[Fantasy] The Captive Concubine's Tale (Complete) - Chapter 27

page views:1 Publication date:2023-08-22

Chapter 206, Shun Yuan's Agreement with His Father.

Hearing that he was going to take her to see Shun Yuan, Ming Ruo no longer cared about who had taken off her clothes. Now, nothing was more important to her than Shun Yuan. She was both excited and worried, even ignoring the fact that Duanmu Yun was holding her hand the whole time.

Stepping out of the tent, a gust of cold wind suddenly swept over her, and Ming Ruo couldn't help but shiver. It was so cold here. She looked around; the mountains surrounded the plains, but few plants grew, making it look desolate. She hunched her shoulders, and a cloak was quickly draped over her shoulders. Ming Ruo looked up and saw Duanmu Yun smiling tenderly at her, leading her forward by her small hand: "Shun Yuan is just ahead. There are pebbles on the road, be careful not to hurt yourself." He said this so naturally, completely unaware of the horrified expressions on the faces of the guards behind him.

General Hai Dongqing, true to his name, had served in the army for four years, showing no mercy to any woman. Even women bestowed upon him by the king were given away without a second thought. His mind seemed to be consumed by nothing but training his troops. Though he had lost an arm, his reputation in the army was undeniable; he was a god in the hearts of all his soldiers! Yet today, this god was speaking softly and tenderly to a young woman, treating her with utmost care. Considering his usual attitude towards other girls who harbored feelings for him, it was truly incomparable.

Ming Ruo was unaware of what others were thinking; upon seeing Shun Yuan, her eyes could see no one else. The young boy was practicing with a sword, his movements skillful and graceful, his sword flourishes beautiful. Despite wearing a heavy fox fur coat, he didn't appear clumsy at all, remaining as delicate as jade. It was cold in Mingruo's eyes, but children are full of energy and didn't care. Their little faces were flushed, and their foreheads were covered with a fine layer of sweat. Mingruo felt sorry for her son but couldn't bear to interrupt his sword practice, so she could only watch him with a smile. However, the little rascal Shunyuan had sharp eyes and spotted Mingruo immediately. He dropped his sword and pounced on her. Mingruo was knocked back two small steps by his pounce, and her slender waist was supported by a large hand. She quickly stepped aside, politely but distantly saying, "Thank you."

Duanmu Yun shook his head: "You know I never need your thanks."

Mingruo was afraid he would say something inappropriate in front of Shunyuan again, so she quickly reached out to wipe Shunyuan's sweat. His little body was warm to the touch, and Mingruo was worried he would catch a cold. Not knowing if he had practiced enough, she could only ask, "Is Shunyuan hungry?"

The little boy nodded vigorously: "Hungry, hungry."

Duanmu Yun chuckled, quickly ordered someone to serve food, and then, without allowing Mingruo to refuse, took her hand and walked towards his battalion commander. Little Shunyuan, wanting to protect his mother, naturally followed immediately.

Logically, the Wuhuan people mostly ate milk wine and roasted meat, but what was laid out before them was clearly food from the Central Plains, and most of it was Mingruo's favorite. She held her chopsticks a little stiffly, not wanting to accept his kindness, yet unable to refuse. Children are carefree after all; after snuggling with their mother for a while, they started clamoring for food. Mingruo had no choice but to pick up food for him. Looking at her gentle, rosy face and soft expression, Duanmu Yun felt his heart melt. If they were still together, Shunyuan would be their child now, and it would be a time for their family of three to reunite.

"Mother... when are we going back? Won't Father worry about us being out for so long?" His little mouth was stuffed with food, his cheeks bulging like a little hamster.

Father... Mingruo felt a pang of pain in her heart, wondering how angry her father would be if he discovered that she and Shunyuan had disappeared. But despite the turmoil in her heart, she wouldn't let the child see it. She simply patted his soft little head: "Father will come to pick us up soon. Shunyuan, you must be good these next few days and don't run around, okay?"

Shunyuan nodded obediently, glancing at Duanmu Yun. His beautiful eyes still held a strong sense of wariness, but with Mingruo present, he still showed the innocence unique to children. He didn't believe what this man had told him about his mother's past relationship. If it really was a past relationship, why hadn't his mother and father ever mentioned it to him? Moreover, judging from this man's attire, he was clearly a Wuhuan person. Although the Wuhuan and Da'an hadn't completely broken ties, even without his father mentioning it, he could see through Shalue's wolfish ambitions. This man was a Wuhuan general; how could he be a good person? His thoughts were intricate and complex, but his face remained impassive. Just as Mingruo wanted to protect her child, her child also wanted to protect her.

Shunyuan remembered what his father had told him long ago: his mother was a weak woman, while he was a man. His father had said that if he were ever not by their side, he would have to take on the responsibility of protecting his mother. This was a promise between his father and him, a promise between men, one he wouldn't forget, one he would definitely keep. When he saw his father again, his father would surely praise him.

Shunyuan firmly believed that his father would come to take his mother and him away; it was only a matter of time. His current antics, deliberately pestering his mother to do this and that for him, were merely to thwart Haidongqing's wicked intentions. Don't think he's too young to understand anything. He sees it clearly: this man loves his mother, but unfortunately, she already has his father, the Emperor, and they have him, their child. So, no matter how well this gyrfalcon treats him or how much he teaches him martial arts, Shun Yuan's heart is always with his parents.

After lunch, Shun Yuan started fussing about taking a nap and insisted that Ming Ruo stay with him. Since giving birth to Shun Yuan, under Emperor Xu Li's isolation, Ming Ruo hadn't actually slept in the same bed with him much. She understood the trials Shun Yuan, the future emperor and crown prince, would have to endure, so she always felt guilty towards her son. As long as Emperor Xu Li didn't object, she would grant his every request. Now, being in the enemy camp, she felt anxious, but having Shun Yuan by her side made her feel more at ease. It was as if... as if he were still with her.

Holding Shun Yuan as they lay down to sleep, Duanmu Yun left without saying anything, only kissing Ming Ruo's cheek before leaving. Little Shun Yuan's eyes immediately reddened, his little white teeth bared as if he wanted to bite off a piece of that lecherous man's flesh, but Ming Ruo held him tightly in her arms. Only after Duanmu Yun left did he puff out his little cheeks and forcefully kiss Ming Ruo's cheek that had been kissed a few times, still not satisfied, almost licking it with his tongue. His little face was mournful, feeling extremely sorry for his father, for not fulfilling his instructions. He was both aggrieved and sad, and nestled in Ming Ruo's arms, refusing to make a sound.

Ming Ruo didn't know what was going through the little thing's mind, assuming he was just sleepy, so she pulled the fur coat tighter and closed her eyes for a long time but couldn't fall asleep. Her heart was filled with panic and confusion, wondering why Duanmu Yun had brought her out without her noticing.

"Mother..." came a childish voice from her arms. Ming Ruo looked down and saw Shun Yuan looking at her with a pair of tearful purple eyes, his little face pitiful and indescribably endearing. Her heart ached, and she quickly touched his little face: "Shunyuan, what's wrong?"

