Chu Feihuan, silent as a jade carving, immediately raised his hand to stop Qin Chang Ge’s shameless wandering claw, shaking his head silently.

Qin Chang Ge also shook her head and said sadly in a soft voice: “Brother Chu, I know your heart is dead as ash and you no longer wish to concern yourself with worldly grudges and resentments. But I don’t believe you’re willing to carry the name of traitor to your grave when you meet Empress Ruiyi underground. The Empress herself would certainly not want you to bear false accusations for life and die without vindication. This is your only chance to clear your name. For the Empress, for yourself, you cannot remain indifferent.”

Chu Feihuan tilted his head listening, his calm gaze slightly shifting. After thinking, he slowly released his hand.

He began unfastening his collar himself.

Qin Chang Ge smiled and let go, watching Qi Fan and the other, saying: “You must have heard the legends of Li Country’s royal family. Li Country’s royalty claims to be descendants of deep-sea dragons, and their descendants indeed have features different from ordinary people. Most obviously, all male members of Li Country’s royal family have birthmarks like golden scales on their bodies. They call these dragon scales, divine mandate from heaven—violators face misfortune. This is a miracle known to all, deeply believed by the people. Because of this, no matter how chaotic Li Country’s politics become or how incompetent the rulers are, few can replace them.”

As she spoke, Chu Feihuan had already unfastened his collar. Below his collarbone, above his heart, a small patch of slightly golden birthmark was clearly visible—shaped like a lively fish swishing its tail, with lustrous color that had a burning, bewitching beauty against his pale skin.

Qi Fan could no longer speak.

Rong Xiaotian stood dazed, his face deathly pale, sweat rolling down his forehead.

After a long while, he said hoarsely: “On the bridge… on the bridge he said he was sorry to the Empress…”

“Such a cruel twist of fate…” Qin Chang Ge sighed. Even with her strong will, she couldn’t help but feel saddened by fate’s cruelty. “If I’m not mistaken, that day Master Chu received a secret message, and because it came from his homeland after all, it would be false to say he wasn’t concerned. He probably went to meet them? Then was delayed from some preparations he could have made in advance? So you felt you had failed the Empress? I can’t guess all the details, but there must be hidden circumstances, right?”

After a long silence, Chu Feihuan said: “That day I was restless. I originally wanted to go to the palace to see her, to have her be well-prepared and cautious. Then I received the secret message. At the time I thought perhaps my unease was because something had happened in my country, that Father was being controlled? Rather than her being in danger? So I didn’t think much of it and went to see the messenger first. The result… I did fail her.”

“The eunuch you met outside the palace gate wasn’t actually from Xiliang’s palace, was he?” Qin Chang Ge couldn’t bear to look at those two men’s faces anymore, knowing they could no longer say anything. She simply asked clearly on their behalf to completely clear Chu Feihuan’s name.

“Yes and no,” Chu Feihuan paused before answering. “He was from Li Country but grew up in Xiliang. He was my third brother’s spy planted in Xiliang. On the day of the incident, when I was rescuing Rong’er from the palace, the delay at the palace gate was because I went to find him. I wanted him to help investigate clues about this matter. In the following days when I frequently went out, it was partly to reply to my brother’s messengers who kept urging me to return home, and partly to contact him. That night at the palace gate, I went to see him.”

Qin Chang Ge asked: “Is there proof?”

“His surname is Ou, actually Ouyang. Ouyang is a major surname in Li Country. He dropped the last character of his surname to hide his identity when he entered the palace. This person has fair skin, eyebrows set wide apart, lively eyes, and is quite young. He originally served in Consort Hua’s palace, but later the favored Concubine Rou requested him. Now I don’t know which palace he’s in, but if you don’t believe me, you can investigate.”

With a slight sigh, Chu Feihuan said: “Fearing the late Empress would blame me, she didn’t know about these matters.”

Yes, it was Little Ou, the young eunuch who came to report the night Jin Yun was beaten to death. He had originally been a managing eunuch under Consort Hua, but Concubine Rou took a fancy to him and manipulated the Empress Dowager into transferring him. After arriving, for some unknown minor reason, he fell out of Concubine Rou’s favor and was demoted to a menial eunuch. Remarkably, he remained unperturbed by favor or disgrace, never complaining and staying very dutiful.

