The candlelight in the hall flickered gently, finally burning to its end.

Xiao Lü stood beside the candle stand, his eyelashes trembling slightly. He glanced at the bronze stand with its burnt-out wick, then slowly turned his head to stare at Gu Yi. “What… what did you just say…”

Gu Yi supported herself on the wooden table as she rose, walked to stand before him, and studied his face carefully for a moment.

He was similar in height to Xiao Yan, and upon closer inspection, their features were seven or eight parts alike. Yet in comparison, Xiao Lü’s face often revealed an expression of indecision.

Gu Yi stared into his eyes and said softly: “Don’t you… want to live? Zheng Sui relies on his military power, which is suicidal. Qi Wei has stationed troops in Dengzhou for more than a day or two, and Yu Dai leading troops southward only adds to their strength…”

Her expression grew solemn as she asked again, “Have you seen Bo Gu these days? Or Wei State?”

Xiao Lü frowned, thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“They’re all dead, Xiao Lü…” Gu Yi said gravely. “They’re dead, and Zheng Sui won’t live much longer either…”

Hearing this, Xiao Lü stepped back, his face uncertain. Gu Yi continued: “If you stay in the Yang City palace, when the city falls, it will be your death day…”

Xiao Lü’s frown deepened as he anxiously touched his hair bun. “What difference does it make? Even if I survive the city’s fall, won’t Xiao Yan still kill me?”

“Xiao Yan never wanted to kill you… If he truly wanted you dead, would he have spared your life until now?”

Xiao Lü said angrily: “So you’re his messenger?”

Gu Yi shook her head. “No, you’re just too close to see clearly. Xiao Yan never wanted you dead.”

Xiao Lü snorted coldly. “Then why did he coerce my mother and obstruct me at every turn?”

“He never wanted to kill Consort Liu either… Don’t you understand yet… He spared Consort Liu’s life and refrained from using military force precisely to protect your life…” Gu Yi stepped closer. “You’ve been emperor in Qingzhou for years. If he truly wanted to kill you, why would he need to send a large army? A powerless puppet could be assassinated… If once didn’t succeed? Couldn’t they try again? But… have you never wondered… why Xiao Yan never considered this…”

Xiao Lü’s face immediately paled.

Seeing this, Gu Yi pressed on: “You and Xiao Yan are brothers. Can you truly not see how he treats people? Or is it because he never expressed it aloud that you forgot he is, after all, your brother…”

Xiao Lü’s brows remained furrowed as he looked up to examine Gu Yi closely.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the hall.

Xiao Lü turned his gaze toward the window, seeing in the distance Zheng Sui leading a long line of soldiers quickly exiting from the eastern palace chambers, heading straight for the palace gate with determined focus.

His brow furrowed as he walked outside the hall and called for a palace servant. “What has happened? Why is General Zheng leaving in such haste today?”

The servant replied: “General Zheng heard of military developments and hastily left the palace.”

Military developments.

Gu Yi’s heart skipped a beat—could the battle be happening ahead of schedule?

Half a month early?

Gu Yi raised her head to meet Xiao Lü’s scrutinizing gaze and was about to speak when she saw him abruptly sweep his sleeves and depart, leaving her standing alone.

Gu Yi clenched her fists inside her sleeves.

Had she… been too hasty?

If she couldn’t persuade Xiao Lü now, would she die? Would Xiao Lü die?

Gu Yi’s mind was in chaos, hoping only to persuade Xiao Lü again tomorrow.

However, Xiao Lü did not come to see her the entire following day.

Gu Yi waited anxiously until nightfall.

The hour of Hai arrived.

After the palace servants helped her wash up, they left the bedchamber.

She lay on the wooden couch, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

She closed her eyes and silently prayed.

Xiao Gouzi, please come save me.

Light footsteps sounded beside the couch.

“Is what you said true?”

Gu Yi turned her head immediately and saw Xiao Lü standing by the couch, dressed in a moon-white robe.

His eyes shimmered with moisture, seemingly filled with sadness.

Gu Yi understood his look. She rose and solemnly nodded: “It’s true.”

Xiao Lü lowered his eyelids and laughed softly. “Ha, how stupid, truly too stupid…”

After laughing, he sat on the wooden couch as if drained of all strength. “Was it really… the Crown Prince… who killed Father Emperor?” He laughed several times in succession, then looked at Gu Yi without blinking. “But why didn’t Xiao Yan… why didn’t Xiao Yan say anything… why didn’t he defend himself…”

Gu Yi did not answer.

