Under the cold moonlight, the silver-like sword pointed at Li Yaoying, shining with a cold light.

Li Xuanzhen stood on the stone steps, and Yao Ying stood in front of them.

Only a few steps away.

The long sword in the man's hand only needed to move forward a little more to cut the young lady's delicate skin.

Yaoying slowly raised her curtains, a hint of a smile passing across her face.

"Is Brother Changsheng going to kill A Yue?"

She asked softly, with green hair, rosy face, long eyelashes, and a pair of dark eyes that were as clear as autumn water.

When she was little, she liked to look up at people like this, blinking her big, long eyes. Her makeup was perfect, her face was round and smooth, like a pearl emitting a soft luster. When she was acting coquettishly with people, her curled eyelashes flickered gently, and every flicker seemed to sparkle in people's hearts.

When she looked over with a smile, few people could refuse her request.

So when she smiled and called him Brother Changsheng and asked him to help her make a clay figure, he nodded and agreed.

The clay figurine was a gift she was going to give to Li Zhongqian.

Li Xuanzhen's wrist trembled slightly. The moonlight cast a faint shadow on his face, making it impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.

Zheng Biyu looked confused.

The name "Brother Changsheng" sounded very familiar to her.

Li Xuanzhen's nickname was Zhang. Tang was afraid that he would not survive, so he gave him a common name with auspicious meaning: Changshengnu.

In the past, only Tang called Li Xuanzhen like this. Later, Tang was gone, and the only person in the world who could call Li Xuanzhen by his nickname like this was Zhu Luyun.

How did the Seventh Princess know Li Xuanzhen’s nickname?

Zheng Biyu hesitated for a moment and said, "Da Lang..."

Before he could say anything to dissuade them, Li Xuanzhen's face darkened and he said in a cold voice, "All of you go down."

Zheng Biyu frowned and looked back at Yao Ying. Seeing that she was calm and composed, he became more and more confused, but he did not show it on his face. He left with the palace maids and eunuchs.

The evening breeze gently strokes the bamboo-frame lanterns under the porch, and the hazy light sways slowly.

Yaoying took a step forward.

The tip of the sword was only half a finger away from her creamy neck, and she seemed to be able to feel the cold murderous intent of the sword that was thirsty for human blood.

There was no expression in her eyes. She held up the hem of her skirt, without blinking, and continued walking forward.

Li Xuanzhen gripped his sword tightly, staring down at her, motionless.

Yaoying stepped onto the stone steps.

With a ding sound, just as the sword was about to kiss her neck, Li Xuanzhen suddenly retracted the sword and took a step back. The tip of the sword scraped the ground, making a strange, ear-piercing sound.

He said nothing, looked away, and dropped the sword.

"Don't call me that."

Li Xuanzhen said coldly.

Yao Ying stared at the long sword that looked like a handful of fine snow in the light, lost in thought for a moment, and then changed her tone and said, "Brother."

Li Xuanzhen looked indifferent.

Yao Ying then changed the topic: "Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Xuanzhen still didn't respond to her. He was silent for a while and asked, "Why do you want to see me?"

Yao Ying said firmly: "I think the Eastern Palace must have heard the news Xie Chao sent back."

Most of the military generals were from humble backgrounds, and Li Xuanzhen was the one that the humble backgrounds were vying to serve. Nearly half of the generals in the court had fought alongside him. They maintained close contacts with the Eastern Palace, and any intelligence on the battlefield could not be hidden from the Eastern Palace.

Yaoying sought help from all parties, but received no response. It must be that Donggong spoke first, so no one dared to lend her a helping hand.

Li Xuanzhen said nothing.

Yao Ying knew that he had admitted it and clenched her fingers.

As expected, Donggong knew that Li Zhongqian was now surrounded and it was urgent to send reinforcements without delay.

Li Xuanzhen smiled and said in a mocking tone: "Seventh sister wants me to save Li Zhongqian? Don't waste your breath."

Asking him to save Li Zhongqian is simply a fool's dream!

In fact, not only will Donggong not help rescue people, he also intends to take this opportunity to eliminate the trouble forever.

Even if Li Yaoying took out the clay figurine, he would not help to save his enemy's son.

"I know His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will definitely not agree."

Yao Ying spoke in a dry voice and calm expression, "So let's make a deal. You send the flying cavalry to rescue my brother, and I will marry into the Yelu tribe in place of Princess Fukang. How do you do that?"

The Riders only obey his orders.

The night wind blows gently, and the light shadows sway under the bamboo lantern.

Li Xuanzhen's pupils shrank and he lowered his eyes to look at Yao Ying with a look of shock, anger and hatred.

"What qualifications do you have to make a deal with me?"

He turned his face away, as if with disdain.

"I understand. Your Highness the Crown Prince hates my mother and my brother. Your Highness thinks that it was my mother who forced the Queen of Tang to death. You once said that you wanted my mother to also experience the feeling of being humiliated."

