Snow Silent Seventh Sister... This is my first and last time...
Emperor Kang Le remained silent for a long time. After a while, he smiled and said, "Xi'er, do you know that after you returned to the capital to visit my mother, not long after, the Crown Prince brought back a dagger? It was my father's favorite dagger, and the blade was extremely sharp. When I was young, I often saw my father holding it in his hand and examining it. Then one day, when my father wasn't paying attention, I took it in my hand and cut my finger."
Looking at his compassionate face, Qin Weixi suddenly recalled Xu Lin's words from that day: "The candle is out, and the kind-faced evil ghost is revealed."
She looked again at Emperor Kang Le.
Li Mou! Therefore, Jiang Sinian never entrusted this matter to anyone else; he personally eliminated Li Mou, leaving Li Mou with no choice but to accept his death. Why did the old man Xu Lin met fall seriously ill after Li Mou's death? When a person is about to die, who can they fear? Only the Emperor, whom they naturally fear!
Qin Weixi suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"Guess what Father Emperor said?" Emperor Kang Le smiled again: "You'll never guess."
He said, "My son, this dagger is stained with the blood of my Jiang family. How will he be able to take it to the battlefield when Father gives it to Chengji?"
"At that time, I asked my father why he did this. My father said, 'My son, I owe the Chu family a great deal. Bo Ling is in charge in front, and Cheng Ji's seven uncles are fighting the enemy behind. In the future, Cheng Ji will help you become a good emperor.'"
Emperor Kang Le chuckled: "Then why did my mother give me this dagger that she hadn't given away years later? Was it to remind me not to forget my father's advice?"
"They all distrust me, thinking I am not fit to be emperor. The Qin family and the Chu family are both like this. Or they think I am not capable of ruling the country. But there is only one person, my teacher Luo Yifang. I know that he is the reason I know that he must believe in me. And there is the unassuming Yun Chuan, my old friend."
"Later, my father grew old, and then gradually became delirious. I watched him stare at the painting of the Four Swordsmen every day on Penglai Island. No matter how I tried to convince myself, I felt it was an insult to me, the emperor. Why should a paper figure scrutinize me?"
Qin Weixi looked at him with disdain and said coldly, "So you want to destroy this painting but you don't know that the late emperor has already noticed."
Emperor Kang Le was taken aback upon hearing this, and after a moment he came to his senses and said, "It really is you. Back then, you children whom I never paid any attention to often went to Penglai to visit your father, and later that painting disappeared without a trace."
"Even children grow up one day!"
Emperor Kang Le was still laughing: "So what? So what if there's the Three Bones Case? The Qin family can't turn the world upside down, Cheng Ji is already a skeleton, and Xu Lin or my son, I'll let you do whatever you want..."
"Is that so?" Qin Weixi looked at the emperor high above him and sneered.
Emperor Kang Le was suddenly startled, and then he heard her say, "Jiang Sinian, you not only forced my father to his death, but also my grandfather to his death!"
"Extremely vicious!"
Emperor Kang Le suddenly slammed his hand down on the imperial desk in front of him and said sternly, "How dare you speak to me like that!"
At this moment, a eunuch wearing a gauze hat and a python robe suddenly walked into the hall. He glanced at her briefly before walking towards Emperor Kang Le and whispering something in his ear.
Qin Weixi, however, only sensed a hint of darkness and a probing gaze upon her in that single glance.
It was the eunuch who threw Zhuang Shijun into the lake that day!
Soon after, Emperor Kang Le, who was sitting at the head of the table, said: "Quickly send General Zhaoyi and the Thousand Bull Guards who are still in the palace to guard the area."
Zhaoyi...
Qin Weixi's pupils suddenly contracted. He was the eldest son of General Chen Chuansong, who had also died tragically on the border with Uncle Chu.
