Chapter 79

Shao Jingyu had killed countless people; the deaths of a few ignorant, gossiping women meant nothing to him compared to a single indifferent glance from Yan Yiming.
Yan Yiming was always cold and reserved, but when she saw him, or when she saw Yun Xiao, or when she looked at those who shared their memories, even with a cold expression, her eyes held warmth.
This was the first time Shao Jingyu had seen such a look in Yan Yiming’s eyes.
And it was directed at him.
He had so much he wanted to say to Yan Yiming, but after all the words swirled in his mind, it seemed only “I'm sorry” remained.
Yet, those two words felt far too trivial for the weight between them, for if this apology were to begin, it would have to trace back to the final great battle long past.
He couldn’t even count the times anymore.
Shao Jingyu recalled with uncertainty, his initial intention had clearly been to give her a better life, yet now, she was anything but well.
Yan Yiming was not some melancholic woman confined to the inner chambers. The surviving maids who had not been involved waited on her nervously, trying to detect any change in her expression, but there was none.
Those were several lives lost, yet Yan Yiming didn’t even bat an eye, casually remarking, “If they’re dead, they’re dead.”
“I heard the boards were stained with blood...” one young maid ventured, trembling as she spoke. They remembered Tong Bao’s heart-wrenching cries, which had nearly frightened them out of their wits. Yet, Yan Yiming looked up, her gaze inexplicably puzzled, and said,
“If there’s no blood when they’re beaten, what’s the point of beating them?”
Everyone fell silent.
Tong Bao and the others had merely spoken out of turn, yet they were beaten to death, and it was because of her that they died. Why wasn’t she afraid?
Or perhaps, since the young master had punished Tong Bao and the others so severely for her sake, clearly holding her dear in his heart, why didn’t she show any joy?
Just moments ago, the young master had hurried after her. They had never seen him speak so cautiously and humbly. He stood outside the door and called her name, only to hear Yan Yiming’s icy voice after a long pause, saying,
“I don’t want to see you right now.”
The onlookers stared wide-eyed in shock. In his current position, even the mistress and master of the house showed him some respect, who would dare speak to him like that?
But Yan Yiming dared. And what was most incomprehensible was that the young master didn’t get angry at all. Instead, upon hearing her words, he staggered and nearly fell to his knees.
No one understood. No one knew why Shao Jingyu, so proud and arrogant, would endure such treatment from that woman. Was it truly because he loved her to the bone, allowing himself to be trampled upon?
They didn’t dare speak or speculate further. The image of Tong Bao’s lifeless body being dragged away was still vivid in their minds.
The unlit room was pitch black. The young maid tiptoed inside and saw Yan Yiming sitting by the window in the moonlight, quietly gazing at the full moon.
The moon on the sixteenth night was round and bright. Yan Yiming's long hair cascaded loosely, silver light enveloping her figure. The little maid felt an indescribable chill and loneliness emanating from her.
She gets to marry the young master and is so deeply loved by him, what more could she possibly lack to be unhappy about? The maid silently retreated from the room, leaving Yan Yiming alone in the profound silence.
After that, Yan Yiming became a forbidden topic, one no one was allowed to mention.
The Shao family had never imagined that Shao Jingyu would resort to such harsh measures over a few words. His actions were beyond their comprehension, and whatever favorable impression they once had of Yan Yiming vanished completely.
They had reached the point where they wished to eliminate her as soon as possible.
Yan Yiming was well aware of the little maid’s anxiety each day when she brought the medicine. Deliberately provoking her, Yan Yiming asked why the medicine had the taste of ginkgo nuts. The maid, unfamiliar with what ginkgo nuts were, grew even more flustered. Swirling the liquid in the bowl, Yan Yiming lifted her eyes and said softly,
“It’s the taste of shortening my life.”
The maid dropped to her knees with a thud, the candied fruits she was holding scattering across the floor. Trembling and weeping, she swore she would never dare to harm the young lady.
“I didn’t think you would,” Yan Yiming set the bowl down on the table. “But my illness has already healed, and I no longer need this medicine. Please inform the Madam and thank her for her care all these days.”
The maid fled in panic, not daring to look back.
In truth, Yan Yiming had no idea what was actually in the medicine. The dosage was minimal, so slight that even Little A could detect something harmful but couldn’t identify it, let alone have a physician investigate.
