Zhu Zhuqing's Choice

With two thuds, the two black-clad men dropped to their knees in unison, crying, "Spare us, Second Miss!"

A cold curve touched Zhu Zhuqing's lips as her blade-sharp gaze swept over them. "Now you know I'm the Zhu Family's Second Miss? Why didn't you think things through when you were hunting me down?"

"You want me to spare you? Keep dreaming!"

She turned to Yao Yan, who was sitting quietly nearby, her tone resolute. "My mind is made up. For the sake of the Zhu Family, leave them intact corpses."

Yao Yan knew she was in the midst of a raging fury, but he couldn't blame her. If it were him, how could he possibly not avenge an attempted murder?

"You're not going to reconsider?" Yao Yan asked softly.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded, her tone calm. "There's no need to reconsider. Since they're enemies, they should disappear from this world completely."

Yao Yan rose to his feet, condensing a Blue Silver Overlord Spear in his hand as he advanced toward the two step by step.

The cold gleam emanating from the spear tip made both black-clad men tremble uncontrollably. The younger brother finally buckled under the pressure, gritting his teeth as he blurted out, "Second Miss, we were actually acting under—"

"Second Brother!" the elder brother barked sharply, cutting him off.

"Big Brother! We're about to die! What are you still worried about?" The younger brother turned to Zhu Zhuqing and slammed his forehead against the floor. "Second Miss, we were acting on Eldest Miss's orders, specifically to escort you out of Star Luo!"

Zhu Zhuqing looked as though she had been struck by lightning. She shot to her feet, strode over, and seized him by the collar.

"Say that again!" Her face was frosty, every word icy.

"S-Second Miss... that truly was the order we received." Seeing the dark look on Zhu Zhuqing's face, the younger brother stammered.

"Hehe! What a joke!" Zhu Zhuqing sneered.

She recalled all the pressure, humiliation, and threats Zhu Zhuyun had inflicted upon her in the Zhu Family.

That elder sister who had made things difficult for her at every turn had actually sent people to protect her? It was utterly ridiculous!

Her Martial Soul manifested instantly. She grabbed the younger brother by the throat and lifted him off the ground, sneering, "To stay alive, you can even make up such a lie. Do you really think I'm that easy to fool?"

"Second Miss... every word is true... If you don't believe me, ask Big Brother!" The younger brother's face flushed red from her grip. Struggling desperately, he pointed at his elder brother kneeling beside him.

Seeing his brother on the verge of suffocation, the elder brother clenched his teeth hard and slammed his forehead against the floor. "Second Miss, my brother is telling the truth.

Eldest Miss's exact words were: Send Second Sister out of Star Luo as quickly as possible, and ensure her safety along the way!"

"Ensure my safety?" Zhu Zhuqing swept a cold gaze over him. "Then where did all these scars on my body come from?"

"Zhuqing." Yao Yan, standing nearby, suddenly spoke. "When people are at death's door, they often unleash tremendous drive!"

Those words exploded through her mind like thunder. She suddenly recalled that every time she had fallen into danger, her will to survive had erupted with astonishing force.

She had escaped from their hands time and again, heading all the way toward Heaven Dou.

"Could they really be..." Zhu Zhuqing shook her head in disbelief, released the younger brother and let him crash to the floor, then sat back down at the edge of the bed in a daze.

Seeing hope, the elder brother hurriedly pressed on. "Just as this brother said. And Second Miss, every time we made a move, it was after your injuries had healed."

Zhu Zhuqing froze at those words. Thinking back to the times they had fought, it was indeed exactly as he said.

"So Eldest Sister really..."

Upon learning the truth, the grievances she had buried for years surged into her heart. She fought back the tears welling in her eyes and waved a hand weakly. "Go. Tell Eldest Sister that I won't be going back."

Yao Yan released the Blue Silver Grass binding them.

The two men solemnly kowtowed three times to Zhu Zhuqing, their voices trembling. "We will certainly deliver your words, Second Miss. Please... take care of yourself."

With that, they leaped out through the window, their figures swiftly vanishing into the darkness.

Yao Yan sat down beside Zhu Zhuqing, rubbed her head, and said gently, "If you want to cry, then cry. Don't keep it bottled up."

Zhu Zhuqing raised her reddened eyes. "How did you know about this?"

"It was only a guess." Yao Yan took her cold hand in his. "If your elder sister truly wanted you dead, you never would have made it out of Star Luo City."

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze grew distant at his words. It was indeed as Yao Yan had said.

Not to mention that her elder sister possessed strength above rank forty, the forces under her command alone could have erased her from this world the moment she left the city.

Once she understood it all, Zhu Zhuqing could no longer hold back her tears. She suddenly threw herself into Yao Yan's arms. "Yao Yan, is the Throne really that important? Does it have to drive blood relatives to kill each other?"

Yao Yan did not answer. He simply held her tightly and gently rubbed her back.

He couldn't help sighing inwardly. Who wouldn't want a position above tens of thousands? Even in my previous life, countless people shed blood for the Throne.

Even when a Crown Prince had long been appointed, how many throughout history actually succeeded to the throne without incident?

Zhu Zhuqing cried in his arms for a long time, as if she wanted to release all the grievances she had endured over the years.

Only after about half an hour did her sobs gradually subside.

She lifted her tear-filled eyes and saw that the clothes on Yao Yan's chest had been soaked through by her tears. She said apologetically, "Sorry, Yao Yan. Change out of your clothes later, and I'll wash them for you."

"It's fine!" Yao Yan rubbed her head.

Feeling his solid chest, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly realized they had been embracing for quite some time. Two rosy clouds immediately bloomed across her cheeks.

"C-can you let go of me first?" Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's, carrying a hint of panic.

A trace of amusement flashed through Yao Yan's eyes. Instead of releasing her, he tightened the arm around her waist, pressing her fully against his chest. With a faint smile, he said, "Come back to Qingshan Town with me, and I'll let go."

Lying against his chest, Zhu Zhuqing's face burned. Hearing his shameless words, she felt both angry and amused.

"Alright, I promise you," she answered softly.

Now that she understood her elder sister's feelings, she should not go back and make things difficult for her.

"Then it's settled!" Yao Yan looked down at her.

"Mm!"

Only then did Yao Yan let go. Zhu Zhuqing took the opportunity to slip out of his embrace, quickly straightened her clothes, and rose to return to her room.

"Where are you going?" Yao Yan caught her slender wrist.

"It's time to rest. We still have to travel tomorrow," Zhu Zhuqing replied softly.

"No rush." A sly glint flashed through Yao Yan's eyes as he leaned closer. "If I remember correctly, today's treatment hasn't begun yet?"

Zhu Zhuqing thought back and realized that was indeed the case. She nodded. "Then let's begin now."

"Alright. Take off your clothes and lie down." Yao Yan pointed at the large bed.

Zhu Zhuqing's red lips parted slightly as she stared at him in shock. "Why didn't I need to take off my clothes for the previous treatments?"

"Treating your arm wasn't very effective. There are too many old injuries on your back; it will take three times as much energy to remove the scars." Yao Yan explained calmly.

Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed crimson. After hesitating for a moment, she slowly walked toward the bed.