Even though Gan Qiongying saw it with her own eyes, she refused to believe it.

Her first instinct was to go downstairs and ask Li Hua what was going on. She couldn't believe that everything was so different from the original story, and that Li Hua could never have become a vicious, bloodthirsty male protagonist.

She wanted him to come home with her, and they made a promise to travel the world together, to see the beautiful scenery of spring, autumn, winter and summer.

How could someone as gentle and kind as Li Hua, so tender-hearted and generous with kindness towards everyone, replace Zhongli Zhengzhen? And when did she replace Zhongli Zhengzhen, thus ending the predetermined course of this book?

Yingyi stood up with Gan Qiongying.

At this moment, Zhongli was trembling all over. Looking closely at his boots and trousers, it wasn't because they were black, but because they were covered in mud and blood.

He was dragged back alive, his hair was disheveled, he looked miserable, and his fingernails were full of mud.

He grabbed Zhongli Zhengzhen's robe with his dirty fingernails and begged, "Brother, I really know I was wrong. Please don't kill Song Ci. I'll do anything you want as long as you don't kill Song Ci."

However, Li Hua, who was disguised as Zhongli Zhengzhen, did not even glance at Zhongli Zhengzhen.

He gripped the longsword and slowly wound it around Song Ci's neck, leaving a deep bloodstain. He continued to ask him, "You are very capable. You brought so many skilled men from Jinchuan, and you didn't foolishly contact the emperor of Jinchuan. You can also easily distinguish between me and your true master."

Li Hua tilted his head slightly, glanced at the dark night sky, feeling terrible, but said lightly, "He's a loyal and good dog."

After Li Hua finished speaking, the long sword that had been raised without warning fell swiftly down. The blade was as bright as a crescent moon plucked from the heavens, drawing a semicircle in the air before slashing down.

Gan Qiongying, who had already stood up and prepared to leap down, was drawn to the silver light and then gasped sharply—

After that, all her voice and thoughts were ruthlessly severed by that one blow.

"Gurgle... Splash!"

The head was severed from the body, rolled onto the ground of the waterside pavilion, then tumbled along the railing to the edge of the pavilion before finally falling into the water with a "plop".

The force of the head rolling down the water created layers of red ripples.

Gan Qiongying's eyes were filled with crimson, because only now could she clearly see that the water lanterns swaying in the lake were not red, but when Gan Qiongying looked at them, they appeared to be entirely crimson.

The lake water was stained red with blood, and the head that had rolled into the water swayed with the waves before finally resting against the waterside pavilion, floating alongside the scattered corpses below.

It presented itself as a decadent crimson.

Gan Qiongying felt as if she had swallowed a piece of scorching hot coal. Standing on the roof ridge, tears streamed down her face. She grabbed Yingyi again, who was about to carry her down, and stopped him.

Yingyi had no idea what was wrong with Gan Qiongying. In his mind, the one kneeling on the ground was the prince consort, and why was the princess not saving him?

Gan Qiongying gripped Yingyi's clothes tightly from behind, her knuckles turning white and her face drained of color.

In that instant, it was as if the night wind had stopped, and everything seemed like a ridiculous black and white silent film.

She watched as Li Hua beheaded a man, the blood splattering all over Zhongli Zhengzhen, who was kneeling beside him begging for mercy. Zhongli Zhengzhen screamed in fright and lay on the ground, too scared to move.

Li Hua picked up the blood-stained longsword, but instead of performing any fancy sword flourishes to wipe away the blood, he raised his other arm and pressed the longsword against the fabric of his arm, the python robe belonging to the Jin Chuan hostage, and slowly wiped it away.

The longsword, once cleaned, now had chipped edges and dull blades.

Li Hua hoisted Song Ci's neck again and asked, "Do you still have anyone in the city? Who was knocking on the door just now, and how many people were there?"

Li Hua said calmly, "Speak."

Song Ci's lips trembled, but her expression remained indifferent, even as her companion died beside her.

Zhongli Zhengzhen dared not speak up to dissuade him again, fearing that his brother would cut off his neck next. He had always thought his brother was smart, resourceful, and capable, but only today did he realize that his brother was not only incredibly intelligent, but also ruthless and merciless.

Everything that happened tonight was because Song Ci tried to kill him and take him away while he was entertaining the city's powerful and influential people. She even claimed that she had captured Princess Duanrong and demanded that her brother surrender.

The older brother did indeed surrender without resistance, and Zhongli truly believed that he had escaped control!

Unexpectedly, even Song Ci miscalculated and failed. Li Hua is surrounded by many experts. Today's banquet is just a ploy to lure the snake out of its hole and feign defeat!

The counterattack was carried out in just half an hour. Even the city's powerful and influential figures who had been invited to the banquet were all safely escorted away without anyone being alarmed.

Even after killing someone, he personally delivered the body to Princess Xue'e and gave her a sachet, instructing her to always carry it with her.

Recalling her brother's ruthless methods, Zhongli was truly terrified to the core this time, and dared not harbor the slightest rebellious thought again...

Zhongli Zhengzhen said to Song Ci, "Tell me quickly! Who else is helping you?"

If he tells the truth, his brother might spare his life!

Song Ci remained silent, for he had no one left and was doomed either way. As for the person on the roof beam, since he hadn't saved him, he was obviously not one of his men.

Song Ci closed her eyes.

The person kneeling beside him, who had witnessed the death of his companion, suddenly could not bear the pressure of impending death. He suddenly opened his mouth and spat something out at Li Hua.

Li Hua had no time to dodge when he opened his mouth, so she had to raise her hand to cover it.

"Die!" The poisoned razor blade that the person spat out was originally intended to be used to commit suicide when they were being subjected to inhuman torture.

It's small, but very sharp.

It may not cause serious wounds, but it can kill a person instantly from the poison.

A sharp blade flew toward Li Hua's arm, but fell to the ground with a soft clang.

Li Hua was unharmed, but the Buddhist prayer beads he always wore on his wrist scattered like loose beads when he lowered his hand, jingling and rolling everywhere.

Li Hua was stunned for a moment, her heart clenched, and then she drew her sword and stabbed the man through the neck!

These prayer beads were given to him by Gan Qiongying!

Li Hua released her longsword and knelt on the ground to pick up the beads, but she was too close to the water, and some of the beads tinkled and fell into the water.

Li Hua was furious and extremely flustered.

He managed to collect some beads, glared at Song Ci, but ultimately didn't kill him. Instead, he gathered them one by one and put them into a handkerchief.

He was so focused on picking things up that he didn't see a group of dark figures gradually flying away from the rooftop.

Gan Qiongying was carried by Yingyi and flew out of the Jinchuan hostage's residence.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, she pushed Yingyi away, leaned against the wall at the end of the alley, and tears and vomit gushed out together.

She vomited violently, emptying her mind of all the confusion, fear, and disbelief.