Chapter 106 Tears She was still alive, but she was his enemy's woman...
Li Zuo's heart tightened suddenly.
Although He Ruo's behavior was indeed suspicious, he was still shocked to hear Zhou Ling deliver the death sentence to "He Ruo" in such a calm and even tone.
The image of He Ruo falling into His Majesty's arms earlier flashed in his mind, and His Majesty's momentary stiffness rather than an immediate push away was clearly a stark contrast to the treatment given to other women who tried to get close to His Majesty.
He asked cautiously, with a hint of persuasion in his voice, "Your Majesty, He Ruo is indeed at fault, but just now... is her crime not punishable by death? Perhaps she was just..."
Zhou Ling still didn't turn around. Instead, he murmured in a daze, his voice carrying a rare hint of confusion that even he himself might not have fully realized. It was as if he were explaining to Li Zuo, or perhaps analyzing his momentary "soft-heartedness":
“It was my poor judgment… I couldn’t judge people well. Before, she gave me such a passionate speech, saying that as a Xia citizen, with Xia blood flowing in her veins, she would never betray her country… I actually… actually believed her for a moment.”
A cold, bitter, self-deprecating smile curled at the corner of his lips. "I even thought that perhaps I could find clues about Qi Yuan through her... Ha, from the very beginning, this was a mistake. I actually let someone who had betrayed me repeatedly and was full of lies participate in such an important manhunt... In the end, as you saw, it all failed, and I watched helplessly as Qi Yuan slipped away right under my nose."
His voice betrayed a hint of weariness and frustration at his misjudgment as a decision-maker, but this emotion was quickly replaced by a colder, more resolute killing intent befitting an emperor and commander: "I am certain that she is Aluheng's person, or rather, the person she is loyal to is the complete opposite of us."
An oppressive silence filled the room for a moment, then he suddenly added, his voice low and ethereal, carrying a complex emotion that even he himself found perplexing, as if he were untying a knot in his heart, "She... always reminds me of... Shen Fangru. Perhaps, that's why... I didn't push her away immediately just now."
The last sentence, as light as a sigh in the middle of the night, suddenly made Li Zuo realize that it was indeed true!
His Majesty was not completely indifferent to He Ruo, but rather he saw the shadow of Shen Fangru in her, which caused his momentary hesitation!
This precisely proves what makes He Ruo special!
"Your subordinate... understands." Li Zuo replied solemnly, but he already had a different plan in mind. He Ruo's life could not be taken so easily. This was not only because she might have special significance to His Majesty, but also because... he could not allow His Majesty to sever the only bond that had allowed him to get close to His Majesty in the past eleven years because of a moment of anger.
Zhou Ling was extremely perceptive and noticed that Li Zuo's response was not straightforward, which made him feel slightly displeased.
He recalled that Li Zuo, as someone close to the Empress Dowager, had repeatedly advised him indirectly, saying that Shen Fangru had been dead for eleven years, and His Majesty should prioritize his health and the country, and should not dwell on the past.
Li Zuo's hesitation at this moment clearly stemmed from his feeling that he had dealt with He Ruo too harshly.
Zhou Ling felt even more agitated, mixed with a hint of anger at not wanting his subjects to speculate about his private affairs.
He waved his hand, his tone indifferent yet carrying an undeniable air of authority: "Get it done quickly, then leave."
Li Zuo dared not say another word, bowed respectfully, and left the room with a firm resolve.
However, Li Zuo did not leave immediately; he needed to confirm something.
He remained silently in the shadow of the pillars, holding his breath.
Sure enough, he heard Zhou Ling summon the guards on duty and order in a deep voice, "Go, summon Peng Shen, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, to come to see me immediately."
Peng Shen? He is His Majesty's true confidant, specializing in handling secret and difficult matters that require absolute secrecy.
Li Zuo's heart sank. Did His Majesty not trust him to carry out this order?
A moment later, Peng Shen's steady footsteps sounded as he entered the room.
Li Zuo pressed his ear even closer and vaguely heard Zhou Ling's cold yet clear voice:
“…He Ruo…has betrayed us repeatedly…you will personally…clean things up…leave no survivors…”
"Clean it up," "Leave no survivors!"
Li Zuo gasped! His Majesty was so resolute, not only insisting on killing He Ruo, but even using Peng Shen to ensure that nothing went wrong!
At this moment, Li Zuo became even more certain of his judgment: His Majesty was by no means indifferent to He Ruo.
