Looking at Xie Lingqin, Yuwen Yao felt as if he were standing in an ice cellar. He slowly approached her, a hint of sadness in his eyes, "Qing'er, are you really going to abandon me? I..."
Xie Lingqin simply looked at him without saying a word.
Yuwen Yao was heartbroken. "Yes, you're right. I could have stopped it, I could have had someone inform you, but... that would have meant you and the Emperor would have officially moved from the shadows into the open, standing on opposite sides, Qin'er..."
Yuwen Yao's expression was solemn. "You are still too weak to fight back. You will only be throwing your life away. Scholar Ning was a pawn of the Emperor a few years ago. The Emperor will definitely not spare him. Even if you risk your life to save him today, you cannot save him forever. No matter what, the Emperor will not let him live..."
Xie Lingqin's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Yuwen Yao. "I know. I thought I could protect them, but I couldn't. Instead, the Emperor killed two birds with one stone, eliminating this pawn he used at will and giving me a thorough warning."
Xie Lingqin smiled bitterly, "Yuwen Yao, it's already difficult enough that I'm alive, but I've fallen in love with you, which makes it even more difficult for me to move forward."
"Don't be afraid as long as I'm here."
Yuwen Yao pulled Xie Lingqin into his arms. "Qin'er, I'm sorry, please don't give up on me."
"No, you have nothing to apologize for. The Emperor summoned you to the palace specifically to control your movements and prevent me from receiving any messages. He was also testing you. If you reveal your hostility too early, he will strike first, and then you will be the one to die."
Xie Lingqin shook her head and stepped out of Yuwen Yao's embrace. "So, Yuwen Yao, I've made up my mind."
"don't want."
Yuwen Yao had never felt such fear before, staring into the girl's clear, unwavering eyes.
“Of course not,” Xie Lingqin said.
Yuwen Yao was suddenly taken aback, but then he saw the girl raise her smooth face slightly, with an unprecedented determination, "Since the Emperor is treating me like this, so unwilling to let me provoke his son, and has given me such a bloody warning, then I will go against the grain. In this life, I will take his son as my own. I will let him know that his son is bewitched by me, and I will make him so angry that he will die of anger."
Yuwen Yao's initial shock faded, replaced by astonishment. After a moment, his eyes darkened, revealing relief after the initial shock. He was both amused and exasperated, and immediately stepped forward to hug Xie Lingqin tightly. "Qin'er, thank you."
"If you thank me, then strive to become emperor, govern Beirong with integrity and uprightness, and never again... chill the hearts of loyal ministers."
Yuwen Yao nodded, his chin gently stroking Xie Lingqin's soft hair. "Even for you, I have to do this. Too many people have died unjustly."
"Today's events must have stirred up a lot of emotions in Liu Yunzhou. If you want to bring him under your wing, you must treat him with sincerity. After all, the Liu family is large and powerful, and they also have Consort Shu in the palace. Although they have no children now, they are still favored by the Emperor."
Yuwen Yao tightened his grip on Xie Lingzhu's hand. "Qin'er, you don't need to plan for me. I just need one day for you to be able to relax and be happy in my arms."
"So you need to try harder."
"I will."
Yuwen Yao held Xie Lingqin tightly, tighter and tighter, as if he could knead her into his very flesh and blood.
Qin'er, I so hope that in the future, no matter what happens, even if...
You can trust me and stay by my side, okay?
Once I fall in love, I realize that for the rest of my life, I only want to take care of you.
But I still have a very, very long way to go to support you.
I once thought I stood above the heavens, free from desires and ambitions, having cultivated myself to be invincible. But now, you are my Achilles' heel.
For you, I would gladly slaughter the entire world.
"By the way, do you know about the mechanisms in the imperial tombs?"
Xie Lingqin suddenly looked up and asked.
"I'm going to take this in. I was wondering if the man in the black robe would only appear if I sent this into the imperial mausoleum," Xie Lingqin added.
A faint glint flashed in Yuwen Yao's eyes, but it disappeared when Xie Lingqin looked over. The next moment, he smiled, pursed his thin lips, and kissed Xie Lingqin's lips tightly.
The kiss fell like a gentle spring breeze, igniting a pool of flames, and easing some of the burden in my heart.
"After the Emperor bestows the marriage upon you, I will personally take you to the Imperial Mausoleum, shall I?"
"good."
...
The next day.
No information has been released regarding the massacre of Ning Xiucai's entire academy.
Clearly, the Emperor has issued an order forbidding any unauthorized statements.
After all, people from various countries have been arriving one after another, and if they hear about this, it will be bad for Beirong's reputation.
Xie Lingqin didn't care about anything else and went to Ning Xiucai's courtyard by carriage early in the morning.
The yard has already been cleaned up.
However, the stench of blood in the air, and the carnage that once took place here, will not disappear.
"Squeak—"
In just one night, the wind kissed the door, and it began to creak heavily.
It seems that this place has become ruins and has been uninhabited for a long time.
Xie Lingqin stood in the center of the courtyard and set out incense, candles, paper money, and food.
"Although the revenge has not been taken, you should still make sure you have enough to eat before you set off."
Xie Lingqin lit incense and burned paper money.
"What a coincidence," a male voice said from outside the door.
Xie Lingqin turned around.
Dressed in a brocade robe with a loose belt and a jade crown on his head, he was quite dashing and handsome, and his complexion had improved considerably.
Xie Lingqin's complexion, however, darkened noticeably.
"I heard some things and thought I'd come and see, but I never expected to find you here, Lingqin."
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