The Illusion (Final)

Eunuch Wang was already waiting in front of the carriage. When he saw him arrive, he rushed forward in a panic: "Oh dear! Lord Zhong, you've finally come out! Please come with me to the East Palace. The Emperor is scolding His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Zhong Sanxue panicked, drew her guard's sword, cut the horse's reins, and mounted her horse: "Eunuch Wang, what brings you here?!"

Eunuch Wang hurriedly said, "His Highness the Crown Prince has presented a letter of advice to the Emperor, and the Emperor is furious! Please, Your Excellency, go to the palace immediately!"

"Giddy up!" Zhong Sanxue gripped the horse's flanks tightly with her legs, cracked the whip, and galloped away.

"I am the Son of Heaven!! You have all defied me!!! As long as I live, I will not let you succeed!! Drink! Drink it!"

Outside the hall, rows of eunuchs and palace maids knelt, pleading for mercy. Inside, Emperor Yuan roared. Zhong Sanxue practically ran in, sweating profusely and filled with anxiety. Inside, she saw Emperor Yuan, his hair disheveled and eyes bloodshot, force-feeding a bowl of medicine to Lan Yu. Lan Yu was being squeezed and struggled, tears streaming down her face, her chest stained with dirt.

On the octagonal table next to it, there were bowls full of medicinal juices, seven of which were empty.

Then Emperor Yuan changed his mood again, seemingly coaxing the Crown Prince: "Good Lanyu, drink up! After you finish drinking, you will be the Crown Prince of our dynasty forever, hahaha!"

Zhong Sanxue stopped outside the palace, knelt down and bowed: "Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty."

Hearing the sound, Emperor Yuan turned his crazed face around: "Huaizhi, you've come?! Quickly make this rebellious son drink his medicine!"

Zhong Sanxue knelt on the ground, her voice mournful and urgent: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Your Highness is usually intelligent and quick-witted, but this action was rash and foolish! Your Majesty, please reconsider. Even if there are a thousand or ten thousand mistakes, it is my fault for not teaching you properly!"

Emperor Yuan, his face dark with anger, squatted down and grabbed Zhong Sanxue's chin: "You blame me for teaching you? Hahaha, Huaizhi, you know I can't bear to punish you. Looking at your face, my anger has already been completely dissipated, hasn't it? How dare I punish you? You know that even you will lose power one day, Zhong Sanxue."

Zhong Sanxue's skin was pinched until it turned red, and she felt that the Yuan Emperor in front of her was becoming more and more terrifying. His cheeks were sunken, his eyebrows were protruding, and his hands were gripping her tightly like withered bones.

"Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation!!"

Emperor Yuan released his grip, patting Zhong Sanxue's cheek with his withered hand. He rose with a maniacal laugh, grabbed a vase, and smashed it against a eunuch: "I'm punishing the Crown Prince, and you dare call for reinforcements! You've all become lawless, haven't you?! Who the hell rules this world?! Whom do you obey?!" The chubby eunuch who was hit immediately collapsed to the ground, bleeding profusely. The palace maids and eunuchs trembled and cried out, "Your Majesty, spare our lives!"

Several eunuchs knelt and held the unconscious prince, sobbing with their heads bowed. The prince's body was trembling, he was delirious, and he was spitting out medicine, looking utterly pathetic.

Emperor Yuan wiped his face, his eyes turning sinister: "Since Grand Tutor Zhong is such a timely help, and has pleaded for the Crown Prince and confessed his crimes, guards, drag him away, break his legs, and confine him for three days."

The guards rustled in from outside and helped Zhong Sanxue up. Zhong Sanxue breathed a sigh of relief and even smiled, "Thank you for your grace!"

The full moon shines brightly, its light casting a silvery glow across the ground.

Silver fragments were scattered on Zhong Sanxue's muddy body. He was in so much pain that he couldn't move. He was panting heavily, his voice trembling and intermittent. His fingertips were raw and sweaty, then chilled by the wind.

What happened? Why did it turn out like this? What exactly happened?

"Open the door." It was Lan Yu's voice.

“Your Highness, this is His Majesty’s order,” the guard said.

