Chapter 75 "Your Majesty...do you already know...?"

Thick smoke filled the tower, and the scorching heat made every breath sting.

Ling Zhenli leaned weakly against the wall, awaiting death.

Just then, Xue Haoting's hoarse roar came from below the tower.

"You son of a bitch Xiao Xun, may your ancestors for eight generations be cursed!"

The powerful curse pierced through the raging flames and clearly reached inside the tower.

Ling Zhenli's pale lips curved into a weak smile; she knew that Xue Haoting was scolding Xiao Chongheng.

“It’s my brother…did you hear that? He’s cursing at you…”

Xiao Chongheng's face darkened, and he pulled Ling Zhenli closer to his chest: "Ignore him, I won't pay any attention to him."

Ling Zhenli gently pushed his chest, but she had no strength left. She smiled weakly and said, "I'm out of strength... Why don't you go and check on me..."

Just then, Fang Wenzhou's voice came from below the tower:

"Xiao Chongheng, your mother has already lost! His Majesty has returned to the palace, you must release the Empress immediately!"

Upon hearing this, Ling Zhenli's previously dimmed eyes regained a glimmer of light.

Pei Xuanlin is back; he's back safe and sound.

This news rekindled a tiny spark of Ling Zhenli's almost extinguished will to live.

She grabbed Xiao Chongheng's sleeve, her voice pleading, "Please go and see him, just for my sake."

Looking at the faint light in her eyes, Xiao Chongheng ultimately couldn't bear to refuse.

He carefully placed her in a relatively safe corner, then got up and walked towards the platform.

The moment he appeared, Xue Haoting's angry curses came like a sudden storm.

"Xiao Chongheng! Are you even a man? What kind of skill is it to kidnap my sister, a weak woman! If you want to be burned alive and go to hell, go alone, don't take my sister with you!"

The two already had a bad relationship, and this remark completely enraged Xiao Chongheng. He gripped the railing and hissed as he retorted downwards.

"Xue Haoting! You really think Ling Zhenli is your sister? What kind of brother would do such a beastly thing to his sister?!"

Amidst the tense exchange of insults, the rapid, thunderous sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, tearing through the clamor.

Pei Xuanlin, covered in dust, galloped over on his horse. Upon reaching the foot of the tower, he yanked on the reins, and the horse reared up with a neigh.

The imperial guards stationed on the outer perimeter all knelt down in unison.

Pei Xuanlin paid no attention to them, not even glancing down at the kneeling officials, his burning gaze fixed on the tower engulfed in flames.

"Xiao Chongheng!"

After dismounting, Pei Xuan raised his head and shouted, his gaze piercing through the swirling smoke, locking onto the figure on the high platform.

"Release the Empress immediately! If you can guarantee her safety, I will spare your life. You can make any request you have, and I will grant it."

Even Pei Xuanlin didn't realize that his voice carried a subtle plea.

At the edge of the tower's high platform, Xiao Chongheng's figure appeared like a ghost amidst leaping flames and billowing black smoke. The scorching air distorted the air around him, making his outline appear blurry and distorted.

"Ha, my request? My request is that you listen to your queen's request. Your queen just said that she wants to die with me, right now, right here. Here are me and her daughter. The three of us will be reunited!"

The jealousy, resentment, and despair that had been building up in his heart for years finally found an outlet and erupted at this moment.

Xiao Chongheng raised his head and sneered, as if mocking Pei Xuanlin, his incompetent husband.

Pei Xuanlin felt a chill instantly rise from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his limbs and bones felt cold.

Every word Xiao Chongheng had just said pierced his heart.

The sharp pain of being betrayed by the person he loved and trusted most almost tore him apart.

He swayed almost imperceptibly, instinctively clenching his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, relying on that sharp pain to force himself to remain calm.

"Xiao Chongheng!"

Pei Xuanlin shouted sharply, trying to cover up the almost uncontrollable tremor in his voice with anger.

"You're insane! You're spouting nonsense! Xue Yingyue is the Empress, she has nothing to do with you! How could she say such a thing!"

"Xue Yingyue? Look at you, you still call her Xue Yingyue!"

Xiao Chongheng's voice was hoarse, filled with sarcasm and sorrow.

"Pei Xuanlin! You call yourself the emperor? You don't even know the real name of the wife you share a bed with! Her name isn't Xue Yingyue, it's Ling Zhenli! I, Xiao Chongheng, should be her husband. You are nothing but a piece of trash!"

These words were like thunderclaps from the heavens, not only exploding in Pei Xuanlin's ears but also striking Ling Zhenli's heart inside the tower.

