When the Emperor did all this, did he ever think about the citizens of Dayan for even a moment?

Did he ever think, even for a moment, that he is the Emperor of Dayan?

Those who obtain the Way are helped more; those who lose the Way are helped less. Precisely because I understand this principle, I will not become you, never.

As for women... Has the Emperor forgotten that forty days ago, Princess Chang’an was conferred the title of General of Breaking Prison by Emperor Zhao? She can, Baoyi can, Gu Lan can, so why can’t I?"

Every word was clear and gentle, yet powerful and resonant.

Rong Jing quietly and attentively listened, suddenly feeling a stir in his heart, glancing sideways at Lan Nu.

The servant was already in a daze, staring blankly at Ning An, his eyes filled with nothing but reverence and admiration.

Heh heh...

After saying what she wanted, Rong Miaoyan stood up and forcefully pushed open the doors of the Qianyuan Hall.

The noon sunlight poured through the golden roof ornaments, casting fine and bright rays, illuminating the ice crystals hanging from the eaves, as the transparent frost melted drop by drop, connecting into threads that fell onto the green ground.

She bathed in the sunlight, slightly spreading her arms, her eyebrows graceful and bright, her eyes shimmering with light.

"Moreover, the Emperor doesn’t know, does he? Ning An is not your own; I am the daughter of Mother and the former Third Prince, Rong Jue."

Rong Miaoyan looked at Rong Jing and finally spoke with relief and calm.

The air was filled with a chilling scent of blood.

She couldn’t help but murmur softly, "I want... to cleanse everything here."

The gentle light fell on Rong Jing’s bloodless face; hearing these words, his eyes widened for a moment, then quickly narrowed again.

He tilted his head, yearning for a ray of sunlight, like a demon half-awake, intoxicated among the flowers.

His thin lips were tinged with a bloody hue, even redder, like the petals of peach blossoms blooming to their fullest.

"Is that so... Then I... did something... useless after all."

He thought,

Ning An would become someone like him,

He didn’t want that,

So he deliberately said those heart-piercing words.

But it turns out... it turns out it was like this.

Scenes from the past flew before Rong Jing’s eyes; he saw Rong Miaoyan still a little child, looking up and sweetly calling him Father Emperor.

Ultimately, there’s no going back.

Rong Jing’s words came out intermittently, each word further draining the color from his face, until finally, his ink-dark pupils gradually scattered, and in his peach blossom eyes, flowers seemed to bloom, only to inch by inch turn to ashes.

Rong Jing felt as if his heart was freezing into ice, but the bitter taste still pervaded his heart, impossible to dispel.

The Eight Sufferings,

This is... the final taste when one’s desires are unfulfilled.

Rong Jing used all his strength to focus, looking at the young girl in white bathed in sunlight.

Though his feeble voice was barely audible, Rong Miaoyan still heard it clearly:

"Miao... Yan... Wearing white, you’re fulfilling your filial duty to your Father Emperor... Thank you."

Rong Miaoyan’s eyes warmed, and big tears rolled down.

From the day she stepped into this palace as the Princess of Dayan many years ago,

She never called him Father Emperor again.

And Rong Jing, from childhood to adulthood, rarely called her by name.

Ning An was her title,

Perhaps at the beginning, he really only wanted her to have a lifetime of peace.

"Miaoyan!"

A clear voice awakened Rong Miaoyan, and she turned around, covering her mouth, to see Rong Heng and Gu Lan appearing in the sunlight outside the hall door.

Across the blood-covered jade steps, Gu Lan held in his hand the Longquan Sword, dripping with blood.

She wore a jade-colored long robe, draped with a red cloak, her body clean and tidy, a few strands of loose dark hair fluttering in the breeze, her eyes reflecting the flowing light, gentle yet serene.

Rong Heng stood beside her in a python robe of pale jade, his gaze falling on Rong Jing behind Rong Miaoyan, his face devoid of expression.

Rong Heng ascended the steps, one by one, until he stood before Rong Jing. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Behind them, countless soldiers in black armor from the Dingyuan Army had surrounded them, mixed with the imperial guard led by Su Zixiao, a thin red mist of blood enveloping those men, after who knows how much fighting, now paused, collectively watching this scene.

Miaoyan blinked, and she saw Qin Zhenghu in the crowd, gazing at her with deep affection and determination, his eyebrows and eyes the same as always.

Thus,

Miaoyan resolutely threw herself into the embrace of Young Master Gu.

Gu Lan held the Princess, gently patting her shoulder.

Her body was extremely cold; holding her was like holding a block of ice.

"Don’t be afraid, it’s all over now."

Gu Lan’s voice was soft, speaking beside Miaoyan’s ear.