Chapter 1: Then Why Don’t You Die With Me?

Chapter 1: Then Why Don't You Die With Me?

On the day the Gao family was executed, a torrential downpour lasted for hours, mixing with the blood of dozens of family members, flowing from the execution grounds to the streets of Chang'an.

The townsfolk found it ominous and hurried home, shutting their doors and windows tightly.

However, the day Gao Wenyan died was bright and sunny.

Lin Qian did not volunteer to oversee the execution, but he still came, dressed in plain clothes, sitting high above her, looking down with lowered eyes.

The bruise on his forehead was noticeable, inflicted by Gao Wenyan the day before.

Gao Wenyan despised this hypocritical man!

He wanted to be the son-in-law of the Gao family, having engaged to her, yet he betrayed them, accusing her father of treason, leading to the execution of the entire family!

Before the execution, Lin Qian even dared to approach her, claiming he would see her off one last time.

"Yan'er, don't be afraid."

Gao Wenyan stared at him intensely. As Lin Qian tried to smooth her hair, she suddenly lunged forward, pinning him to the ground with her knees.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and she choked him without mercy.

"Don't want to? Then why don't you die with me!"

It happened in an instant, and no one knew how she had broken free from her restraints.

Everyone present was stunned by Gao Wenyan's ferocity. By the time they reacted and intervened, Lin Qian was already turning blue. Had they been any later, he might have suffocated.

When Lin Qian was pulled away, he could only cough uncontrollably, unable to utter a complete sentence. The red marks on his neck showed the force she had used.

It took five people to finally subdue the enraged Gao Wenyan.

Just before the blade fell, Gao Wenyan saw someone riding towards her. Before she could make out the face, everything went dark.

"Miss! Miss! Are you having a nightmare?"

Gao Wenyan felt as if she had slept for a long time. She opened her eyes abruptly, seeing the familiar ceiling.

Bixi was startled by the lingering murderous intent in her eyes and worriedly asked, "Miss... Are you alright?"

Seeing Bixi's concerned face, Gao Wenyan felt momentarily disoriented.

The Emperor had decreed that all female members of the Gao family be sent to military camps. On the day the decree was issued, her mother and the other women committed suicide to prove their innocence. Bixi had also died in her arms.

"Bixi? How...?"

Gao Wenyan quickly got out of bed and looked around, confirming she was in her room at the General's residence.

She was surprised; she should have been executed.

"Go find out where Lin Qian is."

All she wanted now was to exact revenge on Lin Qian.

After instructing Bixi, Gao Wenyan headed to the armory, retrieving her favorite spear, the Red Tassel Lance, without delay.

The servants had never seen her like this, too intimidated to breathe, let alone try to stop her.

"What are you doing!"

Gao Wenyan stopped at the sound of the familiar rebuke.

"Father?"

She turned around, seeing the furious General Gao, with her elder brother Gao Wenxi standing beside him.

"Brother? You're both alright?"

She rushed over, wanting to touch them to confirm they were real.

General Gao grunted, "What trouble could we possibly be in? We're lucky not to be dead from your antics."

"Father hasn't punished you yet, and you're crying?"

Gao Wenyan wiped her tears, choking back sobs.

"I'm just so happy."

Gao Wenxi thought it was another trick to avoid punishment and said, "Yes, Father. Yan'er hasn't seen us in a year."

Everyone knew he was trying to soften General Gao's heart, but when Gao Wenyan shed tears, General Gao's anger melted away.

"What are you planning to do?"

General Gao pointed at the spear in her hand.

Gao Wenyan remembered Bixi's words. Perhaps this was all just a nightmare?

She hid the spear behind her back and smiled, "I was going to practice martial arts."

"Practicing martial arts doesn't require such a commotion. Someone might think you're going to kill someone."

Gao Wenyan felt guilty but still defended herself.

"No, nothing like that!"

"Aunt Song is here, accompanying Mother to admire the lotuses. Do you want to see them?"

Gao Wenyan naturally accepted this opportunity and said she would go to pay her respects to Aunt Song right away.

Bixi found her and said that Lin Qian had left early in the morning, and even the servants in the mansion didn't know where he had gone.

"Alright. Let's go pay our respects to Mother and Aunt Song."

"I heard that this morning a twin-lotus bloomed in the mansion. Madam was very happy and immediately sent someone to invite the Marchioness to admire the flowers."

A twin-lotus?

Gao Wenyan's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly asked, "What is today's date?"

"Miss, it's the eighth day of the sixth month."

She was shocked; time had changed!

A year ago, the day her father and elder brother returned to the Capital was the morning of the eighth day of the sixth month! It was also the turning point of everything!

Gao Wenyan's heart pounded like thunder as she rushed towards Lotus Pond.

It wasn't enough, not enough!

She needed more evidence to prove that she had returned to a year ago, to prove that what she knew had indeed happened!

Finally reaching Lotus Pond, Gao Wenyan stopped ten meters away, hesitating to move forward.

She remembered her mother's death vividly.

At that time, the pillar was covered in blood, and Lady Gao looked in her direction before passing away without uttering a final word.

Gao Wenyan's heart sank; she already understood—what evidence did she need?

Those scenes were too shocking to be just a dream.

Lady Gao wore a light green lotus skirt and sat in the pavilion, fanning herself with a round fan. She smiled pleasantly, likely due to something the Marchioness had said.

"Wenyan? Why are you standing there like a fool? Come over and greet your Aunt Song."

She clenched her fists and responded, "Yes! Coming!"

"Greetings, Aunt Song."

Gao Wenyan bowed respectfully to Lady Song and then turned to gently hug her mother.

"Oh! You're still so fond of being spoiled."

Lady Gao complained but picked out the largest green grape and put it in her mouth.

However, after hugging for a while, the moment of maternal affection passed.

"Aren't you going to let go? It's so hot."

"Oh."

She awkwardly touched her nose.

Bixi nudged her and pointed to the twin-lotus in the pond, whispering, "Miss, look! The twin-lotus is so beautiful!"

Gao Wenyan looked over, and a twin-lotus bloomed brilliantly in the pool.

Her face immediately turned cold; if nothing went wrong, something would go wrong soon.

When the cloud above them passed and sunlight shone on the water again, everyone would see the lake beneath the twin-lotus shimmering gold, resembling two golden dragons.

Three months later, a children's rhyme would spread throughout the Capital.

"Yellow autumn sand, playing the lute, twin dragons play with twin flowers."

At that time, the Emperor would be furious and find an excuse to confine her father to the Capital, forbidding him from returning to the border without imperial decree.

This would be followed by a nine-month investigation, during which false evidence against the Gao family would be uncovered one by one.

In the end, the Gao family was found guilty of treason, and the entire family was executed.