"Can we go back?" Even if he was precocious, he was still only a nine-year-old child. Although he was usually unruly and mischievous, he knew that he always had a god-like father behind him as a support. But now that he had lost his father and had to take on the responsibility of protecting his frail mother, the young boy naturally felt a heavy weight on his shoulders, almost suffocating him. "When will Father come to pick us up?"

Mingruo's heart ached at his question, and her eyes filled with tears. Shunyuan was anxious when he saw this and quickly reached out his little hand to wipe away Mingruo's tears haphazardly: "Mother, Mother, don't cry... Shunyuan was just asking casually, Mother, don't cry..."

She held his little hand and kissed it gently. Mingruo hugged the soft little guy in her arms tightly and whispered, as if saying what was in her heart: "Your father will come to pick us up... he will..."

Chapter 207, Wuhuan and Da'an.

Things in life are never as one wishes. Mingruo stayed in the camp for several days, but she didn't see Emperor Xuli come to pick her and her son up, and she rarely even saw Duanmu Yun. He seemed very busy, so busy that he could only sit in the camp for a short while each day before having to leave again.

Mingruo always felt uneasy, as if something was about to happen. But... what could happen? She really couldn't think of anything. When Shunyuan saw that his mother had woken up, he also curbed his playful nature and stopped running around. Even when practicing martial arts, he always stayed near Mingruo. He was even more afraid than Mingruo that Duanmu Yun might have ill intentions towards her. Fortunately, Duanmu Yun was busy, so the time didn't pass too agonizingly.

Setting down her porcelain cup, Mingruo looked at Shunyuan, who was sitting beside her eating snacks. She stroked his little face, then picked up a comb to brush his hair, which had become disheveled after a morning of martial arts practice. The little guy's hair was black and smooth, like satin to the touch—it was incredibly beautiful. Shunyuan was very well-behaved, munching on his snacks without any resistance. His large, glassy eyes kept gazing at the Wuhuan woman bustling about in the tent.

She looked tall and strong. Shunyuan knew her name was Waka, a native Wuhuan who had lived on horseback since childhood. But unlike the warlike and irritable Wuhuan men, she was very warm and hospitable. And with Shunyuan, such a clever little boy, looking at you with those big, blinking eyes that could melt your heart, she wouldn't hide anything from him. She answered whatever Shunyuan asked.

Actually, it was also Duanmu Yun's fault for being too cautious. He was afraid others would discover Mingruo's identity and deduce something from it, so he didn't tell anyone who Mingruo really was, only saying that she was his childhood sweetheart and the one he would marry. Waka naturally treated Mingruo as one of his own, and spilled everything he knew.

Mingruo looked at Shunyuan's bright, sparkling eyes in surprise. She hadn't expected that in just a month and a half, Shunyuan could speak the Wuhuan language so fluently! Even she, after so long, could only barely communicate with him, far from being as fluent as little Shunyuan.

But this was enough for her. At least she knew that her father hadn't failed to send people to rescue them; it was just that Duanmu Yun was extremely cautious, setting up hundreds of identical tents, making it impossible to find them.

Shun Yuan was still just a child. Although he didn't treat Duanmu Yun with any courtesy, he could tell that the man was a true hero, highly skilled in martial arts and of good character. If it weren't for the fact that he hadn't captured him and his mother and harbored ill intentions towards her, he thought he might have liked that man.

Waka smiled broadly, hanging his cloak on the clothes rack. "Madam, are you worried about General Hai Dongqing? There's absolutely no need. He's the pride of our Wuhuan. Taking Da'an is just a matter of time for us!" His smile revealed a mouthful of white teeth, simple and innocent, showing complete trust in Duanmu Yun.

Hearing Waka's words, Ming Ruo couldn't help but slightly frown. She knew Duanmu Yun's abilities. If she hadn't been trapped in her father's hands back then, he certainly wouldn't have surrendered so easily. Now that he had spent four years deciding to help Shalue, he was determined not to turn back. Mingruo wasn't a fool; she knew that as long as her father lived, he wouldn't allow any man in the world to covet her. And Duanmu Yun, for his part, believed she was his, and that her father was the one who had stolen her away from them. His hatred was beyond words. He had suffered greatly in the past, losing not only his wife's reputation but also an arm—how much hatred must he feel!

He no longer considered himself a citizen of Da'an.

Seeing his mother's pale face, Shunyuan asked again, "But Da'an isn't so easy to conquer. Although Shunyuan is young, he has heard of the Battle of the Wei River, where Emperor Xuli, with only a few thousand soldiers, effortlessly defeated Jiang's 100,000-strong army, relentlessly pushing them to the brink of defeat. With such formidable methods, can this Hai Dongqing really handle it?" He didn't believe anyone in the world could be more powerful than his father! Still relying on his own two hands? How could that be satisfying? Forum reputation guaranteed! High-grade silicone video of Fan Bingbing's lower body, molded to a highly realistic shape, soft and delicate skin! Built-in large-particle protrusions, close to the female physiological structure, for a more realistic experience... rhythmic and irresistible! Click to enter

"Little guy, you're so good with your mouth. Your Emperor Xuli is indeed powerful, but our general is no less so! Moreover, compared to Emperor Xuli, our general's reputation is excellent. Countless girls from Wuhuan are eager to marry him! Look at Emperor Xuli, although he is powerful and invincible, he is still an emperor. He has favored one concubine Mingfei for nearly ten years. How can this be the behavior of an emperor! For the sake of the royal family, he should have many offspring and continue the lineage. By doing this, isn't he cutting off the lineage of Da'an?" Waka smiled and refilled Mingruo's teacup, and also patted Shunyuan's head. Shunyuan didn't like being touched, but since he was on someone else's territory, he couldn't do anything about it and could only smile and brush it off. He was secretly amazed. Fortunately, Duanmu Yun had anticipated this and given him and his mother medicine to change the color of their eyes; otherwise, it would have been troublesome.

“Aunt Waka, you’re wrong to say that. Emperor Xuli, as an emperor, could devote himself to one woman for ten years. Isn’t that the mark of a devoted lover?” Raising her chin, Shun Yuan praised her father with great enthusiasm: “He ascended the throne at the age of three, and by eight, no one in the court dared to underestimate him. The powerful empress dowager and her relatives were all brought down by an eight-year-old child, which amazed everyone. Now he rules the world and has become the overlord of the land. His decisiveness and wisdom are unparalleled. No matter how powerful Hai Dongqing is, he is not a talent for governing the country. He can only be used by others, not the other way around. In this respect, he is far inferior to Emperor Xuli.”

Ming Ru blinked in surprise. She didn’t know that little Shun Yuan held her father in such high esteem. She had overlooked this because they were used to competing for the emperor’s favor. But… wasn’t she the same way? Deeply, from the bottom of their hearts, they worshipped and revered that man. In their hearts, he was the incarnation of a god, omnipotent and invincible.

Waka, after hearing Shun Yuan's words, was stunned for a moment before stammering, "What you're saying... I know. Emperor Xuli's fame is known throughout the world. In our Wuhuan, we kneel upon hearing his name, and some even call him the Heavenly Emperor." She sighed as she said this. "Actually, it's not so bad as it is. Everyone lives in peace, raising horses and herding sheep. The grasslands are vast, and we Wuhuan people can survive. But the King is never satisfied. If our Wuhuan had a land like Da'an... Wuhuan wouldn't be inferior to Da'an, truly!"

