The night before the grand wedding. Sometime that night, several strangers had come to the study of the Qing Prince’s residence. Liu Jian asked in a deep voice, “The city defense of Feng City is entirely under Cheng Siyue’s jurisdiction. He’s wavering and has now sided with Prince Li. Our people are entering the city through the west gate — is there anything unusual near the secret passage?”

One man answered in a deep voice, “Rest assured, Your Highness. Qi Guo already has three thousand men who’ve infiltrated Feng City, already hidden in the residence bought in advance. Another two thousand are waiting for the signal from the palace to slip in through the secret passage. Once Prince Li ascends the throne smoothly, the original garrison troops will return to their posts, leaving only a thousand guards at the west gate now — it’ll be extremely easy to seize the gate.”

“How is the palace arranged?”

“The imperial guards at Yuhua Hall and Yulong Palace have all been replaced with our people.” The speaker was Zhong Youshan, who had already been promoted to commander of the imperial guards.

“There are only five thousand imperial guards in the palace, and three thousand of them are ours. On the day of the princess’s wedding, we’ll strike Prince Li by surprise and kill him. With no ruler in Ning Guo, once our forces in the city rise up, the others will have no choice but to support Your Highness’s ascension!” Liu Jue said coldly. “By then, all the officials will go to the princely residence to pay their respects, while those two thousand men surround Prince Anqing’s residence, and Feng City will be entirely in our hands.”

“Rest assured, Your Highness. The moment there’s any disturbance in Feng City, our two hundred thousand Qi Guo troops will march east immediately. Even if someone refuses to submit and raises troops to defend the king, our Qi Guo army will be there to protect Your Highness!” Mingzhu spoke softly.

“Tomorrow, I’ll have to trouble the princess consort,” Liu Jian said with a light laugh. “Proceed according to the plan!”

“Yes!”

The men dispersed in an instant. Only then did Liu Jian call out, “What about the matter your king promised me?”

A dark shadow emerged from the darkness: “Xia Guo has already allied with Chen Guo. Thirty thousand of Chen Guo’s hundred-thousand-strong army have already crossed the Han River in secret, borrowing passage through Xia Guo, and are now hidden. Tomorrow they’ll attack the southern army’s naval camp. While Liu Jue is still detained in Feng City, we can seize Linnan City by surprise. Prince Cangxie has already led troops into Chen territory. Once the situation in Feng City fails, Your Highness can retreat south, and Xia Guo and Chen Guo will fully support Your Highness.”

Liu Jian smiled with satisfaction. “What I’ve promised, I won’t go back on. I will definitely cede ten southern cities in gratitude!”

Is it tomorrow already? Zili gazed at Yuhua Hall, feeling forlorn. A palace attendant reported softly, “Your Majesty should rest early.”

Right, he should sleep early — tomorrow there was still much to be done. He gazed deeply at Yuhua Hall. A’Luo, tomorrow, if you marry Liu Jue smoothly, will you still remember me here in the palace? Zili smiled bitterly. But could it be any other way? He was already the king of Ning Guo, and what he carried on his shoulders was far more than just A’Luo. Zili looked up at the vast night sky, a surge of ambition rising in his chest, and finally flicked his sleeve and turned back into the palace.

The second day of the sixth month — an auspicious day, favorable for marriage.

A’Luo was woken early by voices offering congratulations.

“Congratulations, Princess. Please change your robes and go to the ancestral shrine for the sacrificial rites.”

“Congratulations, Princess. Please proceed to Suiyu Pool for your bath.”

“Great joy, Princess! Please try on your wedding gown!”

…

A’Luo was tossed about from the hour of Chen to the hour of Shen, until finally she couldn’t help but say, “I’m sleepy. Let me nap a while, stop poking at me!”

“That won’t do, Princess. His Majesty and the Empress are still waiting for you to bid farewell!”

A’Luo sighed. “Then can I see them and take a nap before getting dressed and having my hair done?” Without waiting for the attendants to answer, A’Luo tied up her hair, casually fixed it with a hairpin, and rushed off toward Yulong Palace, a large group of flustered attendants trailing behind her.

Walking into Yulong Palace, Zili and Gu Tianlin were waiting for her, dressed in formal court robes. The moment A’Luo saw the two of them sitting so properly, they reminded her of puppet dolls, and she burst out laughing. “Big Brother, Sister Tianlin, do you really need me to dress up formally just to bid you farewell?”

Gu Tianlin sat with dignified composure, layers of ceremonial robes weighing on her, not daring to move at all. Zili had already been restless, and seeing A’Luo in simple, plain robes, he let out a breath. “You’ve got it easy — we’re exhausted to death. These damned attendants dressed me in five layers of clothing, and said it was still summer court dress!”

A’Luo giggled. “All right, I’ve seen you both, back to the palace to endure the torture!”

“A’Luo!” Hesitation flickered in Zili’s eyes, but finally he smiled faintly. “Go on then, don’t miss the auspicious hour! Before leaving the palace, bid farewell to Liu Jue together at the main hall!”

