Chapter 73 His child... He just... left like that?

We need to be faster!

She suppressed the unease surging in her heart and threw all her energy back into the mountain of notes.

She carefully read through Wang Shan's confession, scrutinizing every word, hoping to find some clue about Huang Jiang's whereabouts.

However, Wang Shan was tight-lipped, or rather, he knew only a limited amount of information. The few locations he provided were either long abandoned or insignificant contact points, and Huang Jiang was nowhere to be found.

Time ticked by, and Fangru's heart sank deeper and deeper.

Are we really just going to sit here and wait to die?

Just when she was almost in despair, a brief statement about another arrested henchman caught her attention.

The henchman was of low rank and knew little, but when mentioning Huang Jiang's activities, he inadvertently mentioned, "...the sect leader...occasionally goes to the 'Dark Fragrance Pavilion' in the south of the city to find that girl named Yingxiu. That place is remote, with winding alleys..."

The Pavilion of Hidden Fragrance! A Sleeve of Elegance!

Fangru's heart skipped a beat.

The area in the south of the city is a melting pot of all sorts of people, with a maze of alleyways, making it an excellent hiding place!

Although it cannot be confirmed that Huang Jiang is definitely there at this moment, this is currently the only and most likely clue!

We can't wait any longer.

She took a deep breath, pinched her palm hard with her fingertips inside her sleeve, and used the slight pain to make her eyes redden slightly. Her face showed a hint of exhaustion and weakness that she could hardly bear.

She walked with a slightly unsteady gait toward Zheng Yu, a senior official in the Ministry of Justice who was frantically checking case files.

“Lord Zheng,” her voice was slightly hoarse, trembling with exhaustion, “this humble official… suddenly feels extremely unwell, with severe abdominal pain and dizziness. I fear it is a relapse of an old ailment, and I cannot continue. I humbly request Your Excellency’s permission to take my leave first, return to my residence to seek medical treatment and rest for a while.”

Zheng Yu looked up from the mountain of documents, his brows furrowed, his face filled with impatience and irritation.

He looked Fangru up and down and saw that her face was pale, which was partly due to her nervousness and partly due to her deliberate act. Her lips were also bloodless, and she did look sickly.

Normally, he would have scolded them for being "spoiled" and "unfit for important tasks," especially since they were currently short-staffed and the case was at its most pressing.

"Nonsense!" Zheng Yu's face darkened, and his tone became stern. "What time is it now? What juncture is this? Everyone in the White Tiger Hall works from dawn till dusk! Asking for leave for a minor illness or pain is unbecoming! Go back and sit down!"

Fangru's heart tightened; she knew things wouldn't go so smoothly.

She lowered her eyelashes to hide the anxiety in her eyes, her voice even lower, yet carrying a helpless insistence: "My lord, please understand, it is truly... I have no choice. It is not that I am afraid of difficulties or lazy, but I fear... I fear that if I force myself to stay here, I might faint and ruin important matters, causing trouble."

Her words deliberately and vaguely referred to the unspoken "pregnancy".

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yu's expression turned even more unpleasant.

He naturally thought of Fangru's public admission of her pregnancy, and also of His Majesty's cryptic yet clearly "special" attitude toward the matter.

He weighed the pros and cons in his mind. If he forced her to stay, and something really went wrong in this hall, what would happen to His Majesty… He secretly raised his eyes and quickly glanced in the direction of the throne. Although Zhou Ling seemed to be listening attentively to the report, the low pressure emanating from him and the occasional glances he cast in their direction made Zheng Yu feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Keeping her around might just mean having another ineffective helper, but if something happens to her, I'm afraid I'll be held responsible and will have to face His Majesty's wrath.

Letting her go would only mean one less person, but it would save us from a potentially huge problem.

Zheng Yu, who had been navigating the political landscape for many years, immediately grasped the implications of this situation.

The anger on his face receded like the tide, replaced by a complex expression that mixed helplessness, annoyance, and a hint of barely perceptible apprehension.

