying on a bed, his wounds bandaged. Outside the window, it was pitch black, while candles burned inside the room. Jia Fu was slumped asleep by the bedside.

Her tired face still bore traces of dried tears.

He gazed at her for a moment, then slowly propped himself up on his arms, trying to sit up. At the slightest movement, Jia Fu’s eyelashes fluttered, and she immediately awoke, straightening up. Opening her eyes, she suddenly met his gaze watching her and froze.

They stared at each other this way.

When her last letter had reached the frontier, Pei You’an had been leading troops in pursuit of nomad cavalry, deep in enemy territory. The letter hadn’t reached him in time. Ten days ago, as he achieved a great victory, capturing several princes and their uncle, he finally received her letter, along with another sent subsequently by Li Yuangui. It stated that the deposed Crown Prince had set a ten-day deadline, his words hinting at madness. To pacify him and prevent desperate action, his wife had gone to Tang Yi, while the Emperor had only awakened three days later and, despite his illness, had also departed for Tang Yi upon learning the news.

Pei You’an’s shock and anger at that moment were indescribable. Regardless of everything else, he traveled day and night, exhausting several fast horses along the way and going days without sleep, finally arriving with his strength completely depleted. When Jia Fu embraced him, he relaxed, could no longer support himself, and collapsed.

He had slept for a day and a night, waking now in the depths of the following night, with Jia Fu by his side all this time.

Jia Fu’s eyes gradually filled with tears. She said softly, “Elder Cousin, are you all right? Doctor Hu said you were too exhausted…”

Pei You’an suddenly reached out and pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly for a long while.

“Fu’er, Xiao Yintang said that in our previous life, I died by his hand. I don’t know what he meant, but I know that in this life, if not for you, I don’t know where I would be now. Before, when I angered the Emperor over the young Emperor’s matter, I left you a letter. Later, you followed me to the frontier, angry that I had abandoned you, demanding I read the letter. I didn’t read it then, but every word in that letter was from my heart. In it, I wrote that the night at Linjiang Prefecture’s post station, when you ran to me, was the beginning of my, Pei You’an’s, happiness in this life.”

“For me, Pei You’an, I would rather face the accusations of thousands, the contempt of ten thousand, than have you suffer the slightest harm.”

“Do you remember my words?”

He released Jia Fu and looked at her, his expression solemn, emphasizing each word.

Jia Fu gazed at him for a long time, then slowly nodded.

Pei You’an lay her down on the pillow and sighed softly: “My foolish Fu’er, sleep now, I’m fine…”

Jia Fu whimpered, burying her face in his chest and wrapping her arms around his waist.

Pei You’an held her tightly for a moment, then lifted her face, bending to gently kiss the tears that kept flowing from the corners of her eyes. His kisses gradually traced down her face until he deeply kissed her lips.

…

In a secret prison cell in the Changle Prince’s mansion, under dim candlelight, Xiao Yintang paced back and forth, his hair disheveled, and iron shackles on his wrists. He howled hysterically, throwing his body against the iron door, and creating loud banging sounds. Finally, exhausted, he collapsed to the ground. As he gasped for breath, the iron door opened, and a figure appeared outside.

Xiao Yintang slowly raised his head, staring intently at the cloaked figure in the doorway. Gradually, his body began to tremble. Suddenly, he crawled up from the ground and knelt.

“Father Emperor, please spare your son. I was wrong—” he pleaded, tears in his eyes, repeatedly kowtowing to the figure.

Xiao Lie stood motionless, looking down at him for a long time before slowly saying, “Yintang, you tried to kill me first. Out of fatherly affection, I spared your life, but your treacherous heart remained unchanged. You colluded with outsiders to rebel. That would have been enough, but today you even…”

His voice trembled slightly, then stopped.

Xiao Yintang ceased his kowtowing and slowly raised his head: “Father Emperor is right to reprimand me, but why don’t you admit your favoritism? Isn’t Pei You’an your son? Am I not as well? You consider his needs in everything, giving him all the best! I asked for the Zhen girl first, and you had already agreed, but when Pei You’an spoke up, you immediately changed your mind! Father Emperor, you favor one and neglect the other—how can you consider me your son at all?”

Xiao Lie replied coldly, “Inverting black and white, confusing right and wrong, insatiable greed—this describes someone like you! When I first ascended the throne, I named you Crown Prince. How have I wronged you? If you had maintained your proper role, why would I have considered deposing you? I deposed you and sent you back to your ancestral lands in Gengzhou, hoping you would reflect and repent. Instead of remorse, you have committed these evil deeds. You have brought about your destruction—how can Heaven be blamed?”

Xiao Yintang stared fixedly at Xiao Lie: “Father Emperor, have you hardened your heart to let your son die?”

Xiao Lie closed his eyes.

Tears welled in Xiao Yintang’s eyes as he shuffled forward on his knees. Suddenly, he roared, “Father Emperor, I was born into an imperial family. I was meant to be Emperor. I cannot accept this, I cannot accept it—”

He sprang to his feet, raising the iron chains high, and lunged at Xiao Lie. As the chains were about to wrap around Xiao Lie, Li Yuangui rushed in from behind. With a dull thud, a blade pierced Xiao Yintang’s chest.

Xiao Yintang’s tall figure collapsed to the ground silently. His body convulsed for a moment, then stopped. Blood slowly seeped from his mouth, his eyes remaining wide open.

Li Yuangui immediately knelt before Xiao Lie.

Xiao Lie kept his eyes closed for a long time, then slowly opened them. His expression was desolate. He did not look at Xiao Yintang’s corpse on the ground but turned and slowly walked forward. After a few steps, he stopped, his body slowly tilting until he leaned against the iron door.

…

The Changle Prince’s rebellion, which had lasted for nearly half a year, was finally quelled.

When the Emperor left the capital, Doctor Hu accompanied the imperial procession. On his advice, the Emperor’s party secretly remained in Tang Yi for several days to recuperate. They were set to return to the capital the following day.

In the evening, Jia Fu brought medicine inside, and together with a palace attendant, helped the Emperor take it. Li Yuangui hurriedly entered, his face showing slight pleasure. He bent down and said quietly to the Emperor: “Your servant has just received reports that all the remnant rebels arranged by the deposed Crown Prince months ago have been identified through interrogation of the Zhang brothers. All have been captured without exception. The secret guards are also closely monitoring all princely mansions; everything is secure.”

After his report, Li Yuangui cast a grateful look toward Jia Fu, nodding to her before standing to the side with his hands clasped.

The Emperor appeared to have fallen asleep.

Hearing this, Jia Fu closed her eyes briefly and slowly exhaled a long breath. She turned to quietly withdraw. As she reached the door, she suddenly heard the Emperor call her: “Lady Zhen.”

Jia Fu stopped in her tracks.

The Emperor slowly opened his eyes, gazing at the golden sunlight filtering through the window lattice. After a moment, he said hoarsely, “You and You’an need not travel with me. Tell him on my behalf that Xiao Yu has been imprisoned on Golden Dragon Island all these years. If he wishes to go, he may do so at any time.”

Having said this, the Emperor closed his eyes again.

Jia Fu slowly knelt and solemnly kowtowed to the Emperor on the couch.