Overnight, the world changed hands.

Guangyan killed his father and the emperor, and sought power and usurped the throne. He was arrested and convicted by the fourth prince Guangshuo and the General of the Central Army Guide. Emperor Wenxuan had issued an edict to replace the crown prince before his death. After he was buried in the imperial mausoleum, the coronation ceremony was still held, but the person who ascended the throne changed from Guangyan to Guangshuo.

No one in the court dared to object.

Guangshuo's actions were decisive and ruthless, completely different from his benevolent and taciturn appearance. When he captured Guangyan last night, he had already arrested all of Guangyan's trusted confidants. Guangyan's army was not strong to begin with. If it was because of Xu Jingfu's relationship, it still had the support of the He family. After He Rufei's accident, the military power of the Fuyue Army was taken back and could not be used by the prince.

Guangshuo's move was so powerful and swift that it made people shudder. The court officials were discussing that the Fourth Prince had the aura of an emperor, and it was beginning to show.

As for the late emperor's will to have people buried alive, it was also found to be false. Concubine Lan and Concubine Ni, along with dozens of other women, were able to save their lives. When the news reached the ears of the people outside, they all said that the fourth prince was kind and wise.

The people never cared who sat on that seat. As long as they had clothes to wear and food to eat, it didn't matter who was the emperor.

The court officials would not object. In the Wei royal family, the fifth prince Guangji is still young, and the only one who can take care of things right now is Guangshuo.

Emperor Wenxuan entered the imperial mausoleum. In the Qinglan Palace, Concubine Lan took off her heavy robe. Just as she sat down, someone walked in from outside.

It is Ni Guiren.

"Congratulations, sister, for getting what you wished for." Lady Ni walked to the small table and sat down, saying with a fake smile, "It won't be long before I will call you Empress Dowager."

Concubine Lan looked at her, her eyes still as gentle and calm as before, "Lady Ni, you are still alive now, aren't you?"

Ni Guiren was stunned.

That day, Wei Xuanzhang crashed his head into death in front of Chengle Palace, which intensified the conflict between the crown prince and the Wei Dynasty to the peak. The crown prince was so violent and stubborn, and she would be buried in the dark mausoleum with Emperor Wenxuan tomorrow. At the last moment, Concubine Ni cooperated with Concubine Lan.

Guangji's words were false, and the imperial edict of succession might not be true. In the final analysis, Guangshuo just wanted an excuse, a legitimate excuse.

In fact, at that time, Ni Guiren was determined to fight to the death, thinking that it would be a death sentence anyway, so he might as well give it a try. But deep down, he did not think Guangshuo would succeed.

But Guangxio succeeded.

People outside said it lightly, but after just one night, Ni Guiren finally realized that if he had only acted on impulse, if Guangxiou was only fighting for his mother, he might not be able to win the support of Lieutenant General Gui De and General Feng Yun in such a short time.

I'm afraid that what happened in the Golden Palace last night was foreseen by Concubine Lan many years ago.

If you think more deeply, maybe Emperor Wenxuan died at the hands of Guangyan, and Concubine Lan Guifei might not be completely ignorant of it.

Guangshuo's silence and gentleness, his generosity and indifference to state affairs, Concubine Lan's non-competitiveness and gentleness, Emperor Wenxuan's favor and sincerity, were all arranged by Concubine Lan a long, long time ago. From beginning to end, it was not Guangshuo's acting skills that were too good, but Concubine Lan's thoughts in her heart, which even her son did not know.

Perhaps Empress Zhang guessed one thing right. It's not that Concubine Lan is unwilling to fight for it, but she simply looks down on Chang Enhui. If she wants to fight for it, she will fight for the most honorable position in the world for her son.

Therefore, the prince was destined to lose, because he did not have a mother who could endure and hide for many years for his sake without revealing any flaws.

Guangji is still young, and from today on, no one in the entire Wei royal family can be a match for Guangshuo.

Ni Guiren's heart slowly began to feel cold. The woman in front of him had a gentle expression, and he had never seen her say anything angry in all these years. But it turned out that she was the scariest one.