Hearing this, Mingruo and Shun Yuan exchanged a glance, both sighing softly in their hearts.

Chapter 208, Fire (Part 1)

After Waka left, Shun Yuan's smile immediately faded, and he buried himself in Ming Ruo's arms, rubbing against her. No matter how precocious he was, he was still just a nine-year-old child. Emperor Xu Li doted on Ming Ruo and valued their only bloodline immensely. Although he was ruthless when teaching Shun Yuan, he was extremely doting on him in daily life. As long as it didn't involve vying for favor, he treated Shun Yuan exceptionally well. Therefore, even though he was strict in his teaching, Shun Yuan still respected and admired Emperor Xu Li immensely. "Mother... do you think Father will win?"

Will he win? Will he not win? Ming Ruo was annoyed. She didn't want the Wuhuan to win because Sha Lue had no talent for governing a country. This man was only suitable for conquering the world on horseback. He could fight but not defend, so how could he become a wise ruler? It is said that maintaining an empire is harder than starting one, and this is absolutely true. On the other hand, her father, though a bit eccentric, was wise and magnanimous, possessed exceptional talent for employing people, and governed the country effectively—far surpassing Sha Lue's abilities. Thinking of this, she smiled slightly and ruffled Shun Yuan's hair: "Naturally, your father is a step ahead. The Wuhuan are merely a small country, nothing to fear." The Da'an Dynasty wasn't limited to just one general, Duanmu Yun. Her father was skilled in military strategy, no less than Duanmu Yun; it shouldn't be a problem.

Shun Yuan trusted Ming Ruo, and hearing her say that his father was more capable, he immediately smiled sweetly, true to his childlike nature. Ming Ruo, seeing her son's lively and clever appearance, felt her heart melt.

Just as the mother and son were laughing, Duanmu Yun walked in from outside. His armor was covered in bloodstains, he looked travel-worn, and even his face was covered in dust. Seeing him enter, Ming Ruo immediately stood up nervously, instinctively shielding Shun Yuan behind her. Deep down, she knew Duanmu Yun wouldn't harm her beloved child, but as a mother, and currently in enemy territory, not to mention her status as a concubine of the Great An Emperor, she couldn't guarantee that others wouldn't harbor resentment once they learned their identities. Therefore, caution was paramount. Yet, seeing Duanmu Yun covered in blood

, she couldn't help but worry about his injuries. Mingruo felt her heart breaking. She truly didn't understand why Duanmu Yun was so persistent; they were no longer possible, so why wouldn't he believe it?

"Ruo'er." With her last hand reaching out, Duanmu Yun's tall and slender body collapsed. Ming Ruo cried out in alarm, forgetting what she was thinking, and rushed to help him up. But she was just a weak woman with no strength to even kill a chicken; how could she possibly lift such a large man? Fortunately, although Shun Yuan disliked Duanmu Yun, he wouldn't disobey her. He also reached out his little hands and feet to help. The two of them struggled to lift Duanmu Yun onto the bed, his soft fur quickly stained with blood.

The young boy's brows furrowed—when he wasn't causing trouble, he looked exactly like Emperor Xu Li, especially his eyebrows and eyes, which seemed to be carved from the same mold as Emperor Xu Li. Although he was young, he wasn't stupid. Seeing Ming Ruo walk to the tent entrance and then return, he couldn't help but snort coldly in his heart, looking at the unconscious Duanmu Yun. "Mother, is no one outside?"

Mingruo nodded. "It's strange, Waka usually stays around here and doesn't wander off. How come he's suddenly disappeared today?" Wasn't he just tidying up in the tent a moment ago?

Shunyuan stepped forward to help Duanmu Yun remove his armor. Although small in stature, he was surprisingly strong. For his father, and to ensure their family of three could live happily together in the future, he was determined to eliminate every potential enemy for his father! "Mother, go wring out the towel, I'll help him take off his clothes."

To avoid such an awkward situation, Mingruo was naturally more than happy and quickly went to wring out the towel, as her son suggested. Shunyuan looked at the pale and haggard man before him, his hands still moving, but he felt a pang of regret. It was a pity that his mother was already taken. This Haidongqing was quite devoted, but his mother didn't like him, so why should he cling on? It would be better to let go gracefully. Now that he had kidnapped him and his mother here, what would the Wuhuan people think of him? This man… just like his father, he was unfathomable.

A clean, hot towel had already been brought over, and Shun Yuan helped Duanmu Yun remove his blood-stained armor, leaving only a thin layer of clothing underneath. Ming Ruo wiped his face, but not knowing where he was injured, she wanted to fetch the army doctor, but Shun Yuan stopped her: “Mother—he’s fine, the blood isn’t his.”

Ming Ruo was stunned, a huge weight lifted from her heart. She sat down, watching Duanmu Yun breathe steadily, and took his pulse, finally confirming that he was truly uninjured, merely exhausted. Shun Yuan skipped and hopped into her arms, tugging at her sleeve and asking, “Mother, are you worried about him?”

“He’s an old friend of mine, of course I’m worried.” Ming Ruo smiled slightly, patting Shun Yuan’s head, her gaze distant and wistful. “I just don’t want him to die. If he can live well, I can rest easy. Shun Yuan… I feel guilty towards him. I almost killed him back then. This is what I owe him, but I’m afraid I can never repay him in this lifetime.” She sighed softly, not knowing what tomorrow would bring, but the only thing she was certain of was that Duanmu Yun would no longer exist.

Duanmu Yun on the bed suddenly started talking in his sleep: “Ruo’er, Ruo’er… I won, I won… Ruo’er—”

Shun Yuan’s little face changed, and he immediately grabbed Ming Ruo’s clothes, his eyes watery as if he was about to cry: “Mother?”

Ming Ruo was also startled by Duanmu Yun’s sleep talking, but she was relatively calm and quickly comforted the child: “It’s okay, don’t believe him, nothing will happen. Your father is so powerful, how could he lose?”

Shun Yuan suddenly became stubborn. The nine-year-old child hadn’t cried in a long time, but suddenly started crying in her arms, his big eyes red and swollen, his little nose red, and he was sobbing but dared not make a loud sound. Mingruo's heart ached terribly, and she quickly hugged him tightly. She heard him cry out repeatedly, "Mother, I want Father! Mother, I want Father! I want to go back!

"... She, too, longed to see that man again.

Mingruo trembled. She knew Duanmu Yun; he was a light sleeper and wouldn't talk in his sleep unless he was deeply emotional. Although she comforted her son, telling him not to worry, she wasn't entirely sure. He said... he won? How could that be? She didn't believe it! Mingruo suddenly hugged her child tightly, closed her eyes, and cried out, "Father, Father, where are you? Are you alright?"

In the distant capital, in the imperial palace, Emperor Xuli held a vermilion brush, looking at the map on the table, a rare somber expression on his face. The Wuhuan had already approached the capital and would soon breach the city walls. Most of Da'an had fallen, with only a few cities clinging to life.

He drew a circle on the map, half his face shrouded in shadow, obscuring his emotions. Standing at the door of the Imperial Study, Eunuch An sighed repeatedly.

