135 The Winds of Change

"What did you feed me!" Murong Shaoxu’s bloodshot eyes glared at me as he struggled to stand.

"It is merely a mild anesthetic. If the great General Murong were to bite his tongue and commit suicide from the torture, who would be left to keep me company and watch this show?" I walked behind him and kicked him behind his knees. His body, which had just managed to rise, collapsed back onto its knees.

"Ling Yi."

"I am here, Your Highness."

"Destroy Murong Shaoxu’s martial arts. Make him suffer, but do not let him die."

"As you command."

"Huangfu Zijun, you bitch! You dare..."

"Then try me and see if I dare! Do it!"

"Huangfu Zijun, you... ah!"

An iron chain pierced through Murong Shaoxu’s shoulder blades, and his agonizing roar tore through the sky.

Below the city walls stood the soldiers and citizens of my Lingyun Kingdom. I slowly walked to the edge of the ramparts while Zijun dragged Murong Shaoxu’s body toward the brink. Blood trailed from his body, carving a path of gore that filled the air with a stench that lingered in the wind, refusing to dissipate.

I looked down at the people below, seeing the terror in their eyes.

"Soldiers and citizens below, hear me! I am Huangfu Zijun, the eldest princess of the Lingyun Kingdom! Six years ago, Murong Shaoxu murdered my father the Emperor and usurped the throne. Now, both I and the Crown Prince, Huangfu Zijun, have returned. If you still remember a righteous ruler, you know that under the oppression of the Murong clan, life has not been easy for you." I took a deep breath. "Those who surrender will be forgiven by my army and accepted as true citizens of Lingyun. Those who refuse will see this land razed to the ground by my forces in two hours."

"The soldiers of Lingyun are meant to defend their homes and resist foreign invaders, not to serve the wrong masters. For generations, the throne of Lingyun has passed to the legitimate heir. Five years ago, I witnessed with my own eyes the Emperor of Lingyun die in a raging fire. I survived through hell itself for the sake of reclaiming the righteousness of this realm and restoring the glory of my kingdom. Years of facts have proven everything; Huangfu Xin is but a child, and the government is controlled by the Murong clan. You can imagine the state of your lives. I hope you will all think carefully!"

Many of the soldiers’ eyes were already shimmering with emotion.

"Guteng, take the main army to rest for a while."

"Understood."

"Sister, I want to go too."

"Go ahead."

I knew my words had moved Zijun. He was only sixteen, an age that should be filled with play, yet he had to shoulder so many burdens. I felt a pang of heartache. Dongfang Qingyu, likely worried, followed him.

The Shafa Twelve carried Murong Shaoxu away to be imprisoned. On the wall, only I remained, accompanied by Zhuque.

"Mistress, the wind is strong here. You should go down and rest."

"It is fine. I wish to stand a while longer."

I could never forget my father and mother in that fire. I forced myself to adopt the persona of a cold-blooded ruler from my past life. I calculated every move, allowing no room for error, and today, I had finally learned to kill. I had never intended to disrupt the natural order of this era, but I had been left with no choice. My three thousand elite troops were trained with the brutal, modern methods used for special agents. In my past life as the head of the Huangfu family, I had been surrounded by bodyguards and special agents, and I had trained alongside them. After my rebirth, I had deliberately tried to bury those memories, hoping simply to be a carefree princess. I never expected that those memories would be unearthed.

Countless messages would spread at this moment. It would be known that the eldest princess and the crown prince of Lingyun were not dead, but had returned with a strange army, vowing to reclaim the throne and avenge the late Emperor and Empress.

"Zhuque, the wind is fierce. I am the one who stirred it, throwing the world into chaos." The wind blew my hair across my face, obscuring half of my vision.

"It is merely fate, Mistress. Why fret?"

"Yes, why fret? With Murong Shaoxu in my hands and Murong Lan half-dead, I want to see what they have left to fight me with."

With Guteng and Zijun there, the recapture of the outer city should be fine. I returned to the camp. Not long after I sat down, Dongfang Qingyu, who had left with Guteng, returned.

"Weren't you busy with Guteng and Zijun? Why have you returned?"

Dongfang Qingyu sat down, and I handed him a cup of water, which he drained in one go.

"Zijun is exceptionally capable. I saw that he has both the presence and the intellect; his command is quite impressive. I came back to let him gain some experience, and to allow myself a moment of rest."

"Thank you, Qingyu."

"What is there to thank? The future of my Northern Peace kingdom is no longer in grave danger, is it?"

"Indeed. I am going to see Murong Shaoxu. Do you want to come, or would you rather stay here and rest?"