"Father only said that the Grand Tutor was imprisoned, but he didn't give any order forbidding me from coming, did he?" Lan Yu's voice was filled with anger.

"I hope Your Highness will not make things difficult for me!" the guard knelt down.

With a whoosh, it was the sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath.

Zhong Sanxue was anxious. He didn't want Lan Yu to anger His Majesty again, nor did he want Lan Yu to see him in his current state.

He opened his mouth, but his throat was dry, as if someone had grabbed his throat, and he could only make hoarse and indistinct sounds.

"Open the door or die?" Zhong Sanxue had never seen Lan Yu wield such power.

The guard was silent for a moment, then opened the door: "Your Highness, please do not linger too long."

Moonlight poured down as Lan Yu arrived, bathed in moonlight. Then the door closed, leaving only him bathed in moonlight and Zhong Sanxue prostrate on the ground. He turned his face away, unwilling to look at Lan Yu.

Lan Yu squatted down, her hand groping for Zhong Sanxue: "I know Huaizhi doesn't want me to see him, afraid that I'll be sad. I'll cover my eyes, so Huaizhi can see me, okay?"

Zhong Sanxue was startled and turned her head with difficulty. The boy's eyes were covered with a white satin cloth, which was already wet and pressed against his eyes. Tears dripped from his sharp chin.

Zhong Sanxue moved her fingers with difficulty, touching Lan Yu's warm fingertips. Lan Yu bit her lip, her body trembling, and carefully covered the back of Zhong Sanxue's hand with her palm.

Tears streamed down his face, soaking his clothes and breaking Zhong Sanxue's heart. He could no longer bear it and closed his eyes to let his emotions flow.

Lan Yu rummaged through his food box and found a bowl of sweet water. He then took out a small spoon and felt around on the ground. He sensed Zhong Sanxue's faint breathing and gently stroked her cheek. He felt Zhong Sanxue flinch away. "Huaizhi, I can't see. Would you like some water? Tomorrow I... will inform Prime Minister Zhong to come and pick you up."

He brushed the strands of hair stuck to Zhong Sanxue's face with his hand, touching a damp patch. He paused, then said, "Huaizhi, I'm sorry, I'm a useless piece of trash. I wish I hadn't been born into the royal family."

Lan Yu took off her outer robe and covered Zhong Sanxue with it, then took off her inner clothes and folded them neatly. She carefully lifted Zhong Sanxue's head and placed the folded "pillow" on it. Her palm gently caressed Zhong Sanxue's face.

Zhong Sanxue's eyes widened as she pressed her face against his palm, shaking her head with difficulty, tears streaming down her face. His heart ached, and his voice trembled as he sobbed.

His despair at this moment surpassed even the physical lashes. Wasn't Lan Yu's current state a direct result of his own actions?

Lan Yu scooped up a spoonful of water, touched Zhong Sanxue's lips, and let it flow down her cheeks.

Like rain after a long drought, Zhong Sanxue felt much better. The two were silent, one feeding the other and the other drinking, both crying in hushed tones, looking quite pathetic.

She choked on some water and coughed with difficulty, but because of the pain, she dared not cough too hard, her whole body tense.

Lan Yu hurriedly put down the bowl and patted his back. Suddenly, his vision lightened; Zhong Sanxue had torn off the ribbon. He froze, then immediately closed his eyes tightly, biting his lip hard.

"Your Highness, please open your eyes." A hoarse voice said.

Lan Yu slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurry. Zhong Sanxue lay sprawled on the ground, her hair disheveled, her clothes stained with blood and filth, her legs…

He dared not look down, but as soon as he entered, he smelled the stench of blood.

Zhong Sanxue was covered in a cold sweat, her face as pale and exhausted as snow in the moonlight. It was about to slip through her fingers.

Those gentle and refined eyes were like pine trees in the wind and snow, just like him, unchanging for eternity; unmoved by the turmoil of the world, undeterred by setbacks.

Zhong Sanxue struggled to sit up.

Lan Yu quickly grabbed him and carefully helped him up.

His face was icy cold. Zhong Sanxue grabbed his sleeve and wiped it for him: "You are His Highness the Crown Prince."

Lan Yu realized that her lips were bleeding.