He sighed heavily, waved his hand reluctantly, and softened his tone, but it still carried a clear warning:

"Alright, alright! Since you are indeed feeling unwell, go and come back quickly! Don't linger too long. Right now, we need manpower, so I hope you will take good care of yourself and come back to serve as soon as possible!" He deliberately emphasized "go and come back quickly" and "come back as soon as possible" to save face and show that he was not going to let them off easily.

"I understand, thank you for your consideration, sir." Fangru lowered her eyes and bowed respectfully, then turned and left without saying another word.

Only after her figure disappeared outside the White Tiger Hall did Zheng Yu withdraw his gaze, shake his head, and mutter a sentence that only he could hear: "...Really, troublesome." It was unclear whether he meant Fangru's physical condition was troublesome, or the various entanglements and troubles that she herself brought.

Fangru, once she was out of that suffocating hall and the countless probing gazes, immediately straightened her back, and the feigned weakness on her face was instantly replaced by determination and urgency.

Like a stealthy owl, she swiftly blended into the crisscrossing shadows of the capital, heading straight for the filthy, potentially life-or-death place in the south of the city: the Dark Fragrance Pavilion.

The Anxiang Pavilion in the south of the city is not easy to find. It is not located on the bustling main street, but is hidden at the end of a narrow and cramped alley with sewage flowing everywhere. The signboard is old and the door is deserted.

Fangru spent a lot of time asking several passersby who seemed to know the place before she finally found it.

She composed herself, and instead of barging in, she observed for a moment before stepping forward and whispering to the yawning, shrewd-eyed pimp at the door the code word that Baiyang Society often used for making contact, which she had deduced from the records.

The pimp's cloudy eyes swept over her, especially noticing the sharp and capable air she exuded despite her casual clothes. He hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, signaling her to come with him.

Passing through the noisy front hall and walking along a darker, musty-smelling corridor to its end, the pimp stopped in front of an inconspicuous wooden door and knocked three long and two short times in a coded signal.

The door was pulled open a crack from the inside.

Fangru immediately spotted the figure huddled in the corner of the room, looking terrified and uneasy—it was none other than the incense master, Huang Jiang!

When Huang Jiang saw her, he was first startled, then his face drained of color, and he lowered his voice, both shocked and furious: "It's you?! Shen Fangru! There's chaos outside right now, the Six Doors and the Military Command are like mad dogs, arresting our people everywhere, how dare you come here?! Are you trying to kill me?!"

Fangru slipped into the house and quickly closed the door, cutting off the sounds from outside.

Countless questions churned in her mind: Where exactly was the "Crimson Flame Thunder" buried? What exactly caused the poisoning she suffered from? Each question was a matter of life and death.

But she knew she couldn't rush things.

Huang Jiang was like a frightened bird at this moment; any excessive questioning could cause him to completely break down or run away.

She forced herself to calm down, revealing just the right amount of anxiety and weakness on her face, and chose to speak about the question that seemed most important to her personally, and perhaps least likely to arouse Huang Jiang's suspicion:

"Master Huang, this is not the time to talk about these things! I risked coming here because I have something urgent to ask you!"

She clutched her chest, her brow furrowed, and her voice urgent, "The packet of poison you gave me in the alley behind Zuixianlou last time... I... I accidentally spilled some powder on my hands a few days ago when I was poisoning it. I've been feeling nauseous and retching, have no appetite, and feel weak all over... Am I poisoned? What kind of poison is it? Give me the antidote now!"

Huang Jiang waved his hand impatiently: "That poison only works when ingested; getting it on your hands won't cause any poisoning! I think you are..."

He suddenly stopped speaking, squinted and carefully examined Fangru's pale face, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy pupils.

“Wait… these symptoms of yours…” Huang Jiang’s lips curled into a strange smile, “Nausea, dry heaving, loss of appetite… You wouldn’t be pregnant, would you? Could it be Gu Zhou’s child…”

Gu Zhou?

Fangru felt a chill run down her spine. In all her lifetimes, she had never allowed Gu Zhou to get close to her.

The person who can touch her...

There is only one.

This realization struck her like a thunderbolt, leaving her limbs numb.

You won't get poisoned...

So these symptoms...

