Chapter 6, Action has begun

"The Dragon Talisman is here; anyone who acts recklessly will be executed without mercy." I never imagined that one day my voice could be so imposing and solemn, so cold and terrifying. As soon as I finished speaking, the sounds of swords and blades ceased. I knew it was not because of who I was, but because of the Dragon Talisman in my hand

The death of the Protector of the Dragon has shocked the Northern Kingdom. It is said that the common people are not allowed to marry for three months, yet ironically, the Northern Emperor has decreed that I must enter the palace in bridal attire within ten days. Does he not know that my father has just passed away? A group of people from the residence came and went, their unfamiliar faces all filled with sorrow, but it is uncertain how many of them are genuinely heartfelt.

Ye'er, from now on it will only be us, your father..." As mother held my hand, tears suddenly welled up, revealing that the strength I had just shown was merely a facade

The Guardian of the Dragon was poisoned to death by this demoness. Today, we shall avenge the Guardian of the Dragon. Kill them!" The military court raised the sword in his hand, pointing it directly at me. My heart tightened suddenly; my father has not yet been buried, and they have already taken action.

Ye'er, you should leave now, return to where you came from. The current emperor is already sixty years old; in case of any unforeseen circumstances, that—" Mother’s voice choked, seemingly in a state of panic

Mother, although Father is no longer with us, I will always be by your side, and I will take good care of you in his stead. I have hands, and as long as I am willing to work hard, I will never let you go hungry. I looked at Mother with great anticipation, but she gently stroked my hair and shook her head. Seeing her shake her head, my heart sank immediately.

"General Mo, the Dragon Guard has already departed," Li Ao said with sorrow.

The current emperor is already sixty years old. He is wary of the Dragon Guard and will absolutely not confer the title of empress upon me. Given his advanced age, it is impossible for me to conceive. My entry into the palace can only mean waiting for death, buried alive among a group of beautiful women. I fell to the ground, never imagining that the prosperous northern country harbored such a cruel custom. I only thought I would grow old and die in the palace, but I never expected—

Ye'er, I will not leave, and Xuan'er cannot leave with you either. If we depart, the position of the Guardian of the Dragon will fall into Li Ao's hands. He is inherently cruel and heartless, and he will definitely not spare our Luo clan. How can mother live solely for herself and abandon her kin?

Now my father has retired from his official position, and the Luo family is gradually declining, yet he stubbornly passed the position to Xuan'er, which shows how much he loves this son. Xuan'er, it turns out that your father not only does not dislike you, but has always liked you; he just hid it too deeply, so deeply that he deceived both you and your mother, who cried as she spoke.

"General Jun has arrived!" The steward in the residence shouted loudly. Upon hearing that her own elder brother was coming, Jun Tingting immediately rushed over and clung to his feet, weeping bitterly.

Father's body is still warm, yet they are already pressing aggressively. How will we live in the days to come

It is still not too late for everything now, you can leave tonight, your mother will send someone to escort you, as for the emperor, I have my own explanations, your father has just passed away, he will not do anything to us mother and son, otherwise it would be difficult to silence the voices of the world.

The beautiful woman, once adorned with exquisite makeup, now has disheveled hair and pays no heed to her appearance as she collapses to the ground in tears. It is unclear whether she weeps for the departure of her father or for the uncertainty of her future without support. This unfamiliar family, which had no connection to me just a few months ago, is now forcibly intertwined with me due to the Dragon Mansion in my hands

The cold young master of Liangzhou is my sworn brother, and the old master Leng is my adoptive father. The Leng family army under their command is renowned throughout the world, and the Xiling army has repeatedly failed to conquer it, lamenting from afar for hundreds of years. Liangzhou is far from the Northern Kingdom, and even if the Jun family or the emperor does not tolerate us, it is still beyond their reach

The Hulong Division is vast, yet wherever one goes, the sound of weeping can be heard. The mother, whose health had just begun to improve, could not bear the blow of her husband's passing and has already fallen into a coma

Mother

As night fell and the cold wind embraced me, I held Li Xuan's hand and stepped out of the main hall of the Hulong Division, my eyes filled with white lanterns that evoked a sense of desolation

My nose feels sour, and tears are falling down drop by drop. The young lady is stronger than I am; she does not cry in the face of any changes. But I cannot do that, for I truly no longer have a father.

"How dare you rebel?" Mother, witnessing the chaotic scene of slaughter outside, was filled with both anger and anxiety. She spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, her body swaying as if about to collapse, her face as pale as paper. Ultimately, she fainted once again. Meanwhile, Xuan'er, clearly unaccustomed to such scenes, turned pale with fear, gripping my hand tightly, which felt icy cold. He said to me, "Sister, I am scared."

