Lian Yue stood frozen in place, seemingly already stunned, her feet rooted to the ground, completely motionless.

She only saw Wu Qing and the others rushing over from behind Wu Yan and the black-clad man, taking in this horrifying scene completely. In the commotion, Su Zhen’s consciousness partially returned, and she drowsily awakened. Seeing the situation, she cried out in alarm, “Wu Yan—”

Behind them, though the black-clad men surged forward menacingly, among the group, Tie Shou, who was somewhat more agile, had already leaped up, wanting to fly over to rescue her. However, the black-clad man had already broken free from Wu Yan’s restraint, and with his free hand that wasn’t holding a sword, he gathered his strength like wind and struck down toward Wu Yan’s head.

Tie Shou was still too far away to intervene in time.

“No…” Whether it was Su Zhen, Lian Yue, or Xiao Zhou’s piercing scream, just as everyone felt despair, a figure in pine-green robes swept in from the direction outside the mausoleum like a great hawk, his form swift as wind. He forcefully intervened, striking the black-clad man’s head with one palm. The black-clad man let out a miserable scream as his skull shattered and brain matter splattered out—he died on the spot.

The figure reached out to catch Wu Yan’s falling body. Gritting his teeth, he pulled the sharp sword from her chest, his hands moving like lightning to seal several major acupoints on her chest, slowing the blood flow. He then took out a bottle from his chest, pouring some powder onto her wound.

He stared intently at the person in his arms, his rough palm trembling as it touched her face. His eyes were bloodshot and fierce, his expression twisted with rage—his entire being seemed to have gone mad.

Wu Yan stared blankly at this person, tears streaming from her eyes. Soon, her gaze settled with a pleading expression on one spot.

The remaining black-clad men had arrived and were once again engaged in fierce battle with Wu Qing and the others. Both sides had casualties, and in their shared grief and anger, all fought with desperate fury. However, the Court of Justice people had been ambushed earlier and all bore wounds, ultimately falling at a disadvantage.

“Save them…” came the weak voice from Wu Yan’s lips.

This person looked deeply at Wu Yan once, then gently laid her flat on the ground. His form flickered, and he had already dropped into the midst of the fighters.

He seemed to have thrown his very life into the battle, not caring about the assassins’ blades piercing his body. As long as they didn’t strike truly vital spots, he paid them no heed, letting the swords thrust through. In an instant, his body bore several sword wounds, but this explosive force was also terrifying—it allowed him to strike even faster. He didn’t even use weapons, killing several men with his bare hands, either crushing their skulls or reaching through their chests to rip out their organs.

This dwelling place of ancestors instantly transformed into a hell of flying blood and flesh, requiring no further action from Wu Qing and the others.

It was once said that this man’s martial arts were supreme under heaven, and now it appeared to be no exaggeration.

The remaining black-clad men were also horrified. Their leader shouted fiercely, “Too dangerous—retreat first!”

The black-clad men received the order and each made feinting sword flourishes, planning to attack with false moves while seeking an opportunity to retreat. However, this man’s eyes were red like a demon’s. Having been roused to killing frenzy, he pressed his attack step by step, unwilling to let a single one escape, killing several more in succession.

Hot blood splattered like flowers, streaming onto his body, thoroughly soaking his robes. It was as if red brocade streamers were draped around his green robes, making him look utterly ghostly.

Everyone watched in stunned silence until he laughed coldly, lifting the bandit leader and the last black-clad man in each hand. Su Zhen startled and urgently shouted, “Huo Chang’an, leave them alive! I need to root out whoever’s behind this!”

Huo Chang’an’s eyes were covered with killing frost, full of murderous intent. Su Zhen looked at him and shook her head forcefully. He let out a long howl and finally put the two men down. Wu Qing and the others also drew their swords like lightning, pointing them at the two men. Zhui Ming grinned viciously and bent down to seal the enemies’ acupoints.

Huo Chang’an rushed back to Wu Yan’s side. However, Lian Yue, not knowing when, had walked over in a daze. A black-clad man on the ground wasn’t completely dead and suddenly leaped up, stabbing toward her, who knew no martial arts—seemingly in revenge. Though Wu Qing was quick-eyed and fast-handed, pulling Lian Yue away, the sword tip still slashed heavily across her chest and abdomen.

“Chang’an…” Lian Yue cried out in pain, choking back tears. Wu Qing supported her while Tie Shou, seeing the villain’s evil deed, his eyes reddened with fury, pierced the man’s neck with one sword thrust, splashing himself with fresh blood.