Drinking it for a day or two would cause no immediate harm, but over time, the toxins would accumulate. For someone like Yan Yiming, whose body was already weakened and fragile, it could easily prove fatal.
It wasn’t that Yan Yiming was attached to this body, she had simply grown weary of lingering here for so long. She wanted to hasten the end.
By provoking Madam Shao appropriately, she hoped to speed things up.
Meanwhile, after hearing the maid’s panicked report, Madam Shao immediately realized the foolish girl had been toyed with by Yan Yiming. Yet this very act confirmed Yan Yiming’s suspicions, she had uncovered the hidden malice Madam Shao had been concealing.
Madam Shao couldn’t fathom how Yan Yiming had found out. After all, she had successfully kept even her own son in the dark, not to mention Yan Yiming.
But Yan Yiming had indeed sensed it.
This left Madam Shao deeply unsettled.
Her son’s obsession with Yan Yiming exceeded her expectations. If her disapproval became public, she was certain Shao Jingyu would not hesitate to take Yan Yiming and move into the General’s residence, a scenario she could not accept.
Soon, it was the seventieth birthday of the Shao family matriarch. A milestone celebration, and as the mother of the current Imperial Consort, the consort intended for her mother’s birthday to be lavishly celebrated.
All the noble families of the capital with any standing were invited to the estate, and the Shao residence bustled with unprecedented excitement.
Madam Shao granted the younger generation in the household a day off from studies and needlework, allowing them to play freely. She also sent word to Yan Yiming, informing her that as a future member of the Shao family, she should prepare herself, today, she would likely be introduced to the various ladies and young misses in attendance.
Shao Jingyu had initially disagreed. He knew Yan Yiming had a cold temperament and disliked such gatherings; forcing her to chat with elderly ladies would be worse than making her drink with a group of rough men. So he refused outright.
Despite Madam Shao’s repeated attempts at persuasion, nothing worked. Unexpectedly, Yan Yiming took the initiative to agree, saying, “Sooner or later, I’ll have to meet them.”
Since that day, Shao Jingyu had rarely seen Yan Yiming so calm. He always felt guilty toward her, and not wanting to put her in a difficult position, he could only ask Yun Xiao to talk with her.
He remembered clearly, Yun Xiao returned and told him that Yan Yiming said she missed the northern grasslands.
She said she missed the starry skies above the grasslands, the feeling of the cool night breeze brushing her face, and that even the moon here didn’t seem as beautiful as the one over the grasslands.
The deeper meaning behind those words was something Shao Jingyu dared not dwell on.
Today was the first time since then that Yan Yiming seemed in such high spirits. Of course, Shao Jingyu wouldn’t go against her wishes. Since she wanted to go, he wouldn’t stop her. The only regret was that, as a man, he couldn’t accompany her to meet the noble ladies.
After much thought, he still couldn’t set his mind at ease and repeatedly reminded Yan Yiming, “If you don’t feel like staying, just say you’re tired and go back to rest. Don’t force yourself.”
Yan Yiming nodded to show she understood. Madam Shao stood nearby, forcing a smile as she promised to take good care of Yan Yiming. Shao Jingyu gave a quiet “Mm” and said to his mother, “A’Ming isn’t much of a talker. Please be sure to look after her.”
“Of course,” Madam Shao replied, glancing subtly at Yan Yiming. She couldn’t understand why Yan Yiming hadn’t told Shao Jingyu that there was already a rift between them.
Perhaps she wanted to use this as a gesture to ease the tension?
Madam Shao couldn’t think of any other reason. But since Yan Yiming didn’t bring it up, she was more than happy to keep it that way. She continued to smile gently and assured Shao Jingyu that she wouldn’t let Yan Yiming suffer any grievances.
The two of them tacitly played their little game. Madam Shao wondered what Yan Yiming was really thinking, whether she might take this chance to say something. But nothing happened.
After Shao Jingyu left, Yan Yiming gave a faint nod and turned to leave, leaving Madam Shao stunned and nearly crushing her fingernails in frustration.
She was always looking for ways to embarrass Yan Yiming, to prevent her from marrying Jingyu. As for the former, today was the perfect opportunity.
Resuming her usual gentle demeanor, she was now the biological mother of the Great General, her status spoke for itself. She thoroughly enjoyed such gatherings. After checking her appearance, she gracefully made her way to Old Madam Shao’s quarters and ordered someone to “invite” Yan Yiming over in about an hour, just as the guests were mostly assembled.
