Her actions truly surprised Heka Qingtang.
Her daughter, she understood best.
Stubborn by nature, she never vied for anything, yet Heka Qingtang had never seen her so dedicated to anything.
"Liannuo, you know, among your siblings, you are the one I favor most. Although you've never asked anything of me, whatever I know you like, I will readily give to you."
"But this man, he is He Xiaolan Ya's son-in-law, an enemy to you and me. Today I save him, tomorrow he will come to take your life. I will never allow such a thing to happen."
Heka Qingtang resolutely refused.
"The future is uncertain, but for now, I only want him to live."
Heka Liannuo clenched her fists, her voice ringing with conviction.
Perhaps due to holding them too tightly, the wound on her wrist split open, the spilled blood staining the white gauze. She didn't even glance at it, utterly unconcerned.
"What is it you like about him?"
This question greatly perplexed Heka Qingtang.
"I can't explain what I like about him, but from the first moment I met him, I fell in love uncontrollably. He..."
"Hmph, a child's whim, utter foolishness." Heka Qingtang directly interrupted her, rising to leave through the side back door.
Seeing her about to leave, Heka Liannuo grew anxious. "Mother, please save him!"
Heka Liannuo propped herself up with her hands on the obsidian floor and kowtowed heavily, "He is very important to me, Mother!!"
Heka Qingtang, who had only taken a few steps, hadn't anticipated her being so stubborn.
Faced with such devoted affection, Heka Qingtang sighed, seeming to see the shadow of her own husband in her daughter.
He too had been such a devoted person.
It was a pity that he was no longer with them.
"Liannuo, you should know that the poison has spread throughout his body. Saving him is very difficult, and there's a high chance he won't survive."
She sighed deeply, unable to do anything about Heka Liannuo.
Heka Liannuo straightened up, her forehead already red and swollen.
Her gaze was firm, "Even if there's only a sliver of hope, I will save him."
Heka Qingtang: "If you save him, will he turn around and fall into Meng Jingwei's arms?"
Heka Liannuo: "I will not regret it."
"What if he colludes with Meng Jingwei to seize your position as the hidden leader and attempts to kill you?"
"Setting aside whether he has the ability, if he truly does, then it is my destiny. Even if I don't save him, Meng Jingwei will still be able to take the hidden leader's position. It doesn't change anything."
"What if I try my best, but cannot save him?"
"If Mother tries her best, then it is as if I have tried my best. If he still dies, then it is fate. In my remaining life, I will have no regrets."
Every one of Heka Liannuo's answers was decisive and unwavering.
Yet, it was precisely this unwavering resolve that made Heka Qingtang feel a myriad of emotions.
One standing, one kneeling, their eyes met.
After a long silence, she asked again, "If I refuse to save him, what will you do?"
"I will no longer inherit the hidden leader's position."
"Are you threatening me?"
"Not at all," Heka Liannuo replied sincerely. "As I am about to become the hidden leader, if I cannot even protect the one I love, then the position of hidden leader is insignificant. What use is it if I possess it?"
As her words fell, Heka Qingtang's expression suddenly darkened.
After a considerable pause, Heka Qingtang called out loudly, "Guards!"
A few seconds later, several guards rushed in, "Hidden Leader, what are your orders?"
"Take her down and let her reflect thoroughly!"
As the hidden leader, the most crucial rule was to avoid emotional entanglement.
Once one had a beloved, one had a weakness.
Heka Liannuo had not yet ascended to the position of hidden leader, yet she was acting so impulsively due to her emotions. Heka Qingtang could not imagine how He Qimu would treat Heka Liannuo if they were to successfully save Qing Mu Ye.