The sharp clash of swords and sabers endlessly continued among the cries of the guards, as the sounds of blades slashing through flesh and skin lingered in Yan Mu’s ears.
Yan Mu’s fingers were ice-cold, and her body was slightly trembling.
Through the gap in the curtain, she saw one guard fall after another.
The streets were stained red with blood, and the air was filled with the smell of it.
The difference in numbers between the two sides was too greatā this was a completely one-sided massacre!
Seeing a blade cut through the air, about to decapitate a soldier, Yan Mu finally couldnāt sit still.
āIf I go with you, will you spare these people?ā Yan Mu tightened the fox fur cloak around her, trying to keep her voice calm.
Dressed in a fox fur cloak, the young girlās dark hair fluttered in the air, making her skin look even more jade-like.
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āYkpp Zydā¦ā¦ā Rxrlakyz Vbupknkyd Nkwāp lulp olal qkzzle okvb osaau.
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Yan Mu nodded.
At least, this way, Hua Ping would be safe.
Yan Mu felt somewhat relieved.
The young leader didnāt deliberately make things difficult for Yan Mu.
Yan Mu had her own thoughts and subtly inquired about the current situation of the battle between Chu Cong and Chu Hui.
He turned his head to look at Yan Mu, his eyes filled with a touch of pity.
Before Yan Mu could understand the meaning behind his expression, he pushed her into the carriage.
Yan Mu estimated that they had around fifty men, so she didn’t have the confidence to jump out of the carriage and escape.
After much thought, she decided to stay in the carriage to wait and see according to the situation.
The carriage moved swiftly. The sound of the wheels and clattering of hooves echoing throughout the streets, sounding particularly eerie on this silent, snowy day. Yan Mu felt like the path the carriage was taking was familiar. Looking closer, she realized that this was actually the road leading to the palace.
Her heart immediately tightened.
Why did the Eldest Prince capture her and take her to the palace?
She could vaguely guess that the Eldest Prince had captured her to threaten Chu Cong and Yu Yuan.
But she hadnāt expected him to directly take her to the palace.
Does this mean that the Eldest Prince has become impatient, and is starting to mobilize troops to force the emperor to abdicate?
Yan Mu was shocked.
She became increasingly worried for Yu Yuan and Chu Cong.
The carriage slowly came to a stop, and following the instructions of the young leader, Yan Mu stepped down from the carriage.
āMiss Yan, the palace is highly guarded, so pardon my offense,ā The young leader whispered, then he drew out his sword and pressed it against her neck.
The blade was sharp, and even a light graze left a red mark on her skin. Yan Mu was thus coerced and brought to the Eldest Prince.
They were in a tall tower. To the south seemed to be where Chu Cong was located, as the soldiers were dressed in different uniforms.
The north appeared to be occupied by Chu Hui.
Looking down from the tall tower, everyone appeared tiny, like ants.
Yan Mu squinted her eyes, struggling to spot Yu Yuan among the ant-sized crowd of people.
Unfortunately, the distance was too far. Yan Mu searched for a long time but still couldnāt catch a glimpse of him.
She grew increasingly worried.
Upon hearing them enter, the Eldest Prince turned around, and his gaze fell upon Yan Muās face.
The Eldest Prince suddenly laughed. āMiss Yan is indeed extraordinary. Despite such severe burns, you actually recovered like nothing happened.ā
His appearance seemed somewhat disheveled, and a strong viciousness could be seen in his eyes.
Yan Mu pursed her lips and didnāt speak.
The Eldest Prince forcefully pulled Yan Mu towards him, showing no pity or tender love towards a woman.
He roughly bound Yan Mu up.
āMiss Yan, can you guess what I am tying you up for?ā Chu Huiās face was filled with deep malice.
Yan Mu turned her head away, quietly protesting with her silence.
Chu Hui didnāt mind and just laughed, then with a strong push, he pushed Yan Mu off the tower.
A sudden sense of weightlessness came over her, and wind rushed past her ears.
Yan Mu had already cursed the Eldest Prince countless times in her heart.
She closed her eyes tight, her lips pale.
Am I going to fall to my death so inexplicably like this?
Iā¦ā¦ still havenāt seen Yu Yuan for one last time.
