Su Rongqing said nothing. He looked up at the woman on the high seat. The people behind him noticed that he was strange and rushed over. Then they saw Li Rong on the golden throne.

Hua Le, who was following behind, was the first to react. When she saw Li Rong sitting on the high seat, she couldn't help but shout, "Li Rong, what are you doing? That's our father's seat. Are you crazy?"

"My father is seriously ill, and the crown prince has not recovered from his injuries. I have been ordered to supervise the country, Fu Lai."

She raised her hand and said, "Read the imperial edict."

Fulai responded, "Yes."

As he spoke, he spread out the imperial edict in his hand, and amidst the shock, he calmly read out the contents of the decree that conferred the title of Princess Regent on Li Rong.

As he read the imperial edict, the sounds of fighting outside became closer.

Su Rongqing kept looking at Li Rong above him. Li Rong showed no sign of weakness and just stared at him calmly.

After reading the imperial edict, Fulai looked at everyone with a smile and said, "My ministers, the emperor's will has been conveyed. Please enter the palace."

No one moved. Hua Le looked around and wanted to go forward, but for some reason, he felt a little timid. He could only instigate others: "What are you doing here? Go up and take her down!"

"Su Rongqing."

Seeing that the others had been silent for a long time, Li Rong called Su Rongqing's name: "Enter the palace."

Su Rongqing heard Li Rong's words, he lifted his coat and walked into the hall. Hua Le was about to speak, but Gu Zidao beside him reminded him: "Your Highness, please be patient."

Gu Zidao is the Minister of Rites. Even the elders here, even if they are as ignorant as Hua Le, know how to show some respect to him.

Everyone was watching the situation, and saw Su Rongqing step forward and stop less than three feet in front of the steps. Li Rong saw that he stood up without kneeling, and raised his chin slightly: "You don't kneel when entering the palace, are you a traitor or a thief?"

"There was a palace coup last night. I did not see the emperor, so I dare not kneel."

"Why not?"

"I'm afraid I'll kneel down to the wrong traitor and disgrace God."

"You, Chen Bing, are out there. If you are not a thief, who else dares to call yourself a thief?"

"Crown Prince Li Chuan," Su Rongqing said, "Your Highness, last night the Crown Prince attacked the city, deceived Your Highness, and kidnapped the Emperor. I am here to save the Emperor, please don't worry. Come," Su Rongqing raised his hand and waved, "Your Highness Pingle was frightened, take Your Highness away to rest."

"presumptuous!"

Li Rong shouted, and in the hall, soldiers lined up in front of them, pointing at the court officials. Li Rong stared at them, "The Crown Prince did not enter the palace last night. Your Majesty is safe now. You are forcing the city to attack, which is a crime of treason. Why don't you retreat and accept the punishment!"

After Li Rong said this, everyone's faces changed drastically. Xiao Qian turned his head and glanced at Concubine Rou, who frowned.

Su Rongqing grasped the key point and asked, "Is the prince not in the palace?"

"The Crown Prince left the city last night to recuperate," Li Rong said calmly, looking at the somewhat flustered crowd, "Therefore, I will serve as the acting regent. Ministers, plotting to murder the emperor is a capital crime punishable by confiscation of property and extermination of the clan. If this crime is not investigated today, it will be investigated someday. At worst, it will be infamous in the writings of historians for eternity. I'm sure you all don't want this to happen."

Li Rong's words made everyone a little suspicious. They thought that Li Chuan had already killed Li Ming, so they could kill Li Chuan with a clear conscience.

But now that Li Chuan is not in the palace and the emperor is still alive, their actions of attacking the city seem somewhat absurd and ridiculous.

As for the crime of murdering the emperor, if one has great power, there will still be people who will question it. But if one day one loses power, the family will be destroyed and the property will be confiscated.

The emperor may not be a big deal in the eyes of these centuries-old families, but they dare not attack them so blatantly.

