"A major event?"
The Emperor frowned, his question filled with palpable anger.
The palace attendant who entered to report was terrified. His knees buckled, and he sank to the ground.
He then cast a glance towards Li De.
Li De’s expression was no better. Seeing the attendant’s gaze, he felt that as a dignified Great General, he shouldn't be in such a predicament if he were serving a wise ruler! Even a mere palace attendant dared to look at him with pity. This was like splashing dirty water on his face!
Utterly infuriating!
"Your Majesty, it's... it's Young General Li. He fell from his horse and died in the military camp. The soldiers are... are escorting Young General Li back to the capital. He should have arrived at the General's residence by now." After speaking, the attendant dared not look at Li De’s face.
Li De was thunderstruck, staring at the attendant in disbelief. "What did you say?"
The attendant could only repeat, "Young General Li fell from his horse and died, Great General."
*Bang!*
Li De clutched his chest, spat out a mouthful of blood, and then collapsed.
The Emperor, watching Li De faint, tensed his spine.
As the Emperor of Western Xia, he knew this was no accident!
Was it Zhan Tianye?
What a vengeful Zhan Tianye!
He immediately pressed his hand to his chest, feeling the blood surge. His face turned pale, growing increasingly grim.
But the surging blood in his chest was too fierce. Despite his utmost effort to endure, he couldn't help but let out a choked sound and spew a large mouthful of blood, fainting just like Li De.
...
When Ningde County Princess and Zhen Lin heard the news that the Emperor and Li De had been greatly struck and were gravely ill from spitting blood, they had already arrived at the palace gates.
Having lost everything, the two had no choice but to leave.
It was also a departure they willingly accepted.
Ningde County Princess looked back towards the palace and softly said to Zhen Lin, "From this moment on, everything in the capital has nothing to do with me."
Zhen Lin said gently, "To be able to abandon everything is a good thing for us."
"Yes, let's go." Ningde County Princess nodded.
Whether it was a good thing or not, she didn't know. But she was acutely aware that no matter how bustling and dazzling the capital was, it could no longer have any connection with her. If she didn't realize this, she would be trapped in it her entire life, struggling and suffering.
As for the figure she still couldn't remove from her heart, she believed she would eventually forget him.
At this moment, the siblings were both clear that their departure now meant they might never return.
This was the place they had grown up in since childhood, and their feelings ran deep.
The siblings, enduring their heartache, re-boarded their carriage.
...
Within the Imperial Palace of Dongning Kingdom.
A palace attendant brought a bowl of chicken soup.
The light chicken soup carried a hint of medicinal fragrance.
This was the medicinal diet Zhan Tianhong had to consume every few days.
Looking at the chicken soup brought by the attendant, Zhan Tianhong waved his hand. "Take it away. I don't want to drink it now."
"Yes."
"Has there been any news from Western Xia? Have they said... when the King of Ye and the King's Consort will return to Dongning Kingdom?" A trace of worry appeared in Zhan Tianhong's eyes.
The attendant shook his head. "Reporting to Your Majesty, there's no news yet."
Zhan Tianhong paused upon hearing this, then raised his hand and pressed his temples.
No news...
This meant they might not be coming back.
Looking at everything within the Imperial Palace, Zhan Tianhong suddenly felt a sense of loneliness.
If he hadn't made certain mistakes, would they have remained his family and friends for life?
He immediately pursed his lips. There were no regrets in this world. He no longer had any choice.
He glanced at the stack of memorials piled like a small mountain before him and gave a self-mocking laugh.
He had pushed everything away with his own hands.
And he had also brought himself to a point where he possessed nothing but the dragon chair he sat upon.
"I want to send them a message."
Zhan Tianhong picked up his brush and began to write a letter.
...
A small border town in Dongning Kingdom.
The town was bustling with people.
People came and went.
There were people from Dongning Kingdom and Western Xia. The goods sold by the street vendors were varied, a mix of both Dongning and Western Xia.
Wan Qing ran into a shop and soon emerged with a packet of pastries in her hand.
Just as she was holding the pastries and about to walk into an alleyway, her path was suddenly blocked.
"You want to..." Wan Qing was about to question when she looked up and saw the person blocking her.
Wan Qing's eyes widened in surprise. "Young Master Ruan!"
Ruan Xi grinned, as flippant and roguish as ever.
But he lacked his usual handsome appearance, for he was travel-worn, his face chapped and peeling, looking as though he had just completed a long journey.
Wan Qing was astonished. "Young Master Ruan, why are you here?"
It had been several months since they parted ways at the Ruan family's doorstep.
Seeing Young Master Ruan again felt like a lifetime ago.
It was truly unbelievable!
Although Ruan Xi looked a bit disheveled, it didn't stop him from maintaining his playful demeanor. "Of course, I'm here to see your young lady. A day apart feels like three autumns. Seeing your young lady after so long makes me pine for her incessantly. It's been tormenting me, so I came to find her. Come, take me to see your young lady."
"Young Master Ruan, you..." Wan Qing was speechless. After months apart, Young Master Ruan was still as exasperating as before.
Moreover, his flamboyant demeanor simply couldn't compare to Young Master Zhao.
After all, Young Master Zhao was very steady and devoted to their young lady. He would surely treat her well in the future.
But the charming and dashing Young Master Ruan seemed to like too many women. He would likely not be as devoted to their young lady.
"Let's go, what are you hesitating for?" Ruan Xi saw Wan Qing looking at him as if appraising him, as if making a comparison. He immediately understood that Wan Qing was comparing him to someone else.
A medley of feelings churned within him, making him profoundly uncomfortable.
He could practically smell his own sourness.
He never imagined he would one day be jealous of a man.
Of course, he was also somewhat afraid. Wan Qing's appraising gaze, coupled with the information he had gathered, indicated that Young Master Zhao was a good man. How to put it? It was like Meng Xiao, who had liked Qin Yiqing so much in Western Xia.
Before, he hadn't understood how Ji Rong felt upon learning that Qin Yiqing wanted to marry Meng Xiao. Now, he completely understood!
It was jealousy!
Real, complete jealousy!
Another man had set his sights on Gu Zhiruo!
Wan Qing hesitated whether to take Young Master Ruan to see their young lady. But then she thought that if she didn't take him, their young lady wouldn't get the divorce agreement she desired. Without the divorce agreement, she couldn't marry Young Master Zhao.
Therefore, after careful consideration, Wan Qing still led Young Master Ruan to see their young lady.
Soon.
After traversing two streets and alleys, they arrived.
Ruan Xi appeared before Gu Zhiruo.