If Xiao Yan wouldn’t answer, neither would she.

Because of Ta Zhu, Xiao Yan could not speak, could not defend himself.

The world calls beauties harbingers of disaster; no one cares about right and wrong, true and false.

Ta Zhu could not bear any more infamy.

Xiao Lü studied Gu Yi’s expression for a long while, then sighed and resolutely said: “Come with me.”

*

It was early spring at this time.

The detached palace in Yang City still slumbered in the gentle evening breeze of Jiangnan.

With each gust of wind, another layer of flower fragrance dispersed.

Xiao Lü led Gu Yi slowly along the western corridor until they reached a garden within the palace.

Deep in the garden stood a white jade circular altar, where tender yellow welcome spring flowers bloomed vigorously, at their peak of beauty.

Gu Yi looked at Xiao Lü in confusion, when a familiar female voice came from behind: “Your Majesty, why are you not asleep so late? Are you appreciating flowers with this beauty?”

Gu Yi turned to see Noble Consort Zheng approaching with a smile, followed by a black-clothed guard.

Beside her, Xiao Lü gave a pitifully charming smile. “Ah, my beloved concubine has caught me. I… indeed fancy this honored guest and hoped to consummate our relationship amidst this heaven of flowers, but alas, my beloved has come too early…”

Noble Consort Zheng’s smile did not diminish. “Why does Your Majesty hide so painfully? This concubine is not without tolerance. Your Majesty need only say the word, and this concubine could even send palace servants to attend to the honored guest in advance…”

Xiao Lü nodded and stepped forward, lightly stroking Noble Consort Zheng’s forehead with his index finger. “My beloved is truly considerate, but I… am tired…”

Before he finished speaking, Gu Yi saw Xiao Lü draw the long sword from the guard behind Noble Consort Zheng and thrust it fiercely toward the guard’s eyes.

The guard shouted and lunged forward. Xiao Lü bent to avoid him, swinging the sword at the guard’s right leg.

Blood immediately gushed forth like a pillar.

Taking advantage of the guard’s collapse, he bent down to push aside the white jade circular altar, revealing stone steps beneath.

“Go down!” he told Gu Yi.

Seeing the blood, Gu Yi trembled violently.

“Let’s go together!” She nervously grabbed Xiao Lü’s sleeve.

Noble Consort Zheng suddenly lunged at Gu Yi’s back, attempting to grab her shoulders while shouting: “Guards! Help!”

Hatred flashed in Xiao Lü’s eyes as his sword slashed across Noble Consort Zheng’s left shoulder.

Blood splattered all over Gu Yi.

She forcibly suppressed the scream rising in her throat as she watched Noble Consort Zheng collapse to the ground, covered in blood.

Gu Yi clutched Xiao Lü’s sleeve, noticing that he too was trembling violently.

Noble Consort Zheng cried out pitifully: “Your Majesty!”

Xiao Lü came to his senses and pushed Gu Yi.

They quickly descended the stone steps.

Gu Yi smelled the blood surrounding her, and her heart beat faster.

Behind her, Xiao Lü said: “Whether you believe it or not, from childhood to adulthood, I’ve never even killed a chicken, yet now I’ve nearly killed someone…”

Gu Yi nodded quickly.

“Zheng has a viper’s heart and wanted to be empress. I refused to give her what she wanted, so she killed Concubine Wang. She deserved to die… but… I… was too weak to do it…”

Gu Yi was shocked, feeling the stone wall as she walked down, turning the thought over in her mind several times, yet unable to find words to comfort him.

She softly murmured an “Mm.”

The two walked silently downward for a while before finally reaching the end of the stone steps.

Xiao Lü’s voice grew somewhat calmer. “This was originally a palace tunnel. After ten or so li, there’s a waterway, once a tributary of the Luo River flowing through the thoroughfare, though now abandoned…”

After walking quickly for a short while, they heard rapid footsteps behind them.

Someone was in pursuit!

Gu Yi looked back and saw a sudden burst of light.

She exclaimed in alarm: “We need to run faster!”

The two gritted their teeth and ran frantically.

