Qin Yining nodded and, enduring the pain throughout her body, turned back to smile at the black-clothed masked man: “Young Master Mu, thank you.”

The man’s body stiffened, and he said somewhat rigidly: “You, I…”

“You needn’t disguise yourself. After all, we’ve known each other for quite some time. How could I not recognize your build and eyes? You came to rescue me secretly from your master uncle, didn’t you?”

Mu Jinghu pulled down the black cloth covering his face and looked at Qin Yining with some shame, momentarily unsure what to do.

Lu Heng said: “This isn’t a place to linger. Let’s hurry and leave, find somewhere to hide.”

“Alright.”

The three left the courtyard, going farther and farther under Mu Jinghu’s guidance.

Meanwhile, A’na Ri groggily opened her eyes. Immediately, sharp pain at her neck made her hiss. Just as she was about to struggle to her feet, she saw a pair of men’s black boots appear before her.

Looking up, A’na Ri saw Si Qin in a brocade robe standing in front of her.

“Prince Consort, you’ve come!” A’na Ri immediately stood up, rubbing her neck with one hand while tugging at Si Qin’s sleeve coquettishly with the other: “Did you find me missing from the palace and come looking? That wretch Qin Yining actually conspired with some wild man to escape. They even injured me! My neck hurts so much!”

Si Qin smiled at A’na Ri with apparent tenderness, extending his arms to embrace her, his large hand rubbing her neck: “Does it hurt here?”

A’na Ri closed her eyes, resting her forehead against Si Qin’s shoulder: “Right here. That Lu Heng held me hostage and knocked me unconscious. Lu Heng also brought a subordinate with excellent martial arts, better than those around me…”

A’na Ri’s words stopped abruptly.

She looked down in disbelief at her chest, which now had a bloody hole. The blood-stained dagger was held in the hands of this man she deeply loved.

“You!”

Another stabbing sound—the blade plunged viciously into her abdomen.

The intense pain and shock like being struck by lightning made her eyes widen. A line of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

“Si Qin, I’ve treated you well. I loved you so much—why did you…”

Another stab.

After the third strike, Si Qin slowly lowered A’na Ri to the ground. His eyes were tender and gentle, his voice low and hoarse: “Go in peace. I will rule the Tatars and unify the world. I’ll also avenge your death at the hands of the Great Zhou people.”

Blood continued to flow. A’na Ri’s body convulsed, her wide eyes filled with anger and sorrow.

She never imagined she would die at this man’s hands.

Suddenly, she remembered Qin Yining’s repeated hints and suggestions. At that time, she had mentioned that Si Qin’s reputation among the people was too high, that he held too much power. Had Qin Yining seen through something even then?

She regretted being such a fool, focusing only on romantic love and not taking Qin Yining’s words to heart.

“Beast! Beast!” Blood foam continuously poured from A’na Ri’s mouth as she glared fiercely at Si Qin: “You—will—not—die—well!”

Si Qin folded his arms and crouched beside A’na Ri, chuckling softly: “You’re about to die. Whether I meet a good end is no longer your concern. I’ve endured your temper for so many years and fought to build this kingdom for you for so many years. I don’t owe you anything. If you hate me, feel free to hate—if you’re not too tired.”

A’na Ri opened her mouth wide, struggling to raise her hand, but ultimately couldn’t manage it.

As darkness and cold swallowed her, the last thing remaining in her eyes was Si Qin’s smile of relief.

Si Qin watched as A’na Ri trembled painfully and stopped breathing, leaving only vacant, open eyes. The smile on his face gradually widened.

He slumped to the ground, methodically wiping the blood from the dagger on A’na Ri’s body, then tucked it back into his boot. He lifted the blood-covered A’na Ri like holding a sleeping child, first closing her eyes with his large hand, then gradually shedding tears.

“Khan, Khan, I will avenge you!”

His sobbing grew louder as Si Qin wailed in heartbroken anguish.

The trusted subordinates dealing with the guards’ corpses in the courtyard rushed in to see Si Qin holding A’na Ri’s corpse, crying his heart out, covered in blood like a blood-soaked wretch.

Those angry yet sorrowful howls sounded like a desperate wild beast.

The subordinates all knelt and bowed their heads, paying respects to the deceased Khan.

Si Qin suddenly looked up, saying through gritted teeth: “Great Zhou’s Prince Consort Zhongshun’s princess, the Qin woman, and Lu Heng, the legitimate son of the Lu family, conspired to murder the Khan. Go out now and search the entire city. You must capture these two alive! Also, summon all civil and military officials for immediate court!”

“Yes!”

The subordinates responded like thunder and immediately went to carry out their orders.

Si Qin refused to let go of A’na Ri’s corpse, carrying her all the way back to the palace. Along the way, countless common people who heard the commotion came out to see what was happening. When they saw Si Qin, covered in blood and crying in sorrow, holding their Khan, the people also cried out in grief.

At this time, Qin Yining, Lu Heng, and Mu Jinghu were hiding in an abandoned small house deep in a narrow alley near the city gate.

This house had been uninhabited for who knows how long. The roof tiles were mottled with a large section missing, clumps of weeds grew in the corners inside—dried up in this season. Not to mention the cracks in the walls and the broken doors and windows with only wooden frames remaining.

Mu Jinghu said quietly: “This is closest to the south gate. You’ll have to make do here for now. I’ll go prepare robes, food, and water for you later. When the city gates open at dawn, you should find a way to escape.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded: “Good, thank you. Actually, I’m very surprised and happy that you came to help today.”

Mu Jinghu shook his head: “I happened to see Second Master Lu following behind the Khan’s party when they left, found it curious, and followed. I never expected the Khan would drag you out in the middle of the night.”

“The Khan suspected the relationship between the Prince Consort and me and had long been displeased with me. Combined with Tianji Zi saying my fate pattern was similar to the Khan’s, I knew the Khan would certainly try to kill me.”

Qin Yining smiled bitterly and shook her head: “Tianji Zi and I are old acquaintances. I never expected she would harm me.”

Mu Jinghu lowered his head, his expression full of embarrassment. Never mind that Qin Yining didn’t understand—even he, following Tianji Zi every day, didn’t know what madness his master uncle was up to, why she insisted on driving a wedge between the Khan and Prince Consort, inciting the Khan to kill Qin Yining.

Mu Jinghu also knew he perhaps wasn’t clever enough, and his master uncle disdained speaking with him.

But his heart still cherished his friendship with Pang Xiao, and he truly felt Qin Yining was a good person who didn’t deserve to die. That’s why he couldn’t help coming out to check in the middle of the night, seeking peace of mind.

He just never expected to actually encounter trouble.