Shen Qingfeng looked at Lu Yan and Xu Ruhui standing not far away. Although Lu Yan's scrutinizing eyes and gloomy expression made his heart ache as if being stabbed by a knife, he still tightened his lips and forced himself to look directly into Lu Yan's eyes. He could feel his heart being clutched and released by an invisible hand. Amidst the dull pain that came wave after wave, he heard his hoarse voice, "Lu Yan, were you following me?"
"What's that behind you?" There was a tone of interrogation in Lu Yan's voice. He shifted his gaze and saw Xiang Cheng lying unconscious on one side. Anger immediately welled up in him. His eyes were bloodshot as he pointed at Xiang Cheng and shouted, "Who is that man chained up?"
Lu Yan felt as if the anger in his chest was surging like a tide. He never thought he would treat Shen Qingfeng in such a way. After all, Shen Qingfeng was the one he loved deeply. How could he be cruel to Shen Qingfeng? But recently, Shen Qingfeng's actions seemed to be deliberately avoiding and concealing things from him. Lu Yan actually knew that Shen Qingfeng was scheming something in secret. Although Shen Qingfeng had explained it to him, Lu Yan felt that Shen Qingfeng wasn't telling the truth.
Not long ago, a guard named Yu Shuang suddenly appeared beside Shen Qingfeng. Now, they had avoided him and carried a man out of the cave together. There was also Shen Qingfeng's concern and protection for Xia Chuli before, and that little eunuch's words about the kiss they had in the Eastern Palace...
All these things seemed to be leading to one end.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through Lu Yan's heart. He didn't want to believe that speculation, but in the dead of night, the suspicious voice in his heart became more and more obvious -
Was Shen Qingfeng using him? Did he actually like Xia Chuli all along?
He wanted to deny it, but all the tenderness and the deep affection of their physical closeness had been shattered by the little eunuch's words.
Yes, why did he protect Xia Chuli like that? Was his attitude towards Xia Chuli really just the courtesy between a king and his subject? Or were all his smiles at him just for the military power in his hands? Just for Xia Chuli!
Lu Yan refused to believe it. Shen Qingfeng was the one he held dearest in his heart. They had already done such intimate things. He believed that Shen Qingfeng wouldn't lie to him.
He believed...
Lu Yan was stunned.
He looked at Shen Qingfeng, who was separated from him only by a narrow mountain stream. At that moment, they were so close, yet seemed so far apart.
"Who is he?" Lu Yan softened his tone. There was no more interrogation or suspicion in it. Instead, there was a hint of pleading and helplessness, as if he just wanted a simple explanation from Shen Qingfeng. Because he knew that as long as Shen Qingfeng explained it to him, he would unhesitatingly believe him and unhesitatingly pull him into his arms again.
He stared fixedly into Shen Qingfeng's eyes. The two of them looked at each other from afar. At that moment, the sound of the wind around them seemed to stop. The Three Saint Mountains covered in residual snow were quiet and gentle. The rising sun generously shone its soft light on their shoulders.
In the dim light, he saw Shen Qingfeng's expression change. He looked dejected, as if smiling helplessly. He slightly opened his mouth.
"It's none of your business."
He wouldn't tell Lu Yan what had happened in the tomb.
This decision had been made in Shen Qingfeng's heart the moment he saw Lu Jiang's empty coffin.
Because he knew that Lu Yan admired his father very much. In his previous life, when Lu Yan returned to the Northern Kingdom to inherit the title of Marquis of Dingbei, he had once fainted from crying and had been bedridden for a month. When the news reached Liange, King Xia Jie was even worried whether Lu Yan could recover and continue to inherit the title. He was even considering whether to make Lu Yan's younger sister the princess, in case something happened to Lu Yan so that his sister could lead the Northern Kingdom.
