Chapter 96 A Different Life [Current Hatred Level: 1]
"Boom—!"
A muffled thunderclap suddenly erupted from the layers of dark clouds, causing the branches and leaves to fall in a rustling sound.
The night was deep, and wind and rain raged from all directions. In the turbulent night, hurried footsteps echoed across Qingheng Mountain, revealing the turmoil and unease everywhere. Raindrops pelted down, blurring the outlines of the distant, continuous mountains.
However, on the winding and rugged mountain road, a person riding a large horse broke through the rain.
The boy on horseback had sharp features, and his crimson cloak billowed like a burning flame, fluttering in the wind.
"These footprints are clear; Miss Xue must have entered the woods not long ago. Let's hurry and give chase!"
"A strip of cloth was found here, which may have been torn by a tree branch when Ms. Xue was rushing to escape."
"There is blood here."
"Quickly report to the lord, there's a dilapidated temple not far ahead!"
"There's mud and blood under the eaves of the dilapidated temple; Miss Xue must be hiding here!"
Rumble—
Lightning struck from afar, illuminating the dense forest that rose from the ground. The gnarled and twisted branches surrounded the dilapidated temple, and the dense shadows of the trees swayed in the breeze.
With his slender fingers hooking onto the still-warm gray-white strip of cloth, Cao Mingyu slightly raised his eyelids, his deep gaze fixed on the dilapidated temple, a slight smile playing on his thin lips, his eyes revealing a cold light of certainty.
He asked, "Where are the Imperial Guards and Qin Jin?"
The subordinate bowed his head and knelt on one knee, replying, "The Imperial Guards were just searching the woods, looking for Miss Xue's whereabouts..."
After a slight pause, the subordinate looked behind him suspiciously: "But for some reason, they haven't followed us yet. General Qin has been staying at the Taoist temple and hasn't come over."
"So be it. Even without Qin Jin and the Imperial Guards as witnesses, the outcome is already set in stone."
Cao Mingyu sighed, squatted down, took something out of his pocket and put it in his subordinate's hand. His deep voice then rang in his subordinate's ear: "When you capture Xue, remember to put this on Xue yourself."
The subordinate was taken aback and looked at the half of the jade pendant in his hand.
—The Guard Bureau has recently been embroiled in a major unsolved case: the other half of the jade pendant left behind by the murderer.
Cao Mingyu lifted his eyelids and looked at the dilapidated temple: "Since she's going to die anyway, why not make her death more meaningful? It would be a great favor to me. I'll make sure she suffers less before she dies, as a way of repaying her."
His unspoken meaning was self-evident.
Hearing the light, drifting sound in the wind and rain, the subordinate couldn't help but swallow hard, feeling a strange chill run down his spine, and bowed his head in agreement.
A pale bolt of lightning suddenly slashed down from the depths of the clouds, tearing through the dark and heavy night like a sword being drawn from its sheath. In an instant, the dense forest before us was as bright as day.
Xue Rongyue slowly raised her head and looked out the window.
From the endless, tranquil forest, she saw the impending end.
Her left knee was cut by a sharp stone, and blood kept flowing down. Xue Rongyue's face was as pale as paper, and a sense of resentment and sorrow gradually welled up in her eyes.
She didn't understand.
She couldn't understand why, despite all her efforts and schemes, she still couldn't change her fate or escape her inevitable death.
She was unwilling to accept it.
But she could no longer run, and there was nowhere to escape.
Ahead lay a bottomless cliff, behind her were the relentless Imperial Guards, and after tripping over a small, inconspicuous pebble, she began to bleed profusely, lost all strength, and could no longer control her legs, making it impossible for her to take another step to escape.
It was as if fate had already sealed her fate for tonight, so she could no longer resist, and any further struggle would be in vain.
Several dark figures were already closing in.
Her eyelids trembled as she closed them, and a single tear rolled down her cheek. Xue Rongyue's pent-up resentment ultimately turned into helpless despair.
A series of dark figures nimbly emerged from the dense forest, the sound of swords being drawn ringing out one after another, which even the sound of rain could no longer cover up. Raindrops fell on the blades, and a cold glint flashed mercilessly between Xue Rongyue's brows and eyes.