Zhong Sanxue reached out and tapped the corner of his lips: "Your Highness."

Lan Yu was surprised that he could shed so many tears. He lay down, and Zhong Sanxue was stunned for a moment. Lan Yu moved closer to Zhong Sanxue, who tried to back away, saying, "Dirty..."

Lan Yu moved closer, pressing her face against Zhong Sanxue's arm: "Huaizhi, are you willing to let me escape? Anyway, even if I'm gone, someone else will take my place, but I only have you left, and I will only listen to you."

Lan Yu is behaving very strangely tonight. Zhong Sanxue wanted to say something, to think, but her mind was foggy.

Lan Yu sobbed softly, her words barely audible: "Why has everything changed since Mother left? Is it only when I'm gone that I can protect you? I thought that if I didn't fight for anything, and that I could live a peaceful life as the books say, fulfilling my duties in my position would bring tranquility."

No, no, Huaizhi. Huaizhi, it hurts so much. Seeing you like this hurts me so much. I'd rather give you my leg, Huaizhi..."

When You Youju opened her eyes again, she was in her own room, with Xiaozhu standing next to her.

"Huaizhi, you're awake?" Xiaozhu handed over the warmed medicine. Zhong Sanxue took it and looked at Xiaozhu: "Why are you calling me that?"

Xiao Zhu wrung out a silk handkerchief and wiped Zhong Sanxue's face.

"Why did you do this? Where are the servants?"

Xiao Zhu raised his handsome face: "Huai Zhi, don't you want to see me?"

Zhong Sanxue's face darkened: "Is that all?"

Xiao Zhu paused, then said, "You..."

Zhong Sanxue's eyes reddened: "Although I don't know how you persuaded my father, how you managed to go this far..."

He smiled wryly: "But it's not up to me now. If that person were you, it wouldn't be so bad."

He lowered his head, preparing to drink the medicine, only to find the bowl filled with countless eyes.

"Ah!" Zhong Sanxue screamed, fear creeping into every pore of his skin. Xiao Zhu stepped forward, pulled back the covers, and wiped his fingers with a handkerchief: "What's wrong?"

He gasped for breath, struggling to get out of bed, but forgot that his leg was broken. He stumbled into Xiaozhu's arms, who looked flustered as well: "Huaizhi! What's wrong, Huaizhi!"

Zhong Sanxue pushed Xiaozhu away forcefully and grabbed her by the collar with both hands: "Don't call me that! Where's Lanyu! Where's Lanyu!"

Looking at the ferocious Zhong Sanxue, Xiaozhu chuckled softly: "Huaizhi, do you know how pathetic you are right now? I am Lan Yu now."

Zhong Sanxue's eyes widened, her lips parted but she couldn't utter a word, her pupils trembling.

Xiao Zhu picked him up and placed him on the bed: "Mad emperor, cowardly crown prince. You think you've got what you wanted? You're stupid."

Zhong Sanxue slammed a pillow at Xiaozhu: "You're committing treason!!"

Xiao Zhu caught it steadily, her face showing a mocking expression: "I am the Crown Prince. If I were to rebel, would you then be considered loyal and fraternal?"

Don't forget what you've done. You ridiculously underestimated Prince Yong's ambition, which led to this predicament. You wanted to escape with him, didn't you?

As long as it benefits you and doesn't harm him, you pretend to be untainted by the mud! You're just trying to protect yourself! But actually, you're quite selfish.

Look at me, Zhong Sanxue!

Zhong Sanxue's face was somewhat pale. Xiaozhu's words were like pearls, and her sister's sickly appearance before her death was still vivid in her mind.

Sister? Sister? You Youju's head was throbbing so badly that she couldn't remember what her sister looked like.

Xiao Zhu continued to vent: "Didn't you train me to deal with my good brother? You were afraid he wouldn't be able to handle it properly, so you didn't expect that I was the one who sabotaged things behind the scenes, did you?"

Xiao Zhu's expression was somewhat ferocious. He stepped forward and grabbed Zhong Sanxue's chin, his eyes burning with a fire that seemed to want to consume him. His voice weakened as he rested his head on Zhong Sanxue's shoulder: "Knowing it was a trap, knowing I was lying, why? Why? Why, in these three years we've been together in the manor, have you refused to see me?"

