"I don't want to die yet..."
"I'm still so young, I don't want to be beheaded..."
Chaotic voices echoed in the dungeon. After Xue Yunlan gave Xue Wenjie medicine and he fell asleep, she turned towards the consorts of her father's king in the corner.
The consorts, who were still weeping, saw Xue Yunlan approaching. The icy expression on her face silenced them without a sound.
"If you continue to wail here, I won't mind sending you on your way first," Xue Yunlan said coldly.
The consorts quickly covered their mouths.
In the manor, besides the Regent, they were afraid of this Xue Yunlan.
"County Princess, are we really going to be beheaded?" a consort asked tremblingly.
Xue Yunlan paused and said nothing. She sat back beside Xue Wenjie, knowing her father's era was over.
Xue Zining would not let them go, but she didn't want to give up, nor could she die.
She was unwilling.
"Yunlan."
Xue Yunlan started, seeing Xue Wenjie open his eyes, which had been closed.
"Father, how are you feeling?" Xue Yunlan asked.
Xue Wenjie looked at her and said, "This king is finished, but, Yunlan, you still have a chance."
Xue Yunlan started, shaking her head, "No, Father, you still have a chance."
Xue Wenjie shook his head, his voice filled with a hint of loneliness, "The tide has turned, and this king is bound to die. But, Yunlan, you must not die."
Xue Yunlan lowered her gaze. She didn't want to die either, but could Xue Zining spare her?
No, even she probably wouldn't spare her.
"Yunlan, you will find a way. This king has no more opportunities, but you still do. If you can get out, remember to lie low and bide your time. Don't return to the capital until you are absolutely sure."
"Father..." Xue Yunlan looked at Xue Wenjie, her eyes filled with tears.
"Yunlan, after you get out, you can go to the Snow Kingdom. Although the Prince of the County did not send troops to help this king, this king holds something over him. As long as you meet him in person, he will surely protect you."
"Father..."
Xue Wenjie took her hand and said word by word, "Yunlan, did you remember what Father said?"
Xue Yunlan, with tears in her eyes, nodded, "Yunlan remembers."
Xue Wenjie suddenly smiled, his gaze softening, "Yunlan, Father remembers when you were little, you always liked to dance for Father. Why not dance for Father again now!"
Xue Yunlan started. She wanted to say she was in no mood to dance at such a time.
But looking at her father's expectant eyes, she nodded, "Yunlan will go prepare."
Xue Wenjie raised his eyes and gazed into the distance, his eyes somewhat hazy. He seemed to see himself wearing imperial robes and walking towards that position.
"Heh, is this king dreaming?"
He finally reached the dragon throne and sat on it excitedly, seeing the ministers kowtowing.
"All ministers, rise!" he said loudly.
"Your Highness..." an observant consort couldn't help but shriek.
Xue Yunlan trembled and turned to see Xue Wenjie spitting blood.
"Father... Father..."
Xue Wenjie looked at her, his gaze clearer than ever before.
She trembled, went madly to the prison gate, and shouted, "Guard, guard, guard..."
The jailer stepped forward, annoyed, "What is it? Shouting as soon as you get in."
"Father... Father is spitting blood..." Xue Yunlan cried.
The jailer, seeing Xue Wenjie spitting blood, was also startled. Although Xue Wenjie was bound to die, it didn't mean he could die in prison.
"I'll go get an imperial physician," the jailer said and quickly left.
After the jailer left, Xue Yunlan stopped shouting and turned towards Xue Wenjie.
Xue Wenjie looked at her. She knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "Father, don't worry, Yunlan will not disappoint you."
When Xue Yunlan stood up, the jailer had already found an imperial physician. The moment the cell door opened, Xue Yunlan retreated to the side.
At this moment, everyone's attention was on Xue Wenjie.
Xue Yunlan got out smoothly.
Outside the dungeon, she heard footsteps ahead. She looked around, finding no place to hide. She took out her dagger, waiting for the person to arrive and strike.
When the person approached, she started, for it was Feng Yu.
The person who had been her most intimate companion day and night.
"County Princess..." Xue Yu also did not expect to meet Xue Yunlan here.
But the next moment, he understood that Xue Yunlan was escaping.
Seeing her shift from surprise to defense, Xue Yunlan sneered, "What? Is this how you treat the one with whom you were once locked in passionate embraces every night??"
Xue Yu started, "County Princess, you shouldn't have escaped."
Xue Yunlan sneered, "If I don't escape, am I supposed to wait for death?"
"County Princess, this is your own doing," Xue Yu said faintly.
Xue Yunlan's gaze turned cold, and she said coldly, "My own doing? Well said, 'my own doing.' Feng Yu, if it weren't for you, today, my father would be sitting on the throne, and I would be the Grand Princess of Huangze. You ruined everything..."
The last sentence was her hysterical roar.
Xue Yu started. He looked at Xue Yunlan's ferocious gaze and said faintly, "The winner becomes king, the loser becomes bandit. If you won, would I still be alive?"
Xue Yunlan's gaze paused. Feng Yu continued, "County Princess, will you return yourself, or shall I take you back?"
She absolutely could not go back.
This was the chance her father had exchanged for his life.
Xue Yunlan chuckled softly, raised her eyes to look at Xue Yu, and sarcastically said, "Feng Yu, my death is insignificant, but are you sure you want your child to die an untimely death too?"
Xue Yu trembled, "You... what are you talking about?"
Xue Yunlan stepped forward, walked up to him, and said word by word, "I am carrying your child."
Xue Yu's body stiffened. After a long pause, he said, "You are lying."
Xue Yunlan chuckled softly, "Feng Yu, do I need to lie to you? With our passionate embraces every night, do you think they were all fake?"
Xue Yu took a step back, utterly shocked, "No... impossible."
Xue Yunlan took a step forward, her hand stroking her abdomen, and said word by word, "Feng Yu, do you want to personally kill your unborn child?"
Xue Yu's gaze deepened. Xue Yunlan felt nervous. She didn't know if Xue Yu would fall for it. This was her only chance.
"Lord Xue..." a voice called from behind. Xue Yu started. He saw Xue Yunlan looking at him with a calm gaze. He stepped forward, unfastened his cloak, and draped it over Xue Yunlan.
After doing so, he turned around and asked, "What is it?"
"The Regent is dead," the person said.
He felt the person behind him tremble. He looked at the person coldly and said, "I understand. I will report to His Majesty immediately."
Xue Yunlan pulled off the cloak and looked at the person in front of her, her face streaked with tears, "Father is already dead. My living has no meaning. You... send me back!"
She turned and took a few steps, her legs giving out, and she fainted.
In her last moments of consciousness, she felt someone catch her.
She knew her gamble had paid off.
Zhaoyuan Palace
"Your Majesty, the Regent is dead."
Xue Zining looked up, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Bury him according to the rites of a Prince."