It was precisely because she had invested extraordinary feelings in He Ruo, even if it was because she resembled Shen Fangru, that she was so angry and dealt with the situation so ruthlessly after realizing the betrayal, even refusing to let Li Zuo handle it, fearing that he would show favoritism!
He recalled that for the past eleven years, His Majesty had devoted all his energy to state affairs like an ascetic, without even a maidservant to serve him personally, let alone allowing any woman to get close to him.
But this He Ruo not only got close to him, but even... fell into his arms! This was the first time in eleven years!
This He Ruo is absolutely special! She possesses qualities that can move His Majesty.
If we let her die like this, His Majesty might really close his heart completely and continue to "guard" for Shen Fangru, which would not be good for His Majesty or for the country!
A firm resolve formed in Li Zuo's heart: he had to save He Ruo's life! He would help her escape! After some time, when His Majesty's anger subsided, perhaps he would see his own heart clearly. Then, he could find a way to change He Ruo's identity and secretly send her back, even if only as an ordinary palace maid. As long as she could stay by His Majesty's side, perhaps she could truly melt His Majesty's frozen heart…
Loyalty to the emperor intertwined with a far-sighted desire to assist him, which made Li Zuo no longer hesitate. He immediately turned around and strode towards Shen Fangru's direction, needing to get there before Peng Shen acted!
Meanwhile, in another corner of the courtyard, Fangru was trying her best to comfort Xiangna, who was having an emotional breakdown.
She crouched down to meet Xiangna's gaze and said in as gentle yet firm a tone as possible, "Good child, don't cry. I will never forget my promise to you. I will definitely tell you who your mother is and I will find a way to let you see her. But you see, things are complicated and dangerous in the military camp right now, it's really not a good time to look for someone. Please be patient and wait until everything settles down, and I will definitely keep my promise and take you to find her, okay?"
As she spoke, she reached out and gently pulled the crying girl into her arms, patting her back to comfort her.
Xiangna, as if grasping at a straw, hugged Shen Fangru tightly, burying her tear-streaked face in her neck, whimpering helplessly like a fledgling bird, calling out again and again, "Mother... Mother..."
Shen Fangru felt the trembling of the girl in her arms, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Because she was reborn, she possessed memories of her previous life and had met the beautiful Queen Sude of the Northern Di.
Just now, when Li Zuo was interrogating Xiangna, she was shocked to find that Xiangna's eyebrows and face were almost identical to those of Princess Sude in her memory! Recalling the secret rumors between Qi Yuan and Princess Sude, she immediately understood Xiangna's background. She was the daughter of Princess Sude and Qi Yuan's affair.
This secret is far too important. If it were to be leaked, not only would Xiangna's life be in danger, but it could also cause internal turmoil within the Northern Di royal court and even affect the war situation between the two countries.
With her own life in danger and her son's safety uncertain, she couldn't afford to cause any further trouble. Therefore, despite seeing how strong Xiangna's longing for maternal love was, she could only keep this secret to herself for the time being, unable to reveal it at all.
All she could do was hold this pitiful girl, caught in the vortex of power, and offer her the meager warmth and promises she could at that moment.
After Zhou Ling finished arranging for Peng Shen to handle He Ruo's matter, the nameless anger in his heart did not dissipate. On the contrary, the resolute order added a few more indescribable frustrations.
Just as he was about to leave the suffocating room, a guard rushed in to report: "Your Majesty, the Northern Barbarian prisoner, Aluheng, has woken up. He... he says he wants to see you."
Aluheng? That guy who was stabbed through the chest by Qi Yuan in the earthen house in Camel Lane and should have died?
Zhou Ling's eyes flickered slightly. It seemed that the military medical officer's skills were indeed extraordinary, as he had actually pulled him back from the brink of death.
"Lead the way," Zhou Ling said coldly. He wanted to see what tricks the culprit who killed three of his elite guards would try to pull before he died.
The room, temporarily used as a medical ward, was filled with a strong smell of medicine and blood.
Aluheng's face was ashen, and he leaned weakly against the simple bed, his chest wrapped in thick bandages, with faint traces of blood seeping out.
Seeing Zhou Ling enter, he struggled to sit up, seemingly wanting to bow, but his injuries were too severe, and he could only aggravate his wounds in vain, causing him to groan in pain and his forehead to be covered in cold sweat.
Zhou Ling looked down at his disheveled state, a sneer curling at the corner of his lips: "Only now do you think of begging for mercy? Isn't that a bit too late?" His voice was icy. "If you're willing to reveal Qi Yuan's whereabouts, perhaps I can grant you a complete corpse."
