And the reason Madam Hui didn't explain.

Because she had explained countless times before, she'd become numb to it. She had nothing with Chen Mo.

But Prince Huai simply didn't believe it.

So Madam Hui decided not to explain anymore. Being beaten by Prince Huai was unbearable, so she made some remarks that no man could tolerate.

The truth was, she really had nothing going on with Chen Mo; they were completely innocent.

But Prince Huai beat her even more viciously.

He even threatened that after resolving Chen Mo, he would return to finish her off.

The reason he hasn't killed her now.

Is to let her live to hear the news of Chen Mo's death.

To see Chen Mo's head herself.

To prevent Madam Hui from escaping, Prince Huai deliberately left five hundred personal guards to watch over her and Madam Gan.

What truly broke Madam Hui's heart.

Was her son, Chu Shou.

The son she desperately protected, in the end, wouldn't believe her either.

He even uttered some grandiose words, saying that when "Father returns next time, mother should admit her mistakes to father, and by then, I will plead for you and ask father to spare your life."

Moreover, these five hundred personal guards watching over her, after Prince Huai left, actually took orders from Chu Shou.

But not only did Chu Shou not show any mercy to her as his mother, he guarded her even more strictly.

"Tap tap tap..."

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps sounded.

The maids turned their heads to look and saw Madam Hui's precious son running over anxiously.

"Crown Prince," the maids greeted.

Indeed, after Xiao Yunxi and Madam Xiao left, Prince Huai deposed the son of Madam Gan as the Crown Prince, and the obedient eldest son, Chu Shou, became the new Crown Prince.

To this, Madam Hui remained indifferent.

Just as Chu Shou came to Madam Hui and said, "Mother, it's not good. Something big has happened. Uncle Wang and father's alliance army was defeated; General Gongsun and Luo Qingyang, sent by the court, were killed by Chen Mo, and even Liang Mu was captured by Chen Mo. Now King Anping has sided with Chen Mo, and who knows when the Chen Army might attack Chongzhou."

But Madam Hui still showed no reaction.

Chu Shou continued, "Father's situation is not optimistic either; it's said that Yang Xian from the Shu Residence has dispatched troops under the guise of avenging father, father... father probably won't return."

Madam Hui still said nothing.

Chu Shou grew anxious, "Mother, speak up. Father won't come back, are you not worried at all?"

"He deserves it," Madam Hui finally spoke, but she didn't glance at Chu Shou, her eyes still lifeless.

Chu Shou was taken aback, then suddenly realized something, his expression turned to joy, and he quickly knelt before Madam Hui, clutching her hands:

"Yes, mother, father has no way out, but we do. Mother, you must save me; I will take you away from Chongzhou, and we'll seek refuge with Duke An. With your relationship with Duke An, he definitely won't kill me, and maybe he'll even adopt me as his godson, just like he did with the Xiao Clan's son... Mother, speak up..."

Seeing his mother not responding, just staring blankly at him, Chu Shou couldn't help but wave his hand in front of her eyes.

The response to Chu Shou, however, was a resounding slap.

Madam Hui slapped Chu Shou across the face, then pointed a trembling finger at him, her body quivering slightly, "Ungrateful child."

"Mother," Chu Shou looked at Madam Hui in disbelief; she had never hit him in all his life, today was the first time.

"Ungrateful child, how could you say such things? I've raised you all these years for nothing," Madam Hui coughed in anger, reiterating her innocence with Chen Mo.

Chu Shou laughed, "Mother, I understand."

But Madam Hui could see that he didn't understand at all.

After a long pause, she sighed, thinking of her son, "You go. Your sister is on that side; she'll take care of you."

Chu Shou hesitated, "Mother, won't you... go?"

"Ungrateful child," Madam Hui scolded Chu Shou again in anger, "Do you truly wish to... to seek glory?"

"Mother, I didn't mean that; don't misunderstand."

"Forget it. You go." Madam Hui continued to feed the fish.

