My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 76

In the Hanguang Hall, the imperial clan descendants were unrelenting, even reaching the point of physical fighting. Many officials quickly withdrew and went to the Xie residence to ask Xie Yu to step forward.

“Mister Xie is the descendant of Princess Leping, and thus of the legitimate lineage. With His Majesty having just passed, the imperial clan descendants are all vying for power. Now the Six Ministries are delayed. What should we do?”

The visitor was Qian Wenhai, the Minister of Personnel, who was on good terms with Xie Yu. He described the chaos in the hall. Xie Yu, opposite him, did not even blink. Steam wafted from the teapot in her hand. She personally refilled his tea and said calmly, “The Old Prince is there. What are you afraid of? The Patrol Camp is guarding the palace. They can surely ensure His Majesty’s coffin leaves Chang’an City.”

Qian Wenhai was fuming after witnessing the vile faces of those people. “The officials are leaderless. This is not a solution. Is Mister Xie just going to sit in her residence?”

“No, I am very busy. The wedding is approaching, and I am making preparations. The twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month is a great day. Remember to come and drink wedding wine then,” Xie Yu lightly steered the conversation away.

“Speaking of which, it is strange. After the assassination at the Wen residence, the evidence pointed to Princess Zhao Can, but she has now vanished. If she were present, she would logically assume the throne, saving us a lot of trouble.”

“Is that so?” Xie Yu gently raised her teacup. The curling mist turned the scene before her into a haze.

Qian Wenhai saw her complete indifference and felt a bit frustrated. “Mister Xie’s mind is broad. In the current situation, only you are suitable to step forward.”

“You are a little too impatient. Wait a few more days, and you will know,” Xie Yu blew away the mist, clearly seeing Qian Wenhai’s worried expression. She said, “The outcome will be clear in a few days at most.”

“There is no other way,” Qian Wenhai said, leaving dejectedly.

Just then, Xiao Kunning tiptoed in. Xie Yu pretended not to notice, calmly setting down the teacup. Moments later, a pair of hands covered her eyes. “Mister Xie, I want to drink the chicken soup you made.”

The world before her was dark. The light filtering through the gaps between the fingers was not enough to see by. Xie Yu held those hands and said, “A-Ning, let’s leave this place.”

“Leave at this time?” Xiao Kunning didn’t quite understand her meaning. The court was in chaos, with no Emperor to preside over state affairs. Shouldn’t they observe for a while longer at such a crucial moment?

Xie Yu pulled her directly into her arms. “Tomorrow or the day after, we will take the waterway back to Qingcheng. We can return after things settle down. Otherwise, if I become Emperor and take more consorts, will you be happy?”

“How dare you…” Xiao Kunning raised her eyebrows in refusal, looping her arms around Xie Yu’s neck. She recalled the final scene of the previous life, which was somewhat similar to this time, except that Xie Yu was in charge then, maintaining order amidst the chaos, and the common people did not suffer.

Xie Yu cupped her cheeks and leaned in to kiss her gently. “You don’t belong here, and I don’t want to stay here. Let’s pretend that neither of us ever came, and that this place has only left behind a few withered leaves, carried away by the wind.”

Let everything return to its proper course. Chang’an City will no longer have Xiao Kunning, nor Xie Yu, leaving me with one last piece of salvation.

Following the Emperor’s grand funeral, the imperial clan descended into chaos. The palace was restless, and the common people were terrified, unwilling even to leave their homes.

The turmoil escalated, with the imperial clan members clashing with armed forces. The stench of slaughter lingered over Chang’an City. The palace gates were tightly sealed, and the Patrol Camp guarded the last entrance.

Wen Yuke sat inside her residence gate, looking up at the wild geese flying south in the void. After sitting until her body felt numb, she suddenly felt weight on her shoulder. She looked back and saw Xiao Wenxue placing a cloak over her.

“It is going to snow. Take care.” Xiao Wenxue’s voice was very soft. Her well-bred upbringing kept her standing respectfully to the side.

“Thank you,” Wen Yuke smiled faintly. “She has left.”