Chapter 209, Fire (Part 2)

Mingruo felt a vague unease in her heart. This unease grew stronger with the passage of time. She had been in the Wuhuan army camp for several months, and during these months, she knew nothing about what was happening on the battlefield. Duanmu Yun seemed to be deliberately isolating her from outside information. If it weren't for Waka's words revealing some clues first, coupled with Duanmu Yun's delirium today, she would never have imagined that the situation outside had deteriorated to such an extent.

She couldn't wait for her father to come and fetch her and Shunyuan. Perhaps... perhaps he would never come again. Every time she thought of this possibility, Mingruo's heart ached. Such a thing shouldn't happen. Her father was so powerful... Duanmu Yun shouldn't be his match. But despite believing this in her heart, Mingruo was still slightly uneasy. She bit her lip, looked at Duanmu Yun lying on the bed, hesitated for a moment, then suddenly felt Shun Yuan tug at her clothes. She looked down; her son was looking at her with expectant eyes. Mingruo gritted her teeth, stepped forward, and found the general's seal in the armor Duanmu Yun had just removed. She carefully held it in her palm and handed it to Shun Yuan. Then she found a token in the armor, and quickly led Shun Yuan away.

In this military camp, Mingruo and Shun Yuan were the only two outsiders, so most people were very wary of them. To prevent her face from causing any trouble, Mingruo deliberately smeared mud on her face and also smeared it on Shun Yuan. Fortunately, she had Duanmu Yun's token, and Shun Yuan was quick-witted; they barely managed to leave the military camp. But she dared not let her guard down for a moment, and only dared to stop and rest when she was sure she was far enough away. A sense of irony crept into her heart. Years ago, she had stolen Emperor Xuli's gold token several times to escape the palace and see Duanmu Yun; now, she was stealing Duanmu Yun's keepsake for Emperor Xuli. Truly, fortunes change in the blink of an eye.

Fortunately, she still had some jewelry on her when Duanmu Yun abducted her, which she hadn't taken off at the Wuhuan camp, keeping it in her bosom. Now, it finally came in handy. After inquiring, she learned that they were in Jiangcheng, about seven hundred li from the capital. Without silver, she and Shunyuan couldn't return even without food or water. But… Mingruo gripped the white jade hairpin tightly. It was a gift from Emperor Xuli, meticulously carved by him from the finest white jade. Each peach blossom on it was a carefully crafted piece, and embedded in the center was his blood. He said that with this, he could find her no matter where she was.

But now, she had to give it up. Mingruo gritted her teeth and finally exchanged this priceless treasure for a few silver notes. She didn't understand these things, but Shun Yuan was shrewd enough to ask for 100,000 taels of silver. The pawnshop owner, after much haggling to no avail, had no choice but to hand over the silver notes. Upon hearing that they were using a cash pawn, his face changed drastically. If it weren't for Shun Yuan's noble bearing despite his young age, he might have chosen to kill and rob them. After all, they were just an orphan and a widow, and in these chaotic times, even if they died, no one would know.

With the silver notes in hand, Ming Ruo bought two fine horses and some dry rations at the market, then hurriedly set off with Shun Yuan. She couldn't ride a horse, but in this situation, even if she couldn't, she forced herself to learn. Human potential is truly amazing; in just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, she could easily ride a horse. Ming Ruo remembered the day Emperor Xu Li took her and her son to the royal hunting grounds; she was still afraid of horses, but in a short time, she had learned.

See, she could survive even without him by her side, only… perhaps not as well as she would have survived with him.

Mingruo suppressed the tears welling up in her eyes, gritted her teeth, and spurred her horse toward the capital. Along the way, she learned that most of the cities of Da'an had already fallen. The Wuhuan people, naturally warlike and bloodthirsty, had massacred many cities. The Wuhuan army was advancing on the capital from two directions: one led by King Shalue, and the other by Haidongqing. Both sides were invincible, while the Da'an dynasty's army suffered repeated defeats, ultimately only able to hold onto the capital, overwhelmed by the attacks on other cities. She heard that Shalue's army was approaching the capital. Mingruo knew that if they wanted to return successfully, they had to get there before Shalue!

Haidongqing had been merciful to the people, even those who surrendered, but Shalue was different. Wherever he went, corpses littered the fields; he burned, killed, and looted, leaving nothing behind.

Mingruo refused to believe that Emperor Xuli had truly lost. He couldn't! He was such a powerful and all-powerful man! How could he possibly lose to that reckless and impulsive Shalue? She even clearly remembered him chuckling as he put his arm around her shoulder, saying Shalue was nothing to fear! The wind howled, and although she wore a veil, her cheeks still stung from the wind. Fortunately, she had taken Duanmu Yun's token when she fled, and she had some silver on her to bribe officials; otherwise, she would have given herself away during the interrogation.

Shunyuan's face was also tense, expressionless. Both mother and son knew that if they wanted to return to Emperor Xuli's side, they had to, absolutely had to, get there before Shalue!

But the closer they got to the capital, the more Mingruo felt her heart pounding. She was uneasy, very uneasy, extremely uneasy, so uneasy that when she stopped to rest each night, she couldn't close her eyes all night. Opening and closing her eyes, all she could see was Emperor Xuli's every smile, every gesture. She thought she might really be going mad. Knowing full well that he had killed her mother and Granny Duan, she still inexplicably wanted to go back.

Father… Father was all alone in that cold, deep palace; he must want her back. How could she abandon him there? Mingruo couldn't help but weep, but afraid of being seen by Shunyuan, she buried her head in her clothes, trying not to make a sound. But how could Shunyuan not know his mother's worry? He dared not let his mother know that he had seen her cry, so he deliberately made snoring noises, tears still streaming down his face.

The next day, at the crack of dawn, the mother and son set off. Mingruo could even vaguely see the moat. But the closer they got, the more her heart pounded. Lost in thought, Shunyuan suddenly said, "Mother, look over there!" She turned her head and saw yellow sand swirling in the distance, as if a large army was approaching—the Wuhuan army!

Her heart skipped a beat: "Shunyuan, we have to hurry!"

"Yes!"

Before the Wuhuan army approached, the mother and son finally entered the imperial city. But the imperial city seemed deserted; even the usually bustling streets were desolate. All the shops were closed, countless stalls lay broken on the ground, and there wasn't a soul in sight.

Mingruo's heart pounded even faster, so fast that she almost thought she was going to die.

Chapter 210, Fire (Part 2)

Suddenly, Shunyuan cried out: "Mother, Mother—look there—"

At the same moment he shouted, Mingruo abruptly looked up towards the direction of the imperial palace. Thick smoke was billowing from there, and bright red flames burned for a long time. Even from this distance, she seemed to be able to see the raging fire.

Father, Father is still inside!

Mingruo's trembling hands could barely hold the reins. She bit her lip hard, whipped the horse's rump, and rushed towards the imperial palace, with Shunyuan following closely behind.

The palace was in complete chaos. Palace maids, eunuchs, and guards were all fleeing in all directions, completely abandoning all decorum. Mingruo didn't care about anything else. She didn't even glance at those people before spurring her horse straight towards Panlong Palace.

That's where the fire started.