Huo Chang’an had already rushed back to Wu Yan’s side. He lifted her up, letting her lean against his chest. Wu Yan glanced at Lian Yue and smiled, saying, “I just want to speak a few words with you. Could you… go check on her in a moment?”

Huo Chang’an held her up a bit more, his tiger eyes brimming with tears. Having known each other for many years, this was the first time Wu Yan had seen him cry. That such a person would actually cry! Her heart was startled.

He looked at her, the fierce blood-red in his eyes not yet faded, but showing a trace of strange tenderness. She heard his hoarse voice say, “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay with you forever. Your wound isn’t deep—it’s fine, it’ll be fine, it must be fine, understand?”

Under the black-clad man’s severely wounded strike, his strength had diminished. Having hastily examined the wound earlier, it hadn’t penetrated to vital organs. Though the wound was serious, it could be treated. He had suffered far worse injuries on battlefields and recovered without incident, so she would be fine too!

This wasn’t to comfort her or himself—it was truly the case. But her body was frail unlike his, and medical treatment couldn’t be delayed. He held her tightly and looked up fiercely at Xiao Zhou, shouting, “Get over here and treat her wounds!”

“No, Chang’an, listen to me. I’m not going to make it—I can… feel it myself.” Wu Yan gripped his clothing tightly. Like the assassin whose skull he had shattered earlier, her internal organs ached as if they were about to burst apart, and breathing was becoming increasingly difficult.

Under normal circumstances, faced with such a domineering attitude, Xiao Zhou would certainly have ignored him completely. But at this moment, who would dare delay? He stumbled over quickly. However, before he could begin treatment, he saw Wu Yan’s eyes seemed to be growing unfocused, and a mass of blood foam emerged from the corner of her mouth—not bright red, but dark and congealed like black. His heart secretly alarmed, and as if blessed with divine inspiration, he blurted out, “Marquis Huo, you should speak some good words with Her Ladyship.”

Huo Chang’an felt his heart grow stuffy, as if that heart had been pulled right out of him, leaving him completely empty.

“How can this be? How can this be?” he murmured, as if asking himself, and as if asking her.

“Why were you so foolish just now? Ah!”

He suddenly questioned her fiercely, and as he spoke, he actually began to cry aloud.

Wu Yan thought that this outcome was quite good. She had never imagined they could be so close together, not confronting each other, not at daggers drawn, but actually having a conversation. She struggled to extend her hand to touch his face. “I’m not so virtuous. It’s just that, given the situation just now, either we both died together, or there was still one chance. Since that was the case, why wouldn’t I choose the good outcome? It also lets you feel guilty—isn’t that quite nice? But actually, you really don’t need to feel guilty. Regarding my mother’s matter, I owed you and your wife a debt of gratitude. Besides, I had been seriously ill before—I had a premonition that I wouldn’t live long.”

Huo Chang’an, I truly love you more than you think. You love her, so I’m fulfilling that for you. I used to think that if fate let me choose again, I would still choose this way. But now, if everything could start over, perhaps I would wait for you to return from the battlefield. Perhaps we could have found a solution together.

But why tell you these things? Why make you feel guilty? Just live well like this. Even if the one you love is no longer me.

I’m tired. This way is good.

She smiled slightly, the corners of her eyes lifting slightly as she bid farewell to Su Zhen in the distance. Her hand slowly fell from his face, and those dark, bright eyes looking at him made her remember the cuju field, when they were all still young—Lian Yu, A Luo, Shuangcheng, Lian Jie, Lian Qin, Lian Xin, herself, him, and even Lian Yue.

She seemed to see him kicking the leather ball away, then walking toward her with that roguish smile…

Xiao Zhou knelt down and felt for her breath, then slowly shook his head.

Huo Chang’an just watched her smile and draw her last breath in his arms. The fresh blood at the corners of her mouth was like the most beautiful rouge.

But he hadn’t had time to tell her what was in his heart.

Everyone was so heavy-hearted they couldn’t make a sound, until Su Zhen covered her mouth and burst into sobs.

She crawled over to the two of them and grasped Wu Yan’s hand.

Lian Yue was supported by Wu Qing and Tie Shou. She stared blankly as Huo Chang’an gently kissed the corpse’s forehead.

How could this person just die like this!

This person couldn’t die!

