Chapter 91: Jade Perishes

Chapter 91: The Jade's Demise

"Your Highness!"

Shang Ze violently flung away the sword pressed against his neck, gathering his strength to charge forward. But then he saw the figure who had been relentlessly attacking him resolutely withdraw his sword and rush toward Shen Yuchao's direction.

He was taken aback. Before his mind could react, his body had already moved, stepping forward to block Li Zhangshou.

This man appeared to be in a towering rage, his moves growing increasingly vicious. After just two exchanges, Shang Ze felt his energy and blood churning, a dull pain in his chest.

Just as he was gradually becoming unable to hold his ground, a figure glided over and intercepted Li Zhangshou's fatal strike for him.

Seeing the newcomer's face, Shang Ze exclaimed joyfully, "As expected of my good brother! I'll treat you to drinks when we get back."

"Shut up," Zuo Yi scolded him. "Focus."

Shang Ze gathered his focus, half his attention on the increasingly frenzied Li Zhangshou, the other half already drifting toward Shen Yuchao.

...

*Plop.*

Similarly crimson drops of blood splattered on the ground, blooming into several blood-red flowers.

Shen Yuchao's expression remained impassive as he forcefully pushed the sword in his hand a few inches deeper.

"Ugh..."

Mu Yurou let out a strained groan of pain, her body slowly sliding down as Shen Yuchao withdrew his sword.

Her face, once as beautiful as a lotus flower, now wore an expression of disbelief, as if unable to accept the fading of her own life.

"Princess!"

A frantic shout rang out from behind. The sharp blade embedded in her body was abruptly pulled out.

Shen Yuchao grunted, a trace of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Li Zhangshou's eyes. With one strike, he repelled Zuo Yi and Shang Ze, then rushed over to catch Mu Yurou's limp body.

"Your Highness!"

The two men ignored their own injuries, supporting Shen Yuchao's staggering body from left and right.

Shen Yuchao braced himself on his sword with one hand, using his thumb to wipe the blood from his lips, his cold gaze fixed on Mu Yurou.

The color drained from her face at a visible rate, the light in her eyes gradually scattering. There was no saving her now.

Shen Yuchao stood quietly, the emotions in his eyes constantly shifting, a momentary complexity flashing across his face.

After two breaths, he was the first to turn away. A cold word drifted through the air—

"Let's go."

That faint tremor was lost in the wind, unheard by anyone.

Zuo Yi and Shang Ze quickly followed.

"You're injured?"

As soon as she approached, Qiu Shuiyi saw the blood staining Shen Yuchao's chest. She hurriedly slipped past the hidden guards to meet him.

"It's nothing."

Gently squeezing Qiu Shuiyi's hand, Shen Yuchao gave her a tender smile. "Let's go."

"Alright."

Qiu Shuiyi nodded with a smile.

Amidst the crowd, Qiu Lianying gazed worriedly in Mu Yuanxi's direction.

A black figure flashed before her eyes as someone returned, carrying the scent of blood.

"A'mu!"

Qiu Lianying's eyes lit up, leaping with joy like a rabbit in the mountains. She tightly grasped Mu Yuanxi's hand.

The bright light in her eyes dimmed slightly upon seeing his wounds. She pressed her lips together and said softly, "Let's go."

Mu Yuanxi nodded.

His broad palm enveloped Qiu Lianying's small hand as he led her, carving a bloody path forward.

...

"Aunt... Aunt!"

Han Zicheng inched forward on his knees. His expensive, elegant robes were crumpled and stained with blood. The once-noble young master now had disheveled hair, his left arm severed at the shoulder, a wretched sight.

Mu Yurou lay in Liu Songqing's arms, coughing up a mouthful of blood, yet she reached out to touch his face.

Han Zicheng used his only remaining hand to grasp hers, pressing it against his own cheek, weeping uncontrollably. "Aunt..."

Mu Yurou looked at him with heartache, speaking with difficulty, "Does... does it hurt...?"

"It doesn't hurt, Aunt, it doesn't hurt." Han Zicheng tightened his grip on her hand, saying frantically, "Aunt, hold on. I'll go find a doctor right away."

Mu Yurou shook her head, her gaze gentle. She seemed to be in extreme pain; with every word she spoke, blood spilled from her lips.

"Aunt... Aunt knows... this time... this time I... I'm afraid... I won't make it."

"Cheng'er, remember this."

Mu Yurou spoke word by word, each carrying the force of a thunderbolt. "You... are of my... my Han imperial... imperial bloodline..."

"Aunt, please don't say anymore. I'm going to find a doctor right now!"

Han Zicheng's tears streamed down his face.

"No. You must... listen to the end." Mu Yurou stared at him intently. On her pale face, the blood at the corner of her mouth looked shocking.

"The great task of restoring our kingdom... you must remember it. You must not... not slacken... or be negligent."

"I promise you, Aunt. I promise you everything. Please don't leave me." Han Zicheng choked back sobs. "Aunt, don't leave me."

Mu Yurou managed a difficult, faint smile, her gaze shifting to Li Zhangshou.

The latter's eyes were bloodshot as he spoke with difficulty, "What do you want to say to me?"

Mu Yurou said, "Cheng'er, I entrust him to you now."

Li Zhangshou gave a heavy nod.

"Alright."

Her expression softened slightly as she finally looked at Liu Songqing, her voice low, as if in a daze.

"I never thought... I'd get to see you one last time before I die."

A tear slid from Liu Songqing's eye, falling onto Mu Yurou's temple.

He held her tighter, his voice hoarse, "Princess..."

"Do you still remember that banquet all those years ago?"