A’Luo answered crisply and walked off, smiling.

“Empress, go back to your palace,” Zili’s expression suddenly darkened. “Something may happen in the palace today. Stay safely in Yufeng Palace — it’s safe there!”

Not knowing what was coming, Tianlin asked uneasily, “Then A’Luo…”

“Don’t worry, the only one who would harm her is me,” Zili said flatly.

Amid her unease, Tianlin also felt a flicker of joy — he still cared about her safety, after all. She bowed with a soft smile. “This concubine will return to her palace now. Your Majesty, please be careful.”

At the sixth quarter of the hour of Shen, Mingzhu, consort of the Qing Prince, arrived at Yuhua Hall with Moon Frost Flower. A’Luo, already dressed in her ceremonial robes, was being attended to by the palace maids. Mingzhu smiled lightly. “Princess Qingluo, the Moon Frost Flower has only just arrived, so I’m bringing it to you now.”

A’Luo glanced at it — a small green flower the size of a fingertip sat in a jade box. She asked, puzzled, “Can this little flower really cure a hundred poisons?”

“Yes, and it must be kept in jade to preserve its potency.”

A’Luo took the jade box, thought for a moment, and smiled. “Thank you for the trouble, Consort.”

Mingzhu glanced at the maids in the hall. “I have a few words I’d like to say to the princess in private.”

A’Luo frowned inwardly but smiled. “You all wait outside for a moment, we’ll continue after the consort finishes.”

The attendants withdrew to the side. Mingzhu stepped back two paces, then waved a puff of smoke toward the attendants — they collapsed without a sound. A’Luo cried out in shock, “Someone, help!” In her panic, she grabbed the Moon Frost Flower and threw it into her mouth.

Mingzhu swiftly spun and kicked at A’Luo. A’Luo dodged sideways and ran toward the hall entrance, shouting for help. Mingzhu leapt up, her hand flashing out to strike A’Luo’s acupoint. A’Luo went limp and collapsed.

Mingzhu quickly stripped off A’Luo’s ceremonial robes, threw her onto the bed, and moments later, with exquisite disguise skill, had transformed herself to look exactly like A’Luo. She dressed one of the attendants in her own clothes and disguised that attendant to look like herself.

Only then did she take out the antidote to revive the attendants. She stared into their eyes, slowly exerting a hypnotic gaze: “I am Princess Qingluo. I’m dressed now, heading to the main hall to bid farewell to the king.”

A’Luo watched in horror as the attendants, their eyes glazed and dazed, answered, “Yes! Please proceed, Princess!”

Mingzhu smiled with satisfaction — the confusion incense combined with the hypnotic technique worked extremely well on these attendants who had no internal energy at all. She casually put away the box containing the Moon Frost Flower. She said to A’Luo with a smile, “Sorry to have delayed your auspicious hour. The Qing Prince intends to use your wedding as cover to kill the king. Hahaha!”

The attendants, as if seeing nothing, surrounded Mingzhu and walked out of the hall.

A’Luo was frantic with worry, wondering — could it be that Liu Jue hadn’t placed anyone in the palace at all?

The hidden Black-Robed Cavalry sentries closely watching Yuhua Hall saw the Qing Prince’s consort walk into the hall from afar. Not long after, the hall doors opened wide, and the consort emerged alongside Qingluo. The sentries scrutinized carefully and confirmed it was the princess herself — no disguise could replicate a second pair of the princess’s eyes. The sentries noticed nothing amiss and were reassured.

Liu Jue, dressed in his formal red wedding robe, stood in the hall, having waited impatiently for some time. For some reason, he felt that everyone in the golden hall today seemed to have something on their minds. The magnificent candlelight failed to brighten the hall, instead casting heavy shadows. Zili wore a faint, ambiguous smile, the Qing Prince’s eyes flickered, and the officials’ faces carried smiles laden with deeper meaning. Liu Jue thought to himself mockingly — could this really be the pre-wedding jitters A’Luo had spoken of?

Soon, an attendant announced loudly: “The Princess has arrived!”

At the entrance of the golden hall, a procession of attendants slowly approached, surrounding a beautiful woman draped in a large red brocade robe. Layers of clothing wrapped her slender figure, a pearl crown pressed atop her cloud-like coiffure, dazzling in the candlelight. A pearl curtain hung down to her chest, her jade-like face faintly visible behind it. Behind the pearl curtain, those eyes flickered with crystalline light. The hall fell silent. But the unease in Liu Jue’s heart only grew.

Mingzhu walked to Liu Jue’s side and stood still. Her figure was nearly identical to A’Luo’s, and draped in the large red ceremonial robe, no difference could be discerned. She smiled and spoke: “Qingluo bids farewell to the king!” Her voice was pitched low and soft, sounding exactly like A’Luo’s. Liu Jue knelt in salute: “Your subject Liu Jue, together with his wife, offers thanks to the king!”