Seeing these people hesitate, Hua Le panicked for a moment. She could not help but pull Concubine Rou's sleeve. Concubine Rou lowered her head in thought. While everyone was hesitant, Su Rongqing's voice rang out: "I want to talk to His Highness Pingle. I wonder if you can give me some convenience?"

Su Rongqing's sudden proposal surprised everyone. Concubine Rou raised her head with a cold look in her eyes. When everyone was hesitating, Concubine Rou smiled and said, "Since Lord Su has something to discuss with Pingle, we won't bother him. Everyone," Concubine Rou turned her head and looked at everyone, "Let's wait outside together."

As she spoke, Concubine Rou took "Li Cheng" and took the initiative to walk out with Xiao Qian and others. The others looked at each other for a moment, and then followed them out of the hall.

Li Rong watched as Su Rongqing and his men left the palace. Su Rongqing looked up at her and asked, "Your Highness?"

"Your Highness," Fu Lai turned to look at Li Rong, "Su Rongqing is a man after all. What if he has any intention of harming Your Highness..."

"Back off."

Li Rong spoke, Fu Lai paused, hesitated for a moment, and finally led his people out of the hall.

Before leaving, Fulai led his men to set up the tea table and tea sets in the hall according to Su Rongqing's instructions, and was the last one to leave.

After everyone left the hall, they dispersed and stood on their own side, whispering to each other.

Xiao Qian stood behind Concubine Rou and lowered his voice, "Second sister, the Crown Prince did not take action, but now these old people may have ulterior motives."

"No." Concubine Rou looked at the soldiers who were constantly entering the palace gate, "Once we enter the palace, no one can escape now."

As the two were talking, Gu Zidao, who was discussing with the ministers, seemed to have made some decision with them. He nodded to Wang Houmin, stepped forward, and bowed to Concubine Rou: "Your Majesty."

"Minister Gu."

Concubine Rou hurriedly returned the greeting. Gu Zidao glanced at the hall and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, it seems... there is some misunderstanding now. Since His Majesty is fine, it seems that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince may not be plotting a rebellion. We just discussed it, otherwise..." Gu Zidao looked at Concubine Rou's expression, "Should everyone disperse?"

"If it is really a misunderstanding, then of course I have to step down and apologize to His Majesty." Gu Zidao's words were not unexpected by Concubine Rou. She turned her head and looked at the inner palace, "But His Majesty has not yet seen him. Who knows whether what Li Rong said is true or false? Now that we are already in the palace, why not let me go into the inner palace and take a look to see whether His Majesty is alive or dead."

After hearing what Concubine Rou said, Gu Zidao stared at Concubine Rou for a long time. Concubine Rou smiled and said, "What do you think, Master Gu?"

"It is of course necessary to confirm the safety of His Majesty."

Gu Zidao seemed satisfied with Concubine Rou's answer. He bowed and said, "I will do my best to help you enter the inner palace."

"Well, thank you, Master Gu."

"Come here," Concubine Rou turned her head and pointed at Fu Lai who was standing beside her, "Catch this old thief who has surrendered to the traitorous ministers and thieves! The rest of you, follow me into the palace to see the emperor!"

"Ah Gan," Concubine Rou turned her head and looked at Xiao Gan, and gave an order with a deep meaning, "Go and guard the palace gate to prevent idle people from entering and leaving at will."

Xiao Qian understood Concubine Rou's secret message.

These noble families are all fence-sitters. They come for profit and may leave for profit.

They now want to tie these noble families together and help them together. If the Xiao family cannot leave the palace, no one else can leave.

After Concubine Rou finished speaking, she led her people towards the inner palace.

Hua Le followed behind Concubine Rou and lowered her voice: "Mother, what if father is still alive?"

"He won't be alive."

Concubine Rou spoke decisively: "As long as we see him, he must have died at the hands of Li Chuan."

When Hua Le heard this, she looked up in shock. She saw that Concubine Rou's face was a little pale. For a moment, she was speechless.

When the palace just fell, the relatives of the Su family and the Gu family were locked up in several rooms in the princess's mansion. Cries for help kept coming. Pei Wenxuan stood in the courtyard. Tong Ye wiped the blood off his face, walked behind Pei Wenxuan, and whispered, "Sir, the families of the Su and Gu families are all here."