Nodding, Qin Chang Ge said: “Yes, I know this person.”

With these words, those two men’s faces turned even paler.

Deathly silence.

Rigid stillness.

Even the air seemed to thicken like mud due to this heavy silence, becoming tighter and more viscous, making breathing labored, heartbeats gradually slow, sinking into an abyss with no light of day.

After a long while, Qi Fan smiled miserably.

Rong Xiaotian stamped his feet, not daring to look at Chu Feihuan, and with a shake of his wrist, raised his sword horizontally.

But Qi Fan grabbed him.

Glaring angrily at Qi Fan, Rong Xiaotian cursed: “Why are you stopping me? Have you forgotten our oath that day? If you want to live on shamefully, that’s up to you—don’t drag me down!”

“You still have this explosive temper—if not for this, how could we have…” Qi Fan smiled bitterly. “But am I any better than you? Don’t be hasty. You want to die, I won’t stop you, but you still have something left to do.”

Rong Xiaotian was stunned. Qi Fan said sadly: “Dying is easy, but what right do we have to harm someone to this extent, say nothing, admit no fault, and think we can settle everything by slitting our throats?”

Rong Xiaotian suddenly understood. “I was careless.” Without another word, he strode over, dropped to his knees with a thud, threw back his head and said loudly: “I don’t ask for your forgiveness—I only do this for my own peace of mind. With things said to this point, even without full verification, we brothers know we certainly wronged you. A real man dares to act and take responsibility. I was wrong—I kowtow to you in apology!”

He knocked his head on the ground three times—bang, bang, bang—loud and heavy. Chu Feihuan had already turned his wheelchair to avoid him, pursing his lips as he looked out the window. His profile was thin and elegant, his expression gazing at the remaining flowers on the branches outside helpless and melancholy.

Qi Fan also came over and said with a faint smile: “My brother kowtows not to gain your forgiveness and ease his conscience—you know this in your heart.” He also kowtowed three times. When finished, both men stood up, looked at each other, and smiled.

In unison they said: “Good brother, see me off!”

The golden mace flashed brilliantly with thousands of scattered lights, whistling as it smashed toward Rong Xiaotian’s skull!

The long sword’s cold edge, countless star-points, screamed as it stabbed toward Qi Fan’s heart!

Merciless killing moves without an ounce of hesitation or delay.

Fierce winds howled, stirring up Qin Chang Ge’s long hair like a bolt of black silk unfurling.

“Hiss!”

Suddenly a line of green light shot out, and with two sounds, it wrapped around the golden mace. The green light yanked, pulling the heavy mace askew so it struck squarely against the long sword. With a clang, green powder scattered and bloomed as the sword fell to the ground.

The green light also fell to the ground wrapped around the mace with a clang, dust flying as it smashed a pit in the hard stone floor.

Something bounced once on the ground, then fell softly.

Looking closely, it was just a still slightly green branch.

The green powder also slowly settled in a layer on the ground—leaves from the branch, instantly pulverized by the powerful sword energy.

In the silence, someone laughed unhurriedly: “You have such patience, eavesdropping for half the day before finally acting.”

Someone entered laughing heartily: “You should know that dying is easy, but admitting all one’s faults before death and using self-humiliation to restore another’s justice is not easy. A real man can be killed but not humiliated, and they say a man’s knees bear gold. Though Masters Qi and Rong committed great errors, they were open and straightforward, directly admitting their wrongs without excuses or evasion, without avoiding responsibility, looking at each other with a smile to end this life—such heroic spirit and brotherly affection truly fills me with admiration.”

Qi Fan stared at the golden mace on the ground with a gloomy expression. After a long while he said: “We swore an oath—if we wronged a brother, we must take our own lives in apology—”

“I just praised you for not avoiding responsibility, and now here you go again.” Qin Chang Ge’s expression didn’t change. “You feel you owe Brother Chu a life, and think dying will bring peace of mind. But what use does he have for your lives? Don’t solve everything with death. If you ask me, repaying a life is easy but atoning for sins is hard—you’re choosing the easy way out.”

“What do you mean?” Rong Xiaotian said angrily. “Is it wrong for me to die too?”