According to days of observation, Zili would surely step down from the throne to personally help Qingluo up — that was when Mingzhu would strike. The imperial guards outside the hall would then rush in together.

Zili gazed for a long moment at those crystalline eyes beneath the pearl crown. After a moment, he smiled faintly and stepped down from the throne. The instant Zili drew near, Liu Jue suddenly saw Mingzhu’s hand twitch. He started, and instinctively struck out toward Mingzhu.

Mingzhu was startled and flung a handful of silver needles toward Zili. Liu Jian froze for a moment — Liu Jue had noticed far too quickly, and Zili was still three zhang away from Mingzhu. Steeling herself, she flung something downward — a layer of smoke billowed up, and the hall instantly descended into chaos.

Zili laughed loudly: “So this is how you’d take my life? Elder Brother!”

At his laughter and the commotion in the hall, the imperial guards outside rushed in. Moments later, as the smoke cleared, Liu Jue’s hand was gripping Mingzhu’s throat. He reached out and knocked off her pearl crown — beneath the disguise, Mingzhu bore a seventy-percent resemblance to A’Luo. Liu Jue roared furiously, “Where is A’Luo?!”

Mingzhu laughed proudly, “My royal brother will surely bathe Feng City in blood to avenge me!”

“Dreaming even as you die!” Liu Jue, enraged, tightened his grip and crushed her throat bone. Mingzhu slowly collapsed. He looked up to see a group of imperial guards charging toward the throne, surrounding Zili. Each of them moved with unusual agility, unlike ordinary guards at all. And the officials were being forced to one side of the hall by Liu Jian’s men who had rushed in.

Liu Jian laughed loudly: “Today, this hall is surrounded without a single gap. Fourth Brother, don’t blame your elder brother for being ruthless — you seized the throne first.” He waved his hand, and more guards charged, shouting, toward Liu Jue and Zili.

Liu Jue saw that only he and Zili could fight in the hall at this moment. With a great shout, he leapt up, kicked over a guard, seized the long spear from his hands, and in a few bounds positioned himself in front of Zili: “Your Majesty, Liu Jue is here — no one shall touch you!” He glanced at Mingzhu lying on the ground, his heart anxious over A’Luo, silently cursing the useless men he’d stationed outside Yuhua Hall, murderous intent surging in his eyes.

Zili laughed long and loud: “Civil and military officials, take a good look! This is my elder brother, His Highness the Qing Prince of Ning Guo — see how he commits treason and rebellion!”

At this, several officials stepped out from the crowd to stand beside Liu Jian, shouting at Zili: “The one seizing the throne and threatening the palace is you! We are loyal to His Highness the Crown Prince and will never tolerate you!”

“Good, good, good, anyone else?” Zili’s eyes gleamed with mockery. Other officials had already cried out in anger: “You scoundrels! Daring to aid a rebellious traitor!”

Zili looked at Liu Jian and the officials who had turned traitor, then at the other officials powerless to resist, and, realizing only he and Liu Jue in this hall knew martial arts, laughed lightly: “Prince Pingnan and I stand alone and outnumbered!”

Liu Jian smiled smugly: “Liu Fei, so this day has come for you too? Did you think I truly had no cards to play? You’re doomed today!”

Zili sneered: “And you think you can do it?” He glanced at Liu Jue, then raised his voice, channeling his internal energy: “Where are the Iron Guards outside the hall?!”

“Your subjects are here!”

Outside the hall came a resoundingly uniform reply, and columns of soldiers in gleaming armor poured in. The one leading them had a stern, imposing bearing, a mocking smile playing at the corners of his mouth — it was Gu Tianxiang!

Liu Jian started: “You were prepared all along?!”

Zili smiled: “I’ve simply been waiting to see when my good elder brother would make his move. I specially granted you full authority to handle the princess’s wedding, giving you free access to the palace — how could you resist not using it?”

Liu Jian sized up both sides’ forces, sighing inwardly — he had lost again. “If Prince Pingnan hadn’t recognized Mingzhu, with her hidden weapons, you’d surely have been struck within two zhang!”

Zili spread his hands apart, revealing the soft armor beneath: “Is that so? Did you think her eyes alone could deceive Heaven itself? Not to mention myself — Prince Pingnan would certainly have recognized her.”

Liu Jue’s eyebrows rose — Zili had been prepared all along? His heart turned cold, but there was no time to dwell on it. He said helplessly, “Your Majesty overestimates your subject. When I saw her in ceremonial robes, I was scared out of my wits — if I hadn’t seen her hands, I wouldn’t have recognized her. She’d even mastered A’Luo’s voice perfectly!”

Zili said coldly, “Liu Jian, you brought this upon yourself! Kill him!”

Liu Jian roared furiously, “Better to die whole than live in disgrace!” He raised his sword and charged at Zili.

