The Daughter of the World-Pacifying Marquis, An Xuchen's Past

Hearing that familiar shout, Ye Wanwan could not help rubbing her forehead. "Why did this one have to come back now?"

The sound of hoofbeats drew nearer, and a white horse appeared before everyone's eyes.

The magnificent white steed galloped in like the wind, its four hooves pounding the ground.

Looking up, they saw a straight-backed figure seated on the horse.

Light silver-white armor encased her upright frame, her ink-black hair tied high in a neat ponytail.

Though her features held a few traces of youthful delicacy, her eyes brimmed with biting sharpness.

Even Ye Wushuang, who was accustomed to seeing all manner of beauties, was studying this woman in white armor.

Such a bearing was all too rare. Most of the beauties he had encountered before had the air of well-bred young ladies.

Yet this white-armored woman struck one as imposing and heroic at first glance.

A silver saddle gleamed against a white horse, swift as a shooting star.

Those words surfaced unbidden in Ye Wushuang's mind.

The white-armored woman called out in a clear voice, "Xiaowan, why didn't you come out to meet me when you heard my Little White neigh this time?"

Ye Wanwan lowered her eyes with a faint smile and said softly, "Well, if it isn't our little general. You have time to visit me today-have you returned in triumph?"

Ye Wanwan turned to Ye Wushuang and the others. "This is my good friend, Shen Lingyue, daughter of the Heavenly Star Imperial Dynasty's World-Pacifying Marquis."

Shen Lingyue also noticed the people beside Ye Wanwan. Planting her spear upright, she leaped straight down from her horse.

Shen Lingyue cupped her fist. "I am Shen Lingyue. I hope to learn much from you all."

Everyone returned the greeting, and they entered the Ten Thousand Fragrances Pavilion together.

Ye Wanwan did not deliberately emphasize Ye Wushuang's status as the Ye Lineage's Heavenly Son, merely introducing him as a younger male relative of her Ye Lineage, along with his friends.

Though Ye Wushuang did not deliberately conceal his identity when traveling, and surely no one would dare challenge the Ye Lineage's prestige while he bore the title of its Heavenly Son, that remained the case.

Still, he did not wish to emphasize that status and make others feel constrained even when talking to him.

Besides, revealing his identity at a critical moment was the most effective way to show off.

If everyone stayed far away, how would I show my divinity before others? Ye Wushuang thought.

They arrived at a room on the top floor and took their seats, while Ye Wanwan first took Xu Anchen to change clothes.

Looking at the table piled with delicacies, Xie Qianli felt as though his eyes would wear out from longing.

Seeing that Xie Qianli had not immediately dug in, Ye Wushuang teased him with his gaze. "Big lug, you're quite well-mannered. You haven't started eating right away."

Xie Qianli made a face of unspeakable misery. The food was right before his eyes, yet not everyone had taken their seats. How agonizing!

The door opened, and Ye Wanwan appeared before them with An Xuchen.

At last, as though he had seen his savior, Xie Qianli picked up a chicken drumstick beside him and dug in.

Ye Wushuang's lips also curved into a smile, a little surprised that An Xuchen had actually put on a fitted black outfit.

Ye Wanwan said, "I meant to choose some bright clothes for her, the sort young girls in the bloom of youth like to wear, but she insisted on this fitted black outfit."

An Xuchen said solemnly, "Bearing my Lineage's blood debt and receiving my lord's care, the innocent girl I once was, who knew nothing of the world, has already died."

"From now on, I will live only for my lord and be nothing but the sharpest blade in his hand."

Ye Wushuang reached out and gently held her arm. "You needn't make living so exhausting. Nor do I need you to be my blade."

"But I am willing." An Xuchen's gaze was resolute.

For a moment, Ye Wushuang was at a loss for words. A force like towering waves on a raging sea seemed to erupt from An Xuchen's petite body, enough to move the heart.

A little white beast suddenly sprang out and landed on Ye Wushuang's shoulder.

"Boss, boss, I know this one! Among you humans, this is called the power of redemption, right?"

Ye Wushuang drew a deep breath, suppressing the urge to punch Taiyi.

Back in the ancestral grounds, little Taiyi had never cultivated properly, instead sneaking out every day to collect worldly biographies to read.

Perhaps the Ye Lineage's library collection was simply too comprehensive-it had everything.

Taiyi's worldview had already been shaped by all manner of melodramatic stories, and he often said startling things.

Fortunately, Taiyi's little joke dispelled the solemn atmosphere, and Ye Wushuang and the others began eating and chatting.

During their conversation, everyone also learned about An Xuchen's past.

"It was just an ordinary night. We lived in a city far from the imperial capital, and our family had considerable assets."

"Our lives were very happy. Once, I thought I would always be that happy."

"But good times never last. The nine princes' struggle for succession grew fiercer and fiercer, and the taxes in the cities each of them controlled grew heavier and heavier."

"Even so, we accepted it. Our family could afford the taxes."

An Xuchen sobbed a little. "But he still refused to let us go. Every family in the city with considerable assets was investigated, and soldiers came demanding payment at each door."

"All I remember is that night, when they burst into our courtyard like bandits."

"Father only wanted to discuss things with them, but they accused him outright of refusing to hand over payment, and those imperial soldiers surrounded him and attacked him until he died."

"They had only come to confiscate our property!"

"Seeing what was happening in the courtyard, Mother realized something too. She only told me to hide under the bed and not come out, no matter what."

"Mother knew that if the imperial soldiers entered the room and found no one there, they would certainly search it. Then neither I, nor Mother, nor my newborn little brother would escape their demonic claws."

"Tears brimmed at the corners of Mother's eyes. Holding my little brother, who was still crying, she calmly sat down at the table."

"My brother was too young. There was no hiding his cries anymore, so Mother left the chance to live to me."

"After surrounding and attacking Father, they entered the house. Mother's resistance was still useless, and she and my brother were-killed on the spot!"

"I lay under the bed for three whole days before I dared crawl out. I was afraid they hadn't gone far."

"I wasn't afraid of being found, but I was afraid of wasting the chance to live that my family had won for me."

"I knew that the city we belonged to was under the sixth prince."

"With my own hands, I dug three holes, kowtowed three times with my forehead striking the ground, and buried my parents and brother."

"From then on, my heart held only that one conviction: I would kill the sixth prince and avenge my family!"

Utter sorrow flowed from her.

"Along the way, I ate in the wind and slept under the open sky, begging all the way until I reached the imperial capital."

"What kept me alive was always that scene!"

Mother's eyes meeting mine as she fell to the ground!

The tears from the corners of her eyes fell to the ground together with the blood from the corners of her mouth!

Her mouth was open, but she no longer had the strength to make a sound!

But from the shape of her lips, I knew what she was saying!

Don't seek revenge. Live on!

Live on!

Live on!

"Live on..."