“Exactly wrong,” Qin Chang Ge completely ignored his anger. “First, this whole situation ultimately stems from the murder of Empress Ruiyi years ago. The true culprit hasn’t been found yet, and everyone’s revenge remains unavenged—what are you dying for? Second, I just examined Brother Chu’s legs, and they may not be without hope of recovery. Don’t you two have responsibility to help him restore his healthy limbs?”

Qi Fan was moved: “There’s still hope? But that was the Soul-Destroying Palm.”

“The Soul-Destroying Palm that can destroy even gods—how could it not destroy the mortal flesh of Brother Chu?” Qin Chang Ge turned to smile at Chu Feihuan. “You had something at your back then, didn’t you?”

Looking up at her, even Chu Feihuan’s calm gaze showed surprise as he silently nodded.

“So if you want to die, you two must finish these two matters first. This is your responsibility—you have no reason to shirk it onto others.” Qin Chang Ge smiled very kindly and agreeably. “When the time comes, I won’t stop you.”

Looking at each other, Qi Fan and Rong Xiaotian sighed deeply, speechless.

Su Xuan laughed: “Since you’re not dying for now and will be together in the future, why not meet with smiles to bury old grudges and let bygones be bygones… Please allow me to host—I’ll prepare some simple wine. Right or wrong, let’s settle it all with a drink.”

Rong Xiaotian stood silently for a long while, then said: “No need!” With a long howl, he swept out like a whirlwind, his cry filled with endless resentment and anger. Qi Fan sighed softly: “Gang Leader’s kind intentions, but my brother and I are too ashamed to accept… Miss Ming, we must thank you regardless. Otherwise, even as ghosts, we could hardly face the late Empress underground… In the future, whatever you command, we dare not refuse.”

His last sentence was directed at Chu Feihuan. Then he silently bowed and went to chase after Rong Xiaotian.

This was good. Qin Chang Ge didn’t stop them, standing in place with a smile. She had planned this long ago—the injustice must be cleared, and those two lives must be preserved. Did she have to buy one and get two free? She didn’t do losing business.

She gently crouched in front of Chu Feihuan’s wheelchair, looking into his eyes: “Return to Huang Meng.”

Chu Feihuan immediately shook his head. “I’m already a useless person.”

He looked at Su Xuan: “Even here with Gang Leader Su, I won’t stay much longer. I was seriously ill recently but am much better now—it’s time to leave.”

His tone was resolute, clearly not open to discussion. Qin Chang Ge and Su Xuan exchanged glances, both understanding not to say more. Su Xuan smiled: “Eat, eat—filling the temple of the five organs is most important.”

The meal was actually quite somber. Chu Feihuan ate very little, constantly lost in thought. Due to his serious injuries, many foods were forbidden to him. Blazing Flame had special cooks making medicinal meals for him, but he only moved his chopsticks symbolically.

During the meal, Su Xuan mentioned inviting Qin Chang Ge over: “About that assassin last time—our gang discovered his identity. He’s from Longdong, Anzhou, named Pang Ying, a death warrior of Longdong’s great hero An Feiqing. He said his orders were to kill you after bringing you out of Blazing Flame headquarters. As for why, he didn’t know. I invited you here originally to discuss our next moves, but unexpectedly learned Heng Records’ true background.”

“I was planning to tell you everything today anyway,” Qin Chang Ge smiled. “But Gang Leader Su, don’t you think you should also be honest with me?”

Leaning back in his chair, Su Xuan tilted his head to look at Qin Chang Ge, his bright eyes smiling: “I don’t believe you can’t guess—yes, Blazing Flame’s great southern expedition is to avenge the late Empress, and the grave atop Shang Mountain contains her remains.”

Chu Feihuan trembled and quickly glanced at him. Qin Chang Ge smiled: “Then let me reintroduce—Huang Meng, the late Empress’s underground force. For nearly three years, all our scheming and planning—only for revenge.”

“Likewise,” Su Xuan’s gaze intensified with brilliant radiance. “In that case, regarding An Feiqing’s matter, it’s the same whoever goes—setting aside everything else, this connection alone deserves a full cup.” He personally rose to fill Qin Chang Ge’s cup, then bent to pour wine for Chu Feihuan: “This is Jade Emerald, very mild and warming, most suitable for you. Drink a cup to invigorate your blood.”