"Where is the Wang family?"

"It has not been conquered yet."

"Did anyone get away?"

"No." Tong Ye shook his head, "The Wang family is locked up and no one comes out."

"In the palace?"

"The palace gates have been breached, the Su clan flag has been erected on the city walls, Su Rongqing has entered with Concubine Rou, Wang Houmin, Gu Zidao and others. It is said that the morning court session has not been cancelled."

"How long did it take for the palace gate to be broken?"

"Less than half an hour."

Pei Wenxuan closed his eyes when he heard this.

It took less than half an hour to capture the palace. It was obvious that Li Rong had hardly deployed any defense outside the palace. She had gathered all her forces in the inner palace.

The morning court proceeded normally, which meant she was in the outer palace.

Such an action, considering Li Rong's personality, only indicates one thing -

Li Ming is not dead.

As long as Li Ming was alive, Li Chuan's crime could not be proven, and those noble families were always hesitant. She gathered the troops in the inner palace in the hope of preserving the remaining military forces. Once Li Chuan found an opportunity to counterattack and attack the city, these military forces could cooperate with the outside forces.

In this case, she stayed in the outer palace just to delay time.

Use her life and death to delay time.

She knew that from the moment she stayed in the palace, there was almost no chance of her survival.

No matter whether Li Chuan wins or loses, as long as the city is attacked, she will be a hostage.

"Sir?"

Tong Ye saw Pei Wenxuan closed his eyes for a long time and was a little worried: "What should I do next?"

"Since Su Ronghua informed Shangguan Ya, it is clear that the Su family does not want to get involved. Su Ronghua will stop the Su family's troops from the Tianshou Pass. Tomorrow morning, Xunchuan's troops will arrive. By then, the outer city will be Xunchuan's troops against the 10,000 troops brought by Wang family."

"Last night, there were still 8,000 soldiers left from the Yulin Guard, Pei Family, and Shangguan Family. 6,000 of them were taken back to the palace by His Highness, and there are still 2,000 with us."

"In the city, the Su family and other noble families have about 10,000 soldiers, and your majesty has about 7,000 men from the Lin army and King Ganin."

"Do we still have a chance of winning? The noble families who want us dead have 20,000 people, and we have less than 20,000 people. I don't know what His Majesty means..."

"Yes."

Pei Wenxuan opened his eyes and said, "We must win."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of drums was heard outside.

“Boom.”

“Knock, knock.”

Along with the drumbeats came Zhao Chongjiu rushing in with a sword in hand. He stood at the door, restraining his excitement: "Son-in-law, the Xunchuan army has arrived and is attacking the city!"

Pei Wenxuan's expression did not change. He listened to the sound of war drums outside, paused for a moment, and immediately ordered: "Zhao Chongjiu, you immediately take a thousand people to the tower to cooperate with Xun Chuan inside and outside to open the city gate. Hurry up."

"Tell Pei Xiao to bring Wang's family members into the princess's mansion, guard the princess's mansion, and obey my orders."

"Tong Ye, tell people to light up all the remaining Kongming lanterns in the mansion, and have them burn incense and prepare water."

"Sir?"

Tong Ye was a little confused, so he lowered his head and said with a gentle look on his face: "I have to go pick up His Highness."

He couldn't leave her alone in the palace.

Whether she lives or dies, he has to be with her.

When the drums sounded, the cold wind blew the black golden phoenix flags outside the city, causing them to flutter and rustle.

Li Chuan led Lu Feibai and Xun Chuan on horseback. Behind them were soldiers standing in line. They looked a little tired in the early morning when the sky was not yet fully bright.

"Are we going into town now?"

Lu Feibai looked ahead and frowned. These soldiers had traveled thousands of miles and were obviously extremely tired.

"We won't enter the city now," Shangguan Ya stood on the chariot, looking at the high wall in front of him, "When the day breaks, the Wang family army will bring people in, and it will be difficult to attack the city. It is better to take the city now and wait for the attack."