I still havenāt married Yu Yuan yet.
Just as Yan Mu thought she was about to die, a force pulled her from behind, and she stopped falling.
Yan Mu tremblingly opened her eyes, only to realize that there was still a rope tied behind her.
The rope wasnāt thick, only about the width of an adult’s index finger.
The other end of the rope was tied to a load-bearing pillar, suspending Yan Mu in the air.
Through the whistling wind, Yan Mu seemed to hear the Eldest Princeās mocking laughter from above.
Meanwhile, her suspension caused a commotion on Chu Cong’s side.
Within moments, she saw a familiar figure charging towards her on a horse.
It was Yu Yuan.
There was also a group of soldiers behind him, and Yan Mu recognized several familiar faces among them.
Yu Yuan looked grim, Yan Mu had never seen his expression look so terrible before.
She smiled reassuringly at him, wondering if he could see it from such a distance.
Through the whistling wind, she seemed to hear Chu Hui preparing to go negotiate with Yu Yuan.
Unexpectedly, Yu Yuan didn’t wait for him to arrive and rushed in with his men.
This troop seemed to be Chu Congās elite unit, not large in number, but all highly skilled in combat.
Yu Yuan was like a hot knife through butter1åæå¦ē “ē«¹ (shƬrĆŗpĆ²zhĆŗ) – like splitting a bamboo (idiom); with irresistible force; overpowering, leading his troop straight into Chu Huiās camp.
Chu Cong’s army also followed closely behind, charging in with Yu Yuan.
All of this happened in an instant, and Chu Hui didn’t even have time to threaten Yu Yuan with Yan Mu.
Dressed in military uniform, the teenager on horseback stood beneath the city tower and looked up at Yan Mu.
Yu Yuan’s armor was stained with blood, and the black-and-red armor made his face look even paler.
Yan Mu wanted to comfort Yu Yuan, but she didn’t know what to say.
Chu Hui had already broken out in a cold sweat when he caught sight of Yu Yuan. He clutched the rope holding Yan Mu like a drowning person clinging to the last piece of driftwood.
āIf you take one step forward, Iāll kill this woman!ā Chu Huiās voice was filled with both anger and alarm.
He didnāt expect that using Yan Mu as a hostage would only further ignite Yu Yuan and Chu Congās fighting spirit. Chu Hui inwardly cursed his own miscalculation.
He stared intently at Yu Yuan, only to see Yu Yuan remain silent for a moment before moving forward again.
Becoming anxious, Chu Hui snatched a sword from a guard beside him and slashing it at the rope holding Yan Mu.
āAhhh!!!!!!ā The snap of the rope echoed, and Yan Mu suddenly dropped down. Her scream successfully halted Yu Yuan’s footsteps.
Fortunately, with that strike, the rope only broke halfway. Although Yan Mu was still hanging in the air, at least she wouldn’t fall just yet. She was both relieved and afraid, but still struggled to hold back her tears.
āYu Yuan, did you see that?ā Chu Hui shouted from above, āIf you dare to step forward again, this woman really will fall.ā
Yan Mu lowered her head to look at Yu Yuan, and coincidentally, Yu Yuan also looked up at her.
The moment she saw Yu Yuan’s face clearly, the tears in Yan Mu’s eyes could no longer be held back and streamed down her cheeks.
Drip.
A teardrop fell from Yan Mu’s eye, landing on Yu Yuan’s face.
The fallen teardrop on his face was cold, but it only fueled the flames in Yu Yuan’s heart even more.
He reached out to wipe away the tear.
His eyes grew darker and darker.
Concerned, Yu Yuan didnāt step forward again.
āWhat do you want me to do?ā Yu Yuan asked, facing Chu Hui.
āTake off your armor,ā Chu Hui hurriedly said, seeing the situation turn in his favor.
At his words, Yu Yuan actually took off his armor.
While removing his armor, Yu Yuan’s gaze never left Yan Mu.
Although they were too far apart to see each other’s expressions clearly, Yan Mu could still sense the tangible guilt and concern emanating from Yu Yuan.
Idiot.
What is he feeling guilty about?
Yan Mu felt bittersweet.
