The silver-armored soldiers quickly turned their weapons against their commanders. The rebel generals were swiftly bound and dragged away for interrogation. The blood-soaked battlefield lay deserted, save for Imperial Physician Sun lying motionless with eyes wide in eternal fury.
I gazed at the chaotic aftermath, my heart churning like stormy seas. Never had I imagined the system that tormented us through lifetimes would meet its end this way. When he boasted of "knowing heaven's will and understanding mortal affairs," did he foresee his own downfall?
35.
While I was lost in contemplation, Li Yuan remained eerily calm. He helped me dismount, fastening my cloak with practiced ease. Suspicion dawned upon me. "You planned this all along, didn't you?"
"What use was planning?" His jaw tightened. "Two years! Two years enduring the agony of separation, believing distance would protect you. Yet here you were..." He shot me a glare sharp enough to pierce armor, "...charging into danger without warning."
"I feared the worst might happen."
"That's not what you said when bidding farewell!" His voice cracked like a wounded youth's, eyes rimmed crimson. He'd truly believed my departure meant cowardice, not courage. Beneath the anger simmered fragile hope - hope that we'd reunite.
Seeing tears cling to his lashes, guilt stabbed through me. "Forgive me? But wasn't my accidental discovery of Physician Sun's plot crucial? And didn't my hint about fake Su Qinghe help?" I coaxed, tugging his sleeve. "Your Highness, this humble girl admits her fault."
He snorted, roughly scrubbing his eyes. Before I could sweet-talk further, a familiar voice interrupted:
"Sister-in-law."
Li Heng approached through the carnage, silver armor gleaming. The bloodied sword wrapped in silk in his hand might as well have been a scholar's brush. "You recognized Qinghe but not me?" he teased. "And here I thought my heroics would impress."
"Of course I knew!" I patted his armored shoulder. "Who else stands so tall and hand..."
"Bạch! Niệm! Niệm!"
Li Yuan's roar could shatter mountains. He yanked me behind him possessively. With an amused glance at us, Li Heng clicked his tongue and headed cityward. "I'll make your excuses to Mother Empress."
36.
I watched him leave before teasing Li Yuan. "He's facing the Empress's wrath for you. Can't I praise him?"
"Praise whoever you want." He stalked toward the gates. "Since I clearly can't control Miss Bạch."
The vinegar in his tone could pickle vegetables. Before I could retort, Su Qinghe came sprinting, tears streaking her dirt-smudged face. Ignoring Li Yuan completely, she clung to my arm. "You recognized me earlier, right?"
At my nod, her tears transformed into a triumphant grin. "Wasn't I brilliant? After our lakeside parting, I followed you and saw Physician Sun's thugs! When I spotted that girl resembling me by the carriage..." She peeked at Li Yuan, who was pretending not to wait for us at the street corner.
She whispered conspiratorially, "Prince Li Heng stopped me from warning Li Yuan. Said his feelings for you would ruin the plan. He wasn't wrong." Her eyes sparkled. "That man would defy gods and demons for you. Fierce protectiveness looks dashing on him, no?"
Dashing...? My gaze drifted to Li Yuan's stiff silhouette. His feigned impatience couldn't disguise how he kept glancing back. Memories surfaced - another rescue, another time he'd stormed away only to return within minutes. That night, I'd whispered "Does it hurt?" about his bleeding arm. After hours of silence, he'd finally rasped: "My heart hurts."
He never raged at me, only at his own perceived failures. His pain mirrored mine.
37.
Li Yuan approached as twilight softened the battlefield's scars. Su Qinghe vanished like morning mist. Spring breezes carried away the stench of blood, leaving something almost... peaceful.
"Coming?" He tilted his head, the last vestiges of anger melting into tenderness under the moonlight.
