"...... Fan the flames?" Qin Huaiqiu said with heart - rending pain, "Lian'er, you're crazy! They are the foreign tribes! The enemies of Dacheng! How could you help the enemies attack Dacheng? Our ancestors of the Qin family swore to guard the border for a lifetime, but you've done such immoral things! Do you know how many blood debts this war will create?!"
"I'm not wrong!" Qin Huailian slapped Qin Huaiqiu's hand away and retorted, "Brother always preaches about benevolence and morality, but what can benevolence and morality achieve? Help the enemy who killed our mother defend the border? If you really abide by those principles, would you fall in love with Sikong Ting? He's a man!"
"You..." Qin Huaiqiu took a sudden step back. Although he had expected that Qin Huailian already knew about his relationship with Sikong Ting, being questioned so directly still made his heart ache as if being cut by a knife, bleeding with pain.
The air suddenly fell silent. Qin Huaiqiu lowered his head. His bangs covered his eyes, making it impossible to see his expression.
"Brother... Come with me. Let's march on the capital. Sikong Ting must have bewitched you in some way, making you so irrational. I'll help you kill him. Anyway, Dacheng has been on the verge of decline in recent years. Once our Qin family ascends to the throne, we'll create a prosperous and peaceful era." Qin Huailian stepped forward, clutching Qin Huaiqiu's shoulders, and tried her best to persuade him.
Qin Huaiqiu's heart was in agony, but he still took a few deep breaths, reached out to grab Qin Huailian's wrist, and said, "Who I love is my own business. Moreover, I love him because I know what kind of person he is, not like you, believing in rumors and committing such a big mistake!"
Qin Huaiqiu continued, "Lian'er! Wake up. Who is really being irrational? Even if mother died to save Sikong Ting back then, it's natural for a subject to die for the king. What's wrong with that? As a descendant of the Qin family, you've caused so many casualties on the border because of your own selfish desires! Lian'er, is this the so - called prosperous and peaceful era you're talking about?"
Qin Huailian shouted, "Which dynasty's change wasn't achieved with bloodshed? History has changed over time. Why should the Sikong family have monopolized the throne for hundreds of years?!"
"Then tell me, are the Sikong emperors tyrants?!" Qin Huaiqiu roared angrily.
He didn't want to argue with Qin Huailian anymore. His body swayed slightly as he took a step back and said loudly, "Throughout the hundreds of years of Dacheng, which emperor has oppressed the people or implemented tyranny? Which emperor has been war - mongering or indulged in pleasure day and night? Yes... In recent years, Dacheng's military strength has indeed declined. The border generals have either died of old age or in battles. Even in this fight against the allied forces, only our Qin family's army has been struggling to hold on... But no matter how the barbarians threatened our country, has any emperor of Dacheng ever shown weakness? Haven't they been trying their best to ensure the well - being of the people? Such a royal family, and you even dare to say you want to overthrow them?"
"Brother!"
"The military is weak, but the generals never leave. The people are poor, but the king never abandons them. Such a Dacheng may not be as perfect as you imagine, and it may not be the prosperous and peaceful era you fantasize about. But I won't allow you to deny the efforts of all the people in Dacheng who yearn for peace. I also don't agree with your idea that whenever there's a problem, you should just overthrow and rebuild. If you think Dacheng is on the verge of decline, why don't you try your best to save it instead of just thinking it should be discarded like a worn - out shoe?" Qin Huaiqiu said solemnly, "Lian'er, admit your selfish thoughts. You've just found an excuse for your rebellion. You're just coveting the imperial power!"
Qin Huaiqiu's words were like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, leaving Qin Huailian stunned on the spot. She stared blankly at Qin Huaiqiu and stammered, "Brother... I didn't..."
"I don't want to argue with you anymore. Move aside. I'm going to take father back." Qin Huaiqiu took a step forward and walked towards Qin Feng's cell wearily.
"Brother! Don't you understand? I just want to make the world a better place, free from deception and exploitation... Didn't mother get exploited by the Sikong family back then? I just don't want to see such a scene again!" Qin Huailian cried. She rushed forward and hugged Qin Huaiqiu, "Brother, I know you care about the world. Let's make the world a better place, okay?"
Qin Huaiqiu's body stiffened. He grabbed Qin Huailian's hands and slowly pried her arms away from him, "If the so - called 'better' you think of means destroying the whole country first, then I can't agree with you. There are so many people in the world. Even if you establish a prosperous and peaceful era, what then? If such a thing happens again, are you going to destroy the country again?!"
"Brother..."
"If you really have the common people in mind, then do your best to improve and govern, instead of always thinking about starting over when something goes wrong!" Qin Huaiqiu frowned and roared angrily.
"What about mother's revenge! Are you just going to ignore it?!" Qin Huailian's voice was almost out of tune.
"Your mother did it voluntarily." Suddenly, an old voice echoed in the narrow prison. Both siblings of the Qin family were shocked. Even Koezel, who had been standing by with his arms crossed, was startled by the voice. They all turned to look into the darkness.
In the dim corner of the prison, the man on the bed slowly turned over. He got out of bed and walked slowly towards the two siblings who were in a tussle, and stopped in front of them.
They all thought Qin Feng had been drugged and was sleeping, but his eyes were clearly wide awake. It was as if he had expected this. His eyes swept across the faces of the two siblings, and he shouted sharply, "Let go now!"
"...... Father." Qin Huailian had never seen Qin Feng glaring at her like this. In her memory, Qin Feng had doted on her very much and indulged her in almost everything. Being stared at like this by Qin Feng for the first time, she was startled. She shrank back and subconsciously hid behind Qin Huaiqiu.
"Father! Are you okay?" Qin Huaiqiu stepped forward and opened the unlocked cell door for Qin Feng. Qin Feng glanced at the two of them and walked straight out.
Qin Huailian instinctively wanted to run, but was blocked by Qin Feng's tall figure, "Lian'er, you've really disappointed me!"
Qin Huailian broke out in a cold sweat, but still refused to show weakness, "Humph... I knew you wouldn't understand me, father... I didn't expect brother to be the same. Since that's the case, there's nothing left to talk about."
Qin Feng glanced at her and said, "I've known about your mother's trip to Kunlun Mountain for a long time. I've also known that she was going to save the current emperor."
Both siblings stared at Qin Feng in disbelief with their eyes wide open.
"I thought it would be good for you not to know about this, but I didn't expect you, Lian'er, to be so easily incited by the enemy! You've really shamed our Qin family!" Qin Feng stared straight at Qin Huailian with his hawk - like eyes.
"Father, since we can't see eye to eye, I don't want to say more. Once I kill Sikong Ting, everything will become clear!" Qin Huailian said coquettishly.
Qin Feng took a deep breath, looked down at his once most - doted - on youngest daughter, and said solemnly, "Do you know that the person who lured your mother to Kunlun back then was a Xiongnu spy?!"
"What..."
"Clang!" Suddenly, a man rushed into the prison. He was covered in blood, with wounds of all sizes all over his body. Some of the wounds were so deep that the bones were visible, but his eyes were still as wide as copper bells, glaring at everyone in the prison.
Koezel was startled. He was the first to react and exclaimed, "Yazebu... How did you...?"
"What's wrong with you?!" Qin Huailian rushed over without hesitation. Looking at the wounds all over Yazebu's body, some of which were even deep enough to expose the bones, she was furious, "Where did you go! I told you to go and fight the enemy outside the city! How did you get these wounds?!"
"Yes..."
"What?"
Yazebu staggered. Due to excessive blood loss, he leaned weakly against the doorframe of the prison. He looked at Qin Huailian and said, "What your father said is true."