"Sure enough. Just as I expected..."

Princess Anhe stood under the floating white silks in the wind, squinting her eyes. She felt a little stressed, but in appearance she still kept calm,

"What a malicious woman! I will not let you achieve your scheme! Get ready! Let's come back to the post house!"

She turned around with her garment whirling. Then Princess Anhe walked with the honor guards, getting to the Front Hall.

In front of the memorial tablets, wisps of blue smoke were curling. There were 20 priests in a row on each side of the coffin which was made of Phoebe sitting on white futons with crossed legs and reciting Taoist scriptures.

Princess Anhe stopped and stared at the coffin in deep eyes.

Different from the gold coffin placed on the Rear Hall, the coffin made of Gold Phoebe really contained the remains of Emperor Jingxiao and Empress Qian.

They were dead on the same day. According to the royal rules of Dayi, the remains of Emperor Jingxiao and Empress would be contained in the same coffin and buried in the same grave.

The coffin which made Imperial Mother Xiao astonished in the Rear Hall was evidently one size larger than this one. Therefore, when people carried the coffin to the Imperial Grave, they could make that coffin contain this one made of Gold Phoebe. Then it would be carried by 128 people out of Donghua Gate.

As past memories were quickly and largely reminded, Princess Anhe frowned and sighed. In front of the incense table, she lit incense sticks and worshiped, quietly saying,

"Little Brother, the year when your greed was awakened, you turned a deaf ear to our ideas and obstinately went on your way. Eventually, you made large mistakes. Now as your eldest sister, I come back to worship you. In a sense, I have fulfilled my obligation. Anyhow, I can't forgive that you once made evil behaviors of killing your friends, Father and Noble Concubine Lan for the throne."

"But after all, the country belongs to our Huanan Clan. In order to maintain the country's stability, in those days I cooperated with Hong Zun of Tianyan Faction and privately constructed Kunhuang Tomb. And then I stored Father's half jade seal in this tomb, just to cover the ill secret of royalty up forever and make it unknown by people."

"However, as you became more and more greedy, you bribed Hong Zun's disciple Lei Huan, making him murder Hong Zun and grab the Kunhuang Island Map. As a result, plenty of slaughters and massacres eventually occurred."

"In this case, I had done wrong. The more intensely I desired to maintain peace and balance, the more disturbances I made."

"So, from now on I will never keep silent. I will never allow those villains to harm my ninth little brother."

"I have already made a lot of preparations. If my ninth little brother can be off the hook, I will give him a hand. That is, I will help him to govern Da Yi, to be superior to millions of people"

...

In Jingyang Palace.

Seeing that Gu Yunyao came back safe and sound, Zhao An was both astonished and overjoyed. Then his pale and helpless face gradually restored as usual.

Just now when he was keeping watch on the Palace, he received a message. It said that the Seventh Prince was forcibly sent to Duanben Hall by Imperial Mother Xiao, and his master, Gu Yunyao would be killed immediately to accompany with dead Emperor Jingxiao.

The news occurred so suddenly.

Instantly it struck a chill to Zhao An's heart. As his eyes dulled, he was going to slump on the ground. Fortunately, he was supported by eunuchs in time.

Losing Gu Yunyao for them was just like a large family losing the mainstay. Immediately, crowds of people in Jingyang Palace cried and sobbed.

In daily life, Zhao An considered himself calm and rational. And he also finished a lot of great tasks for Gu Yunyao and the Eastern Depot.

But at present, the Seventh Prince and Concubine Yu were in trouble. He was so anxious that he couldn't think of an idea in a short time. At that time, he was regretted that he couldn't cut him in half, as he didn't know who should be helped first.

As people in the whole Jingyang Palace were crying and disturbing, Gu Yunyao came back safely. Besides, she was accompanied by Prince Chen who was going to be the new emperor of Da Yi.

Palace maids saluted their masters. Then they took vessels and fetched water, in shuttling and hustling, helping Gu Yunyao comb hair and wash face.

Zhao An served tea to Prince Chen with his white hands shaking and trembling. As a result, a cup of tea was half spilled.

He put the cup down. With a flop, he prostrated on the ground, kowtowing again and again to beg Prince Chen's pardon.

"Lord Zhao, please get up."

Prince Chen laughed and chortled. When he saw that Gu Yunyao who had finished changing her garment walked to the outside hall, he sat elegantly at the table. An apparent kind of complacent expression was shown on his whole face,

"In fact, you needn't be afraid of me. Concubine Yu, I am never an ungrateful man. I clearly know, in this chilling and ruthless Palace, who bullied me and who helped me."

"Both you and Concubine Xu were kind to me. It is a pity that Concubine Xu was dead and she can't witness my current achievement. But I will treat you sincerely."

Gu Yunyao purposely ignored his hypocritical words. In her moist eyes, sadness and indignation mingled. As a mist of tears slowly diffused, she queried indignantly,

"You... Why did you do so?"

