Feng Xuxu lay quietly in bed when she suddenly heard a series of footsteps approaching. It didn’t sound like a single person, so she opened her eyes and was utterly astonished to see that the man at the doorway was none other than Dugu Chen.

After a careful look, she jumped out of bed in alarm, ran to Dugu Chen’s side, and nervously looked at him, about to check for any wounds when Dugu Chen pulled her tightly into his embrace. He lifted the chin of the little woman and pressed his trembling lips to hers, sucking and seeking desperately for a fragment of solace.

"...Mm." Feng Xuxu didn’t know what had happened, but she could feel Dugu Chen’s fear and silently endured the fierce onslaught of his storm-like affection.

The people who hurried over, upon seeing this scene, all silently walked away, leaving behind a room filled with nothing but intimacy.

When Feng Xuxu could hardly breathe, Dugu Chen pulled away from the tempting red lips, his eyes full of deep affection as he gazed at the little woman in his arms. He reached out with his fair, large hand to touch the face of the woman in his embrace and softly said, "It’s good, you’re still here."

Blinking her large eyes, she looked at Dugu Chen, wanting to ask where all the blood on him had come from, but seeing the exhaustion on Dugu Chen’s face, she ultimately couldn’t bring herself to speak the words.

Fang Nian gazed anxiously at the closed gates of the Prince Mo Residence, unsure of the situation inside.

He Yiyuan watched Fang Nian and merely snorted coldly. He glanced sideways, his arms crossed and his expression completely unconcerned, with a leaf dangling from his mouth, his gaze dark and indecipherable.

Fang Nian, seeing He Yiyuan in this state, could not contain his anger and marched right up to He Yiyuan, plucking the leaf from his mouth. With a face the color of iron, he looked at the smug man and said, "I’m telling you, He, what the hell are you doing grinding your teeth here at a time like this?"

"Then, what would Fang suggest I should do?" asked He Yiyuan, raising an eyebrow and turning the question back on Fang Nian.

"Obviously, we should smash open the gates and go to the Emperor’s aid!" he replied without hesitation.

At that, He Yiyuan chuckles, "Take a look for yourself. The Prince Mo Residence is already surrounded by the Iron Cavalry Army. Unless you kill them, only then can you break open the gates of the Prince Mo Residence and rescue the Emperor."

"As if I needed you to tell me that. If it weren’t for these eyesores, I’d have already stormed in," Fang Nian said, feeling quite helpless.

"That’s why I say, we should just wait," He Yiyuan replied with a sarcastic smile, lifting his head to enjoy the beautiful sunset.

Seeing this, Fang Nian had no choice but to pace back, craning his neck every now and then, his heart itching with eagerness to see what was happening inside the gate. Then, turning his head and seeing He Yiyuan still assuming the same attitude, he decided to draw his sword and fight with the Iron Cavalry Army to break in and save the Emperor and the lord of Prince Residence. If things went well, he might also get promoted, the prospect of which seemed delightful to him.

"Men, Prince Chen is staging a rebellion. Follow me to breach the gates and save the Emperor. There will be plenty of reward money for everyone, and those who perform meritorious deeds in saving the Emperor could even be granted official ranks and titles!" His inspiring words motivated the soldiers to charge forward, break open the gates, and rescue the Emperor.

The soldiers, stirred by his speech, boiled with enthusiasm. They raised their weapons high, swinging them and chanting, "Kill, kill, kill!"

He Yiyuan scoffed, stood up to come beside Fang Nian, and patted his shoulder, asking, "Have you thought it through, Brother Fang?"

"Thought it through, Brother He. Join me in the cause, save the Prince Mo, and then... when Prince Mo ascends to the throne, I’ll recommend you. You’ll not lack for benefits," he said with a sly grin.

He Yiyuan raised an eyebrow, surprised that Fang Nian’s foolish head could concoct such a vicious plan. His smile deepened, and his gaze towards Fang Nian turned icy, as if looking at a dead man.