Curled up in the corner of the bed, she was already disoriented due to the thick smoke and weakness. Now, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, and her blood seemed to freeze instantly.

Lingzhenli...

He actually laid bare her name, her child, and the secrets she had buried deep in her heart, which she had tried to completely conceal with the identity of Xue Yingyue, exposing them to the person she least wanted to know.

The sky has fallen.

A wave of despair and shame, more intense than the burning heat of a raging fire, swept over Ling Zhenli.

Her vision blurred, her ears rang, and the shouting outside seemed distant and indistinct.

Whether it was the sound of people talking or the crackling of fire, at this moment, they all became insignificant background noise.

She felt ice-cold all over and even forgot to breathe.

Her only thought now was that she wished an abyss would immediately split open beneath her feet to swallow her up, or that the burning beams above her would collapse instantly, giving her a quick death.

She no longer had any face to face Pei Xuanlin, the man she truly loved but who had been deceived by her from beginning to end.

Ling Zhenli wanted to cry but no tears came. Her tears seemed to have dried up, or perhaps she was numb from the pain and couldn't cry anymore. All she could do now was stare blankly at the ground, begging God to let her die quickly.

Upon hearing this news, Pei Xuanlin was shocked, and his mind went blank.

Xue Yingyue... Ling Zhenli... These two names lingered in his mind.

Even though he knew Xue Yingyue had lied to him, Pei Xuanlin would still protect her, he shouted sternly.

"Xiao Chongheng! Stop spreading these heretical rumors and shut your mouth right now!"

Before Pei Xuanlin could even process the shocking truth behind it, Xue Haoting, standing to the side, was already furious, veins bulging on his forehead, pointing upstairs and cursing angrily.

"Xiao Xun! You son of a bitch, you beast! Isn't it enough that you caused my sister to lose a child! Now you want to drag her down with you! You're not even human! How dare you curse me? You're the one who doesn't deserve her the most in this world!"

Pei Xuanlin stood frozen in place.

He originally thought Xiao Chongheng was talking nonsense, but it turns out that he and Xue Yingyue really did have a child.

In other words, Xiao Chongheng's unborn daughter was conceived with Xue Yingyue.

This heavy truth struck Pei Xuanlin, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

Why...why...why didn't Xue Yingyue tell him? Was she afraid he would blame her? What was her past like? Why is everything so chaotic?

Seeing this, Fang Wenzhou hurriedly joined in the persuasion, trying to bring Xiao Chongheng back to his senses.

"Chongheng! Wake up! Look at this fire! The fire brigade has been trying to put it out for so long but they still can't save it. If you don't come down with Ah Li, you'll be killing her with your own hands! Is this what you want?!"

"Stop pretending, Fang Wenzhou. You're the most shameless of all. You seduced Pei Xuanlin and me while we were away, and now you've betrayed us!"

On and below the tower, shouts of anger mingled with the crackling sounds of burning wood, creating a chaotic and desperate scene.

The immense shock left Pei Xuanlin momentarily speechless; his heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, a mixture of pain and suffocation.

However, just as his reason was about to be swallowed by chaos, he suddenly looked up, his gaze once again falling on the top floor of the tower, where flames were shooting into the sky.

No matter who she is, what her name is, what her past was like, or how much deception and concealment she has...

We can settle the score later.

Whether it's love or hate, Pei Xuanlin can't just stand by and watch her die.

Just as Xue Haoting and Xiao Chongheng's verbal sparring reached its climax, drawing everyone's attention, a resolute glint flashed in Pei Xuanlin's eyes.

He quietly took a few steps back, then with a flash, he ran towards the tower's main entrance without hesitation and entered the tower.

The thick smoke inside was even more pungent, and a wave of heat hit us in the face.

Flames raged, devouring beams and bricks, the crackling sounds mingling with the wind, like the wailing of ghosts and wolves.

Most of the people in Wuhoupu were huddled on the first floor, busy putting out the fire.

Pei Xuanlin's eyes widened in anger. He strode through the crowd and headed straight for the commander of Wuhoupu, who was in charge of putting out the fire.

"The Empress is still up there, why aren't you going up to rescue her?!"

Pei Xuanlin's urgent and angry expression startled everyone.

The commander of Wuhoupu bowed his head, clasped his hands, and knelt down: "Your Majesty, the staircase here has been destroyed by fire and collapsed in many places. Moreover, a large number of chairs and lamp stands are piled up at each corner, which must have been done intentionally. In addition, there are charred beams, making it extremely difficult to reach the top floor. We are doing our best to clear it, but... it is really difficult to pass through now."