Liu Jue, his heart consumed with worry for A’Luo, gritted his teeth — unable to think of anything else, he decided to deal with these skilled fighters first. His Flying Snow technique unfolded, and just as ruthless as he’d once been in the mountain stronghold, his spear swept through, scattering flesh and blood wherever it struck. Zili was astonished — this was the first time he’d seen Liu Jue strike with such ferocity. Something stirred in his heart, and he thought of Chu Nan, whom Liu Jue had once faced in combat. He glanced across the hall — indeed, Chu Nan was nowhere to be seen. Zili’s mind raced, and he understood at once — Chu Nan must have gone to Yuhua Hall. He was about to say something to Liu Jue, but his eyes caught sight of the bright red wedding robe Liu Jue wore, and he swallowed his words.

As these thoughts turned in his mind, the imperial guards Liu Jian had brought had gradually fallen beneath Liu Jue’s sword.

Liu Jue, with no time to spare for the falling-out between the two brothers in the hall, bowed to Zili: “Your Majesty, the situation here is settled. Your subject goes to check on the princess.”

Zili felt a pang of guilt, sensing that A’Luo was likely already gone, but he still answered with a smile: “Go! I too am worried.”

Liu Jue dashed out of the hall, his heart burning with anxiety.

Gu Tianxiang blocked Liu Jian’s path with ease, saying idly: “If Your Highness the Qing Prince is thinking of Commander Zhong Youshan’s imperial guards, that’s all there were in the hall. If you’re thinking of the Qi Guo soldiers and your own men in Feng City, they were surrounded and wiped out the moment Your Highness and the consort entered the palace. And if you’re thinking of the two thousand soldiers meant to enter Feng City through the secret passage, they’re all dead too, filling up the tunnel. Oh, and your daughter and your side consort have been waiting outside the hall for you for quite some time.”

Liu Jian froze, then laughed loudly: “Well done — I thought I’d left nothing to chance, planned everything meticulously, yet I didn’t expect your mind ran even deeper. You already knew all my arrangements, and simply waited to let the officials witness this whole spectacle, so they’d see how magnanimous you were toward me! I deserve to lose to you — but this throne of yours won’t sit easy either!”

Zili looked with disgust at the corpses and bloodstains filling the hall, thinking to himself, whatever you say now means nothing. Of course this was the outcome he wanted — and more, a reason to go to war!

At this, an official bold enough to have recovered his wits rebuked Liu Jian: “Our Ning Guo has enjoyed decades of peace, a prosperous nation and content people, yet the Qing Prince, disregarding the common people, borrowed troops from Qi Guo! For such a calamitous act, you deserve ten thousand deaths and still could not atone for your crime!”

Liu Jian stared fixedly at Zili, knowing the situation was lost, and said bitterly: “What did I do wrong? Father was gravely ill for three years, and I governed diligently in his stead. I treated others with warmth and courtesy, and handled affairs fairly and justly. My only fault was having a mother who longed to be empress, and an uncle of overwhelming power, and marrying a crown princess consort whose ambitions reached the sky!”

Zili said flatly: “And what did I do wrong? When I was young, your mother had my mother killed. As I grew older, your mother sent assassins after me no fewer than a hundred times! I welcomed you back from the outer estate, yet you couldn’t be content to remain Qing Prince — you had to seize the throne and try to kill me! And you even borrowed troops from another nation to stir up war! Let me tell you plainly: though my Ning Guo has known no war for decades, it is no one’s easy target!” His eyes flashed with authority. “My loyal officials, the Qing Prince has conspired with Qi Guo to invade us — what shall we do?”

“We shall fight to the death to defend our territory!” the assembled officials cried out, roused to fury.

Zili thought to himself, this is exactly the effect I wanted! Seeing morale soaring, he decisively issued orders: “Gu Tianyi, heed my command: watch the border cities closely, and have the right flank army stand fully ready against a Qi Guo incursion!”

“Yes!”

“Someone, take Liu Jian to the heavenly prison!”

“Wait!” Liu Jian still held his sword, his handsome face calm. “I’ve heard my wife and daughter are outside the hall. Bring them in.”

Zili nodded. The guards brought in Qinglei and Xin’er. The two of them ran to Liu Jian in tears the moment they entered the hall.

Liu Jian smiled gently, reached out and embraced Qinglei, then suddenly called loudly to Chancellor Li, who was hiding off to the side: “Chancellor Li, Lei’er is your daughter, and Xin’er is your granddaughter too. Please treat them kindly.”

“No!” Qinglei cried out, sinking to her knees in tears, looking up at Liu Jian: “Your Highness, Qinglei wishes to stay with Your Highness. Please don’t abandon Qinglei.”

Chancellor Li’s old face flushed red, and he flung his sleeve, turning his face away.

Liu Jian froze for a long moment, then reached out and pulled Xin’er close, seeing her small face full of terrified tears. He carefully wiped them away, looked at Qinglei, then glanced around the golden hall, and said softly: “Xin’er, if your father and mother are gone, and you’re left alone in this world, you might be bullied by others. You — you should come with us.” His sword, without mercy, thrust down. Xin’er let out an “Ah!” and fell.

