By the time Xue Zhuoran arrived, Li Yan had already persuaded Murong Yan out of the Empress's bedchamber.
"General Murong." Xue Zhuoran bowed.
"Fourth Prince." Murong Yan returned the gesture, his face grim.
Xue Zhuoran exchanged a glance with Li Yan. "It seems I'm late."
"Not at all, Your Highness. You're just in time," Li Yan said, smoothing his robes. "General Murong has seen the Empress. He's had a long journey. He should rest."
"Indeed. General, please come with me to my residence," Xue Zhuoran said, gesturing toward the gate.
Murong Yan stared at him. After a long moment, he nodded. "Then I will impose."
Xue Zhuoran smiled faintly and led the way. He didn't care what had happened before he arrived. He only needed to know that Murong Yan hadn't killed the Emperor, and Xue Liulan was still standing by Murong Jin's bedside.
Li Yan watched them go, then let out a long breath, his knees weak. He had almost died of fright.
Murong Yan had drawn his sword on the Emperor. And Xue Liulan had just stood there, waiting for the blow.
Li Yan had thrown himself between them without thinking. The cold steel had been inches from his face.
But Murong Yan had stopped. "Move," he had growled.
"If General Murong spares me, then listen to me," Li Yan had said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Guo Shangzhong is behind this. He wants to turn the Murong family against the Emperor so he can reap the benefits."
"I will settle accounts with Guo Shangzhong," Murong Yan sneered. "But I won't spare Xue Liulan."
He raised his sword again.
"General!" Li Yan shouted. "Think! The Emperor is the Empress's life. If you kill him, what will happen to her when she wakes?"
Jin? Murong Yan's hand trembled.
"Your Majesty, go," Li Yan whispered.
"Minister Li." Xue Liulan patted his shoulder, then stepped out from behind him, facing the blade.
"Your Majesty!"
"General Murong, I failed her. It is right for you to want to kill me. Do it. But if she wakes, go to Yin. Find Chong Hua. Get the Danxi medicine. Make her forget me." He looked past the sword to the woman on the bed.
"You…" Murong Yan stared. He thought Xue Liulan valued his life above all. "You would give up the throne? The world?"
"If she never wakes, what use is the world to me?" Xue Liulan gave a desolate laugh, looking up to stop his tears.
Before her, he had thought he was destined to be alone. With her, he had learned that someone could stand by him through everything.
Murong Yan's hand relaxed. The sword lowered. "Jin told me you promised to let her ride free once you succeeded."
"I did. But I also said she is my wife. Since she married me, she must stay by my side." His eyes were full of tenderness.
"Is the Emperor still the Xue Liulan of old?" Murong Yan asked, searching his face.
"In this life, I dare not change."
Silence filled the room.
Xue Liulan turned back to tend to Murong Jin. Murong Yan stood at a distance, sword in hand, but no longer threatening.
Li Yan hesitated, wanting to ask the General to leave. But then, a soft cough came from the bed.
Three pairs of eyes snapped to Murong Jin.
She opened her eyes slowly, still coughing.
"Water," she rasped.
Xue Liulan stood frozen, staring at her as if he hadn't heard.
"Xue Liulan! She wants water!" Murong Yan's voice shook.
"Ah? Oh." Xue Liulan snapped out of it. He rushed to the table, poured a cup, and returned to her side in an instant, terrified she would vanish if he was slow.
She drank in small sips, supported by his hand. She took a deep breath, pain flaring in her shoulder, her waist, her arm. But the sharpest pain was in her heart. Every breath was a punishment.
"Qi'er. Xue Liulan, where is Qi'er?" Her weak hand grasped his sleeve. Her eyes, hazy with pain, bored into him.
"Jin, actually, Qi'er…" Murong Yan stepped forward, trying to stop him.
She had just woken up. She was weak. If she knew the truth…
"Qi'er is gone. Everything you know is true." Xue Liulan cut him off, closing his eyes.
"Xue Liulan!" Murong Yan snarled.
"She would rather be hurt by the truth than deceived." Tears streamed down Xue Liulan's face. "Even if she doesn't face it now, she will have to eventually."
Murong Yan fell silent. He was right. That was his daughter. But did he have to be so brutal?
Murong Jin's eyes went blank.
Xue Liulan's heart clenched. He leaned down, helping her sit up, letting her rest against his shoulder.
"Murong Jin, if it hurts, cry."
She didn't react. She stared straight ahead, tears rolling down her cheeks unnoticed. Her pale face was like marble. Her hand gripped the sheets, white-knuckled, forcing herself to silence.
"Murong Jin! Cry!" he roared.
"Your Majesty." Li Yan tried to intervene.
"Get out! All of you!" Xue Liulan shouted, frantic now. He propped her up with pillows and waved them away.
"I won't leave her alone with you," Murong Yan said firmly.
Xue Liulan's eyes narrowed. "I care more about her life than anyone."
"If you cared, she wouldn't be lying here!" Murong Yan shouted back. "Xue Liulan, she is awake. I am taking her away."
"You dare." Xue Liulan's voice dropped. His eyes were red, filled with a terrifying killing intent.
Li Yan felt a chill. Anyone who tried to take her now would die. Including her father.
"General Murong." Li Yan stepped between them again. "The Empress is awake. You can rest easy. If the Emperor had no feelings for her, he wouldn't have stayed by her side for ten days without sleep."
"Hmph. Crocodile tears. If he went out to seek pleasure now, how would he explain it to the world?"
"If he cared about the world's opinion, would he have let himself become a laughingstock for years?" Li Yan retorted.
Murong Yan was speechless.
"Let her decide," Xue Liulan said suddenly. He turned to her, taking her pale hand.
She trembled, looking at him with strange, guarded eyes.
His heart ached, but he forced a smile. "Murong Jin, do you want to stay here, or go back to the Murong residence with your father?"
He said Murong residence, not Wuchuan. Wuchuan was her heart's desire; if he said it, she would leave.
"Jin, come with Father," Murong Yan urged.
She looked at her father, then at Xue Liulan, and finally at Li Yan in the distance.
Li Yan looked away, sighing inwardly. In her subconscious, she didn't trust the people closest to her. She felt safer with an outsider.
"I want… to see… Qi'er." A sob broke from her throat, and she covered her face, weeping.
Xue Liulan's chest tightened. He pulled her into his arms, stroking her back.
"I will take you to him. I promise." He looked up at Murong Yan.
This was her choice. Even if the reason was painful, she was trying to find a balance between her father and her husband.