Seeing Zhou Ling's unyielding attitude, with no room for negotiation, A Luheng knew he was doomed, and his feigned respect vanished instantly.
He stopped struggling and leaned back on the couch, forcing a pained and mocking smile: "It seems that you are determined to make me pay with my life for those three guards. Well... I wish you a speedy recovery and that you will find Qi Yuan and get what you want." His tone was light and airy, with the indifference of a dying man.
Zhou Ling was already anxious about losing track of Qi Yuan, and seeing this prisoner dare to act this way, his anger flared even more. He stepped forward, his body radiating a chilling killing intent: "Of course I will find him and tear him to pieces! Not only him, but your Tuyu tribe will also be wiped out by me! And..."
He paused, remembering the woman who had repeatedly betrayed him and whom he had now ordered to be executed, "And your lover, He Ruo! I will send her down to join you!"
He naturally assumed that He Ruo must have had a secret affair with A Luheng, since he had risked exposing himself to rescue her from the Tuyu tribe.
When Aluheng heard that Zhou Ling wanted to destroy his tribe, a hint of pain flashed in his eyes. But when he heard the name "He Ruo", especially when he heard that Zhou Ling recognized He Ruo as his lover, an extremely strange expression appeared on his face, a mixture of surprise and a hint of understanding.
He recalled the young man he had seen at Qi Yuan's hiding place, He Xiyuan. Although the young man's face was covered in mud, his eyes, the contours of his face... were almost identical to those of the imposing Xia official before him!
He immediately became suspicious. Then, looking at Zhou Ling's complex and unreadable murderous intent towards He Ruo, and his obvious ignorance of the boy's existence…
A bold idea quickly took shape in his mind—an idea that would both retaliate against Zhou Ling's aggressive behavior and annoy the treacherous Qi Yuan.
He chuckled, his voice hoarse from weakness but clearly mocking: "He Ruo? She's not my lover."
Seeing the suspicion and scrutiny surging in Zhou Ling's eyes, A Luheng knew that the bait he had thrown out had caught the attention of this big fish.
He endured the tearing pain in his chest, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, yet carrying a clear, malicious intent:
“He Ruo saved me… only because I am Qi Yuan’s confidant. And He Ruo, she…” He paused deliberately, admiring Zhou Ling’s unconsciously leaning forward and her taut jawline, before slowly uttering the shocking second half of the sentence, “…is actually Qi Yuan’s woman!”
"Qi Yuan's woman?" Zhou Ling repeated subconsciously, his pupils dilating slightly in shock.
This answer completely deviated from his previous guesses. He had previously thought that He Ruo was A Luheng's lover or a spy serving the Northern Di. Now, A Luheng's words were like a sudden bolt of lightning, splitting the fog in his heart, but instantly igniting an even more raging fire of anger.
That's it! Otherwise, how do you explain her unusual attention to Qi Yuan's whereabouts? How do you explain her resolute decision to expose herself in Camel Lane to help him escape? All seemingly illogical behaviors suddenly become "reasonable" when you put her in the identity of "Qi Yuan's woman"!
A sense of utter humiliation, a feeling of being completely fooled and even mixed with some indescribable sense of being invaded, surged in his chest like magma.
Just then, in the courtyard downstairs, Xiangna's tearful voice, calling out "Mother, Mother," pierced through the partition of the floorboards and clearly reached their ears.
The crying acted like a precisely targeted catalyst, and a glint of triumph flashed in Aluheng's eyes. He pressed his advantage, making his voice sound confident and malicious:
"Did you hear that? He Xiyuan, whom you imprisoned, and this girl below who's calling for her mother, they're siblings! They're both He Ruo's children with Qi Yuansheng!"
Zhou Ling suddenly turned around and almost lunged at the window, his well-defined knuckles slamming open the window frame with a loud bang.
His sharp, hawk-like gaze swept downwards, and he saw that in the courtyard, Xiangna was tightly hugging He Ruo's body, her face buried in front of her, her body trembling slightly from crying, and her cries of "Mother" were pitiful and heartbreaking.
Fangru... she lowered her head slightly, patted Xiangna's back gently with one hand, and stroked her hair with the other, her lips moving as if she were saying comforting words.
Under He Ruo's gentle comfort, the girl who had remained stubbornly silent even under Li Zuo's torture was now so vulnerable, dependent, and obedient.
This scene, like a red-hot branding iron, was deeply etched into Zhou Ling's heart.