Qinglei stood stunned, then, as if gone mad, scooped up Xin’er: “Xin’er, Xin’er! Your Highness!” Tears streamed down her face. Her heart hardening, she grasped the sword in Liu Jian’s hand, and said softly: “Good, let me go first and keep Xin’er company!” With that, she drew the blade across her own neck, and blood gushed forth like a spring. A faint smile appeared on her beautiful face: “Qinglei… I’ll wait… for you!”

Liu Jian answered with a smile: “Good!” He gently embraced her: “Lei’er, in my heart, you have always mattered. You are the only one I could ever truly have. Wait for me!”

Qinglei closed her eyes in his arms, content. Liu Jian, his fine robe soaked with blood, watched Qinglei breathe her last, looked at his daughter lying in the pool of blood, and laughed aloud: “Zili, you’ve calculated so precisely — will you have any regrets? You’ve become king, but can you ever obtain the one you love?” He murmured again: “Lei’er, you were right — a family of three together, that is happiness!” With these words, he drew the sword across his own throat and ended his life.

Zili gazed at the self-slain family of Liu Jian in silence for a long while, then issued his decree: “Bury him with the honors of a crown prince.”

“Your Majesty, such a treacherous rebel—” an official stepped forward to protest.

“My mind is made up. Once dead, all sins are cleared. Carry out the decree as ordered.” Zili felt a wave of weariness. He understood — it was his own indulgence and permissiveness that had allowed Liu Jian to work up the resolve to rebel. But if he hadn’t used this opportunity to wipe out Liu Jian’s entire faction in one stroke, then as Liu Jian slowly grew in power, it would have been Zili himself who died in this golden hall one day.

“Send all those who conspired with the Qing Prince to the heavenly prison. Tomorrow at noon, execute them at the Meridian Gate. Their families shall not be implicated — no need to punish their relatives.”

“Your Majesty is virtuous and wise!” The officials were thoroughly convinced. Such a benevolent king was a rare thing indeed.

The officials had submitted, and the threat was eliminated. An enemy nation’s invasion was merely one more excuse for him to conquer the world. Zili was quite satisfied with the outcome. His gaze fell on Liu Jian’s corpse, and the man’s dying words still echoed in his ears. A sudden panic rose in Zili’s heart: joy had turned to disaster — how was the princess faring? “Let everyone disperse. Have Chancellor Gu, Chancellor Li, and Tianxiang handle the aftermath.”

“Your subjects obey.”

Zili slowly rose and walked with elegant, measured steps out of the golden hall. The moment he was out of sight, he unleashed his lightness technique, shaking off his attendants and servants, and dashed madly toward Yuhua Hall.

Liu Jue had just reached the entrance of Yuhua Hall when his heart turned to ice. At the entrance lay several members of the Black-Robed Cavalry and a dozen or so imperial guards. He rushed inside in one step — the interior was in complete disarray, clearly the scene of a fierce battle, two Black-Robed Cavalry members lying in pools of blood. Liu Jue lifted one of them and checked — there was still a faint breath. He channeled his internal energy into the man, and moments later, the Black-Robed Cavalry member revived, managing only a single word: “Chu—” before he breathed his last.

Who was it? Chu? Chu Nan? Was it him? Had he taken advantage of the chaos to abduct A’Luo? Liu Jue forced down the panic and rage in his heart, and upon closer examination, indeed found traces of Chu Nan’s short sword. He rushed outside, launched a signal flare, and sped swiftly out of the palace.

Soon, the Black-Robed Cavalry appeared beside him, and together they rushed toward the south city gate.

Cheng Siyue was not in the palace — he had taken over the city defense of Feng City, and with the princess’s grand wedding underway, security in the city was especially tight. He hadn’t expected that after the hour of Wei, Gu Tianxiang would suddenly appear, brandishing Prince Li’s token, ordering him to mobilize troops to surround and eliminate Liu Jian’s forces. He sent men to report to the princely residence while following Gu Tianxiang to wipe out the hidden Qi Guo soldiers and Liu Jian’s men, his attention entirely fixed on the west gate. It wasn’t until word came from the south gate that Chen Guo’s Prince Chu Nan had left the city to return to his own country that he grew suspicious — and then came the secret report that Qingluo had been abducted. Cheng Siyue’s heart went cold; he rushed hastily to the south gate, only to run into Liu Jue, seething with murderous fury. The two exchanged a glance and dashed out of the city together, following the Duning River for thirty li, and by moonlight, saw a shadow far off on the river’s surface, which vanished in an instant.

Liu Jue coldly gave the order: “Report to every prefecture and city — capture Chen Guo’s Chu Nan! Rescue the princess!”

“Yes!”