"Let’s go."

We walked out of the tent one after the other, heading toward the place where Murong Shaoxu was held. A question still lingered in my heart, one that perhaps only Murong Shaoxu could answer.

As we stepped into the tent, everyone else retreated. Only Murong Shaoxu remained, struggling against the iron chains that bound him tightly.

"Huangfu Zijun!" He looked as if he wanted to tear me apart.

"I advise you to stop struggling. Now that you have fallen into my hands, it would be more practical for you to breathe the air and try to live a little longer. You know I will not let you off, just as you never let us siblings off back then."

"What do you want?"

Murong Shaoxu stopped struggling. The chains went silent, and the air grew still.

"How did my father die?"

Murong Shaoxu suddenly burst into laughter.

"What are you laughing at! Speak!"

"Your father, the Emperor of Lingyun, was beaten to death. I ordered men to surround him and pummel him with fists and kicks. Oh, and I smashed a vase over his head. I didn't expect him to be so useless; he stopped breathing shortly after he fell..."

"You beast!" I lost control. Finding strength from nowhere, I clamped my hands around Murong Shaoxu’s throat.

"Kill me then, kill me..." Murong Shaoxu did not forget to provoke me, and my grip tightened.

"Zijun, do not fall for his trap. You said you wouldn't let him find release so easily." Dongfang Qingyu’s words snapped me back to reality, and I withdrew my hands.

"Do you think you can find death that easily? Murong Shaoxu, I tell you, don't think I am unaware of the sordid affairs between you and Murong Lan!" At my words, shock flooded Murong Shaoxu’s eyes.

"And Huangfu Xin—don't think you can cover the sky with one hand. Just wait and watch the Murong clan fall into ruin and be wiped from existence!" After delivering this threat, I turned and left, ignoring the roar of Murong Shaoxu behind me.

I ran desperately toward a deserted hill, and Dongfang Qingyu followed me, maintaining a steady, unhurried pace.

"Ah..." I screamed, venting my resentment.

"Zijun, don't be like this."

"That year, after I finally managed to send Zijun away, I ran back to see my father covered in blood, his face unrecognizable, his imperial dragon robes stained beyond recognition. My mother had slit her own throat. I hate, how could I not hate..." As I spoke, the tears poured down my face.

"Cry if you want to. I am here; you don't have to hold it in." Dongfang Qingyu pulled me into his embrace. "I understand your pain. It will be better after you cry. Be strong once you are done, and I will stand between you and the storm for a while."

I leaned into Dongfang Qingyu’s arms and sobbed.

The sound of hooves came from the distance. I wiped my tears and looked at the newcomers, surprised.

Li Yexuan was holding the baby on horseback, followed by Kong Yuelin and the people I had sent to protect the child.

I hurriedly wiped my eyes and pulled away from Dongfang Qingyu. At that moment, Li Yexuan dismounted with the baby in his arms. The moment the child touched the ground, he ran toward me.

I was not seeing things. It was indeed my son, from whom I had been separated for only half a month. He seemed taller. How could they be here?

"Mother, it was me who asked Father and everyone to come. Don't blame them. I missed you, Mother. Why are you crying?" He rushed into my arms, starting to apologize before I could even speak.

"Since you are here, you are here." I picked him up, but my legs felt unsteady.

"Come, good child, let Godfather hold you."

"Okay."

Seeing my state, Dongfang Qingyu took the child from me.

"You came just like that—is everything alright in the Yuehua Kingdom?" I asked Li Yexuan indifferently. He must have been worried about me; otherwise, even if the baby wanted to come, it wouldn't have been possible.

"It is fine. It is time for Li Zheng to be independent."

"Arrange tents for everyone," I said, turning to Dongfang Qingyu, who was still coaxing the baby.

Dongfang Qingyu nodded.

I said nothing more and returned to my tent.

Dongfang Qingyu brought the baby over.

"Is Mother not wanting me anymore?" the child asked, on the verge of tears.

"Of course not. Mother is just a bit tired. Are you tired from traveling with Father? Do you want Mother to sleep with you for a while?"

"Yes."

The baby fell asleep quickly, and I tucked him in.

"Zijun, the child is innocent."

Dongfang Qingyu had seen through me. The closer I got to the Lingyun Kingdom, the clearer my memories became, and my obsession with Li Yexuan and the Yuehua Kingdom grew deeper.

"I know."

"If you have doubts, you can ask Li Yexuan directly."

"Qingyu, I do not want to ask."

If I wanted to ask, there were plenty of times and opportunities, yet I chose to remain silent.

A long time later, I heard Dongfang Qingyu let out a deep sigh.