Yao Ying lowered her head, straightened her sleeves, and knelt down straight in front of Li Xuanzhen.

The corridor paved with Capricorn-pattern tiles was hard and cold, and my knees ached slightly through the layers of gauze.

Yao Ying knelt straight and raised her head, "I am taking the humiliation in front of Your Highness on behalf of my mother. Do you feel happy about this?"

Li Xuanzhen looked at her in surprise, his face twitching slightly.

Yao Ying knelt without moving, facing his sarcastic gaze, her face expressionless.

"Can we make a deal now?"

she asked, her tone calm.

Li Xuanzhen remained silent even longer this time. He took a step forward and lifted Yaoying's chin with his cool fingers.

The rough fingertips rubbed the skin, like the back of a knife scraping.

Yao Ying recalled how these hands had pinched her throat, making it impossible for her to breathe, and she couldn't help but shudder slightly.

Li Xuanzhen looked down at her with a cold gaze: "Seventh sister, if you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?"

Yao Ying looked back calmly, with a firm expression, not wavering at all.

Just like the expression she had when she turned around and left without looking back when he gave her the chance to choose.

Li Xuanzhen clenched his fingers tightly: "Seventh sister, I gave you a chance."

Yao Ying met Li Xuanzhen's cold gaze and smiled slightly. Although she was kneeling, her aura did not diminish at all: "Your Highness, my mother is the daughter of Xie, and my brother is Li Zhongqian. This will never, never change."

She was born with deficiencies, and she was able to survive before she was three years old, thanks to Xie Manyuan who took care of her day and night.

After she was three years old, Li Zhongqian took care of her and raised her, taught her to read and write, and rescued her from the battlefield. The two siblings depended on each other for survival.

Her mother and brother were her relatives, and she would not sever ties with Li Zhongqian for the sake of self-protection, even if doing so would completely anger Li Xuanzhen.

Li Xuanzhen twitched the corner of his mouth, let go of his hand and turned his back.

"Li Zhongqian won't live for many days, so I don't need to make a deal with you. Without Li Zhongqian's protection, even if Pei Gong can persuade the emperor to withdraw his marriage decree, I can still force you to agree to marry in his place. Seventh sister, you are still not qualified to make a deal with me."

Pei Gong's method of saving Yao Ying was an open conspiracy, which could only persuade the emperor to abolish the imperial edict granting the marriage, but it could not prevent other people from making secret plans.

Now that Li Zhongqian is in trouble, Wei Ming has his own way to force Yao Ying to marry in his place.

She was just a woman, and having lost her only support, she was unable to compete with the Eastern Palace.

He is not even qualified to trade with the East Palace.

Yao Ying said calmly: "Can Zhu Luyun wait? Can His Majesty wait? How long can Chief Yelu wait?"

The wedding date was getting closer, and she sent someone to inquire about it. It turned out that Zhu Luyun was crying all day long. How could Li Xuanzhen bear to let Zhu Luyun suffer in fear all the time?

"Besides, even if Wei Ming can come up with a way to force me to nod, how can he guarantee that I will do so willingly?"

Yao Ying said pointedly, "If something happens to me, if I accidentally disfigure myself, or if I unfortunately die... as long as there is the slightest mistake, all of Wei Ming's schemes and tricks will be useless. You can't force me, and in the entire Wei Dynasty, I am the only one who can replace Princess Fukang."

Li Xuanzhen's face was gloomy.

Yao Ying was worried about Li Zhongqian's safety and didn't want to get entangled with Li Xuanzhen any more. She stood up and patted the hem of her skirt: "Your Highness, please send out the flying cavalry immediately. As long as my brother returns to the capital safely, I will keep my promise and marry him in his place. I always keep my word and will not go back on my word."

"I will only wait for half an incense stick. If the Flying Cavalry still doesn't leave after half an incense stick, no matter how Wei Ming threatens me, I will never marry for him even if I die."

Li Xuanzhen frowned.

Yao Ying did not urge him, but stood aside and waited for him to make a decision.

After a moment, she suddenly covered her chest tightly with a look of pain, staggered two steps, and a streak of blood flowed from her lips.

Li Xuanzhen was stunned for a moment, then he grabbed Yaoying's arm and forced her to raise her head: "What's wrong with you?"

Yaoying's face was pale and her whole body was shaking. Sweat soaked through layers of clothes and her hair was soaked with sweat. Under the light, she glowed with a soft, moist light and looked like she had been pulled out of the water.

Li Xuanzhen half hugged her and felt her soft body quickly become cold and without any warmth.

"Are you ill?"

A few drops of sweat appeared on the tip of his nose. He felt a little helpless and patted Yaoying's face gently.

Yao Ying's limbs were limp, and she leaned in his arms. She raised her hand to wipe the blood from the corner of her lips, and slowly raised her face.

Li Xuanzhen looked down at her.

Yao Ying's lips were black, and her face was pale, but a smile gradually appeared on her lips. She shivered in pain and said, "You agreed."

Li Xuanzhen was stunned.

