novelraw Chapter 1931 Deprivation
Chapter 1931 Deprivation
Chapter 1931 Deprivation
Xie Chen said solemnly, "Zhao Zhao, are you willing to gamble your life for Xiahou Mingxun?"
“Why not?” Xiahou Yunzhao curled her lips. “Xiahou Mingxun has suffered a lot for the Xiahou family over the years. It’s nothing for me to risk my life for him.”
"Are you saying this as the person in charge of the Xiahou family..." Xie Chen paused deliberately, "or as Xiahou Mingxun's sister?"
"Is there a difference?" Xiahou Yunzhao's smile widened. "I am not only the true head of the Xiahou family, but also Xiahou Mingxun's older sister..."
"Zhao Zhao, you know what I'm asking." Xie Chen rarely interrupted Xiahou Yun Zhao, and he had never lost his composure like this before.
"Xie Chen, you probably know better than I what the situation is like in the capital right now," Xiahou Yunzhao suddenly changed the subject. "His throne seems secure, but in reality he is isolated and helpless. Of the nine great noble families, how many can truly be of use to him?"
“If you care about him, you shouldn’t do this for Xiahou Mingxun, or even for Wu Ying…” Xie Chen was interrupted by Xiahou Yunzhao before he could finish speaking, “I’m not doing this for him.”
As she spoke, her smile faded. "In my life, I don't owe many people. Ayu is one, and Xiahou Mingxun is another. If I can't repay these debts, I won't be able to close my eyes in peace."
"You're not the only one who owes Ayu," Xie Chen said, closing his eyes slightly, as if he couldn't bear to recall the past.
“Even if it’s just to repay Ayu, I will help him clean up the Southeast region completely.” A resolute look flashed in Xiahou Yunzhao’s eyes. “So, Xie Chen, you don’t need to worry about me. Just be impartial and handle this case well. Anyone who dares to stop you, I will eliminate that person.”
"If—I mean, if" Xie Chen's voice held a barely perceptible urgency, "that person comes from the Xiahou family..."
"Do what needs to be done, I won't cover it up." Xiahou Yunzhao's expression was sharp. "Except for Xiahou Mingxun."
Xie Chen stared intently at Xiahou Yunzhao in front of him, and subconsciously grabbed her hand. She neither pulled away nor squeezed back.
“If Xiahou Mingxun is guilty, just pin the blame on me.” Xiahou Yunzhao spoke quickly, as if afraid Xie Chen would stop her from continuing. “I am his sister. If he is guilty, then I am guilty.”
"Zhao Zhao, where do you place me?" Xie Chen tightened his grip on Xiahou Yun Zhao's hand, but she turned her head away from him. "If anything happens to me, please take good care of Xiahou Ming Xun for me..."
"Xiahou Yunzhao." Xie Chen called out her full name, his suppressed anger bursting forth, "You don't believe Xiahou Mingxun is innocent, nor do you believe I would side with you..."
“Xie Chen, it’s not that I don’t believe it.” Xiahou Yunzhao hurriedly interrupted Xie Chen, “But I am the head of the Xiahou family, don’t you understand? If someone really has to be sacrificed, it has to be me, and it can only be me.”
"If you're going to sacrifice the flag, wouldn't all five families in Lingnan be buried with you?" Xie Chen's brows were frosty, and his voice was uncontrollably cold. "If it really comes to that, will the southeast region be clean?"
“You’ve seen what Fang Zilan and her loyal husband have done.” Xiahou Yunzhao grasped Xie Chen’s hand in return. “The Silver Armor Army has entered Dajing territory. We can’t let the Miluo people take advantage of this. We must clean up what needs to be cleaned up.”
“Back then, during the battle of Qiluo City, Fang Zilan almost lost her life for the sake of Dajing.” Xie Chen frowned and said, “She also promised me that if Murong Qing harbored ill intentions and intended to wreak havoc on Dajing, she would kill him.”
"Do you believe Fang Zilan's words?" Xiahou Yunzhao said in a deep voice, "She has no sense of family or country. Whether it's Dajing or Miluo, she can use them and discard them in an instant. Today she stands with us for the Fang family, but tomorrow she might turn against us for the Fang family." Xie Chen understood Xiahou Yunzhao's concerns. Even if Fang Zilan was just an orphan, she still had intricate connections with the previous dynasty. This was the reason why she refused to agree to Li Shengxuan's marriage to her in the first place, and it was also the reason why she couldn't trust her today.
Murong Qing clenched her fists tightly. "I wanted to conquer the world with you, but you've become more and more deeply involved in the so-called fairness and justice, even pushing me away."
Fang Zilan composed herself, her brows and eyes as white as frost and snow. "If this is the kind of world you want to conquer, I have no interest in it."
"Are you going to break your promise?" Murong Qing stretched out his hand. "If so, return that half of the token that commands the Silver Armor Army to me."
“Murong Qing, many people in the southeast have seen your Silver Armor Army.” Fang Zilan stared intently at Murong Qing. “If that half of the token is still in my hands, then I am your accomplice.”
“That’s what I thought too.” Murong Qing met Fang Zilan’s gaze, “until I discovered that you took that half of the token only for power.”
"Power is inherently intertwined with risk," Fang Zilan said calmly. "Since I'm willing to share the risks with you, what's wrong with coveting this power?"
"You admit it so readily." Murong Qing sneered. "Unfortunately, the only person who can share the risks with me is the Crown Prince's wife. If you want to give up this identity, it means giving up this risk and power."
"Finding a substitute is nothing, what's the big deal about giving up?" Fang Zilan curled her lips. "The young master doesn't trust me anyway, so why bother with such high-sounding words?"
"How can you expect me to believe you?" Murong Qing's expression turned cold. "You insisted on staying in the southeast, yet you never told me the real reason."
"I..." Fang Zilan began to speak, but Murong Qing interrupted her, "Don't tell me it's for fairness and justice. The truth is something you yourself don't believe, so why tell me it to lie to me?"
“My father promised me.” Fang Zilan suddenly changed her tone, “If I really can’t make it and collapse in the long night, the Fang family will go to see me at dawn.”
Murong Qing was taken aback, and Fang Zilan continued speaking to herself, "So whether you believe it or not, I will do my best to fight back."
Murong Qing remained silent for a long while. Just when Fang Zilan thought he wouldn't pay attention to her, she heard his voice, "If I leave first, will you come to the capital to find me?"
Fang Zilan chuckled, "With the young master's abilities, are you afraid I'll go back on my word?"
"Fang Zilan, if you hadn't come to the capital to find me, or if you had lost your life in the southeast," Murong Qing said with a sinister expression, "I would have made everyone you care about wish they were dead."
"I believe you," Fang Zilan nodded slightly. "And please believe me too."
"Without the title of the Crown Prince's wife, how will you protect yourself?" Murong Qing stared intently at Fang Zilan, noticing that her smile had widened but there was no mirth in her eyes. "No one has ever asked Zixiu such a question before."