100. Significance

With the crisp sound of swords clashing, Xuanyuan He's eyes gradually darkened and the corners of his lips pursed.

He already knew that this shadow guard was very difficult to deal with.

But Xuanyuan He obviously couldn't wait any longer. He frowned impatiently and raised his hand to order the guards behind him to rush forward.

With so many people, even if the shadow guards had extraordinary abilities, they would not be able to protect Xuanyuan Ying completely.

In just a moment, the guards drew their swords and rushed up in an orderly formation.

Eunuch Li burst into tears, curled up on the ground and cried, "You are rebelling! This is a rebellion that will kill all of your clans!"

A guard nearby was annoyed by his noise, so he followed Qin Duan's order and drew his sword to strike at Eunuch Li.

As the sharp sword swept across, there was a sudden noise and footsteps outside the hall. Before the sword fell, an arrow was shot out and hit the tip of the sword, making a crisp sound.

“Hmm—”

The guard's palm was hurt by the shock, and he cried out in pain, looking towards the door.

Yun Zhihe looked a little disheveled, his cold white skin had a slight redness from being out of breath on the road, his hair was disheveled, he was holding a bow and arrow, his eyes were slightly obscured by his hair but still sharp.

“This, this…”

Eunuch Li shouted happily, "Madam Yun!"

Qin Duan turned around and the smile on his face froze. He looked at Yun Zhihe expressionlessly and also saw the army behind her.

His demeanor remained calm, only his deep gaze revealed his inner emotions. He spoke softly.

"There are no troops in the capital supporting Xuanyuan Ying anymore. Where did you find these soldiers?"

Yun Zhihe took a deep breath, steadied his breathing, raised the bow and pointed it at Qin Duan, his fingertips trembling slightly.

"Although Queen Mother Cheng's Xuanyuan Army has been dispersed across the country, I have secretly summoned them since before Beidi was attacked..."

"And I...will lead them to the capital upon my return."

Qin Duan remained silent, his expression indifferent. Xuanyuan He's expression was stiff. After a pause, a slight smile appeared on the corner of his lips, and he looked at Yun Zhihe obsessedly.

"Sister Yun...you're back..."

Yun Zhihe looked at him, closed his eyes, and looked at Xuanyuan He.

"Yeah, it's worth your bother."

The army behind her was on full alert and extremely imposing. The rebels in the hall were already feeling afraid when they saw so many people.

Yun Zhihe spoke lightly.

"Whether Beidi wins or loses, I won't die, right?"

"I don't know when the two of you reached an agreement with Mo Beise, leveraging the power of the barbarians to launch a rebellion during this period of internal and external turmoil. You even used Mo Beise's protection of me to threaten Your Majesty... Unfortunately, Mo Beise not only tricked the barbarians, but also you, and fled with me."

Xuanyuan He's expression darkened, with a faint resentment towards Mo Beise. He looked at Yun Zhihe again, his almond-shaped eyes slightly red as he looked at her, looking quite pitiful.

"No, Sister Zhihe, we don't want to use you to threaten Xuanyuan Ying, it's just, it's just..." His face was a little crazy, and his eyes were full of sweet love, "I just want to get you."

Qin Duan paused, then turned to look at Xuanyuan He with a smile.

“That’s true…”

His voice was clear, his eyes were filled with disdain, and he delivered his judgment without mercy.

"How stupid."

Qin Duan turned to look at Yun Zhihe again, smiled and spoke softly.

"That's what he said, but my brother didn't think the same way... I originally wanted to use you to threaten that man into voluntarily abdicating, and then leverage your power and prestige to bolster the new emperor's popularity. I imprisoned Xuanyuan Ying and used him to coerce you into serving the new emperor. I then coerced you into using Madam Yun's fame to write an article about Xuanyuan's unkindness and the man's misrule. In the end, the two of you would become a pair of star-crossed lovers, living in the Qin family's empire."

