Chapter Nine: Disaster Arises from Within

"First, we need a name, don't we?" He blinked, seemingly without any thoughts, "What do you want to call it?"

As the pent-up feelings in my heart began to dissipate, the fever gradually subsided... The first thing I did upon waking was to open my eyes and search for the person who had said those words... Aside from the maid who was warming the medicine for her, there was no one else.

Strength is also a matter of necessity. Once someone is willing to say such words to her, the calm she has carefully maintained will completely collapse. She regrets it! She also hates it!

Lan Huang is so different from you; she wants whatever she likes, and thus the Prince of Nanyue has enjoyed great favor. Shen Tu Rui said with a mischievous smile, his meaning clear, "Clearly, it was a good match of talent and beauty, and Lan Huang thought her father would gladly agree. However, when Chong Wen came to propose, the Emperor Ding sternly refused. No matter how she pleaded or cried, the Emperor Ding would not agree, even confining her in the palace to reflect. I must say, your father is an extremely greedy man; he failed to conquer Nanyue back then, and for over a decade, his ambitions have not died. He constantly covets this rich land in the south, secretly hoarding troops and armor, diligently training elite forces. As the opportunity approaches, Nanyue just happens to send a prince to propose, and he has gotten involved with his favorite daughter. Don't you find it troublesome?"

The imperial city was filled with cries, resounding to the heavens, filling her ears, yet she did not weep—she had lost all dignity, being dragged along by the soldiers, her hairpins scattered across the ground. Her mind was overwhelmed, unable to think of much, not even recalling Shen Tu Cheng; she was struck by a singular fact: she had poisoned her father, the emperor.

Beheading, reviled by the people of the world, she has never felt wronged; she is a person of utmost wickedness, and she knows it, she acknowledges it

There are still so many people; they are clearly guilty, yet not only are they not dead, but they also refuse to admit their crimes, living so brazenly. They should be punished and should go with me to meet the Emperor Father to confess and repent. Otherwise, how can those wrongfully dead find peace in their reincarnation in the underworld

"You..." Shentu Rui sighed and said, "It was Lan Huang who suggested selecting you, because with your character, not only would you not cry injustice, but you would also readily admit your guilt"

The curses beneath the guillotine, the empty city tower, the executioner's blade sweeping through the wind, she fell onto the biting cold snow, and then... she returned to her chamber, pouring poison into the soup, the eunuch left, and the funeral bell tolled...

After the maid served the tea, she wisely withdrew

Lan Dan remained silent; she was indeed too low in status, as she had not heard a whisper of such news

Lan Dan suddenly smiled; she believed him, for even this statement he made with great sincerity. "Nowadays" is an alliance, but it will not be for long, and when that time comes, it will truly be a matter of life and death.

Lan Dan fell silent for a moment, "Fu Zhu."

Lan Dan vaguely recalled the beautiful woman in her mind; her time in the palace was too brief, too brief to leave behind any remarkable legends, only that she was very beautiful. Many years later, people would still mention that Lan Cheng's birth mother was very beautiful. ... So that was how it was ... No wonder Lan Cheng called Shen Tu Cheng brother

Lan Dan is ill, suffering from a high fever. After enduring such pain akin to a complete transformation, she has become accustomed to the aches and weakness of her body. Yet, within her hazy and muddled consciousness, there still lingers a trace of clarity.

Shentu Rui responded with a slight sound, his expression unchanged, showing no surprise

The Great Khan of the Northern Desert was gloomy all day long and finally passed away in the second year after his defeat and plea for peace. The crown prince ascended to the throne at the age of eleven, with a young son and a strong mother, thus the power naturally fell into the hands of the Empress Dowager. The exiled princes and princesses in Juandu held considerable influence in the Northern Desert court, posing a significant threat to the Empress Dowager, who naturally sought to eliminate them swiftly. The assassins successfully ambushed the hostage and his mother but failed to truly kill them; another Northern Desert person who had also fled to Juandu saved the hostage, that person being the wife of the Duke of Anguo. However, the hostage's mother was captured by Emperor Minding amidst the chaos. "Shentu Rui coldly curled his lips in a sneer, 'You should still remember her, the biological mother of Lan Cheng, Consort Xi.'"