The half-open door of the dilapidated temple is useless; a gentle push is all it takes to write the ending.
The executioner's blade is already hanging over his neck.
That's settled then.
Xue Rongyue thought that if she couldn't change her destined ending no matter what, then so be it; she accepted her fate.
Wiping away the tears on her face, Xue Rongyue opened her eyes and calmly awaited death.
The faint footsteps grew closer.
With a clang, a sharp sword suddenly pierced the rain curtain!
The arrowhead struck the sword blade, and the sparks that flew off were fleeting in the rain.
Under such overwhelming force, the subordinate couldn't help but stagger backward, his hand went numb from the shock, and his longsword slipped from his hand, falling into a puddle under the eaves, splashing water everywhere.
"—Prince Qin?"
Cao Mingyu stared at the person in front of him in astonishment: "What are you going to do!"
Qin Jin put down his bow and arrow and turned to look at Cao Mingyu.
He rushed over, without a raincoat, radiating cold air, his robes fluttering in the wind. Soaked in the chill of the rain, his face was stern, each word laced with ruthlessness: "Lord Cao, why draw your sword when you're arresting people?"
Cao Mingyu involuntarily took two steps back, and under the cold, pressing question, his brow twitched: "Naturally, I'm worried that the prisoner might escape or resist."
Criminal, person.
Qin Jin's fingers tightened suddenly as he gripped the bow and arrow. As if angered, he lifted his eyelids, his expression sinister, and his cold gaze fixed on Cao Mingyu's face.
"Have your men leave."
Upon hearing this, Cao Mingyu frowned: "The Guards found Ms. Xue first, so naturally we should be the ones to take her away."
His thin lips were taut as a string, and Qin Jin's voice was as cold as ice: "Will you take him away, or will you carry him away and bury him?"
Caught off guard by such blunt criticism, Cao Mingyu's face darkened: "Please, Prince Qin, watch your words! Do you truly intend to make things difficult for the Imperial Guard?"
Looking directly into his angry eyes, Qin Jin remained unmoved, his face cold: "I'm taking Xue Rongyue with me."
"No!" Cao Mingyu stepped forward quickly to stop them, and said in a deep voice, "Lady Xue must be taken away by the Guard Division!"
His thin lips curled into a cold smile, his jaw tightened, and his gaze was chilling: "It seems that Lord Cao is determined to make things difficult for me."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Imperial Guards who had rushed over turned solemn and drew their swords with a "whoosh," pointing the tips directly at Cao Mingyu!
Upon seeing this, the guards from the Imperial Guards who were waiting nearby changed their expressions. Naturally, they were not to be outdone, so they immediately drew their swords and surrounded the guards, watching the Imperial Guards around them warily.
The tension was high, and neither side was willing to back down.
Like a net that tightens ever tighter, it relentlessly engulfed everyone in a suffocating tension.
Cao Mingyu's face darkened completely.
The rain poured down, the raindrops falling like drumbeats, constantly washing over the dense forest branches and leaves. Amidst flashes of lightning and thunder, the ground trembled, and the lightning that struck down revealed the stalemate at this moment.
After an unknown period of stalemate, Cao Mingyu was finally defeated.
Now that Qin Jin's reputation is widespread and he is at the height of his power, Cao Mingyu knows very well that he does not have the confidence to confront Qin Jin. In the tense atmosphere that is about to break out, he has no choice but to restrain his temper, compromise, and stop competing with Qin Jin.
Taking a step forward, Cao Mingyu took a deep breath and lowered his voice, saying, "General Qin, I am also acting under orders."
"On whose orders?"
Cao Mingyu fell silent, then sighed slowly before asking, "General, don't you know?"
Qin Jin's heart sank as he slowly brought his hands together at his sides.
"The Guards are subordinate to the Emperor, and have always been the sword in the Emperor's hand. The Emperor's will is the direction the sword points."
Cao Mingyu said, "Without His Majesty's decree, how dare I presume to interfere with the general's official duties?"
Qin Jin's face was ashen, his teeth were clenched, the veins on his forehead were bulging, and the knuckles of his tightly clenched fists were cracking.
I have offended you greatly tonight.