"waste!"

Enraged, Pei Xuanlin's eyes flashed with cold light, and he immediately kicked the commander of Wuhoupu to the ground.

"A bunch of good-for-nothings who eat the government's rice and can't even clear a staircase to get upstairs, do they deserve to be called elite? Do they deserve to live? They might as well all die!"

"It's better to rely on yourself than on others," Pei Xuanlin said no more, and turned to rush towards the staircase that had been mostly consumed by flames.

The crowd gasped and tried to dissuade them.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't! The stairs could collapse at any moment, it's too dangerous!"

Pei Xuanlin ignored him and quickly stepped onto the charred steps, climbing upstairs.

The wooden planks beneath his feet groaned under the weight, sparks flew, and waves of heat hit him, but he seemed oblivious to the burning pain, focused only on climbing upwards.

Seeing the emperor risking his life, the imperial guards followed suit, and the people of Wuhoupu used long hooks and iron shovels to clear the obstacles and make way for Pei Xuanlin.

The imperial guards shouted "Protect the Emperor!" while sending water to fight the fire.

The fire was raging and thick smoke filled the air. Pei Xuanlin covered his nose with his sleeve and hurried through the narrow stairwell.

With each floor you go up, the heat intensifies, the air almost solidifies, and breathing becomes difficult.

At this moment, he had only one thought in his mind: he couldn't let Xue Yingyue die. Even if he had to die, he had to make things clear for her and die with her.

Finally, with the support of the Imperial Guards and the help of the water-filled rescue team from Wuhoupu, Pei Xuanlin rushed to the top floor.

That once carved dragon and phoenix gate is now twisted and deformed by the raging fire, with charred wood chips and cracked door frame.

Fueled by his anger toward the person inside, Pei Xuanlin kicked the door open.

The gate shattered with a crash, sending splinters of wood flying and dust billowing everywhere.

The flickering firelight inside the house illuminated two figures.

Xiao Chongheng was still standing by the window, his robes slightly disheveled.

Ling Zhenli was curled up in the corner of the bed, her eyes closed, her face ashen, her breathing weak, having fainted from the smoke and dust.

When Xiao Chongheng saw Pei Xuanlin arrive, he approached with a cold smile. Just as he was about to speak, Pei Xuanlin, enraged, strode towards him without hesitation and punched him hard in the face.

"Xiao Chongheng! You son of a bitch! How dare you covet your sister-in-law?! Are you even human?!"

The punch was extremely powerful, and Xiao Chongheng was knocked to the side and staggered, blood immediately spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Xiao Chongheng remained calm. He slowly raised his hand and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve. He sneered, his voice hoarse and tinged with sarcasm.

“She is mine, Pei Xuanlin. She was mine before she married you.”

Upon hearing this, Pei Xuanlin's pupils shrank drastically, and he was furious. He completely lost control, lunged forward, and pinned Xiao Chongheng to the ground, his fists raining down on him.

"You shameless bastard! Stop talking nonsense! You seduced my sister-in-law and you still have the nerve to say that?! Who do you think you are?! You think you're worthy of stealing my woman!"

Punch after punch landed, splitting Xiao Chongheng's lip and drawing blood from his forehead. But Xiao Chongheng was no pushover either, and punched Pei Xuanlin in the left cheekbone.

Several imperial guards rushed upstairs and, seeing the two fighting, quickly stepped forward to separate them.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

"Duke of Yan, how dare you be so insolent!"

"Your Majesty, please take care of your health!"

Even after being pulled away, Pei Xuanlin still struggled to pounce on Xiao Chongheng, his eyes bloodshot, as if he wanted to devour him alive.

The commander of the Imperial Guards clung tightly to his leg, pleading, "Your Majesty! Please calm down! The Empress is in grave danger; saving her is the most important thing!"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head. Pei Xuanlin shuddered and finally stopped what he was doing. His chest heaved violently, but his eyes gradually changed from fury to rationality.

He rushed toward Xue Yingyue, who was in the corner.

She was curled up, her plain white undergarment tattered from soot, her hair disheveled, and her breathing so faint it was almost imperceptible.

She was in a daze, as if she might die at any moment.

"Ah Li..."

Pei Xuanlin knelt beside her, looking at the marks all over her body, his voice trembling, and carefully pulled her into his arms.

"It's me, I'm here. I'm sorry I'm late."

Ling Zhenli seemed to sense something, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes a crack.

Her gaze was unfocused, and in her hazy state, she felt that the face of the person holding her looked exactly like Pei Xuanlin. Her lips twitched slightly, as if she wanted to smile.

