"The Imperial Forest Army and the Cavalry Regiment, Qin Zongguan actually reminded me...” Lingmiao smiled as she swiftly moved with a speed that was too fast for my eyes to catch, I couldn't see how she did it, only saw a flash of white, then Qin An and those few guards fell straight down to the ground like the previous dead soldiers.

  All torches have gone out, leaving only moonlight, cold and frosty.

  Ling quietly returned to Su Xiu's side and stood still, opening her mouth softly: "Can't let them go for reinforcements, so I hit their acupuncture points."

  Su Xiu said indifferently: "Given Qin An's character, he must have already sent someone to the palace to inform Nan Chengyao."

  "What? Isn't the Third Prince supposed to be guarding the spirit in the palace and can't leave until the mourning period is over?" Lian Luo slightly froze.

  Su Xiu didn't answer her, but stretched out his hand to me: "We have to hurry up and get to the outer gate of the capital first."

  Liu Mo hastily said: "Liu Mo has already made all the arrangements according to your instructions before you closed the door, Liu Ke had long been leading people in disguise at the South City Inn in Beijing. I just released 'Fei Huan' while waiting for you outside He Feng Xuan, and they should be ready and waiting at the city gate by now."

  Su Xiu nodded and didn't say anything else, then wrapped her arms around my waist and we soared into the sky.

  I closed my eyes and all I could hear was the sound of the wind whistling past my ears, carrying away the past and the dust.

  The nine city gates of Beijing were originally closed due to the emperor's death and national mourning, with only Anding Gate remaining open.

  When we arrived outside the Anding Gate, we indeed saw Xie Yi and his entourage waiting by the horses. Su Xiuzhen personally led a white horse over to me and looked at me quietly: "Regret it?"

  I took a deep breath in silence, then turned over and mounted my horse, shaking my head at him.

  He didn't say much more, turned around and rode another horse, then said lightly: "Let's go."

  Horse hooves stir up light dust, dispersing past events like smoke. The sky gradually brightens, I didn't turn back, but I also knew that the capital city was getting farther and farther away.

  Actually, our speed isn't slow, and we've already walked a considerable distance from the capital, but I don't know why, my heart just can't calm down for some reason.

  And just as if to confirm the unease in my heart, when the sky was brightening, a hurried horseshoe sound rose from behind us, the sound was not loud, it should be only one person and one horse, but getting closer and closer, and Nan Chengyao's voice could also be faintly discerned.

  "Qing er..."

  Su Xiu Mian stopped the horse quietly: "The stolen horse is a rare good horse in the world, and it will eventually catch up. Since we have to make a decision, it's better to be early than late."

  I understand what he said wasn't wrong, but in my heart, I became even more flustered. At this moment when I had just heard Yun and Qin An's conversation, at this moment when I had already decided to leave, I didn't know how to face him who was chasing after me from the palace.

  Although it was inevitable, I stopped my horse along with the crowd, but I hesitated to turn back. Su Xiu let out a barely audible sigh, dismounted his horse, walked in front of me and stretched out his hand: "Don't be afraid, I'll take you away. It's just that things are not like they used to be, so let's just forget about the past grievances."

  I finally held his hand and got off the horse, slowly taking a few steps forward alone, but still couldn't help turning my head back to look at him. He stood behind me with a faint smile, and I felt slightly reassured, forcing myself to calm down and look in the direction of the approaching horseshoes.

  Yes, as he said, since it's going to be done anyway, better sooner than later. I won't be able to avoid it for the rest of my life.

  The figure on horseback gradually approached, Nan Chengyao jumped down from the horse's back and wrapped me in his arms, urgent and tight, yet unexpectedly silent for a long time.

  I was held by him so tightly that I could hardly breathe, and finally closed my eyes: "Your Highness, please let me go first."

  After a long time, he slowly let go of me. I was about to speak when he looked deeply into my eyes, his voice husky: "Qing'er, don't leave me."

  "I..."

  He didn't let me finish speaking, firmly grasping my shoulders: "You listen to me first. I know what you're blaming me for, the Mu Rong family's affair, and I indeed can't escape responsibility. If it weren't for my actions in the imperial court, they wouldn't have rebelled, at least not so hastily. But Qing Er, if it wasn't them, then it would be me. Being in the emperor's household, one cannot show any mercy or softness, otherwise there is only a dead end. That rebellion was not unfounded, all I can do is use my full strength to keep you safe and sound, do you understand? Besides you, I have never loved anyone else, do you believe me or not?"

  I didn't speak, and he didn't want me to respond either. He continued to stare at my eyes without blinking, his voice hoarse as he said: "As for Murong Huan, I hadn't expected her to seek death. Listen to what I have to say first - she once begged me to spare the Crown Prince's life, but I didn't agree, nor could I possibly agree. She probably knew that too, so she didn't pester me excessively, only asking me to spare the life of the child in her womb. All I could promise was that unless the child lived their entire life without knowing their true identity, they might have a chance at survival. So when she gave birth, the midwife who had been arranged beforehand used an abandoned infant to switch with Murong Huan and the Crown Prince's flesh and blood, then sent it to an ordinary farming household - no one knew that child's true identity. I couldn't tell Murong Huan where her child was, she agreed to it and never asked again, but I hadn't expected her to seek death."

  "Is that child still alive? Where is he now?" I unconsciously grasped his sleeve.

  His eyes sank slightly, avoiding mine: "The midwife who sent the child has already died, and now no one knows which family the child was sent to. The villagers in that village have all left their homes due to drought, so the child's whereabouts are temporarily unknown——but Qing'er, I've already had someone look for her, you believe me, she'll definitely be found."

  I shook my head with a bitter smile: "Never mind, let that child just be an ordinary citizen, maybe he'll be happier."

  I think this will also be Xiaoyu's expectation.

  Her home was gone, her husband had died, and she would never see her children again. In this world, there was nothing left for her to cherish, so she took a desperate leap.

  But because I know that my little treasure is fine, although without luxurious food and clothing, they can enjoy the peace and stability of this life, grow up healthy and happy, and have ordinary happiness.

  So she wasn't worried.

  So at that moment when she jumped up, her lips would curve into a smile.

  Is it?

  Nan Chengyao didn't say a word, and I slowly raised my eyes to look straight into his, calm and one word at a time: "Actually, we're the same. If we separate, we can both be freed, perhaps becoming happier."

  A deep pain suddenly appeared in his eyes, he grasped my hand tightly, as if holding onto the last piece of driftwood between the collapse of heaven and earth, silence and despair.

  "Qing'er, tell me, what would it take for you to forgive me?"