Chapter 74 The throne won't run away with anyone, but Xue Ying...

As the first rays of light appeared on the horizon and the east began to glow with a pale white, the darkness of night was being gradually torn away. Before dawn, all things were still teetering between slumber and wakefulness.

At this hazy moment when heaven and earth meet, Pei Xuanlin led his personal guards, stepping through the morning dew and the embers of the remaining night, slowly approaching the capital.

When the emperor returned to the capital in triumph, the city gates were wide open, and the people on the streets knelt to welcome him, shouting "Long live the emperor!" The army marched straight in and reached the palace.

However, the Daming Palace was no longer the prosperous place it once was. Bloodstains still clung to the palace walls, and several corpses lay scattered in the corridors, all of them guards who had died in the fierce battle the previous night.

Pei Xuanlin rode a tall horse, clad in armor, traversing a blood-soaked path. His eyes were dull and lifeless, clearly showing his weariness with everything.

"By imperial decree, search the entire city for traitors and execute them on the spot. All members of the Xiao family who are taller than a horsewhip shall be beheaded."

"As you command."

Pei Xuanlin looked up at the familiar palace, his home, and felt a sense of bewilderment.

Born into an imperial family, he understood from a young age that warmth did not flow in his blood. When his father and mother were alive, there was still a corner where he could be a child. But after the great tree that sheltered him collapsed, Pei Xuanlin realized that no one would ever truly love him again.

I thought Xue Yingyue would be an exception.

He never expected that she would deceive him so cruelly.

...

Pei Shen'ai continued to put up a stubborn resistance. Her trusted bodyguards guarded the inner palace in layers, with swords drawn and shields arrayed, determined not to surrender.

They knew that whether they surrendered or not, the outcome would be the same: their entire family would be executed. They figured they might as well fight to the death.

Meanwhile, their master, Princess Pei Shen'ai, was frantically searching for the Imperial Seal of the State in the secret chamber of the Imperial Study.

Her hair was disheveled, her gorgeous clothes were covered in dust, and her former elegance and nobility were gone. She was now just a madwoman consumed by power, who wanted to find the Imperial Seal of the State to ascend the throne and usurp the imperial power.

Pei Shen'ai thought Pei Xuanlin would definitely hide the imperial seal in the palace, but little did she know that Pei Xuanlin carried the imperial seal with him at all times. He had anticipated that Pei Shen'ai was plotting a rebellion, and even that Pei Shen'ai would go looking for the imperial seal.

What Pei Shen'ai was least aware of was that the Empress's Jade Seal, which she had originally had easy access to, now placed in the Zichen Palace, could also open the armory doors and mobilize the Imperial Guards.

Outside the palace, Fang Wenzhou was kneeling before Pei Xuanlin's horse, begging for forgiveness.

"I know I deserve to die, and I have come to Your Majesty to beg for forgiveness."

Pei Xuanlin looked down at him, his gaze cold and expressionless: "The Fang family has sided with the Eldest Princess, aiding and abetting evil. How dare you come to see me?"

Fang Wenzhou kowtowed to the ground: "Although the Fang family once relied on the Princess, we never sent troops to participate in the coup! Our Fang family nominally submitted, but in reality we did not help a single soldier or soldier in the rebellion! Today, Your Majesty has returned, and I have come here to surrender, willing to atone for my crimes and perform meritorious service, begging Your Majesty for mercy!"

Pei Xuanlin remained silent for a moment, scrutinizing him with eyes as sharp as knives.

He knew that the Fang family was very powerful, and that if they could submit, it would greatly benefit the stability of the court.

More importantly, he needs manpower right now, reliable people who can act quickly.

"If you truly have any remorse, I will give you a chance to redeem yourself through meritorious service."

Pei Xuanlin's eyes were cold. After a moment of silence, he suppressed his anger and said, "The Empress is still in the Huaiming Temple tower. You must take your guards there immediately. If you can bring her out, I will pardon the Fang family."

Fang Wenzhou felt as if he had been granted a pardon and kowtowed repeatedly: "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Highness! I will do my utmost to bring Her Majesty the Empress out!"

Pei Xuanlin then ordered a messenger to ride swiftly to the Prime Minister's residence to deliver the message: "Inform the Xue family that the Fang family has surrendered, and order them to send troops immediately to assist in rescuing the Empress."

Fang Wenzhou accepted the order and set off, gathering his elite guards and heading straight for Huaiming Temple.

However, at this very moment, Pei Qianguang had already arrived at Huaiming Temple.

The guards here saw that she still did not stop him. As long as Xiao Chongheng did not depose her, she would remain his lawfully wedded wife, possessing the same power and status as him.

