Chu Xiuqi wanted to step forward to check the situation, but Chu Zhiyan got ahead of him.
"Di Lanmo, how are you? Are you hurt anywhere?"
His eyes were filled with remorse. Just one step, just one step and he would never have seen her again.
"It's all my fault, all my fault. I should have eliminated the traitor earlier. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been in danger."
Di Lanmo felt a bit embarrassed when she was held in his arms. She always thought their relationship was just like that of good friends. She never expected that he cared so much about her.
"Chu Zhiyan, I'm fine. Please, please let me go."
Seeing the two of them reluctant to part, Chu Xiuqi laughed self - deprecatingly. "Uncle Huang and Mo Mo have such a good relationship."
Di Lanmo blushed and forced a smile. "No, no. Ha, ha."
Chu Zhiyan interrupted their conversation and said seriously, "I don't think this matter is that simple. I know Lan Jiaoshu. She could never have come up with such a complete plan. More importantly, I've set up many checkpoints here. Even if Lan Jiaoshu betrayed me, it's impossible for so many people to rush in all at once."
"You mean there's still a traitor in the mansion?"
Chu Zhiyan frowned. "I'm not sure about the situation either. I need to draw out the snake from its hole."
"Where's Qiao Yan? Such a big thing has happened. Why didn't he come out?"
Everyone's expressions changed. A bad premonition lingered in their hearts.
"My lord, it's bad, it's bad. Steward Qiao..." The guard who rushed over was anxious to the point of red eyes and didn't know how to describe it. "My lord, please, please go and have a look."
Chu Zhiyan followed him to the room and found Qiao Yan lying on the ground covered in blood. A dagger was stuck in his chest and the blood kept gushing out.
When he saw the person coming, he forced a smile with difficulty.
"My lord, please forgive this subordinate for his dereliction of duty. In the future, please, please be well with the princess."
Chu Zhiyan held him in his arms. "Stop talking, stop talking. The princess is a divine doctor. You'll be fine. I'm still waiting for you to see my children. You can't just die like this. Do you hear me?"
"Di Lanmo, save him quickly!" This was the first time he had lost control like this. Clearly, he didn't want to get involved in the royal family's disputes anymore. Why, why didn't these people just let him go?
Di Lanmo carefully felt his pulse. The pulse was so weak that it was almost imperceptible. Moreover, there was the Soul - Severing Powder in his body. There was really no cure this time.
She didn't believe it. She poured all the miraculous pills and medicines on her body on his wound as if they were worthless.
"Qiao Yan, believe me, you'll be fine. I'm a divine doctor. I even saved Chu Zhiyan. Hold on. I will definitely cure you. Don't you trust my skills?"
"Princess, I know my own body. It's just that after I'm gone, if you and the prince quarrel again, there won't be anyone brave enough to persuade you to make up."
"We won't quarrel anymore, won't quarrel anymore. We'll never quarrel again."
Qiao Yan's mind was in a daze. He looked at Chu Zhiyan. The two of them had been through life and death together for more than a decade. He thought he could witness him ascend to the throne with his own eyes, but unexpectedly, he had to leave first.
"My lord, actually, I really, really wanted to be the godfather of your children."
Chu Zhiyan's eyes were red. "Qiao Yan, you're the only godfather for my children. Get up quickly."
Qiao Yan closed his eyes peacefully. His breathing became weaker and weaker until it stopped.
He was as quiet as if he was asleep. It seemed that tomorrow, he would come up to him again with some bad ideas to chase the princess.
But everyone present knew that he would never see the sun rise tomorrow. The whole room observed a moment of silence.
Chu Zhiyan held Qiao Yan's body and stood there in a daze for a long time. His eyes were empty and it was unknown what he was thinking. A huge sense of guilt filled the whole room, making everyone present out of breath.
They couldn't help holding their breaths and quietly waiting to see how things would develop.
Di Lanmo had been wiping her tears, but she just couldn't wipe them all away. She bit her lips tightly to stop herself from crying out. Now she had to stay rational. Chu Zhiyan was already sad enough. She couldn't add to his burden.
A long time passed, so long that everyone felt their legs had lost all feeling.
Chu Zhiyan calmly pulled Di Lanmo up. "Generals, listen up! Let's seek justice for Qiao Yan!"
The morale was boosted. The blood - thirsty killing intent in their bodies was awakened. Now all these people needed was an outlet, and the best outlet was the person in the imperial palace.
Chu Zhiyan glanced coldly at Chu Xiuqi who was standing still on the spot.
"Uncle Huang..." Chu Xiuqi didn't know what to say. After his efforts, the relationship with his uncle Huang had just improved a little, and then this happened. No matter how it looked, he seemed to be the traitor.
On one side were his father and mother, on the other side were his uncle Huang and his unspoken first love. Clearly, if he was just given a little more time, everyone could become a harmonious family. Why, why did they have to turn against each other now?
Di Lanmo sighed and stroked his head.
"Go back. Find a safe place to hide. Everything will be over when you wake up."
"Mo Mo." Chu Xiuqi held back the tears that were about to fall. But after waking up, he could only see one side of them. He didn't want to lose anyone.
Di Lanmo hugged him and said almost cruelly, "This is the royal family. Everyone has no way back, and so do you. Make a decision early. It's good for both you and me."
Chu Xiuqi stood still on the spot. The guard politely invited him to go back.
He looked towards the imperial palace in the north. It was like a wild beast opening its huge mouth to swallow the prey that had fallen into the trap because of desire. It was resplendent and there were feasts and debauchery, but there were also countless bones buried there.
Chu Xiuqi shivered and finally didn't enter the palace.
Lan Jiaoshu was taken to a secret room by a mysterious person. The light around was too dim and she couldn't help feeling a bit scared.
"Hey, who on earth are you? Why did you bring me here? Don't think that I'll be grateful to you just because you saved me!"
The mysterious person laughed. The voice seemed to be squeezed out of the throat, making people feel creepy.
"I don't need your gratitude, nor do I need your loyalty. All I need are all the secret passage entrances of the Qin Prince's Mansion."
Lan Jiaoshu took two steps back in fear. "I've already given them to you. How could there be any more?"
The mysterious person laughed instead of getting angry. With a wave of his hand, he lit all the candles in the secret room.
Under the illumination of the candles, Lan Jiaoshu saw with her own eyes that the walls were filled with all kinds of torture instruments. On the easternmost wall, there were even rows of human heads. Some of them hadn't rotted yet, and there was still some remaining rotten meat hanging on the white bones.
Their eyes had been gouged out, leaving empty eye sockets that were bottomless. But without exception, they were all staring closely at Lan Jiaoshu.
Seeing her frightened expression, the mysterious person laughed even more proudly. She looked at Lan Jiaoshu's fair neck, as if thinking about where to cut.
She played with the dagger carelessly and said, "I like obedient children."