Qin Duan's smile was as bright as the moon, especially gentle and beautiful. His jade-like fluorescent skin was shattered with a cold white. He continued to speak almost calmly.

"By the way, Jinniang, you may not know that I have a trump card in my hand that can almost kill Xuanyuan Ying."

"Do you know the Shen family?" He looked into Yun Zhihe's eyes with a smile, but his voice was particularly cold.

"The Shen family, a distinguished family with a long history, has been loyal to the emperor and patriotic for generations. Yet, they were branded with the infamy of treason and the assassination of the late emperor. Their final fate was this: before the imperial guards arrived, the entire family sought the three-foot white silk, the poisoned wine, and the dagger themselves... Before their deaths, they proclaimed their innocence!"

Yun Zhihe was slightly stunned.

She vaguely remembered this memory.

Her parents died in the "rebellion and assassination" of the Shen family, and she still remembers it clearly. She can only remember that the capital was filled with cries and blood from beheadings.

Moreover, because of the turbulent situation at that time, almost no one dared to mention it. Yun Zhihe could only rely on his limited memories at that time to recall the pain of his parents' death.

Qin Duan's voice was hoarse as he stared at Yun Zhihe's slightly trembling eyes.

"Jinniang has devoted her life to serving the country and the people. You are well-versed in the books of the sages, and you understand the pain of the ancient saints. You also understand the indignation of innocent officials who were wrongly accused. You have served the country and the people, but you were falsely accused of rebellion by treacherous officials, and the entire Manchu people were killed."

He scoffed suddenly, his voice suddenly getting louder.

"You were still young at the time, but I, the Emperor, knew everything and remember it clearly!"

Qin Duan's eyes were red.

"The Shen family committed suicide to clear their name. To successfully ascend the throne and shock the world, the Xuanyuan clan concealed the truth about the Shen family's suicide and declared their loyalty. They even dragged the body of the Shen family member out, falsely claiming it was a suicide out of fear of punishment, and then beheaded it!"

He paused, looked at Yun Zhihe's trembling eyes, and whispered softly.

“… Worse than pigs and dogs.”

Qin Duan's father was a son of the Shen family's side branch.

Even after he died in childbirth, countless insults fell on those cold, thin bones.

'Son of the Shen family, a member of the Shen family...'

Qin Duan lived in these cold words and was confused as to why everyone avoided him.

He lost his father, his sister, and everything he could lose. Even Yun Zhihe... was taken away by Xuanyuan Ying.

Qin Duan closed his eyes and said, "But there was a little boy who was sold to the Jiaofangsi because his father could not bear to see him escape."

He concealed his gaffe and looked at Yun Zhihe with a smile.

"Jinniang should be familiar with him. He is the brothel man in your house, Qingzhu. He should be called..." He stretched out the last syllable.

"——Chen Qing."

"He should be in the place where those ministers are imprisoned, tearfully recounting the actions of the Xuanyuan clan over the years."

Qin Duan smiled and said, "Don't underestimate the prestige of the Shen family. Even if the rebellion fails this time, there will always be estrangement in the court."

Yun Zhihe suddenly stopped.

...clear bamboo.

She closed her eyes and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Everyone! Surrender your weapons and we will spare your life. We will show you leniency! If you resist, you will be charged with treason and your entire clan will be implicated!"

Some of Qin Duan's soldiers were already wavering, and they put down their swords in hesitation.

...The overall situation has been decided.

Qin Duan seemed unconcerned and just stared at Yun Zhihe stubbornly, seeming somewhat confused and puzzled.

"Jinniang...why are you still following him?"

Qin Duan's eyes were red, and he just looked at her, wanting to get a result.

"He has a vicious heart and is not worthy of being a human being...even..."

"Even... he killed my father and my sister..."

The calmness on his face slowly disappeared, his brows furrowed, and his voice almost choked.

“W-what…”

Yun Zhihe paused and looked at Qin Duan in disbelief.