Many overlooked details suddenly connect: why couldn't Li Zuo get Xiang Na to talk no matter what he tried, while He Ruo revealed crucial information after only a short time inside?
At the time, he only felt that He Ruo might have mastered some unique persuasion technique, but now it seems that it was not a technique at all! It was clearly the trust of blood ties, the daughter's instinctive reliance on and help for her mother in extreme fear!
And that He Xiyuan... So that's how it is! They're family! He Ruo was Qi Yuan's woman, bore him children, and even went so far as to infiltrate his side, betraying him time and time again, all for the sake of her husband and her children!
This realization was like a poisoned dagger, viciously ripping at his heart. The rage of betrayal, along with a sense of loss and pain he himself hadn't even noticed, instantly extinguished all his reason.
He didn't even have time to think about the obvious question of why He Xiyuan and Xiangna, who were "siblings," weren't raised together; his raging anger had already consumed everything.
He slammed the window shut with a loud bang, as if trying to shut out the image that was making his heart clench.
He turned around, his chest heaving violently, his gaze piercing Aluheng like an icicle. His voice, distorted by suppressed emotion, carried a chilling intent to destroy everything: "Very good... truly excellent! Qi Yuan's woman, and his two children, are now with me. Perfect, I can send them... reunited!"
He practically ground out the last two words through gritted teeth.
However, the fear or anger that Aluheng had expected did not materialize.
The dying man chuckled softly, his laughter hoarse and intermittent, aggravating his wounds and causing him to cough violently. Yet, his pale face bore an almost eerie, all-knowing mockery.
"What are you laughing at?" Zhou Ling's voice was so cold it could freeze the air.
A Luheng finally stopped coughing, raised his eyes, and his gaze seemed to pierce through Zhou Ling's feigned composure: "I laugh at you... for being hypocritical. You... won't kill He Ruo."
Zhou Ling felt a sudden, inexplicable jolt, as if stung by something, but he immediately adopted an even more forceful stance: "Is that so? Then you can just wait to hear of her death. I've already given the order to kill her."
"You will retract your decision." Aluheng's tone was unusually calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty.
"I always keep my word!" Zhou Ling declared resolutely, as if trying to convince his own wavering heart.
His mind was uncontrollably filled with images of He Ruo collapsing into his arms—her slender waist, her warm body, and those eyes that occasionally revealed a vulnerability and stubbornness reminiscent of Shen Fangru… No! He couldn't think about it anymore! She was a traitor, the enemy's woman, a venomous snake that approached him with ulterior motives! He had to kill her, just as he would deal with all those who harmed and deceived him—he had to show no mercy!
He practically growled, "No matter what, this order will not be changed!"
Seeing the struggle churning in his eyes and the emotions he was forcibly suppressing, A Luheng knew that the time had come to reveal the final truth.
He took a deep breath, as if gathering the last of his strength, and slowly, word by word, like a boulder being thrown into a calm lake:
"Because she is Shen Fangru."
He stared intently at Zhou Ling's face, not missing a single subtle change, and continued to emphasize: "The woman who, eleven years ago, enraged Emperor Zhou Ling of the Xia Kingdom, and was willing to massacre the Western Rong to find. The woman... whom the Emperor of the Xia Kingdom regarded as his life."
Zhou Ling felt as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning from the heavens!
He stood frozen in place, motionless, as if even his breathing had stopped.
My mind went blank, my ears were ringing, and only the three words "Shen Fangru" echoed wildly.
"You... you're lying!" After a long while, he managed to squeeze out these three words from his extremely dry throat, his voice hoarse and out of tune.
He suddenly took a step closer, the powerful pressure enveloping Aluheng as if it were a tangible force, his eyes terrifying, "Shen Fangru has been dead for eleven years! It was I... I saw it with my own eyes!" In his haste, he almost revealed his identity, and quickly corrected himself, but the turmoil in his heart could no longer be concealed.
Ignoring Zhou Ling's murderous glare, A Luheng continued speaking, his tone calm as if recounting the past, yet every word was like a knife, slowly torturing Zhou Ling's nerves:
"She really is... a woman who can drive men crazy... The Emperor of Xia Kingdom was willing to wage war for her," he deliberately distorted the facts, "Even our General Qi Yuan is deeply infatuated with her. It seems... you, Lord Zhou, have also fallen for her and developed inappropriate thoughts?" He paused deliberately, enjoying the sudden contraction of Zhou Ling's pupils and the instant tension in his body, continuing to add fuel to the fire:
"You dare not admit that she is Shen Fangru? Are you afraid that you are coveting the emperor's woman and committing the heinous crime of implicating nine generations of your family?" At this moment, Aluheng completely regarded Zhou Ling as a high-ranking official with real power in the Xia Kingdom, and thus threatened him with "implicating nine generations of your family."
