Chapter 40: Even Crazier, the Nineteenth Time!
Chapter 40
They've gone completely berserk!
Yan Danqing was stunned for a moment, then covered her face and chuckled softly, her shoulders shaking and her black sleeves swaying.
Ye Xiren frowned, her face serious:
"I'm not joking."
Upon hearing this, Yan Danqing laughed louder and louder. He lowered his hand, his eyebrows and eyes full of smiles, his eyes sparkling. He laughed heartily, and all the depression in his body disappeared completely. His laughter echoed in the prison, breaking through the original despair and coldness.
"Stop laughing!" Ye Xiren snapped.
"I couldn't help it..." Yan Danqing had just stopped laughing when he burst into laughter again, "Hahaha!"
Ye Xiren, puffed out in anger, raised her hand to push him, and said irritably, "Then what can I do? Killing Jiang You won't work, killing all the pro-peace faction won't work either, so what's left but to kill the emperor too?!"
In the past, she would never have dared to say something like "kill the emperor," and she wouldn't even have had such a thought.
But dying again and again in the loop, unable to escape no matter how hard she tried, Ye Xiren was already half-mad. Since she could start over anyway, she might as well try everything!
as a result of?
I don't consider it, and I can't even think about it.
Kill them all! Kill them all!
Yan Danqing swayed slightly with her momentum, a blush rising on her pale face. Her smile faded, but her eyes remained gentle. She raised her hand to touch her head, but ultimately restrained herself and pulled it back.
He cleared his throat and shook his head:
“Xixi, this cannot be solved by killing the Emperor. In any case, the Emperor cannot die. The Emperor’s death is no small matter. It will take time to elect a new Emperor, and there will inevitably be struggles within the court.”
"Moreover, the Liang family of the Great Liang Dynasty now only has His Majesty as their sole bloodline. Do you know what will happen if His Majesty dies?"
Liang Yue had no concubines, no children, and no close blood relatives to inherit the throne. Once he died, the struggle for the throne alone would be enough to destroy Liang. Why would there be any need for the Northern Yan to invade?
When that time comes, the Great Liang will dig its own grave, and then it will be Chi Zhanlan Ce's turn to laugh.
If Liang Yue dies, it will be equivalent to the fall of the Great Liang Dynasty. How can we kill him?
Even killing Jiang You would be of no use. In the short term, it might seem to achieve some goal, but in the long term, it would only bring endless trouble. The power vacuum left by the prime minister's death would inevitably attract countless people to fight for it, and the internal strife in the Great Liang would never end.
The dynasty, already riddled with problems, has not yet collapsed, only because the emperor is still relatively wise and the prime minister holds immense power. With the two working together, they can still keep the country in check. Now, external threats are enough to destroy the country, how can it withstand internal troubles?
Ye Xiren lowered her head. She knew, but she was only desperate because she had no other choice, so she was willing to die together with everyone else...
As she listened to the gentle explanation from the person in front of her, the redness in her eyes gradually faded, and reason returned, leaving her feeling powerless.
"His Majesty is a good emperor. He has some shortcomings, such as being kind and weak, but he also has many virtues. Last year, when I raised the Yan family army to fight against Yan, he sent me people and food and did everything he could. I still remember that when he conferred the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery on me, he wrote me a letter."
Yan Danqing gazed at her, but his eyes drifted away, and he murmured softly:
"He said that the Yan bandits' invasion of our Great Liang is truly hateful, and that I should use my troops with confidence. He would stabilize my rear and control the situation in the court, giving me the confidence to drive out the Northern Yan..."
When the last batch of problematic military rations arrived, a personal letter from the Emperor was also sent along with it. He did not mention how hard-won these rations were, nor did he ask when victory would be achieved, nor did he give any rash orders regarding the frontline battles. He simply instructed Yan Danqing to continue, while he and the Prime Minister awaited his triumphant return in Nanjing.
He also said that he wasn't very good at being an emperor, but the country was in turmoil and he couldn't afford to waver. He would try his best to protect the rear and learn to be a good emperor. When the emperor returned in triumph, he would go to the watershed to welcome him...
The past events are still vivid in Yan Danqing's mind. Even though he was later questioned, imprisoned, and sentenced to death, the harmony between the ruler and his subject remained in Yan Danqing's heart.
