Jiang Chen sighed, wiping the blood from his chest as he signaled Jing Yue to relax.

He had been measured in his actions. Although it looked like he had been hit hard, he had only suffered superficial wounds, which would heal in a couple of days.

After tidying himself up, Jiang Chen stepped into the small building ahead, ready to coax Yang Muxi again.

As the saying goes, the last steps of a hundred-mile journey are the hardest. If he really abandoned her and returned to the palace, then they would truly be finished.

If he missed this opportunity, it would take a hundred times more effort to repair the relationship in the future.

Top floor, boudoir.

Jiang Chen gently knocked on the door, ready to enter.

At that moment, a chilling voice rang out, filled with threat: "Jiang Chen, if you dare come in, I'll break your legs!"

Jiang Chen paused, then resolutely opened the door and stepped inside, but did not encounter any threat.

Sure enough, she was just trying to scare him; she couldn't bear to be truly ruthless.

Seeing Yang Muxi sitting in meditation on a futon, Jiang Chen breathed a sigh of relief and slowly approached her.

"Muxi, you've hit me, you've scolded me, and I almost lost my life for you. Shouldn't you be over it by now?"

As he spoke, Jiang Chen gently stroked her jade-like back, without a hint of desire, just care and comfort.

Feeling the warmth emanating from his large hand, Yang Muxi's mood inexplicably improved, and her expression softened considerably.

They really should have a good talk.

Although this liar was hateful, as an emperor, his willingness to tolerate her to this extent was proof of his sincerity.

However, his actions were still very hateful!

Yang Muxi frowned, turned to the side, and slapped away Jiang Chen's large hand, coldly saying, "Jiang Chen, I won't kill you, but don't push your luck too far!"

"Putting aside our previous grievances, we are not on the same path. It's best if we keep our distance."

"So, you've forgiven me?"

Yang Muxi frowned: "That's not important."

"Even if I forgive you, so what? I am the leader of the Taiping Dao, and you are the Son of Heaven. Our backgrounds are completely different, and we can never be together."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen was silent for a moment before saying, "You are the person I love, and I will give you the best, holding you in the palm of my hand."

"You can ignore the palace's formalities and live according to your own wishes. I won't bring you any trouble."

Yang Muxi's beautiful eyes flickered, seemingly surprised that Jiang Chen would indulge her so much, but she quickly regained her coldness.

She said softly, "It's not just that."

"Jiang Chen, you are the emperor, destined to sit in the forbidden palace, but I have my own pursuits, wanting to travel the world and eradicate injustice."

As she said this, a radiance appeared on Yang Muxi's exquisite, fairy-like face, and her tone was firm and unquestionable.

"I admit, I do have some feelings for you, but those feelings are not enough for me to give up my pursuit, to abandon the ambition I have held since childhood."

After she finished speaking, she took a deep breath.

Finally, she slowly turned around, resolutely looked at Jiang Chen, and said calmly, "Or, would you be willing to give up the throne for me, to wander the world and live a carefree life?"

Jiang Chen was stunned, revealing a shocked expression in front of Yang Muxi for the first time.

Give up the throne?

Did she even know what she was saying?

Jiang Chen's expression instantly turned serious, and the gentle, affectionate look in his eyes was replaced by a stern scrutiny.

He knew that Yang Muxi was no ordinary woman, and a large part of his attraction was due to her personality, but this idea was too bold and too absurd.

He had to stop it!

Jiang Chen grabbed her shoulders and said solemnly, "You should understand, that's impossible!"

"The throne is not a game. I bear the responsibility of the entire Dawei. How can I disregard the people of the world for the sake of personal feelings?"

Yang Muxi was not surprised by his reaction. Her expression did not change, but a hint of loneliness flashed in the depths of her eyes.

But she did not show it, and said calmly, "Jiang Chen, you have your responsibilities, and I have my mission."

"Since you are giving me up for the sake of the people, then naturally I can also give you up for the sake of the mission I bear."

She brushed his hands off her shoulders and got up to walk to the window: "Our Taiping Dao has been passed down through generations, and every leader takes it as their responsibility to help the world and save the people. I cannot let the tradition of my sect be ruined in this generation!"

"Let's end it here!"

Yang Muxi's attitude was not intense, but rather calm.

But Jiang Chen understood that the result of this kind of rational thinking was the most difficult to shake.

He frowned tightly, and finally struggled to say, "Even if I could give my life for you, you wouldn't waver?"

Yang Muxi turned her head, her eyes filled with a hint of disappointment, and said firmly, "Jiang Chen, if you are truly willing to give your life for me, I will repay you with my life!"

"But, there are some things that are more important than life."

Jiang Chen was speechless.

After a long silence, he slowly said, "Think about it for a few more days. I'll come back later."

"Although I can't give up my empire for you, my heart for you is not fake at all… I'm leaving."

After Jiang Chen finished speaking, he turned around and left decisively.

Although he loved Yang Muxi, he was not the kind of foolish ruler who loved beauty more than his empire.

As the emperor, as the master of the people, he had to shoulder his responsibilities and govern Dawei into a strong country with all nations coming to pay tribute, so that the people living on this land could be happy and peaceful.

No matter how much he liked Yang Muxi, he could not abandon everything and go into seclusion with her.

Jiang Chen left.

Yang Muxi's calm expression instantly shattered, and two clear tears slowly streamed down her clear, fairy-like face as she sobbed silently.

Jiang Chen, it's over!

In the future, the two of us are destined to drift further and further apart, eventually becoming strangers...

Outside the small courtyard.

Jing Yue looked at Jiang Chen's solemn expression and asked with slight concern, "Your Majesty, how is the situation? How are your injuries?"

"Uh, it's okay. I held back when I struck earlier, so it's just a superficial wound." As he spoke, Jiang Chen got into the carriage and simply treated his wound.

Jing Yue kept an eye on him the whole time, and only relaxed a little after confirming that it was just a minor injury.

At this time, outside the carriage, a shadow guard presented a sealed letter.

Jiang Chen unfolded it and found that there had been activity in Chang Le Palace.

'Consort Lü's maid left the palace in a hurry, carrying a large amount of sundries, suspected of passing information to the outside world!'

Jiang Chen crushed the secret letter with his inner strength, his eyes flashing with a cold light, and asked, "Has the itinerary of that palace maid been clarified? Where did she go, what did she carry, and the time she went back and forth to the palace—I need to know everything."

The shadow guard respectfully said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the scouts who were tracking her, this palace maid left the palace under the pretext of visiting relatives. She was carrying a package when she left, but what was inside is still unclear."

"But the scouts have found out where she went. It was a mansion in the suburbs, and the package on her body disappeared after she came out, presumably she handed the things over to the owner of the mansion!"

A thoughtful look flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "Change direction, go to the suburbs!"