“Dahui!”
Ji Xinglou quickly caught sight of the gray figure and confirmed it was the wolf that had once saved him. His starry eyes immediately brightened.
“What are you doing here!” Ji Xinglou ran over and hugged Dahui’s neck.
Ji Wujing glanced over and explained, “It was saved and carefully cared for by your father when it was young. After your father passed away, Dahui stayed at the imperial tomb to accompany him.”
“I never thought Dahui would…” Wen Jingshan looked at Dahui, somewhat wistful.
Dahui howled at the sky, ignoring Ji Xinglou, and ran towards Wen Jingshan. It stopped in front of her, its deep blue eyes gazing at her cane, pupils contracting. Then it knelt down on its front legs and began to lick her injured leg.
Wen Jingshan was moved, placing her palm on its head, gently stroking it down its neck to its back—just like Ji Chong often did.
Before her palm reached its tail, tears had already soaked her face.
Ji Xinglou awkwardly walked over, glanced at the tears on Wen Jingshan’s face, looked away, and said unhappily, “It likes you, not me…”
Wen Jingshan smiled, lowered her eyes, and looked at Dahui with a smile, speaking hoarsely, “You have to know him. When he was in my belly, you used to rub against it.”
She placed her hand on her abdomen, making a cupping gesture.
Dahui tilted its head, its deep blue eyes filled with confusion.
“Ah Chong said, you were to play with him and watch him grow up…”
Tears fell, and she could say no more.
“Don’t cry! I’m not fighting with you for Dahui. If it likes you, then it likes you… Please don’t cry!” Ji Xinglou, helpless, clumsily pushed Dahui towards Wen Jingshan.
Wen Jingshan turned her face, wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and when she looked back at Ji Xinglou, she was smiling. She told Ji Xinglou to go play with Dahui, wanting to stay alone in Ji Chong’s tomb for a while.
Gu Jianli and Ji Wujing went to the distant side hall to wait for Wen Jingshan. Ji Xinglou followed them, with Dahui at his side. He kept looking back at Wen Jingshan. Later, as they walked farther, trees and walls blocked his view, but he still looked back frequently in Wen Jingshan’s direction. When they finally reached the side hall, he sighed heavily, like an adult.
Gu Jianli patted his head and asked, “It’s cold outside. Should we go in and wait? Or do you want to play outside with Dahui?”
“Play outside.” Ji Xinglou’s eyes darted around.
After Gu Jianli and Ji Wujing entered the side hall, Ji Xinglou immediately led Dahui back the way they came.
“Your Highness, where are you going?” a guard inquired.
Ji Xinglou ignored him, relying on memory to find his way back.
The two guards exchanged glances and quickly followed closely, not leaving his side.
The imperial tomb was solemn, with soldiers holding swords standing in rows on either side. Patrolling guards walked on the empty brick road, changing shifts every hour.
Suddenly, Dahui darted away.
“Dahui! Dahui! Wait for me, Dahui!” Ji Xinglou chased after it, followed closely by the two guards.
In the side hall, Gu Jianli was discussing Ji Xinglou’s ascension ceremony with Ji Wujing when a palace guard rushed in, urgently reporting the disappearance of Ji Yan from the other courtyard.
Ji Wujing’s lazy demeanor immediately vanished. He quickly stood up and headed towards Ji Chong’s tomb.
Gu Jianli hurriedly followed. As she stepped out, she asked the guard in the courtyard, “Where is His Majesty?”
Learning from the guard that Ji Xinglou had taken Dahui to find Wen Jingshan, Gu Jianli was even more alarmed.
When the two of them reached Ji Chong’s tomb, Wen Jingshan was already gone. The two guards who had been left to accompany her were dead, their blood staining the previously spotless brick road in front of the tomb.
The heavy stone door of the tomb had been opened.
Gu Jianli complained offhandedly, “Why is the security of this imperial tomb so poor!”
She did not know that for outsiders, the tomb was indeed impenetrable. But as a prince, Ji Yan naturally knew all the mechanisms and secret passages of the tomb. He had also been involved in its reconstruction years ago.
“I think I hear Dahui!” Gu Jianli said, instinctively grabbing Ji Wujing’s wrist and heading into the tomb with him.
Inside the constructed tomb, Ji Chong’s burial items were arranged, and figures holding bows, arrows, long knives, and shields were everywhere. Illuminated night pearls hung on the stone walls on either side, casting a pale cold light in the dim tomb.