The tide of memories surged forth: those nights in the seventh life, the palace lanterns flickered, and she was imprisoned by Zhou Ling on the dragon bed, the black dragon-patterned robes brushing against her skin, their hot breaths mingling...

In that life, she died with resentment; in this life, her period is delayed...

A persistent feeling of nausea, a sudden wave of weakness...

All the details she had deliberately ignored now came together to form a chilling truth.

This is not poisoning.

This is……

She instinctively touched her lower abdomen, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably. Something seemed to be quietly sprouting there, with an undeniable presence.

It's Zhou Ling's child.

The man who had been entangled with her for seven lifetimes, the man she hated to the core yet could never completely sever ties with...

It turns out that the karmic entanglement from that life has continued in this life in such a way.

The enormous impact almost knocked her off her feet, and she managed to steady herself by grabbing the mottled wall beside her.

Shock, confusion, and fear surged within her, yet there was also a subtle stirring within her that she herself was unwilling to delve into, like an undercurrent surging in her heart.

Huang Jiang was about to say something when Fang Ru interrupted him sharply: "Shut up!"

She suppressed her turbulent emotions, digging her nails deep into her palms, using the pain to keep herself awake.

Now is not the time to dwell on this; the most urgent task is to find out the whereabouts of the "Crimson Flame Thunder".

"Is this the time to think about these things?" She deliberately made her voice sound embarrassed and annoyed. "Saving your life is the most important thing!"

Huang Jiang was startled by her sudden stern look, and only then did he remember his situation. He frantically grabbed her sleeve: "Then do you have any way to help me escape?"

Fangru took a deep breath and suppressed that shocking discovery deep in her heart.

Her face turned grave, and she said in a low voice, "Help you? Easier said than done... I saw it clearly before I came out. His Majesty has ordered all city gates to be sealed off, and all the major waterways and land routes are heavily guarded. There are also officers from the Military Police and the Six Doors patrolling the streets and alleys throughout the city. The checks are extremely thorough. If you go out now, it's tantamount to walking into a trap!" She deliberately described the situation as extremely critical.

Huang Jiang's face instantly turned ashen, and he murmured in despair, "Then...then isn't that a dead end?"

“Not necessarily…” Fangru’s tone shifted, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes. She leaned closer, her voice low and enticing, “I do know a secret passage known to very few, which might bypass the main checkpoints. But this requires someone to provide backup outside, creating chaos to draw away the pursuers, and it needs extremely precise timing…”

She deliberately spoke of the plan vaguely yet hopefully, and then pointed out a crucial element: her assistance.

Huang Jiang's eyes lit up again, and he grabbed her wrist impatiently: "What secret passage? What do we need to do? Tell me quickly!"

Fangru felt the cold sweat seeping from his hands due to fear, and calculated in her mind that the time had come.

She was about to offer a deal: "You must first tell me where the 'Crimson Flame Thunder' is hidden, and ensure the safety of the people in the capital before I will risk helping you."

"Bang!"

With a deafening crash, the door was kicked open by a violent force, sending splinters flying everywhere!

Blinding light flooded into the dimly lit room, illuminating the tall, aloof figure of the person standing there.

Zhou Ling, dressed in a black dragon-patterned casual robe, stood with his hands behind his back at the doorway, his face calm and expressionless. However, his deep eyes were like sharp blades tempered with ice, instantly piercing through the air and locking onto the two people inside the room who were almost touching.

Li Zuo, the commander of the Imperial Guards, stood behind him with his hand on his sword. His armor reflected a cold, hard light. Behind him were countless Imperial Guards soldiers holding weapons and exuding a murderous aura, completely surrounding the small space.

How could he be here?! How could he have found this place so precisely?!

Fangru's heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand, abruptly stopping its beating, her blood instantly flowing backward and freezing. All her plans seemed so laughable, so utterly vulnerable in the face of this absolute power and sudden change.

Zhou Ling's gaze swept indifferently over Huang Jiang, whose face was ashen and who was trembling like autumn leaves, and finally settled on Fang Ru's bloodless face, which was filled with astonishment.

A barely perceptible, extremely cold curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. It was not a smile, but a silent mockery of the one in control of everything towards the one who tried to stop him, a declaration of the unquestionable authority of the emperor.