"It's not easy to attack a city," said Luo Feibai, feeling uneasy. "The soldiers are tired and tired of fighting. How can we attack a city?"

"It will be soon." Li Chuan looked at Hua Jing with a cold expression.

Xun Chuan glanced at Li Chuan standing next to him. He was wearing the prince's black robe, a pure white fox fur coat, and a jade crown tied high on his head, which gave him an indescribable sense of nobility.

He had grown a lot taller, and had a somewhat thin appearance like a civil official, with a cold and dry look in his eyes, completely different from the lively young man he once was.

"Pei Wenxuan and my sister are inside."

Li Chuan noticed Xun Chuan's look and thought she was confused, so he turned to look at her and said, "Don't worry."

As soon as the words fell, a Kongming lantern rose up in Huajing City.

The Kongming lantern in the sky, which had not yet been lit, immediately attracted the attention of many people.

After the first Kongming lantern lit up, Li Chuan drew his sword from his waist and said indifferently, "Prepare for battle."

Hearing this, Shangguan Ya put his hands in front of him and saluted respectfully, then turned around and looked at the soldiers.

"Gentlemen," Shangguan Ya said loudly, "Do you know where this place is?"

The drums of war were beating steadily. The soldiers looked at Shangguan Ya without saying a word. Shangguan Ya raised his hand and pointed at the word "Hua Jing" and raised his voice: "This is Hua Jing, the place where you all guarded on the battlefield. In Hua Jing, there are beautiful women, gold and silver jewelry, and unparalleled power. But these have never belonged to you. You have been fighting in the northwest, a bitter and cold place, with little food and clothing, and your life is like grass. You have been under the feet of others all your life. Your descendants are all like this. Are you willing?!"

No one dared to speak.

But human nature is to pursue profit, and not speaking does not mean that something does not exist. It is just that people bow to the power and dare not speak.

"But today is different. Today, all of you enter the city," Shangguan Ya spread her sleeves and pointed at Huajing, raising her voice, "If you win, you will be made a marquis and a general! If you lose, you will just die on the battlefield, it's no different!"

"Today, from the Crown Prince to the criminals, all of us are ready to fight in front of the Imperial City. Follow me, unload the food and grass, and obey the Crown Prince's orders. We will either win or die. We will not return until we win!"

Having said that, Shangguan Ya drew her sword and cut the food and straw on the chariot, and the food fell to the ground and scattered all over the ground.

Ruichuan then raised her sword and slashed through the bag of grain tied to the horse with a clean and sharp stroke. The grain fell to the ground, and her sword pointed steadily at Huajing.

"In the name of His Highness Pingle," she said in a calm voice, no different from when she trained them on weekdays, but she emphasized the last eight words, "You must win or die, and you must not return unless you win."

"Win or die, win or die!"

With Ruichuan leading the way, everyone took down their food and straw and shouted loudly.

This is the most precious opportunity of their lives.

From the northwest to Huajing, they climbed over snow-capped mountains and traveled thousands of miles, as if they were breaking through the thorns and taboos hidden in the muddy swamps, and climbed layer by layer to places they had never thought of.

Amid the endless despair of their descendants, there was finally a glimmer of hope for a comeback.

But in an instant, morale was high.

Li Chuan turned his head to look at Xun Chuan beside him, and Xun Chuan met his gaze.

After a long while, Li Chuan only asked one question: "Will we win?"

Xun Chuan remained calm and only replied, "Your Highness will not lose."

There is only one His Highness she is referring to.

From the moment she saved her, from the moment she gave her a life completely different from Qin Zhenzhen's, she had been placed on the altar by her.

Her sister, her friend, her monarch, Li Rong.

Li Chuan laughed when he heard this.

Next to him, Feibai looked at Shangguan Ya standing on the chariot and smiled bitterly: "You guys are killing me."

"You can turn back now."

Shangguan Ya held the drumstick beside her. Feibai looked at her with some doubt: "I thought you would leave now."

"Everyone is here," Shangguan Ya smiled calmly, "I won't leave."