Those who serve as ministers should always remember the word "loyalty".
The current situation is not due to Liang Yue's incompetence, but rather Chi Zhanlan's cunning. Even if they go through the process again and again, they cannot find any evidence to prove that the talks are "fake." How can they expect Liang Yue to believe them?
"I can hardly be considered a loyal and steadfast minister, and His Majesty is not a foolish ruler. He may have made mistakes or had limitations, but we all ultimately want to continue the great Liang dynasty and ensure its continued prosperity." Yan Danqing's voice was soft, as if it could be blown away by the wind, yet every word could be etched into people's hearts.
He looked at Ye Xiren and added with a smile:
"And now you're included."
Upon hearing this, Ye Xiren shook her head violently, furious and embarrassed: "I'm not doing this to continue the Liang dynasty, I just want to live!"
With Yan Danqing dead, she has to start over. Their lives are already tied in a cycle. If she wants to live well, she has to make sure that "Little General Yan" lives too, not for the sake of saving the country and the people.
Why save those who don't believe them and want to kill them?
Seeing that she was being hypocritical, Yan Danqing's lips curled up again.
"Do you still want to kill someone?" he asked.
Ye Xiren lowered her head, looking increasingly dejected, her eyebrows drooping. "What's the point of killing if it's useless?"
Seeing her expression, like a wronged little kitten with drooping ears, Yan Danqing finally couldn't help but raise his hand and rub her head. He wiped his palm clean, and there were still many wounds on the back of his hand with bloodstains, but it did not hide his long fingers and distinct knuckles.
He gently ruffled Ye Xiren's messy hair, smoothing out the stray strands. Then, he clenched his fist, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, and restrained himself as he stared intently at her, as if trying to memorize her face. His eyes were dark and complex.
Ye Xiren looked up blankly, her face full of confusion.
what?
Ye Xiren: "?"
She frowned, puzzled: "Why do you always laugh at me?"
Yan Danqing lowered her hand, her fingers still curled, her smile undiminished: "I don't know either, maybe I'm just in a good mood."
She was definitely in a good mood, otherwise she wouldn't be laughing so happily, her brows relaxed, and her voice filled with laughter...
Ye Xiren was even more speechless.
She's completely broken down, and this person can still be in a good mood? Doesn't he know the current situation?!
She does look quite pretty when she smiles.
Ye Xiren cleared her throat and scratched her head. "So what should we do now? Chi Zhanlan Ce is determined to kill you today. Most of the court has already switched sides and believes in the Northern Yan's willingness to negotiate. The emperor does not doubt this either. What other way can I save you?"
Must we face another Yan Danqing being killed today?
Ye Xiren had run out of options. She had exhausted all her tricks and could not stop the imperial edict from being issued. What other way was there to stop the peace talks?
She calculated the time and became even more disheartened. "When Chizhan Lance wakes up at noon, Jiang You will go to persuade the Emperor that the imperial edict to kill you will come again, and we will have to start over." The more she thought about it, the more desperate she became.
Kill them all! Let none of them live!
At this moment, Yan Danqing suddenly leaned over, his head close to hers, his voice low, his breath brushing against her ear.
Being so close, Ye Xiren's face inexplicably flushed. Before she could feel embarrassed, she heard his voice: "Don't worry, it won't reopen today. You will live well."
He smiled slightly, then dropped a bombshell: "Chi Zhanlan Ce is dead."
Ye Xiren: "!"
Her breath caught in her throat, and she abruptly looked up. Their faces were so close that, if not for the prison cell, they would have been face to face. "Really?!"
Before Yan Danqing could answer, she asked urgently, "How did he die? Who killed him?"
This time, Ye Xiren's breath was close to his ear, and Yan Danqing stiffened. He lowered his eyes, and in the dimly lit dungeon, no one saw that his ears were gradually turning red.
“I killed him at dawn today,” Yan Danqing answered honestly.
Chi Zhanlan made another move, and after the emperor issued an imperial edict ordering his death and marriage to Ye Xiren, the cycle restarted.
Ye Xiren went on a killing spree, so Yan Danqing naturally wouldn't do nothing.
Ye Xiren felt short of breath again, feeling both excited and doubtful. As if she had thought of something, she frowned, suddenly reached out and grabbed Yan Danqing's arm that was hanging by his side, and pushed open his sleeve.