Fangru was shocked. She saw Huang Jiang desperately trying to rush towards the only back window, and she didn't even have time to react.

"Trying to leave?"

With a cold sneer, Li Zuo, the commander of the Imperial Guards, moved like a ghost. Before Huang Jiang's hand could touch the window frame, he was slammed back into the room by a tremendous force and crashed heavily to the ground with a muffled groan.

Two armored soldiers quickly stepped forward, swiftly tied his hands behind his back, and bound him to the only armchair in the center of the room, rendering him unable to move.

Zhou Ling then slowly stepped into the small room filled with the smell of cosmetics and mildew. His black brocade boots made a soft sound as they stepped over the wood chips scattered on the floor, each step feeling like it was treading on Fang Ru's heart.

His gaze was sharp and intense. It first swept over Huang Jiang, who was ashen-faced and trembling like a leaf, and then his calm yet extremely imposing gaze locked onto Fang Ru, who was trying to make her presence known.

"Officer Shen," he began, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable interrogative tone, "I am curious, why are you here alone... at the Dark Fragrance Pavilion? To meet in secret with the traitors of the White Sun Society?"

He paused deliberately, his gaze shifting between her and Huang Jiang. "Could it be that you and he are in cahoots?"

Fangru's heart pounded; she knew this was the most fatal accusation.

She forced herself to meet his probing gaze, trying to make her voice sound calm and composed, even adding a touch of just the right amount of grievance and urgency: "Your Majesty, please understand! I have absolutely no ulterior motives! It's just... it's just that while organizing the records, I discovered that this person might know crucial clues about the 'Crimson Flame Thunder.' This matter is of great importance, and I was worried that reporting it up the chain of command would delay the opportunity, allowing the traitor to escape again and commit a grave mistake! That's why... that's why I had no choice but to take the risk and investigate first. If I can find out anything, I will report back immediately!"

She emphasized her "eagerness to save lives" and "fear of delays" to the extreme, trying to portray herself as a loyal minister who was eager to make a name for herself and was somewhat reckless.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ling was not convinced at all. Instead, he took a step closer to her, looking down at her with a teasing tone that made people uneasy: "Officer Shen is really...devoted to his official duties. However," he glanced at the ambiguous environment and finally landed on her chest, which was rising and falling slightly due to nervousness. His tone slowed down and carried a hint of ambiguity, "'Working' in a place like this has a unique flavor."

Fangru's cheeks flushed slightly. She gritted her teeth in anger at the implication in his words, but had to suppress her anger: "Your Majesty! In times of emergency, one must act expediently! This place is a melting pot of all sorts of people, making it an excellent place to conceal one's whereabouts. If Your Majesty finds this place unsuitable, wouldn't that prove that my choice was correct?"

"What a convenient excuse for haste," Zhou Ling chuckled, his laughter revealing neither joy nor anger, but rather a hint of amusement. "It seems that Constable Shen is willing to venture into any dangerous place for 'official business,' and even meet with any... person alone." His gaze swept over her face, scrutinizing her. "Should I praise this audacity, or should I be suspicious?"

"If Your Majesty has any doubts, I may resign now and await investigation!" Fangru was somewhat annoyed by his relentless pressure, and slightly raised her chin. "I just wonder, if Your Majesty's suspicions delay the investigation of 'Crimson Flame Thunder,' who will bear the responsibility?"

“Heh,” Zhou Ling moved closer, almost to the point of feeling each other’s breath. He lowered his voice, with a dangerous intimacy, “Sharp-tongued. Shen Fangru, you always have a point. But…” He changed the subject, his gaze sharp as a knife, “You’d better pray that your reasoning can convince me.”

Their gazes clashed in mid-air, a turbulent undercurrent swirling within them. One held the scrutiny of an emperor, coupled with an unspeakable possessiveness; the other carried the stubbornness and resentment of someone driven to the brink.

Finally, Zhou Ling shifted his gaze first, turning to Huang Jiang, who was bound tightly, his voice regaining its imperial coldness and majesty: "Huang Jiang, my patience is limited. Tell me, where is the 'Crimson Flame Thunder' buried?"