Liu Songqing nodded, "I remember."

"That's good." Mu Yurou whispered, "I want them ruined and to die a wretched death."

"Alright."

Liu Songqing held her, choking back sobs, "I promise you."

Mu Yurou's voice grew weaker, "Cheng'er... is my royal brother's only heir. You... you must protect him..."

"I will." Liu Songqing said firmly, "I will definitely protect the young prince."

"That's good."

Mu Yurou smiled.

Her face was frighteningly pale, and even in the sunlight, she felt cold all over.

At the moment of death, many scenes from long ago flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.

She saw her mother, who had frozen to death, hungry and cold, on the street.

A little girl scrapping with beggars for food, never having enough to eat, living a pitifully humble life.

And an old, gentle face.

She heard him say, "Little princess, this servant has finally found you."

That person said she was originally supposed to be a princess living in the palace, precious and revered.

She would have endless delicacies to eat, countless fine clothes to wear, she would have the father and mother who loved her most in the world, and enjoy boundless wealth and honor.

But the Zhou family destroyed all of this.

Hearing all this, hatred appeared in her eyes for the first time.

The Zhou family usurped the throne; it was they who caused her to be cast out and wander since childhood, living a life of cold and hunger, even bowing and scraping to beg for food.

She wanted to set the world to rights.

She wanted to make the Zhou family roll off that dragon throne.

This thought swirled in her mind day after day, gradually taking root and sprouting. As if carved into her heart with a knife.

Time flowed like water, years flew by like a shuttle.

She grew up, and the old eunuch who raised her had also come to the end of his days.

Before dying, the old eunuch told her that her blood brother had survived the palace coup back then and was still missing to this day.

He wanted her to find her brother and help him reclaim the throne.

She agreed.

After the old eunuch died, despite Liu Songqing's objections, she insisted on going to Miaojiang.

The Zhou family had the Shen family's assistance, making their rule as solid as a rock. She heard that in Miaojiang, there were Medicine People, impervious to swords and spears, fire and water, who would surely help her annihilate the Shen Family Army.

Relying on her beauty, she successfully captured the heart of the young chieftain of the Miao people, tricking him out of the Miao tribe's treasure and the method for refining Medicine People.

Later, she was chased by Miao tribesmen in pursuit and fell off a cliff, losing her memory.

And then she met him.

A handsome, heroic face appeared before her eyes.

The man wore a moon-white brocade robe, like an elegant gentleman in a troubled world, untainted by dust.

He gazed at her, his handsome, heroic face wearing its usual gentle smile.

Mu Yurou suddenly felt dazed.

Even though over a decade had passed, yet his face was clearly imprinted deep in her mind.

A sharp pain suddenly pierced her heart, blood staining half her face, contrasting with her red clothes like that widely praised wedding many years ago.

Dressed in fiery red wedding attire, charming and gentle, she sat in the bridal sedan, full of anticipation as she entered her beloved's home.

Another pain stabbed her heart. Mu Yurou couldn't help but reach out, wanting to touch that man's face.

But he smiled and stepped back.

Mu Yurou grew anxious, leaning forward.

Her hand grasped, and the scene before her changed rapidly.

She stood outside the door, listening to her own son's painful screams, a strange light flickering in her eyes, but she ultimately suppressed it.

The Shen family aided the tyrant; she had hated the Zhou and Shen families for many years, yet by a twist of fate, she married into the Shen family.

She had struggled, suffered; her love for them could never overcome decades of hatred.

She ordered Liu Songqing to cut off his legs, forced her son to kill his own father.

Countless times, she woke from nightmares, dreaming of him covered in blood, asking her why she treated him this way.

She told herself over and over, he was her enemy.

She was just taking revenge.

When the dog emperor surnamed Zhou sent troops to hunt her down, she thought, let it end like this.

Let these seven years be just a dream.

The dream ended, and she was still the orphaned daughter of the Han family, a princess of the Great Qi Dynasty.

She faked her death to escape, and even deceived Liu Songqing in the process.

Liu Songqing had witnessed her at her most wretched; to abandon him was to abandon that past.

Later, she assumed the identity of Lady Yun, founded the Qiyun Sect, found her nephew, raised him, and like the old eunuch, instilled in him the desire to restore their kingdom, wholly devoted to her restoration cause.

She thought she had forgotten.

But her son appeared before her again and again, wanting her dead.

He made it impossible for her to forget.

Who was the one who appeared countless times in her dreams at midnight?

Who gave her that sliver of warmth she clung to?

Had she truly never loved or suffered?

Her hand fell slowly, and a faint smile touched Mu Yurou’s pale lips.

He probably hated her.

So be it—let him hate her. She only hoped that in his next life, he would never meet her again.

After all, it was a… ill-fated bond.

Her slender hand fell abruptly, and the last sight Mu Yurou left in this world was his figure vanishing like smoke.

He truly did hate her.

Even after her death, he would not see her again.

Mu Yurou’s eyes shut for the last time.

“Aunt!”

“Princess!”

The agonized cries of the men—she could no longer hear them.

A faint smile on her lips, she looked serene, as if she had merely fallen asleep.

…

Shen Yuchao’s pace suddenly slowed.

Qiu Shuiyi noticed immediately and looked at him in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

He stood still, his expression a complex mix of pain and resentment.

In the end, it melted into relief.

Tightening his grip on Qiu Shuiyi’s hand, Shen Yuchao said gently, “It’s nothing. Let’s go back.”

Qiu Shuiyi seemed to sense something and curved her lips into a smile at him.

The sunlight was just right, the mountain flowers in full bloom, and their two shadows gradually became one as they walked forward.

Inseparable.