"My father died in childbirth while pregnant with a princess. As the only princess, my sister should ascend the throne and become the emperor!"

"Who do you think is happiest about their death?!"

He dreamed about those two snowy days every day like a madman.

He cried desperately and begged the woman to withdraw the order to "save the young", almost choking with pain, and then rushed to Xuanyuan Ying, who was the queen at the time, crying and begging him to persuade his mother to save his father.

But Xuanyuan should just be like that.

Luxurious and noble, with an arrogant air, she then looked down at him, lowering her eyes with a look of pity and disdain.

...That's just how he is.

He has a vicious heart and is disgustingly arrogant.

He was the one who had people prepare all the meals and services for his father before he gave birth.

Then there was the snowy day when his imperial sister died. It was clearly the day before that she was still babbling at him and stretching out her hands for him to hug.

As a result, the next day after Xuanyuan Ying held the child, he developed a high fever and was dying. In the end, his little hand could no longer hold Qin Duan's fingers.

From that day on, Qin Duan abandoned the beautiful scenery and the bright moon, and lived in a daze until he met Yun Zhihe.

...His sister is like this.

He was weak and helpless after losing his parents, with red eyes from crying.

Qin Duan walked up slowly, found a ray of light in the darkness, and just hugged her, whispering softly.

"I'll be your brother."

Just as he treated his imperial sister.

Just like...his father and imperial sister whom he should protect.

But she was also taken away.

Everything was taken away by Xuanyuan Ying, no matter what it was, the Shen family, his father, the imperial sister, Jinniang... everything was taken away by Xuanyuan Ying.

Qin Duan shed tears and just stood there quietly, his body wrapped in jade-like white clothes, looking like a graceful and elegant gentleman.

"Jinniang..."

He was a little confused.

"Didn't you...say that you would never leave your brother?"

Yun Zhihe's fingertips trembled.

“…That’s not the case.”

At this moment, a dry voice suddenly came.

——It’s Xuanyuan Ying.

His face was weak and cold, and he was wearing a disheveled, thin, bloodstained undershirt. He was so weak that he was gasping for breath as he leaned against the door.

Whisper.

“…That’s not the case.”

"I did not kill your father and sister."

Xuanyuan Ying forced himself to finish speaking, then tremblingly held onto the door to support his weak body.

His abdomen was flat as before, obviously after...giving birth.

Only the sticky blood flowed down the thigh, flowed to the ankle, and dripped onto the ground.

Xuanyuan Ying's face was pale and his lips were bloodless as he repeated the sentence.

"I...did not kill your father and your sister."

Yun Zhihe stared at him intently, barely able to control his throbbing heartbeat and the aching pain.

She wanted to hug him.

She missed him.

Qin Duan looked at him coldly, "Do you think...I will believe you?"

"The situation was unstable at the time, and the Shen family was also aggressive... If I could ascend the throne properly, I could just become the empress dowager and rule the country from behind the scenes. It would be much simpler than for me to become the emperor myself as a man... That's what I thought at the time."

His voice was dry and he could barely utter a word.

"I sent people to carefully care for your father during his pregnancy and delivery, hoping only that he would give birth to a princess. I also have the account books from back then. There are many precious medicinal herbs that the palace didn't have. The Xuanyuan family...found them and sent them to the palace... hoping only that he would give birth safely."

"The late emperor knew that I wanted this child to be useful, so he allowed me to take care of your father..."

"If I were to kill him, I would only wait until your father gave birth to a princess."

Xuanyuan Ying could hardly hold on, his voice became weaker and weaker, and Yun Zhihe's eyes were red.

"But who knew that he was too weak and couldn't hold out during childbirth... and your sister..."

Xuanyuan Ying shuddered and took a few breaths before speaking.

"I can't possibly harm her... I still need her to ascend the throne so I can rule the country upright and honestly..."

Qin Duan pursed his lips, tears streaming down his face, his voice hoarse.

"I don't...believe you."

