novelAbuy Chapter 463 Han Zhong still has to die!
Chapter 463 Han Zhong still has to die!
Xu Longxiang's gaze fell on the dark night in the distance, and his voice carried a hint of coldness.
"Han Zhong was executed simply because he suffered a defeat, losing many soldiers and generals. The foolish emperor was displeased and used him as a scapegoat. That foolish emperor has always been like this, capricious and reckless. What chance does a defeated general have?"
His tone carried an air of self-assured certainty, as if this were the only truth.
Fan Li nodded, and the weight that had been hanging over his heart for so long eased slightly.
"Your Highness is right. That's how it should be."
Xu Longxiang turned around, facing the drill ground, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers who were still training.
His voice was steady, carrying an unquestionable authority.
"Pass down the order to intensify training. Don't let this trivial matter throw you off balance."
Fan Li bowed deeply.
"Yes."
Xu Longxiang stood on the high platform, hands behind his back, gazing at the martial arts arena shrouded in moonlight.
His lips curled slightly upward, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
You tyrant, go ahead and do whatever you want.
The more you stir things up, the more people will leave.
Sooner or later, this fire will burn you.
At this moment, Fan Li's eyes flickered, he gritted his teeth, and his gaze became sharp as a knife.
"Your Highness, Han Zhong knows too much. If we can't save him, we must... shut him up forever."
Otherwise, if Han Zhong were to betray us as leverage to save his own life, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Xu Longxiang's eyes narrowed sharply.
What does it mean to shut Han Zhong up? It means to kill him to silence him.
Han Zhong was the General Who Guards the South, a general commanding 50,000 elite troops, and the most important pawn of the Xu family in the army.
He was reluctant to part with it, but he knew that Fan Li was right.
If Han Zhong confesses everything and exposes Xu Longxiang, then everything will be over.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I'm leaving it to you to handle. The sooner the better."
Fan Li bowed deeply.
"Yes."
He straightened up, turned around and strode down from the command platform, his dark blue scholar's robe fluttering in the wind.
Xu Longxiang stood on the command platform, watching Fan Li's disappearing figure, the letter in his hand crumpled into a ball.
Although he spoke with great certainty to Fan Li just now, he wasn't entirely sure himself.
However, in front of Fan Li, as the King of the Northern Border, he had to appear calm.
Otherwise, how can one convince others?
Whatever the reason that Qin Mu executed Han Zhong, he must speed up the rebellion!
A resolute glint flashed in Xu Longxiang's eyes!
.......
The carriage stopped in front of the palace gate.
Liu Ruolan lifted the carriage curtain and gazed at the majestic palace gate, a sense of indescribable sorrow welling up in her heart.
She had fantasized countless times about entering the palace, but never imagined it would be in this way.
Bringing her daughter along, she offered her most precious treasure to this magnificent cage as if it were a sacrifice.
She took a deep breath, turned around, and looked at her two daughters beside her.
Han Xin'er sat beside her, her back straight, her little hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes.
Her face was somewhat pale, but her eyes held a composure beyond her years.
She didn't ask who she was going to see, or why she came. She just sat there quietly, like a sapling standing tall in the cold wind.
Han Qin'er leaned against her older sister, her little hands holding her sister's arm, her eyes red, clearly having cried.
Her lips were slightly pursed, and she would occasionally raise her head to look at her mother with her big, watery eyes, as if she wanted to say something but dared not.
Liu Ruolan reached out and gently stroked Han Qin'er's hair, then held Han Xin'er's cold hand.
"We've arrived. Get off the bus."
Her voice was very soft, as soft as a withered leaf falling from a branch.
Han Xin'er got off the carriage first.
She stood beside the car, reached out her hand, and helped her mother and sister out of the car. Her movements were steady and careful, like an adult.
Liu Ruolan held Han Qin'er's hand as they stepped onto the white marble imperial road.
The moonlight shone on her, making her moon-white dress almost transparent.
Her steps were slow and heavy, each step feeling like walking on a knife's edge.
Han Xin'er walked beside her mother, her gaze sweeping over the heavily armored imperial guards on both sides. A hint of fear flashed in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.
She bit her lip, straightened her back, and walked step by step like her mother.
Han Qin'er clung tightly to her mother, her little hands gripping her mother's clothes tightly. She lowered her head, not daring to look at the expressionless soldiers or the blades that gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
A palace maid walked out from inside the palace gate. She was dressed in a light blue palace dress, with a delicate face and light steps.
She walked up to Liu Ruolan, gave a slight curtsy, and spoke softly.
"Madam, please come with me."
Liu Ruolan nodded without saying anything.
A palace maid led the way.
Liu Ruolan led her two daughters behind her, passing through one palace gate after another and walking through one long corridor after another.
Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the eaves, spreading a thin layer of silver frost across the ground.