She had never wanted her to die. She couldn’t just die like this—the dead become moonlight, while the living become mosquito blood.

She suddenly felt somewhat afraid. Huo Chang’an would definitely feel guilty. She had spent so much time finally gaining his love, his heart—she had deceived this woman. Between her and Huo Chang’an, there wasn’t the happiness they showed in public. It was just that in front of others, he gave her plenty of face, or perhaps it should be said he was simultaneously provoking this woman. Every time they entered and left the palace, he accompanied her just to show this woman.

Between them was actually an agreement.

She would occasionally ask him if he still remembered that agreement.

She was actually afraid that he remembered.

The day she managed to drive this woman out of the residence, she had asked him if their former agreement still counted.

She would always remember—when he returned from the battlefield, Wei Wu Yan was getting married. She used the honor of the Murong clan to force him to marry her.

He smiled and asked, if he truly married her but never touched her for his whole life, would she still be happy?

She put a dagger to her throat and told him that if he dared make her a widow, she would die.

That night, she deliberately entered his military tent. At that time, his mind was unclear, but he had indeed treated her like a camp prostitute. She knew that his ability to achieve the fame of a prince was largely due to the Murong clan’s cultivation. If she died, her mother and younger brother would definitely demand justice from the Murong clan and from Lian Yu. Before the world, the proud Murong clan couldn’t afford to lose such face. They had known each other before, and their friendship was not shallow. Having taken her purity, even knowing it was a scheme, he would not be without guilt.

He wouldn’t watch her die.

Indeed, in his despair and for all these reasons, he agreed. This was perhaps the tragedy of these imperial children—each bore their own dynastic responsibilities.

But she would make him happy.

Who knew that on their wedding night, he would make a seven-year pact with her. He said that night she had schemed first, and he had erred second. He would repay her for one night with seven years of married affection. Unless he fell in love with her by then and they had children together, otherwise, no matter how many times she died, after seven years, he would still divorce her.

He said that thus he would fulfill his moral duty and no longer owe anything to the Murong clan or the Great Zhou imperial family.

He treated her well, and they had much to talk about. It was just that he perhaps still blamed her in his heart. Half the time he slept in his concubines’ quarters, and when he was with her, he only touched her once each month, fulfilling his marital duty. Beyond that, no matter how she tried to seduce him, he always exercised great restraint, not letting her become pregnant.

She suffered and grieved, but having already forced him to consummate their marriage, could she demand that he frequently make love with her? She was a princess—having already abandoned all self-respect for loving him, she couldn’t lose even this last bit of a daughter’s dignity.

Until that night in Minzhou, when the dew was heavy and he came back from outside, she passionately invited him, and for the first time, he didn’t refuse. She seized the opportunity to ask him for a child.

After experiencing the Minzhou case and the palace confrontation, he treated her even better. One night, when he said he would bring Wei Wu Yan back, she cried, and he comforted her for the first time, personally carrying her back to her room.

Later, he even drove Wei Wu Yan out of the residence for her sake. Yesterday, he had acted against Seventh Brother for her. She could see that what she had done after their marriage had subtly and gradually changed him. Her efforts over these years had been worthwhile.

She didn’t know why he had come here. And Wei Wu Yan had died by coincidence. This time, he must be heartbroken. There must still be a place for her in his heart, which was why he couldn’t even care about her abdominal wound. This time, how many years would it take to heal the wound in his heart?

What Wei Wu Yan did was beyond her expectations. She had been moved at the time too. It was just that she understood—this person was using death to bind Huo Chang’an’s heart.

But Huo Chang’an’s greatest love was no longer for her. No matter how much time it took, she would stay with him.

Ignoring her pain, she broke free from Wu Qing and Tie Shou and walked toward Huo Chang’an step by step. She spoke gently, “Chang’an, look, Wu Yan is dead, and my heart also feels very sad. But Wu Yan wouldn’t want to see you heartbroken and grieving for her.”

She smiled bitterly, enduring the pain as she crouched down and touched Wu Yan’s shoulder. “Thank you. I will be good with Chang’an. Rest assured—”

“Get away! Who gave you permission to touch her! You are the person she hated most. I won’t let you touch her—get away!” Before she could finish speaking, there came a roar of rage. Huo Chang’an suddenly lifted his head, holding Wu Yan tightly. His eyes gleamed with the fierce light of a tiger or wolf, so malicious, so bloodthirsty, like two sharp arrows shooting at her face, as if she dared touch this corpse and he would tear her to pieces!

