Embrace
The stench of corpses in Pingdu could be smelled even outside the city, along with an indescribable burnt smell lingering in the air.
The city gate collapsed, and thick smoke billowed out.
As Yuan Cheng and Wu Xia rode into the city, they swept past corpses along the way. In the streets and alleys of the city, people were still raising their broadswords and chasing after civilians, hacking and slashing them.
Wuxia recognized the Hu people's attire and shot an arrow at them.
The two men exchanged glances, both knowing that the Qiang and Rong army was about to arrive. This was a small advance force, and the main army would surely follow behind.
If it weren't for that peasant uprising, Pingyuan wouldn't have fallen so quickly. The internal strife caused too many casualties among the defending troops, making them unable to fight against the Hu people anymore.
Ahead lies the royal palace, the most bustling spot in the entire city.
He dared not delay any longer and spurred his horse onward.
There is still one person in the city.
Five hundred Hu people still pushed down the palace gate and rushed towards the palace city. Along the way, there were palace servants who were fleeing. They killed them on sight, leaving no one alive!
The emperor no longer wore his golden crown; he wore a bright yellow nightgown and called out "Father" repeatedly.
When he encountered a palace servant, he would grab the servant and ask where his father was. But in this critical moment of escaping for his life, who would want to pay attention to a king whose country was on the verge of collapse? The servant pushed him away and ran off.
He was like a madman, searching everywhere for Yang Fujin, but his kind father had vanished without a trace.
Inside the Qingyun Palace, Qingying changed Chen Xun's clothes and then wrapped half of her face with a long cloth: "When we go out later, no matter what you see, you are not allowed to shout, okay?"
Ah Xun nodded with his big eyes, but still clung to her skirt and refused to leave.
Wutong cried out, "Your Majesty, come with us!" Standing beside her was a young guard carrying a sword. The guard was from Wutong's hometown and liked her very much. When the city fell, he wanted to come and rescue her so they could leave the palace together.
Dong Qingying shook her head: "There are too many people. Taking me along would just be a hassle. Don't worry about it. I've lived enough in this life. Let's go, take A-Xun with us!"
She pushed Ah Xun forward a little; the child wanted to cry but dared not make a sound.
She couldn't bear to look any longer and turned away.
The guard scooped up the child and pulled Wutong along as they ran out of Qingyun Palace.
The palace was empty, but the entire palace had lost its former tranquility. Shouts could be heard everywhere, and some palaces were on fire; she could even smell the burning.
But her heart had never been so at peace; quietly waiting for death was not such a bad thing after all.
It's just... a real pity that Mu Yun couldn't see her one last time before he left, and she couldn't see him one last time before she died... Her life was a series of missed opportunities.
She held those picture books close to her chest, filled with deep affection.
The guard carried the child, and Wutong ran behind him. She was a woman who grew up in the deep palace, but today she could also pick up a knife and slash fiercely at the barbarians who rushed towards her.
Until she saw someone riding a horse into the palace, she looked and realized it was Yuan Cheng!
Yuan Cheng had obviously seen Wutong as well. He immediately dismounted and grabbed her tightly, shouting, "Where is Your Highness? Where is Your Highness?"
Even the most refined and elegant face can have a moment of ferocity, leaving even the flawless one slightly shocked.
Wutong cried out, "Her Majesty is still in Qingyun Palace, Lord Yuan, please save her!"
He suddenly let go and ran towards the Qingyun Palace.
Qingying leaned against the corner of the wall, holding a dagger in her hand. She had tested it on her hand and neck. Although it hurt, she knew that if she slashed her neck, she would die in the blink of an eye.
She had seen it in the palace; this was how they killed innocent palace servants.
Now, it's my turn.
The door was suddenly pushed open, and she was startled. It's finally here!
Just as he was pointing the blade at his neck, a voice rang out: "Qingying!"
The blade was sharp, already drawing blood, but before it penetrated any deeper, she saw Yuan Cheng.
The tension she had been feeling for so long vanished instantly. She dropped the knife, rushed towards the man, and hugged him tightly: "Yuan Cheng!"
He finally caught her.
"Don't let go of my hand! Don't stop holding me!" Dong Qingying cried.
Back in the palace, he always regarded himself as the master, calling her "Your Majesty" and treating her with utmost respect, never overstepping his bounds.
The boldest thing she ever did was to forcefully grab his hand and tie the safety buckle to his wrist.
He held her in his arms again.
"Come on, I'll take you away!" Yuan Cheng took Dong Qingying's hand and led her away from Qingyun Palace.
She held his hand tightly, feeling the warmth of his palm for the first time.
The Hu people looted everywhere, and their forces were scattered. Wuxia waited in the square in front of the Longde Hall. There was nothing to rob there. Any Hu people who didn't know their place came up, and Wuxia killed them all with a single stroke.
After Yuan Cheng left, the guards led Wutong and the child toward the palace gate. On the way, they encountered several young eunuchs. They were dressed in the most ordinary blue robes and kept their heads down. One of them was knocked down by Wutong, but he immediately got up, pulled down the brim of his hat, and ran toward the palace gate.
Wutong cried out in a trembling voice, "Lord Changshi!"
After being recognized, Yang Fujin looked up and glared at Wutong. A eunuch beside him saw this and a sharp blade flashed from his sleeve. Wutong was caught off guard and was stabbed. He clutched his abdomen and fell to the ground, howling in pain.
Seeing this, the guard, though reluctant, put down Ah Xun in his arms and went off to save his own life.
