Chapter 434: The Monarch Like a Lone Bamboo

Chapter 434: A Lone Bamboo

"Xin You is leaving the capital!" Emperor Xingyuan hurriedly walked out, unable to say more.

Princess Royale Zhaoyang's face changed.

She wasn't surprised that Xin You would leave; she just didn't expect her brother to be so vigilant.

"Brother, what do you plan to do?" Princess Royale Zhaoyang quickly followed.

Emperor Xingyuan did not stop: "Of course, I will bring Xin You back."

On the official road leading west from the capital, Xin You refused the offer to change horses and slowly rode back.

The horse had been running for so long that it was already exhausted, and this pace allowed it to recover gradually.

The soldiers dared not urge her, following closely behind, blocking off any possible escape route.

To them, they dared not provoke this lady. Delivering her safely to their superiors would be a great achievement. As long as this princess remained unharmed, they wouldn't mind if she rode them instead of changing horses.

A group of riders approached at a gallop, reining in their horses as they drew near. Leading them was Zhao Feifan, the commander of the Imperial Guard.

"Miss Xin." Confirming it was indeed Xin You, Zhao Feifan bowed respectfully.

Xin You's tone was cool: "I didn't expect Commander Zhao to come as well."

Hearing this, Zhao Feifan's expression became subtle. With the intention of dissuading Xin You from fleeing, he revealed his true purpose: "It is my duty to come. Miss Xin may not know, but over ten thousand soldiers of the Imperial Guard have been on standby for months, all for your sake. I received the signal just now and dared not delay for a moment."

With such forces and arrangements, if Miss Xin were to escape, he would have no choice but to present his head to the Emperor.

At this moment, Zhao Feifan felt a great sense of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. The constant vigilance and precaution without a definite end was the most exhausting part. Now that Miss Xin knew that the passes and key routes around the capital were already as tightly sealed as walls of copper, she surely couldn't be thinking of running anymore?

"Several months ago," Xin You murmured, suddenly asking Zhao Feifan, "Commander Zhao, did you receive your mission in October?"

Zhao Feifan was taken aback. Though he avoided answering, his change in expression confirmed Xin You's guess.

Xin You's lips twitched, her heart turning cold.

October, that was when he proposed to establish an empress.

Establishing Lady Zhou as the Empress Consort, he declared to all officials and nobles his intention to make the Third Prince the crown prince. He knew she would be disappointed and would want to leave. He understood everything, and his actions involved deploying thousands of soldiers from the Capital Garrison to create a web of control, intending to lock her up for life.

Xin You said no more.

At this point, she had nothing left to say, only a deep sense of despair. This despair wasn't because she might be trapped in the capital forever, but because of him.

Traveling from west to east, the scenery along the way, which she hadn't noticed when leaving the city, now came into full view: endless brown earth and withered branches yet to sprout new buds.

Unlike the south, where winter still brought greenery, the capital region in the first lunar month had not yet shed its winter desolation and barrenness.

It wasn't yet the time for spring warmth and blossoms.

Xin You gripped the reins tightly, feeling a sharp pain in her palms.

Zhao Feifan rode beside Xin You, spotting a group of horsemen in the distance. His face showed shock at first, then he quickly dismounted and hurried forward on foot.

Xin You watched as Emperor Xingyuan drew near, gradually coming to a stop.

The soldiers, led by Zhao Feifan, knelt in a row, shouting their greetings to the emperor.

Xin You sat on her horse, unmoving.

Apart from the imperial guards, Emperor Xingyuan was not alone; with him were Princess Royale Zhaoyang and He Qingxiao.

Emperor Xingyuan was also mounted on a horse.

Father and daughter locked eyes, and everyone else fell silent. The cold wind blew from all directions, lifting the embroidered dragon on Emperor Xingyuan's robes and stirring the male attire Xin You wore.

Emperor Xingyuan looked at his daughter, who had returned to her true appearance but still dressed as a man, feeling a heavy heart.

"Aiyou—" he called out, urging his horse forward, "Why must you leave?"

At this moment, Xin You no longer bothered to maintain the pretense of warmth and replied coldly, "I can stay, but Your Majesty has not given me what I want, have you?"

"Aiyou, reality is not a storybook. I understand what you want, but I truly cannot give it to you."

"So I didn't insist, did I?" Xin You raised her head slightly, "I just want to leave."

"I know," Emperor Xingyuan paused for a moment before speaking frankly, "But I don't want you to go. When your mother left me, I regretted it countless times. I will not make the same mistake again."

Hearing this, Xin You smiled bitterly, "What Your Majesty regrets is that my mother succeeded in leaving, not why she became someone you no longer loved, causing her to abandon you."

So now, he was determined to prevent her from leaving at all costs.

"The only person you truly care about is yourself!" The respect and obedience she had maintained due to his imperial authority vanished, and Xin You finally spoke her mind freely.

Mentioning Empress Xin struck a nerve with Emperor Xingyuan, igniting his anger: "Xin You, are you set on leaving no matter what?"

Xin You replied coldly, "As long as I can still move. Will Your Majesty use the ten thousand troops of the capital garrison to guard against me year after year?"

"Are you threatening Me?"

"No, I am merely answering Your Majesty's question."

"Very well, very well. You can disregard this father of yours and your identity as a princess. What about the Changle Marquis?" Emperor Xingyuan pointed at He Qingxiao.

He had personally left the city, specifically requesting He Qingxiao to accompany him.

Only then did Xin You muster the courage to look at He Qingxiao.

He Qingxiao wore a crimson narrow-sleeved robe, with a black ebony scabbard on his dark long sword, riding a jet-black steed, quietly watching her.

Emperor Xingyuan's harsh words rang in Xin You's ears: "Ah You, if you don't care about the life of the Changle Marquis, you can leave."

Xin You bit her lip hard: "Is Your Majesty threatening me?"

Emperor Xingyuan returned the same words: "No, I am just telling you the consequences of leaving."

Emperor Xingyuan knew that saying these words would make it impossible to mend the rift between father and daughter, but he had to say them.

Just as Ah You said, the ten thousand troops of the Imperial Guard could not maintain such strict vigilance forever. He could only speak thus to dissuade Ah You from fleeing far away.

A clear metallic sound echoed as the sword was drawn from its sheath.

The imperial guards instantly formed a protective barrier around Emperor Xingyuan, drawing their swords and pointing them at He Qingxiao, who held the long sword.

Emperor Xingyuan's face showed surprise: "He Qingxiao, do you intend to commit regicide?"

At this moment, his feeling was not fear, but incomprehension.

Even if He Qingxiao was exceptionally skilled, attempting to rebel alone would be like a mantis trying to stop a cart or an ant shaking a tree.

"I have no such intention," He Qingxiao replied calmly, "But I also refuse to be used as leverage against Ah You."

As he spoke, he looked at Xin You, and in her horrified gaze, he horizontally slashed his long sword across his neck.

Amidst the spray of blood, he gazed deeply at the girl he loved, then fell backward off his horse.