17

Dong—Dong—Dong—Dong!

The fourth night watch had passed1, and the streets shrouded in darkness were silent.

Gradually, the sound of horseshoes drew closer.

The locked city gates that had been locked during curfew suddenly opened. Black-armored troops were gathering quietly at the entrance

"Oh no, alert—!"

The sound of a sharp arrow whizzed through like lightning and pierced the sentry's throat.

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The man's voice was unfazed, and the dancing flames reflected on his handsome face exposed those cold eyes. They clearly looked impassive, yet there was a faint air of murderousness coming from them.

"For those who dare to stand in the way, kill without mercy."

The maliciousness behind those words soared.

The black army made its way to the palace with irresistible force.

Cries for mercy sounded throughout the harem, and blood dripped on the Ronghua Palace's jade steps. The crab apple flowers were ever more resplendent in the evening breeze.

"Your Highness, the outside is already in chaos. We must find a place to hide. Swords have no eyes, and you may get injured."

The loyal Xiuyu had already found a way out.

As the spy within the harem, she had a lot of information on hand. For example, the Ronghua Hall hides a passage that led straight to the royal tomb that even Emperor Wei knew nothing about.

This clever and capable servant had acted without Linlang's prerogative. She had even prepared enough water and dehydrated food to stay in hiding for an entire month.

That way, no matter who the final victor was, there would be plenty of time to consider their future.

"But leaving is not an option," Linlang said with a slight smile that confused Xiuyu.

In the next moment, the palace doors opened.

The cold night was like water as it quietly flowing to the inside.

Behind him, the roaring firelight illuminated the firmament. Carnage was everywhere.

He arrived like a deity.

The young and handsome prince held the red tasseled-helmet in one hand and sheathed a blood-stained sword with the other. He stretched out his hand towards the person in the palace hall.

The spring breeze was no match for a smile on his face.

"Hu'er, Brother's here to pick you up."

She held his hand countless times through the streets as a child.

This time, it was his turn to take the initiative.

Linlang placed her hand in his palm.

Wei Yu squeezed her hand. He was full of devotion as he said, "It may be a little noisy tonight. Bear with it for a while. All will be well come tomorrow."

He will then officially marry his empress and offer Jiangshan2 as the betrothal gift.

He wanted her to be well regarded and to become the most enviable woman in the world.

"I want to see him." Linlang said, "I want to end it myself."

They both knew who she meant.

Wei Yu agreed with almost no hesitation.

As long as she can vent to her heart's content, some of her pent-up frustrations will likely dissipate. Her condition might even improve.

Emperor Wei was trapped in the palace whose outer perimeter was heavily surrounded by soldiers.

A beautiful pair that walked together to his line of sight resembled an immortal couple.

Emperor Wei's eyes were slightly condensed. "Renegade, Zhennormally treats you well, yet you had the gall to rebel openly and force an abdication!"

"What of it?"

The young prince had a slight sneer at the corner of his lips. "Don't you know? I've wanted to kill you for a long time."

He would not have gone this far if Wei Chen had treated her well.

"If you hate him, then just kill him." Wei Yu turned his head to look at Linlang. "Don't worry, I will take up all the sins, so vent how you will."

Since he was willing to topple a regime for her, killing the sovereign was nothing more than an additional crime on his head.

So what if he was cursed for thousands of years?

So long as she's happy!

Wei Yu pulled out the scabbard from his side and unexpectedly, offered it to Linlang with both hands.

The woman casually pulled out the sword. A cold light glinted on the blade's surface.

Slowly, she pointed the tip of the sword at Emperor Wei's chest. It was just an inch away. She could pierce him through and soak him in blood.

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Suddenly, the sword's edge turned and pressed against the other man's throat.

The blood was eye-catching.

Wei Yu's eyes widened, his expression one of disbelief.

"You..."

The person who asked to be buried together with him as husband and wife was now pointing a sword at him!

A chill invaded his limbs.

Has she been lying to him all along?

Emperor Wei, who had been slumped on the chair, suddenly stood up and laughed heartily.

"Wei Yu, Wei Yu, your cleverness in this life was all in vain. In the end, were you not still defeated by Zhen? How pitiful. Did you really think Lang'er would like you?

With a clap of his hands, the guards situated outside immediately rushed inside.

He did not resist. Instead, he watched Linlang with bloodshot eyes.

Even when they dragged him away, he stared at her until she disappeared from his sight.

Linlang withdrew the sword then skillfully sheathed it to cut off the heady smell of blood.

"These days are all to Ai Fei's credit. Had you not told me Wei Yu planned to rebel, the Yulin Army would have been caught unawares," Wei Chen said with a smile.