Pei Qianguang stepped into the tower but did not go up the steps; he simply lingered on the first floor.

Her steps finally stopped in the corner where the memorial tablets for the deceased were enshrined.

In the flickering candlelight, the memorial tablet placed in the very center was particularly glaring, with several large characters clearly engraved on it: Father Xiao Chongheng, Mother Ling Zhenli.

Every word felt like a poisoned needle piercing her eyes.

nausea.

That's absolutely disgusting.

Pei Qianguang chuckled softly, the sound echoing through the empty tower, carrying an indescribable sorrow.

What kind of man did she marry? A husband who openly and honestly offered up his illegitimate child with another woman, a husband whose heart was always filled with another woman, a man of poor character, unfit to be a father, unworthy to be a husband, let alone the ruler of the world.

Xiao Chongheng, do you even deserve to be emperor? Take a look in the mirror and see what kind of person you are. If it weren't for me, would you have been able to inherit the Pei family's throne?

And you and this woman.

You two are clearly entangled, yet you insist on staying together and causing trouble for others.

Since you enjoy being together so much, then I'll grant your wish and let the three of you reunite on the road to the underworld.

Pei Qianguang no longer hesitated and took out a tinderbox.

She poured sesame oil onto the curtain, and the flames leaped up the moment they touched the hanging drape, just like the madness that had been suppressed in her heart for so long.

Immediately afterwards, the prayer cushions on the ground and the hanging prayer flags were lit one after another.

The intense flames danced and surged in her pupils, reflecting her resolute yet distorted face.

Don't blame me when you get to the King of Hell; you brought this on yourselves.

...

With Pei Xuanlin's order, the Imperial Guards moved like tigers among sheep, swiftly eliminating the remaining enemy.

Archers lined up, spearmen advanced, and shield formations pressed forward. In just a quarter of an hour, the palace gates were flung open, the princess's banner was cut down and trampled into the dust.

Pei Shen'ai's personal guards were either dead or surrendered, the secret chamber was broken, and she herself was bound hand and foot, still screaming.

"Pei Sanlang! I was born a princess of the Tang Dynasty, and I will die an imperial aunt of the Tang Dynasty! How dare you treat me like this!"

Pei Xuanlin glanced at her indifferently without saying a word.

She went mad, and she lost.

History books will not record the blood and tears of the losers.

Inside the Taiji Hall, golden bricks reflect the morning light.

Pei Xuanlin slowly stepped onto the jade steps, his black dragon robe trailing across the cold ground, and finally sat down on the supreme dragon throne.

My fingertips brushed against the dragon carving on the armrest; the touch was cool, just like always.

Below the steps, Pei Shen'ai was forced to kneel on the ground, her gold hairpin falling askew, looking disheveled, yet she still glared at him with her head held high, her eyes filled with resentment.

Pei Xuanlin's eyes were like a deep pool, without the slightest ripple.

“Pei Xuanlin, the usurpation was done by me alone.”

Pei Shen'ai raised her head, a chilling smile playing on her lips, "Kill me or torture me, it's up to you!"

Faced with Pei Shen'ai's madness, Pei Xuanlin was absent-minded, his fingertips lightly tapping on the armrest of the dragon throne, producing a rhythmic soft sound.

He should have been angry, heartbroken, and determined to put an end to this rebellion.

But at this moment, his mind was elsewhere; he was thinking about the woman he both loved and hated.

Xue Yingyue.

Her smiling face appeared before my eyes, her gentle voice still lingered in my ears, her neck drooped as she ground ink, her soft moans and panting as she enjoyed pleasure. But in the blink of an eye, her smile transformed into a scene of her embracing Xiao Chongheng.

And that heart-wrenching love poem.

Love and hate surged within him, almost tearing him apart.

Therefore, he is now uninterested in anyone or anything, and anyone who offends him is doomed.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside the hall, and a guard stumbled in, speaking in a panic.

"Your Majesty! Smoke has risen from Huaiming Temple, and the tower is on fire!"

Upon hearing this news, Pei Xuanlin immediately became restless and stood up abruptly. All his previous calm and composure collapsed instantly, and his usually placid eyes were once again filled with turbulent emotions.

He strode quickly to the outside of the hall.

Looking out from the railing, a thick, black column of smoke in the northwest corner soars into the sky like a ferocious dragon, with an ominous red glow faintly mixed in between.

His heart sank.

What's going on? What's happening...?

Something's happened! Xue Yingyue is in danger! He has to go save her right away.

At that moment, all love, hate, betrayal, and suspicion turned to ashes in the towering flames.