Seeing Yu Yuan remove his armor, the archers on the tower aimed their bows and arrows towards him.
āNo!ā Yan Mu hurriedly shouted, āHis Second Highnessās army has already reached the tower gate. Killing Yu Yuan wonāt change anything.ā
However, the Eldest Prince sneered and said, āSo what? Iād still be making a dent in their numbers.ā
The thought of all the losses he sustained because of Yu Yuan made the Eldest Prince’s heart ache.
His gaze grew colder, but he said to Yan Mu, “But you’re right. I shouldn’t kill him off so easily.”
He waved his hand, and the archers lowered their bows.
āYu Yuan, if you do three kneels and nine kowtows2äøå©ä¹ę (sÄnkĆ²u jiĒbĆ i) – In the most solemn of ceremonies, for example at the coronation of a new Emperor, the Emperor’s subjects would undertake the ceremony of the “three kneelings and nine kowtows”, the so-called grand kowtow, which involves kneeling from a standing position three times, and each time, performing the kowtow three times while kneeling. (Source: Wikipediaā Kowtow) to me, Iāll let this woman go,ā Chu Hui said.
āYu Yuan, donāt listen to him!!!ā Yan Muās heart grew increasingly anxious.
The āthree kneels and nine kowtowsā was a solemn ceremony only performed when a new emperor ascended to the throne. If Yu Yuan really did it, how should he handle himself in the future once Chu Cong ascended the throne?
How could Chu Hui humiliate Yu Yuan like this?!
Yan Mu felt a mix of both sadness and anger in her heart.
She stared intensely at Yu Yuan.
Yu Yuanās figure froze in place, surrounded by countless corpses.
The teenager sat alone on horseback, resembling a tragic painting.
After a moment, Yan Mu saw Yu Yuan’s body move, and he simply got off his horse.
Yan Mu saw Yu Yuan raise his head to look at her, his mouth slightly moving.
Perhaps their hearts were linked as one3åæęēµē (xÄ«n yĒu lĆngxÄ«) – just as the proverbial rhinoceros communicates emotion telepathically through his single horn (idiom); fig. two hearts beat as one, Yan Mu could actually read his lips.
āAh Mu, I wonāt let anything happen to youā, Yu Yuan had said.
This fool is really prepared to give up everything for me!
In an instant, a surge of emotions overwhelmed her.
Countless words gathered on the tip of her tongue, yet she couldn’t find a way to fully express them.
The rope had slightly loosened due to the Eldest Princeās slash just now.
Yan Mu struggled to move her hands.
The rough rope rubbed her skin so raw it burned, but Yan Mu couldnāt care less about the pain.
With all her strength, she finally reached the dagger hidden in her clothes.
It was the dagger given to her by Yu Yuan.
She still remembered Yu Yuanās words, that if he ever had a change of heart, she could use it to dig out his heart.
Yan Mu caressed the rough surface of the dagger as if she were caressing Yu Yuan’s rough palm.
Yu Yuan’s expression had grown anxious from the moment Yan Mu took out the dagger.
He seemed to have already guessed what Yan Mu was planning, and desperately tried to rush towards her.
However, the soldiers behind him held Yu Yuan back.
Yu Yuan struggled frantically, his eyes filled with darkness.
Yan Mu had never seen him so out of control.
āIām sorry, I canāt no longer accompany you for the rest of this lifeā¦ā¦ā
Yan Mu looked at Yu Yuan with longing and grief, wanting to etch his face forever in her mind.
She drew out the dagger, then cut the rope without hesitation.
Snap.
The snap of the rope echoed.
Instantly followed by a familiar sense of weightlessness.
She heard the sad cries of the goshawks, and the army that was holding motionless seemed to activate.
Countless arrows shot out, and swords and sabers clashed.
Then finally, Yu Yuan broke free from the soldiers and charged over like a madman.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
The author has something to say:
The female lead is dead, so the story is done (Of course not, Iām the biological mother4In other words, sheās the author. , hahahaha)
Edited by: Gaze
*eating melon seeds and waiting for the YYās POV*
Ah, youngstersā¦
Thank you for the translation!
I keep telling myself itās gotta have a happy endingā¦ just not sure about how, thoughā¦ next ch, please come quickly!!