Cao Mingyu clasped his hands in a salute, then waved to his subordinates not far away: "Arrest Ms. Xue and bring her back to the Guard Division for interrogation!"
"stop!"
Qin Jin closed his eyes briefly and said coldly, his arrow plunging into the old tree two inches in front of Cao Mingyu, stopping him.
Cao Mingyu stopped in his tracks, his expression changing drastically: "General Qin, I've already made myself very clear..."
"One hour."
Qin Jin remained expressionless as he mounted his horse, raindrops streaming down his arrogant brows: "I will arrive in an hour with His Majesty's decree."
The thunderous sound of hooves startled a few swallows that had stopped in the dense forest. They circled in the night, continuing their journey through the storm, until they finally found a place under the eaves of a wealthy family.
Raindrops fell like broken pearls from the eaves, forming curtains of rain. In the brightly lit hall, a figure in bright yellow was pacing back and forth.
The emperor frowned, looking at Qin Jin kneeling below: "What are you saying? Have you forgotten who she is? Have you forgotten the evil deeds Xue Xiude committed? You actually want to plead for Xue family's daughter?!"
The undried rainwater dripped down Qin Jin's sharp jawline, making his eyes appear even colder: "Xue Xiude is Xue Xiude, and Xue Rongyue is Xue Rongyue. The two should not be confused."
The emperor's anger intensified: "Even if they can't be confused, have you forgotten all the evil things Xue Rongyue has done to you over the years? Do you really not know why I killed her?"
The footsteps were loud and heavy as the Emperor descended the steps. He said with exasperation, "You've always been too soft-hearted towards her, which has emboldened her to become increasingly lawless towards you. How much has she harmed you over the years? And yet you still—Qin Jin! What can I say about you!"
Over the past two years, the two have become increasingly at odds, irreconcilable. They have clearly reached a point of life and death, constantly exchanging blows and turning their backs on each other. In their back-and-forth duels, there is no trace of affection left between them.
But whenever Xue Rongyue was truly on the verge of death, Qin Jin stubbornly let her go each time.
It's simply...
There was simply nothing he could say.
The emperor coldly rebuked, "If you weren't so useless, I wouldn't have had to send the Imperial Guard to arrest you!"
Qin Jin lowered his head and remained silent for a moment.
Before the emperor could wave him away, Qin Jin spoke again, his tone firm and his voice hoarse: "Xue Rongyue must have her own helplessness, her own unavoidable difficulties, and her own reasons that she cannot express. I believe this is not from her own heart."
"......"
The emperor was stunned by his words.
Staring dumbfounded at Qin Jin, the emperor swallowed back the words "Are you crazy?" that were about to escape his lips, as if he had never known him before. He scrutinized Qin Jin from head to toe.
He couldn't believe what he was hearing, and it took him a long time to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth: "...You mean, Xue's vicious acts of poisoning you and sending people to assassinate you over the past two years were all forced upon her by someone?"
"Who can force her? How can you say such nonsense to exonerate her?!"
With his thin lips pressed tightly together, Qin Jin said, "I believe her."
The emperor, enraged, laughed and exclaimed repeatedly, "Good, good, good! You believe her? Since you believe her, why did you come to me to plead for her? Let the Imperial Guards investigate her thoroughly and see if she has done anything wrong!"
"Besides, she is a daughter of the Xue family. Xue Xiude has committed heinous crimes. Even if she hadn't done those evil deeds, she would still be guilty of a capital offense!"
“What kind of place is the Guard Command? Once torture is used, who can withstand it? It’s hard to guarantee that they won’t be tortured into confessing.” Qin Jin suddenly raised his head, his lips pale. “Princess Yong’an, when His Majesty bestowed this honor upon you, didn’t he already know Xue Rongyue’s situation in the Xue family?”
"Xue Xiude disliked her, and after his divorce from Madam Cui, he became even more abusive. From childhood to adulthood, she suffered a lot of harshness, torment, and cold treatment in the Xue family. Half a year ago, Xue Xiude expelled her from the family, severed his father-daughter relationship, and even removed her name from the family genealogy. She was no longer a daughter of the Xue family."
