Chapter 197
The sky gradually darkened, and the golden light of dawn spread across the land. It illuminated every corner of the Forbidden City, illuminating every moment of the chaotic, bloody, exhausting, and painful events. Finally, all of them were softened by the hazy golden light, as if overflowing with the calmness of time, giving the ancient and heavy palace eaves a soft glow.
The ground was littered with weapons, corpses, and congealed blood. Artillery had blasted the ground. It seemed as if dawn had not yet arrived here, and the wind blowing from outside was dry and cold.
Soldiers were clearing the ground. Everything was over. Daoyan had captured Zhou Yingyou, the deputy commander had the empress under his control, and Luo Shenyuan had imprisoned Lu Jiaxue.
The man who could withstand thousands of troops was still smiling at the end. He despised his victory and even his own life.
"Master." The attendant handed him the tiger talisman, the gold medal, and the Grand Commander's seal. "I've got the things."
Luo Shenyuan hummed, took it, held it in his hand, and went into the Hall of Supreme Harmony to report the results to the emperor. He also needed to handle the disposal of the accomplices and the remaining criminals, as well as how to arrest them.
Luo Shenyuan, followed by the Jinyiwei, walked up to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The cold wind blew his robes as he walked up the stairs. The ground above was ablaze with golden light.
He stopped halfway and looked back at the way he had come. It seemed that no one was accompanying him on this lonely journey up.
He will be admired by all, and he will have immense power.
But, you will inevitably be lonely.
*
The ladies who stayed in the palace were sent back one by one.
In just one night, the situation in the palace changed dramatically. When Luo Yining returned, he saw black-armored troops pouring out of the palace and rushing to various parts of the imperial city. The Cheng family in Xinqiao Hutong was also surrounded. Old Master Cheng, who was over 70 years old, was dressed in official uniform and forced into the court.
Cheng Lang wasn't the mastermind, and in the end, Luo Shenyuan didn't catch him. Old Master Cheng would suffer, but his hard work and contributions meant the Cheng family wouldn't be completely wiped out. Perhaps if Old Master Cheng had tried harder, the Emperor would have spared Cheng Lang's life. After all, Cheng Lang was a young talent, and the Emperor trusted him.
Luo Yining got off the carriage and saw Xie Yun and her maid guarding her door. Xie Yun came up to her anxiously after seeing her and asked, "Do you... do you know how he is?"
"Who are you asking about?" Luo Yining's mind was still a little confused and his tone was indifferent.
Xie Yun hesitated, her voice lowering. "...Cheng Lang."
Luo Yining shook his head and said, "I don't know. He hasn't been caught yet. With his intelligence, he should be fine... But Mrs. Cheng Si, you have to be more careful."
"I didn't know he would suddenly become like this." Xie Yun's face was filled with bewilderment, a kind of fear that had just been saved. "My aunt even hid it from me... I really didn't know!"
"It's good that you don't know." Luo Yining nodded. She was really indifferent to Xie Yun and was about to enter the mansion.
Xie Yun stood quietly behind her for a long time. Thinking of his nonchalant sneer when she exposed him, and the calmness with which he stood up and adjusted his sleeves, she sighed and murmured, "In fact, he has never felt that there is any meaning in living. Even now... he doesn't care about death. Who knows what he is thinking? Wanting something but not getting it is probably the most painful thing in the world." She seemed to be talking to herself, and didn't expect Luo Yining to understand anything. She turned around and glanced at Luo Yining and said, "Sorry to bother you. Goodbye."
After saying that, Xie Yun straightened her dress and asked the maid to help her back to Cheng's house.
Luo Yining was stunned for a moment, and finally walked back to the door.
At dawn, Lu Jiaxue was about to be taken away from her arms. She knelt on the ground and did not let go. With Lu Jiaxue's injuries, he could not have survived in prison.
Luo Shenyuan said nothing. When he was pressed to the limit, he pinched her chin and said word by word: "I promised to spare his life, so he will definitely not die, understand?"
In the morning mist, Luo Yining could still see the army lurking ahead. The scene was solemn, and the cold arrowheads were even covered with a layer of frost.
The man in front of him had a face covered with frost.
Luo Yining cried until she closed her eyes and said nothing more. The warmth of Lu Jiaxue that remained in her hands gradually faded away.
She walked towards Jiashu Hall, covered in blood. Lu Jiaxue's, others'. A sleepless night, draining her of energy and discomfort. Her steps grew increasingly unsteady, and she cried as she walked, practically wailing. She cried out all the pain, and Zhenzhu was so frightened she held onto her, afraid to speak.
"Ma'am, don't cry! It's okay!"
Luo Yining curled up and knelt on the ground. The cold gravel road stung his knees and hurt them.
She was afraid she would never be able to repay the debt she owed to others. Because her heart was only one, she would never change once she loved Luo Shenyuan. This was what she owed Lu Jiaxue. But asking Luo Shenyuan to let Lu Jiaxue go was indeed putting him in a difficult position. For him, political principles were unchangeable. But he still agreed.
He took advantage of her tactic and aimed his arrow at her. In fact, when he asked the archer to release the arrow, he must have been indifferent.
Someone walked slowly up to her.
It was Daoyan who had just returned from the palace, with dried blood stains on his boots.
His voice was indifferent: "I heard...you threatened Luo Shenyuan to let Lu Jiaxue go by threatening me?"
Luo Yining didn't say anything and slowly clenched his hands.
"You can do it. You're very brave." Dao Yan half-knelt down, a stern smile on his face. "Did your mind waver when you saw the Jinyiwei kidnapping you? Do you think it was my junior brother who did it? That's why you dare to say these things. I planned to force you into the palace. I guessed you were very important to Lu Jiaxue...but I didn't expect him to really give up everything to save you. Lu Jiaxue is also a great hero, and yet he is so sentimental."
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