C3

"Mu Yan, don't worry. I will definitely marry you when I grow up …" "You have to wait for me …"

"But Imperial Father said that the princess' fate is to marry Your Highness …"

"Then I will be your highness …" "Don't worry, I'll definitely diligently train in martial arts and accomplish some great things. At that time, the Emperor will bestow me the title of king, and I'll be able to marry you …"

"You promised me …"

Tears rolled down her cheeks like beads with their strings cut. Duan Mu Yan ran away with all her might. She had promised her life to Xiao Yu Xuan, so how could she marry her brother … No... In this life, she would only marry Xiao Yuxuan … His fingers brushed the air, revealing a layer of chilliness.

Just as Duan Mu Yan was about to arrive at the imperial study, her footsteps abruptly halted. This was because she heard a familiar voice. It was mufei! She didn't continue walking away. Instead, she silently stood outside, listening to the voices coming from within as a trace of hope flashed past her heart.

"Your Majesty …" Why?! You clearly know that Mu Yan loves Yuxuan and not Yufeng! Why are you so cruel... "Cough, cough …" On the azure-colored marble, that frail figure weakly crawled on the ground, his teary eyes mottled as he looked at the lofty Sovereign King, his heart enduring the pain of ten thousand ants devouring it!

If it wasn't for Mu Yan, she, Ling Ziyan, might never have thought that she would step into the imperial study, nor would she have come to beg Duan Chen. There was too much of a gap between them to be unraveled... Don't worry until you die.

Duan Chen turned around, an ice-cold glint of light flickering in his eyes.

"Cruel?! Ling Ziyan! Do you know what cruelty is?! Back then, if you had not advanced behind the mother, how could Yu Die still defend the palace and raise a pair of children for me? And they... But it was so unshakable! It's all thanks to you! " Duan Chen's deep voice contained a bone-biting coldness as he viciously stared at the deathly pale Ling Ziyan on the ground, not moving in the slightest.

"Even though... I've said it a hundred times... But today, for Mu Yan's sake … I can repeat... Cough cough … Fact is not what you think... Back then, when I saw you ignoring the imperial court because of your love affair, I went to ask for Qin Yu Die to enter the palace … But I can't convince my mother... I don't care if you misunderstand me for twenty years... I just hope that you won't hurt Mu Yan … "Please …" Ling Ziyan's clear eyes flashed a trace of grief. There was no place for her to pour out the grievances in her heart as tears silently rolled down her cheeks.

"Nonsense! Do you think I will believe your lies! Because of you! Even if the Queen Mother passed away in immortality, she still needed to draw up a legacy. Qin Yu Die was not allowed to enter the palace, and would never sleep in the Royal Tomb! Ling Ziyan! You are so vicious … Since you've made me experience the pain of your heart, I'll make your heart feel as if it's being cut by knives! That's right! I know that Mu Yan likes Xiao Yuxuan, but I must give it to Xiao Jingfeng! As you know... Xiao Lingfeng is already married. Even if your daughter enters the Xiao Residence, she can only be a concubine! And your son! Don't even dream of being Crown Prince! "I, Duan Chen, have more than one son …" Duan Chen's cold eyes stared fiercely at Ling Ziyan. At this moment, he was like an Asura from hell, slowly devouring Ling Ziyan's life force.

"You … Duan Chen! You demon! You have no humanity... He was like a tiger that wouldn't eat its prey! You actually dared to personally push your daughter into a pit of fire! Duan Chen … You'll regret it... One day … "You …" Ling Ziyan struggled to get up, reaching out her withered hands to pinch Duan Chen's neck. Her teary eyes were filled with resentment!

Duan Chen's eyes turned cold as he suddenly raised his palm, wanting to slam it into Ling Ziyan's face, but at that critical moment, Duan Mu Yan suddenly rushed in and blocked right in front of Ling Ziyan, forcefully receiving the palm strike!

Traces of red appeared on the corner of her mouth. Duan Mu Yan pursed her lips.

"Mu Yan greets royal father … Mufei brazenly talked back to royal father … I hope royal father will forgive her that she is seriously ill … "Don't pursue this matter …" Tears, overflowing in his eyes, stubbornly refused to fall. Duan Mu Yan's heart seemed to be tightly entangled by thousands of threads. The slight twitching of her heart caused her to almost die from the pain.

If she hadn't heard it with her own ears, Duan Mu Yan would never have known that in the heart of her royal father, she was only a tool for revenge against mufei. His heart had never felt so much pain before.

"Mu Yan?! You... Cough cough cough … Are you okay … "My Mu Yan …" Seeing her daughter being beaten until she vomited blood, Ling Ziyan's vital energy and blood suddenly surged upwards. Her chest swelled up and a salty taste filled her mouth. Suddenly, a mouthful of blood sprayed out.

"Mufei …" He turned around and hugged his mufei tightly. Even though she was strong, she couldn't shed a tear because she knew that as long as she cried out, mufei would be even more heartbroken. Her illness really couldn't withstand the slightest bit of stimulation.

"Mu Yan... Life … How bitter … In this world … mufei is the only one who has let down you! " Ling Ziyan could no longer hold on as she let go of Duan Mu Yan's hands, her clear eyes slowly growing serious.

"Imperial Physician... "Quick, send word to the imperial physician …" Outside the door, the guards looked at Duan Chen with cowering eyes and stood where they were, trembling!

Looking at the unperturbed guards and the dying Imperial Mother in her arms, Duan Mu Yan turned around with tears in her eyes, staring straight at her royal father.

"Father... Whom do you want your daughter to marry? I am willing to be your concubine … Please... "Save mufei …" Her choked voice was mixed with too many emotions. Duan Mu Yan's near begging tone caused Duan Chen to be moved!

"Are all of you blind? Can't you see that Riko is unconscious …?" What were they all standing there in a daze for? Hurry up and ask for a royal physician... "Hurry up and bring Fei Li back to the palace …" Duan Chen bellowed at the guards outside the palace as he turned to look at Duan Mu Yan!

There were no tears nor was there even an expression on her face. After the guard carried Zi Yan away, Duan Mu Yan saluted according to the palace's rules before turning around and chasing after Mufei.

A trace of strangeness flashed within Duan Chen's heart as he watched the lonely figure leave.

The moment she stepped out of the imperial study, her tears flowed without restraint. Her heart felt as if it was being crazily torn into her bones. Royal father … Do you really want your daughter to marry Xiao Jin Feng?! Did he really take his daughter as a concubine?! Was he really going to ruin his daughter's life? Are you serious... He didn't treat Mu Yan as his daughter.

Her tears fell with the wind, freezing Duan Moyan's cheeks and freezing her heart. Her messy hair fluttered with the wind, blurring her vision, and her calm lake of heart surged with waves. How would she face Xiao Yuxuan, how would she face Xiao Jingfeng, and how would she face her unknown path?