Even with Shao Jingyu and the Imperial Consort’s considerable influence, the Shao family was overwhelmed with honor when the Ninth Princess, the biological daughter of the Imperial Consort, along with two other princesses with whom she was very close, personally visited the Shao residence. Not to mention the other noble ladies and young misses from the capital who were also in attendance.
The troupe set up in the rear garden had yet to begin their performance, and the idle chatter among the guests had already started. When Madam Shao summoned the young women of the Shao family to present themselves, it was no surprise that the conversation quickly turned to the woman Shao Jingyu had brought back from the north.
Shao Jingyu had even turned down an imperial marriage proposal for this woman, a scandal that had set the capital abuzz for quite some time. Jian Yu'er, furious, had thrown a tantrum with her father, Chancellor Jian, while others couldn't help but feel intensely curious about the woman who had captured General Shao's heart.
At the thought of the shocking things Shao Jingyu had recently done for Yan Yiming, Madam Shao's hand, which had been idly turning her prayer beads, trembled involuntarily.
She had absolutely no desire to see Yan Yiming and wished she could drive her out of the Shao residence immediately. Yet, the moment the topic was broached, even the princess expressed curiosity about meeting this “sister-in-law.”
Madam Shao gently interceded, “It's still too early to call her sister-in-law, Your Highness. Please don't speak so carelessly.”
“Cousin has already sworn he will marry no one else, how could it be false?” the princess replied with an air of naive innocence. “She must be an extraordinary beauty to have captured Cousin Jingyu's heart so completely.”
Though displeased, Madam Shao dared not contradict the princess. She sent someone to summon Yan Yiming, then offered an apologetic smile. “She is merely a rustic girl from the countryside, rather uncouth in her manners. I fear she may amuse you all.”
The guests responded with knowing murmurs, understanding from her words that Madam Shao was far from pleased with such a prospective daughter-in-law. With Shao Jingyu currently the talk of the town, if his mother disapproved, there might still be opportunities for others.
As everyone calculated silently, a flock of Shao family young ladies swept into the room, each dressed brightly and beautifully. They greeted Madam Shao with sweet, flattering words. Madam Shao's eyes swept over them and settled on a young lady with peach-blossom eyes. “Why hasn't A'Ming come?” she asked.
From a distance, Lady Ding, upon hearing that familiar name, felt a sudden ripple disturb the delicate tea in her hand.
It had been years since her daughter's passing, and few ever mentioned the name “A'Ming” anymore. People always referred to her as the Crown Princess. Only in the deep of night, when memories of her daughter's radiant smile surfaced, would Lady Yan weep silently, whispering the childhood name of her lost child.
When Madam Shao inquired why Yan Yiming had not arrived, the peach-blossom-eyed girl thought for a moment and said, “When I came, I believe I saw her playing chess by the lake with Yun Xiao.”
Who was Yun Xiao? No one seemed to know.
But in that instant, an idea sparked in Madam Shao's mind. After quickly assessing its feasibility, her expression darkened abruptly.
A sharp-eyed lady seated nearby noticed the change and asked curiously who Yun Xiao was.
Madam Shao wore an expression of extreme embarrassment, hesitating for a long moment before replying, “He is the son of Jingyu's wet nurse. He grew up in our household and previously accompanied Jingyu to the northern deserts.”
Seizing the opportunity to align herself with Madam Shao's sentiments, the girl who had spoken earlier added, “But Sister Yan has always been close with Yun Xiao. They often played together before. Don’t worry, Mother, I’ve already sent someone to hurry them along.”
The guests immediately understood, and with understanding came judgment.
If Yun Xiao had gone to the northern deserts with Shao Jingyu, and the woman had returned with him, then Yun Little And the woman must certainly be acquainted.
But even if they had been close in the past, now that the woman was betrothed to Shao Jingyu, propriety demanded distance between unrelated men and women. Her lack of discretion was truly unacceptable.
No wonder Madam Shao’s face had turned so grim.
Yan Yiming had nothing better to do when she happened to run into Yun Little And chatted with him for a while. As they walked to the lakeside, she noticed a stone table engraved with a chessboard and chess pieces placed beside it. Feeling an itch to play, she picked them up casually.
