Suzhen looked at him calmly. When she made this choice, she knew she was doomed to die. She was afraid, but she had no regrets.

Wei Chenghui coldly ordered, “Clear everyone out of the hall, see if they’re all dead. Feng Suzhen, what audacity you have to deceive this old man! I’ll make you watch these people die one by one before your eyes.”

Suzhen’s heart tightened. Soon, several elite soldiers entered and dragged out one person from inside, throwing him beside Suzhen.

“Only one person?” Wuliang suddenly spoke, then laughed, “This poor Daoist understands now. We divided into three groups, and so did they. What a clever girl—this poor Daoist truly underestimated you. The Emperor was here all along and only left later, right?”

He leaned close to Wei Chenghui’s ear and said a few words. Upon hearing this, sparks of fury blazed in Wei Chenghui’s eyes! But Suzhen paid no more attention—her eyes were fixed on Ming Yanchu who had fallen beside her.

He had become a bloody mess, his skin torn and protruding through his clothes. Whether he had been struck by four or five swords, Suzhen couldn’t count clearly, but he was clearly breathing more in than out.

“Eunuch Ming, I’m sorry.”

“Lian Qin, I’m sorry.” She turned toward Lian Qin again. If she didn’t speak now, there might be no more chances.

Lian Qin could no longer answer her. Lian Jie’s eyes held shallow tears, and seeing this, he couldn’t help but speak, “Huaisu, why do you need to apologize to us? Originally we were all going to perish completely, but now at least Sixth Brother and the others have escaped—I’m happy in my heart. Lian Qin, Little Chu, and the others feel the same… In the next life, if there’s still a chance, I will definitely repay you. For all the offenses in the past—”

Before he could finish, Wei Chenghui’s face turned cold, and he thrust his sword viciously toward Suzhen’s chest—Suzhen didn’t close her eyes, staring at him coldly. She knew this moment would eventually come. Whether as Minister Feng’s daughter or as Lian Yu’s wife, she would never show the slightest trace of fear!

“Puff”—that was the sound of blade entering flesh—but the pain didn’t fall upon her. Instead, her body suddenly became heavy. She started, then instinctively looked down at herself. Ming Yanchu, his face covered in blood, looked up at her, “Magistrate Li, it’s we who… are sorry to you. You, a mere woman, shouldn’t have suffered this hardship. Regarding Ji Fufeng’s matter, this slave… was blind and foolish, sorry… to you. This slave will serve… you and the Emperor in the next… life…”

He used his last strength to spray a mouthful of blood from his mouth, then collapsed sideways on the ground, his eyes looking upward with bone-deep hatred for Wei Chenghui, yet the corners of his mouth curved in a slight arc.

From some unknown source of strength, he had blocked this fatal blow for her, and in the end still maintained a servant’s duty, moving his body to the ground, refusing to die upon her.

Life is sometimes too fragile, sometimes quite tenacious.

This man had once spoken harshly to her because of Lian Yu’s words, but had always treated her well—he was a warm-hearted person… Suzhen cried out loudly. This stab hurt more than if it had pierced her own body, tears seeming hot enough to burn, scorching her entire being!

But Lian Jie looked at Wei Chenghui with backbone, sneering coldly, “Another one eliminated! Good, old thief Wei, come for me next. Bullying a defenseless woman—what kind of hero are you? Using such despicable methods to seize the throne, you hypocrite aren’t even worthy of holding Quan Feitong’s shoes, that honest villain!”

Wei Wujun viciously slapped this noble prince across the face. Lian Jie spat out blood but still laughed loudly, his eyes like blazing fire, glaring at the Wei family members before him.

Wei Chenghui didn’t get angry but smiled instead, “Lian Jie, aren’t you always proud? Want to die? Don’t worry, this old man will certainly fulfill your wish. I’ll have you and Lian Qin taken to the busiest place in the capital—didn’t you once ride fine horses in splendid clothes there in your youth? I’ll have the executioner perform the death by a thousand cuts on you then, slicing you into meat frames! Let the people see—this is the retribution for your father’s despicable usurpation. You filthy little bastards!”

“Nonsense!” Suddenly laughter rang out from the hall.

Wei Chenghui looked coldly and discovered the one laughing was none other than Suzhen.

“Please don’t paint your actions as a righteous army. The late Emperor was greatly at fault, but the succeeding Emperor is diligent and loves his people. This country is stable and prosperous. You, for personal gain, claim to restore order, but you bring disaster to this country and its people. Dare you say your worthless heir can do better than the current Emperor after taking the throne? What kind of servants reflect what kind of master! For victory’s sake, not treating surrendered soldiers and common people’s lives as lives—despicable? Filthy? Grand Tutor Wei, search your conscience—among all the people you know, is there anyone dirtier than you? I finally understand why my father evaluated you as he did back then. You think you’ve won? From the moment you used trickery to kill him, you already lost, because in an honorable contest, you couldn’t defeat him!”

She lifted her head as she spoke, laughing and cursing. Though just a girl and a dying person, her eyes shone unusually bright with an imposing spirit.

