The setting sun was like blood, illuminating the vast expanse of yellow sand with a faded red color.

There were large patches of blood on the ground that had yet to dry, so thick that they were almost black.

The murky smell of blood lingered in the wind, biting cold as it hit one's face, as if one had been splashed with blood.

The yellow sand was blown up by the wind, slowly burying the severed limbs scattered on the sand without leaving a trace. However, one could still see the tragic bleakness of having just experienced a great battle.

The defeated flag fell crookedly onto the sand, losing its original color due to the splashes of blood.

Mountains of corpses, seas of blood, and purgatory on earth were all submerged in the tranquil desert. No matter how tragic and stirring the deaths were, they all became ordinary with the boundless sea of sand.

However, there was one person among them who appeared somewhat unusual in this ruined landscape. One glance at him, and one could not help but feel an uncontrollable sorrow and respect.

A man dressed as a general knelt on the ground, a pair of blood-stained hands tightly holding a long sword firmly inserted into the ground.

The armor on his body had already been cut open by the arrows all over his body. The densely packed arrows penetrated his body, and the blood that seeped out stained the originally brilliant silver armor, making it dim and dull.

He had been dead for a long time, and his limbs had become stiff and cold. However, one could see at a glance that he was stubbornly defending himself.

The solitary figure stood alone, and the world behind him was vast and boundless.

A small soldier at the side hesitated, not daring to step forward.

The soldier who had come with him to clean up the battlefield sneered. "He's already dead. What are you afraid of?"

The small soldier cowered and muttered a sentence. Then, he mustered up his courage and stepped forward, chopping off the man's head.

The head rolled down, splashing blood all over the ground.

… …

Si Yue suddenly woke up with a start.

Perhaps it was because she had made too much of a commotion when she got up, but the people in the room were startled.

Yan Yi heard the sound and put down the scroll in his hand, turning his face to look at her.

He just happened to see the woman's pale face. Her pitch-black eyes were still somewhat dazed with fear, and then quickly covered with a thin layer of mist.

"Si Yue."

He should not have cared so much about her, but seeing her flustered and confused appearance, he opened his mouth to break her train of thought.

Si Yue was half a beat slower. She seemed to have just noticed that there was someone in the room, and her gaze met his.

"Yan … Yi …?"

Her eyes were glistening with tears, and she seemed to not be fully awake. She did not know how pitiful she looked, and when she said his name, she was still somewhat uncertain and dazed.

Yan Yi didn't mind the way she addressed him, and only responded faintly, "You've been sleeping for a few days. You're finally awake."

She seemed to have been awakened by his words and realized that it wasn't a dream. She leaned half of her body against the bedpost and raised her hand to press on her aching temples.

Seeing Si Yue's actions, he pursed his lips. "What's wrong?" His tone was flat and even a little stiff, but there was still a hint of gentle concern hidden within.

After he said this, he furrowed his brows in discomfort. His originally proud and sharp appearance was now somewhat amiable and childish, but Si Yue did not notice it.

At this time, she lowered her eyebrows, and when she heard his question, her lush eyelashes trembled slightly, hiding the emotions in her eyes, making it impossible to see clearly.

"Nothing … I was just trapped by a nightmare." She shook her head gently, her voice hoarse when she spoke.

When Yan Yi heard her simple answer, his brows twitched. He was about to say something, but she interrupted him.

Her headache subsided slightly, and she became more energetic. She scanned the room from the corner of her eyes. "This doesn't look like the layout of the General's Residence … Where is this?"

When Yan Yi heard this, he unconsciously rubbed the letter hidden in his sleeve. "Yancheng, he said that you've always wanted to come here." The two of them were well aware of the "him" that he was talking about.

Si Yue was stunned, then she smiled. "I see."

She recalled the fragrance of bamboo leaves that she had smelled when she had fallen into the darkness, and that warm embrace that felt like an illusion.

It was probably the most beautiful illusion that he had ever experienced in his life.

Her eyes were soft and bright.

Seduction?

Star Chariot?

'Stupid braggart?'

Stepping on Yinai?

What?

Looking for Zhuoche?

Garden Ridge Shepherd?

"Delete?"

Rena Sakura?

Jia Huan Huan?

Flogging?

Kill a Psi Cow?

?????????

Take?

Thumbs up?

Locust Lie?

Chlorkongye?

Shu

He glanced at that gentle smile, and for some reason, he seemed to understand why Xiao Shijing liked her.

"Aren't you sad?" he asked. "Because he has suffered so much, and he wants to drive you away." His words were blunt and cunning, like those of a naughty child who wants to bully others into tears.

"You're still as bad as ever."

She grumbled in a low voice, but there was still a soft smile in her eyes, making it clear that she didn't mind at all.

He saw her expression, and his heart suddenly beat faster. He felt an indescribable shame. She had never shown him such a peaceful and gentle expression. To her, he should be a person that she hated.