"Where is Lan Yu?" Zhong Sanxue asked anxiously.

Xiao Zhu was instantly enraged, his anger spreading to every hair on his head. He wanted nothing more than to tear the person in front of him to shreds! His eyes were bloodshot: "Lan Yu, Lan Yu, I am Lan Yu now! Do you want me? I saved you when you were about to die!! He drugged the emperor and was stupid enough to be discovered. He deserves to suffer!"

Before Zhong Sanxue could think further, she felt a sharp pain on her lips.

Xiao Zhu bit him! Zhong Sanxue wanted to kick him, but he couldn't feel his feet. He could only put his hands in front of his chest and push Xiao Zhu away, even hitting him.

Xiao Zhu let go of her mouth, and Zhong Sanxue pushed her away forcefully: "Are you crazy!?"

He rubbed his lips hard, his composure crumbling. He had actually been pinned down on the bed and bitten by a seventeen-year-old!

Xiao Zhu looked at his actions and sneered: "Crazy? I am a madman."

Then he restrained Zhong Sanxue's hands with one hand, and tightened his grip on her chin, intensifying the bite. Zhong Sanxue bit his tongue hard, making muffled noises, and the taste of blood spread. Xiao Zhu was not afraid of the pain, and Zhong Sanxue began to bite herself. Xiao Zhu quickly moved away. Zhong Sanxue's face, which had just looked sickly, was now flushed red, and she was panting heavily.

Xiao Zhu cursed under her breath, but continued to press on.

Zhong Sanxue panicked, he was truly panicked, panting as he staggered backward: "You scoundrel! You are utterly rebellious!"

Xiao Zhu said with a mocking smile, "So what if I'm being rebellious? Anyone would be rebellious in the state my uncle is in now!"

Just as he was about to get into bed, a voice came from outside the door: "Your Highness! The Prince requests an audience!"

Xiao Zhu sighed, smashed the tea set on the table, picked up her belt, and left, leaving Zhong Sanxue standing there dumbfounded.

Xiao Zhu didn't close the door tightly, and her figure slipped through the crack. "I'll kill him sooner or later!"

That sound just now. It was from that chubby little eunuch in the Lanyu Palace!

Zhong Sanxue couldn't have misheard; wasn't the chubby eunuch killed by Emperor Yuan?

My head started to throb with pain, as if something was about to tear apart my brain.

You Youju looked up, struggling to see the direction Xiaozhu had left in.

But he discovered that the previously pitch-black crack in the door now held a blood-red eye staring intently at him, its pupil unmoving.

For a moment, even breathing stopped.

The eunuch Wang who was sent away by Emperor Yuan, the Prince Yong whose leg was sometimes good and sometimes bad... He never felt anything was wrong with any of this! And... his eyes!

Zhong Sanxue clutched his hair, the intense pain making him feel like he was dying. His vision began to blur, and suddenly! You Youju opened her eyes.

"I'm speechless. I was so confused that I forgot the blood from the tip of my tongue had been released."

A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips as he looked up and met those huge, crimson eyes. Those terrifying red eyes were rolling around incessantly, looking extremely eerie.

Those eyes were fixed on him, and the eerie red aura emanating from them was directed straight at You Youju. You Youju chuckled, the shame and anger from before still lingering: "What kind of crappy script is this? This piece of crap has wasted my time."

Then came a lazy voice: "Summon them."

"!!" The Crimson Bone Serpent Tail rushed forward immediately, but was caught in You Youju's palm.

A crack of the whip shattered the several eerie red wisps, the whip's tail striking the pupil directly, causing the enormous red eye to shatter like glass at its most vulnerable moment. The world began to crumble, countless fragments scattered across the ground, emitting a piercing thud as they hit the ground.

The surroundings immediately returned to how they had been under the big maple tree at the beginning.

Zhu Xun was lying on the ground, barely alive.

Standing in the middle of the maple tree was a man in red clothes with brown hair, holding a book made of maple leaves in his hand. His eyes were slightly upturned, his eyebrows were full of affection, and his lips were smiling.