Mingruo jumped off her horse and staggered towards the gate of Panlong Palace. Shunyuan followed her, both mother and son with tears streaming down their faces. The fire was growing larger and larger; it was almost impossible to see the palace gates, let alone enter. Mingruo ran inside like a madwoman. She didn't care about anything else, she didn't care about anything else. As long as her father could appear before her at this moment, she didn't care what he had done. She didn't care if he had killed her mother and Granny Duan, or if he had harmed Duanmu Yun to such an extent, or the infamy he would leave behind after his death. She didn't want anything else. She just wanted him to live, to look after her, to hold her, to pamper her, to smile at her, and to indulge her to the point of being unruly.

The beams at the palace gate collapsed, unleashing a torrent of flames. Mingruo was forced back a step by the flames, but she didn't think of anything, nor was she afraid. She only wanted to go inside, only wanted to see her father.

"Mother—" Shunyuan's little face was a mess of tears, his beautiful eyes swollen and red. He tugged at Mingruo's sleeve, pitifully saying, "Don't leave Shunyuan behind, don't leave Shunyuan behind, okay?"

Mingruo knelt down and hugged the little child, her tears soaking into Shunyuan's dark hair. She smiled slightly, tears still glistening in her eyes, "Okay, let's go find Father together."

Shunyuan nodded, and the mother and son rushed towards Panlong Palace without a care in the world. Suddenly, an empty sleeve appeared from the side, wrapping around Mingruo and Shunyuan's waists, pulling them away from the flames and onto a safe open space. Mingruo looked back sharply—it was Duanmu Yun! In that instant, she seemed to understand something.

Duanmu Yun quickly withdrew his sleeves and instead tightly embraced Mingruo's waist. His deputy, standing beside him, immediately pulled Shunyuan into his arms. His strength was immense; Mingruo struggled with all her might but couldn't break free. "...Let go, let me go—"

"Ruo'er, it's no use you going. The fire is so big, he won't survive." Duanmu Yun's voice was low, as if he had foreseen all of this. "Isn't it a good thing for him to die like this? It preserves his dignity, preventing him from becoming a deposed ruler and a prisoner. Just let him go peacefully. I will take care of you in the future."

"Let go!" Mingruo struggled incessantly. She wouldn't listen to Duanmu Yun; she didn't believe him. Her father was so powerful, always confident and capable. How could a mere Wuhuan tribe be his match? He wouldn't die, he definitely wouldn't die! Just as she struggled desperately, Eunuch An appeared before her, a sorrowful smile on his face: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you're finally back! The Emperor thinks only of you, how could you be so heartless as to abandon him?"

Mingruo's lips were bleeding from being bitten, she couldn't cry out, her mouth agape, only repeatedly begging Duanmu Yun to let her go. Duanmu Yun had already carried her several feet away from Panlong Palace, but the scorching heat was still so clear. Her father must be so hot, he must be so hot… "Let go, let me go, let me go…" She bit Duanmu Yun's tiger's mouth, but he only groaned, refusing to let go no matter what.

Eunuch An suddenly knelt down and kowtowed three times heavily towards Panlong Palace. Mingruo was in despair. Her father was really inside, he really hadn't come out… Father, Father, why couldn't you wait for Ruo'er? Even just a quarter of an hour, even just half an incense stick's time! Why couldn't you wait? Ruo'er is back, Ruo'er is back! This time, Ruo'er will never leave again. Don't hide, please come out! "Father... Father..." she murmured, calling for Emperor Xuli. With a deafening roar, Panlong Palace collapsed completely, and the raging fire mercilessly engulfed the once magnificent palace, leaving no trace.

Mingruo's whole body went limp. At that moment, she even felt that she had no will to live.

"Father, Father... Father—" she desperately called for Emperor Xuli, but he could no longer respond to her. Mingruo stared blankly at the raging flames, no longer struggling. Her calls of "Father" slowly subsided, finally fading into the distant past.

"Ruo'er." Duanmu Yun caught her slender body as she fainted. Little Shunyuan, on the other hand, was flailing about in the deputy general's arms, his little face streaked with tears, calling out for his mother and then for his father.

Suddenly, Eunuch An slapped the deputy general holding Shun Yuan aside and pulled the young boy into his arms. Duanmu Yun coldly watched him, removing his bronze mask: "Eunuch An, you're a sensible man. I'll need you to take care of Shun Yuan and Ruo'er in the future, so you must live well." With that, he turned and left, carrying Ming Ruo in his arms.

A tragedy, all of this is a tragedy… Eunuch An held Shun Yuan tightly, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

The fire burned for three days and three nights before reducing the entire Panlong Palace to ashes. Since waking up, Ming Ruo seemed to have lost the ability to speak. She would see and ignore everyone except Shun Yuan. Now, besides Shun Yuan, she truly had nothing left. Even her father had left her, cruelly leaving her without a single word, simply because she didn't trust him.

Yes, it was her distrust that led to everything that had happened. If Father Emperor wanted, the Wuhuan wouldn't have dared to cross the Great Wall. He truly lost heart, which is why he surrendered and handed over the throne to others. Ah, this man was never a wise and benevolent ruler who cared for his country and its people. Yet how carefree and resolute he was in leaving, leaving her and her son Shun Yuan all alone in this world, as if he had never existed. How heartless, Father Emperor, how heartless you are!

Gone, gone.

Nothing left.

Only ashes remain. She couldn't even find his ashes. He didn't want to leave her even a trace of his memory; once he decided to leave, he would never look back.

When he loved her, he spoiled her rotten, indulging her every whim; when he was disappointed, he withdrew, leaving everything to her, wanting nothing and leaving nothing behind for himself, just like that.

Mingruo laughed foolishly. Just then, Duanmu Yun entered. Seeing her distressed expression, he quickly embraced her, touching her pale cheeks with worry on his face.

Chapter 211, A Deliberate Farewell

"You must be very happy, aren't you?"

"Ruo'er?!" Duanmu Yun didn't care what she had said; he was simply happy that she had spoken. He held Mingruo's hand, but found her eyes filled with tears, shallow and watery, carrying a deep sorrow that overwhelmed him. "You're willing to speak? Ruo'er, Ruo'er, are you feeling unwell? Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat? I've ordered someone to keep some porridge warm on the stove; would you like some?" For the past half month since the fall of Da'an, she hadn't uttered a word or seen him. Now that she was willing to speak, did it mean she was willing to let go of the past and start over with him?

Mingruo seemed not to hear his question, only slightly curving her lips into a smile. Duanmu Yun was shocked to find that her smile bore a striking resemblance to that of Emperor Xuli: "Now I understand how foolish I truly was."

"Ruo'er—"

As if ignoring Duanmu Yun's voice, Mingruo continued to speak to herself: "I was truly foolish. Because of what happened nine years ago, I refused to trust him, even though he treated me and Shunyuan so well, I never opened my heart. I thought he was a very cunning person, and I was determined not to fall into his trap, lest I end up with nothing but ashes. Who knew that I was too cautious, and ended up killing him? As for myself, living or dying makes no difference."

