She waited and waited, but he never came. Later, a group of men in black arrived. The guards, to protect her and the child in her womb, were severely wounded. They barely escaped and no longer dared to return. She and the guard hid in a secluded place.
Six months later, the little life was born. However, fate's cruel hand struck again. This time, the pursuers were more numerous and more ruthless. It was already difficult for the guard to protect her and the child. To save them, she gave the child to the guard and ran in the opposite direction.
Qi Yu Yuan recounted these events one by one. Qi Yu Yuan’s eyes turned red, and he stood up. Emperor Sang, lying on the bed, turned red in the face upon hearing the news. He wanted to say something but couldn't. Perhaps only he knew what he truly wanted to say.
“So, the person I hated is actually…” Qi Yu Yuan couldn't finish his sentence.
He didn't want to believe it, but he had no choice. He tilted his head back.
Qi Yu Yuan took his hand and said, “Brother.”
It was a warmth unlike any other, the warmth of sibling affection. He held that small hand tightly.
“Brother, can we stay together forever?” Qi Yu Yuan asked.
Qi Yu Yuan lowered his head, gazing at the young face, trying to find a trace of his mother’s features.
Perhaps his mother looked like this. Slowly, he smiled. Thankfully, his mother had left him his last remaining kin in this world.
“Qi Yu Yuan, do you like it here?” he asked.
Qi Yu Yuan shook his head. “Brother, are you here too?”
Qi Yu Yuan nodded. “If you like it, brother will stay here with you.”
“Then Qi Yu Yuan likes it,” Qi Yu Yuan said with a smile.
“Good, then brother will give you this vast empire.” Qi Yu Yuan released Qi Yu Yuan’s hand. Qi Yu Yuan looked at him.
He smiled. “Close your eyes.”
Qi Yu Yuan looked at him. He nodded, and Qi Yu Yuan obediently closed his eyes. He looked at Xue Xing Yue, then his gaze turned cold as he forced the medicine into Emperor Sang’s mouth.
Emperor Sang didn’t want to take it, but on the bed, he was like a lamb being slaughtered at will. In the end, he swallowed it.
He struggled and cried for help, but in this vast palace, no one else could hear his cries.
Finally, he was too weak to shout. He thought that if he had known this would happen, he wouldn’t have allowed him to be born back then. But, there was no medicine for regret in this world.
His cloudy eyes turned towards Qi Yu Yuan, that face so much like his mother’s. She had come to pick him up. He wanted to go with her. In the first half of his life, he couldn't abandon everything and follow her. Now, he could.
So, wait for me.
Xue Xing Yue watched Emperor Sang’s eyes go still, knowing he had passed away.
And the medicine Qi Yu Yuan had administered was clearly the tendon-loosening powder.
She saw Qi Yu Yuan look up, his gaze slightly cold as he looked at her.
“You knew all along, didn't you?” Qi Yu Yuan asked her.
“What if I knew, and what if I didn’t?” she asked Qi Yu Yuan.
“If you knew, then you…”
“Only death? Or tendon-loosening powder?” she asked.
“Brother, you mustn't hurt sister. Without sister, Qi Yu Yuan would not have survived to this point,” Qi Yu Yuan said, stepping in front of Xue Xing Yue.
“Qi Yu Yuan, perhaps she was just waiting for this moment.”
Qi Yu Yuan looked at Qi Yu Yuan and asked, “Brother, what does that mean?”
Qi Yu Yuan raised his head and looked at her. “I imagine Empress Xing Jiu wouldn't have simply come to save Qi Yu Yuan. What do you want to know?”
“Who is Lin Zi Feng?” she asked.
Qi Yu Yuan smiled. “I cannot tell you this, as I promised him I wouldn’t reveal his true identity to anyone.” Da Feng Novel Network.
Xue Xing Yue said, “Now that you have successfully seized the throne, should the young prince of Nan Ping be released?”
Qi Yu Yuan nodded. “Of course.”
“It’s good that you keep your word.” Xue Xing Yue turned to leave.
Qi Yu Yuan watched her retreating back and suddenly asked Qi Yu Yuan, “Ah Yuan, do you like sister?”
Qi Yu Yuan nodded. “Yes. If not for sister, I probably would never have seen brother again.”
“If brother keeps sister here, will you be happy, Yu Yuan?”
Qi Yu Yuan’s eyes lit up. “Really? Brother? Can you really keep sister here?”
“It depends on how it’s handled. Moreover, brother now has this identity. Even if she is Empress Xing Jiu, she cannot act with impunity.”
Qi Yu Yuan said, “Brother, don’t bully sister. Yu Yuan won’t let anyone bully sister.”
“Brother won’t bully your sister. Brother just wants to keep your sister here, to be with Yu Yuan forever.”
Qi Yu Yuan said, half-believing, “Really?”
“Really,” Qi Yu Yuan replied.
In the Ministry of Justice prison, Xue Xing Yue looked at the empty cell and asked the jailer, “Where is the young prince of Nan Ping?”
“Replying to the lady, the young prince was taken away by the Prince of Nan Ping early this morning.” Xue Xing Yue rushed to the Prince of Nan Ping’s mansion. The servants were working in the mansion. Upon seeing her, one approached. “Miss Leng, the young prince left a letter for you.”
She took it. It was indeed in Qi Yu Ze’s handwriting. Opening it, she found only one sentence: Leave quickly.
She was stunned and quickly left the Prince of Nan Ping’s mansion, returning to the inn. Wu Hen and Zhao Yan Luo were having breakfast at the inn.
“Your Majesty, you’re back. This servant will call…”
“Pack your things. We're leaving.”
Wu Hen was startled. Zhao Yan Luo was about to ask why they were rushing, but upon seeing the Empress’s solemn expression, he couldn't ask anything. Such urgency must mean something important.
“Wu Hen, hurry and pack,” Zhao Yan Luo said.
Wu Hen glared at Zhao Yan Luo. Didn’t she already know to hurry? Did he need to tell her?
After packing, Xue Xing Yue and the other two walked out of the inn. “Your Majesty, please wait…”