Yao Ying was trembling all over, her face was covered with sweat, her teeth were chattering, and her haggard face now had the brightest glow it had seen in days.

"Li Xuanzhen, you have agreed to the deal."

She felt that she had once again prevented Li Zhongqian from being destined to die in battle, so she was punished again.

My brother is saved.

…

When Zheng Biyu saw Li Yaoying again, she was lying in Li Xuanzhen's arms, breathing weakly and her face slightly blue.

"How did it become like this in the blink of an eye?"

Zheng Biyu looked at her husband with a sharp look in her eyes, "Did you hurt Qi Niang?"

Li Xuanzhen shook his head and put Yaoying down: "I didn't hurt her, she just vomited blood for no reason."

Zheng Biyu hurried Li Xuanzhen out and immediately asked for a doctor to come and treat Yao Ying.

Li Xuanzhen turned around to leave, tightening his sleeves.

He turned around.

Yao Ying clutched his sleeve tightly, her fingers turning white from the force, and she lay on the bed, weakly saying, "Flying... Flying Cavalry..."

Li Xuanzhen looked at her and pulled back his sleeve expressionlessly.

"I have sent the Flying Cavalry out."

Yaoying slowly closed her eyes.

The doctor came over with a medicine box soon, but couldn't find anything wrong with Yaoying, so he could only prescribe some sedatives for her.

Zheng Biyu was extremely worried, fearing that something might happen to Yaoying, so he personally took care of her.

The next morning, Yaoying woke up from her coma and struggled to get out of bed despite the doctors' objections.

She couldn't stay in the East Palace for long.

Zheng Biyu had already learned about the deal between Yao Ying and Li Xuanzhen. He sighed and helped her up: "Qiniang, have you really thought it through?"

Wei Ming and Li Xuanzhen had an argument last night.

Wei Ming was unwilling to save Li Zhongqian, but Li Xuanzhen insisted on doing so, and the two argued about this until late at night.

The servants in the princess's mansion were delighted and ran back to the mansion overnight to report the news. This morning, the palace maids came over and told them that Zhu Luyun was willing to eat.

Yao Ying's face was still as pale as snow. She smiled bitterly and said, "Sister-in-law, when the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact? If my brother really dies in the river valley, my mother and I will be left alone, and we will be at the mercy of others. By then, I won't even have anything to trade with."

All members of the Xie family died in the battle, and Concubine Xie lost her support, leaving the three of them at the mercy of others.

In order to protect her and her mother, Li Zhongqian gave up his literary career and took up military service, following Li De in battles across the country, using his brutality and ferocity on the battlefield to frighten evil spirits.

In the troubled times, Li Zhongqian was the support for Concubine Xie and her.

Without her brother, she would either marry obediently or resist to death.

Since the ending is the same, she might as well take charge of the transaction herself in exchange for Li Zhongqian's safety.

As long as she can save her brother, Yao Ying can sacrifice anything.

Zheng Biyu sighed and sent her out of the inner courtyard.

Li Xuanzhen had just returned from the princess's mansion. He was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday, and his expression could not be described as good, nor bad.

He looked at Yao Ying, frowning slightly: "You are sick, why are you still walking around?"

Yao Ying's face turned pale, and she smiled weakly, "Don't worry, elder brother. As long as my brother is safe, I will keep my promise and complete the marriage contract between the Wei Dynasty and the Yelu tribe. Even if I die of illness, I will survive the wedding day."

Li Xuanzhen's face darkened.

Yao Ying slowed down, raised her eyelids, and looked into Li Xuanzhen's eyes which were very similar to those of Li Zhongqian.

"Li Xuanzhen, I bowed my head to you, made a deal with you, and knelt before you, not because I felt my mother was guilty or that we owed you anything, but because of the law of the jungle, and I had no choice but to do so."

"I never thought that it was my mother who forced the Tang empress to death. The tragedy between them was a mess of injustices that could not be untangled in the chaotic world. My second brother was even more innocent. He never hurt you and your son. It was only because he was my mother's son and threatened your position that you regarded him as a thorn in your side and Your Majesty was angry with him."

Li Xuanzhen said nothing, and watched Yao Ying walk away weakly step by step until her frail figure disappeared into the depths of the forest.

…

Yao Ying struggled to walk out of the courtyard.

Xie Qing stepped forward quickly and helped her into the carriage.

"My lord, are you going back to the palace?"

Yaoying shook her head and spoke in a voice as thin as a thread: "No, we go into the palace."

She is about to marry far away on the grassland.

This departure will probably be a farewell forever.

Before leaving, all those old accounts must be settled one by one.

The author has something to say: Thanks to the little angels who cast mines: 杯酒枕惊鴻, 髮纓の豆腐愛读書, volcanoboo

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: JaneWu, Xie Zhinan; Fourteen, Jinjiang System 001, Qingshan, Jiuzhao 10 bottles; Li Xinyuan, the persimmon cake is delicious; the moon is short of electricity; Xixi