Meanwhile, outside the palace, the Jingning Marquis's residence and the Chengyi Earl's residence, as well as Luo Ling who was still in the government office, all knew that Pu Niang had hanged herself on Gulou Street and that Qin Weixi had entered the palace alone in grief and indignation.
Chu Yening rushed out of the Marquis's residence like a whirlwind and instructed Songyang and the others: "Call Xue Zhao!"
Inside the Luo residence, Feng Hua and his companions found Pu Niang's frozen and stiff body, but Qin Weixi was nowhere to be seen. Upon hearing from Mu Tong that she had entered the palace, they saw him rushing towards the palace city.
Feng Hua also called Shang Zijin, and the two of them wanted to go together to invite the Empress Dowager, who was at Xiaguang Peak, to come down the mountain.
But Xia Zhi said from the side, "The city is heavily guarded now, we may not be able to get out."
Feng Hua paced around the room for a moment, then suddenly her mind cleared: "Quick, go to the Zhao family! Miss Zhao must have a way."
Inside the Zhao family mansion, Zhao Shuhan and her brother learned from the cook who went out to buy groceries that a servant woman from the Luo family had hanged herself in the bustling city wearing blood-stained clothes. Just as they were about to leave for the Luo family, they learned from Feng Hua that Qin Weixi had gone to the palace alone.
Zhao Shuhan immediately took the token that her great-aunt had given her many years ago, which allowed her to freely enter and leave the capital, and handed it over to Feng Hua and Zi Jin before quickly leaving the city.
Meanwhile, Cui Lu had overheard the story of Gulou Street from various teahouses, taverns, and street vendors in the city when he went down the mountain to buy rouge and face powder for the palace maids.
Cui Lu immediately rushed back to Xiaguang Peak and returned to the palace with the token given to him by the Empress Dowager.
Outside the palace gates, children were even seen holding hands as they sang the blood-stained sixteen-character poem as a folk song. Meanwhile, an old scholar, frustrated with his fate for many years, stood on the street, leaning on a cane and sighing repeatedly.
On a snowy winter night, the scene of Pu Niang hanging herself in the bustling city, her clothes stained with blood, speaks volumes about the Qin family's unwavering loyalty and the selfless dedication of General Chu Lanze, the God of War. "For the peace and happiness of the world, the Chu family is willing to die for their country."
This move quickly aroused public resentment.
Luo Yuanyi quickly led a group of guards from the Luo family to stop Mu Tong, who was heading alone towards the palace, and said, "Puniang is already gone. Do you want everyone to see a second person die an unexplained death?"
Luo Ling immediately instructed Luo Chen, who was still in the capital, to take the token bestowed upon him by the Empress Dowager when the Luo family left the capital to Penglai Xiaoding to pick up Zhu Ruo.
At that time, the Empress Dowager said, "Ah Ling, my husband is gone, and the desolate and cold Cining Palace is no longer my home. Xiaguang Peak is not only my final resting place, but also your home."
Before long, Zhu Ruo, accompanied by Jiu Bao who had removed his monk's hat and was wearing Pu Niang's blood-stained clothes, just like her mother-in-law, the Duchess of Dingguo, who had treated her like a daughter that day, was dressed in a white robe stained with blood, blending into the world, and struck the Dengwen Drum.
Chu Yening, along with eight hundred elite cavalrymen in armor and Songyang Jiuqu and others, galloped to the palace gate.
Cai Yuan leaned on a bamboo cane, and the scar on his face, which stretched from his eyebrow to his jaw, looked even more ferocious under his undisguised smile.
"Little Chu, are you trying to rebel?"
Chu Yening, clad in armor that shimmered with golden light under the winter snow, wearing a wind-winged helmet and combat boots, sat astride his horse. His sharp gaze swept briefly over Cai Yuan, then he hurled a spear in a backhand motion, spinning it through the air. The spear hurtled fiercely, narrowly grazing Cai Yuan's head.
Chu Yening sneered, looking down at Cai Yuan: "If I wanted to rebel, I wouldn't need to do it now."