As soon as Wutong called out "Lord Attendant", Wuxia was alert. She turned her head and immediately recognized Yang Fujin as the great traitor who had ruined the country the moment he lowered the brim of his hat!
Yang Fujin, along with several loyal adopted sons, continued running towards the palace gate, while Wuxia rode off at breakneck speed to catch up.
How could he possibly have reached the horse? In an instant, his path was blocked by Wuxia.
When the godchildren saw how tall the woman on horseback was, they thought she was a barbarian attacker and scattered in all directions, abandoning even their godfather.
Wuxia had met Yang Fujin before. Back when she was in Pingdu, she had seen this official accompany the emperor out of the palace.
How arrogant and superior they were back then, now they've become a drowning dog.
Yang Fujin thought she was after his money and was about to beg her to spare his life, but before he could speak, a flash of light appeared in his eyes, and his throat was slit open, blood gushing out.
Wuxia looked at Yang Fujin, whose body was still twitching, and said softly, "His Highness is waiting for you in the underworld!"
For Wuxia, dying like this is too easy for him! If I could, I would love to cut his flesh piece by piece and let him die slowly in fear and pain.
They encountered many Hu people along the way, and when they saw Dong Qingying, such a beautiful palace concubine, they naturally rushed to compete for her.
Yuan Cheng was a scholar who had only learned a few self-defense skills while following Mu Yun. He fought his way here, and fortunately, there was no time for him to come to his aid. He also killed several Hu people who followed him.
His beloved horse, Qing Shuang, was extremely intelligent; upon seeing its master approaching, it ran to greet him.
Yuan Cheng first lifted Qingying onto the horse, and as he was about to mount himself, holding the reins with one hand, something unexpected happened.
The sound of an arrow piercing flesh was nothing new, but why did she have to suffer this pain?
Dong Qingying looked down at the arrow lodged in her chest, and even her breathing stopped.
Each breath was a sharp pain, and the pain in her chest grew increasingly intense. She could clearly feel her life force slowly fading away from the wound. Unable to hold on any longer, she finally collapsed onto the horse.
Yuan Cheng hugged her, and she saw panic, fear, and tears in his eyes.
These tears... were shed for her... This life has truly been worthwhile, that someone is willing to shed tears for her, especially since this person is someone she has always deeply loved.
Alright, she was no longer afraid that he would forget her.
A roar came from afar, but it was less a roar and more the final lament of the prey before its death. On the Immortal Mountain Tower east of the Dragon Virtue Palace, the Emperor, still holding a bow and arrow, cried out, "Dong Qingying, you can't leave me! Don't!"
The emperor was a lifelong licentious and dissolute ruler; this was the only time he successfully shot his prey, and also the last.
He had never cried like this before, tears streaming down his face. Killing Dong Qingying had not made him feel any better. He could only wail loudly on the Immortal Mountain Tower, just like the young emperor who had just ascended the throne back then.
He watched helplessly as those he once considered family abandoned him one by one, and as the palace city, which had housed more than a dozen emperors of the Great Wei, was trampled and burned by the Hu people. The ancient capital, which had stood for hundreds of years, was finally destroyed in his hands!
"Hahahaha...hahahaha..." The emperor has gone mad!
He closed his eyes and finally jumped off the Immortal Mountain Tower.
Before he died, he looked towards where Qingying had fallen to the ground and called out to her, "Sister... Sister..."
Yuan Cheng carried Qingying onto the horse. Blood was flowing from her chest. She was in great pain, but also extremely happy. She leaned against her lover's chest, listening to his heartbeat, her hands clasped at his clothes, letting him take her away.
I'll go anywhere, as long as he's with me.
Her neck felt cool, and water trickled down her cheeks. One drop landed on her lips, and she licked it; it tasted salty.
"Yuancheng, are you crying?" She didn't have the strength to turn around and look at him, nor could she wipe away his tears. She could only lean against him and feel the warmth from his body. She was so cold, so very cold.
“I’m not afraid of death. If I die, I can see Muyun again. But… I can’t bear to leave you.” She turned her head. On the horse beside her sat Wuxia and Shen Xun. The child finally cried, but he couldn’t make a sound.
Dong Qingying forced a smile, trying to comfort her, but she didn't realize that her face was now frighteningly pale, and even the child knew that she was about to die.
“A-Xun is Shen Lushan’s granddaughter. She’s the only one left in the Shen family. Yuan Cheng, please take good care of her for me…”
She was so tired, her whole body was getting colder and colder. Yuan Cheng hugged her tightly, wishing he could melt her into his own body, and more and more tears dripped onto her neck.
The spark in her captivating blue eyes gradually died down. She slowly closed her eyes, her lips curving into a smile, as if she were having a beautiful dream.
The last glimmer of blue disappeared.
The hand that had been holding Yuan Cheng's clothes finally fell limp, lifeless.
The horse had already traveled to the open ground outside the city when Yuan Cheng stopped his horse, embraced the person in his arms, and burst into tears.
The surrounding wilderness is desolate, and all that can be seen are tears of sorrow.
She couldn't bear to look at the tear stains at the corners of her eyes.
They traveled south along the road, and not long after leaving Pingdu, they heard the sound of iron cavalry; it was the approaching army of the Hu people.
No one dared to imagine what kind of calamity Pingjiang would face.
As they walked into the mountains, the two looked back and saw that the ancient capital had been reduced to a living hell, with a great fire engulfing its former glory in an instant.
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