Silence filled the room, thick and suffocating. Xue Liulan stared blankly at Murong Jin's still form in her father's arms.
"Murong Jin. Was our life together just because of a promise?" He mumbled, then laughed. "Hahaha! Yes. A promise. The Little General of Wuchuan, the famous Lord of Yuling, would never break her word. Once spoken, it must be done."
He stepped closer, his voice cold. "When you said 'grow old together,' it had nothing to do with love, did it?"
"Your Majesty!" Xu Wan'er exclaimed. "How can you doubt Sister Murong's love?"
"Love?" He looked at her, his smile mocking. "I thought so once. But it was just a cage."
"Your Majesty, regardless of what you say, I am taking Jin today." Murong Yan stepped back, wary. He knew Xue Liulan's skill. A student of Chengyan Valley, like the Fourth Prince, was not to be underestimated.
"Fine." Xue Liulan nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "Go. Remember, Murong Yan, you are a dead man. Don't let your identity ruin my plans."
"Yes." Murong Yan bowed his head.
The exile of the Murong clan had been a ruse, planned with Murong Yan's consent. Publicly, they were dead, killed by Guo Shangzhong's men. Privately, Murong Yan had taken command of the Fifteen, replacing Hanlu.
"Wait."
Murong Yan froze, turning back suspiciously.
Xue Liulan's gaze rested on Murong Jin. This was the last time. After today, Zhaoyang Palace would be empty.
"Can you… put her down? I want to… look at her again." He pleaded, head bowed.
Murong Yan hesitated, then laid her back on the bed. He stepped back, ready to fight if Xue Liulan tried to stop him.
Xue Liulan walked to the bed. He sat on the edge, stroking her cheek. It was grey, cold as frost.
"I should have let you go. Murong Jin, do you remember? You asked me once, if I won the world, to let you ride free. Today, I fulfill your wish."
He stood and went to the desk. He ground the ink, lifted the brush, and wrote without pause. Dragons and phoenixes danced on the paper.
Murong Yan and Little Dingzi watched. Xu Wan'er listened to the scratch of the brush, the rustle of his sleeve.
He finished. He folded the paper and placed it in Murong Jin's cold hand.
"Murong Jin, this is my letter of divorce. From today, we have no ties. You did not fail me. I, Xue Liulan, keep my promise. Ride free. We shall never meet again."
What? Murong Yan frowned. Little Dingzi's jaw dropped. Xu Wan'er covered her mouth in shock.
He divorced her. The woman he loved more than life itself.
Even Suyi, forced to divorce Xu Wan'er, had hesitated. Xue Liulan had not hesitated for a second.
Sister Murong, is this what you wanted?
"Your Majesty, think again!" Xu Wan'er cried.
"Think? Hah. Why? She thought enough for both of us." He glared at her. "She gets her wish, and I can give the Empress's seat to Guo Lingyu. Two birds with one stone."
"You want to make Guo Lingyu Empress?" Xu Wan'er's hands clenched.
Murong Jin was proud. In life or death, how could she accept being cast aside?
"Yes. Now is the time to win over Guo Shangzhong. If I crown his daughter, he will think I have given up. When he lowers his guard, I will strike." He analyzed the situation calmly, hands behind his back. "General Murong, am I wrong?"
Murong Yan was silent. Xue Liulan was right. Guo Shangzhong had always wanted the crown for his daughter. But before, even when the Murong clan fell, Xue Liulan had refused to replace the Empress.
She is my only wife. My only Empress. That was his vow.
"But Your Majesty, the Empress is barely cold. To replace her now… the people will talk. It is against the virtue of a husband," Xu Wan'er argued.
Xue Liulan looked at the woman on the bed.
"Princess, you forget. I just divorced her. She is no longer Empress." His voice trembled. "Her life and death have nothing to do with me, or the royal family. She will not be buried in the Imperial Tomb. She will not… share a grave with me."
He turned to the wall, tilting his head back to stop the tears.
To share a quilt in life, and a grave in death. Murong Jin, did you know that was my most cherished wish? But you felt it was a cage. So I let go.
"Go. Before I change my mind." His voice was cold again.
Murong Yan stared at his back. Had Jin misjudged him? So heartless. Was he worth her life?
But he didn't ask. He lifted his daughter and vanished through the door.
The moment the door opened, Xue Liulan whirled around. But he saw only the empty courtyard. The door creaked in the wind.
His heart emptied. And then the pain hit, a suffocating agony that swept through every corner of his body.
The world went black. He tasted blood.
"Your Majesty!" Little Dingzi screamed, rushing to catch him.
Xue Liulan swayed. Blood spilled from his lips, dripping onto Little Dingzi's hand.
Xu Wan'er gasped.
"Who are you?" Little Dingzi shouted at a new arrival.
"If you don't let him sit, prepare for a state funeral."
"Chong Hua?" Xu Wan'er asked uncertainly.
"Mm. Long time no see, Miss Xu."
"Eunuch Ding, this is the Physician Saint, Chong Hua. I invited him."
Little Dingzi helped Xue Liulan to a chair.
Chong Hua took Xue Liulan's pulse, then slammed a palm into his back.
"Cough!" Xue Liulan spat a mouthful of blood.
"Your Majesty!" Little Dingzi turned pale, terrified Chong Hua would kill him.
"If I wanted to kill him, he'd be dead already." Chong Hua snorted, turning to Xu Wan'er. "Because of these eyes, Suyi chased me halfway across the world."
Xu Wan'er smiled faintly.
"Suyi will be in Jindu in a few days. You can go back then." Xue Liulan wiped the blood from his mouth and stood up unsteadily.
"You're moving? Grief caused blood to stagnate in your heart. If you move now, you'll shorten your life." Chong Hua blocked him.
Xue Liulan pushed his arm aside and walked past him. He didn't hear.
"Do you want to die?" Chong Hua rolled his eyes.
Xue Liulan stopped but didn't turn.
"Before you walked in, I was already dead."
He walked out.
"What does he mean?" Chong Hua asked Xu Wan'er.
She sighed deeply.
Before Chong Hua arrived, Xue Liulan had watched the woman he loved die, then let her go so she could have freedom in death. Without Murong Jin, he was as good as dead.