Wei Chenghui nodded, squeezing out a few words through his tightly pressed lips, “Good, very good. This old man will see how the entire Feng family, all dead, can still be stubborn, how they can win against me!”

Seeing him grab Suzhen’s wounded shoulder and violently lift her from the ground, Wuliang’s eyes gleamed with calculation as he spoke, “Grand Tutor, shouldn’t we keep this girl’s life? After all, Lian Yu loves her more than life itself—with her in hand, he’ll definitely return!”

“No, the Young Master is returning soon. I cannot leave this evil creature behind! Moreover, sir, why should we boost others’ morale while destroying our own prestige?” Wei Chenghui said in a deep voice, then smiled slightly as he looked at Suzhen, “There are some things you don’t know yet. Murong’s army attacked the city tonight—both Murong Ding and Huo Chang’an died in battle. Also, your Magistrate Court’s Zhuiming is dead too.”

“What did you say?” Suzhen’s heart plummeted suddenly.

Wei Chenghui’s eyes revealed a malicious gleam of keen interest.

The scenes before the city gates flashed before his eyes again.

Huo Chang’an and Murong Ding suddenly attacked with twenty thousand troops, their assault unusually fierce with a desperate momentum. Initially, their army was caught completely off guard.

He had originally thought this was because the two couldn’t bear Lian Yu’s non-fighting approach and had come to provoke.

However, during the fierce battle, scouts reported that Lian Yu’s remaining forces had withdrawn from the capital.

He suddenly understood—these two were the vanguard, here to contain them, with the purpose of letting the main force leave safely! Otherwise, once he received the news, he would certainly send troops to attack and would never allow them to leave the capital. But now, he could only watch helplessly as they departed!

Lian Yu had truly abandoned Feng Suzhen’s life and death!

He felt rage boiling over, wishing he could dismember this person, yet kept his expression unchanged and tried to win over Wuqing, “Brother Wuqing, that Zhuiming doesn’t treat you as a brother at all—why bother with him? Today you’ve already achieved great merit. Work with Minister Si to kill all these remnants clean. If you can also kill Huo Chang’an, that would be even better. Don’t disappoint the Young Master’s expectations.”

“Lanfeng, Huo Chang’an is already severely wounded—this place is yours to handle.”

After saying this, he immediately called to Si Lanfeng, then led a squad of elite soldiers and rode away.

The overall situation here was decided. Huo Chang’an was severely wounded and near death. Unless there were immortals to rescue him, otherwise with wolves and tigers before and behind, he was doomed. But were there immortals in this world?

He absolutely could not let Feng Suzhen escape. As long as one member of the Feng family remained alive, they would forever be a thorn in his heart.

…

He recounted these scenes bit by bit to Suzhen. Suzhen’s shoulder wound was viciously gripped by him, blood flowing like a stream. Her lips were snow-white, yet she only stared blankly ahead as if losing focus.

“Wuqing he… Zhuiming, Chang’an… what are you saying…”

But the vermillion palace walls ahead stretched endlessly and wouldn’t answer her.

Yet she seemed to understand something. Her brother had perhaps been by her side all along from beginning to end—Wuqing, who like his brother loved eating pot stickers, hehe.

He was taking revenge in his own way.

Feng Shaoying, why didn’t you come find me, let me speak to you once? Hatred has blinded your reason.

Huo Chang’an—how should she explain to Wuyan? And Zhuiming, her good brother Zhuiming, had lost his life for her!

Why, even at death, must she endure the pain of life and death separation once more?

“Father, why did you let me live back then? I would rather it wasn’t me who survived. I hurt so much, I hurt so much…” Her head felt ready to split. She held her head and screamed. A warm wetness slowly flowed down from between her legs, soaking her skirt. But she was already covered in blood—no one would notice or care.

The hatred and rage in Wei Chenghui’s heart finally found peace. Torturing a person’s body was merely inferior strategy—it was best to crush her from the heart! He dragged her to the entrance gate and pointed at the night sky that was like a vast sea yet boundless without end, “Lose? Feng Suzhen, the victor is king and the loser a bandit. History is written by the victors. So what if you and Minister Feng speak righteously of serving country and people? Hundreds of years later, the Great Zhou will only preserve the legend of how my Wei clan endured humiliation and assisted the orphan of our benefactor back to the throne. Quan Feitong, Lian Yu—they’re merely strokes of ink in our biographies. What is your Feng family? Treacherous rebels!”

“Just now there was that eunuch to save you, but this time, let me see who can save you! Lian Yu rescued you, and you rescued him in return. If not for you, tonight Lian Yu would certainly die and the overall situation would be completely settled! You, like your father, truly deserve to die!” His gaze was fierce as he grabbed her hair and violently smashed her head against the wall.

Even Wei Wulei, who had considerable courage, seeing Suzhen’s head bleeding profusely, though feeling satisfaction, was also frightened by her blood-covered appearance and stepped back slightly.

“Wei Chenghui, let her go! Let go!” Lian Jie frantically tried to break free from Yu Jinglun’s restraint but was punched in the stomach.