Although Huang Jiang was trembling with fear, he kept his eyes tightly closed, looking ready to risk everything.

Seeing this, Li Zuo stepped forward, his hand already on the hilt of his sword, exuding a chilling murderous aura.

Zhou Ling waved his hand, stopping Li Zuo.

He strode up to Huang Jiang, his voice low but each word like a hammer blow, striking at the heart: "Tell me, and I may spare your life, perhaps... even let you die a quick death. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to let you experience all 365 forms of torture in the imperial prison. Then you'll be begging me to listen to you."

Coercion and bribery, a combination of kindness and severity—the art of imperial manipulation is on full display.

The room was deathly silent, save for Huang Jiang's heavy, fearful breathing.

He suddenly opened his eyes, bloodshot, but his gaze bypassed Zhou Ling and fixed on Fang Ru behind him. He hissed, "Bah! You dog emperor! Kill me or torture me as you please! Trying to get information out of me? Dream on!"

He gritted his teeth, genuinely intending to fight to the bitter end.

Fangru felt a sudden alarm bell ringing in her heart.

She instantly understood Huang Jiang's plan; he still believed she was a spy planted by Bai Yang Society, intending to assassinate the emperor!

At this moment, he is risking his life to keep the secret, not only out of loyalty to the Baiyang Society, but also to protect her, "one of his own"!

He was convinced that as long as he didn't speak, her identity would remain hidden.

This misunderstanding is absolutely terrible!

We absolutely cannot let Huangjiang fall into Zhou Ling's hands!

Under the tortures of the imperial prison, no one could keep a secret. If Huang Jiang succumbed to the torture and confessed that she had asked for poison in an attempt to assassinate the emperor, she would face utter ruin!

But she absolutely could not let Huang Jiang escape. The "Crimson Flame Thunder" was like a sword hanging over the heads of the people of the capital; if it was not dismantled, the consequences would be unimaginable.

In a flash, Fangru made a decision.

She must take the initiative in her dialogue with Huang Jiang!

She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said to Zhou Ling, "Your Majesty, such a desperate man is unlikely to be effectively coerced or bribed in the usual way. Just now, he seemed... more willing to talk to me. Perhaps, if I try to communicate with him, we can make a breakthrough?"

Her tone was cautious, yet earnest, conveying a desire to share the nation's burdens and placing herself in a position to alleviate the emperor's worries.

Zhou Ling's deep gaze lingered on her face for a moment, his eyes seemingly able to see right through her.

He saw the fleeting anxiety in her eyes, and also the determination she was trying to conceal. A subtle, enigmatic smile played on his lips, and surprisingly, he didn't object.

"Oh? Constable Shen is willing to share my burdens?" He said slowly, taking a few steps back, gesturing for Li Zuo and the others to also step back, leaving space for them. He then leisurely observed from the side, as if enjoying a good show about to unfold. "Then I will wait and see."

The pressure was instantly placed on Fangru.

She walked up to Huang Jiang, blocking Zhou Ling's probing gaze, and lowered her voice, urgently saying in a volume only the two of them could hear: "Master Huang! You're foolish! Continuing to resist will only lead to your death!"

When Huang Jiang saw her, a flicker of excitement crossed his eyes. He lowered his voice, his tone filled with a desperate resolve: "Girl! Don't worry about me! Go! My life is worthless, I don't care if I die, but I can't let you be implicated! That dog emperor won't get a single word from me!" He was indeed still trying to protect her.

Fangru was inwardly groaning, but on the surface she had no choice but to play along and guide him to reveal the key information.

Her brows furrowed, her tone accusatory and urgent: "You think your death will end everything? If the 'Crimson Flame Thunder' detonates, how many brothers and innocent civilians will perish?! Will you be performing a great service to the gang, or becoming a sinner for all time?!"

She deliberately conflated "brothers" and "common people" in an attempt to move him.

Huang Jiang's eyes flickered for a moment, as if he was wavering, but then he became firm again: "There will be arrangements in the meeting! Miss, your mission is more important! Don't waste your time here!" He remained tight-lipped and instead urged her to leave this place of trouble.