Lu Feibai fell silent, thought for a moment, then lowered his head and smiled.

At this moment, the horn sounded and Li Chuan drew his sword and pointed forward.

Shangguan Ya trembled as she smashed the drumstick heavily on the drum. Amidst the loud noise, under the light of Kongming lanterns in the sky, the soldiers rushed towards the city wall.

The sound of killing was deafening.

Before the war drums sounded, Fu Lai had just closed the door in the palace.

As soon as the door of the hall was closed, the whole hall became dark. Only the flickering candles provided some light.

Su Rongqing and Li Rong sat opposite each other. Su Rongqing looked at Li Rong opposite him. After a long while, he said with some nostalgia: "Rongqing has not made tea for His Highness for a long time. It's a pity that the Silver Tip that His Highness likes to drink is not here today."

"Did you deliberately leave everyone behind just to reminisce with me?"

Li Rong looked at Su Rongqing washing her hands with warm water from the basin beside her, and seemed to find it funny. Su Rongqing looked calm, as if she was still leisurely in the princess's mansion back then: "Of course I have some questions for your Highness."

"Your Highness," Su Rongqing took some tea leaves and put them into the teapot, and said in a calm voice, "Are you feeling comfortable in the Golden Luan Chair?"

Li Rong knew what he meant when she heard his question, but she still asked knowingly: "What do you mean?"

"Your Highness should know that I only want to stop Li Chuan."

Su Rongqing put the tea aside and knelt in front of Li Rong, with her hands hanging in front of her: "Since Your Highness is now the Princess Regent, is it still necessary to ask whether Li Chuan is the Crown Prince?"

Li Rong said nothing. Su Rongqing leaned forward slightly. "Your Highness," he said softly, "I am not here for revenge. Li Chuan can live."

You can live, but you cannot be a prince, and you cannot live under your own name.

Li Rong was the princess who supervised the country, Li Cheng ascended the throne, Li Chuan plotted treason and was sentenced to death, and then lived again with a different identity.

"I know what you mean."

Li Rong saw Su Rongqing's concession, and she shook her head: "But I can't lie to you."

"What do you mean, Your Highness?"

Su Rongqing had a smile on his face, but there was a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"You don't want Li Chuan to ascend the throne because he intends to weaken the aristocratic families, and you want to stop this. But if I were to take over the country, I would still make the same choice as Li Chuan, but with different means."

Hearing this, Su Rongqing's smile slowly faded.

"Your Highness," he said seriously, "wasn't the last life enough?"

Li Rong listened to Su Rongqing's words and thought about it for a long time.

She wanted to argue, but when she raised her eyes, she saw Su Rongqing's eyes that were already somewhat biased, and she suddenly remembered Li Ming's words.

Those in a higher position should not only look at the results, but also the source.

She looked at Su Rongqing for a long time before she spoke slowly: "In your previous life, what did you think Li Chuan did wrong?"

"Your Highness, do you still need to ask me?" Su Rongqing seemed a little annoyed. "In the last life, what did Your Highness say? Have you forgotten? You said that he shouldn't have launched the Northern Expedition and shouldn't have reformed the system. He caused unrest and the people suffered. As a king, he did this for a woman..."

"Rong Qing," Li Rong interrupted him, "Do you really think so?"

"Your Highness," Su Rongqing's lips trembled unconsciously, "What do you mean?"

"I remember the first time I saw you was in Yu's study."

Li Rong looked at Su Rongqing with a hint of nostalgia on her face.

"At that time, you followed Prime Minister Su and knelt at the door of Yu's study, trying to dissuade my father from launching a northern expedition. You told me that the people of the Su family live for the people and die for the country."

When Su Rongqing heard this, his eyes moved slightly, as if a stone was thrown into the center of a lake, causing ripples.

Li Rong raised her eyes to look at him: "But tell me, is the existence of aristocratic families in the world good or bad for the people?"

"You and I both know it. The Northern Expedition was indeed urgent, but if the noble families had not been corrupt and obstructed, the military pay would have been enough to carry out the Northern Expedition."