"Your Majesty flatters," Linlang answered indifferently. "These were all thanks to Your Grace's proper arrangements. Qie would not dare to take any credit."

The emperor slightly frowned. He didn't like her unfamiliar manner of speaking. It was as if he was an outsider. She was drawing the impassable line between the monarch and subject.

Was she still angry?

Angry that he took Feng Sisi as his concubine?

"Zhen knows you've been wronged. Once Consort Zhen is healed, Zhen will take good care of you again." His tone was full of tenderness as he reached out to touch her cheek.

Linlang turned her head away. The dangling earring struck his hand with a slight sting.

"Do not touch me."

Her eyes were cold.

"I find you...filthy."

Vermilion-colored lips lifted up slightly and spat out a word that stunned the emperor.

After that, she turned around and left, her countenance looking all the more fascinating as her scarlet dress swept over the blood-stained ground. Under the cool light of the moon, she seemed to resemble a beautiful spectral.

Wei Chen's expression gradually darkened.

———

Emperor Wei ended this night with a terrible victory. There was also a messy aftermath to deal with.

In regards to the culprit, although he was his younger brother, the emperor was not soft on him. A poisoned cup was delivered to his cell.

Prince Wei looked at the delicate food box in front of him and chuckled. "What, is he so kind as to let me eat my fill before turning into a ghost? Tsk, I really can't tell."

The jailer who delivered the meal didn't dare to respond to him casually.

In that damp and dark cell, a desolate young man dressed in plain clothes was like a flawless jade, handsome and radiant.

It was pity.

Rebellion was a capital crime.

As such, the prosperous noble was to die in this sordid place.

The jailer was somewhat uncomfortable as he said, "Hurry up and eat. Someone will be here in a while."

"All right. Thank you, Brother."

Wei Yu waited for the person to leave before opening the food box.

He was incredibly shocked.

The prince, who remained calm ever since he was thrown in prison, suddenly burst into tears like a child. The guard on duty was rightfully frightened.

Inside was a bowl of longevity noodles.

A painting of two chubby dolls decorated the sides. One male and one female, innocent playmates, both with innocent smiles on their faces.

Even so, they could not return to that.

"Let me out! I want to see her!"

The man ran into the railing in a frenzy. He even tried to pry them open with his bare hands. Several fingernails were peeled off in the process, and the ghastly blood marks streaked down the iron gate.

No matter how the jailers persuaded him, he would not calm down.

They even considered whether to stun him.

That is, until a guest arrived.

The visitor wore a plain white cloak that covered their face completely, and the beaded shoes under the skirt were faintly discernible.

The man who had been screaming out like a beast suddenly fell silent.

He stared at the person in a daze.

"All of you, withdraw."

The person presented a token. The jailers no longer dared to disobey the order and left in a neat file. Now only two people remained in the entire space.

A delicate hand peeked out from the cloak and unlocked the shackles.

He trembled as he pushed back the visitor's hood.

She was a natural beauty.

This was his childhood sweetheart, the most beautiful woman.

"The noodles are nearly cold. Eat while it's hot. I cooked them especially for you."

She drew the person closer and sat on the hay.

He seemed to have lost all his speaking faculties and could only look at her in a stupor.

Is this a dream?

"It appears you haven't moved the chopsticks. Is my cooking that poor?"

Feeling troubled, she picked up the chopsticks and prepared to sample them.

Wei Yu immediately grabbed the bowl and ate the noodles with big mouthfuls regardless of his image. His words were barely distinguishable when he said, "It's delicious, everything you make is delicious! These are the best noodles I have ever eaten! *cough-cough*!"

"Slow down, no one will rob you." Linlang stroked his back in rhythm with his breathing.

The vapor rose up, obscuring his face.

Tears dropped into the bowl.

"It's delicious, it's really delicious!"

He kept repeating this sentence.

After a while, the soup was bottomed out.

He raised his head and drank everything in one fell swoop.

"Don't move. Look at you, it's everywhere."

Linlang wiped the soup from his lips.

"Is-is it?"

This powerful prince smiled foolishly. He looked especially stupid.

"Are you sleepy?"

"A bit."

"Then lie down. It's more comfortable."

Linlang patted her knees.

"All right."

He obediently rested his head on her lap.

"Hu'er."

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"Nothing, I just want to call you."

Slender fingers gently combed the hair by his temples. Linlang lowered her eyes and watched the person slowly close his. He had a child-like expression on his face as if enjoying a sweet dream, but blood was spilling from the corner of his lips.

It flowed without end.

Drip, drip. Tears ran down his cheeks, in his ears, then onto Linlang's red skirt.

"Fool, why are you crying again?"

She sighed and placed a light kiss on his eyelids.

Sweet dreams.