Xiao Wenxue frowned, guessing the ‘she’ referred to Xiao Kunning, but dared not confirm. If she left, Xie Yu would leave too.

Had Xie Yu given up at this moment?

Wen Yuke continued: “She left. This place will truly fall into chaos. The imperial clan members will slaughter each other. After exhausting their military strength, they will become fish on a chopping board.”

The Shen family guarded the last palace gate but did not participate in the imperial clan’s struggles. She gradually understood: Xie Yu was still letting everything return to its original path.

Chang’an City no longer had Xie Yu or Xiao Kunning.

Before the smell of blood had dissipated, cavalry outside Chang’an City battered open the city gates. Tens of thousands of soldiers poured into the city, slaughtering the imperial clan descendants and heading straight for the palace gate.

At that moment, Wen Yuke stood before the Hanguang Hall, holding the Imperial Seal with integrity.

The imperial clan members were either killing each other or dead by the Shen family army’s hands. Not a single person emerged to speak. Shen Rui stood before her, covered in blood. “Official Wen, you have changed quite quickly.”

Under the clear daylight, Wen Yuke’s back was straight. Her tall figure stood like a green pine against the wild wind. “The Commandery Princess is mistaken. Your arrival today was anticipated by us.”

Shen Rui was momentarily lost in thought. She suddenly drew her sword and placed it at Wen Yuke’s neck: “Where is Xie Yu? Where is Xiao Kunning?”

“I don’t know. If you want the Imperial Seal, you can go in and ascend the throne. If you don’t want the Imperial Seal, you won’t get her either. Xie Yu gave your Shen family a chance. She didn’t want it. Otherwise, do you think you alone could overrun Chang’an City?” Wen Yuke smiled faintly, gently pushing the blood-stained sword away. “Think carefully, the imperial clan is in chaos, the Zhao descendants are dying off, and you emerge out of nowhere, as if waiting for you. Shen Rui, she traded the throne for Xiao Kunning.”

Shen Rui’s sword clattered to the ground. She turned and ran. In a brief moment, Wen Yuke’s voice came from behind: “If you leave, your father and brother will fall into distress. Shen Rui, you cannot outplay her.”

The woman who walked out of hell, covered in blood, trampled slaughter underfoot, and played everyone like puppets in her palm.

Shen Rui’s steps halted abruptly. She looked up and saw the Shen family’s young men who had followed her through starlight and moonlight for days. She turned back and glared fiercely at Wen Yuke: “Even if they are married, I can take her back.”

Wen Yuke sighed, looking at the sky: “Wake up. Xiao Kunning’s heart has already changed.”

Why be so persistent?

Winter in Qingcheng had become quite warm. The Zhao residence’s opposite neighbor was distributing grain, and many common people queued up.

Zhao Xiran stood at the residence gate, staring at the cheerful common people. She sighed repeatedly, calculating the days. Gaoyang hadn’t sent a letter for many days.

The house opposite the Zhao residence was a five-entrance courtyard. It was not as spacious as the Zhao residence, and its structure was far inferior. Yet, despite being a small household, it had been distributing grain every day since arriving, rumored to be accumulating good fortune for a wedding.

Zhao Xiran called it: having too much money and nowhere to burn it.

The common people blocked the entrance, making her feel stifled. Zhao Xiran flicked her sleeve and retreated into the residence.

A wedding invitation from the opposite side was delivered to the front gate, inviting the master of the Zhao residence to drink wedding wine the day after tomorrow, the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Zhao Xiran listlessly opened the invitation and was instantly stunned. She rushed over to knock on the main gate of the house opposite, bringing her guards with her.

The neighbor had only moved in for a few days, and hadn’t even hung a plaque. The space above the main gate was empty, making it feel less festive.

The group from the Zhao residence charged over ferociously, scaring the gatekeeper into slamming the door shut. Yu Yin, behind the door, felt her heart jump. “What happened?”

The gatekeeper was a local common person. He trembled and pointed outside the residence gate: “Second Proprietress Zhao rushed over aggressively, bringing many people.”