Sure enough, he was covered in wounds, and the dark black stains on his clothes were clearly bloodstains!
It wasn't the injury from the third day of the third lunar month, but a new one today. The old wounds hadn't healed before being replaced by new ones, leaving his body already overburdened. It was remarkable that he could still remain calm and speak to Ye Xiren with a smile...
Despite being in excruciating pain, he was still able to laugh out loud!
Ye Xiren's excitement gradually faded, her brows furrowing as the wounds reminded her of the current situation. "No, if you had killed Chizhan Lance yesterday, you would still be alive, but the situation is different today."
She raised her head, her expression grave:
“If you kill him today, you won’t live either.”
On the third day of the third month, the gunpowder incident had just been exposed, and the emperor was beginning to suspect the Northern Yan's motives. Meanwhile, evidence to clear Yan Danqing of the crime of "treason" was sent up. At this time, killing Chi Zhanlan Ce would be necessary, as Huai'an Canal needed him, and he might still be able to live.
But yesterday, Chi Zhanlan Ce met with the Emperor. On the fourth day of the third month, the Liang court had completely believed in the Northern Yan's willingness to negotiate. The stalemate was only because the Emperor did not want to kill him.
If we kill the Crown Prince of Northern Yan now, he will be a traitor who sabotages the peace talks. How could he possibly survive?!
Thinking of this, Ye Xiren's breathing became rapid.
For a moment, she didn't even know if she was worried about the loop restarting, or... worried about the safety of the person in front of her.
“This is the best solution.” Yan Danqing lowered his eyes, his voice calm. “With Chi Zhanlan Ce dead, the peace talks are over, and the imperial decree for the marriage is useless…”
He said he would not let Ye Xiren marry Chi Zhanlan Ce.
"And what about you?" Ye Xiren asked anxiously.
"Don't worry, I won't die, and I won't let you start over again." Yan Danqing looked at her and smiled.
He also said that he would not let Ye Xiren die because of him.
Upon hearing this, Ye Xiren did not relax. Instead, she was filled with doubt. Could Chi Zhanlan Ce really survive if he killed him?
Before she could even ask, the prison door rattled outside, and someone rushed in with a flurry of hurried footsteps. Ye Pei and Bai Chengguang arrived in haste with men from the Dali Temple and the Imperial Guards.
Upon seeing Ye Xiren, Ye Pei was not surprised, but he frowned and looked at the people in the prison, "General Yan, are you confused!"
Yan Danqing smiled without answering and obediently stood up.
The prison doors opened, and he was forced to leave, the chains rattling unsettlingly. He swayed, struggling to keep up.
As he passed Ye Xiren, he turned his head and spoke softly:
"Xixi, live well."
Everything happened so suddenly that Ye Xiren was completely bewildered. Looking at the spot where Yan Danqing had just left, which was covered in blood, her pupils shrank, and she took a few steps forward: "Father, where are you taking him? General Yan's injuries are serious, we need to find a doctor to treat him first!"
Ye Pei sighed and had someone stop Ye Xiren.
He said nothing, and the group left in a hurry. Given the current situation, Yan Danqing... did he still need treatment?
Ye Xiren was blocked behind them, watching their backs gradually disappear into the distance. Yan Danqing's shoes were already torn, and there were several open wounds on his back. He casually said, "I killed Chizhan Lance," to cover up his many scars.
As if afraid he might do something dangerous, his hands and feet were re-chained, and the chains bled as he walked, making him even more bloody. He was taller than the person next to him, but he was also very thin, with a straight back. His figure disappeared with the sound of the chains swaying.
Ye Xiren was both anxious and confused. She wanted to chase after them, but was blocked by someone.
After finally managing to escape, there was no one outside the Dali Temple except for Ye Changming, who had rushed over.
"What's the situation outside?" Ye Xiren grabbed Ye Changming's sleeve and asked anxiously, "Where did they take Yan Danqing?"
She gripped her sleeve tightly, her brows furrowed into a deep frown.
Yan Danqing said she wouldn't die, but how could she possibly survive? She really couldn't understand how she could save her life after killing Chi Zhanlan Ce today.
This person looks calm, but his actions clearly show he's even crazier than her!
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Author's note: Egg White: He wants to marry my wife, how can I not go crazy?
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