She was so shocked she fell backward to the ground, her heart seeming pierced by those arrows. She stared at him in a daze. “Chang’an, how can you treat me this way? I’m still carrying your child, I’m wounded, our child might already be gone. I know you’re in pain, but haven’t you put my wounds and pain in your eyes at all?”

Huo Chang’an’s eyes had been crazed and mad, but upon hearing this, his bloodshot, murky eyes actually showed a trace of cold laughter.

“Lian Yue, how could you possibly have my child? Even if you did, it couldn’t possibly be my offspring.”

Lian Yue was furious. She looked at him coldly. “Didn’t you lie with me? Wasn’t all that pillow talk real? But that was you, Huo Chang’an! You’re not ignorant of my feelings for you. No matter what, I could never betray you. If it’s not your child, then tell me—whose child is this?”

Huo Chang’an laughed. “Then there is no child. Do you know? Before marrying you, I had the old abbot prepare a medicine. After drinking this medicine, I appeared no different from ordinary men, but I could never have children again.”

Lian Yue’s whole body shook. She stared at him in disbelief. “You’re mad! That can’t be true. How could you cut off the Huo family line?”

At this, except for Su Zhen who was still sobbing, all the Court of Justice people showed expressions of shock.

Huo Chang’an looked up and laughed loudly. “So what if it’s cut off? Since she was unwilling to bear my children, what did I need descendants for! I originally had nothing to care about anyway.”

“You pretended to feel unwell over a month ago, hoping to make me think you were truly pregnant, so that when we made love in the future, I wouldn’t be cautious anymore. Thus, perhaps you could quickly become pregnant for real. Later, when she came over, you had the imperial physician announce your pregnancy.”

With every word he spoke, it was as if someone was drilling holes in her brain and heart with something sharp. That dull, slow pain made her feel pain throughout her entire body. She kept shaking her head, then suddenly stood up, pointing at him and screaming shrilly, “Fine about the child, but how could all the kindness you showed me be fake? That night in Minzhou, you showed me endless love and stopped worrying about children; in the palace, you protected me and hurt her; and that night when you said you’d bring her into the residence, I cried sadly and you coaxed me with gentle words; you drove her out of the Huo residence for me, you almost fought with my brother for me; last night you even forgot yourself and showed affection with me in front of the household…”

“Could all these things be fake? I know she’s dead and you’re heartbroken because you never had her. But you can’t deny everything between us just because she’s dead. Chang’an, it’s just death. If you say you want me to die, I can give you my life without blinking an eye…” As she spoke, she began to laugh, and while laughing, she began to cry again.

This was also the first time in many years that Lian Yue had cried so heart-wrenchingly.

Huo Chang’an held Wu Yan tightly with one hand while fiercely pressing his other hand to his temple. In his fierce and cold eyes, a trace of smile suddenly appeared.

A very gentle smile.

“Yes, my usual treatment of you was sincere. No matter what, it was I who ruined your purity. If you hadn’t schemed against me, you and I should have been intimate friends. I do like you. But what you just mentioned—none of that was real. That night in Minzhou, I secretly went to see her and heard her say she had Lian Yu in her heart. Only then did I lose control in rage. When you were held hostage by her in the palace, I still harbored anger toward her, and I was afraid she would give my aunt ammunition against her. Even with Lian Yu’s protection, I feared that angering my aunt would make her palace life difficult, so I cruelly injured her hand. The night you cried, I deliberately performed for her to see, because I had already heard her presence.”

“I said long ago that I brought her back to the residence to make her jealous. When I said I was tired, those words were all true, but the part about letting go was a lie to deceive her. I wanted her to taste what I experienced every time I entered the palace. Her imperial palace, my marquis residence—don’t you find the situations remarkably familiar? They were just switched around. I wanted her to care about me, wanted her to understand how difficult it is to perform a one-person play.”

“The matter with Zhu Xin and Pingping—I know those were your schemes. I don’t know how you could calculate so precisely, but I trust she would never harm you. This person is hatefully proud, but precisely because of this, she could never harm you. Actually, even if she wanted to harm you, I would stop her, but I would be even happier, because that would mean she cared about me.”