However, Yun Xiao was truly terrible at the game, so Yan Yiming had no choice but to teach him how to play Gomoku. Surprisingly, Yun Xiao became instantly fascinated by it.
The two played for quite some time until a maid from Madam Shao’s household hurriedly urged Yan Yiming to leave. As Yan Yiming placed the chess piece back into the box, Yun Xiao looked up excitedly and said, “I’ve never seen this kind of game before. Let’s continue when you return.”
Perhaps Yan Yiming left too hastily, or perhaps she simply forgot her promise. It was only later that Yun Xiao realized he never heard her response that day.
Everyone craned their necks, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the legendary Lady Yan.
They had expected a bewitchingly beautiful woman, after all, how else could she have captured Shao Jingyu’s unwavering devotion? To their surprise, the woman who appeared was tall and slender, dressed in a simple blue robe, her long hair tied up with nothing more than an ebony hairpin. Her demeanor was cold and aloof, starkly out of place amidst the jewel-adorned nobility.
Her appearance was exquisite, yet for some inexplicable reason, despite being an unarmed woman, she seemed to carry an aura of fierce, unspoken lethality.
At a single glance, only one phrase came to mind: keep your distance.
Such a person… Recalling their earlier speculations, the crowd felt a sudden disconnect.
Only Lady Yan of the Ding Estate, upon noticing the red mole at the corner of the woman’s eye, stood frozen in place.
In a voice as cold as her appearance, Yan Yiming respectfully congratulated Old Madam Shao on her birthday and greeted the assembled guests. Though her movements lacked the refined elegance typical of young ladies, they carried a unique, unrestrained grace that felt even more dignified.
There was no trace of the vulgarity Madam Shao had described.
The stark contrast between expectations and reality left the guests at a loss for words. Old Madam Shao, however, took one look at Yan Yiming’s plain attire and fumed, “Today is my joyous celebration. How could you dress so carelessly and show such disrespect to the guests?”
Yan Yiming glanced down at her outfit indifferently and replied, “I chose this attire with great care. How could it be considered disrespectful? If you dislike it, Madam, I can change into something else.”
The young princess nearby giggled and said, “I rather like your style. It’s much more refreshing than the usual young ladies.”
“Thank you,” Yan Yiming responded. She knew this was the princess, but as the current Yan Yiming, she wasn’t supposed to recognize her.
The princess paused in slight surprise, then smiled. “You’re quite straightforward, no wonder Brother Jingyu likes you.”
Only then did Yan Yiming’s eyes flicker with recognition as she bowed slightly. “This common girl did not realize it was Your Highness.”
Madam Shao observed the scene, silently calculating.
If she used this opportunity to tarnish Yan Yiming’s reputation today, the Shao family would inevitably become the laughingstock of the capital for a while. But if it could sever any possibility of Yan Yiming marrying Shao Jingyu, what did a damaged reputation matter?
Once she had made up her mind, Madam Shao waited until the princess had finished speaking with Yan Yiming before asking her sternly, “Where were you just now?”
The others were naturally eager to watch the drama unfold, curious to see if the woman would lie.
To their surprise, the woman replied with unflinching honesty, “By the lake, playing chess with Yun Xiao.”
Her tone was neither humble nor arrogant, and her eyes held no trace of deceit.
“I know you and Yun Xiao have been acquainted for a long time, but now that you are Jingyu’s betrothed, you should be mindful of your behavior so as not to embarrass him.”
As for who was truly embarrassing Shao Jingyu, Yan Yiming no longer wished to argue with her.
She frowned at Old Madam Shao, and after a long silence, suddenly asked, “What do you mean by that, Madam?”
The elderly Madam Shao grew even more displeased with her continued arrogance. It was Yan Yiming who had behaved improperly first, yet she spoke as though she were in the right. With a wave of her hand, she snapped, “Get out of here at once, before you make a fool of yourself!”
“What have I done to make a fool of myself?”
“Isn’t it enough of a joke that you, already engaged to Jingyu, are carrying on ambiguously with another man?”
Yan Yiming was stunned. For the first time, a flicker of anger crossed her icy expression. She stared fixedly at Old Madam Shao and said, word by word, “If I understand correctly, Madam Shao suspects that Yun Little And I are having an affair?”
A collective gasp swept through the room.
No woman would dare utter such words in front of so many people.