Nine years ago, he tricked me into the palace and forcibly took me. At that time, I truly hated him—hated his disregard for human ethics and his cruelty towards his own daughter, and hated his obsessive nature. For the sake of a mere Mingruo, he sacrificed so many lives, disregarding the common people, all just to hold me in his grasp. After you returned, I was ashamed to face you. He forced me to confront you, and I hated him again then, feeling that he was utterly heartless. He kept saying he loved and cherished me, yet he was still so cruel to me, forcing me to face things I didn't want to face. After seeing you, I wanted to leave with you; at that time, I truly didn't want to stay. "In this palace, I always felt it wasn't a place I could survive. After he captured me, I knew escape was impossible. I thought, if he truly cares for me in the future, I'll stay. He sits on that magnificent dragon throne, revered by all, but when he turns around, isn't he all alone? How could I bear to leave him, even though he always forces me to do things I don't want to do, tearing my dignity apart time and time again? Apart from the initial hatred, I've slowly forgotten everything." Her

jet-black hair was loose, obscuring Mingruo's pale, snow-white face and lips. She spoke slowly, and Duanmu Yun listened quietly. "He imprisoned me here, made me a concubine, and forced me to bear Shun Yuan for him. Aside from worrying about whether the child would have any defects, I didn't even hate him. But he wasn't so easily satisfied. He absolutely forbade me to have someone else in my heart. Yet he was so arrogant, not even bothering to hide what he did, fully expecting that even if I knew, I would only be angry with him for a few days and then forget it, ultimately still wanting to stay by his side. You suffered repeated defeats, losing a million-strong army, causing your eldest brother to die at the hands of an assassin, and then personally killing your second brother. Only then did I understand why he had repeatedly spared you before; he was simply waiting..." A crime for which no one could plead for you anymore killed you, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in my heart. But I didn't want you to die, yet he granted my wish, turning a blind eye and having you abducted from the prison. In this world… what is there that isn't under his control? He had six sons and four daughters, and apart from me and Shun Yuan, they were all either dead or insane, leaving no survivors. At first, I only thought he was cold-hearted, but I forgot… I forgot that I was the one who said it…” Tears streamed down her face; in the past two weeks, Mingruo felt as if she were shedding all the tears of her life. "I told you that the princes and princesses would endanger Shun Yuan, that it would be a great disaster. I just didn't want Shun Yuan to live in constant fear, resorting to any means to seize the throne like them. But that man, how ruthless yet devoted, must have been to eliminate all the threats for my son and me. Ironically, I forgot I said those words myself. I can only blame him for being cold-blooded and heartless; he never mentioned it once." "

How come I only understand now? That man, he would never hide anything from me. He said he didn't kill my mother and the nanny, and he didn't. Because of what happened nine years ago, I refused to believe him, thinking you were right, thinking you wouldn't lie to me. But I didn't think, what if you lied to me?" She raised her misty, tearful eyes, unable to see Duanmu Yun's expression, nor did she want to. She just wanted to tell him everything she knew. "Even the last time we met, I wasn't in his arms, but I pushed him away violently... I pushed him away with my own hands... I didn't even apologize to him..." That man would never come back.

No one will ever hold her or make her laugh again, no one will hold her hand to look at the purple epiphyllum, and no one will tuck her cold hands into their bosom in winter, indulging her without restraint, because the person who would do these things for her is gone.

"I remember a long, long time ago, when he held me and we admired the moon, he said, half-jokingly, that I didn't love him, that I treated him badly. At the time, I thought to myself, I always do what you want, I never argue or resist, I give you whatever you want, how am I treating you badly? Now that I think about it, I really didn't treat him well at all. Everything I did for him was without my heart. I always felt like I was forced, I didn't trust him, I didn't like him, I didn't miss him, as if I was always in the victim's position. But I didn't realize... that I had already fallen in love with him. Before I was with him, he had never loved anyone, and after I was with him, he was never happy. In the more than ten years I was with him, I was never good to him, not even when I smiled at him or acted coquettishly, I was never sincere." It turns out that all these years, the person she truly felt guilty towards wasn't Duanmu Yun, but him.

But she could no longer make amends, because that person would never return.

"Duanmu Yun, please let me go. And Shun Yuan and Eunuch An, Mother and Granny Duan, please return them to me as well." Mingruo slowly stood up and reached out her hand to him. "And my white jade hairpin, is it in your hands?" Since he arrived so quickly, it meant he already knew she and Shun Yuan were going to escape, which was why he deliberately hid the token and the general's seal on his person. The white jade hairpin she pawned naturally fell into his hands as well.

Duanmu Yun didn't move. Mingruo had no intention of wasting any more words with him. She directly pulled it out from his sleeve, held it in her hand, and pressed it against her heart: "Nine years ago, I wronged you. Nine years later, you seized my Ming family's empire and caused my husband's death. Whatever I owe you, I should repay it all." Yes, she owed him nothing more, and no longer needed to feel guilty.

Father, Father, Ruo'er misses you so much.

Clutching the hairpin, she walked step by step towards the door. The wide robe she wore made her appear even thinner and more frail. She seemed so fragile, as if she might vanish in the blink of an eye.

Duanmu Yun forced himself not to grab her. He should have known that his Ruo'er, so intelligent and perceptive, would never have believed him if not blinded by guilt. But now it was too late. "No, Ruo'er—" In the end, he couldn't resist and grasped her wrist. She was so thin; her slender wrist in his palm was withered like a dead branch. "You can't leave. This is a chaotic world. Da'an has fallen, and other nations are rising. If you go out, you'll only bring trouble upon yourself. Stay here, let me take care of you, okay?" Her last sentence was full of pleading.

Ming Ruo didn't respond. After a long while, she softly asked, "Can I go back to the palace?"

Duanmu Yun gritted his teeth and nodded.

"That's good." Mingruo looked out the window. "Please tidy up Zhuohua Palace. I want to move back there. Also, please don't have anyone spy on me. I won't run away." Yes, she wouldn't run away. She still had something to do for her father. After she finished, she would go to him and tell him how much she regretted it and how much she loved him. Her father loved her so much; he certainly wouldn't be angry with her.

Duanmu Yun, however, felt that Mingruo had strangely emerged from despair, and naturally agreed to all her requests. He was overjoyed and didn't know what to do. His Ruo'er was willing to stay and let him take care of her, even if only temporarily. As time went on, the matter of Emperor Xuli would naturally not be a problem. She would remember their vows of eternal love; she would remember.

After returning to the palace, Mingruo only brought Shunyuan with her. Eunuch An stayed in the eunuch's quarters not far from the two of them. Apart from Panlong Palace being burned to ashes, all the other palaces in the palace were more or less affected, only Zhuohua Palace was completely unharmed. Even at that critical juncture, Emperor Xuli couldn't bear to destroy anything belonging to Mingruo.

Zhuohua Palace had been uninhabited for ten years, yet it remained pristine. The purple hibiscus had long since withered, and Mingruo had lost all interest in it. She lived there, spending her days watching Shunyuan practice martial arts, teaching him to read, and tending to flowers and plants, as if she had returned to her seventeen-year-old self. The empire was no longer the Great An's; it had been renamed Wuhuan. Mingruo never uttered a word of complaint against the Wuhuan. She simply lived quietly in Zhuohua Palace. Shalue had replaced everything in the palace, leaving only Zhuohua Palace and Mingruo. The newly arrived palace maids and eunuchs all knew that the former imperial concubine, the one who had been bestowed the title of Consort Ming, a peerless beauty whose fame resounded throughout the land, lived in Zhuohua Palace, yet no one had ever seen her. Mingruo forbade anyone to enter, and she herself never came out. Her meals were all entrusted to Eunuch An. Duanmu Yun came every day, only to be refused entry each day. Even Shalue himself was denied entry.