"The flood in the south was indeed caused by the Northern Expedition, which left the national treasury empty. But if the aristocratic families were not prosperous and did not have to pay taxes, many local people would have relied on the aristocratic families to evade taxes, and the national treasury would not have been so empty."

"You said that as a king, he shouldn't favor only one woman, but Su Rongqing, if you love me, wouldn't you be miserable if you were with someone else? You are like this, but Chuan'er is not like this, right?"

"But he is the king, he has to endure all the pain." Su Rongqing said stubbornly.

"That also has to be meaningful." Li Rong chuckled: "What does the king's marriage have to do with the court? The monarch is the ruler of the country, he is diligent, he loves the people, so who he loves, he marries one woman, or several women, what does it have to do with the world? The reason it has something to do with it is not because of the factional struggles of the aristocratic families, and the struggles are placed in the harem? His patience is to please the aristocratic families, not the people, what is the meaning?"

"According to what Your Highness said," Su Rongqing said sarcastically, "it's all the fault of the aristocratic families, right? But there are corrupt people in the aristocratic families, but don't there be people from the humble families? There are people who engage in factional struggles in the aristocratic families, but don't there be people from the humble families? This is simply the nature of human beings, what does it have to do with the aristocratic families?!"

"You all say that the noble families are wrong, but for so many years, when there was a famine, the Su family provided disaster relief; when there was a war, the Su family's children all went to the battlefield. The Su family is loyal to the people, what did they do wrong? You said that there was factional strife in the harem, and Li Chuan was right, but was Shangguan Ya wrong? Was my eldest brother wrong? Their lives were ruined and they were sent to the palace. Li Chuan treated them like this for his own selfish reasons. Why can Li Chuan be willful, but they can only live in despair for the rest of their lives, just because they are not the emperor? If the noble family is a sin," Su Rongqing stared at Li Rong, "the royal family, isn't it a sin?"

"Then, who sent Shangguan Ya into the palace?" Li Rong looked at Su Rongqing. Su Rongqing did not answer. Li Rong lowered her head and smiled, "Rongqing, you actually know a lot of things in your heart. You just can't admit that you and I were born sinners."

"There is no such thing as being born sinful! Good or evil, sin or punishment, it all depends on what the person has done. My Su family is a century-old family..."

"It's this century-old family," Li Rong interrupted him, "what is it based on?"

Su Rongqing paused, and Li Rong looked at him with some sadness.

"Rong Qing, I understand your bias."

"Your heart is in the light, but your body is in the darkness. You cannot recognize your own identity and can only confuse right and wrong. You were young and ignorant and could still hide it, but the more you are clear-headed, the more you hate yourself."

"Your Highness!"

Su Rongqing interrupted her with a raised voice, as if someone had touched the most painful part of his heart. He leaned forward slightly, as if grabbing his clothes. He looked at Li Rong with pleading in his eyes.

Can’t say it, can’t say it anymore.

His proud origins, the praise he received since childhood, his perseverance, and his beliefs.

"People like fox fur," Li Rong ignored his advice. Under Su Rongqing's gaze, she spoke slowly, "but foxes won't like it. If you give a fox a little food, you claim to be thinking about it, but that's a lie."

"If you, Su, really care about the people and the country, and if you really want to change the outcome of your previous life, what you should do is not to kill Li Chuan and prevent him from ascending the throne, but to stand with him and fight against what is wrong in the first place."

"But the clan is huge. If they were to change suddenly..."

"Then stay still?

Li Rong laughed, "You and I don't have to deceive ourselves. If something is wrong, there will always be people who fight against it. No matter how big the clan is, if it is wrong, there will be countless Li Chuans, Pei Wenxuans, and Qin Lins who will fight against it. It will disappear one day, and we must not act rashly while we are in this world, but we must also not be inactive."

"Li Chuan may not be the crown prince, but I will not lie to you and say that if I ascend to the throne, I will promise the aristocratic family many benefits. My whole life," Li Rong's eyes reflected the candlelight, the light and shadow were subtle, "I will dedicate my life to my morality."