Old Madam Shao, too, was utterly taken aback. She had never seen a woman with such a terrifying presence. The eyes fixed on her were filled with murderous hatred. It was Miss Shao who stepped in to shield her mother, exclaiming urgently, “It’s you who lacks propriety…”
“You all disgust me,” Yan Yiming said.
Madam Shao’s words were cut short by Yan Yiming’s retort. For a moment, she stood frozen, wondering if she had misheard. Finally, she asked uncertainly, “What did you say?”
Yan Yiming’s gaze swept past Madam Shao, then the elderly Madam Shao, and in front of all the guests, she declared, word by word:
“I said your Shao family disgusts me.”
Even the well-traveled ladies present were at a loss for how to react. Did this woman have any idea what she was saying?
No matter how much Shao Jingyu doted on her, he would never allow her to insult his family like this.
The elderly Madam Shao was so enraged that she nearly toppled from her chair. Gripping her cane, she trembled with fury. “You… you vulgar woman! Don’t even think about stepping into the Shao family again! Someone, go fetch Jingyu! Let him see for himself what kind of woman he’s been protecting!”
“After today, I have no desire to set foot in your Shao household again,” Yan Yiming sneered. “It’s best to call him here. Let him see that I, who survived the battlefield and ten thousand armored cavalry, am now about to be destroyed by the poisonous tongues of a group of ignorant women.”
“How dare you call us ignorant women?” Miss Shao shrieked.
But there were those who quickly caught the key words.
Battlefield? Ten thousand armored cavalry? What did that mean?
Madam Shao, sharp as she was, was the first to notice the unusual phrasing in Yan Yiming’s words. A sudden sense of foreboding rose within her, and her tone softened slightly as she asked, “What… what do you mean by that?”
But Yan Yiming ignored her. Step by step, she advanced, her voice like a vengeful spirit from the depths of hell.
“I have endured for so long, and I've had enough. Your family, one person arbitrarily deciding my life and death, arranging my fate, and a whole group trampling over my life and destroying my reputation.”
“You always ask me what right I have, so I'll tell you. In the summer of the 48th year of Chenxia, I followed Shao Jingyu to pursue and attack the Northern Mongol King. To save Shao Jingyu's life, I now bear a bloody hole in my leg. In the summer and autumn of the 48th year of Chenxia, Shao Jingyu ordered me to guard the camp while he was trapped in Yin Mountain. I risked my life to rescue him. In the spring of the 49th year of Chenxia, during the final battle in the north, his flawed decision forced me to face 100,000 Mongol troops. I fought fiercely for seven days, killing countless enemies and seizing a critical opportunity. In that battle, I was struck by an arrow, wounded in the abdomen by a spear, and pierced through the back by a long blade. It was I who held the line with my life until the very moment he arrived.”
Yan Yiming had never cried before; she was always acting. But when she thought of the soldiers who had fought so valiantly, of the battlefields littered with corpses, so tragic and hopeless, it was they who had exchanged their lives for the peace and stability of others.
And what had it all been for?
As she recalled the familiar faces now lost, she suddenly felt it was all utterly worthless.
Tears slowly trickled from her eyes, yet Yan Yiming still seemed to be smiling. “I saved him three times, helped him achieve his current status, but what have you done? Your son, out of so-called affection, erased all my achievements, reducing me to a useless cripple. And you, time and again, you've harassed and insulted me. Have any of you ever asked if I was willing or if I liked it? I, a woman, was forced into the military, yet I achieved merits and accomplished great deeds. I owe nothing to anyone, let alone your Shao family. How dare you have the audacity to treat me like this!”
A woman in the military!
By now, everyone present could guess who she was. The Ninth Princess widened her eyes, covering her mouth in shock, exclaiming, “You are Marquis Yiyong, Yan Yiqing!”
Yan Yiqing was the name bestowed upon her by the emperor. Because it conflicted with the Crown Princess's name, her real name was not widely known.
But Yan Yiming was grateful for this name, for she saw Madam Yan, who had been watching her since she entered.
The same given name, the same red mole, if the name were also identical, it would be too painful for Madam Yan.
The mention of the Yiyong Marquis's name exploded like a thunderclap on the spot.