“But when I saw her heartbroken and desperate, though I was overjoyed, my heart softened first. I couldn’t bear to see her sad. I went along with the plan and sent her to Li Huaisu’s place, letting her friend take care of her so she wouldn’t overthink things. This way I could wholeheartedly go save her mother. Lian Yu and I had long ago secretly devised a plan—only by doing the opposite could we escape Wei Chenghui’s threats.”

“Wei Chenghui must have spies in my residence, but we don’t know who they are. Perhaps servants or lackeys, perhaps someone deeply hidden—who knows? Only if this plan was known by just Lian Yu and me could it be secure. This way everyone could show their true emotions. My treating her badly served two purposes: first, to make her learn to love me; second, to let Wei Chenghui see and thoroughly believe that I had fallen in love with you and given up on her, making him feel the Fifth Madam had no more value. How could he not be angry? But with this useless daughter not in his hands and unable to deal with her, the most likely thing he would do would be to vent his anger on her mother. Whether he personally acted or sent someone else, as long as he made any move, the hundreds of scouts we had stationed around his residence—my people, Lian Yu’s people—would act. Every servant entering and leaving the Wei residence had scouts closely following, guaranteeing no fish slipped through the net. Thus we could follow the trail and find her mother.”

“As for my hitting Lian Jie yesterday, it was because he dared touch my woman. When you went to your mother last night, I took the opportunity to go see her at the Court of Justice. Ever since she left the marquis residence, I went to see her secretly almost every night, because I knew she fell ill as soon as she left the residence. Just as I used to, I spent countless nights using lightness skills to secretly explore the imperial palace. If Lian Yu hadn’t come to her chambers, I would lie down quietly beside her like a madman, leaving at dawn. Do you finally understand what I bought those concubines for?”

“Among them, I liked Zhu Xin most, because that girl’s temperament was somewhat similar to hers.”

“Yesterday, after your precious brother’s interference, I couldn’t contain myself and secretly went to see her. I knew Lian Jie would come today, so after you left, I came over…”

At this point, his voice was already hoarse beyond measure. He seemed tired too and unwilling to continue speaking. He lowered his head and gazed blankly at the face of the woman in his arms, extending his sleeve to wipe clean the dirt from the corners of her mouth, then lovingly smoothing every wrinkle in her clothes.

Lian Yue seemed not to recognize him, backing away step by step. Her throat was bitter and parched—she couldn’t squeeze out a single word. She looked down at her own false belly, feeling this was the greatest irony!

She knew why she had loved him—because he was like her, someone who could go mad for love.

If this love had been given to each other, they would certainly have been the happiest, most joyful couple. Unfortunately, her madness was given to him, but his… was given to another woman.

But she didn’t want to separate from him. He was her very life. She had completely abandoned her dignity as a princess. She cried and begged him, “Chang’an, let’s start over, all right? Wu Yan is already dead, dead… I love you, I truly love you… Tell me you love me too…”

Huo Chang’an looked at Wu Yan again. For some unknown reason, his hard-featured mouth showed a trace of faint smile, a gentle expression. His demeanor seemed to have completely regained clarity, no longer the crazed and mad state of before.

He looked toward Lian Yue and smiled. “Perhaps. I’m not entirely without love for you. It’s just that compared to her, it’s nothing at all. From when she left the palace to recuperate, I set my sights on her. Take good care of yourself. We no longer owe you anything.”

“Li Huaisu, to prevent today’s events from leaking out, seal the mausoleum and keep everyone here for five days. I believe that with Lian Yu’s capabilities, he can certainly rescue the person within five days. After I die, burn my body together with hers and bury us together. From then on, she will have me in her, and I will have her in me. She lived a lonely, bitter life—I want to accompany her forever. Thank you.”

Su Zhen was already overwhelmed with grief and pain. Hearing their conversation, she thought that deep love indeed brings short life, and fate plays cruel tricks. If any of these people hadn’t loved so madly, the ending might have been completely different. She was crying herself into a stupor when she heard this and was greatly alarmed. Though she was closest to Huo Chang’an, her speed was not as quick as Wu Qing and the others. Four figures had already rushed toward Huo Chang’an’s direction.

Lian Yue cried out in great grief, “No!”

But Huo Chang’an had already resolved to die and wouldn’t let the others save him. Just as the others moved, he had already lifted Wu Yan, touched his feet to the ground, and like a loach, used supreme lightness skills to slip several steps away.

Without hesitation, he held Wu Yan tightly with one hand while gathering his strength with the other to strike fiercely at his own skull.

Thank you for reading. This is the update for chapters 21 and 22.