She saw no one, and spoke to no one except Shunyuan and Eunuch An. Originally, the concubines of Da'an were all given by Shalue to the Wuhuan generals who followed him, while those over thirty years old were killed to be buried with Emperor Xuli. Shalue did an excellent job of maintaining appearances. Thus, the empress also died, and no one in the world knew of her blood relation to Emperor Xuli.

Mingruo had lived in the palace for about half a year, and Shalue, dissatisfied with being rejected time and again, grew impatient. He kept Mingruo because of her unparalleled beauty. From the first time he saw this beauty beside Emperor Xuli, he wanted to take her away. Men love beautiful women, and he was no exception. However, Emperor Xuli was simply too powerful, and he had been agonizing over it for nearly ten years without success. Now he had finally succeeded. If he could obtain this woman, he would have completely conquered Da'an.

Mingruo was the symbol of the Da'an Dynasty; she was now the empress of the last dynasty. If she didn't submit to him, she would become the possession of other men. No one would discard her stunningly beautiful face. He wanted both the empire and the beauty.

Despite his persistent entreaties for over half a year, Mingruo still refused to see him. Shalue, a rough and impulsive man, was already unusually tolerant for half a year. Meanwhile, Duanmu Yun was still eyeing the throne. This empire was won by Duanmu Yun; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to secure his position. But now, the beauty clearly didn't respect Duanmu Yun. If he acted quickly and took Mingruo first, Duanmu Yun's anger afterward would be useless. He was now the emperor, the empire was secure, and he no longer needed Duanmu Yun.

It had been a year since Emperor Xuli had been by her side, and Mingruo had settled down. Even she herself couldn't believe how strong her resolve was, so strong that it could temporarily overshadow the pain of losing her father.

Her father must be getting impatient; she couldn't delay any longer. Keeping her in suspense for too long wasn't a good thing; lest she push him too far and ruin everything.

So, having gained Mingruo's permission to enter Zhuohua Palace—or rather, now Emperor Shaluo—he was overjoyed. The beauty he had longed for day and night was finally within his grasp. He no longer needed to seek solace in other concubines; he could finally fulfill his dream and kiss her.

Mingruo was already stunningly beautiful, and after careful makeup, she was breathtakingly gorgeous. She had observed a year of mourning for Emperor Xuli, during which time she hadn't worn anything other than white. But tonight, to welcome Emperor Shaluo, she donned a red palace gown. After Shaluo became emperor, all the palace attire, currency, and other things belonging to Da'an were abolished, but since this was Mingruo's dress, he didn't care at all.

Her eyebrows, her eyes, her lips, her hands… everything about her was a masterpiece of nature. Even just the slightest smile on her lips nearly made Emperor Shaluo lose his soul.

"Zhuohua, Zhuohua... You don't know how much I've missed you these past ten years..." From that first glance at the banquet, to that fleeting glimpse in the Imperial Garden, to his subsequent obsession, he had longed for this woman for over a decade!

Mingruo lowered her eyes, her exquisite features appearing even more beautiful under the red palace candlelight. Emperor Shaluo became increasingly mesmerized, his hand trembling as he reached out to touch her. Mingruo did not resist, but raised her head, her picturesque features radiating even more joy, her eyes sparkling with a captivating charm.

"Zhuohua, you are truly beautiful..." Compared to her, the women of Wuhuan and the concubines of the harem were worlds apart! How could anyone in this world be so beautiful! Emperor Shaluo grew even more excited. Mingruo walked to the table, poured a cup of wine, and without speaking, simply smiled as she toasted him.

Normally, Emperor Salvador would never be so careless and trusting, but faced with such beauty, and with the woman lightly removing her outer garment, revealing a hint of crimson beneath, her delicate collarbone as alluring as white jade, and from his angle, even a deep cleavage and snow-white skin, he felt increasingly aroused, wishing he could immediately pounce on her and take her for himself. But he still had to maintain a facade of civility, so he accepted the wine, sipping it absentmindedly, his eyes glued to Mingruo's face and chest.

Before him, Mingruo slowly loosened her belt; she wore no undergarments, and after removing one outer garment after another, she was left only with a thin red gauze and her undergarment.

Her milky skin, accentuated by the red gauze, was even more alluring. Shalu's hand, holding the wine cup, nearly trembled, but he gritted his teeth and persevered. The wine was his usual drink; it had no unusual taste, meaning it wasn't poisoned. Could it be... could it be that the beauty truly wanted to be with him willingly?! Just then, he saw Mingruo tilt her head back and take a sip of wine. A drop accidentally dribbled down her lip and into her full breasts. He swallowed hard, and then his mouth was sealed by her soft, pink lips.

This was the beauty's fragrant tongue! His large hand trembled as he covered one of her tender breasts, slowly grasping and kneading it. Mingruo moaned softly, her voice so seductive it made one want to die beneath her. Shalu grew increasingly excited, his tongue swirling in Mingruo's mouth. Suddenly, a pang of heartache swept over him, but he ignored it. The fragrance emanating from the beauty filled his nostrils, further captivating him. So fragrant, so tender, so soft! He longed to meld the soft, boneless beauty in his arms into his very being! How could such a captivating creature exist in the world? She softened at the slightest touch, cried out at the slightest caress, and her cries were so alluring and seductive!

Yet, the more he kissed and touched her, the more intense the pain in his heart became. And yet, Mingruo was so alluring; he simply couldn't stop! The sensation under his hands was utterly irresistible—tender, soft, and smooth, like the finest mare's milk he had ever tasted. And that little mouth… so moist and warm, so fragrant—how could he possibly let it go?

Mingruo's smile gradually blurred in his eyes. Finally, Emperor Shaluo convulsed in pain and collapsed from his chair. Mingruo fell on top of him, taking the opportunity to plunge the white jade hairpin she had somehow acquired into his heart. "Does it hurt?" Her voice was still sweet, soft, and alluring. "When my father was burned alive, he must have felt much more pain than you."

Father... What father?! What was she saying?! Emperor Shaluo tried to open his eyes wide, wanting to ask what she was saying. He didn't understand at all. What father? Where did she get a father?!

Mingruo's smile became even more alluring and seductive. Her beautiful purple phoenix eyes shone with an unusual demonic aura. Emperor Shaluo looked at her as if he were seeing that powerful, god-like man. "You can leave now," she said, and the white jade hairpin went even deeper.

Chapter 212, The Relationship Between Mingruo and Emperor Xuli (Part 1)

Pushing away the man in front of her was like pushing away a piece of filthy garbage. Mingruo stood up, put her palace dress back on, carefully fastened her belt and buttoned it. Just as the beaded curtain was lifted, she finished dressing and turned around with unparalleled elegance.

Duanmu Yun was panting heavily, a thin layer of sweat on his face. He had apparently rushed back from the military camp in the suburbs as soon as he learned she had agreed to Shalue's request. Seeing her fully clothed, but Shalue lying on the ground with a white jade hairpin embedded in his chest, his handsome face showed astonishment. Mingruo slightly raised the corners of her mouth, waiting for his words.