Liu Jue said nothing more, dark clouds gathering over his handsome face. He turned his horse’s head and rode back toward Feng City. A’Luo, A’Luo! He whipped his mount like a madman, the pain in his heart tightening with every stride. Despite all his careful arrangements to protect her, she had still been taken by Chu Nan amid the chaos. He wished he could stab himself — how could he have let Chu Nan exploit the opening! Recalling Chu Nan’s lust for A’Luo’s beauty, recalling the beast-like gleam that had flickered in Chu Nan’s eyes, Liu Jue’s heart twisted like a blade. Why must his A’Luo suffer such a bitter fate — could she not even be granted a few more days of peace?

He thought of the happiness they’d shared in the mountains. He thought of A’Luo saying she wanted to be a carefree, willful housewife who did as she pleased. Tears suddenly streamed down his face — if not for the speed of his horse, Cheng Siyue, riding back to Feng City beside him, would surely have seen the tears not yet dried on Liu Jue’s face.

Zili rushed to Yuhua Hall and froze as well — the hall was in utter disarray, attendants clearing away bodies. His heart trembled, his legs went weak, and he barely managed to stay standing by leaning against the wall. The woman who had been smiling sweetly before him just hours ago had vanished. A’Luo, his A’Luo — all for his own selfish ends, he had allowed Chu Nan to abduct her.

The moment Mingzhu had entered the palace, he had known where she was headed. He had already had someone watching her, already given orders that as long as the princess wasn’t harmed, Mingzhu should be allowed to act. Among the attendants was his own man, a skilled fighter, who had cast him a knowing glance the moment he entered the hall. Zili had known in his heart that A’Luo hadn’t been harmed. The moment the figure in ceremonial robes had walked into the hall, one look at those eyes told him it was Mingzhu, not A’Luo. Liu Jue hadn’t been wrong — Zili himself had been scared out of two of his three souls, unlike Liu Jue, who had known clearly from the start. But he hadn’t said anything. He had endured it, waited, and watched as she and Liu Jian made their move.

But now, looking at the room full of bloodstains and shattered furnishings, Zili couldn’t help the chill that ran through him, his body trembling slightly. He called out in a low voice: “Chen San!”

“Your Majesty!” Chen San was already kneeling outside the hall.

“Is the princess injured?”

“Only her acupoint was struck. Prince Chu Nan is highly skilled in martial arts, and he brought four others, all skilled fighters as well. Most of those who died were the men Prince Pingnan sent to protect the princess. We — we did not intervene!” Chen San reported in a low voice.

If they had intervened, Chu Nan might not have been able to take A’Luo — Zili couldn’t imagine how Liu Jue would feel upon seeing this room full of corpses and blood. Overcome with guilt, he raised his voice and issued a decree: “Send word throughout the nation — capture Chen Guo’s Chu Nan! Send a messenger to Chen Guo — I want to see the princess returned safely! Otherwise, I will destroy Chen Guo!”

“Yes!”

Zili watched the attendants still busy at work, and roared suddenly: “Everyone, get out!”

The attendants jumped in fright and withdrew, kowtowing on their way out. This was the first time they had ever seen their usually gentle and composed king lose his composure like this.

Zili sank weakly onto the floor of the empty hall, then suddenly stood and stumbled toward the bed, collapsing onto it. There was no trace of A’Luo’s scent — only the lingering smell of blood. Zili closed his eyes and suddenly slapped himself, tears falling coldly: “A’Luo, forgive me, forgive me. The moment I saw the way Chu Nan looked at you, I knew he’d fallen for you — that gaze was like a beast eyeing its prey. I deliberately had the Empress dress you like a celestial beauty, deliberately lured him into seeing your intimacy with Liu Jue. I knew Chu Nan wouldn’t harm you — I could see in his eyes that no matter how wild that gaze, he would never hurt you. But for the sake of a reason to go to war, I, I let him take you away. A’Luo, don’t hate me!”

At this moment, Zili’s regret cut so deep it felt as though his very intestines had turned green. How could he have done such a thing? He suddenly thought — what if Chu Nan tried to force himself on her, and she refused — would Chu Nan kill her? How could he have put A’Luo in such danger!

Zili sat alone in Yuhua Hall. The night grew deeper, and Yuhua Hall was as desolate and silent as a tomb. Suddenly he heard the hall door creak open, and he looked up. Gu Tianlin walked slowly in. “What has the Empress come for?” he asked coldly.

“This concubine has come to see Your Majesty!” Gu Tianlin’s footsteps didn’t pause as she approached Zili.

“Get out!” Zili said impatiently.

“Your Majesty, this concubine only wishes to see you. There is much I have already guessed.”

“Hmph, what have you guessed? Is the royal will something you may presume to speculate upon?” Zili’s voice grew colder still.

Gu Tianlin looked at Zili’s reddened eyes and dejected expression with heartache, and said gently, “It’s not too late to regret now. Your Majesty did this for the great cause of Ning Guo. In time, Qingluo will not blame you.”

Zili leapt up and struck her across the face, shouting loudly: “Get out!”

Gu Tianlin covered her cheek, tears sliding down her face: “This — this concubine takes her leave!” She turned and ran out of Yuhua Hall.