“Xinglou——” Gu Jianli called out while searching.
The accompanying guards spread out, searching along different paths.
In a stone chamber, Ji Yan held a sword to Wen Jingshan’s shoulder. Ji Xinglou glared angrily at Ji Yan.
Ji Yan had forced them here, his face dark and silent.
Hearing the faint sound of the guards’ footsteps, Ji Xinglou immediately turned his head.
“Don’t make a sound,” Ji Yan threatened.
Ji Xinglou glared at Ji Yan, his teeth clenched in anger.
Wen Jingshan tried to persuade, “Second brother, why do this? At this point, wouldn’t it be better to be a carefree prince? When His Highness died, you were deceived by others. We have already forgiven and forgotten…”
“Shut up!”
Ji Yan tilted his ear, hearing Gu Jianli’s shouts. His eyes flickered, and a cold smile tugged at his lips.
Gu Jianli would certainly not enter alone; Ji Wujing must be with her.
Ji Yan lowered his head, casting a cold glance at Ji Xinglou, and said, “Go find someone to save your mother.”
Ji Xinglou was stunned. He blinked, unable to believe Ji Yan’s words.
Wen Jingshan was also momentarily surprised. Ji Yan was letting Ji Xinglou leave to find help? This confirmed her suspicion that Ji Yan’s target wasn’t Ji Xinglou.
“Aren’t you going?” Ji Yan’s wrist moved slightly, and the long sword on Wen Jingshan’s shoulder got closer to her neck.
Ji Xinglou glanced at Wen Jingshan, then turned and ran, shouting as he did, “Father! Father! I’m here!”
Ji Yan pushed Wen Jingshan backward. She had dropped her cane when Ji Yan captured her, and now, being pushed back, her steps were even more unsteady and difficult.
Ji Yan looked at her and slowed his pace.
“Six years ago, I once offended Father while drunk. Father was furious, but you pleaded for me and spared me from public punishment.”
Wen Jingshan looked at him in surprise.
It seemed to have happened, but she could barely remember. Back then, the power struggle had not yet begun, and the princes still appeared to be brotherly and harmonious…
“I was deceived by Ji Lan’s scheme and harmed the Crown Prince. I wronged the Crown Prince and will not harm his wife and children today.”
“Then why…” Wen Jingshan frowned.
A look of hatred flashed in Ji Yan’s eyes. He said darkly, “I only want Ji Zhao’s life! That vile scoundrel dared to toy with me like this! Killing him is the only way to appease my rage!”
Wen Jingshan immediately tried to persuade him, “Second brother, if you no longer seek power, why do this? Besides, you know what kind of fighter Ji Zhao is. You won’t be able to touch him, and you’ll lose your life in vain. What good will that do?”
“Heh.” Ji Yan sneered, “I have my ways. I came here today with a resolve to die together with him, and of course, I have a way to take his life!”
“Second brother, turn back from this cliff! Do you have a wife and children? Your family surely doesn’t want you to take this risk. They must be waiting for you at home!”
The image of Sun Yilan holding Yuge’er appeared in Ji Yan’s mind, and a trace of hesitation flickered in his eyes.
But it was only for a moment.
The scene in his mind shifted from Sun Yilan and their son to the day of the palace coup. He recalled each trusted minister’s name, those who had sworn their loyalty just days before, now acting as if they didn’t recognize him.
The words of those ministers echoed in Ji Yan’s ears. Their faces twisted, laughing at him, calling him a fool, a mere clown.
Remembering their previous loyalty and camaraderie, Ji Yan found it absurd and utterly laughable.
Had these people, like Ji Zhao, been secretly mocking him all this time?
“I will never let a despicable, treacherous, and vile person like Ji Zhao go!”
Wen Jingshan’s heart sank, realizing that Ji Yan truly harbored deep hatred for Ji Zhao and wouldn’t easily give up. What should she do? She desperately tried to think of a plan but couldn’t come up with anything. She could only hope that Ji Wujing’s skills would turn the situation around.
The footsteps outside grew closer, but the person who burst in wasn’t Ji Wujing or Gu Jianli; it was Ji Xuanke.
“What are you doing here?” Ji Yan frowned, “Here to laugh at me too?”
Ji Xuanke rushed in, out of breath.
Ji Xuanke had been with Ji Yan for some time and knew his impulsive and competitive nature. When this incident occurred, Ji Xuanke had a bad feeling.
He not only knew Ji Yan’s temperament but also some of his habits. Discovering a map of the imperial tomb in Ji Yan’s study, he guessed Ji Yan’s intentions and hurried over.
