Ten years ago, on the eve of the closure of Youzhou. In the palace of the Lord of Youzhou City, a beautiful woman wearing a blue brocade robe was anxiously waiting for her master to return.
There was a two-year-old boy at the feet of the beautiful woman, babbling and talking: "Mom, when will Daddy come back? I miss Daddy!"
The woman was so confused at this time that she had no time to take care of the child, so she could only persuade her softly: "Good boy, Daddy will be home late today because he has something to do. Can the wet nurse take you to have a rest first?"
As soon as the child was taken away by the wet nurse, there was chaos in the house. The housekeeper hurried over and reported: "Madam, the master is back!"
When the woman heard the butler's reply, she quickly stood up from her seat and hurriedly walked into the courtyard. As soon as she reached the door, she met the Lord of Youzhou City, Chen Linggong, who was wearing silver armor.
When the woman saw the cold military uniform, she immediately frowned and stepped forward to ask, "Ling Chen, what's going on in the city? General Qi came to see me at noon..."
Duke Chen Ling raised his eyes and stepped towards the woman, saying angrily: "Qi Wuwei is loyal to you. Why, you, the Palace Master of Huan Mie Sect, should know very well what is going on in the city!"
This beautiful woman in blue brocade robe is none other than Huan Xin'er, the daughter of Huan Qianqiu, the former Palace Master of the Huan Mie Sect.
Huan Xin'er had already learned the general outline of the matter from Qi Wuwei. She was no longer the palace master of the Huan Mie Sect. What she was concerned about at this time was whether his husband Chen Lingchen would be implicated because of what her father Huan Qianqiu did. .
Huan Xin'er knew that Chen Lingchen was blaming herself, but she felt miserable in her heart. She looked at her husband's indifferent back, shook her head and sighed: "Ling Chen, it's not what you think..."
Before Huan Xin'er could explain clearly to Chen Lingchen, a thin male voice came from the courtyard. The voice came from far away and soon came to the front of the city lord's mansion.
The person who came was none other than the Grand Eunuch serving in front of the Emperor of the Mu family. He was seen holding the imperial edict, walking quickly into the main hall, shaking off the dust in his hands, and raising his voice.
The high-pitched and majestic voice immediately spread throughout the city lord's palace: "The imperial edict has arrived, Chen Linggong will receive it!"
When Chen Linggong saw the Grand Eunuch coming to announce the decree, he was shocked and his palms broke into a lot of cold sweat. Seeing that the imperial edict had been unfolded in the hands of the Grand Eunuch, he quickly led the family members in the mansion to kneel down to receive the edict.
The Grand Eunuch glanced meaningfully at Huan Xin'er next to Chen Lingchen, and read out the imperial edict in his hand attentively: "By the fate of heaven, the emperor issued an edict: Huan Qianqiu, the leader of the Huan Mie Sect, started a war in the world of cultivation with his own selfish desires. Now, It has spread to the Mu family.
I know very well that the lord of Youzhou City, Chen Linggong, is not a member of the Huan Mie Sect. In memory of his ancestors' merits in protecting the country, I specifically ordered him to kill Huan Qianqiu's family members in Youzhou City to relieve the danger in the capital. If you disobey, the people in Youzhou City will be punished as rebels and traitors to the country. I appreciate this! "
The moment Chen Lingchen saw the imperial edict in the hands of the Grand Eunuch, he expected that this was the emperor's inquiry. As the lord of Youzhou City, there was large-scale turmoil among the sects in Youzhou territory, and he could not absolve himself of the blame. But he never expected that the emperor's will would be so decisive, which suddenly put him in a dilemma.
Chen Lingchen raised his hands in the air. It was really hard to swallow the bad breath in his mouth, and his fair and thin cheeks turned red from holding it in. He was angry, and his words became hesitant for a while: "This... minister..."
The Grand Eunuch held the imperial edict in his hand. When he saw that Chen Lingchen did not immediately accept the edict and thank him, he was dissatisfied and said in his heart: "Mr. Chen Ling, you have to think carefully. If you resist and disobey the edict today, the 100,000 troops stationed outside the city will crush your Youzhou. City, the imperial edict to massacre the city is waiting in the military tent!"
