Jiang Wang's hand froze, and then Shen Mingzhuang's clear voice came from behind him: "We really won't see each other again in the future. You don't need the things anymore, they're a gift to you."

Jiang Wang took a deep breath, his chest aching dully, as if countless needles were pricking it, a throbbing, aching pain that made him almost suffocate.

Liu Wenxin watched the carefree figure turn and leave, feeling a surge of joy. She knew that Jiang Wang cared about her, but she just wanted to see how deep these people's affections could go.

She simply enjoys watching passionate people clash and bleed to death. She's utterly disillusioned with the world, and this is the only source of amusement she can find.

"Your Majesty, where will Consort Ming be tonight? I wonder who is waiting for her outside the palace?"

She smiled sweetly, but her gentle voice sounded like it had bones, piercingly painful to listen to.

Jiang Wang shoved her away, his large hand gripping Liu Wenxin's throat tightly. His hand tightened involuntarily, and his bloodshot eyes seemed possessed. "Say that again!"

Liu Wenxin was gasping for breath, but she forced herself not to struggle. Her face turned purple from lack of oxygen. She gently stroked Jiang Wang's arm, raised her delicately drawn eyebrows, and said with difficulty, "Your Majesty, kill me, kill me!"

She didn't want to live anyway, so what if Jiang Wang killed her? She was just barely surviving in this world, and life and death were no longer of any concern to her.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang suddenly released his grip, and Liu Wenxin fell heavily to the ground, her chest heaving violently. A wicked smile curled at the corner of her mouth as she watched Jiang Wang turn and leave. Suddenly, she burst into loud laughter, a sound that sent chills down one's spine and was extremely eerie.

The moment Shen Mingzhuang left the palace, he suddenly felt relieved, as if a carriage had finally unloaded a lot of things and was finally at ease for a moment.

She will never come back. In this vast world, she has everything. With Shi Jiang by her side, what more could she possibly need?

What is she still... lacking? As soon as the thought crossed her mind, the lightness she had felt earlier vanished without a trace, and a dull ache returned to her heart.

Shi Jiang suddenly appeared in the carriage without a sound, and gently took her palm in his hand. Shen Mingzhuang did not withdraw her hand. She actually liked Shi Jiang's touch, as if it was how they were supposed to be.

"I'll go with you wherever you want to go."

Shi Jiang's fair fingers were as beautiful as a woman's, and he gently stroked her smooth hand, his voice deep and magnetic.

"Shi Jiang, I feel like I've forgotten something." She stared intently at Shi Jiang, wanting to get an answer from him.

She really felt like she had forgotten something, but she couldn't find any answers. She felt like she was in a fog, unable to see her surroundings clearly.

Shi Jiang paused in his movements, his eyes, which held the vastness of the stars, looking at her tenderly. "You've only been hurt by Jiang Wang. Just make sure you never see him again."

She is her own spiritual practice, life after life, and no one else can ever touch her!

Shen Mingzhuang lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly. Suddenly, large tears fell in a flurry, each one like a crystal dewdrop sliding down from a delicate flower stamen. Every moment was breathtakingly beautiful, yet also heartbreakingly so.

Jiang Wang strode away from the Hehuan Palace and returned to his bedchamber. His heart felt like a teacup had been shattered into pieces. He slammed his fist into the red lacquered pillar, which cracked in two, splintering wood chips all over the floor.

Tan Yonglin was so anxious he was practically spinning around in circles. The emperor's hand was pierced by wood chips, covered in blood, with the wood shavings embedded in his flesh, but he was completely unaware of it. He kept punching the beams and pillars, as if he had endless anger and grievances to vent, all of which were channeled into the force of each punch.

Finally, Tan Yonglin mustered his courage and led several eunuchs to rush forward and embrace the emperor, whose hands were covered in blood, thus preventing him from demolishing the palace.

Inside the carriage, Shen Mingzhuang's tears fell inexplicably onto Shi Jiang's palm. Shi Jiang's heart felt as if it were being stabbed again and again. He and she had now become spiritual cultivators, and no one understood her feelings better than him.

He pulled her into his arms, wanting to comfort the girl, but found that her tears flowed like a spring, only stopping when the carriage was far away from the palace.

Shen Mingzhuang couldn't explain why she suddenly felt so down. She couldn't help but want to cry. The feeling made her feel helpless and at a loss.

She was held in Shi Jiang's arms and fell asleep without knowing when. When she woke up again, it was already the next day.

When Shi Jiang saw that she had woken up, he fed her a sip of warm water and then helped her sit up.

Shen Mingzhuang was only wearing a pear-colored undergarment at this moment. Feeling the warmth of Shi Jiang's hands, she pulled the quilt up to cover her chest, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Let Manhuan come."

Shi Jiang thought for a moment, nodded, and turned to call Man Huan in.

Man Huan was a little angry when she saw the man who claimed to be her master's bodyguard. Shi Jiang didn't say anything. As soon as Man Huan closed the door, he returned to his space.

"Miss, who exactly is this Shi Jiang? I have a feeling he has ill intentions. Is he really here to serve you?"

Shen Mingzhuang glared at Man Huan, but the trust she placed in Man Huan made her relax.

"Don't talk nonsense. Just remember that he's not a bad person."

In her opinion, Shi Jiang was not a bad person. After all, he had helped her a lot. Although he was never mentioned in the book, since they fought side by side, she should trust him.

As Shi Jiang listened to her heartfelt words, a slight smile appeared on his lips. Although he had sealed her feelings for Jiang Wang, their spiritual union had also made her like him a little more, which was something he was happy to see.

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