It turns out that people really can see the people they want to see before they die.

This time, Ling Zhenli closed her eyes peacefully, prepared herself for never to wake up again.

Pei Xuanlin gently stroked her face, his fingertips touching the burning temperature, realizing she had a fever. He quickly took off his outer robe, which he had wet with water beforehand, and wrapped it around her delicate body. He then tore off a piece of his robe to bandage the burn wounds on her arm.

His movements were gentle and skillful, his eyes filled with heartache and self-reproach. After wrapping Ling Zhenli up, he carefully picked her up.

"Is this okay? Did I hurt you?"

Pei Xuanlin asked in a low voice, his voice choked with suppressed sobs. Looking at the bruises all over her body, he couldn't bear it.

Ling Zhenli gently shook her head. In her dazed state, she thought that perhaps she was not hallucinating, and that this was indeed Pei Xuanlin. However, her eyelids were heavy, and she could not open her eyes no matter how hard she tried.

"Okay, I'll take you home now."

Ling Zhenli, in a state between dreaming and waking, kept wavering between reality and illusion, but she clearly heard Pei Xuanlin's voice, saying that he wanted to take her home.

She struggled to see clearly, and with her persistent efforts, she finally opened her eyes slightly and saw Pei Xuanlin's blurry figure.

That's great, it really is him.

Unfortunately, things can never be the same between us again.

Ling Zhenli lowered her eyes and gently touched Pei Xuanlin's face. Her body was burning hot from the high fever, but her fingertips were still icy cold.

She forced a smile, hoping to leave him with a better impression in the end.

"Your Majesty...do you already know...?"

She spoke haltingly, her breath growing weaker and weaker until she finally succumbed to her injuries and fainted.

Pei Xuanlin's eyes reddened as she realized she couldn't delay any longer; every moment she stayed there increased the danger she faced.

He held her tightly in his arms and ran frantically down the tower, as if he could snatch her life back from the clutches of death.

Outside the tower, footsteps and shouts mingled together.

Pei Xuanlin carried Ling Zhenli as they rushed out of the smoke-filled tower, leaving the scorching air behind them in an instant.

Just a dozen steps after everyone rushed out of the tower, a loud bang came from the tower.

That was the mournful sound of wood breaking and bricks crumbling.

Pei Xuanlin turned around abruptly and saw the tall tower slowly collapsing amidst the towering flames.

The violent roar shook the ground, and a scorching shockwave carrying sparks and dust rushed towards us.

The tower crumbled and the massive beams crashed to the ground, scattering flames everywhere. In just an instant, the Huaiming Temple Tower, which had witnessed countless loves, hates, and grudges, was reduced to a pile of burning ruins.

Sparks flew and landed on his robes. Pei Xuanlin instinctively pulled the person in his arms tighter, using his cloak to shield her firmly, his back to the raging flames that were devouring everything.

But now is not the time to worry about anything else; saving Xue Yingyue is the most important thing.

Pei Xuanlin didn't linger, nor did he glance at the pile of ruins again. He carried Ling Zhenli and turned to run towards the carriage.

What collapsed was not just a tower, but also seemed to bury Ling Zhenli and her past entanglements completely in this sea of ​​fire.

"Let's proceed! Return to the palace immediately!"

Pei Xuanlin shouted hoarsely, his voice hoarse from inhaling smoke and dust, his gaze never leaving Ling Zhenli's face.

The guards drove the imperial carriage to wait in front of the tower. Pei Xuanlin couldn't even wait for his feet to be firmly planted before he jumped onto the carriage shaft with Ling Zhenli in his arms.

The carriage was covered with thick, soft cushions, and he carefully placed her on the couch with gentle movements.

"Ah Li".

He called softly, his fingertips gently tracing her cheek, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"We're going home soon."

The carriage sped along the long street, its wheels making a rapid sound as they rolled over the bluestone slabs. Pei Xuanlin held Ling Zhenli tightly in his arms, as if afraid she would die.

He can't live without her, he really can't.

"Faster! Faster!"

Pei Xuanlin urged sharply towards the outside of the car, every moment of delay causing him immense anguish.

Ling Zhenli stirred slightly in his arms, her long eyelashes trembling, but unfortunately she couldn't open her eyes and remained unconscious.

Pei Xuanlin grasped her hand, their fingers intertwined.

He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his voice deep and firm.

"You're not allowed to die, do you hear me?"

Get well soon.

"I want you to tell me clearly what exactly happened."

"Why did it turn out like this..."

A tear fell.

He almost lost his beloved forever.