"As a concubine, I am very happy to be alive." Lady Ni lowered her head, her voice unconsciously carrying a hint of humility and fear, "From now on, I will follow the majesty well. Guangji... I hope the majesty will take good care of me."

Concubine Lan did not say anything, but just looked out the window. After a long time, she turned around, as if she had just heard what Concubine Ni said. She nodded slightly, closed her eyes and said, "Okay."

…

There was chaos in the Prince's Mansion.

The servants were crying and being dragged and grabbed by the soldiers. The Crown Princess was taken away screaming, and as she left, her nails scratched the wall, leaving a long mark.

Someone walked slowly until he reached the last room at the inner side of the yard.

This is a dark room. Crown Prince Guangyan is a cruel and vicious person. If someone offends him, he will kill them directly to vent his anger. Others are worse, and they will be locked up in the dark room of the Crown Prince's Mansion and tortured, making their life worse than death.

Now that something has happened in the Prince's Mansion, the officers and soldiers are busy arresting the relatives of the mansion and no one is paying attention to this place.

The young man walked slowly, his clean boots stepping on the damp ground. It was dark in the darkroom, and in the dim light, he could see dark marks that had either dried up or were glowing, like human blood.

This place was built like a prison cell, with iron fences separating the rooms and no guards. When people heard movement, the people in the room did not react, at most they raised their heads slightly and then quickly put them down - everyone here was already dying, and they did not think that anyone would come to rescue them.

Despair abounds here.

He walked slowly, and every time he passed a room, he stopped in front of the door and looked carefully, as if he was trying to identify the person inside. When he found that it was not him, he walked away again.

I walked through each room like this until I reached the last one.

There was a figure curled up on the ground, lying on her side like a toddler, with her arms around her shoulders and her head buried low in her chest. Her clothes were disheveled, and as soon as she walked away, although she didn't move, her body began to tremble slightly.

Chu Zhao paused.

He looked at the figure inside, and after a moment, he opened the door.

The person inside still didn't move, and didn't even look at him. Chu Zhao walked up to the person and slowly half-knelt down, as if he wanted to comfort him, but he didn't know where to start. After a moment, he spoke in a gentle voice: "Ying Xiang."

The person in front of me shuddered violently.

"Yingxiang," Chu Zhao paused and said, "The prince is dead. I will take you back."

He reached out his hand, trying to help Ying Xiang up, but Ying Xiang blocked his way. However, she seemed to have no strength at all, and this resistance was useless. Chu Zhao helped her sit down in front of the stone wall, brushed away the messy hair that blocked her eyes, and then said in astonishment: "You..."

"...Don't look..." Ying Xiang said weakly.

It turned out that the beautiful and charming face was covered with terrible knife scars. Because it was not treated properly, the scars had not yet scabbed over and were bleeding. At first glance, she looked like a female ghost coming to claim her life, which was both shocking and terrifying.

Chu Zhao was shocked.

The night before Guangshuo went to Chengle Palace, Chu Zhao went to the Fourth Prince's residence.

He had seen clearly that Guangyan could not defeat Guangshuo, and Empress Zhang was no match for Concubine Lan. He really had no other way to go. Even if he followed Guangshuo now, Guangshuo would never use him. But following Guangyan would mean they would die together.

When Xu Jingfu was alive, he told him to learn to make choices in everything.

He chose to do one last business deal with Guangshuo.

He revealed the prince's troops and arrangements, betrayed the prince, and asked for a condition that he and Yingxiang would survive. He no longer expected to make any achievements in his official career, because this was no longer possible. Although he didn't know whether the chip of survival would succeed in the end, it was already like this, and at least he could survive for now.

At that time, Guang Shuo looked at him, seemingly not expecting Chu Zhao to propose this condition, and only asked: "Since the Fourth Master Chu values ​​your maid so much, why did you take the initiative to send your maid to Guang Yan?"

"Since you sent her to be your spy, you should have no other feelings for her. Now that it has come to this, you have no other desires except this girl, which makes people confused."