Perhaps it was because she was talking about Xiao Shijing.

At this moment, her laughter and gentle words were probably just a ripple of gentleness that she gave him.

He thought about it.

"You don't have to be sad."

She narrowed her eyes, and her dark eyelashes fell. "I didn't want to stay, and now it's just within my expectations. I just feel a little regretful that I didn't say goodbye to him in person," she said.

It was like a shallow sigh, with a restrained sense of loss.

Si Yue blinked lightly, as if she was blinking away the dust that entered her eyes.

She continued, "As for the suffering, it's actually not bad. It's just a bit embarrassing, but it's still fine now."

The bright morning light shone through the window. Yan Yi looked at the satisfied smile on her white face and suddenly fell silent. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

After a moment of silence, he said, "If you want to stay here, I can help you take care of it."

She looked at him in surprise, surprised that he would suddenly say this. However, she was considerate and didn't ask any more questions. She nodded. "Then I'll trouble you. Many thanks," she said.

***

When she was the only one left in the room, the surroundings quieted down.

Si Yue pressed her hand to her heart. She suddenly thought of that sinister and terrifying dream.

The moment she woke up, her heart palpitated with fear. When she tried to think of the situation in her dream, she found that she could only remember some vague fragments.

For example, the head that had been viciously chopped off.

The moment she thought about it, she felt a sharp pain in her heart.

She couldn't see that person's face clearly, so she didn't know where her inexplicable fear came from.

She shook her head, trying to shake off these unwarranted emotions.

She laughed at herself for being overly worried.

***

"Imperial Father." Jiaping rushed over to Qian 'an Palace as soon as she heard the news.

"Jiaping, why are you in such a hurry to come over?"

The Emperor said warmly. His stern and stern face softened, and he looked like a kind father. Seeing that there was a bit of sweat on her forehead, he ordered a palace maid to hand her a handkerchief.

She knew that she looked indecent right now, so she took the handkerchief and wiped the sweat off her face. She slowed her rapid breathing and returned to her proper dignified appearance.

Then she looked at her Imperial Father, who had always doted on her, and said, "This son has something to ask Imperial Father." She restrained her voice from sounding anxious.

"What is it?

Go ahead and ask. "The Emperor smiled." This kind of restraint isn't like our Princess Jiaping. "

He smiled until the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were thin and shallow. At a glance, it was clear that he rarely smiled. Now that he was smiling like this, it was clear that it was as the outside world said, that he doted on his only princess very much.

When Jiaping heard this, she let out a breath. "This son wants to know if Imperial Father has issued an edict to send General Xiao to the Ethnic North." She looked at him anxiously, her eyes showing urgency and panic.

When the Emperor heard this, his smile gradually disappeared. His gaze swept over Jiaping's tightly clenched sleeves and unconcealable worried expression. He sighed inwardly and nodded. "That's right."

When she heard the affirmative answer, she instantly panicked. "Imperial Father … Why didn't Imperial Father send that Zhao Yan? He's clearly the one …"

"Jiaping, that's enough." The Emperor cut her off. "It was Xiao Shijing who asked to go to the Ethnic North."

"How … How could that be?" Jiaping's barely maintained smile froze. She looked embarrassed and helpless. "Why would he do that? He clearly … clearly knew …"

She was an extremely beautiful peony in full bloom, but at this moment, it was as if she had been disrupted by the sudden attack of the wind and rain, losing her delicate petals. She was both in pain and at a loss, making one feel pity for her and also angry at her incompetence.

"Imperial Father, don't send him, as long as you give the edict …" She pulled on the Emperor's sleeve and begged.

Imperial Father had always doted on her. Every time she asked him to do something, he would agree.

He would agree.

She thought.

"Absurd!" The Emperor said sternly. "How can the ruler of a country change his orders every day?"

He did dote on her, but it was only because she was obedient and wouldn't cross his bottom line. Thus, he didn't mind fulfilling some of her small wishes, but it wasn't to the point where he would lose his sense of propriety for her.

The Emperor's expression turned cold. Seeing that she still wanted to argue, he said, "The harem cannot interfere in politics. Jiaping, you can leave." He waved his sleeve and turned his back.

Jiaping was still a bit unwilling. She bit her lip. Seeing that Imperial Father wasn't willing to listen to her, she could only turn and leave.

Hearing the sound of her footsteps fade away, the Emperor sighed. "This child is probably going to resent me."

Li Xiaoquan carefully served a cup of tea and said with a smile, "Your Majesty is overthinking. How could the princess resent you? She also knows your difficulties."

Although she didn't really believe his words, she still relaxed her brows.

She thought of something. "That's right, I heard that kid Yan Yi ran out to cause trouble again?"

"That's right. I think he went in the direction of Yan City." Li Xiaoquan smiled. "I'm afraid that Marquis Yan already knows …"