Yet their pursuers were relentless.

Gu Yi looked back again; the torchlight seemed to be getting closer.

Xiao Lü glanced back and urged: “Run faster! If their torchlight reaches us, they’ll start shooting arrows!”

No sooner had he spoken than several arrows flew past them.

Since they were shooting in the dark, it seemed they didn’t intend to spare their lives!

Gu Yi’s whole body trembled as she ran even faster.

Yet the pitch-black passage ahead seemed endless.

*

Xiao Yan had been riding hard for a day and a night, and the gates of Yang City were now in sight.

Behind him rode twenty-four light cavalry, all Shadow Guards.

Wagons transporting massive stones had reached the city gates, waiting to attack.

Xiao Yan reached the city gates but turned his horse, galloping eastward along the moat.

After riding several li, he saw an outlet where the downstream moat had dried up.

This was the exit from the Yang City detached palace that Consort Liu had mentioned.

That night, she had escaped from the detached palace through this route.

Xiao Yan dismounted and led the Shadow Guards into the outlet, the ground descending gradually beneath their feet.

Ahead lay a deep tunnel. The Shadow Guards behind him lit several torches.

Gu Yi immediately spotted the sudden light source in the distance ahead.

Were Zheng Sui’s men coming to attack from both sides?

Gu Yi paused uneasily for just a moment but didn’t dare to truly stop.

If she stopped now and their pursuers caught up, they wouldn’t survive.

Xiao Lü also saw the light.

“Who… is ahead?”

Gu Yi shook her head, but a faint hope suddenly arose in her heart.

She ran closer and finally made out the silhouette of a figure against the light.

Her nose suddenly stung with emotion.

Xiao Lü saw Gu Yi suddenly breaking into a wild run, far faster than before. In just a moment, she had left him several steps behind.

Suspicious, he immediately quickened his pace.

Xiao Yan heard the chaotic footsteps ahead and hurriedly went to meet them.

In the spreading torchlight, he saw a figure running rapidly toward him.

Gu Yi.

Xiao Yan watched her run closer and smiled with relief.

Xiao Yan.

He seemed to hear her call his name.

Xiao Yan stepped forward quickly, opening his arms to tightly embrace Gu Yi as she ran into them.

At this moment, the taut string in his chest finally relaxed.

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, but then felt a slippery patch of blood on her back, causing his heart to sink.

He carefully examined Gu Yi’s face. Though her eyes were bright, there were a few spots of blood on her chin.

Gu Yi saw Xiao Yan suddenly frown as his hand touched her back, seeming to check for wounds.

She immediately realized and urgently said: “It’s not my blood… it’s Zheng’s…”

Before she could finish, Gu Yi felt a warmth on her lips.

Xiao Yan held the back of her head and kissed her.

A searing yet gentle kiss.

Gu Yi’s eyes grew hot, and she felt like crying again.

Xiao Lü ran up close, finally seeing clearly who had come.

He remained silent for a moment, then said: “The pursuers are coming!”

Gu Yi started, immediately stopping and looking back at Xiao Lü.

Xiao Lü, however, stared at Xiao Yan as if he’d seen a ghost.

Xiao Yan waved his hand, and the Shadow Guards advanced with their swords drawn.

Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Lü with displeasure: “How are you still alive?”

The slight melancholy in Xiao Lü’s heart was instantly replaced by anger. He glared at Gu Yi: “You lied to me!”

What kind of brotherly affection was this unspoken brotherly affection!

Gu Yi smiled awkwardly and turned away, avoiding his gaze.

Xiao Lü said indignantly: “I brought your favored concubine out, brandishing swords, risking my life. You should thank me! Moreover, if she had died tonight, it would have been two lives lost.”

Xiao Yan’s body stiffened. His face froze for a moment before he stared intently at Gu Yi.

Seeing the sudden brightness in his eyes like starlight, Gu Yi swallowed and coughed slightly: “This concubine was… lying to him.”

“What? You were truly lying to me! You… you…” Xiao Lü shouted, his gaze moving back and forth between them. “Birds of a feather! Two of a kind!”

He pounded his chest and stomped his feet, full of regret!

Xiao Yan merely gave a faint “Mm,” suppressing the disappointment in his heart.

He felt disappointed.

Extremely disappointed.

Why would he feel disappointed when this was the path he had chosen…