Chu Zhao said gently, "I don't understand either."

To him, there is nothing in the world that cannot be used, and there is no one that cannot be used. But every time, at some point, there will be some soft spots that should not exist.

This is true for He Yan and Ying Xiang as well.

He looked at Ying Xiang in front of him and didn't know how to react for a moment.

Ying Xiang just glanced at him and quickly lowered her head, as if she was afraid of dirtying Chu Zhao's sleeves, and stopped talking.

From outside, there were faint sounds of soldiers scolding and servants crying. Ying Xiang listened carefully for a while and said, "...Is the prince dead?"

Chu Zhao came back to his senses and said softly, "Yes. You can leave the Prince's Mansion now."

Ying Xiang did not show any joy when she heard this. Instead, she seemed to step back a little and said, "No..."

"Don't you want to go back with me?" Chu Zhao asked.

"Fourth Master," her voice was as soft as the most fragile silk, which would break if pulled lightly. Ying Xiang said, "I cannot leave."

Chu Zhao was startled: "Why?"

As if she had experienced a huge struggle, Ying Xiang slowly stretched out her hand and lifted up her sleeve. Chu Zhaogu widened his eyes. The skin on her sleeve, which was originally as flawless as snow, was now completely unrecognizable, as if it had been burned by fire, or crushed, leaving traces of destruction.

"The prince fed me a poison for which there is no antidote," Ying Xiang said, "I am... a person waiting to die."

Guangyan hated her betrayal and infidelity. There are countless ways to torture unfaithful people. Yingxiang was born with an extremely beautiful appearance, so he destroyed her appearance. He also wanted her to die in the most devastating and cruel way - watching the last inch of her intact skin decay, and even death in the end was disgusting.

Killing people and destroying their hearts is nothing more than this.

Chu Zhao suddenly felt extremely confused. He hadn't felt this way for many years. He looked at Ying Xiang helplessly and said, "It's okay. Wait until you get out. I'll find a doctor to treat you."

"It's useless." Ying Xiang smiled bitterly, "I know it myself, it's too late to save her."

The torch burning on the wall flickered quietly, illuminating her half-bloodstained face with exceptional clarity and horror. She no longer had the charming and beautiful look she once had.

Chu Zhao looked at her in a daze. He knew that Ying Xiang would not have a good ending if she fell into Guangyan's hands, but he never expected that the situation would be like this now.

Not dead, but worse than dead.

"I have one more favor to ask of you."

"You tell me." he said.

"I have nothing in my life, only my appearance is acceptable." Ying Xiang stretched out her hand, as if she wanted to touch her face, but her hand stopped in mid-air, "Now my appearance is ruined, and I have taken an incurable poison. I don't want to die a horrible death. Fourth Master... can you give me a quick death?"

"You want me to kill you?" Chu Zhao looked at her in surprise.

"My life was saved by the Fourth Young Master. Now that I die in his hands, it can be considered a happy ending. Moreover," the woman said softly, "the Fourth Young Master is not harming me, he is helping me."

Chu Zhao said: "I won't kill you."

"Then please leave, Fourth Master." The maid, who was used to bowing her head and obeying him, showed him a tough look for the first time, "I will stay here and will not go anywhere."

"Ying Xiang," Chu Zhao was helpless against her for the first time. He patiently said softly, "Your injury is not irreparable. There are many doctors in Shuojing who can cure you."

"Even if I am cured, what can I do?" Ying Xiang smiled softly, "I have lost my appearance now, and I can't even take care of myself. If I stay with you and can't serve you, I will be a burden."

Chu Zhao's expression changed slightly when he heard this. He asked, "You are by my side just to serve me?"

"The young master does not keep useless people around him." Ying Xiang replied.

There was a thorn in his side of the story, and he was speechless.

"I was sold as merchandise by my father, and it was you who saved me. From now on, you are my benefactor and parent, and I will go through fire and water for you. I did everything willingly, but now, when I am about to die, I hope to decide my own fate." Ying Xiang looked at him, and for the first time, her beautiful and gentle eyes were as bright as fire. "Please help me, young master."