Seeing the intense pain, shock, and disbelief churning in Zhou Ling's eyes, he knew the time was right and threw out another deadly bait:
"Do you want to know how she escaped that 'death' in Xirong and tried to hide deep in the desert, and where I rescued her when she was on the verge of death?"
His tone abruptly shifted, carrying a blatant threat and warning:
"But you'd better stop right now! Cancel the order to kill her! Think about it, if the Emperor Xia knew that the woman he had been searching for for eleven years had died at your hands... could you, and everyone around you, bear the wrath of that Emperor?"
Zhou Ling continued to stare intently at A Luheng, his gaze seemingly trying to pierce through him.
He tried to find even the slightest trace of lying on the other person's face, even the slightest hint of guilt.
Shen Fangru's death was confirmed by her father, Shen Wenzheng, who even threatened suicide to force the release of his "daughter's" body, which was then buried in the Shen family ancestral cemetery! The intense conflict, the scene of Shen Wenzheng weeping and banging his head against a pillar, was still vivid in his mind... If... if Fangru wasn't lying in that coffin... if she had really been alive for these eleven years...
Seeing that the determination in his eyes had shattered and been replaced by immense chaos and wavering, A Lu Heng knew that the final blow had succeeded.
He emphasized his words, as if making a vow: "For the past eleven years, she has disguised herself as a man, living in anonymity, like a frightened bird, with no one around her knowing her past. I can't produce evidence that you can immediately believe, but," he said firmly, his gaze unwavering, "I, A Luheng, swear by the spirits of my ancestors, she is Shen Fangru. She is still alive."
Zhou Ling did not ask any further questions or refute them.
He just stared intently at Aluheng, his eyes uncontrollably reddening rapidly, a thick layer of moisture spreading up and blurring his sharp vision.
Looking at the tears glistening in his eyes, almost overflowing, A Luheng first sneered, thinking that the other man was feeling powerless because he loved the emperor's woman but could not have her, or even because he could not kill his "love rival" Qi Yuan.
But then he felt a sense of confusion. The immense pain emanating from this man, as if the sky were falling and his beliefs were crumbling, seemed to go far beyond simple "unrequited love" or "helplessness"...
Zhou Ling suddenly turned around.
He stopped looking at Aluheng and stopped listening to him. He practically stumbled out of the room, leaving the dying man and those words that overturned everything he had known for the past eleven years behind him.
He hurried down the corridor, his steps unsteady, his heart pounding wildly and erratically in his chest, as if trying to break free. A buzzing sound filled his ears, and the scene before him blurred and swayed; only the four words, "She's still alive," echoed repeatedly like a curse.
He shoved open the door to the empty room next door and, facing the air, roared hoarsely with all his might, "Gao Xuan!"
Almost the instant he finished speaking, a ghostly black figure appeared silently in front of him, kneeling on one knee. It was none other than Gao Xuan, the commander of the secret guards.
Zhou Ling looked at Gao Xuan, opened his mouth, but found that his throat was so choked that he could barely make a sound.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulent emotions churning in his chest. Each word seemed to be uttered with all his might, carrying an undeniable urgency and... a hint of barely perceptible fear:
"Immediately...go to Peng Shen! Convey my order! Tell him to stop! He is not allowed to kill He Ruo! Right now! Immediately! Go!!"
Gao Xuan clearly sensed the unprecedented tremor and panic in his master's voice. Without any hesitation, he clasped his hands in acceptance: "Yes!" His figure flickered and he swept out of the window like a wisp of smoke, disappearing from sight in an instant.
Until Gao Xuan's figure completely disappeared, Zhou Ling's last bit of strength seemed to be instantly drained away.
He leaned against the cold wall, his body trembling uncontrollably. Finally, he could no longer support himself and slowly slid down the wall, collapsing helplessly onto the cold ground.
He raised his slightly trembling hand and covered his face. The scalding liquid finally broke through the dam and silently slid down between his fingers.
Eleven years... more than two thousand days and nights of regret, longing, and forced despair... In the end, it was all for nothing?
The woman he loved to the bone and hated with a vengeance, the woman who plunged his life into darkness... was actually always within his reach.
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Author's note: No update today. I'll update again tomorrow.
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