Chapter 58: After leaving this letter, there is no Lu Chang in the world anymore.

Everyone in the hall looked at the long sword on Prince Duan's chest.

The person holding the knife was Fu Chang, who had praised and flattered Prince Duan not long ago.

Prince Duan looked at Fuchang, his vision blurry and covered with a bloody mist. "Fuchang, why... why?"

Hadn't he already successfully captured Shangjing City and taken the most honorable position in the Dazhao Kingdom?

Why...why! He ended up like this?

Fu Chang smiled, like someone whose long-cherished wish had finally come true. He said with relief, "Because you deserve to die."

"Your Highness, this is the gift I give you for your coronation. Are you happy?"

"This king..." Prince Duan's hand grabbed the long knife that was deep in his chest, and blood dripped from his fingers to the ground, forming a dazzling blood flower.

I'm not willing to accept this...

Prince Duan's eyes were wide open, and he died with his eyes open. Until his death, he didn't know why Fuchang betrayed him.

"Help...Help Chang."

Zhou Tinglan was in Xie Zechuan's arms, looking at Fu Chang in shock.

She had never really known Fuchang.

From appearing as an attendant beside Yao Ningde and even Prince Duan, to finally killing Prince Duan who was about to usurp the throne in front of her with his own hands.

Zhou Tinglan glanced at Prince Duan who was lying lifeless on the ground and asked the same question that Prince Duan had asked before he died.

"Fuchang, why did you... want to kill Prince Duan?"

Fu Chang pulled the knife out of Prince Duan's slightly cold body, and blood flowed down the blade.

He lowered his eyes when he heard Zhou Tinglan's words: "The reason..."

Fu Chang paused for a moment, then continued, "Miss Zhou will know the reason after some time."

He picked up the bloody long knife and turned to leave.

Seeing Fuchang about to leave, Zhou Tinglan quickly stood up and asked, "Fuchang, where are you going?"

Fu Chang didn't turn around, and Zhou Tinglan heard him chuckle.

"Of course, I'm going back to where I belong."

Zhou Tinglan was puzzled. What did it mean that he should go there? Was there some hidden story between Fuchang, Yao Ningde, and Prince Duan?

Fuchang's figure had disappeared in the distance. Because of his behavior in the hall, no one dared to step forward to stop him.

The death of Prince Duan quickly ended everything. The Crown Prince and Xie Zechuan led the soldiers to wipe out the remaining rebel soldiers.

The dark clouds in the sky gradually dissipated, and a few rays of sunlight finally broke through the clouds, shining warmly on everyone.

Zhou Tinglan sat in the study of Duke Xie's mansion. She looked down at the envelope that the soldiers had recently delivered to her on the table and muttered quietly, "Who sent it?"

When she saw the name on the letter clearly, her brows relaxed. It was Fu Chang.

No one has seen Fuchang since he left that day. There were many things to deal with after the war, so she forgot about Fuchang.

Looking at it now, Fu Chang's face echoed in Zhou Tinglan's mind again.

"He said before that I would know the reason in a few days, and he actually wrote to me."

Zhou Tinglan opened the envelope and began to read it word by word.

Dear Miss Zhou,

Before we parted, Miss Zhou asked me why I wanted to kill Prince Duan. After thinking about it for a few days, I decided to leave a letter to tell you the truth.

My surname is Lu, and my given name is Chang, not Fu. I am from the capital, and my father is a compiler in the palace.

I wonder if Miss Zhou will think of anything when she sees my surname Lu. If not, that’s fine too.

When I was ten years old, my family suffered a great change and the whole family was sentenced to prison. Because I was in poor health when I was young, my mother sent me to Jiangnan to recuperate, and I escaped the disaster.

After I heard the bad news, I secretly returned to Shangjing City, wanting to see my family again. However, I learned that my parents and relatives had all died in prison because they could not withstand the lynching in the prison.