She thought he would blame her or call for help to rescue Shalue, but to her surprise, Duanmu Yun picked up Shalue as easily as a sandbag and walked out. Then, Mingruo heard the sound of a sharp blade being drawn. A moment later, he returned, opening his hand to reveal the cleaned white jade hairpin.

Mingruo took the items and looked up at him. "You don't blame me?"

Duanmu Yun shook his head. "It's not your fault."

She looked away. "I'm leaving here. Give my mother and nanny back to me."

A deep pain flashed in Duanmu Yun's eyes. His hands clenched into fists and trembled violently at his sides. He suddenly closed his eyes. "Where are you going? Emperor Xuli is gone. Only I can protect you." "

I don't need your protection. Shunyuan will protect me. I can protect myself. You just need to give my mother and nanny back to me." Mingruo glanced at him indifferently. "Father is gone, and I want nothing more. Even if you threaten me with the lives of Shun Yuan and Mother, I don't care. If you want me to live, let us go. The throne of Da'an will henceforth belong to the Duanmu family. You should know how to silence the gossip. Sha Lue's claim to the throne was unpopular to begin with. You only need to revert to your original identity, and securing this throne will be a piece of cake." She stepped forward, took a gold token from his sleeve, turned and went to the side hall, waking Shun Yuan and Eunuch An—after agreeing to Sha Lue's proposal, she had drugged the water and put them to sleep.

She took nothing, even changing her clothes back to what they were before, without even looking back. "There was no poison in the wine, but the poison was hidden in my mouth and my fragrance. The combination of the two is deadly. I took the antidote beforehand to save my life, but Sha Lue is doomed. As for how to silence the gossip, you can figure that out yourself." With that, she took Shun Yuan's small hand. "Let's go."

The young boy still pouted, resentful that his mother had drugged him instead of joining him in avenging his father. As Mingruo reached the palace gate, she suddenly laughed: "I want to see how this changed dynasty can last for centuries."

Just as her figure was about to disappear, Duanmu Yun softly said, "Mother and Granny... are at Lingkong Temple."

Mingruo paused slightly, then didn't turn back. Thinking about it, it had been over ten years since she had been separated from her mother and Granny.

Mingruo felt a pang of kinship trepidation; she stood at the temple gate, hesitant to enter. Shunyuan, however, was overjoyed: "Mother, Mother, are we here to see Grandma?" Hearing her son's innocent voice, Mingruo's heart calmed slightly: "Yes." She hadn't told Shunyuan about her relationship with her father, and she would never let him know, never. "Then let's go in!" Being a child, he was incredibly excited and grabbed Mingruo's hand, starting to bang on the door. Mingruo didn't have time to stop him, so she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The kind-faced abbot opened the door and saw a stunningly beautiful mother and son, accompanied by an elderly man with shrewd eyes. He immediately recognized them and said, "Young friend Duanmu was right; the young lady has indeed come." He seemed to have a close relationship with Duanmu Yun, but Mingruo didn't ask. She simply followed his lead to the meditation room in the back courtyard. Normally, temples are places of Buddhist tranquility and shouldn't accommodate women, but Duanmu Yun had a very good personal relationship with the abbot, and given the chaotic times, he made an exception and took in Consort Huai and Granny Duan. When Mingruo saw them, Consort Huai was sitting outside sewing clothes, while Granny Duan was watering a few rows of vegetables in the small courtyard by the door. She saw Mingruo first, and the watering can in her hand clattered to the ground. Tears streamed down her face as she staggered towards Mingruo, hugging her tightly and scolding her incessantly, "You, you heartless little fourth child…don't you know how much Granny has missed you? You haven't come to see Granny even once in all these years! Did you want Granny to cry herself blind for you? You little brat, you little brat—" Consort Huai also looked up, her eyes slowly widening. She was calmer, but tears still glistened in her eyes. Mingruo hugged Granny Duan back, gently comforting her, "Granny, don't be angry. Ruo'er is back, isn't she?" "Ruo'er, my daughter—" Consort Huai finally couldn't suppress her emotions any longer. She stood up from her chair, dropped the clothes she was holding, and ran over. The three of them embraced and wept together, leaving Shun Yuan completely bewildered. Eunuch An voluntarily stood guard outside the courtyard, not entering, but he heard everything clearly inside. "My daughter, my daughter—" "Mother—" Mingruo hugged her only remaining family member tightly, tears streaming down her face. The three women cried uncontrollably until the neglected little boy became unhappy: "Mother, Mother—" Being young and not tall enough, he could only jump around, trying to get his mother's attention back. Granny Duan noticed the exquisitely beautiful child first: "This...this is the young master? He's grown so much...I've never even seen him before..." She knelt down, touched Shun Yuan's little face, and smiled through her tears: "He looks just like Xiao Si'er, look at those eyebrows and eyes, so handsome, they're practically identical." Shun Yuan nestled sweetly into Granny Duan's arms: "Greetings, Granny." "Good, good—" Granny Duan wiped away her tears and took Shun Yuan's little hand: "Come on, let's go get some snacks, okay?" Hearing this, Shun Yuan looked at Ming Ruo, and seeing her nod, he obediently let Granny Duan lead him away. After they entered the house, Ming Ruo knelt down and kowtowed several times to Consort Huai on the ground. Consort Huai had always doted on her, how could she bear to let her humiliate herself like this? She quickly reached out and hugged her, her voice still trembling with sobs: "You silly girl... why are you kneeling?! Get up quickly, don't make your mother angry!" Only when she held her daughter firmly in her arms did she believe that her daughter had truly returned. "How could you be so heartless... even if the Emperor wouldn't let you come to see us, you could have secretly sent someone to deliver a message, so that your mother and nanny wouldn't worry about you day and night..." Mingruo sniffed, her eyes red and swollen: "Mother... I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I, I—" She hesitated again and again, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to say what she had done, even though her mother and nanny already knew. Consort Huai stroked her pale and thin face with pity: "Silly girl, do you remember what I told you before? Do joyful things with your lover, don't ask whether it's a calamity or a blessing... Don't I know my daughter? You're always so silly, never blaming others, and always bearing everything alone. Only the Emperor can ensure your lifelong favor, freeing you from worldly suffering."

Upon hearing Emperor Xuli's name, Mingruo bit her lip hard, "Father, Father..."

"Good girl, don't cry. This is because you two were destined to be apart. There's no need to be sad." Consort Huai held Mingruo's hand and led her to sit on a stone bench under a large tree, her expression somewhat sorrowful. Mingruo had already prepared herself to be scolded by her mother, but to her surprise, her mother not only didn't blame her but also spoke up for her father. She was full of confusion but dared not ask. Consort Huai poured her a cup of tea, her eyes revealing nostalgia and mourning for the past. Then, she touched Mingruo's face, smiled gently, and said, "My dear girl, have you always been troubled by the blood relation between you and the Emperor?" Seeing Mingruo slowly nod, she added, "Mingruo, you don't need to be troubled. Strictly speaking... the Emperor isn't really your father; he should be your cousin."

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[Fantasy] The Captive Concubine's Tale (Complete) - Chapter 27

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