Zili looked at his own hand, then punched the wall. The great cause of Ning Guo… the unification of all under heaven… A’Luo… Heaven knew how much pain these words caused him. He thought of the way Chu Nan had looked at A’Luo as if wanting to devour her whole — Heavens! If anything happened to A’Luo, how could he ever bear it? Zili staggered and collapsed onto the bed, his trembling hands pulling out a pouch, drawing out a lock of A’Luo’s dark hair, closing his eyes and lifting it to his nose to breathe in its scent. The familiar fragrance returned to him.

Zili murmured: “Yes, I was jealous… A’Luo, when I saw Liu Jue in his bright red wedding robe, the venomous snake of jealousy in my heart reared up. But what use is saying this now? I, I still let Chu Nan take you away — took you away right under my protection! None of this should have happened… I’d rather you had married Liu Jue than been taken like this. I…”

Gu Tianlin stood at a distance, gazing blankly at Yuhua Hall in the night, the flickering candlelight casting a sorrowful silhouette, hunched over as it lay down upon the bed.

A festive atmosphere still lingered over Prince Anqing’s residence. Liu Jue returned and glanced at the red silk draped over the gate, reaching out to tear it down, then stopping himself. He looked at it for a moment longer, then dismounted. The Black-Robed Cavalry dismounted silently behind him, wondering why their master hadn’t erupted in fury today.

Prince Anqing looked at his own new robe, then at his son’s bright red wedding attire, and burst out laughing: “It’s as if the two of us were the ones getting married!”

“Father!” The moment Liu Jue heard the word “married,” it was as if two knives had been twisted in his heart. He turned his head away, his hand clenching tight.

Prince Anqing didn’t feel much better himself. He waved away the attendants, and his wrinkled face suddenly turned grave: “Prince Li is even more ruthless than I imagined. He’d only been on the throne two months, and already he’s used the opportunity to eliminate the Qing Prince, found a reason to raise an army, and rallied the morale of Ning Guo — determined to unify the four nations.”

Liu Jue’s face was heavy with gravity: “Destroy Chen and Xia first! I’m only angry at how ruthless he is, even…”

“Yes, the Qing Prince couldn’t even protect his three-year-old daughter’s life,” Prince Anqing said, taking up the thread, his eyes flickering. He knew who his son meant, but he couldn’t let his son say it aloud. He glanced at his son, seeing how furious he was, and continued: “Although we had already ordered our people in the palace to protect A’Luo, I never expected Chu Nan would actually dare to act — his martial arts skill is high, I’ll admit, but truly, he has more courage than caution. He thought he could take advantage of the chaos to abduct A’Luo, not realizing it had all been anticipated by Prince Li from the start. Chen Guo’s downfall will surely stem from this.”

“I don’t think so, necessarily. If my estimate isn’t wrong, today, with Liu Jian attempting rebellion in the main hall, Xia Guo and Qi Guo have surely already launched their attack. Chen and Xia rely on each other — they may well have already formed an alliance. Chu Nan may be infatuated with A’Luo’s beauty, but it’s also entirely possible he intends to hold her hostage.” Liu Jue’s gaze grew calm, his sword-like brows shadowing eyes that slowly took on the color of night.

Prince Anqing chuckled: “Now that’s my son. If you’d lost your composure, you’d have played right into the enemy’s hands!”

At this moment, an attendant came to announce: “A messenger from the palace has arrived to deliver a decree!”

Liu Jue and Prince Anqing exchanged a glance, both wondering what this could be about. Prince Anqing tugged at his son, and Liu Jue knelt with poor grace to receive the messenger: “Long live the King!”

A palace attendant strode in briskly: “His Majesty commands Prince Pingnan to enter the palace for an audience at once!”

“Your subject receives the decree!” Liu Jue glanced at his father, then followed the attendant into the palace.

Reaching the outside of the Imperial Study, he happened to run into Cheng Siyue. The two exchanged a quick glance and walked in together, heads lowered.

“Your Majesty!” The two knelt in salute.

Zili stepped forward quickly and helped Liu Jue up: “Prince Pingnan, there’s no need for such formality. Commander Cheng, you may rise as well.”

Once both were standing, Zili sighed: “Today was meant to be Yunzhi’s wedding to A’Luo, yet the Qing Prince attempted assassination in the golden hall, and Chu Nan took the chance to abduct her.”

Liu Jue said in a deep voice: “There were signs the Qing Prince intended rebellion, but no one anticipated Chu Nan would be so bold!”

“I have already issued orders for his capture. Commander Cheng, I task you with recovering the princess. Take the falcons and go.”

“Your subject will surely find the princess!” Cheng Siyue kowtowed and departed.

“Yunzhi, what do you make of this?” Zili asked flatly.