Obviously, she had understood the whole thing.

In such character, she couldn't be as compliant as those ordinary women. Now that Prince Chen, one participant of the matter was there, she just wanted to ask him and make sense of everything clearly.

Prince Chen smiled but he didn't immediately respond to her. He just slightly moved his eyebrows. With his hands held on the back, he stood up and walked slowly around the hall, smartly and cutely laughing,

"Concubine Yu, believe it or not, even if I didn't make such things, Leng Qingtang would do so sooner or later. The only difference is just who takes actions earlier."

"The god of destiny likes to make fool of the people. Leng Qingtang was first dispatched by Empress Qian to Southern Jiang, which exactly helped me succeed."

Gu Yunyao was shocked in her eyes, seriously frowning.

She once threw doubt upon something and inquired Gu Yunxi.

The power struggle in royalty was usually the bloodiest and tragic thing. As a slight woman who struggled to survive in the sophisticated Palace, could she easily judge who was right and who was wrong?

Prince Chen appeared so dashing as he was fluent in conversation and graceful in manner, which made Gu Yunyao speechless. She kept on recollecting the man's previous appearance of ignorance and naivety.

So, everyone could mask himself and Prince Chen was no exception. Both his ignorance and stupidity were made as a cloak, under which there were hidden fangs and sharp claws. She didn't know how many people were deceived by his disguise. Presumably, experienced and astute Leng Qingtang also had to admit that he was tricked.

Prince Chen stopped and perceived Gu Yunyao's strange look. Therefore, he raised his lips, coldly and slowly smiling,

"Concubine Yu, why do you look at me in such expressions?"

Gu Yunyao sadly lowered her eyes,

"I just can't understand, why a man who was very close to me seems suddenly estranged. Now Your Highness and I are standing in the same place, and we are not far from each other. However, I can never read your mind."

Prince Chen clearly realized that Gu Yunyao was satirizing him, but he looked calm and easy. And he just slowly and softly smiled,

"In those days, I tried to survive. Therefore, I took my Master, Wenren Junzheng's advice, pretending to be a dim-witted person. The humiliating behavior certainly made me avoid plenty of open and covert attacks. But now I understand that once I show my real appearance, you will be first bitterly disappointed..."

"Your Highness, you are really a sensible man."

Gu Yunyao wanly smiled with pale lips,

"Indeed, we are bitterly disappointed to you. At that time, we were so genuine and sincere to you. As you said, you pretended to be dim-witted in order to be safe and steady. We can also understand your behavior."

"However, why did you stab your Master as long as you were in power? Why did you order to kill your fourth little sister? Are those behaviors the so-called virtue and morality, and to repay the kindness as you once said?"

Prince Chen wasn’t shaken by Gu Yunyao's tears or queries. Instead, he just continued to explain his reason,

"It is universally acknowledged that those who make great achievements never care about details. Why are you questioning me? Have you ever thought, has Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot Leng Qingtang ever killed innocent people? As an old saying goes, the winner takes all. In this power struggle, I am the winner. That's all."

"Imperial Mother Yu, you needn't be too anxious. After all, you are too peaceful to compete with others. From now on, all you have to do is staying at Shoukang Palace as an Imperial Mother. My seventh little brother is just at the naughtiest age, so you needn't bother to look after him in person."

"You..."

Gu Yunyao widened her eyes which were almost flashing fire. She couldn't even restrain herself and just wanted to express her madness. But in the face of such a situation, eventually, she was not capable of refuting.

With lips trembling and quivering, she had to compromise and slowly say,

"Your Highness, you preferred to argue with Imperial Mother Xiao just to save my life. I am so grateful to you."

Fiddling with the hem of sleeves, Prince Chen lowered his eyes and casually smiled,

"You needn't be so, Imperial Mother Yu. I just think about Yunxi. Later when I meet her in the Palace, I don't hope that we are opponents and absolutely unreconciled."

"Are you going to meet her in the Palace?"

Instantly Gu Yunyao's face turned pale, and she was frightened in a cold sweat,

"You... You mustn't harm Yunxi!"

Prince Chen suddenly squinted his eyes and turned around to look at her. He smiled strangely and mysteriously,

"How I will do? Ha-ha, I can't bear to hurt her."

When he finished saying the words, Prince Chen already walked out of the hall. And eunuchs and guards all followed on the heels of him.

Gu Yunyao's body faltered. She staggered to hold the table with arms, slowly sitting on a chair.

In front of her legs, Zhao An kneeled with moist eyes,

"Master, presumably there will be great matters. How can we do?"

Gu Yunyao helplessly closed her eyes, as two clear lines of tears were quickly shed,

"Yunxi can't go back to the capital... Absolutely, she can't go back..."

...

The moon cast soft light on the quiet sea, and one or two seabirds were flying in the dark sky. When they flew through the clouds, it seemed so wonderful.

Lu Qiange walked on the deck. Then he found that Huanan Jiyan was standing in the bow and blankly looking at the starry sky with her head raised.

