"If I were to say that there might be another world where I died under that boy’s blade, Rong Heng, would you believe it?" Gu Lan gazed at Geng Gong and spoke softly.

Rong Heng felt a shiver within, a trace of inexplicable pain flashing in his eyes.

He tightly clasped Gu Lan’s hand in his palm and said, "I believe it, but I will never let such a thing happen."

The King’s Flag and the banner with the character "Xiao" fluttered in the wind, in the void as if the Pingnan Marquis Xiao Jing and the Princely Heir Xiao Lie were arrogantly overlooking, staring down at all the heroes.

Numerous Pingnan Army soldiers, holding giant shields and clad in heavy armor, slowly moved towards the palace gates. With each step they took, the ground outside the palace gates emitted a heavy rumble.

Those axemen who had never been tempered by the fires of war were no match for the Pingnan Army and quickly retreated step by step, their golden armor cracking, axes and blades curling, and after some time, some of the imperial guards dropped their bows and crossbows, let out a wail, and scattered in retreat.

The siege ram fiercely hammered the heavy palace gates, again and again, making a deep resonating sound.

Gu Lan and Rong Heng stood side by side at the other end of the corridor.

Blood was splattered everywhere, and the corpses piled up like mountains before their eyes. The crimson palace walls were smeared even redder, with blood seeping deeply into every inch of the blue bricks along the corridor, and the intense scent of blood seeped into people’s hearts and lungs, exuding a sickening and despairing aura.

Gu Lan seemed to see that at the end of this corridor lay the palace gates, an unending wail of lost souls, and a road to royal power paved with corpses.

"Merely breaking into the Imperial Palace is already this tragic. If the army besieges the city, what kind of scene would that be... Did the Emperor foresee all of this, and that’s why he didn’t stop those officials from asking General Yan to open the city gates? At least in this way, it can ensure the safety of the people in the capital."

Su Zixiao approached, suppressing the urge to vomit in his throat, and said in a low voice.

Gu Lan shook his head: "You’re overthinking, Rong Jing has never cared about the people. Perhaps he just knows the situation is hopeless and no longer wants to struggle. You see, if the palace gates suddenly open now, wouldn’t we all have to spare his life? Who would want to bear the crime of regicide?"

Su Zixiao was speechless, and upon further consideration, he realized it was true. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He clenched his fist and looked at the prince beside him, whose expression was resolute and indifferent, and whispered:

"The country cannot be without a ruler for a day. If the Emperor truly... passes away, the only one who can assume this great responsibility and ascend to the throne is Prince Xiang. Surely you wouldn’t want that fool Rong Qijun to ascend, would you?"

Rong Heng pressed his thin lips slightly together, raised his head, and glanced at the sky.

Were those birds lamenting the cruelty of the world, or were they celebrating their own freedom?

He guessed it was the latter.

"What I wanted, I have long since obtained, besides, there’s not only Rong Qijun but also Rong Miaoyan."

Since returning to the capital, Rong Heng had not yet seen Rong Miaoyan, not even last night when she didn’t appear. She had probably already made her choice.

Su Zixiao’s pupils trembled; he looked dazedly at Gu Lan, but she also appeared calm, as if she hadn’t heard what Rong Heng said.

"Gu, Gu Lan, did you hear what Rong Heng said?"

Gu Lan glanced at him, calmly agreeing: "I also think there’s still Miaoyan. But it’s a bit early to talk about this now."

Su Zixiao suppressed the surging waves in his heart, pressing his lips together complexly.

It turns out that in this world, some people are willing to give up power and status within arm’s reach but are willing to protect this scarred world.

Outside the palace gates, sounds of slaughter, pleas for mercy, and the cries of palace attendants running and wailing mingled together, accompanied by the booming of the siege ram, the sounds traveling for miles.

Yet, in the deepest part of the Imperial Palace, Qianyuan Hall, it was as silent as death.

In the luxurious and spacious palace, there were only two figures.

No matter how intense the ambergris, it couldn’t dispel the bitter aura emitted by the bowl of medicinal soup in front of Rong Jing. The palace lamp was dim, hiding half of Rong Jing’s face in deep shadow.

The pale yellow light fell on the other half of his handsome, gentle face, casting a layer of warmth upon him.

The Emperor remained as elegant and noble as always, yet the side not illuminated by the lamp was extremely pale, even the fingertips resting at his side tinged with a slight bluish-white hue.

"Why?"

Song Zhi looked at the man sitting on the dragon throne in confusion, his clear phoenix eyes losing their usual color, filled with confusion and unwillingness.

Last night, clearly, Rong Jing could have issued a decree, ordering the imperial guard to stop those civil and military officials requesting to open the city gates, or he could have let him take over Yan Mo’s position and temporarily guard the capital, or perhaps, he could have made a last-ditch effort to go to Prince Rui’s mansion before Rong Heng’s army arrived, to capture Rong Heng and those Gu Family members.