“If she came, she came. She is Sir’s in-law; we cannot refuse to see her.” Yu Yin handed the red celebratory character to the gatekeeper. She reached out and opened the door herself, bowing to Zhao Xiran: “Yu Yin greets Second Proprietress Zhao on behalf of Sir. Long time no see, are you well?”

One should not hit a smiling person. Zhao Xiran forcibly suppressed a belly full of anger, waving for her guards to stand outside the gate. “Where is Xiao Kunning?”

Yu Yin took the celebratory character and waved it in front of Zhao Xiran: “My Lady has not arrived yet. She should arrive tomorrow. I invite Second Proprietress Zhao to please show Sir some respect and attend the wedding feast the day after tomorrow.”

Zhao Xiran suffered a silent frustration. Unable to see the person, the anger remained completely bottled up. She walked around the courtyard for a while. “Why did your Sir come to Qingcheng to get married?”

“Returning to one’s roots,” Yu Yin replied.

“This is Xiao Kunning’s root. What does it have to do with her?” Zhao Xiran retorted angrily. Xie Yu’s cheek was too thick, utterly outrageous.

Yu Yin politely sent Zhao Xiran away. The two quickly closed the door, instructing people to hang the celebratory characters and lanterns. The entire courtyard seemed to be placed in spring, with vitality blooming.

Zhao Xiran returned to her residence and waited until the twelfth day. She knocked on the opposite door early in the morning. Yu Yin personally welcomed her in and served her good tea.

Before long, the winter sun broke through the sky, warm and bright. The red silk in the courtyard grew even more vibrant.

Many local guests followed, seeing Zhao Xiran and proactively speaking with her. Even the Qingcheng County Magistrate came to congratulate them, showing that Xie Yu’s preparations were thorough.

Zhao Xiran tried several times to see Xiao Kunning but was refused. It was not until dusk that the marriage officiant led the bride in, but Xie Yu was nowhere to be seen.

The crowd cheered, staring at the bride covered by a red veil.

As the officiant helped the bride walk in, the residence door was suddenly kicked open. A large, dark mass of people surged in from outside.

Zhao Xiran, seated in the main seat, saw the leader was Shen Rui. She was travel-worn, her face wind-chapped, and the sword at her waist was tightly gripped.

Before she could get close, the guests surged toward the main hall. Yu Yin rushed out at this moment, holding her sword horizontally against Shen Rui: “Commandery Princess, are you here to cause trouble today?”

Shen Rui drew her sword and swung it. Yu Yin was unarmed and flipped backward to dodge. Shen Rui took the opportunity to rush into the hall, reached out, and embraced the woman under the veil, disappearing like a flash of lightning before everyone’s eyes.

Zhao Xiran sat in the main seat, rubbing her forehead. Shen Rui was truly consumed by love, mad to the core. Would Xie Yu be foolish enough to let you steal the bride?

The guests looked at each other, confused and helpless that the newlyweds were gone. Yu Yin apologized to everyone, explaining the situation and sending them out of the residence one by one.

Finally, only Zhao Xiran remained. Yu Yin then explained, “It was Sir’s slight of hand. Thank you for making the trip.”

Zhao Xiran was furious, slamming the table, ready to curse. “A group of idiots! No, I’m an idiot too! Tell Xie Yu, unless she comes to the Zhao residence to apologize, she can forget about my approval for the rest of her life.”

Yu Yin agreed repeatedly, seeing her off like a goddess. After closing the door, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Sir truly anticipated that Shen Rui would rush over day and night.

Predicting things like a god. She wondered how Sir was doing at this moment.

The mountain north of Dengzhou was exceptionally lively today. A pair of red lanterns hung at the entrance of a hidden mountain villa.

Leping, who had been mad for many years, wore festive clothing. She stared blankly at the couple performing the ceremony in the room. Her dull eyes moved slightly in the hazy smoke. Seeing the two embrace intimately, she suddenly smiled.

Snow suddenly began to fall in the mountains, drifting down, covering the mountain peaks, and scattering on their hair.

Hair coated in snow, as if growing old together.