I didn't dare go forward to identify my relatives, for fear that the soldiers would track me down. So I secretly followed the vehicle transporting the bodies to the mass grave, and after they left, I transported the bodies out for burial.

My father was originally a poor scholar. Because of his good writing skills, he was recommended by the Hanlin Academician and Shangshu to become a famous editor. Fortunately, he was appreciated by His Majesty and entered the palace to write documents.

He was usually kind to others. I didn't know who would go against a small writer and make him bear the crime and die in prison. I was determined to avenge my family.

After burying my family, I didn't have much money left.

In order to survive, I sold myself to my family as a guard. Coincidentally, the master of this family was named Shen, and he was the Minister of War.

Minister Shen was generous with his servants in terms of money, but he had many bad habits. Whenever something did not go his way, he would beat or scold his servants.

By chance, I accompanied Minister Shen to a banquet. It was my first time to attend such a grand banquet.

At first, the flattery of the court officials at the banquet made me very uncomfortable, but I endured the discomfort and followed Minister Shen to serve him.

I saw Minister Shen saying nice things to a man, and from his words, I learned the man's identity, the Minister of War Yao Ningde.

The two of them mentioned my father inadvertently, and I still remember Yao Ningde's extremely disdainful words: "He's just a compiler, just kill him."

From then on, I found my target for revenge.

After I got back, I was thinking about how to implement my revenge plan. When I learned that the black market had what I wanted, I took a leave and went to the black market.

This face of mine has been exposed in front of my enemies and is ruined. I need to change my face.

I successfully found a vendor selling human skin masks on the black market. The price was very high. Thinking about what I was about to do, I gritted my teeth and bought the most expensive human skin mask in his store.

After returning, I went to the mass grave to find a body, and threw it into the deep well of the Minister's Mansion in the middle of the night. I left a suicide note and left the Minister's Mansion.

From then on, there was no Lu Chang in the world anymore.

With the help of a black market dealer, I put on a human skin mask. The quality of the mask was as good as the dealer said, and with the help of a special potion, it almost merged with my body.

The vendor gave me another bottle of potion, saying that only with it could I remove the human skin mask, which was exactly what I wanted.

After squatting not far from the gate of the Ministry of War for several days, I was as dirty as a beggar. If I didn't take action, I was afraid I would starve to death on the street.

After a few days of waiting, I was already familiar with the route Yao Ningde took when he finished his duty and returned home. When we were in the downtown area, I took the opportunity to fall in front of his carriage and begged him to take me in and be his attendant.

When I was in Minister Shen's house, I heard that Yao Ningde was a loyal and honest person.

Although what I did this time was risky, it was the fastest way to get his attention.

As I expected, after he asked about my identity, he asked me to get on his carriage and took me back to the Minister of War's residence.

I became his follower, but was not valued.

To Yao Ningde, I am probably just a dog he picked up on the street in his heart.

I completed the task he assigned to me excellently, and even blocked a knife for him, even at the risk of my life.

With a sigh, I snatched my life back from the hands of the King of Hell. Since then, I have gradually been valued.

The mission gradually numbed my heart. I knew that I could not wash away the sins I had committed, but there was no turning back once I embarked on this road of no return.

If I encounter court officials who were persecuted and imprisoned by Yao Ningde, I will secretly protect their families and give them some money so that they can survive.

I looked at the envious glances cast at me by the other followers in the mansion, and stepped on them, step by step, from a timid, weak scholar who had no martial arts skills, to a sharp blade in the Shangshu Mansion and the most loyal follower.

When I was cleaning the study in Shangshu Mansion, I discovered a dark room in the study and unexpectedly learned that in addition to Yao Ningde, Prince Duan was also responsible for my father's death.

My heart was very complicated during that time. I might be able to burn myself to death as the Minister of War, but as Prince Duan is a member of the royal family, how can I take revenge on him?

Just when I was confused and at a loss, God seemed to have mercy on me, a poor person, and people from Prince Duan's Mansion contacted me on their own initiative.