“Wei Chenghui, if you want to kill or torture someone, don’t target a woman—come at me!” Chao Huang’s eyes also reddened as he shouted angrily. Wei Wuxia murmured, “Magistrate Li, I’m sorry, it’s me, it’s all me who harmed you all…”

Wei Chenghui sneered, “You two wait. If not for the sake of Wei Wuxia’s grandfather, how could this old man spare you today!”

“Feng Suzhen, the capital’s gates are sealed. No matter what heavenly abilities Lian Yu has, he absolutely cannot escape the capital region. I will definitely root him out! You can die today with eyes wide open.” After saying this, he drew his sword and thrust it forcefully toward Suzhen’s heart.

But Suzhen had already become numb… In any case, Lian Yu had already escaped safely. She trusted him—he would definitely turn defeat into victory again. She would thereby repay Zhuiming and Huo Chang’an’s lives, redeeming this sin for Feng Shaoying.

Yet this time, Wei Chenghui’s sword still couldn’t take her life.

The moonlit night was silent, the surroundings as quiet as death.

Suddenly someone leaped in from the hall entrance. His brows were raised as he reached out to grab the blade, blood flowing down his pale palm. A small knife shot out rapidly from his other hand, directly targeting Wei Chenghui’s face. Just as Wei Chenghui dodged in shock, he tightly grasped Suzhen’s hand and rushed out.

Originally this would have been absolutely impossible, but everyone present was too shocked—they only reacted after a moment.

Because this person had a jade-like countenance, noble bearing, wearing only undergarments with half his body red, with two arrowheads still embedded in his chest and abdomen.

He should have hidden or left, but he had returned.

“Pursue!” Wei Chenghui exploded in rage. With one command, everyone awakened as from a dream and chased after Wei Chenghui. Even Mao and Yu dragged the Lian brothers out to witness this shocking change.

Outside the entire front hall, only the Chao and Wei couple remained unable to move, sitting in place watching helplessly.

…

In her ears was the howling wind rushing past, her chest aching from rapid running. Yet Suzhen seemed to come alive. Her heart raged with indescribable pain, her questioning voice hoarse, “Why did you come back? Who wanted to die? It was all to let you live and get out! Lian Yu, I… aren’t you foolish?”

He led her running toward the direction of the imperial city exit. Because they were running, he watched the road ahead and couldn’t look at her. The starlight couldn’t penetrate his profile. She only heard him smile slightly, “All of us tonight were originally destined to die—it was Zhener’s brilliance that saved me. In Lian Yu’s heart, you are as important as this country. You are my life. I cannot let you go, cannot watch you die before my eyes.”

“But even if you came back to save me, I’m still going to die, and you’re throwing yourself away too. Fool, why bother? I’m unwilling, I don’t want you to die…” she choked.

“Zhener, actually I…” He spoke then stopped, finally only smiling, “Promise me, live well. You’ll understand the meaning of my saving you—you won’t die. You’ll live until your teeth loosen and hair whitens. In Lian Yu’s heart, no matter what I do for you, you’re worth it.” He seemed to be listening intently to something, suddenly embraced her and leaped forward with all his might, then pressed her tightly beneath him.

Suzhen heard the sound of arrow blades entering flesh.

Two arrows, three arrows, four arrows… or how many more? She stopped counting later, only heard Lian Jie’s heart-rending cry of “Sixth Brother,” then there was no more sound.

But she knew Wei Chenghui and Wuliang approached and stabbed him sword by sword. They originally wanted to kick him away, but he held her too tightly—they couldn’t separate them for a moment.

Some blades penetrated his body and also slightly pierced her flesh—not deep, and didn’t hurt. Even deeper wouldn’t hurt.

When the heart aches to the extreme, nothing else in the world matters.

From then on, nothing could hurt her anymore. She knew this. As long as she didn’t die.

Finally, he was still lifted by Wuliang and Wei Wujun and thrown aside. Wei Chenghui raised his sword to stab her.

She no longer had an ounce of strength yet still propped herself up bit by bit, crawling backward. The tears in her eyes had dried up, her mind containing only a few words: until teeth loosen and hair whitens… escape, revenge!

Until teeth loosen and hair whitens… escape, revenge!

But Wei Chenghui’s sword still chopped down.

Arrow sounds broke through the air once more!

At the same time, a clear voice resonated deeply in the night sky, “Teacher, stay your blade.”

The blade fell from Wei Chenghui’s bleeding hand, his complexion extremely ugly.

Over ten riders galloped in from the imperial city gates, quickly stopping beside her. The arrivals dismounted one by one, and she could also see their faces clearly. She wasn’t unshocked, yet she remained very calm.

The first four people were all old acquaintances.

Si Lanfeng was one thing, but the other two were women—one in red clothes, one in a white dress. The red one was Miaoyin, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time, Miss Miao, daughter of the Wei Kingdom’s Prime Minister. The white one was Li Zhaoting’s current sweetheart, Gu Xiluo, who was once Lian Yu’s beloved. And the last one—she suddenly wanted to laugh. This was her first time seeing him in martial armor. In her heart, he was always an elegant young master in white robes pure as snow. He was also once the one in her heart.

Li Zhaoting.