“Ah!”

That was the last pained cry Mujin would ever make in this life.

It reverberated through the hall.

Wei Yi’s ochre-yellow dragon robe was splattered with fresh blood, particularly glaring. He couldn’t help but clench his fists, suddenly stunned.

Mujin’s mouth was full of blood. The half-severed tongue fell to the ground in a bloody mess. At this moment, her entire body trembled. She hung her head, both hands desperately propped on the ground, supporting her body as it clung to its last breath.

Fresh blood continuously flowed from her mouth, drawing long threads.

Horrifying!

Wei Yi reached out and grasped her blood-covered jaw, lifting up her powerlessly drooping head.

A cold severity suddenly surged in his clear, clean eyes: “What should be mine, no one can take away!”

“Ah…” Mujin opened her blood-filled mouth wide.

“You can go… in peace.”

Wei Yi released her.

Mujin collapsed to the ground, her fingernails scraping the floor over and over, bloody and raw.

She opened her mouth, and ultimately died from excessive blood loss.

Wei Yi looked coldly at her corpse, his eyes devoid of even half a trace of sympathy.

Liu Ze and two young eunuchs rushed in upon hearing the commotion.

When they saw the scene before them, they were greatly frightened.

“Someone come.”

Guards rushed in and surrounded Mujin’s lifeless body.

“Your Majesty, are you alright?” Liu Ze asked.

Wei Yi’s face showed no expression as he flicked his sleeve.

“Throw her out.”

…

Several days later.

The entire Prince Rong’s residence was bustling with activity, because tomorrow, Jingrong and Ji Yunshu would be leaving the capital.

Zhulan had taken advantage of these few days to make several outfits, placing them one by one in Ji Yunshu’s luggage. She instructed: “Miss, once you leave, who knows when you’ll be able to return. I rushed to make several outfits and put them in the smallest trunk, in the bottom layer. If the weather turns cold, you must remember to add more clothes. You must be careful on this journey. Miss, your health isn’t good, so you must be cautious in all things. What you should eat and what you shouldn’t eat—you must remember. I’ve also prepared some medicine in the trunk. Oh, and…”

She rattled on with a long string of instructions!

Ji Yunshu listened patiently to it all.

“Zhulan, you don’t need to worry. With His Highness along the way, nothing will happen to me.”

“Mm.”

“I’ve already spoken with Uncle Lu. He promised me that if you want to leave the residence, you can leave at any time.”

“I want to wait for you to return, Miss.”

“But what if you get married? Will you still wait for me?”

“I won’t marry!” Zhulan blushed shyly.

“You silly girl.” Ji Yunshu curled her finger and lightly tapped Zhulan’s forehead.

Zhulan rubbed her forehead, giggling happily, then said with eyes full of confusion: “But Miss, where will you and His Highness go?”

“To Houliao!”

“Houliao? Are you going to find Young Master Mo?”

“Mm.”

“I’ve heard that Houliao has endless grasslands stretching as far as the eye can see. The people there eat roasted whole lamb and drink strong liquor and fresh milk. At night, there are even bonfires! How wonderful it would be if I could go too.”

Her face was full of longing.

Seeing her expression, Ji Yunshu smiled. She walked to her vanity table and organized her two sandalwood boxes.

She took out the items inside and wiped them one by one.

These were her two treasures—no matter where she went, she had to take them with her!

The next day.

Many officials came to see them off.

Jingrong instructed Lu Jiang: “If anything happens in the capital, you must notify this prince immediately.”

“Yes, Your Highness can rest assured.”

At this moment, Ji Yunshu emerged from the residence, holding her two sandalwood boxes as she walked to the carriage, yet her face was full of thoughts.

Her gaze then turned toward the direction of the imperial palace!

Jingrong walked to her side and asked: “Are you really not planning to enter the palace to bid farewell to Wei Yi?”

She lowered her gaze and shook her head: “Better not.”

“Don’t overthink it. Wei Yi will be fine. Even if something really does happen, Uncle Lu will notify us promptly.”

“Mm.”

For this departure from the capital, Jingrong only had Lang Bo, Shi Ziran, and a few guards accompany them.

The carriage traveled from Prince Rong’s residence all the way to the capital city gates.

Ji Yunshu lifted the curtain. Outside, under the blazing sun, there was a constant flow of horses and carriages, people coming and going. The capital’s prosperity was laid out before her eyes.

Finally, this day had arrived.

Jingrong asked with a smile, “What’s this? Can’t bear to leave?”

“Of course not!” She looked at him and said, “Being able to leave the capital with you, to go to the places we want to go—I don’t know how long I’ve dreamed of this!”

Jingrong gently drew her into his embrace.

With deep feeling, he said: “From this day forward, to the ends of the earth, we will always be together.”

…

In the palace.

Wei Yi stood on the city tower, calmly looking down at the red-walled, green-tiled palace halls below. Though the sun blazed overhead, he felt not a trace of heat.

Half a year ago, it was right here that Jingrong had said he believed Wei Yi would become a good emperor!

Half a year later, he had done it!

He governed diligently and loved the people, putting the common folk first.

But among all the civil and military officials at court, was there even one person who truly accepted him?

Thinking of this, he actually found it laughable!

At this moment—

Shen Changqin arrived.

“Greetings to Your Majesty.” He bowed.

Wei Yi faced away from him and said nothing.

Shen Changqin could only stand in place.

After a long while—

“Minister Shen.”

“Your subject is here.”

“When you look down from here, what can you see?” Wei Yi asked him.

Shen Changqin was puzzled. He walked to the front of the tower and looked down.

He replied: “Your Majesty, your subject only sees the palace halls.”

“What else?”

“Also… your subject is dull-witted.”

Wei Yi smiled slightly, glancing at him sideways, and said: “Minister Shen, it’s not that you’re dull. It’s that what I see and what you see are different.”

“Please enlighten me, Your Majesty.” Shen Changqin was bewildered.

His lips curved upward as his gaze swept across the palace halls below one by one, speaking two words: “The realm!”

The realm!

Full of威 authority!

“What I see… is the realm.”

Shen Changqin was shocked.

At this moment, Wei Yi’s face displayed a desire to control power.

It was as if he had become a different person!

Was this still that timid and submissive young Wei Yi?

“Only now do I understand—it turns out everyone sees different things.”

Hm?

Shen Changqin looked thoroughly suspicious.

Wei Yi glanced at him: “Minister Shen, do you know why I summoned you here?”

“Your subject does not know.”

“Didn’t you hope that I would issue an edict granting you a marriage?”

Uh!

Shen Changqin’s eyes widened. “Yes, your subject will only acknowledge Miss Ji Er in this lifetime.”

“Good. I can issue an edict permitting her entry to the capital, and I can also issue an edict granting the marriage.”

“Really?” Shen Changqin was extremely excited. He immediately grasped his robe and knelt on the ground, kowtowing: “Thank Your Majesty for your benevolence.”

“Get up first. I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

Shen Changqin rose.

Wei Yi said: “Minister Shen, if I help you, you should also help me.”

“As long as Your Majesty can grant the union between your subject and Miss Ji Er, your subject is willing to do anything for Your Majesty,” Shen Changqin said.

“Good! With those words from you, I can rest easy.”

Wei Yi’s thin lips curved upward as he raised his head to look at the sun overhead, blazing like a fireball.

Some things should be repaid.

In the distance, a white pigeon flapped its wings and flew over, landing on the city wall!