Fangru was extremely anxious, knowing that conventional persuasion would be useless. She had to take a risky gamble.

She leaned closer, her voice low and mysteriously suggestive: "Master Huang, trust me. Tell me the location of 'Crimson Flame Thunder,' and I have a way... perhaps we can achieve both." Her words were vague, yet they gave Huang Jiang a glimmer of hope. Perhaps this spy, deeply trusted by the emperor, truly had a way to both protect the secret and save his life?

A flicker of struggle and doubt flashed in Huang Jiang's cloudy eyes as he looked at Fang Ru, seemingly weighing the veracity of her words.

Seeing that he was softening, Fangru immediately pressed her advantage, pressing him in a whisper, "'Crimson Flame Thunder'...where exactly are they buried? Tell us so we can think of a solution!"

Huang Jiang's struggle intensified, but his instinct for survival and loyalty to the organization continued to clash fiercely.

He replied in an equally low, hoarse voice filled with despair, "I can't say... Miss, if I do, I'll lose all value to that dog of an emperor, and he'll kill me immediately! I absolutely won't tell! He doesn't know your identity yet, this is the best opportunity, you must find a way to get me out of here! Let's go together!"

That's right!

A flash of inspiration struck Fangru, like a lightning bolt cleaving through the darkness.

Huang Jiang's concerns were exactly what she needed to know. If he revealed the whereabouts of the "Crimson Flame Thunder," he would lose his most important value to Zhou Ling.

The emperor would never allow a traitor who knew core secrets to live. With Huang Jiang dead, his crime of asking Huang for poison in an attempt to assassinate the emperor would naturally be buried with him!

Even if... even if Huang Jiang makes a desperate counterattack before his death, revealing her past crimes, as long as she can find out the whereabouts of the "Crimson Flame Thunder" first and perform this great service of saving the people of the capital from suffering, her merits and demerits will offset each other, and perhaps... perhaps His Majesty will show leniency? At least, the possibility of her father and cousin being implicated will be greatly reduced.

Moreover, the whereabouts of "Crimson Flame Thunder" is a thousand times, ten thousand times more important than concealing her personal crime of regicide!

That concerned countless lives and the very survival of the capital. She could not disregard the plight of the people for her own selfish reasons.

This thought, like a rock, instantly overwhelmed all hesitation and fear.

She had to take a gamble and try to extract information from him first!

Without further hesitation, taking advantage of the moment when Zhou Ling and the others had retreated some distance and their attention seemed not to be fully focused on this place, she leaned closer to Huang Jiang and whispered in a more earnest, even desperate tone, "Master Huang, listen to me, forcing your way in will lead to certain death! His Majesty wants information about the 'Crimson Flame Thunder'! As long as you are willing to speak out and prove your worth, I will fight to the death to fight for your survival! This is your only chance to live!"

As she spoke, Huang Jiang's hands, which were bound behind the chair, were slowly twisting in an extremely discreet manner.

The bone-shrinking technique he learned in his early years in the streets, coupled with the fact that the rope was not tied by Li Zuo himself and was left slightly loose, allowed him to quietly break free of one hand!

Fangru, completely oblivious, continued to try to persuade her: "Tell me where the 'Crimson Flame Thunder' is, then I can..."

Suddenly, Huang Jiang's pupils contracted sharply.

He stared intently at Fangru, as if seeing her clearly for the first time. The urgency in her eyes to know the whereabouts of the "Crimson Flame Thunder," her repeated insistence on "proving her worth" to the emperor, and her current stance of siding with the emperor…

A terrible thought exploded in his mind.

She's trying to get information out of me!

She wasn't saving him at all; she was trying to get information out of the scoundrel emperor!

All that talk about Bai Yang infiltrating the society and assassinating the emperor is a lie! She switched sides long ago!

"You..." Huang Jiang's voice trembled with extreme anger, "You've been lying to me all along?!"

His eyes instantly shifted from struggle to utter madness, a look of despair and ruthlessness born from being betrayed by the person he trusted most.

"No, let me explain..." Fangru's heart alarm bells rang, and she hurriedly tried to salvage the situation.

