Chapter 208 A Twist of Fate

Chapter 208 A Twist of Fate

Lie Feng's gaze was cold, and his tone carried a warning: "Fine, I promise you. If you dare to go back on your word, I, Lie Feng, will chase you to the ends of the earth and kill them."

Seeing that he had relented, Xue Qingning immediately looked over and, upon touching the bloodstains on Xie Hongrui's neck, shouted, "Go and bandage Hong'er!"

Lie Feng's brow furrowed. "He won't die!"

Xie Hongrui wanted to curse Lie Feng again, but Xue Qingning stopped him with a look. This Lie Feng was ruthless and vicious; if he angered him, he would get stabbed again.

Xue Yubai looked at Xue Qingning, "What will you do if we leave?"

Tears immediately welled up in Xue Qingning's eyes. "Brother, from now on, Hong'er will rely on you."

Upon hearing this, Xue Yubai was overcome with grief, his eyes instantly turning red. He cried out to the city wall, "Xie Yan, spare my sister's life, I beg you."

Xue Qingning's eyes flickered slightly.

Xie Yan listened to the voice coming from above, then looked down and said, "In the secret room of Pear Courtyard, there is a mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden box in the drawer of my desk. You should have seen it before."

Xue Yubai trembled. He had seen Xie Yan after her death, but dared not tell Xue Qingning that Xie Yan had known about her actions all along.

Those were opportunities he gave Xue Qingning time and time again.

Xie Yan said, "I sensed something was off when she deliberately led me to my mother's shop."

"But I still trusted you all and thought she was just jealous. At that time, I didn't know that Shen Nanzi was forcing me to marry for my own good."

"My indulgence ultimately made me an accomplice in her repeated attempts to frame her."

"And time and time again, I've severed my sense of guilt towards your Xue family. Xue Yubai, what I owe is you and Grand Tutor Xue."

The implication was that he owed Xue Qingning nothing.

Xue Yubai knew that Xie Yan would never forgive or let Xue Qingning go.

He smiled bitterly, realizing that besides Xie Yan, he didn't know who else to turn to for help to protect his sister's life.

Xue Qingning understood their conversation. "Brother, don't beg him again for my sake."

"He never truly loved me; he was only nice to me because you wanted him to marry me."

"That meticulous kindness created a false impression, making us believe that Xie Yan could not live without me."

"He will not refuse to repay the Xue family because of you and your grandfather."

“He has now severed all ties with our Xue family, and he will no longer show us any mercy.”

Xue Yubai understood, and still cried out in anguish towards the outside of the city wall, "Xie Yan, I am so glad you didn't die!"

"But why didn't you die? You seem to have paid your debts, but you haven't paid them off at all. You pushed us to the highest point, and then watched us fall."

"You are so cruel!"

"Rather than this, it would have been better if we had never had it at all."

Xie Yan remained silent beneath the city wall, with only the sound of the army pounding on the city gate remaining.

Xue Yubai knew him too well.

Even if he is on the verge of death, Xie Yan will keep his promise.

His silence signified that he didn't want to say anything more. His mind was made up, and there was no room for negotiation.

In the past, he wouldn't have needed to say a word; Xie Yan would have done it without hesitation.

Xue Yubai only realized at this moment that Xie Yan, having died once, was no longer the Xie Yan he once was.

He cut off all ties, and when he returned, he was completely transformed, becoming an enemy of the Xue family.

"Brother, you must leave quickly!!" Xue Qing stared at the Chengwang army below the city wall, the thunderous sound of them crashing against the city gate felt like a hammer blow to her heart.

"Please, brother."

The fierce wind couldn't wait to have them taken away.

Bound and powerless to resist, Xue Yubai, realizing this parting might be forever, roared in anguish, "Qingning! Sister! It's all my fault, I'm useless!"

"Mother!" Xie Hongrui was also picked up, and he cried out.

Xue Qingning could no longer hold back her tears as she watched their figures disappear.

The early spring sunshine was hidden behind thick clouds, and the sky was gray and gloomy with dust everywhere.

It's like a feeling that's been suppressed for a long time, making it hard to let go.

After they had walked for about an hour, the city wall below was finally breached.

The soldiers defending the city gradually gave up resisting and surrendered after shouting the slogan, "Yunhan people will not kill Yunhan people."

Shen Nanzi led Xie Chengze, followed by Zhao Zhendong, Imperial Censor Zhang, and others, onto the city wall.

Xue Qingning seemed numb, staring blankly at the newcomer.

Shen Nanzi and Xie Chengze were both dressed in full armor, a stark contrast to their appearance at the Prince Jing's residence.

Previously, Shen Nanzi was flamboyant and arrogant, wearing elaborate palace dresses, as beautiful as the most dazzling and noble peony.

Now, just over half a year later, her fragility has faded, and her face, without makeup, still boasts bright eyes and white teeth, and she remains stunningly beautiful.

But beneath her stunning beauty lies a heroic spirit and unwavering perseverance.

She shed her makeup and donned military uniform, which made Xue Qingning envious and jealous.

Especially when you see Xie Chengze, dressed in a small suit of armor, with red lips and white teeth, looking imposing, you can tell he's been raised very well.

Thinking of her son Hong'er, who was now fleeing from disaster, she felt as if her heart was being torn apart, hating herself for letting them live.

Jealousy instantly turned into vicious words, harsh and sarcastic: "Who do we have here? It's Princess Jing, who's returned from Fang Shuo!"

"What? You had an ambiguous relationship with Fang Shuo's king, obtained three thousand soldiers with your body, and now you think you can clear your name and come back to be the noble Princess Jing?"

"Shut up! Don't slander my mother." Xie Chengze raised his crossbow and aimed at Xue Qingning.

Suddenly, the wind stopped, and the person just stared at Xie Chengze without saying a word.

Xie Chengze looked at Lie Feng, and at first, there was a hint of surprise in his eyes.

However, when she thought of some news about him, even her mother was extremely disappointed in him, and the joy in her eyes was instantly suppressed.

His gaze fell upon the ropes binding the city wall, and he gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger, and lowered his arms.

Lie Feng lowered his eyes. "Second Imperial Consort, if you speak again, I will make you die a painful death."

Xue Qingning knew she had no chance of living, but she still wanted to die quickly.

Even if he wanted to provoke Shen Nanzi again, he could only shut up now and stare at Shen Nanzi with resentment.

Shen Nanzi and her group were below and unaware of what was happening above.

However, Xie Yan did not die, and guessed that something must have happened during this time.

Just then, a member of the Imperial Guard came to report and handed Lie Feng something.

It is a letter.

Lie Feng held up the letter and then said to Xue Qingning, "Here's the letter. Put down your knife."

Xue Qingning seemed to have lost all desire to struggle, and only when she saw the letter did a glimmer of light return to her eyes.

She seemed to recognize the clay seal on the letter. After glancing at it, she dropped the large knife in her hand, snatched the letter, and eagerly opened it.

Lie Feng then pulled up the rope and rescued Xie Yan.

The Prince of Cheng's army took control of the gates of Luoyang. There was no commotion below. The other generals took over all the power in an orderly manner according to the plan.

The people in the city were not alarmed, nor were the soldiers guarding the city killed. They were simply placed together for easier management.

On the city tower, when Xie Yan was rescued, Zhao Zhendong and Imperial Censor Zhang knelt before him.

Zhao Zhendong: "Your Highness, you have truly frightened this old minister to death."

Imperial Censor Zhang: "Your Highness, why are you thinking of abandoning me? I was counting on you to ascend the throne so I could live a life of luxury and look down on everyone else!"