The flashing of swords and shadows swept past Qiao Zhen's eyes, something she hadn't anticipated.

Or rather, she simply couldn't fathom who could hate her so much, daring to disregard her status as the only princess of the Qi Kingdom across several dynasties.

When Emperor Qi learned of this from the Princess's residence, he was furious. How dare someone try to pluck the tiger's fur right under the tiger's nose? This matter not only posed a threat to Qiao Zhen's life, but also affected Emperor Qi's dignity.

Will things be resolved amicably? Impossible. Neither Emperor Qi nor Qiao Zhen will resolve this amicably.

Meanwhile, on Qiao Zhen's side, where bloodstains were everywhere, a flash of silver light stung Qiao Zhen's eyes for a moment. Her body reacted faster than her mind. By the time she came to her senses, she had already rushed over and hugged Lu Yuanchuan's waist.

The expected pain did not come, and Qiao Zhen was terrified. She turned around and saw that Xu Ruan Kuang had already collapsed and knelt on one knee.

She risked everything for Lu Yuanchuan, and Xu Ruankuang risked everything for her.

Qiao Zhen rushed over and supported Xu Ruankuang, "A-Kuang!"

The floodgates that had been holding back her tears seemed to burst, and a steady stream of tears slid down her cheeks.

"Princess," Xu Ruankuang called out with difficulty. He stretched out his blood-stained hand, wanting to touch Qiao Zhen, but he didn't want to soil her hand with these filthy things.

Qiao Zhen grasped Xu Ruankuang's large hand in return. Her eyes were already blurred with tears, and she called out in a hoarse voice, "A Li... A Li."

She eventually acknowledged his original name and his identity.

Lu Yuanchuan and Lu Yuanliu were still working hard to create a safe space for Qiao Zhen and Xu Ruankuang.

Xu Ruankuang watched the scene of battle, his vision already blurry. "Princess, run!"

"No!" Qiao Zhen watched Xu Ruan Kuang's figure gradually collapse, then leaned over and hugged his large frame. "A Li, today is...our...wedding banquet. Without you...what can I do when I go back?...Do you want to...make this princess...a laughingstock of Qi Kingdom?"

Her voice was already broken and fragmented.

For some reason, Xu Ruankuang suddenly opened his eyes and rolled over, pinning Qiao Zhen beneath him.

Qiao Zhen stared wide-eyed at the sudden turn of events, then reached out and touched Xu Ruankuang's back. There was an arrow stuck in his left back.

That's... the location of the heart.

"Ah—!" Qiao Zhen let out a shrill scream, trying to push Xu Ruankuang away but unable to budge him.

Even in his dying moments, Xu Ruankuang tried to save her.

Even after death, protect her firmly.

Qiao Zhen cried until she was hoarse.

The imperial guards sent by Emperor Qi swept away the assassins like autumn leaves in the wind.

But it was too late. Qiao Zhen clearly felt that Xu Ruankuang's breathing had stopped.

Lu Yuanchuan and Lu Yuanliu pried Xu Ruankuang's tall body away and saw Qiao Zhen with tears streaming down her face.

Both of them felt bitter.

The Imperial Guards made a makeshift stretcher using whatever materials were available, while Qiao Zhen stayed by the stretcher's side, never leaving its side.

Emperor Qi watched as the two who had left happily were now dead, and the other returned weeping uncontrollably. He felt saddened. If he had sent someone to protect them secretly, perhaps things wouldn't have come to this.

Qiao Zhen said firmly, "The wedding banquet will be postponed to three days later."

Emperor Qi shouted, "Absurd!"

Qiao Zhen wiped away her tears, her eyes filled with desolation. "Xu Ruan Kuang, he was my husband in life, and he was my deceased husband in death!"

It was something she was determined to do.

Even Emperor Qi could not change it.

Three days later, Qiao Zhen, dressed in white with black flowers embroidered on her clothes, held Xu Ruankuang's ashes in her hands.

Xu Ruankuang's body was cremated this morning.

The guests at the wedding banquet were either filled with admiration for the affection between Qiao Zhen and Xu Ruan Kuang, or they trembled with fear. Some even said that Princess Zhu Yu had gone mad and wanted to marry a dead man.

Lu Yuanchuan did not come that day, because he had fallen seriously ill. The cold had penetrated to his bones, and he was beyond saving and did not have much time left.

After the ghost marriage, Qiao Zhen held Xu Ruankuang's urn every day and guarded Xu Ruankuang's memorial tablet all day long.

She felt guilty towards Xu Ruankuang. She initially only wanted to use Xu Ruankuang to make Lu Yuanchuan jealous, but she did not expect that it would cost him his life.

This foolish man, if he hadn't taken that arrow for Qiao Zhen, might have been saved. But he was already terminally ill, and the name of his illness was—"Qiao Zhen".

Emperor Qi discovered that the assassination attempt on Qiao Zhen during her wedding was a task that Lin Yuyun had bought with silver before her death.

Back then, Lin Yuyun was a dying woman. She was afraid that after her death, Qiao Zhen would be able to marry Lu Yuanchuan as she wished. So she bribed assassins with enough money to kill Qiao Zhen on her wedding day.

After learning about this, Qiao Zhen began to force herself to eat, force herself to hold back her tears, and force herself to live like a normal person.

But her heart was broken.

In just seven days, she discovered that the mastermind behind the assassin organization was none other than the First Prince, who had seemed kind and gentle to her. The reason the First Prince agreed to cooperate with Lin Yuyun was that he was afraid Qiao Zhen would favor the Second and Third Princes.

Emperor Qi dotes on Qiao Zhen, so if Qiao Zhen favors any prince in the future, when it comes time to establish an heir, Emperor Qi will naturally have to reconsider because of Qiao Zhen.

But Qiao Zhen still couldn't accept this reason. She then spent another month using swift and decisive methods to tear the Crown Prince's faction apart.

After the eldest prince completely lost power, Qiao Zhen withdrew her claws from the court. She was still the carefree Princess Zhuyu, and would occasionally mention Xu Ruankuang without any scruples.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!