As Han Xin'er walked, she secretly glanced around.
Those majestic palaces, towering eaves, and vermilion pillars, under the moonlight, resembled giant beasts lying on the ground, silent and awe-inspiring.
Her heart was pounding, and her palms were sweaty.
As Han Qin'er walked, her pace slowed down, and her calves began to feel weak.
She bit her lip, not daring to make a sound, and just clung tightly to her mother's clothes, staggering as she followed.
The palace maid stopped in front of a palace.
The palace doors were open, and a dim candlelight shone through.
"Madam, His Majesty is inside. Please come in."
The palace maid stepped aside, her head bowed.
Liu Ruolan took a deep breath, the air carrying the coolness of the night breeze, which made her more awake.
She released her daughter's hand, took one in each hand, and stepped across the threshold.
The hall was very quiet.
The candlelight burned quietly inside the lampshade, illuminating the room with a dim and warm glow.
The sandalwood bookshelf was filled with books, and there was a faint sandalwood scent in the air.
Qin Mu sat on a soft sandalwood couch by the window, resting his chin on one hand, in a languid posture.
A moon-white robe was loosely draped over his body, with the collar slightly open.
His gaze fell on the doorway, a half-smile playing on his lips.
Liu Ruolan led her two daughters to the center of the hall and stopped.
Her knees buckled, and with a thud, she knelt on the cold gold bricks.
"This humble servant... greets Your Majesty."
Her voice was hoarse, with a slight, suppressed tremor.
Han Xin'er knelt down with her mother, her forehead touching the gold brick, her hands placed flat in front of her, her posture as respectful as a well-bred young lady.
Her fingers were trembling slightly, but she gritted her teeth and refused to make a sound.
Han Qin'er was stunned for a moment, then knelt down like her sister.
Her movements were somewhat clumsy, and her forehead bumped against the gold brick with a soft thud.
She was in so much pain that tears almost welled up in her eyes, but she bit her lip and held back her tears.
Xu Fenghua stood beside Qin Mu, her hands at her sides, her face calm, but she was constantly scheming in her heart.
As she watched Liu Ruolan kneeling on the ground, kowtowing and begging, and her two daughters kneeling beside their mother, trembling with fear, a strange premonition suddenly welled up in her heart.
Qin Mu would not summon Han Zhong's wife and daughter without a reason, much less allow them to enter the palace late at night.
He must be up to something.
Xu Fenghua's eyes flickered slightly as she observed him discreetly.
Qin Mu looked at the three women kneeling on the ground, his gaze sweeping from Liu Ruolan's face to Han Xin'er's face, and then to Han Qin'er's face.
The smile on his lips deepened even more.
"Have you thought it through?"
Liu Ruolan's tears welled up again.
She lowered her head, her forehead touching the gold brick, her voice hoarse and broken.
"I have made up my mind. I... am willing to send my two daughters to the palace as hostages. I beg Your Majesty... to spare my husband's life."
She was taken to the palace as a hostage.
Xu Fenghua's pupils contracted slightly, as if she had been pricked by a needle.
She finally understood.
Qin Mu summoned Liu Ruolan late at night and went to the Han residence in person. After going through all this trouble, his real intention was to get his hands on Han Zhong's two daughters.
Xu Fenghua glanced at Qin Mu and sighed inwardly.
Without firing a single shot or even forcing anyone, he made Liu Ruolan kneel down and beg him to willingly send her daughter into the palace.
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
A deep chill ran through Xu Fenghua's heart.
She lowered her eyes, concealing the fleeting fear within them.
Qin Mu nodded, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest twice.
"Stand up and speak."
Liu Ruolan straightened up, knelt on her heels, lowered her head, and dared not look at Qin Mu.
Han Xin'er straightened up and knelt beside her mother, her eyes lowered as she looked at the gleaming gold bricks before her.
Her heart was pounding, but she tried to keep herself calm.
Han Qin'er also straightened up, secretly raised her head, and glanced at the man sitting on the soft couch with her big, watery eyes.
She saw the smile on his lips and his deep eyes, and a strange fear welled up inside her. She quickly lowered her head again.
Qin Mu's gaze fell on Han Xin'er's face and paused for a moment.
"What's your name?"
Han Xin'er's heart skipped a beat.
She took a deep breath, raised her head, and met Qin Mu's gaze.
Her voice was clear and steady, without the slightest tremor.
"Your Majesty, I am Han Xin'er."
Qin Mu nodded, then looked at Han Qin'er.
"And you?"
Han Qin'er shrank back and moved closer to her sister.
She bit her lip, her voice barely audible, like a mosquito's buzz.
"This humble woman... Han Qin'er."
Qin Mu smiled, withdrew his gaze, and landed on Liu Ruolan's face.
"Han Zhong is blessed to have a wife like you. Han Xin'er and Han Qin'er are blessed to have daughters like you."
