Beneath the apparent calm of Xijing’s capital, a genuine transformation had taken place.

Relying on the military power in his hands, Situ Haonan had effortlessly turned the tables, seizing control of the entire capital.

At that moment, he stood atop the tall city tower, gazing out at the receding figures of Jun Beiyue and his group. He knew that once that couple reached the northern desert, it would mark the start of the war, and he knew too that once this war began, it wouldn’t stop — it would no longer be simply a matter of old grudges between Xijing and Xiliang!

The entire framework of the peace summit would be completely shattered!

But he had no room to worry about any of that now. If he couldn’t release the fury and grievance welling inside him, he had no idea what he might end up doing!

Only once the retreating figures had grown too distant to make out did Situ Haonan finally look away.

Yet he remained standing there, dwarfed against the towering, imposing city gate, his figure so small, so utterly alone.

Even now that he had returned here, everything that had happened within the palace of Xijing kept resurfacing in his mind, no matter how hard he ordered himself not to think about it — it was all useless!

If he smashed his own head open, would he forget it all? Would it be as though none of it had ever happened?

After being abducted by Xuanyuan Lige, the two of them had fallen unconscious, and when they woke, they found themselves in the Xijing imperial court, and the very first person they saw was none other than Wanyan Lie!

Drugged as they were, they’d had no strength left to resist at all!

Wanyan Lie hadn’t done anything to him, but had ordered Qianqian dragged away, and no matter how furious he became, raging like a beast, no matter how he begged, groveling like a servant, none of it made any difference!

He would never forget it, the moment he saw Qianqian, her clothes torn and tattered, her eyes hollow and vacant.

To this day, to this very day, he still hadn’t held Qianqian in his arms — his own wife!

To this day, to this day, apart from her father, Qianqian still refused to let any man come near her, touch her.

A cold wind passed, and Situ Haonan finally snapped out of his memories, realizing his entire face had gone ice-cold. He wiped at it instinctively, only to find his hand soaked with tears.

“Ah… ah… ah”

He roared, a wild, beast-like howl, “Ah… ah…”

Grief-stricken, desolate, the roar echoed throughout the entire palace of Xijing, reverberating again and again!

Deep within the palace, in the imperial garden, the aging Emperor of Xijing lay in his sickbed, worn and haggard. He had just closed his eyes to sleep when the sound disturbed him.

“Qianqian, what is that sound?”

Yelu Qianqian knelt beside the bed, her gaze unfocused, as though she hadn’t even heard the old emperor’s question.

“Qianqian, what’s wrong with you?”

“Huh?”

“Listen, what’s that sound? Did something happen?”

The civil unrest had aged the Emperor of Xijing several years in what felt like an instant, and now he looked every bit like a man on the verge of his final rest, drained of all strength.

Only then did Yelu Qianqian register the roaring sound, and her eyes suddenly welled with tears. Choking back a sob, she said, “I’ll… go take a look.”

With that, she rose and fled hastily, but the moment she reached the doorway, she couldn’t bring herself to leave.

Staring at the direction the sound had come from, tears immediately began pouring down her face!

She leaned against the wall, slowly slid down it, and sat there, hands clamped over her mouth, her whole body shaking with sobs, yet never letting a single sound escape.

Inside the room, the old emperor, oblivious to all of it, propped himself up against his frail body and looked toward the two portraits hanging on the wall — one of Qianqian’s mother, and one of his elder brother.

Watching them, the old emperor smiled with quiet contentment, murmuring to himself, “Qianqian’s come home to visit. Our little princess has grown up.”

The waves of roaring gradually faded away.

At some point, Situ Haonan had made his way to stand before Qianqian. Looking at the girl huddled tightly against herself, he clenched a fist over his own chest, wishing he could tear his own heart right out of his body!

If he tore his heart out, would it stop hurting so much?

He knew full well she would resist, that she would be afraid, yet he still couldn’t stop himself from walking toward her.

But before he could even reach out to embrace her, Qianqian suddenly sprang to her feet, backing away steadily.

She didn’t dare look at him, head bowed, her eyes filled with panic, filled with fear, instinctively rejecting everything, rejecting it all!

Before Situ Haonan could even get a word out, she turned and bolted!

Frantic, Situ Haonan immediately gave chase, and heedless of everything else, he pulled her forcefully into his arms.

But Yelu Qianqian instantly reacted as though gone mad, resisting with all her might. “Let go of me! Let go! Don’t touch me, let go of me! Waaah… let go of me!”

She even scratched and bit at him, struggling with all her strength, completely beside herself, plunged into overwhelming terror.

Situ Haonan had no choice but to release her — he knew that if he didn’t let go, he might just drive her completely mad!

He had to let her go!

But the moment he released her, Yelu Qianqian ran, fleeing as though for her very life!

So this was it!

This was it!

She hadn’t recovered at all — not even a little!

Every touch dragged her back into those memories, into that terror! She didn’t want it! Didn’t want it! Didn’t want it!!!

How could this be healed?

Situ Haonan still gave chase, but this time, he didn’t dare press her further.

From a distance, quietly, silently, tears streaming down his face, he followed behind her, until she stopped, until she shut herself inside her room.

Only then did he show himself, standing there dumbly, keeping watch outside her door.

He kept that vigil for an entire day and night.

The whole day and night, he heard every sob, every muffled cry from inside the room, clear as day.

Finally, hearing sounds of movement inside, he spoke quietly, “I’ll be waiting for you at the camp.”

With that, he turned resolutely and walked away.

After a very long while, Yelu Qianqian finally opened the door and stepped out, dressed in full battle armor, a long whip in hand, striking and valiant — impossible to imagine that this was the same girl who had cried the whole night through just hours before.

Even though, even though her eyes were still red, the tear tracks on her face had been wiped clean;

Even though, even though she was still afraid, even if it was all an act, she would force herself to look brave;

Even though, even though she herself might never again find the courage to live, she knew that right now, she had to keep living, had to steel herself! For vengeance!

Cracking her whip, Yelu Qianqian strode forward with powerful steps!

Xijing mobilized its troops, poised and ready, while Jun Beiyue and Ziqing soon arrived at the northern desert as well!

“Baili Weisheng, deliver this sealed letter to the Three Realms as fast as possible, and place it directly into General Sanhu’s own hands,” Jun Beiyue said coldly — not a request, but an order.

Baili Weisheng, unusually deferential, said nothing and simply took it, then raised an eyebrow at Xiong Xiaobao. “Coming along?”

“Yeah!” Xiong Xiaobao agreed at once, then turned back to look at Ziqing, asking for her approval.

Ziqing nodded. This coming battle against Xiliang would surely be brutal, and she had no time to look after this little troublemaker herself. Leaving him at the camp wouldn’t put her at ease either — but with Baili Weisheng, she felt completely reassured.

With his mommy’s blessing, Xiong Xiaobao dutifully turned to look at his daddy too, and seeing no objection there either, he immediately dashed over and planted a fierce kiss on his father’s cheek.