"Today I kill treacherous officials and rid myself of evil!"
Then, holding two swords, he sat upright on his horse, his sharp eyes fixed on the palace, and shouted, "You old emperor, return my father's life!"
Luo Ling, Tao Qingyun, Luo Chen, and Zhao Shuhan arrived together at this moment, gazing at the vast and deep palace before them.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Emperor Kang Le's expression changed drastically upon hearing of the few people gathered outside the palace and the public resentment that had arisen in just a few breaths. But before he could make a decision, the General of the Thousand Bull Guard and General Zhao Yi, who had just been sent to guard the palace, started fighting each other inside the palace.
The sudden defection of the emperor, who had always been loyal to him, caused the Imperial Guards and Palace Attendants to hesitate. They secretly thought of General Chu Lanzhe and General Dingyuan, who had failed to return to the capital alive after the Battle of Huangtupo.
For decades, every military officer in the capital admired General Chu, a brave and skilled warrior who served the country and its people.
Soon after, General Zhaoyi, holding a spear, raised his voice and said, "If one is not loyal to one's sovereign and father, how can one be loyal?"
"How can there be a peaceful and prosperous world when the world is in turmoil?"
"If one day our country is no more, how will my wife, children, my family, and all the people of our Great Xia live in peace and prosperity!"
"The heroic souls who perished tragically at Huangtupo, and the corpses that floated across the moat that day, were all those who fought alongside you, but in one night they became wronged souls! With treacherous officials running rampant, will their yesterday also be your tomorrow!"
"Open the palace gates!"
The vermilion palace gates slowly opened, and Chu Yening, without lingering, led the crowd closely following behind her into the depths of the palace.
General Zhaoyi looked at the face on horseback that resembled General Chu and said loudly, "Chu Yening, your father let you go that day, but today I, Chen Xuanyu, want you to stay! We will fight together!"
Tao Qingyun tossed the gleaming golden sword to Chu Yening on horseback, saying, "Catch!" Then she loudly echoed the two of them, "At worst, we'll die! We'll go to the Yellow Springs together, and meet again in Youdu!"
On the imperial road, Luo Ling also held a long sword and thrust it at the palace guards who were extremely loyal to the monarch and had come to block their way.
Tao Qingyun stepped in front of him, saying, "Hey, don't do it. Let a few of us handle this."
Luo Ling suddenly smiled, then struck forward again, kicking another enemy soldier who was coming at him: "If your lives are in danger, I won't stand in that temple anymore. I'll just be a country bumpkin."
From afar, Grand Eunuch Han of Kunning rushed over, his gauze hat rolling off his head and onto the snow as he hurried along. Looking left and right through the fighting crowd, he suddenly spotted that figure in blue and quickly ran towards it.
"Young master... quickly... quickly come with this servant."
Tao Qingyun gave a sharp shout, then grabbed Han Gonggong's throat with one hand. Han Gonggong's eyes rolled back, and he quickly lost consciousness. Tao Qingyun sneered, then thrust her sword into his thigh. The man, who had been lying unconscious in the snow, suddenly screamed.
The Imperial Guards, swords in hand, slowly escorted the group toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Meanwhile, Jiang Yuanjun walked alone along the long path from the Eastern Palace to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, sword in hand, killing anyone who dared to approach and vanquishing anyone who stood in her way.
*
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Emperor Kang Le had long lost his former compassionate demeanor. He was furious, like a thunderbolt, and ordered several eunuchs to beat her with a cane outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the midst of heavy snow, on the grounds that she had spoken insolently and disrespectfully of the imperial family.
Emperor Kang Le angrily said, "Qin family daughter, this is the place where your father committed suicide. Open your eyes wide and take a good look."
Qin Weixi lay on that cold bench, as if she had returned to that year when the snow was falling heavily, and her brothers knelt in the snow for a long time to plead for the boy who, like her, had lost his father at a young age.