Chen Lingchen, who had conquered the imperial court at a young age and had been unruly throughout his life, had never been subjected to such humiliation and was forced into such a situation. He understood that this was the "loss" caused by the Mu family emperor's reduction of the vassal before he "recovered" it from him, but he just couldn't reconcile himself to being defeated like this today!
Anger rose in Chen Lingchen's heart, and he stood up from the ground in a fit of anger, cursing: "Mu Yan'er has gone too far to bully others. He clearly knows that my wife Huan Xin'er is Huan Qianqiu's daughter. He..."
The Grand Eunuch did not expect that Chen Linggong, whose situation was over, was still struggling to his death, and could say such disrespectful words in the face of desperate situation.
He shook off the dust, stepped forward and stood in front of Chen Lingchen, scolding: "Mr. Chen Ling! You must know that if you really say these words, you will lead the entire city to death!"
Just when the two were in a stalemate, Huan Xin'er, who was kneeling respectfully on the ground, stood up. She gave a great gift to the Grand Eunuch and said respectfully: "Grand Eunuch, our City Lord's Mansion has accepted this imperial edict. My master will definitely act in accordance with the edict. I also ask the Eunuch to respond accordingly."
The Grand Eunuch stared at Huan Xin'er's face for a long time. Some old things came to his mind, and he almost burst into tears. He calmed down, took out a red jade bottle from his arms, quietly placed it in Huan Xin'er's hand, and said in a low voice: "Madam is a sensible person, and the Za family has tried to persuade the emperor on this matter, but..."
How could Huan Xin'er not know the reason, but she was a dying person, and she shouldn't express anything at this time, even if she had thousands of words, they would only rot in her stomach. She secretly hid the jade bottle in her sleeves, bowed slightly to the Grand Eunuch and said, "Xin'er thanks the Grand Eunuch."
After the Grand Eunuch left, Chen Lingchen dismissed the servants in the mansion, leaving only the wet nurse to take care of their two young sons. The huge city lord's palace was quiet at this time, and Chen Lingchen was about to board the city gate to resist the imperial court's 100,000 troops together with the soldiers.
After fighting for half his life, Chen Linggong decided to admit defeat. He planned to protect his wife and children and advance and retreat together with the people of Youzhou City, even if he was accused of collaborating with the enemy and treason.
Chen Lingchen caressed Huan Xin'er's delicate cheek. He had been a soldier and a decisive warrior all his life, and had never thought about marrying and having children. The marriage to Huan Xin'er seemed to be a long way for Huan, but he was also willing to do so.
At this final parting moment, Chen Lingchen, who had always been serious about his words, showed a rare expression of tenderness: "Don't worry, Xin'er, I have told Qi Wuwei that if the city is destroyed, he will take you and Xiaowa to escape, and you can go to Dongcang." Seek him!"
Huan Xin'er was now wearing a bright red cloak with jade belt, which made her face even more pink. She was nestled tightly in Chen Lingchen's arms. When she heard Chen Lingchen's words, her moving eyes were full of surprise.
Those small, jade-like hands touched Chen Lingchen's chest lightly. The corners of his mouth turned white due to excitement, and his voice almost trembled: "Ling Chen, you know all those things..."
Chen Lingchen held Huan Xin'er's hands on his chest tightly, held her in his arms, and said all the words he had buried in his heart for many years: "I, Lingchen, have never been afraid of anything in my life. I once thought I was most afraid of failure. But after meeting you, I realized that what I fear most is losing you!
I have always known about you and Yan Mingxiu. Thank you for choosing to come back to me and giving birth to a young son for me. Today, even if you risk everything I have, I will protect you. "
Huan Xin'er stood in front of the city lord's palace, looking at Chen Lingchen's retreating back, her heart ached like a knife. Only then did she realize how cautiously this arrogant man beside her loved her.