The title of Princess of Yong'an inevitably stirred up the emperor's memories, and an image of a frail, delicate little body involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
Princess Yu'an led the man into the hall to pay his respects. Looking at the girl kneeling on the ground, he looked at Princess Yu'an in confusion, not understanding what she wanted to do, until the girl's sleeves were rolled up, revealing her skin covered in crisscrossing scars.
He stood up in surprise and listened as Princess Yu'an recounted the whole story, and couldn't help but sigh.
Ultimately, at the urging of Princess Yu'an, he bestowed this honor upon her. The name "Yong'an" also carries his pity for the silent and stubborn girl before him.
Going back a few years, before things had deteriorated to this point, he and the Empress Dowager were still living in harmony and filial piety. Xue Rongyue and Qin Jin were raised together in the palace, and when he went to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, he would often tease the two of them.
Unfortunately, things have changed drastically, and we have unknowingly reached this point.
Recalling the past, the emperor's tone softened somewhat: "That may be true, but the imperial edict has already been issued, and we cannot set this precedent, otherwise..."
"Your Majesty." Sensing the emperor's conciliatory tone, Qin Jin took a deep breath and took out a token. "This is a pardon bestowed upon me by the late emperor. He said that if I ever find myself in dire straits, I can take out this token and have my life spared."
The emperor's expression immediately changed.
He already guessed what Qin Jin wanted to say and do.
This pardon was indeed bestowed upon Qin Jin, who was still an infant, by the late emperor on his deathbed. When Qin Jin's true identity was revealed, he presented this item to him. However, as a son, he should keep his promise to his sovereign and father, so he did not take back the pardon but instead entrusted it to Qin Jin for safekeeping.
At that time, he jokingly said, "I acknowledge that this pardon is genuine. If you ever commit a heinous crime in the future, then come to me with this token."
But so many years have passed, and neither the Empress Dowager's determination to kill him nor the countless storms surrounding him have made him compromise or produce the token again, even in the face of death. It's as if he has forgotten about this golden token of immunity from death.
"These are the jade pendant, purple robe and gold belt, golden sword, and golden fish tally specially bestowed upon me by His Majesty when I was rewarded for my great victory over the enemy army."
Qin Jin presented each item as a symbol of status, identity, and glory, each one earned through his life-and-death struggles.
His body involuntarily took a step back. The emperor stared at Qin Jin in disbelief and exclaimed in astonishment, "...Qin Jin, do you know what you're doing?"
Qin Jin certainly knew.
He knew very well that the emperor wanted an obedient minister who knew when to advance and retreat, especially since his true identity was so sensitive. One wrong step could arouse suspicion. But now, he had no other choice.
Clenching his teeth, Qin Jin closed his eyes and, under the emperor's glare, bowed his head and said, "Your subject is willing to use his pardon, as well as all his military merits, honors, and status, to exchange for one person... to exchange for one life."
His deep voice resounded throughout the hall, filled with pleading and a desperate resolve: "Your Majesty, I beg you to forgive Xue Rongyue. Even if I lose all my fame, honor, and standing in the future, I will do so willingly."
He bowed deeply, kowtowing to the high and mighty emperor.
The emperor knew Qin Jin all too well. He seemed like a playboy, but in reality, he was the most unruly and arrogant person. Deep down, he was proud and would not tolerate being offended or humiliated. In all these years, the emperor had never seen him beg so humbly.
"Do you know what you're saying?"
His chest heaved with each rapid breath, and the emperor roared, "Who exactly is Xue Rongyue to you that you'd go to such lengths for her?!"
***
"What did you say?!"
splash ...
The wind howled and dark clouds gathered. The rain that had been pouring down all night finally began to fall. At first, there were only a few scattered drops, but after a rumble of thunder, the raindrops on the ground became more concentrated, and in no time, the ground was soaked.
Liu Yuanhu sued Xue Xiude with irrefutable evidence. If true, Xue Xiude would surely die, and the Xue family would be destroyed because of him. The emperor was already having a headache and secretly regretted that he should not have been soft-hearted and bestowed Xue Rongyue upon Qin Jin.