Landan spoke incoherently, her lips moved for quite a while before she uttered a meaningless: "I ... ... "

Shentu Rui listened, furrowing his brows tightly, wanting to say something, but ultimately refrained from speaking.

The prince is quite impressive, and several princesses regard him as a suitable husband. Guess who shares mutual affection with him?" Shen Tu Rui smiled sarcastically, not intending to have Lan Dan actually guess, "Your good sister, Princess Lan Huang of Kunyang.

Lan Dan's gaze became unfocused, as if drifting back to the banks of Taiye Pool ten years ago—when she was eight years old and particularly fond of fresh lotus seeds. A palace maid had peeled several for her and wrapped them in a silk handkerchief. She held them in her hands, bouncing and skipping to the cool breeze of the long pavilion. In the pavilion stood a youth dressed in foreign attire, looking not much older than her but significantly taller, and exceptionally handsome. She admired him greatly and eagerly offered him two lotus seeds. The palace maid and eunuch who followed her seemed quite flustered, hurriedly pulling her away and secretly informing her that he was a hostage from the Northern Desert, advising her not to speak to him if she saw him again, as the people from the Northern Desert were very fierce and wicked.

Nothing at all

"Can I help you?" Lan Dan finally couldn't help but ask him a question

Lan Dan sat up rigidly, unaware of where she had found the strength to do so after being seriously ill for several days

"Have you returned from the palace?" she asked in a low and husky voice

Suppression of rebellion

Until the tolling of the death knell, the cries echoed through the heavens. She was cast into a dark prison, and it was then that she felt the reality of her actions—she had committed murder, and the victim was none other than her own father, the emperor.

I agree with what you said," she said淡淡地.

Shentu Rui then withdrew his hand, propping it on his leg, and looked at her with a charming smile, "No problem, you and I are now allies in life and death, and I will never utter a single falsehood."

Lan Dan was stunned for quite a while before finally letting out a long sigh

Lan Huang was unaware, yet she generously revealed that she was carrying the child of Chong Wen, stating that she would marry him regardless. However, your father knew that it was absolutely forbidden to marry him, as it would lead to a dead end. Consequently, Emperor Ding developed a deep hatred for Chong Wen and assassinated him on his way back to the country. This is also the reason why Lan Huang, filled with hatred, agreed to assist us.

Lan Dan furrowed her brows, ignoring his rude words; these were matters occurring in another world around her, of which she was completely unaware

Indeed. Shen Tu Rui nodded in agreement. "As for Lan Huang, I truly do not know how to evaluate her." He frowned, seemingly in a real dilemma, "If I say she is intelligent, she has done such a foolish thing with Zhong Wen. If I say she is foolish, she is able to firmly hold the power of the nobility in the capital, even the high-ranking officials in the court, serving the new dynasty. Have you seen her proud demeanor? Because half of the lifeblood of Dayan is in her hands.

Hmm. Shen Tu Rui sat down by the heater to warm his hands.

What should I do? she murmured, helpless and powerless

"What can I do?" Landan asked wearily, feeling thoroughly fed up and even resentful of these schemes and plots. She just wanted to know what Shentu Rui wanted her to do.

The clear and melodious voice carried a smile, "Do not be afraid, you have me."

The clamor from the long street outside the palace continued to seep in, not because the palace maids or eunuchs were bringing her news of Shen Tu Cheng's success, but because the Imperial Guards were driving her servants from the palace to identify and capture her

Shentu Rui paused for a moment, looking at her with a hint of pity, "Haven't you figured it out yet? You have been in the palace for eighteen years; has your father, the emperor, ever eaten the food you sent him?"