He frowned, covered his face in confusion, and murmured to himself while crying, "I don't believe you... I don't believe you... I..."

Xuanyuan Ying's words revealed his scars and everything.

All his years of walking like a zombie and scheming meant nothing.

He was just a pitiful creature living by absorbing the pain he imagined.

His half-life was meaningless, his hatred was meaningless, and his pain... was even more meaningless.

“No… no… wow…”

Qin Duan covered his face, slowly collapsed, and burst into tears.

His father was still holding him and talking to him about the next chapter of the storybook.

His sister was still holding his finger and calling him "Royal Brother" in her babbling voice.

His Jinniang, still holding him in her arms, smiled and said, "I will not leave my brother."

But his hatred and love are meaningless.

Qin Duan persisted in finding an outlet to vent his hatred over the years, but... he lost everything.

He trembled and sobbed, paused, and called out hoarsely and awkwardly over and over again, "Jinniang... wu... no... Jinniang... wu... Jinniang... Jinniang..."

Jinniang, come and hug me.

I am not...

Jinniang, come and hug me.

Jinniang...

I'm so cold...

He was trembling, begging someone to hold him and comfort this poor pain, he was crying out...his Jinniang.

“Woo…”

Then Yun Zhihe ran over, threw down her bow and arrow with an anxious look, and ran over, her thick black hair flying, looking very miserable.

Qin Duan saw her running towards him through tearful eyes. She seemed to be running regardless of everything and there was no trace of her cheerful and cheerful look on her face anymore.

His Jinniang.

His Jinniang was running towards him.

...Look, there are still people who love him.

His...Jinniang?

Qin Duan stopped suddenly.

The tears in his eyes also stopped, and he just stared blankly and stiffly at Yun Zhihe running, then brushed past him and rushed to Xuanyuan Ying's side.

Not a single moment stopped for him.

…She didn’t hesitate.

Qin Duan was stunned.

He curled up almost trembling, calling out in a hoarse voice, "Jinniang...Jinniang..."

But Yun Zhihe simply took off his coat, put it on Xuanyuan Ying, and called out in a hoarse voice, "Ying."

Xuanyuan Ying looked at Yun Zhihe greedily, then collapsed in her arms and fainted.

Qin Duan felt that the coldness on his body was colder than any snowy day he had ever experienced. It almost enveloped him and was icy to the bone.

Tears dripped from his blank eyes as he murmured in confusion.

"Jinniang..."

But his Jinniang never stopped for him for a moment.

The biting cold almost made him tremble uncontrollably, with a desperate gloom and surging grievance.

He needs Jinniang to hold him.

Tell him that she wasn't taken away, she was still his sweet sister, and someone loved him... He wasn't alone.

But what followed was only the anxious voice of Yun Zhihe as he hugged Xuanyuan Ying.

He is still the abandoned child on the snowy day.

He was weak and pitiful, grabbing the woman's clothes and begging his mother - please save my father.

Just like he was now wrapping his arms around himself, trembling and curling up, longing for—

Please, save me.

"Please...save me..."

He burst into tears, choking with sobs, "Someone...save me..."

No one loves him.

No one saved him.

...His Jinniang no longer looked at him.

His Jinniang will never hug him again.

Then, someone suddenly hugged his back, with a choked, young girl's voice.

"Brother...I'm here."

Yuanzi Luo's tears wet Qin Duan's back, and she cried and choked.

"It doesn't matter."

"And...I love you."

The author has something to say:

I feel like Qin Duan’s pain wasn’t well described in the second half…

Yuanzi Luo and Qin Duan are siblings, but Qin Duan has always looked down on her, thinking she is a bastard, and Yuanzi Luo has always accompanied him to do bad things just to prove to him that she is a sister who can be loved, no worse than Yun Zhihe, and it is a pure brother-sister relationship. Of course... you can write a special chapter about Yuanzi Luo in detail, I wonder if anyone wants to read it