"Mother, are you really not leaving?" Chu Shou asked.

Madam Hui ignored him.

"If she's not leaving, I am."

Just then, a voice rang out; it was Madam Gan, who had been eavesdropping.

She had come to chat with Madam Hui to relieve her boredom, but she hadn't expected to hear all this.

Chu Shou truly was a filial son.

"Madam Gan," Chu Shou bowed to Madam Gan.

Madam Gan eagerly said, "Crown Prince, take me and your brother with you. I will speak for you in front of Duke An."

Chu Shou's eyes lit up, but he still instinctively glanced at Madam Hui.

Madam Hui stared vacantly at the pond, ignoring the two.

Eventually, Chu Shou gritted his teeth and left Chongzhou City with Madam Gan and the mansion's personal guards.

...

Luonan.

Compared to the chaos in Chongzhou City, Luonan remained calm and peaceful.

It's not that the happenings in Huai State hadn't reached Luonan.

The news had arrived, but only a few knew about it.

Compared to Chongzhou, Luonan is relatively far from Huai State.

The speed of information dissemination hadn't caught up yet; aside from those who specifically sent people to Huai State to gather information, ordinary citizens hoping to learn about Huai State's happenings would have to wait another month or so.

Lu Sheng was naturally among the few informed.

Upon receiving the news, he was stunned, unable to react for a long time.

The result was too hard for him to accept.

Lu Sheng's face darkened, his hands clenched tightly, feeling a chill in his heart.

"Crack..."

His fingers pressed so hard they pierced through the urgent dispatch paper.

Heavy breaths echoed within the Prime Minister's Mansion study; each breath stirred fear among the staff officers and generals within, none daring to lift their heads.

After a long pause, with a stern face and no expression, Lu Sheng placed the dispatch on the desk before him, articulating slowly: "Send all scouts out; I want detailed accounts of the events at the Song Family Slope."

Lu Sheng found it hard to believe that Luo Qingyang, who cultivated the Spirit Burning Profound Skill, would be shot dead by Chen Mo's arrow.

Just how much stronger must Chen Mo be than Luo Qingyang to achieve that?

Thus, Lu Sheng preferred to believe there was an error in the intelligence.

...

Liang Ji was also among the few informed.

Since the alliance between King Chong and Lu Sheng, Liang Ji's living conditions improved significantly. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

She now had her own private space and could enter and exit the Imperial Palace freely, as long as she didn't leave Luonan City; she could go anywhere within the city.

Though still confined, Liang Ji's mood had improved considerably.

In the Empress Dowager's bedroom.

Liang Ji was painting in the cool room.

The subject was a man.

The man donned Bright Armor, wielded a "horizontal" blade, and sat astride a lofty horse, his gaze icy cold.

This was an image Liang Ji created based on the outside descriptions of Chen Mo.

She thought of drawing Chen Mo.

In a spontaneous burst, having heard so much about Chen Mo recently.

She heard so much that the name lodged in her mind, impossible to forget.

Yet if there were someone present who had actually seen Chen Mo, they'd realize that, except for the attire resembling Chen Mo, the person depicted in Liang Ji's painting was nothing like Chen Mo.

Just as Liang Ji was about to deepen the ink colors.

A palace maid rushed in anxiously, "Empress Dowager, it's bad."

"What's wrong?" Liang Ji asked without raising her head.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the front has suffered a defeat..." The palace maid was privy to the news from Liang Family channels, and she reported everything she heard to Liang Ji.

"Patter..."

Liang Ji's paintbrush fell to the ground, her face pale as she stood up, her emotions stirred as she asked, "What did you say?"

"The message states, Elder Liang was captured by the Chen Army," the maid repeated.

Upon hearing this, Liang Ji's delicate body trembled, raising a hand to her forehead, feeling dizzy and profoundly distressed.

Unlike Liang Xuan, Liang Mu was her biological father.

As an "invader," being captured by the Chen Army, how could Liang Ji not be worried?