Gazing at the snowflakes falling so heavily that she could barely open her eyes, she shouted, word by word, "What has Pu Niang done wrong? What has Father done wrong? What has my Qin family done wrong? What has the Chu clan done wrong?" Then she laughed loudly again, "My kind and benevolent father is like a demon from hell!"
Suddenly, a figure, holding a token symbolizing the Empress Dowager's presence in his left hand and a long sword in his right, strode over, surrounded by palace guards.
The small, thin figure was now crying and sniffling, his hand trembling as he gripped the long sword, yet he still boldly walked towards her.
Qin Weixi stared wide-eyed, her eyes filled with tears.
Cui Lu!
"Let's go!" she shouted, laughing and crying.
Cui Lu rushed over and stood in front of her, but still maintained a proper distance, not touching the beautiful girl who was as bright as the moon.
Cui Lu looked again at the girl in front of him, who was now covered in blood, and cried out, "Miss, this servant will not leave!"
Despite the repeated blows of the bamboo slats to Cui Lu's body, he gritted his teeth and desperately protected his benefactor.
Seeing this, Qin Weixi dragged her trembling body down from the bench with all her might, and then pushed Cui Lu out: "Go!"
Suddenly, a sharp, shrill voice rang in his ears: "Let's fight together!"
Qin Weixi suddenly looked at the man, who was Feng Gongxing, the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who had been slapped by Chen Guiyi in the flower bushes that day.
She let out another cold laugh, looking fearlessly at the eunuch with a fierce glint in his eyes: "You are also a demon, with a stupid brain and a pig's heart!"
Feng Gongxing swung his palm, and Cui Lu rushed forward, only to be forced onto a bench and beaten by several eunuchs who arrived later.
The snow fell silently.
Cui Lu looked at the girl who was still smiling, stubborn and unwilling to admit defeat, and suddenly smiled as well.
He murmured softly, "Girl...the moonlight was so bright that night, the sky was so beautiful...the sugar was so sweet."
Suddenly, a shrill scream pierced the sky above the heavy snow.
"Qin Luo!"
"Seventh Sister!"
Chu Yening rushed over with lightning speed, slaying the eunuch who was administering the caning with a single sword stroke. He then looked at Feng Gongxing with eyes now chillingly cold. Finally, he thrust his sword through Feng's head.
Zhao Shuhan arrived under Luo Ling's protection. Seeing the girl's tear-blurred face, she rushed over: "Luo Luo..."
Jiang Yuanjun arrived outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation after killing several palace guards along the way.
The girl who fell amidst blood and snow...
With a clang, the longsword fell to the ground.
Chu Yening turned around and carefully embraced Qin Weixi, who was already covered in blood, and roared, "Kill!"
On a snowy day amidst bloodshed and chaos in the capital, this time, the storm has arrived.
Chu Yening didn't pay much attention, but handed the girl in his arms to Jiang Yuanjun behind him and said, "Take her to Cining Palace!"
"Jiang Yuanjun, this time I will not let you off easily!"
Jiang Yuanjun carefully took the unconscious girl from him, and then, without uttering a word, turned around silently, clutched the precious girl in his arms, and rushed towards Cining Palace.
In the deep alley of the red walls, Qin Weixi's eyes were wet with flying snow. Then she slowly opened her eyes, and her still clear and bright black eyes met a pair of bloodshot eyes filled with water mist.
"...It's Fifth Brother!"
Jiang Yuanjun's lips trembled as she hugged the treasure in her arms even tighter, but she dared not touch the bloody patch.
"Seventh Sister... This is the first and last time I can hold you like this... and look at you at such close range."
"I'm sorry..."
Qin Weixi still had a smile on her lips. She stared blankly at the white sky and murmured, "No, you are different from this... world."
"Cui Lu..."
Jiang Yuanjun looked at those bright eyes with grief and said in a trembling voice, "Fifth Brother saved him. Fifth Brother will never let him end up like A Bao."
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