Moreover, Lu Yan always thought that Lu Jiang had died on the battlefield while defending the country. That was why he had inherited Lu Jiang's legacy, fulfilled his duties to guard the Northern Kingdom, and sworn his loyalty to King Xia Jie to the death. If Lu Yan knew about this, wouldn't all his years of perseverance and loyalty become a joke? Given Lu Yan's character, he would surely fight King Xia Jie to the death.
But now, what strength did Lu Yan have to fall out with King Xia Jie?
Even though he had military power, he was now alone in Liange. It would be easy for King Xia Jie to get rid of him. Not to mention that there were other forces like Xia Yonglin, Qi Yan, and Chen Luo in the undercurrent. And back then, when King Xia Jie issued an imperial edict to let the eleven - year - old Lu Yan inherit the title of the feudal lord of the Northern Kingdom, his intention was obvious. He wanted to cultivate Lu Yan from a young age and turn him into an obedient Marquis of Dingbei.
Since King Xia Jie had kept Lu Yan alive for so long, it meant that King Xia Jie was satisfied with Lu Yan. So, if he wanted to protect Lu Yan, he had to keep Lu Yan in the dark.
Moreover, even if Shen Qingfeng were to tell Lu Yan about this now, he really didn't know how to start.
Tell him that the emperor he had sworn his loyalty to for fifteen years might be the murderer of his father?
Shen Qingfeng couldn't bring himself to say it. He knew that Lu Yan would go crazy.
So he cold - faced and watched as Lu Yan's previously relaxed expression suddenly froze after hearing his answer, and then gradually turned into one of heart - rending pain and rage.
He heard Lu Yan's heart - wrenching roar, "Shen, Qing, feng! You don't trust me! Have you been lying to me all this time!"
Shen Qingfeng looked at Lu Yan's face. Seeing the pain in his eyes, Shen Qingfeng didn't dare to look at him anymore. He turned his head away and bit his lower lip, feeling as if his heart was about to be suffocated by the pain.
He grabbed Yu Shuang, who was standing beside him with a torch, and almost gritted his silver teeth, "Hurry up! Blow it up!"
"How dare you!" Lu Yan's eyes instantly darkened. He roared at Yu Shuang and with a stomp of his foot, he leaped towards Shen Qingfeng and Yu Shuang.
Unexpectedly, Shen Qingfeng reacted even faster. Seeing Lu Yan rushing towards them, he didn't care about anything. He stepped forward, quickly snatched the torch from Yu Shuang's hand, and then threw it at the fuse he had already buried.
"Shh -"
The fuse was lit.
The fuse wasn't very long. After all, Shen Qingfeng's previous plan was for the two of them to first settle Xiang Cheng on the other side of the mountain stream, and then let Yu Shuang go back to the tomb - sealing door to light it. After all, the cliff platform where the tomb - sealing door was located was too small. He wanted to blow up the cave entrance here without leaving a trace, so he had almost poured the whole can of gunpowder there. That was why only someone as highly skilled in martial arts as Yu Shuang could retreat unscathed after lighting the fuse.
But now, the fuse was lit, and they only had a short time.
Suddenly, he looked at Yu Shuang, who was about to rush over to protect him and leave, with a fierce expression and coldly ordered, "Carry Xiang Cheng and go! That's an order!"
Yu Shuang trembled all over.
In a split - second, Shen Qingfeng roared again, "Hurry up!"
Suddenly, a figure appeared behind Shen Qingfeng. Yu Shuang gritted her teeth and suddenly turned around to carry the unconscious Xiang Cheng.
Shen Qingfeng was taking a gamble, betting that Lu Yan would come to save him.
He shamefully took advantage of Lu Yan's love for him. When Lu Yan's hand crossed in front of his waist and pulled him back urgently, Shen Qingfeng slowly closed his eyes.
"Boom!!!"
The huge explosion erupted the moment they jumped out of the cliff platform. The airflow generated by the explosion sent countless gravels flying towards them. His face suddenly hurt, as if it had been scratched by the gravel.
Shen Qingfeng's eyes were dry and painful. He knew that something between Lu Yan and himself had been blown up, broken, and could never be found again with that explosion.