Blood!

Piercing, glaring blood! Ji Yunshu’s entire body trembled. As Shi Zijin collapsed, she too slumped powerlessly to the ground, staring with blood-tear-filled eyes in utter shock at the person who had fallen outside the door. Her throat seemed unable to draw breath, the suffocating sensation flushing her face red. She desperately tried to extend her hand through that narrow crack, attempting to grasp the barely breathing Shi Zijin outside the door and pull her inside.

But no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t reach!

“Zijin, Zijin…”

She cried out heart-wrenchingly.

Shi Zijin leaned against the door, covered in blood. Mustering her last bit of strength, she gripped the long sword in her hand and thrust it toward an oncoming bandit.

The sword’s force was substantial!

The bandit was pierced through the chest by the sword and pinned to a pillar, dying on the spot.

The remaining bandits continued charging forward with their sabers raised.

Watching as countless large sabers aimed at Shi Zijin.

In that moment, Ji Yunshu lost her voice. Not a single word could emerge from her mouth. Her pupils suddenly dilated as she watched helplessly as countless blades struck down.

Suddenly—

A stone suddenly flew from the distance with great force, knocking all those large sabers aside.

Accompanying it came a series of chaotic but firm footsteps and the sounds of weapons clashing.

Suddenly, Jingrong arrived with reinforcements and charged in.

The group of bandits grew fearful and wanted to flee, but the exits were blocked.

Jingrong wielded his sword, his eyes filled with bloodthirsty killing intent. The long sword in his hand seemed like a death-claiming officer from purgatory, slaying all those bandits without leaving a single one alive.

Bodies littered the ground, blood everywhere.

His brocade garments had long been stained red!

Someone moved Shi Zijin, who had been protecting that door with her life, to the side and removed the sword handle fastening the iron rings on the door. The moment the door opened, Ji Yunshu rushed toward Shi Zijin like a madwoman, holding her in her arms, desperately pressing on her continuously bleeding wound.

In just moments, Ji Yunshu was covered in blood!

“It’s alright, it will definitely be alright.” She whispered tremblingly in Shi Zijin’s ear, then shouted loudly at the surrounding guards, “Take her to Yuhua Pavilion, take her to Yuhua Pavilion…”

Pleading!

The guards didn’t move, because they all knew it was already beyond saving.

Jingrong walked over and crouched down, looking at the barely breathing Shi Zijin who had followed by his side for many years. He felt extremely distressed but didn’t know what to say.

Ji Yunshu held her, continuously saying “It’s alright.”

Shi Zijin’s face was deathly pale, her eyes lifeless. She reached out to tightly grip Ji Yunshu’s hand and opened her blood-filled mouth. “Miss…”

“I’m here, I’m here…”

“From now on, I… will no longer… no longer be able to protect you.”

“I’m sorry, I’m the one who harmed you.”

“I did it willingly. To be able to follow you, to be able to protect you completely, I already have… no regrets in this life. If there is a next life, I… I wish to continue… continue following you.”

“Zijin…”

Shi Zijin looked at her, the corners of her mouth gradually blooming into a smile.

That smile was the most beautiful smile Ji Yunshu had ever seen!

She had never known that the usually cold and taciturn Shi Zijin, when she smiled, was so beautiful!

She tried to tightly grip the hand in her embrace, but no matter how hard she tried, that hand still gradually slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground…

Lying quietly in a pool of blood!

In that moment, Ji Yunshu looked at her own empty hand and froze, forgetting even to cry.

She seemed to have lost all consciousness!

She only held tightly to Shi Zijin, who had died in her arms, refusing to let go no matter what.

Tears welled up in Jingrong’s eyes. He clenched his fists tightly as pain and hatred gradually spread through every cell in his body, washing away completely the little bit of “mercy” he had remaining.

So mercy must be repaid with lives!

This grudge, he would definitely avenge!

At this moment, Shi Ziran rushed in from outside.

When he saw the already deceased Shi Zijin, the long sword in his hand that was dripping blood clattered to the ground.

Huh?

He froze!

For a very long time before reacting.

He shuffled forward step by step and crouched down.

“Zijin?” he called out softly.

But there was no response.

That was his younger sister!

“Zijin?” In disbelief, he reached out to cup Shi Zijin’s cold face and broke down in tears.

Utterly heartbroken!

Someone came in from outside, hastily reporting: “Your Highness, the capital’s guards are coming.”

Guards?

Jingrong was not surprised. He could guess that Jingxian had orchestrated this murder and naturally knew he would notify the capital guards to come clean up the aftermath. That also meant that his theft of Duke Yuguo’s coffin had now been announced to the world.

Perhaps it had already been reported to the Emperor.

Prison awaited him.

He patted Shi Ziran’s shoulder. “Take Yunshu and Zijin back to the capital immediately. Today, you were never here.”

Shi Ziran bit his teeth tightly. Reason told him he needed to stay calm.

Suppressing all the pain in his heart!

He answered: “I understand!”

Jingrong stood up, preparing to lead his men out. The next moment, his hand was grasped by Ji Yunshu.

She looked up at him!

“Don’t go.”

Jingrong: “I cannot escape!”

“Jingrong…”

“Wei Yi has disappeared. You must find him.”

Huh!

She was shocked. “What did you say?”

Jingrong looked down, gazing at her face full of tears, and seriously instructed her, “Yunshu, remember this. If something happens to me, you must find a way to locate Wei Yi. After you find him, leave the capital.”

“No…”

She gripped Jingrong’s hand tightly, refusing to let go.

“Last time when you entered the palace, you said that no matter what happened to you, you wouldn’t let me interfere. Well this time, let’s reverse it. No matter what happens to me this time, you also cannot risk yourself for me.” Having said this, he pushed away that hand gripping him tightly.

He left.

“Jingrong!” She watched that retreating figure, her heart like it was being cut by knives.

Her vision gradually blurred…

Bodies littered the ground, a thick smell of blood pervading the air, lingering in this desolate residence.

She couldn’t remember how she left that residence, only feeling her head completely blank.

That day, the Emperor flew into a thunderous rage!

Duke Yuguo’s skeletal remains had been burned, nothing remained. This crime was serious enough for Jingrong to suffer greatly.

Jingxian, according to his previous plan, even instigated the Minister of Personnel and others to pressure the Emperor, demanding severe punishment for Jingrong.

The Emperor was both angry and conflicted.

He was angry that Jingrong had disobeyed his orders, having privately opened the coffin and created this current situation. He was conflicted because if he severely punished him, then Jingrong’s future position in the court would naturally be obstructed!

Finally, using the approaching annual sacrificial ceremony as an excuse, he first ordered that Jingrong and the others be imprisoned in the heavenly prison, and moreover, on the day of the annual sacrifice, they were not permitted to accompany.

The related Commander Xiao was also thrown into the heavenly prison. Even his subordinates responsible for guarding the mausoleum were all removed and replaced with a new batch of people to guard the mausoleum.

Everyone in the court from top to bottom held their breath in anxiety. It seemed that the court’s power dynamics were about to undergo a major reversal!