Their eyes met, and Chu Zhao could clearly see the determination to die in her eyes.

For the first time, he discovered that Ying Xiang was so stubborn and obstinate.

"Please help me, sir." The woman in front of him knelt down again with great effort. As she moved, the terrible scars on her body gradually appeared, emitting a fishy smell mixed with dirty blood. It was just like the first time she met Chu Zhao, when she was bought by Chu Zhao and knelt down in confusion and respect.

She won't live long. Even if she doesn't die now, she won't live long.

Chu Zhao closed his eyes: "I promise you."

"Thank you, sir." Ying Xiang said softly.

Chu Zhao reached out and lifted her up from the ground. Ying Xiang staggered and raised her head. The next moment, the hand that was around her back suddenly pushed forward.

When the tip of the knife sank into the flesh, there was no sound.

She didn't even have time to say anything, she was thrown forward and fell into Chu Zhao's arms. Chu Zhao let go of her hands, held her in his arms, and half-knelt on the ground.

"...Thank you, sir..." Ying Xiang looked at him and gave him a hard smile, "This is the first time that you have fulfilled my wish."

Her body was covered with new and old bloodstains, which rubbed against Chu Zhao's clean robes like mottled flowers. The man looked down at her, his eyes somewhat at a loss.

It was this helplessness that made Ying Xiang feel heartbroken instantly.

She liked Chu Zhao and fell in love with him the first time she saw him. In that desperate situation, when her father was forcing her into the fire pit, a young and handsome boy threw her a life-saving straw. She grabbed this straw and fell in love with this man.

She loved his gentleness and his ruthlessness. She loved his cold and ruthless heart beneath his seemingly broad-minded and tolerant appearance, and she also loved his fragility and helplessness at a certain moment beneath his indestructible protective color.

What a complicated person he is, and the more complicated he is, the more unfortunate he is. His fate makes him conflicted. The Chu Zilan that others see is just a fake Chu Zilan. Only she knows the real Chu Zilan, and the real Chu Zilan is definitely not a good man. But she still fell in love with him without hesitation, like a moth to a flame.

During these years, Ying Xiang stayed by Chu Zhao's side, was bullied by Madam Chu, molested by the three eldest sons of the Chu family, and targeted by Xu Pingting both openly and covertly. In the end, she was even sent to the prince's mansion. She has never regretted coming to this point.

Because she had nothing to lose at the beginning.

She had hated and resented him, but it was not as good as love. This love was carefully hidden, extremely humble, and yet it came with such force that she herself thought it was unreasonable. She never expressed it in words, but just quietly and silently loved him for so many years.

Chu Zhao was so smart, it was impossible for him not to realize that she loved him.

"Sir..." She said with difficulty: "This servant...can I ask you a question?"

The man's voice was very soft, and he treated her as gently as always: "You ask."

"Did the Fourth Young Master know from the beginning that Miss Xu would send me to the Crown Prince's residence?"

Chu Zhao looked down at her.

In those fluorescent eyes, there were waves. He did not answer, but Ying Xiang understood instantly.

“…So that’s how it is.” After saying this, she slowly closed her eyes, her breath gradually weakened until she was lifeless.

In the dark room, the man in green quietly lowered his head to look at the woman in his arms. What appeared before his eyes was the low sobbing he heard many years ago when he stood in front of the colorful paradise on earth and heard countless noises. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw the delicate girl looking at him, with a beautiful face and peerless beauty.

He saved her, but also hurt her. If he hadn't taken action, perhaps Ying Xiang would be happier now. Unlike now, even at her last moment in the world, she left with bitterness.

She did nothing wrong. To be honest, it was just because she fell in love with someone like him.

After an unknown amount of time, Chu Zhao bent down and stood up, picked up Ying Xiang's body, slowly walked out of the dark room, and walked outside step by step.

At the end of his rope, he made a last deal with the Fourth Prince, all he wanted was a little pitiful warmth, but now, that warmth is gone. He also lost the last person he depended on, and he gained nothing from this game of chess.

All lose.