But it was too late!

Having realized the "truth," Huang Jiang had no more scruples. His bound right hand suddenly pulled out of the rope noose. Relying on his familiarity with the room's layout, he didn't even need to see clearly. His arm, like a venomous snake that had been poised for a long time, suddenly reached for the bottom of the old wooden cabinet covered in dust. There, a gleaming dagger was found, which had been glued with special adhesive beforehand!

The movement was so fast that it left only a blur!

Fangru didn't even see how he took out the dagger. She only saw a flash of cold light before her eyes, followed by a tearing pain in her right abdomen!

"Well!"

She couldn't help but let out a short cry of pain, all the sound stuck in her throat.

She subconsciously looked down and saw that the rough dagger had already sunk into her clothes on her abdomen, and warm liquid was gushing out rapidly, staining the area red.

The pain surged like waves, instantly making her break out in a cold sweat and her limbs go weak.

She looked up in disbelief, meeting Huang Jiang's crazed and resolute eyes.

"Traitor!" he growled, drawing his dagger sharply, drawing a trail of blood.

More blood gushed out.

Fangru was in so much pain that she bent over, almost unable to stand. She could only press her hand tightly against the wound in vain, trying to slow the bleeding.

Huang Jiang stopped looking at her, as if she were already dead. He quickly cut the ropes binding his feet, turned around and lunged at the seemingly normal wall next to him, pressing and pushing hard on a slightly darker brick.

"Click".

A slight click of a mechanism was barely audible amidst Fangru's suppressed gasps of pain.

The wall suddenly spun open, revealing a dark crack just wide enough for one person to pass through! Without hesitation, Huang Jiang darted inside like an eel, and the hidden door closed behind him perfectly, as if it had never existed.

All of this, from the sudden rise to the disappearance of Huang Jiang, happened in just two or three breaths!

Fangru's vision was blurred due to the excruciating pain and blood loss, but she could still clearly see that Zhou Ling, who had been standing quietly not far away, suddenly turned sharp as a hawk the moment Huang Jiang made his move.

When the dagger pierced her body, she could even feel his aura tighten.

He saw it... He must have seen it...

Based on his experience from the previous seven lifetimes, the next moment, he should be like a raging dragon whose scales have been touched, instantly appearing beside her, tearing the person who hurt her to pieces, and then anxiously checking her injuries. His eyes, which are always unfathomable, will be filled with the familiar worry and fear that almost devours her.

She was almost prepared to be stared at like that by him.

However!

Zhou Ling's gaze did indeed linger for a moment on her figure, which was curled up in pain.

But it was only for a moment.

Was there concern in her eyes? Perhaps, but it was too quick, so quick it was like her illusion, instantly replaced by a more powerful, imperial calm and decisiveness.

He didn't even take a single step toward her!

The next moment, he moved, his black robes cutting through the heavy air, and like an arrow released from a bow, he chased after the already closed secret door without hesitation!

His target was crystal clear—the fugitive Huang Jiang.

"Your Majesty!" Li Zuo exclaimed, and immediately led the Imperial Guards to follow closely behind.

The sounds of clashing armor and hurried footsteps instantly filled the small room, then rushed towards the hidden door.

No one stopped, no one turned around to look at her, leaning against the chair, blood seeping from between her fingers, her face as pale as paper.

He just... left like that?

Really...gone.

Waves of excruciating pain assaulted her senses, but what chilled her to the bone even more than the wound in her abdomen was Zhou Ling's resolute departure, without the slightest hesitation.

The obsessive protection that characterized his previous seven lives, regardless of right or wrong, and disregarded everything else, did not appear this time.

He chose to hunt down the fugitive instead of protecting her.

Fangru leaned against the cold chair leg, feeling the warm blood slowly draining away, but a complex smile, tinged with pain yet also with relief, slowly curved her lips.

So... in this life, he really... won't like me the way he used to.

This realization, like a cold key, suddenly unlocked the shackles that had imprisoned her for so long.

My abdomen was still in excruciating pain, but deep down, an unprecedented sense of relief spread quietly like spring water breaking through the ice.

Finally... I'm free.