Before usurping the throne, Xiao Jing once had a dream.
In the dream, he devoted himself for years, meticulously planning and patiently waiting, watching coldly as his own flesh and blood brothers fought for the throne. Step by step, he positioned his pieces, and by chance, he uncovered the secret that Lu Zhao was in love with the deceased youngest daughter of the Shen family, which enabled him to manipulate circumstances to make Lu Zhao believe that Xiao Mu and Shen Qingli were responsible for her death. This turned Lu Zhao against them and helped him instead.
Lu Zhao was young and talented, and had a keen mind. With Lu Zhao’s assistance, Xiao Jing’s influence soared. In just a few months, Xiao Jing was already on par with his imperial brothers. He was so close in that dream, just one step away from that position.
But just as success seemed within reach, Lu Zhao chose to commit suicide. His plans fell apart, and he ended up with a result of failure.
Upon awakening, everything in the dream was vividly clear, the hatred and the unwillingness felt substantial. From this, he deeply believed that it was a past life experience where he had failed. This time around, armed with foresight, he was determined not to repeat his mistakes.
So he no longer hesitated, decisively took action, ended his father’s life, and like Lu Zhao in his dream, he contacted the Eastern Sea Garrison. Before his imperial brothers could grow stronger, he seized the capital, and ascended to the throne he had long dreamed of. Heaven finally favored him.
Yet, even with thorough preparation against Xiao Mu’s impending attack, he still lost.
Xiao Jing’s gaze, filled with gloom, found the elegant figure in white among the crowd, gritting his teeth: “Lu Zhao!” It’s Lu Zhao again! He caused my failure last time, and now, this time too. Without him bringing the Nanzhao army, I wouldn’t have lost!
Xiao Jing was extremely unwilling. Suddenly, a spark of insight struck him. If in the previous life Lu Zhao could help him, why not in this life too?
The youngest daughter of the Shen family was still alive and not in the capital. Xiao Jing had no choice but to capture her parents instead. Though less effective, it was useful. Xiao Jing’s eyes darkened with a hint of satisfaction. He watched Lu Zhao step by step into the palace. Once inside, he would find a way to keep Lu Zhao there and force Lu Zhao to serve him!
“Young Master Lu, I have ascended to the throne now. I am the rightful Emperor! If you rebel with Xiao Mu, you will be a traitor and a rebel! Do you really not care about Lady Duanhua and the hundred-year reputation of the Lu family?” Xiao Jing signaled, and immediately someone stepped forward to disarm and arrest Lu Zhao.
“Young Master Lu, if you submit to me now, you can still be the heir of the Lu family, and I will overlook the past!” Xiao Jing smirked darkly.
However, Lu Zhao refused to look at him, coldly snorting, “Rightful Emperor? Obtained through patricide and regicide?”
Xiao Jing’s face darkened even more, clearly stung by the accusation but unable to refute it.
“Young Master Lu, now that you are a prisoner, you should be more careful with your words.”
Lu Zhao turned his head away in disgust, thinking that if it weren’t to see what Xiao Jing was up to, with just these few people around him, could they really keep him down?
As the two stood in deadlock, the sounds of battle outside the palace walls resumed. A young eunuch rushed over in panic, “Your… Your Majesty! It’s bad, Your Majesty! They’re attacking the city again! The palace gates are about to fall!”
Lu Zhao’s lips curled up in a lazy smile at the news, as if he wasn’t in imminent danger, but rather a guest in the palace.
“These useless people! Can’t they hold on even for a moment?” Xiao Jing cursed angrily, his gaze shifting back to Lu Zhao.
After a few changes in expression, Xiao Jing seemed relieved. As long as he could make Lu Zhao help him, what was there to stop him from rising again? After a cold smile, he said, “Take him with us, let’s go!”
With that, he took the lead towards a secluded palace.
The attendants around exchanged glances, understanding the significance of the place and dared not say more. They hurriedly surrounded Lu Zhao and followed suit…
Shen Qingyao gradually regained consciousness. Not seeing the face she had hoped for, she felt dizzy at first. Slowly, her eyes focused, recalling everything that had happened. A profound sense of inexplicable sadness washed over her. After a heavy moment, she closed her eyes briefly, then opened them, accepting reality.
“You’re awake? Drink your medicine then!” Kong Lin turned around and caught her opening her eyes. He sighed softly and handed her a bowl of dark soup medicine.
Shen Qingyao remained silent, propping herself up on the edge of the bed. She took the medicine silently, regardless of its bitterness or temperature, and drank it all without furrowing her brow.
Cui Qiao watched beside her, feeling a pang of heartache. Seeing her finish, Cui Qiao quickly brought over a plate of candied fruit : “Miss, have some to sweeten the bitterness.”
Shen Qingyao waved her hand, pushing the plate away.
“I want to return to the capital.” Shen Qingyao lowered her eyes and spoke her first words upon waking, “I want to go back now.”
“Return to the capital? Are you out of your mind? Do you even know your current condition? You’re not fit for a long journey. Allowing you to come to Ningcheng was already an exception, and now you’ve barely settled down for a few days!” Kong Lin’s anger flared upon hearing this, turning sharply with his cane striking the ground loudly. “Going back to the capital? You might not even reach there alive! Absolutely not!”
Shen Qingyao still did not lift her head, her eyes staring blankly at the quilt in front of her. Tears slowly filled her eyes, falling with each blink. She wiped them away quickly and repeated firmly, “I want to return to the capital.”
Then she lifted her head, her gaze determined. “I must go back.”