Suddenly, a person flashed out from the darkness of the mansion door. That person was dark-skinned and wearing a military uniform. He was Qi Wuwei, the person they trusted most. Qi Wuwei had just listened to the two's parting words, and now he was not sure whose arrangements to follow.
Qi Wuwei is the only person who has won the trust of Chen Linggong and who also understands the affairs of Huan Xin'er and Yan Mingxiu. After the imperial edict was issued, Chen Lingchen and Huan Xin'er found him respectively and discussed two completely different plans to resolve the crisis with him.
Qi Wuwei looked at Huan Xin'er with a bit of reluctance, and exhorted: "Xin'er, Mr. Chen Ling has made such a sacrifice, you must not let him down, why not..."
Huan Xin'er knew Chen Lingchen's plan from the beginning, but he didn't know Chen Lingchen's feelings for her. Now that she knew, she couldn't let go of his infatuation.
Huan Xin'er shook his head slightly and said firmly: "No, everything will go according to the original plan. Remember, it must be done perfectly!"
Outside Youzhou City, the imperial court's 100,000 troops were waiting for the Grand Duke's imperial edict. When he came this time, the Grand Eunuch was not only the one who announced the decree, but also the overseer of a hundred thousand troops.
Seeing that the governor never gave the order to break camp and advance, the generals and lieutenants in the army were anxious and rushed into their tents to urge: "Governor, the soldiers defending the city in Youzhou City have gathered at the city gate. Chen Linggong's treasonous intention has been clearly exposed, and it's time to send troops to seek punishment. It’s time!”
However, every general who entered the camp received the answer: "No, wait a little longer."
Just when the generals were puzzled, a report from the outpost came from outside the tent: "Report to the governor, the situation outside the city gate has changed! A woman in red was cut off from the city gate. Inquiries from the front came to report. The woman in red should be Huan Qianqiu. My daughter, Huan Xin'er."
When the Grand Eunuch heard the report, he felt indescribably uncomfortable in his heart. He waved his hands to the generals to go and investigate, and then turned around and returned to the back tent.
As soon as he entered the back tent, the eunuch fell down on the bed. A line of hot tears fell down the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes. He kept sighing softly: "Xin'er, you finally made the wrong payment..."
In the palace of the Lord of Youzhou City, Chen Lingchen sat slumped on a chair, looking forward with empty eyes, and murmured: "Xin'er, why are you doing this? What does the Huan Mie Sect do have to do with you? At worst, I will fight for this A life…”
When Chen Lingchen saw his confidant Qi Wuwei walking over, he stood up from his chair, grabbed Qi Wuwei's arm and prayed: "Wuyou, please let me see her again. Her body is still alone outside the city. Lying on the ground, you let me..."
How could Qi Wuwei not feel pain in his heart, but he could only hold on at the moment. He could not pay Huan Xin'er's request, and he could not let her sacrifice go in vain. Seeing Chen Linggong's lost look, he quickly reached out and grabbed his wrist to stop him from doing something stupid.
He excitedly said to Chen Linggong: "Mr. Chen, do you want her sacrifice to be in vain? I have arranged her death. The little baby...according to her last wish, I will hand it over to Yan Mingxiu..."
After listening to Qi's meaningless words, Chen Lingchen fell back on his seat and nodded numbly in response. Chen Lingchen knew that he really couldn't raise their youngest son, so when the child grew up, he would let the child kill him to avenge his mother!
Thinking of Huan Xin'er's death, Chen Lingchen was so heartbroken that he couldn't breathe. He calmed down and then continued: "They said she fell outside the city gate after her death..."
Qi Wuwei knew what Chen Linggong wanted to ask, and he no longer hid it from him at this time, and replied: "She died peacefully. The Grand Eunuch had an old relationship with her. The bottle of poison he secretly gave her was painless..."
When Chen Lingchen thought that Huan Xin'er had left his side and died so miserably, the grief in his heart could no longer be suppressed. He beat his chest and feet, looked up to the sky and screamed: "How can it be painless, my Xin'er, ah! "