No sooner had the imperial guards been ordered to surround the Xue family and arrest Xue Xiude than Qin Jin entered the palace. It was assumed he had come for the marriage, but who knew—
The night wind swept in, extinguishing the few candles in the hall. Half of Qin Jin's body fell into darkness, and the dim, faint light made his sharp, angular features even more striking.
His gaze swept over the pardon, and the emperor slammed his fist on the table, glaring at him helplessly: "You actually dare to beg me to forgive Xue Rongyue?"
"Who exactly is Xue Rongyue to you that you're willing to go to such lengths for her!"
Qin Jin slowly raised his head, his dark eyes resolute, and said, word by word, "She is my betrothed wife."
A bolt of lightning struck down from the dark clouds, causing the lanterns hanging under the eaves to sway uneasily. Then, a deafening rumble of thunder echoed throughout Chang'an, sending chills down everyone's spines.
"My wife!"
Two or three candles inside had already gone out. As Jingnu pushed open the door, wind and rain blew in, but she paid no heed to that. With barely concealed excitement, she stepped forward and said, "My lady, the Imperial Guards have left!"
Xue Rongyue raised her eyes and looked at the wind and rain outside the door: "I heard it."
"The Imperial Guards have left. Does this mean His Majesty is willing to let the lady go?"
Jingnu's voice choked with sobs as she stepped forward and took Xue Rongyue's hand, tears streaming down her face. "I don't know what Prince Qin brought to beg His Majesty, but His Majesty actually agreed to give in."
Two cold hands clasped tightly together. Xue Rongyue closed her eyes, her mouth dry, and after a long while, she finally opened her mouth and replied, "...Perhaps..."
The two clung tightly to each other, and their clasped hands gradually warmed up.
After an unknown amount of time, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded, growing closer and closer.
As if sensing something, Xue Rongyue opened her eyes, stood up, and stepped out of the house when a figure appeared in the courtyard amidst thunder and rain.
Raindrops slid down Qin Jin's high nose bridge, and rainwater dripped from the edges of his brocade robe, which was soaked by the rain. He held the riding whip that he hadn't had time to put down, his knuckles turning bluish-white from the force, and his gaze was fixed on Xue Rongyue.
Thunder roared again above the courtyard, making the torrential rain seem to sway.
Their gazes pierced through the rain, locked together tightly.
A long wind swirled raindrops between the two, and mist filled the air. Although they were only a few steps apart and had only been separated for a moment, Xue Rongyue looked at Qin Jin and couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
Especially after reading the new content that emerges from the original plot.
She involuntarily took a step forward, then stopped abruptly, her fingertips gripping the door tightly, her almond-shaped eyes filled with turbulent emotions.
Qin Jin strode over, his clear black and white eyes fixed on Xue Rongyue, as if confirming her presence and safety. Only after his gaze had taken her down inch by inch from head to toe did his tense shoulders finally relax.
"Don't be afraid." Qin Jin's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, causing the raindrops on his neck to tremble. "I will never let you live in fear and walk alone again."
"I trust you."
A lump rose in her throat, and tears nearly welled up in her eyes at those words. Xue Rongyue took a deep breath, her eyes reddening, and stared intently at Qin Jin: "I have always believed in the Crown Prince."
At that very moment, the long-absent system notification sounded again—
[Congratulations, host! Your favorability towards target [Qin Jin] has increased by 8.]
[Congratulations, host! Your favorability towards target [Qin Jin] has increased by 10.]
[Congratulations, host! Your favorability towards target [Qin Jin] has increased by 15.]
[Congratulations, host! Your favorability towards target [Qin Jin] has increased by 20.]
[Congratulations, host! The hatred level of the target [Qin Jin] has decreased by 3.]
[Congratulations, host! The hatred level of the target [Qin Jin] has decreased by 2.]
[Congratulations, host! The hatred level of the target [Qin Jin] has decreased by 5.]
[Congratulations, host! The hatred level of the target [Qin Jin] has decreased by 6.]
......
[Congratulations, host! The hatred value of the target [Qin Jin] has decreased by 3, and the current hatred value is 1.]
[Congratulations, host! The conquest of target [Qin Jin] has progressed to 99%. Victory is in sight! Please keep up the good work!]
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Author's note: Goodnight, my darlings~
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