Liu Ruolan's tears flowed again.
She kept her head down, her voice hoarse.
"Your Majesty flatters me. I only beg... that Your Majesty will keep your promise and spare my husband's life."
Qin Mu stood up, walked up to her, and stopped.
He looked down at her, his gaze calm as still water.
"My word is my bond. You send your daughter to the palace, and I will spare Han Zhong's life. From tomorrow onward, Han Zhong will atone for his crimes by serving me. If he harbors any further disloyalty—"
He paused, then lowered his voice even further. "You know the consequences."
Liu Ruolan's body stiffened abruptly, her forehead touching the gold brick.
"I understand. On behalf of my husband... I thank Your Majesty for your great kindness."
Her voice was hoarse and choked with sobs; every word seemed to be squeezed out with all her might.
Qin Mu turned around, walked back to the soft couch, and sat down.
He leaned back in his chair, propped his chin on one hand, and gazed at the deep night outside the window.
"Get up. You will stay in the palace tonight; I have already arranged your accommodations. Tomorrow at noon, Han Zhong will be executed, and you will all be there to witness the execution."
Liu Ruolan suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with disbelief and fear.
"Your Majesty! Didn't you already promise to spare my husband's life?"
Qin Mu turned his head to look at her, the smile still lingering on his lips.
"The play must be performed completely. If I don't execute him, wouldn't my words be a joke? How will Han Zhong be of service to me in the future?"
Liu Ruolan was stunned.
She understood; she understood completely.
Your Majesty intends to use a fake death to turn Han Zhong into a pawn used only by Your Majesty.
Her heart was churning with turmoil, but her face remained expressionless.
She simply nodded, her voice hoarse.
"I understand."
Qin Mu waved his hand.
"Go ahead. Get some rest."
Liu Ruolan stood up, her legs feeling weak, and she staggered. She had to hold onto Han Xin'er beside her to steady herself.
She took her two daughters' hands, turned around, and walked towards the palace entrance.
Han Xin'er walked beside her mother, turned around, and glanced at Qin Mu.
She saw him leaning against the soft couch, his eyes closed, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.
The moonlight shone on his face, casting his handsome features in a half-light, half-shadow.
A complex feeling welled up inside her, and she quickly turned around and followed her mother out of the palace gate.
Outside the palace, the night wind swept in, carrying the chill of early winter.
The palace maids were still waiting at the door. When they saw them come out, they gave a slight curtsy.
"Madam, please come with me."
Liu Ruolan nodded, took her two daughters' hands, and followed the palace maid toward the side hall.
Han Qin'er took a few steps, then suddenly stopped, looked up at Liu Ruolan, and spoke in a childish but earnest voice.
"Mother, is Father really not going to die?"
Liu Ruolan squatted down to be at eye level with her daughter, reached out and gently smoothed the stray hairs that had fallen across her forehead.
A faint smile appeared on her lips, a smile that was light and gentle, yet carried an indescribable tenderness.
"No, Father won't die."
Han Qin'er's eyes lit up, like two stars that had been polished.
"Really? That's wonderful! Sister, did you hear that? Father won't die!"
She turned around, hugged her sister, and smiled so hard her eyes curved into crescent moons.
Han Xin'er smiled too, a very light and faint smile, but one that carried a sense of relief as if she had survived a disaster.
She reached out and gently patted her sister's back without saying a word.
The moonlight shone on the mother and her two daughters, casting their shadows on the ground, where they huddled together.
Liu Ruolan, holding her two daughters' hands, followed behind the palace maids, through the corridor, and headed towards the side hall.
The excruciating fear and despair she had felt earlier were gone, replaced by a deep-seated weariness and a faint, indescribable bitterness.
She knew that from now on, her two daughters would live in this magnificent cage.
She didn't know what awaited them, whether they would be wronged, or whether they could still laugh carefree like before.
All she knew was that she had no other way to go.
The door to the side hall was pushed open, and hot water and clean clothes had already been prepared inside.
The palace maids lowered their heads and stepped aside.
Liu Ruolan led her two daughters inside and closed the door.
Han Qin'er looked around the room curiously, looking here and there, like a little bird trapped in a cage, both scared and curious.
Han Xin'er stood by the window, gazing at the deep night outside, and remained silent for a long time.
She suddenly spoke, her voice very soft, as if she were talking to herself.
"Mother, are we... going to live here from now on?"
Liu Ruolan's eyes reddened again.
She walked over, stood behind her daughter, reached out, and gently put her arm around her shoulder.
"Yes."
Han Xin'er didn't say anything more.
She simply stood there quietly, gazing at the moonlight outside the window, her gaze as calm as a stagnant pool.
She didn't know what awaited her.
All she knew was that from this night onward, she was no longer the Han Xin'er she used to be.