Chu Feihuan reached out to cover the cup, shaking his head. He moved too quickly—something hard in his sleeve pocket knocked against the white porcelain wine cup with a soft clink. Chu Feihuan’s expression changed as he quickly reached to check, but halfway through he suddenly stopped, glanced at Qin Chang Ge, then looked away. Seeing this series of actions, before Qin Chang Ge could wonder about it, Su Xuan was already laughing: “Don’t break that precious jade lock piece of yours—though it’s through clothing, it should be fine. Why not take it out to look at?”

He shook his head emotionally and continued: “That day when you first arrived, you were clutching that jade tightly in your hand. Prince Jing’an wanted to use a dagger to pry it loose, but I quickly stopped him. It took great effort to remove it without injuring your fingers—he has that flaw, his methods are too brutal.”

He finished speaking in a rush, only then noticing the other two at the table had strange expressions. Chu Feihuan pursed his lips and lowered his head, his fingers tightly gripping his sleeve pocket, while Qin Chang Ge had slowly set down her chopsticks.

It’s you… so it was you.

The scene of burning corpses and killing at Shanglin Garden—seen from afar, the silent and fierce young beggar, his face muddy and swollen beyond recognition, his shattered leg bones, the bloody hole in his throat, his body silently dragged across the ground like a sack.

The lightning-fast grabbing of the knife, the startling sword technique like wind and rain, the long blade at Yu Zixi’s neck, the fragments spat out after biting them to pieces.

And the sympathetic baozi, tiptoeing to hand over the jade lock piece.

…

Chu Feihuan had recognized her long ago, hadn’t he?

But he didn’t want her to know that the person struggling in the mud, bullied and misunderstood by beggars, gaunt and utterly wretched, was once that high-born prince, untouched by dust, beautiful as flowering crabapple, his pale blue robes like the distant clear sky.

Those legs that once walked on golden carpets, strode through white jade halls, and firmly gripped high horses were now covered under thick blankets, with no hope of standing again.

How had he survived these years?

Severely injured, disabled, bearing the pain of being misunderstood and hunted by brothers and the Empress’s death, barely surviving in street corners and markets, having lost his martial arts with no way to make a living, even losing the most basic health, finally reduced to begging—and being the lowest, most useless beggar, constantly bullied by others.

In countless nights of cold moon and harsh wind, in ruined temples, beside stinking gutters, when illness struck and he tossed and turned from cold and hunger, did that man ever remember those days of jade halls and golden horses, laughing proudly in the long wind?

Remember that stunning woman’s gentle smile, horse hooves trampling long grass, whip pointing straight ahead, saying: “Feihuan, help me restore this world of beacon fires to its brocade rivers and mountains.”

At that moment, wind swept their robes as if they stood among clouds.

Remember when Yuan’s capital fell, great armies entered the city, black iron armor streaming like a flood with bright banners flying—he stood beside her, and in that moment when ten thousand people knelt, they sat proudly on horses sharing glory.

At that moment they smiled at each other, having conquered the world.

Those magnificent, passionate memories that whistled and swept and dazzled—did they ever shine like sunlight into his sleepless deep black eyes? When the past returned in dark nights against the backdrop of that cold, incomplete moon, were those moments especially lonely and desolate?

Splendor scattered, beauty in chaos, heroes fallen from clouds struggling to survive in mud.

Yet unable to seek revenge—because it was just others’ innocent mistake born of eager vengeance.

He too was innocent, he too was innocent, but the tragic blood and wounds could never be compensated.

The world was cruel to this extent.

Qin Chang Ge had completely lost her appetite.

Setting down her chopsticks, she sat silently for a while, then said: “Gang Leader Su, I have some words I need to say to Brother Chu…”

Su Xuan, being the perceptive person he was, had already stood up very tactfully and silently withdrew.

He thoughtfully closed the door and stood outside, remembering that moment when Miss Ming, usually smiling and composed with elegant bearing, had shown unprecedented melancholy and sadness in her eyes.

He couldn’t help but lean against the door, standing dazed for a long while, with some inexplicable emotions churning in his heart like rolling tides, surging and receding endlessly.

After a long time, he suddenly smiled softly, his pupils flowing with brilliant colors like a rainbow after rain, beautiful beyond compare.

From the courtyard ahead, however, sudden clamoring sounds arose—