"Stop! Stop!" He Sizheng cried out loudly.

Actually, there was no need for him to yell; no guard dared to shoot arrows at the Crown Prince, but since An Jin was propped up by his sword and had not yet fallen, they couldn't relax their vigilance.

Because Li Chengqian had charged over so quickly, someone had already released their arrow. He Sizheng and Xie Jing watched helplessly as a feather arrow pierced into his arm, breaking out in a cold sweat instantly.

"An Jin!" Li Chengqian, using his uninjured hand, supported An Jin.

An Jin's eyes were bloodshot, and when he looked at him, he appeared very sorrowful, "Don't touch me!"

Li Chengqian obeyed and let go, then shouted urgently, "Someone! Call for the Imperial Physician!"

However, no one present made a move.

"Go!" Li Chengqian yelled toward Xiao Song's direction.

Xiao Song waved his hand, ordering a guard to summon the Imperial Physician.

Ran Yan sighed softly, but she had no intention of intervening; firstly, because An Jin had kidnapped and used her, and secondly, because dying here was the best outcome for An Jin.

Over a hundred archers were ready with arrows nocked, aiming at An Jin, ready to shoot at the slightest provocation, as the Crown Prince must not be harmed.

Li Chengqian had no expectations that these archers would lower their weapons. He did not know that Xiao Song was the person who had intended to put An Jin to death just moments ago, but anyone could guess the situation now; Xiao Song's way of handling things was well-known to all. Even though he was the Crown Prince, he would not receive any special concessions, especially since he was already a half-destroyed Crown Prince.

However, at this moment, An Jin made a suicidal move. He swiftly raised his sword and swung it toward Li Chengqian's neck. Simultaneously, only the sounds "swoosh, swoosh, swoosh" were heard; as his sword was only halfway through its arc, three feather arrows pierced his body.

Li Chengqian stared blankly as An Jin fell, tears mixed with blood sliding down his cheek.

An Jin looked at the blurry shadows of osmanthus trees, thinking: Having killed so many people, I should probably end up in the eighteenth level of hell. I probably… won't see the Clan members again…

With a thud, An Jin fell onto the lawn, three feather arrows piercing through his back, blood instantly flowing into a river beneath him.

As the hot wind suddenly picked up, osmanthus blossoms, like morning glow, fluttered down, covering his plain robe, fresh blood, and his devastatingly beautiful features. His eyes, as if cradling spring water, were wide open yet dimmed like an extinguishing eternal flame, forever losing their luster.

Unwilling, yes, unwilling! Even if he had killed all his enemies, it still wouldn't be enough to redeem his shattered body and the hopes that had long since turned to dust.

When he first arrived in Chang'an, what had he thought? He must study hard, pass the imperial examination, hold office at court, shine a light on the Duan Clan, and not waste the chance his clan had fought so hard to give him.

But… how naive and ignorant he was back then!

Ran Yan cast her eyes down, no longer looking at An Jin. She felt that An Jin's fate was both tragic and lamentable, yet she couldn't deeply understand how Tang Dynasty's clan ideas had been etched into the marrow, nor could she deeply understand, the torment this broken body brought An Jin.

"An Jin!" Li Chengqian stumbled forward and fell beside him, his eyes burning painfully, unable to shed a tear, feeling only that the last pillar of his heart had collapsed.

Xie Jing went over to confirm that An Jin was dead, then ordered the archers to lower their bows and softly consoled Li Chengqian with, "Crown Prince, please take comfort."

With the death of An Jin, everyone finally relaxed.

Just then, a group of Imperial Physicians hurried over, unaware of who they were originally supposed to save, but seeing Li Chengqian's injured arm, they immediately came forward to extract the arrow and bandage it.

Li Chengqian had remained motionless as if he were made of wood, allowing them to handle him, not even flinching when they removed the arrow.

His heart ached so much that his entire body felt numb.

"The Crown Princess Consort has arrived!" a shrill voice suddenly broke the silence.

Ran Yan was slightly startled; Li Chengqian's feelings for An Jin were so deep that she had forgotten there was a Crown Princess Consort.

Ran Yan turned her head and saw a beautiful woman in a dark blue brocade robe approaching swiftly from the corridor, her steps urgent yet still dignified.

The Crown Princess Consort walked directly to Li Chengqian, gently calling out, "Your Highness."

Li Chengqian acted as if he heard nothing.

"Your Highness," the Crown Princess Consort called out again softly.

Ran Yan felt some sympathy for this woman; her marriage to Li Chengqian was the product of various powers, either collaborating or conflicting, binding them together for life, inevitably inseparable.

The Crown Princess Consort said no more, only standing behind Li Chengqian, quietly observing him and the already deceased An Jin. There was no so-called love between her and Li Chengqian, but being husband and wife for so many years, she knew him well; once Li Chengqian became stubborn, no one could persuade him.

Xiao Song had no time to watch their complicated relationship, ordering people to clean up the area and commanding everyone to leave.

Ran Yan took one last look at the three people under the osmanthus tree, then turned and left with Xiao Song.

"Lady, I will send someone to take you back first," Xiao Song said after they left the Eastern Palace, covering Ran Yan's hand with his sleeve.

"Mm, go ahead with your duties," Ran Yan nodded. The main culprit was already executed, and Xiao Song surely needed to organize the entire case, prepare the official report, and then submit it to the Emperor.

"Lady," Xiao Song had promised to protect her, but this was the second time Ran Yan had found herself in danger. Even though Ran Yan was unharmed, he couldn't forgive himself.

Ran Yan could see his thoughts and gently squeezed his hand, saying, "Some things are unavoidable, and it's common to miss details despite vigilance. Even though you're capable of protecting me, and I appreciate that promise, I have never been someone who likes to depend on others."

Women may yearn to rely on a strong arm, to have a peaceful haven, yet reliance should not be synonymous with dependency.

Xiao Song looked at her, his eyes brimming with a smile.

The two walked slowly down the shady lane until Xiao Song escorted Ran Yan to the palace gate, helped her into the carriage, and sent her back home with forty guards.

Sitting in the carriage, Ran Yan leaned back lightly. The day's changes were too many, and the things she knew too tangled and sad; she needed to sort through them carefully.

In every murder case, there were no tragedies lacking, and Ran Yan knew too many sad things. The case with An Jin was just one of them, but perhaps because he himself was so outstanding, his flaws made it all the more frustrating.

What Ran Yan now pondered most was whether Li Dejian was involved in this matter. According to An Jin, when Li Dejian had recommended him to the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince had shown no signs of good fortune, perhaps truly aiming to assist him. But it's also possible that Dejian was using An Jin to please the Crown Prince, only to be later controlled by An Jin, forcing him to assist in murdering and disposing of bodies.

If it were the latter, he would truly be a joke.

But if it were the former, why would Li Dejian still help An Jin dispose of bodies? Perhaps out of friendship?

And the message that Li Tai had passed to An Jin, he mentioned a map; what exactly was this map?

Ran Yan always felt An Jin's actions were just the tip of the iceberg in this storm, as if a greater gale was about to sweep through. (To be continued. If you like this work, we invite you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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