Liu Jue’s thoughts turned rapidly: “Your subject dares to speculate — the Soul-Losing Jade Incense is a secret drug of Xia Guo, in the hands of Wang Yanhui. I fear Xia Guo may already be in league with the Qing Prince. Chen and Xia’s territories border each other — they may have already formed an alliance to invade.”

Zili sighed softly: “Of the four nations, only An Guo and Ning Guo, separated by the Black Mountain Forest, wish to coexist in peace — the other three all harbor ambitions against us. I’ve long known their intentions — they wished to exploit the instability of my newly ascended throne, provoking the Qing Prince’s rebellion as a pretext to raise arms.”

“Your Majesty, your subject requests permission to head to Linnan City at once!” Liu Jue knelt, firm in his resolve.

Zili gazed steadily at him. Liu Jue and his father had both served him with utter loyalty, yet he had… Zili felt a pang of shame, and asked quietly: “Yunzhi, am I being too hasty, too eager for quick success?”

“Your Majesty, in truth, our forebear emperors long harbored the ambition to unify the four nations, to spare each nation the strife between them, to end the wars scarring this land,” Liu Jue answered softly.

Zili looked at Liu Jue, his gaze sharp as an eagle’s.

Liu Jue broke into a smile, radiant with spirit: “Issue the decree, Your Majesty. I will personally lead the army to destroy Chen and Xia.”

Zili looked into his bright, spirited eyes, uncertain what he felt. After a long moment, he finally smiled: “Tianxiang has already set out for the western border cities. Yunzhi, you go first to Linnan, wait for the right moment to gather the army, cross the Han River, and campaign south — destroy both nations! You’ll also command the eastern army. I still have forty thousand elite northern troops here; someday I’ll personally lead the western campaign. The south, I entrust to you.”

“Your subject will not fail Your Majesty’s trust.”

Resolve shone in Zili’s eyes: “My Ning Guo, united in heart and mind, will surely unify all under heaven. I will be a diligent and benevolent emperor, and ensure the people of this land never again fear war between nations — prosperous and at peace!”

“Long live the King! Yunzhi takes his leave!” Liu Jue bowed and turned to go. Zili wanted to unify the world; he wanted to destroy Chen Guo, kill Chu Nan, and bring his A’Luo home.

Zili watched his retreating figure, several times wanting to call out and confess his regret, but in the end he never spoke. As a king, he could not. He could only pray that A’Luo would remain safe — only her safety could ease his remorse.

Cheng Siyue finished handling his affairs and returned home. Qingfei and the fourth madam had been waiting for him for some time. Seeing him return, they hurried to bring out food. Cheng Siyue didn’t touch his chopsticks, and said in a deep voice: “Fei’er, your sister has taken her own life.”

Qingfei’s face went pale. She clutched her stomach and slowly sat down: “My lord, what happened?”

Cheng Siyue sighed deeply: “I’ve frightened you — I didn’t want to tell you, since you’re with child and shouldn’t be alarmed or upset. But today’s events…”

Qingfei looked at him bravely: “My lord, my sister and I are still sisters, no matter what. I can bear it.”

“The Qing Prince rebelled, and was caught in one stroke by His Majesty during Qingluo and Prince Pingnan’s wedding. Your sister followed the Qing Prince in death,” Cheng Siyue said, gently taking Qingfei’s hand. “Of you three sisters, only you remain safe. A’Luo has been abducted by Chen Guo’s Prince Chu Nan. Ning Guo may go to war with Chen Guo. I’m truly worried for you.”

Qingfei sighed: “How can A’Luo be so unfortunate — finally about to marry Prince Pingnan, only to be abducted!”

Cheng Siyue gently caressed Qingfei’s swollen belly: “Fei’er, I lost my family young, and there was a benefactor who treated me as his own son. It was he who arranged for me to marry you.”

Qingfei looked at him in shock, tears falling: “My lord, you — so you only married me on your benefactor’s orders, you…”

Cheng Siyue smiled gently, his handsome face full of deep feeling: “At first I wasn’t at all satisfied with you. But seeing your wholehearted devotion to me, I truly felt warmth in my heart. You are my wife. Whatever your faults may be, I will love you for the rest of my life.”

Qingfei smiled through her tears: “Since when did you become so easily satisfied?”

“I’ll tell you more later. In any case, we are already husband and wife. I only ask you this one thing — whatever I do, will you stay by my side?”

“Of course!” Qingfei answered without hesitation.

“Fei’er, I heard your sister died for the Qing Prince’s sake. I find I don’t hate her anymore, though I used to detest her greatly,” Cheng Siyue said softly, looking up, his gaze full of tenderness. “With you, and our child, I have no regrets. Fei’er, I must go help my benefactor with his affairs. I may be away from home for a long time. There will be people to protect you both — please wait for me to return, all right?”

“My lord, I… I can’t bear for you to go.” Qingfei paused, then continued: “But I know you must go. Promise me — promise me you’ll come back alive. I, and your son, will be waiting for you.”

Cheng Siyue rested his face against Qingfei’s belly, content: “I promise you, I will come back alive.”