Huanan Jiyan wore a white flaxen garment and combed a cloud-shaped bun. On her bun, there were some white chrysanthemums, elegant but common.

Facing the sea wind, her delicate body trembled and quivered. At that time, she couldn't help folding her arms. It seemed that she was so thin and helpless.

Before embarking on the ship, Lu Qiange saw the obituaries posted everywhere. So they knew that both Emperor Jingxiao and Emperor Qian were dead.

Lu Qiange had thought that Huanan Jiyan would ceaselessly cry and scream, but the result was beyond his expectation.

At that time, she was much too quiet. Huanan Jiyan had just been gritting teeth and shedding tears for a quarter. Then she let Lu Qiange find a white garment for her and put it on, which was to mourn her Father and Mother.

The girl's firmness amazed Lu Qiange.

Just as his Mother once said, Huanan Jiyan only appeared arrogant and willful. But in fact, she was such an excellent girl.

The great strike of the imperial coup wore her conceit and temper away, making her mature indeed.

She was like a beautiful gem. Having been harshly polished and forged, the gem eventually shined and sparkled as it should be.

Seeing Huanan Jiyan sneeze, Lu Qiange quickly walked to her and wrapped her with a cloak. In his voice, there was half blame and half concern,

"You stay up at night and come here to get in draughts! Take care that you might catch a cold and fall ill!"

With tears in her eyes, Huanan Jiyan stood in the dark night. But she was bent on refraining herself until she trembled and quivered. At the moment, the girl's crying words were so pathetic,

"Zhu, I can't fall asleep. As long as I closed my eyes, I will think about Father, Mother, and my best friends Yaoer and Jin'er."

"Previously I thought I was so excellent, because the people who saw me were all afraid of me. But now I understand, it is because I am a princess. What they are afraid of is just my Father and Mother. Without them, I am nothing and good at nothing."

"I should not be haughty on account of my Father's love and indulgence. And I should not deliberately act contrary to Mother. I am completely useless. If it hadn't been for me, Yaoer would not be shot to death. Oh... I really miss them..."

Whenever Huanan Jiyan closed her eyes, she recalled the massacre and bloody that night. Eventually, she couldn't suffer the excruciating memories, leaning on Lu Qiange's chest and bursting into tears.

Lu Qiange was at a loss.

To be honest, except Yunxi, nobody could do the same as Huanan Jiyan in front of him, that was, making him concretely feel the great pain of being heart-spoken again.

He suddenly understood something. Might the sense of pain, be his love and emotion?

In such indescribable emotion, he slowly held crying Huanan Jiyan closer in his arms.

He had never thought, he could also be soft to Huanan Jiyan, and patiently comfort her,

"It's not your mistake. You have done so well. From now on, I will accompany you. I will care for you. Jiyan, don't worry."

"Jiyan, don't worry..."

Huanan Jiyan raised her head, with her watery eyes being stunned for a moment. Then she struggled to escape from his arms, being blank and puzzled,

"Zhu, you are the prince of Udan, being favored by your father and mother. But I, I am nothing now."

"I am not a noble princess anymore. And I am being hunted by Brother all around. I, I am afraid that I will get you into trouble..."

Suddenly, Huanan Jiyan's words were stopped. She felt a hot thing covering her lips.

In the darkness, under the stars, Lu Qiange kissed her.

At the moment, time was still; everything was in silence.

Lu Qiange deeply looked at Huanan Jiyan, only feeling she was so brilliant. By contrast with her, all was dim and eclipsed.

"Don’t just think about lofty ideals. Cherish the person in front of you."

Lu Qiange was suddenly enlightened.

So, all the time he took an obsession in his mind. Hence, he was nearly blinded by the trivial.

Holding Huanan Jiyan's hands and pressing them on his chest, Lu Qiange lowered his head and sincerely expressed,

"Jiyan, I love you. I will care for you forever."

Huanan Jiyan was not sad but amazed. Unconsciously, her face became flushed and hot. After a while, the expression of amazement was gradually changed. Delightedly, her tears flooded down on decks.

"OK, OK. I accept your care!"

In a trembling voice, Huanan Jiyan responded to him. Then she threw herself into Lu Qiange's arms again, excitedly embracing him. The two people were so close to each other that no one could separate them.

As rushed footsteps occurred from the stern, one person came to report,

"Your Highness, we find a person on the lower hold."

Lu Qiange and Huanan Jiyan looked at each other, being amazed and confused. Then they followed the person hand in hand, walking into the lower hold.

Behind the piled rice and flour sacks in half a foot high, they found a person lying on the ground. His eyes were tightly closed and it seemed that he had already been in a coma for some time.

On his back, there was an apparent wound that had been congealed and rotted. Presumably, the wound directly made him conk.

Huanan Jiyan plucked up and walked close to him, glancing at his pale face. Then she couldn't help screaming,

"Ah! This is High Priest Yu Xuanji!"