It was only that day that I learned of this custom that has existed in the northern country for hundreds of years: when the emperor dies, the emperor's women are to be buried with him, unless the woman is the current empress or is with child

Li Xuan nodded blankly; he was only seven years old, unaware of the malice of human hearts, ignorant of the struggles for power and influence. How could he fulfill such a heavy responsibility entrusted to him by his father

Moreover, this is your father's dying wish. Xuan'er carries your father's blood; he is a descendant of the Li family, the legitimate son of the Dragon Guard. This is his destiny. Furthermore, this is the first time his father has entrusted him with such an important task. Xuan'er must do well; otherwise, your father will not rest in peace.

"Xuan'er, Ye'er, come here." Although Mother’s voice was weak, there seemed to be a certain strength accumulating throughout her body, and even her gaze held a determination I had never seen before

The handsome man in the hall fixed his gaze on my father's face, seemingly oblivious to everything around him. After a long while, he finally responded softly, but as he turned, he cast a slow, deliberate glance in my direction, his eyes heavy with meaning

Why? I asked

The light in the daughter's dormitory is soft, and the doctor has just come out of the dormitory. However, to my surprise, the daughter is leaning against the edge of the bed, seemingly awake.

Due to my mother's coma, and as I had just entered the mansion, Jun Tingting, the head of the eighteen wives, along with her son Li Ao, took my mother's place and Li Xuan's position, graciously receiving those who came to bid farewell to my father.

Li Qian, due to his frail health, could not withstand such a blow and has been sent back to Shuiyuan. Meanwhile, Li Xuan followed me silently, having not cried or shouted a word since his father's death, which evokes pity in others

Before my mother could finish speaking, a commotion erupted outside. It turned out that the Jun family had already barged in with their men, shouting that I had poisoned my father. A conflict broke out with the guards under my mother, and as I stepped outside, there were already many corpses lying on the ground, their blood staining the white snow.

The husband has always doted on Ao'er, looking down on that good-for-nothing Li Xuan. Your mother has been ill year after year, and the affection between them has long since faded; who in this household does not know this? Now that you have returned, the husband has died from poisoning and even gave you the Dragon Talisman. Did you poison him? Did you kill your husband? The piercing interrogation and the sinister gazes caused everyone to stop their wailing, all staring at me intently, as if I were the true culprit who left them without support. Now that you have returned, the husband has died from poisoning and even gave you the Dragon Talisman. Did you poison him? Did you kill your husband? The piercing interrogation and the sinister gazes caused everyone to stop their wailing, all staring at me intently, as if I were the true culprit who left them without support.

Ye'er, you are leaving tonight. We have not allowed you to experience even a day of parental love, and we cannot let you endure such a fate any longer. If I had known that recognizing you would lead to this outcome, if I had known that your father would leave this world so soon, I would have preferred that you had never returned.

"How exactly did my father die? Lady Jun and General Jun can investigate slowly, but today, with my father's body still cold, are we to make a commotion in the mourning hall and allow outsiders to mock us?" I said sternly, and the noise abruptly ceased, not because my words were particularly forceful, but because hurried and chaotic footsteps sounded from outside. People are fond of saving face and always wish to present a facade of peace in front of others.

"How can our husband be so strong and healthy, yet leave at a moment's notice?" Jun Tingting suddenly stopped her wailing, her gaze sharp as a blade, piercing directly towards me

The golden dragon emblem, like a red-hot branding iron, is so hot that I can barely hold it. The once luxurious and solemn hall is now filled with a desolate white. My father never closed his eyes until his death, not knowing whether he resented the cruelty of fate or worried about the destiny of this family.

"Sister—" Li Xuan called out to me softly. I stopped in my tracks and looked at him. He lowered his head to the ground again, remaining silent, appearing to be burdened with thoughts. He is still so young; what will he do if I am not by his side

"Ye'er, is it true that the Emperor has decreed to appoint you as the Virtuous Consort today? Why has no one ever told me this?" Mother stared at me intently, and upon seeing me nod, all the strength seemed to drain from her body, causing her to collapse softly onto the bed.

At dusk, a young man, weary from travel, entered. With sword-like brows and starry eyes, he was exceptionally handsome. At that moment, his face was filled with sorrow, and upon seeing his father's remains, his gaze turned crimson.

"Brother, it must be this woman who caused the death of the Guardian Dragon Division, it must be her." Jun Tingting turned to look at me, her venomous gaze and twisted face made her appear ghostly at that moment

She murmured softly, her face flushed with a hint of peach blossom pink, resembling a young girl in the throes of first love

"Ye'er, you need not say much. Mother will not leave. I was born here, grew up here, and will die here. Although your father never spoke a word of 'love' to me until his death, and for all these years he has looked at me with disdain, at the moment of his death, I finally understand that his heart has always been with me, his heart has always held me."

Mother, let us go together to Liangzhou, where there is the sea, high mountains, and endless tea hills, where merchant ships come and go without ceasing, a place as prosperous and wealthy as the capital of a nation. The people there are simple and kind, generous and hospitable. Mother, let us leave tonight; only by going there can we survive.