"I hope you can find your original intention," Li Rong stared at him, "and always be Su Lang."

Su Rongqing stared at Li Rong in a daze. The water began to boil, making a sharp sound.

"Your Highness," Su Rongqing hurriedly came back to his senses and spoke hoarsely, "I can't turn back."

He had already brought everyone on board the ship of treason, and no one could leave, whether advancing or retreating.

"I have nothing left." Su Rongqing smiled bitterly, "I can't turn back."

He has already given up everything for this, how will he feel if he is asked to admit his mistakes?

Li Rong thought for a moment, lowered her head and chuckled, "Then let's not talk about this. Let's have one last cup of tea. I'll make it for you."

As Li Rong spoke, she took the kettle from the stove and poured water into it.

She lowered her eyebrows, and in her eyes there was a gentleness and peace that he had never seen before. Like a piece of unpolished jade polished by time, it shone with a clear light under the sun.

Inside the hall, the sound of tea brewing could be heard; outside the hall, the sound of chopping and killing was deafening.

Behind the rising water vapor, the woman seemed like a painting that never changed color.

The shyness when I first met her at the age of twelve, the excitement of looking at her from afar during the annual exams, the sadness when I heard that she was engaged, and the pain of walking through the crowd on her wedding day.

The time I mustered up all my courage to hold an umbrella for her,

A lifetime of kneeling before her in despair.

The unattainable forbearance standing behind her, the encounter that one longs for but dares not touch in this lifetime.

She ran through his life from beginning to end, and at the last moment she pointed him back to the way he came.

The tea leaves are rinsed with water and then discarded to obtain tea soup, which is then poured into a white porcelain cup, presenting a clear and transparent reflection.

Li Rong pushed the tea in front of him.

This was the first time she poured tea for him, but he could never muster the courage to pick it up.

After a long time, he raised the cup with shaking hands. Before the tea reached his mouth, the door of the hall was suddenly knocked open: "Oh no!"

Su Rongqing's hand trembled, and the tea spilled out. Su Zhizhu panted and looked at Su Rongqing in panic: "Sir, the prince is leading people to attack the city."

Su Rongqing looked quietly at Su Zhizhu at the door. Li Rong turned her head and saw the Kongming lantern rising in the sky like a star in the dark night.

The ministers rushed in noisily. Wang Houmin entered the palace and said anxiously, "Rong Qing, the inner palace has not been taken down yet, but Li Chuan's men are already at the gate. What should we do?"

As he spoke, Wang Houmin saw Li Rong standing nearby, and he hurriedly said, "Quick, tie up Li Rong first and hang her up on the city gate!"

"Lord Wang!"

Su Rongqing shouted: "This is His Highness."

"Your Highness?"

Wang Houmin was stunned for a moment, and then he became furious: "Su Rongqing, when is it still the time to do such romantic things with women? Remember, it was you who asked us to cooperate with Concubine Rou. If we lose this time, both you and I will be confiscated and our families will be destroyed. Don't be confused!"

Wang Houmin scolded Su Rongqing, who turned pale. Li Rong sat in the hall calmly and smiled softly, "Don't be angry, Lord Wang. I will follow you to the tower."

As he spoke, Li Rong stood up. Su Rongqing grabbed the corner of Li Rong's clothes. He raised his head and gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness, don't go out."

Li Rong looked at Su Rongqing quietly. Su Rongqing's eyes showed some uncontrollable fear: "No one will save you."

Li Chuan cannot give up attacking the city at this time.

He didn't have many troops and couldn't wait for the Wang family's army to arrive.

If Li Chuan does not give up attacking the city, Li Rong, as a hostage, will have no choice but to die.

After hearing this, Li Rong hesitated for a long time and then said softly, "Thank you, but," she raised her eyes, "I don't want to owe you anything."

I'd rather die than owe him anything.

Su Rongqing's face turned pale. Li Rong brushed away his hand that was grabbing her sleeve and turned to walk out.