I went to see Prince Duan without Yao Ningde's knowledge. Prince Duan was born in the palace, and his aura was far beyond Yao Ningde's reach.

Prince Duan wanted to bribe me to be an undercover agent in the Yao Mansion. I knew that if I wanted to survive, I had to agree. So I went with the flow and became Prince Duan's man and also a member of the Yao Mansion.

I walked between the two sides, hoping to find an opportunity to take revenge on them one by one.

I sensed Prince Duan's ambition to usurp the throne the moment I met him, and I thought this might be a good opportunity.

The days were peaceful, but then a change occurred.

This variable is you, Miss Zhou. I was not in the capital when your father was persecuted by Yao Ningde. When I learned about what happened to Prime Minister Zhou, I still felt regretful.

Prime Minister Zhou was a good official, but because God was jealous of talented people, he was persecuted and exiled by treacherous people.

After learning about your deeds in Beijiang City, I am full of admiration for you.

I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that you were not dead and returned to the capital safely. I know how it feels when a loved one passes away, so I would not want to see him even if I had not seen him.

I apologize to you for chasing you and taking advantage of you, Xiao Ruo. I'm not asking for your forgiveness, but only want to ease my guilt.

Duke Xie's Mansion may be the first noble family I have seen in all these years that was able to escape safely from Yao Ningde and fight back.

I am deeply sorry for the insults I gave you and General Xie on the battlefield.

Lu Chang is dead, and so is Fu Chang. Now all that is left is a wandering soul.

I wish you and General Xie a happy marriage, and may you stay together like Lanzhi and grow old together.

I pray for your well-being.

Lu Chang bows his head

The 32nd year of the Dazhao Kingdom

After reading the letter, Zhou Tinglan felt very upset for a long time. The truth of the matter was actually like this.

Xie Zechuan had just finished repairing the city gate. He walked into the study and saw Zhou Tinglan's expression. He thought she was unwell and asked anxiously, "Lan'er, how are you?"

"No problem." Zhou Tinglan gestured to Xie Zechuan to look at the letter unfolded on the table.

"So this is Fuchang's life story!"

Zhou Tinglan snuggled in Xie Zechuan's arms: "What do you think of Fuchang's current situation?"

"Great revenge has been achieved. Since he said he was going to where he should go, we can only wish him well."

"Um."

**

Zhou Tinglan took his brothers from the mountain village to the charity cemetery to see Xiao Ruo.

“Brother Xiao, we are here to see you. Don’t worry, the bad guys have gone to hell and will not let you go to peace.”

"Brother Xiao, you died tragically! I was still waiting to drink the delicious wine you brewed!"

"Brother Xiao..."

The brothers in the mountain stronghold cried together beside Xiao Ruo's coffin.

Zhou Tinglan looked at Xiao Ruo's coffin and couldn't help crying.

"Xiao Ruo, Xiao Ruo..."

Xie Zechuan hugged Zhou Tinglan, patted her back gently and said soothingly: "Lan'er, it's over. It's time for Xiao Ruo to go home."

Zhou Tinglan wiped away her tears, her eyes red: "Yes, send Xiao Ruo home."

Xiao Ruo, I have fulfilled my promise and I will take you home.

Zhou Tinglan was wearing a white cloth, followed by her brothers from the Shanzhai clan who were also wearing white cloth. White banknotes filled the sky and then fell on the streets of Shangjing City.

The banknotes were scattered all the way to the city gate. Zhou Tinglan had some things to do in the capital, so he said goodbye to his brothers from the stronghold at the city gate.

"You must bury Xiao Ruo properly. I will go back to see him after things are settled."

"Miss Zhou, just rest assured."

After the team was out of sight, Zhou Tinglan turned around with all her heart, suppressing her grief. Xie Zechuan stayed by her side to comfort her.

"Lan'er..."

Xie Zechuan's words were suddenly interrupted by the soldiers.

"His Majesty has issued an urgent decree, requesting you two enter the palace immediately."