“Your Highness…” Ji Xuanke took a deep breath to calm his breathing, “Your wife and Yuge’er are waiting for you. All they want is for you to be safe. Go home.”
Ji Yan looked at Ji Xuanke with suspicion, scrutinizing him. He asked, “You’re here to persuade me? Not to laugh at me? Ha.”
Ji Xuanke sensed the situation had taken a dire turn, realizing Ji Yan’s mind had strayed far. He said, “In these days without you, Yuge’er cries every night. Your wife is helpless, losing weight, and looks haggard. She sent me to ask when you’ll come to fetch them.”
Ji Yan’s hand holding the sword trembled slightly.
At this moment, Ji Wujing and Gu Jianli arrived.
Ji Yan looked up at Ji Wujing at the doorway, shaking his head slightly, silently conveying: There’s no turning back.
“Leave here!” Ji Yan suddenly shouted at Ji Xuanke.
“Your Highness, stop this!” Ji Xuanke pleaded again.
“Release her,” Ji Wujing commanded coldly.
Ji Yan shifted his gaze from Ji Xuanke to Ji Wujing, retreating until his back was against the stone wall on the other side of the chamber. He looked at Ji Wujing and let out a cold laugh, saying, “These past few days, I’ve been thinking and realized many things. For instance, the antidote to the Heart-Eating Powder was developed long ago by Ji Jingyi. All those twists and turns you took, pretending to negotiate with me about borrowing the poison master Luo to mislead Ji Jingyi, were just to gain my trust and make me lower my guard.”
“But there’s one thing I could never understand. Since you had the power to win over so many high-ranking officials, why go to the trouble of using me as a front…” Ji Yan’s face contorted as he roared, “Was it just to mock me?!”
Ji Wujing’s face remained cold, not bothering to explain. He swiftly charged at Ji Yan with incredible speed.
Ji Yan sneered and triggered the mechanism behind him, causing the stone door to slide open.
Ji Yan suddenly pushed Wen Jingshan out forcefully. As he turned the switch in another direction, the stone door, which had just opened wide enough for one person, began to close again.
Ji Wujing had already reached Ji Yan. With a short curved blade barely longer than his palm, he slit Ji Yan’s throat, and blood gushed out.
Ji Yan stared at Ji Wujing in front of him and smiled.
Using the last of his strength, he pressed down the heavy mechanism. In an instant, the entire chamber’s mechanisms were activated.
“The mechanisms are triggered, and you will be trapped here until you die! Hahahaha…” Ji Yan laughed as he took his last breath, his face twisted into an ecstatic smile in death.
The chamber was large, high, and very empty.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy chains clanging filled the air.
Gu Jianli looked up and saw seven or eight iron cages descending from the ceiling.
“Watch out!”
Ji Xuanke, who was standing close to Gu Jianli, pushed her away with all his might.
Gu Jianli stumbled and fell. As she turned back, she was horrified to see Ji Xuanke trapped in one of the iron cages that had fallen from above.
The heavy iron cages crashed to the ground, kicking up dust, and one of the night pearls hanging on the wall fell, rolling to Gu Jianli’s feet.
Ji Wujing suddenly spoke, “Gu Jianli, get out!”
Following his voice, Gu Jianli saw Ji Wujing on the other side of the chamber, also trapped in an iron cage.
She turned back, looking at the stone door that was slowly closing. She immediately turned back again, looking at the iron cages. She quickly got up, knocked over one of the soldiers standing against the wall, and used all her strength to lift the bricks under the soldier’s feet, using them to smash at the rusted lock on Ji Xuanke’s iron cage.
“Nan Nan…” Ji Xuanke called her by the familiar nickname, watching her smash the lock with all her might.
The iron cage’s lock was already rusty. Gu Jianli’s powerful strike broke it open.
Ji Xuanke quickly got out of the cage, grabbed Gu Jianli’s hand, and ran towards the closing stone door. There was only a gap left, barely enough for one person to pass through.
Gu Jianli broke free from Ji Xuanke’s hand and pushed him through the door with all her strength.
Ji Xuanke had just stepped out when he turned around in shock, seeing Gu Jianli panting on the other side of the narrowing gap. His gaze fixed on her face, and for a moment, he felt his heartbeat stop.
All his joy turned to ashes in an instant.
The stone door closed, separating them, and he could no longer see her. Ji Xuanke stood outside, as still as a statue.