After the final battle, the fame of the Yiyong Marquis was no less than that of Shao Jingyu. It was said he was a young man half a year younger than Shao Jingyu, renowned for his clever tactics that wiped out tens of thousands of Mongol troops before the battle even began, and for his astonishing bravery in single-handedly slaying hundreds. Later, it was heard that in a previous battle, he boldly detained a colonel of higher rank and led the troops alone, helping Shao Jingyu secure a great victory.
During the two years of war, Shao Jingyu had distinguished himself, and this young man from a humble family became widely known.
The Emperor once shed tears, lamenting why such a heaven-sent talent was destined for a short life. In his grief, the Emperor posthumously honored him as a third-rank General of Cavalry and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Yiyong with a fief of two thousand households.
The words “Yiyong”, steadfast and courageous, sufficiently described his life. The numerous posthumous honors further demonstrated the Emperor's appreciation and his own glory.
Yet now, who could have imagined that this young man, renowned on the battlefield, was actually a woman?
And her downfall had come for such a reason.
Regardless of her gender, with such achievements, she was a person of exceptional merit, someone who should have been revered just like Shao Jingyu. But now, she was confined within the inner chambers, subjected to endless humiliation.
She had even saved Shao Jingyu's life multiple times.
Heroes are always admired, even if she was a woman. The ladies present began to look at Yan Yiming with changed expressions. Madam Shao finally lost her composure, repeating over and over that it was impossible, before her gaze suddenly sharpened. “This is the crime of deceiving the Emperor!”
“It is the crime of deceiving the Emperor,” Yan Yiming sneered, “but Shao Jingyu concealing my identity is also deceiving the Emperor. I stand alone and have never feared anything, but out of affection for him, I never spoke up. Yet you have pushed me too far. Yun Little And I were comrades who fought side by side, yet you have tarnished our bond with such filth. I would rather have died on the battlefield than bear such accusations and be driven to my death here.”
Madam Shao staggered back in panic, staring blankly at the woman before her.
Why was her behavior always so different from that of ordinary women? Why had Jingyu always shielded her? Why could she remain so composed in the face of life and death?
Because she was a warrior who had walked through the boundary of life and death.
Madam Shao had made one mistake after another. The accusation of “deceiving the Emperor” weighed heavily on her mind, leaving her flustered. When she looked at Yan Yiming again, she could no longer utter the words “Lady Yan.”
She should have been a general.
The Seventh Princess, who had remained quiet until then, finally reacted. She walked over slowly and said to Yan Yiming, “Even though the General is a woman, she is still a hero. My father is not a narrow-minded man. I will surely plead for the General, “
Before she could finish, she noticed a trace of blood trickling from the corner of Yan Yiming's lips and let out a startled cry.
A sudden surge of blood and energy in her chest made Yan Yiming unsteady on her feet. As she stumbled, one of the ladies hurriedly supported her. Through her blurred vision, Yan Yiming recognized her as Madam Yan, whom she had once called “Mother.”
“I am sorry,” Yan Yiming thought to herself. ‘The real Lady Yan could have lived much longer. If not for me, she would not have died.’
The farce finally reached its conclusion. Amid the exclamations of the women, Yan Yiming collapsed without warning. Blood seeped from the corner of her lips, and the chaotic sounds of the women's voices, some kind, some indifferent, filled her ears. In the last moment before losing consciousness, she heard them cry out, “General!”
Her body was suddenly lifted into arms as unyielding as iron hoops. She heard Shao Jingyu frantically calling her name.
She could no longer see Shao Jingyu's face clearly. With great effort, she parted her lips and spoke her final words.
She said she missed the starry sky over the grasslands.
She missed the young man who had spoken to her under that starry sky.
But you are no longer him.
“I had hoped to see the starry sky over the grasslands one last time, but it is already too late.”
“After I die, have someone bury me in the Liu Family Village south of Beiping. Do not come to see me, I do not wish to lay eyes on you again.”
“Remember, it's Liu Family Village. There is a small, low hill there; bury me there. That is where I was born, and it is also where I... should have returned...”
And I, too, could finally leave this cage that suffocated her so deeply.
Yan Yiming slowly closed her eyes, the blood at the corner of her lips staining her pristine collar. She could no longer utter a word, nor was there a trace of a heartbeat left.
Shao Jingyu held her tightly in his arms, as if he had lost the most precious thing in his life. This man, who had never shed a tear before, now wept uncontrollably, clutching the body of his beloved, stripped of the pride and spirit of a great general.
Separated by life and death, from then on, only resolve remained.