Each of her steps was steady. She seemed calm and without the slightest fear. Her back was as proud as a crane, and was no different from the princess walking in front of him in his memory.

However, Li Rong herself knew that no one could face death without fear.

She died once.

She knew very well what death meant. It meant that regrets could no longer be undone, loved ones could no longer be together, dreams would no longer have a place to return to, and hopes would no longer be possible.

She may not have been so afraid of death before, but she is afraid now.

Because she has someone in her heart.

Li Rong couldn't help but raise her hand and place it on her abdomen. She walked on the shiny black marble floor and walked towards the light step by step.

A figure emerged in her mind.

She knew that this person could not show up. He was already outside Huajing. He should be safe. He might be waiting for him under the city wall with Li Chuan.

She wanted to go up to the tower, to take a good look at him and thank him at the last moment.

Thank him for teaching her that there are such beautiful feelings in this world, and thank him for opening up this world and allowing her to walk out of the darkness and see the light.

And after that, as long as Li Chuan wins, he will survive, and then, like in his previous life, become a famous minister, respected by the people, and remembered for generations.

Li Rong walked forward with a smile. At this moment, in front of the gate of the imperial palace, a young man in white clothes, a jade crown and a sword stood.

Soldiers rushed forward and surrounded the handsome young man with spears.

However, the young master remained calm and looked towards the main hall, where he saw the vague figure of the woman.

He smiled, his eyes fixed, "Please inform that Pei Wenxuan wants to see His Highness Pingle. If you do not agree, please ask Minister Su, Minister Gu, and Minister Wang if they still miss their family members?"

Hearing this, everyone was shocked, but Pei Wenxuan ignored them and went straight into the city.

The palace gate had been broken by the collision with the city pillars. Everyone was staring at him in a daze. As soon as Li Rong stepped out of the hall, he saw a figure in white slowly walking towards him from the direction of the palace gate.

She couldn't help but stop and stare at him blankly.

The snow that accumulated last night had not been cleared away yet, and the white snow covered the blood and beasts of last night, like a blank scroll spread on the flat ground.

The young man, dressed in white and wearing a jade crown, was walking alone in the vast snowy land, like the Snow God descended to the world, looking clean but also a little murderous.

Countless soldiers stood around with bows drawn, ready to shoot this man at any time, but the young man seemed to be strolling in the garden, leisurely and elegant.

Outside Huajing, countless soldiers climbed up the wall with ladders, and the soldiers inside the city were killing each other. Zhao Chongjiu killed the soldier guarding the city gate and chopped the rope with his sword.

The city gate collapsed in an instant and landed on the other side of the moat. Soldiers rushed in one after another, and the noise was deafening.

In the inner palace, Concubine Rou looked at the bedroom which was only ten feet in size and the densely packed soldiers, and clenched her fists tightly.

Hua Le beside him shouted desperately: "Charge! Kill them! Kill them quickly!"

Li Ming sat on the bed, looked up at the dragon pattern embroidered on the headboard, listened to his daughter's roar outside, laughed mockingly, and slowly closed his eyes.

All this blood, absurdity, wailing and mockery did not bother Young Master Xuedi in the slightest. He hurried all the way to the front of the hall and stepped onto the stairs.

His eyes were always on Li Rong, not moving away for a moment.

Li Rong straightened her back involuntarily, and protected her abdomen with both hands. She didn't know why, but as the man got closer, her vision became more and more blurry.

She felt as if her heart was being filled up bit by bit.

It was as if God had suddenly stuffed something she had been losing into her heart.

She was not abandoned.

She is not alone.

From now on, there will be someone in her life who will be with her no matter she is dead or alive.

With tears in his eyes, he came to her, smiled, raised his hands in front of him, knelt on one knee, and looked up at her.

"Your Highness, Pei Wenxuan, pays respect to His Majesty Pingle."

Li Rong couldn't help laughing when she heard what he said.

Her eyes couldn't stop bending, and as they bent, tears fell.

"What are you doing here?"

"Accompany you to die," Pei Wenxuan answered frankly, "or take you home."