Lan Murou cried out in grief, her delicate face streaked with tears.
She never imagined that because of her, an innocent person had been killed, someone who had helped her.
She struggled desperately, tears welling up and spilling from her eyes.
Tantai Ye looked at her tear-reddened eyes, a primal rage stirring within him, and an inexplicable pain surged.
He held her body tightly, fitting them together intimately, a firm restraint.
"He's dead, and you're this heartbroken? If I were to die, would you shed a single tear for me? Lan Murou, look clearly, I am your husband—"
Before he could finish, Lan Murou suddenly turned, yanked her hand away, and slapped Tantai Ye across the face, her eyes filled with hatred and fury.
"Tantai Ye, you cold-blooded wretch, you'll go to hell when you die."
She had put all her strength into the slap, turning Tantai Ye's head and drawing blood from his lips.
The scene stunned everyone present.
The soldiers around them immediately knelt, and Li Qiongyu, not far away, was shocked.
Tantai Ye had never been hit by anyone in his life.
He was the one who hit others; who dared to hit him?
This little lamb, when angered, could certainly be ruthless, drawing blood.
Tantai Ye had never been slapped before, and this one truly dazed him.
He couldn't react for a long time.
Lan Murou ignored him, taking advantage of his momentary lapse to break free and rush to Yelü Qi's side, who lay fallen.
Seeing his eyes closed, her legs gave way, and she knelt on the ground, lifting him.
"Yelü Qi, Yelü Qi—"
There was no response.
He was dead?!
The blood from his chest stained his robes, his eyes full of crimson.
Lan Murou felt as though her heart was being cut by a knife, tears streaming down her face.
"Is there a doctor? Save him, save him—"
No breath.
Dead, truly dead.
Lan Murou felt overwhelmed with grief, the pain piercing her heart.
The cruelty of Tantai Ye was something she had never imagined. She had merely been forced to leave by his mother, and he had actually resorted to killing someone.
Such a despicable and terrifying person, when he tired of her, would just as mercilessly kill her.
She had caused Yelü Qi's death.
This undeserved misfortune was what she had brought upon Yelü Qi.
It was her fault, all her fault.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I've failed you—"
Tantai Ye glanced at the commotion and slowly regained his senses.
He looked at the soft figure kneeling and crying, then used his fingertip to wipe the blood from his lips, his tongue probing his aching cheek, a sneer flashing in his dark eyes.
He strode over, grabbed her, and prepared to drag her away.
Lan Murou's eyes were red as she was roughly pulled along, looking disheveled, her white robes trailing on the ground, rustling in the wind.
She looked at the figure ahead, her vision blurred.
He was so despicable and treacherous, killing the innocent, he didn't deserve anything!
A look of desperate resolve flashed in Lan Murou's eyes.
She tried to break free in anger, but his well-defined fingers held her tightly, as if glued to her hand, impossible to escape.
"Tantai Ye, let go, let me go—"
Her furious roar only made Tantai Ye's gaze more violent.
He stopped, pulled her forward fiercely, veins bulging on his forehead, enraged.
"He's dead, and you're crying so much, I thought you'd lost your husband! You're crying like this?!"
In the past, he had loved making her cry on his lap; her pitiful, red-eyed appearance was truly endearing.
But now, seeing her cry filled him with immense hatred, wishing he could flay the corpse.
What was he to her that she grieved so much for his death!
"I'm telling you, Lan Murou, he wasn't a good person, nor was he doing it for you. You don't need to feel guilty. He was an assassin from Northern Qi, attempting an assassination, and he deserved to die!"
"Let go!"
Lan Murou's wrists were covered in red marks. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Tantai Ye, her gaze flashing with furious determination.
"Tantai Ye, let go of me."
Tantai Ye did not let go, holding her tightly and dragging her away.
Lan Murou bit his hand fiercely, her grip so strong that it left teeth marks on Tantai Ye's wrist, blood beads trickling down.
Crimson, dazzling.
Tantai Ye's eyes were tinged with red, he let her bite him, remaining silent.
Only his dark eyes held a fierce, stubborn madness.
"Are you satisfied? Can we go now?"
Lan Murou shook her head wildly, kicking and hitting him, her words sharp and hurtful.
Li Qiongyu, watching from nearby, widened his eyes at Lan Murou, feeling as if he had been bewitched.
A girl who had always been so gentle, and yet she could show such a side.
He had known her since she began following Tantai Ye. She had always been gentle, never raising her voice, a cool beauty.
What had driven her to such a state that she would kick and hit Tantai Ye so wildly?
He pursed his lips slightly, a sense of unease rising within him.
The broken-backed beauty, yet her pride had never waned from her bones.
This time, it had all erupted, and it would likely be difficult to resolve.
Tantai Ye looked at the hatred in her eyes, no longer concealed, and felt a deep ache in his heart, his voice seeming to crack.
He suddenly pulled her closer, trapping her firmly in his embrace.
"Rou'er, stop making trouble. Come back with me, I'll marry you, we'll get married."
He held her tightly, a hint of vulnerability in his crimson eyes.
He didn't need her to say anything anymore.
He wouldn't be stubborn.
He wouldn't be angry.
He wanted to marry her, he truly wanted to marry her!
Lan Murou's limbs were locked tightly in his embrace, unable to break free.
Unable to struggle further, she listlessly relaxed her grip, a deadened resolve flashing in her reddened eyes.
For so many years, she had been trapped by his side, never truly free.
His family would not accept her, and he was so obsessive, never showing respect.
She was tired, truly tired.
If she were taken back this time, it would be the same endless imprisonment, and his family would still view her as a thorn in their side, a constant threat to her life.
She didn't want Ah Yan to be implicated by her again.
And she truly did not want to return to the capital and live a life of so-called wealth and status.
They were never meant to be together.
"Tantai Ye, I do not wish to return with you. Please let go!"
Her voice held a resolute calm, which made Tantai Ye's body stiffen, a sense of inexplicable dread rising within him.
He spoke recklessly, threatening, "Don't learn that from Ye Luan. I won't be soft-hearted. If you dare to have improper thoughts, I will kill Lan Muyan."
Threatening her?!
Threatening her again!
Lan Murou felt no more ripples in her heart; disappointment and resentment had long since been worn away over the years.
Trapped in his arms, she couldn't help but lift her moist eyes and gaze at the gloomy sky.
She suddenly remembered the day her parents had died, it had also been such a cloudy day.
She had just come of age, her younger brother was still young, and as a woman, she had to deal with greedy relatives and servants, enduring humiliation.
It was he who had saved her! He had resolved everything for her!
This had made her develop feelings she shouldn't have.