Xu Wan'er would never forget the sound of his voice. It was the sound of a heart breaking—regret, disbelief, and utter devastation.
Xue Liulan had rushed to Zhaoyang Palace the moment he heard the whistle. He knew Murong Jin wouldn't use it lightly.
But he never expected it would be her last sound.
"Murong Jin." She lay in a pool of blood, the corpses of the assassins scattered around her. His soft sword was buried in the chest of the leader.
His hands shook uncontrollably. He forced himself to walk toward her, step by stiff step. He reached out, trembling, afraid to touch her cold face. Afraid she was already gone.
"Doctor! Get a doctor!" Little Dingzi yelled, staring at the bloody scene.
Xue Liulan knelt beside her. He reached out to wipe a streak of blood from her lip, but it had already dried. He rubbed harder, desperate to clean her face. He couldn't stand to see her hurt, yet every time, it was because of him.
Murong Jin. The empire, the traitors, the court… in the end, all I wanted was you.
"Open your eyes," he whispered, pulling her into his arms, pressing his cheek against her cold forehead. "You never admit defeat. You're the General who commands thousands. Remember when we first met? You pinned me against a tree. Why don't you get up? Why don't you teach this scoundrel a lesson?"
Tears fell on her face. He held her tighter, trying to merge her body with his.
"Your hands are cold again." He smiled through his tears, warming her fingers in his. "Let's go inside."
He lifted her, but his legs gave way. He stumbled.
"Your Majesty!" A concubine rushed to help.
"Get out." He recoiled, his eyes red and dangerous. "She hates strangers in her palace. Get out! All of you!"
He roared, terrifying everyone. They had never seen the Emperor like this—a demon ready to kill anyone who came close.
"Your Majesty! Ning'er is here!" Little Dingzi ran back, dragging the girl.
Ning'er had met him outside.
"Where is the Empress?" She grabbed his collar.
"She's hurt! Badly!"
"Take me to her!" She dragged him toward the garden.
Xue Liulan stared at her blankly. Then he remembered. Yi had sent her. The disciple of the Divine Physician.
Ning'er approached, reaching for Murong Jin's wrist.
Xue Liulan stepped back instantly, tensing for a strike.
"I just want to check her pulse!" Ning'er retreated, wary. She couldn't dodge a blow from him.
"Your Majesty, trust her. She has been caring for the Empress," Xu Wan'er said softly.
Why so protective now, when you ignored her for months? She sighed.
Xue Liulan relaxed his stance, but his eyes remained guarded. Ning'er approached slowly, taking Murong Jin's wrist.
Silence. Everyone held their breath.
The pulse was heavy, stagnant, erratic. Faint as a dying ember.
Ning'er frowned. Xue Liulan watched her unblinkingly, oblivious to the biting wind.
Finally, she let go.
"I'm sorry. My skills are insufficient. Her old injuries haven't healed, and now she has new ones. Her vitality is drained. And… she has no will to live."
"Why no will to live?" Xue Liulan asked dully. "Survival is her instinct."
Silence. Everyone else had left. The garden was desolate.
"Go to Wuchuan. Find your master," he ordered. "The palace medicines can keep her alive for half a month."
"The Divine Physician?" Xu Wan'er tilted her head. "That might be difficult. Your Majesty, why not send for Chong Hua in Yin? I can write to him."
Xue Liulan nodded to Little Dingzi and carried Murong Jin inside.
Outside Zhaoyang Palace, the imperial physicians gathered, whispering.
"What happened?"
"Who knows?"
"Eunuch Ding is here!"
They swarmed him. "Eunuch Ding, what is it? Why the urgency?"
Little Dingzi sighed. "Gentlemen, pray for luck. The Empress was attacked. She is unconscious. The Emperor wants you to keep her alive until the Physician Saint arrives."
Inside, Xue Liulan tucked the quilt around her. He sat by the bed, watching her face.
"Murong Jin, it's been a long time since we sat like this." He brushed a stray hair from her forehead.
"My brother used to say emperors are ruthless because they have to be. I laughed at him. But now I know. An emperor has feelings. And when the one he loves is threatened, he panics and makes the wrong choice."
He smiled sadly, his gaze wrapping her in warmth.
"But do you know? If I could wake you up, if I could see you as you were when we first met… I would trade my life for it."
He held her hand, leaning back against the headboard.
"What is the world? Without you, being above ten thousand people is meaningless." He closed his eyes, tears sliding down his cheeks. "Murong Jin. In heaven or hell, I will go with you."