“Even if it means death, I want to die on the way back to the capital.”
“You…” Kong Lin raised a hand to point at her, meeting her desperate gaze. He couldn’t find words to respond, his fingertips trembling with frustration. After a while, he shook his sleeve and stormed out of the room.
Shen Qingyao’s eyes lowered again. She sniffled, and heard Cui Qiao call out tearfully, “Miss, let’s first recover our health before we go back, alright?”
“Yes, Madam! Young Master is blessed by the heavens and has a fortunate fate, but you shouldn’t exhaust yourself!” Hong Yun joined in, trying to persuade her.
Shen Qingyao looked so pale that if she said she would die tomorrow, someone might believe it. They truly didn’t dare let her take such a risk.
Shen Qingyao shook her head slowly, ignoring all attempts to persuade her. She only knew that Lu Zhao was in the capital. If he wouldn’t come for her, then she would go find him herself.
“I want to return to the capital,” she repeated, refusing to say anything else.
This standoff lasted for three days. Shen Qingyao was determined to return to the capital, but her body was too weak. Even if Kong Lin had agreed immediately, she doubted she could step out of the door.
So she began to cooperate with all the treatments: the medicines she had previously refused, the acupuncture she had feared. Now, she endured it all without a word, except to repeat her desire to return to the capital. For three days, Kong Lin almost constantly scolded her. After scolding, he resigned himself to continuing her treatment.
Yet he also understood in his heart that Shen Qingyao suffered from a heart ailment. If the inner turmoil was not resolved, not even the best doctors in the world could heal her. After another heavy sigh, Kong Lin finally relented.
“You can return, but you must listen to me! No rushing, no haste! You can’t afford any more shocks in your current state.” Kong Lin looked at the girl before him, completely devoid of spirit, and finally nodded.
Shen Qingyao suddenly looked up at him, her eyes slowly brightening. She wanted to smile, but tears fell from her eyes first.
“Thank you, Doctor Kong…”
“Don’t thank me yet. I will go with you. We’ll take it slowly. Absolutely no rushing!” Kong Lin said sternly, adjusting his beard, then grumbled, “Alright, stop crying. Pack your things and get ready. We’ll leave tomorrow!”
With that, he walked away without looking back.
“Miss! It’s great, Miss!” Cui Qiao rushed over and excitedly grabbed Shen Qingyao’s arm. “With Doctor Kong accompanying us, there won’t be any problems for sure!”
“Mmm.” Shen Qingyao smiled faintly, her hand slowly tightening.
It had been over a month since she parted ways with Lu Zhao.
“How is it, did you find him?” The guards sent out to search for Lu Zhao has returned, and as soon as they entered, Shen Qingli hurriedly went up to ask.
Since the explosion of the landmine and the collapse of the tunnel nearly ten days ago, during these ten days, Xiao Mu’s people had firmly taken control of the capital. The weaker princes elsewhere, seeing the strength of the northern forces, dared not act rashly. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, except for one thing.
They still couldn’t find Lu Zhao.
The collapsed underground palace had almost been completely dug over by their men, but they just couldn’t find him. No living person, not even a corpse.
Shen Qingli closed her eyes. She had instructed the person who was to send a message to Ningcheng not to tell Shen Qingyao this news. She couldn’t believe how upset Yaoyao would be if Yaoyao heard it.
Seeing her distressed expression, Xiao Mu sighed, put down the military report in his hand, and came over to embrace her, comforting her softly, “Ah Li, don’t panic. Lu Changfeng won’t encounter any trouble so easily.”
Shen Qingli nodded. She also understood that besides Lu Zhao, they also didn’t know the whereabouts of Xiao Jing. The most likely scenario was that these two had escaped through some other secret passage. But what exactly happened, if Lu Zhao caught Xiao Jing, it would be somewhat better, but if the opposite happened… the situation would indeed be very bad.
She leaned back wearily, blaming herself a little, “I shouldn’t have let Lu Zhao go at that time. Yaoyao values him so much. If something really happened to him, what would Yaoyao do…” Her beautiful eyes welled up with tears again.
Xiao Mu couldn’t bear to see her cry and could only reluctantly wipe away her tears, softly saying, “We will find him.”
But his gaze gradually became deeper. He understood Lu Zhao well, so he was confident that as long as Shen Qingyao was still here, Lu Zhao would definitely come back on his own.
On the other side, Lu Zhao, who had been searched for everywhere by everyone, finally pushed aside the heavy sand and stones, stepping into the gently flowing river water. He emerged into the daylight.
The explosion that day had sealed off the original escape route with the collapsed palace foundation stones. Fortunately, Xiao Jing had prepared another escape tunnel, but he had been hit by falling rocks and lost consciousness in the process.
Now, Lu Zhao pushed away the blocking stones with one hand and carried the still unconscious Xiao Jing with the other. They had been wandering through the complex underground passages for several days in search of an exit. They had walked along the underground river of the capital for a long time, and now he was dirty and wet all over. Even he felt weak and embarrassed.
Looking around, the secret passage was long. Finding the exit now, they were no longer inside the imperial city, but it seemed they had reached the hunting ground in the suburbs of the capital.
Looking at Xiao Jing again, a hint of fierceness flashed in Lu Zhao’s eyes. He tightened the sword in his hand, but in the end, he didn’t directly kill Xiao Jing. Instead, with a twist of his wrist, he dislocated Xiao Jing’s joints. He dragged Xiao Jing, staggering towards the direction of the capital.
He had to hurry back. If he didn’t write a letter to the little girl soon, she would cry.