She silently recalled that voice, was it Shen Tu Rui? She could not remember clearly, and she even doubted whether someone had ever said such words to her. With a melancholic smile, what else was there for the desolate and broken Dan Xiaolan after the fall of the nation and the loss of her family

After the devastating defeat at the Noon Gate of the Northern Desert, the Great Min gathered an army of 300,000 troops stationed at the border to intimidate and demonstrate power. The Northern Desert was severely weakened and had no choice but to endure humiliation and seek peace, sending the third prince to Jiandu as a hostage, accompanied by his mother

Lan Dan nodded slightly, the prince of Nanyue... seemed to be named Chongwen, possessing the charm of a handsome man from the Southern tribe, and had even stirred some waves in the harem. Nanyue is affluent, and the prince is handsome, so several unmarried princesses are very willing to engage in marriage alliances, arguing in front of their father the emperor without regard for their dignity, in stark contrast to the situation of avoiding marriage proposals from the Northern Desert.

Shentu Rui entered from outside, today wearing a magnificent black fox fur cloak. Lan Dan looked up and examined him closely, noticing that his ears were frozen red.

The soup was personally delivered to him by Lan Huang, and perhaps it was even fed to him by her own hand. His slight affection for his daughter ultimately led to the ruin of his own life. Shen Tu Rui sighed, if Emperor Min Ding had disregarded his daughter's well-being and agreed to her marriage alliance, the situation would be entirely different now

Lan Dan was exhausted and in great pain, struggling to recall the events that had transpired. She vaguely knew that Lan Cheng and Lan Huang were not dead; they were in the Dayan Palace, wielding their influence. Third Sister and Ninth Sister, in an attempt to please the Empress Dowager, humbled themselves and restrained their demeanor, but it was of no use. She could not escape, endlessly reliving the torment of poisoning and beheading.

Like the golden sound of the Buddha, all darkness and suffering are swept away by the warm golden light... Suddenly, Lan Dan burst into tears, wailing and screaming, as she embraced that person

Shentu Rui took a leisurely sip, feeling so comfortable that he let out a sigh, "The calamity of the fall of the Great Min actually begins with two neighboring countries." He set down his teacup and patiently explained, smiling slightly as he looked at Lan Dan

Let us speak again of Nanyue. Shen Tu Rui took another sip of tea, and Lan Dan also felt it unnecessary to inquire further about the matters of the Northern Desert. It was merely about the hostage enduring humiliation and bearing burdens while infiltrating the Duke of An's residence, painstakingly managing affairs, waiting for the opportune moment, and achieving success in one fell swoop. A year ago, Nanyue sent a prince on a diplomatic mission to seek a marriage alliance.

She lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, "I didn't expect her to understand me so well. In any case, at that time, my heart... indeed wanted to kill the Emperor. What grievances do I have to speak of? What grievances do I have?"

Lan Dan nodded, "I am guilty, and I have already been punished." When she, Xiao Lan Dan, met her end on the guillotine, she harbored no resentment or hatred in her heart

But you must tell me the truth, the truth of all things

Lan Dan lowered her eyes, feeling a wave of disappointment; it was indeed not him. She immediately mocked herself again, for even if it were his words, they would merely be a lie. Shen Tu Rui was more honest than his brother and had long understood that he had told her she was merely a dead piece in his game, to be discarded once used and deemed useless

Like a person who has died in vain, she wanders repeatedly at the place of her death, reliving everything before her demise. She repeatedly experiences the darkest phase of her life—she poisons the soup and watches as the eunuch carries it away. She is terrified, so terrified that she paces incessantly in her own palace, as if stopping would cause her to faint. The death knell resonates throughout Juandu, and she hears it even more clearly within the imperial city, as if each toll strikes against her heart, too suffocating and painful. She continues to spin in circles, her mind blank.