Pei Xuanlin's mind went blank. The resentment, pain, and unwillingness that had been surging in his heart were now replaced by the most primal fear. He was afraid of losing Xue Yingyue; he was terrified.

He didn't even dare to think that if Xue Yingyue really burned to death, what meaning would his life have?

He really shouldn't have come to the palace out of spite.

The thought pierced his heart like a sharp arrow, causing him so much pain that he could barely stand. He blamed himself for stubbornly refusing to see her, for wanting to sit on the dragon throne first, and for leaving her alone in danger for the sake of his own ridiculous pride.

He's incredibly stupid.

The throne won't run away with anyone, but Xue Yingyue will!

Pei Xuanlin rushed out of the main hall like a madman, shouting "Prepare the horses!"

"Your Majesty!" A guard rushed forward, "The rebels have not yet been eliminated, Your Majesty's life is of utmost importance..."

Pei Xuanlin seemed not to hear, snatched the reins from the guard's hand, and leaped onto the jet-black imperial horse.

What a load of rubbish about being the supreme ruler! Forget about the unstable political situation. At this moment when Xue Yingyue might be in danger, everything else becomes insignificant.

Pei Xuanlin didn't say a word, mounted his horse and galloped off towards Huaiming Temple.

The horse galloped like an arrow released from a bow, the wind whistling in Pei Xuanlin's ears, his heart pounding like a drum.

At this moment, he was no longer the strategist emperor, but a man frantically trying to rush to the woman he loved.

Before the guards could recover from the emperor's sudden action, they saw the black dragon robe already rolled out of the hall.

Only then did everyone realize what was happening. They hurriedly untied the reins from the hitching posts, and dozens of cavalrymen charged out of the palace gates like arrows. They frantically whipped their horses, their hearts filled with icy fear.

If the emperor makes even the slightest mistake in the chaos, they will be held accountable even if they die a thousand deaths.

*

The smoke inside the tower grew thicker and thicker, and the scorching heat distorted the air.

Ling Zhenli lay prostrate in the dust, her thin shoulders trembling violently from coughing, each cough sounding as if she were coughing up her lungs.

Xiao Chongheng came to her side. Even though the surroundings were dilapidated, his face was still handsome, and a very faint smile appeared on his lips.

He reached out, wanting to touch Ling Zhenli's pale cheek, his voice hoarse from inhaling smoke.

“Ah Li…this is good too…” he gasped, a twisted satisfaction in his eyes, “We can die together now.”

Ling Zhenli's unfocused gaze pierced through the smoke, looking towards the stairwell that had been sealed off by flames.

With her last ounce of strength, she gripped Xiao Chongheng's collar, nestled in his arms, her fingertips icy cold, her heart even colder.

Ling Zhenli was on her last breath. She thought of Pei Xuanlin again, and a tear suddenly slid down her cheek.

She was barely breathing, leaning against Xiao Chongheng's chest, tears streaming down her face, and sobbing as she said, "I want to see Pei Xuanlin one more time. I can't bear to part with him. I'm so sorry to him."

With her eyes closed, the tears flowed even more fiercely. Ling Zhenli's words were intermittent, yet each word was clear.

"Chongheng, we are destined to be apart in this life. Let's meet again in the next life. We'll be in our next life soon. I can feel it; I'm about to die..."

Upon hearing this, the faint light in Xiao Chongheng's eyes suddenly went out, replaced by an almost insane stubbornness.

He gritted his teeth and tried to lift Ling Zhenli up by the waist, wanting to carry her onto the stage to get some fresh air so she could breathe again.

"No! Don't die, you have to live!"

Xiao Chongheng roared, it was unclear whether he was trying to persuade her or himself.

Ling Zhenli, seemingly drawing strength from nowhere, gently but firmly pushed his hand away.

Her body slid softly back onto the bed, and she looked up at him, her eyes, illuminated by the firelight, holding a heartbreaking peace and relief.

"That's it, I'm not going to struggle anymore."

In an almost inaudible voice, Ling Zhenli delivered her final verdict on her fate.

“Let’s die together, Chongheng. If we die together, then we’re together, right? That way… you won’t have any resentment, will you? It’s good. Our daughter is here too. The three of us… we’re reunited…”

As soon as she finished speaking, she could no longer hold on, and her consciousness sank completely into the boundless darkness.

Xiao Chongheng stood frozen in place, staring at her lifeless face, then at the roaring, approaching flames. He let out a desperate wail that was both a cry and a laugh, and finally gave up all struggle. He slowly bent down and held her tightly in his arms, awaiting the final destruction.