With the thunderous noise of impact and the clatter of chains, the massive "city gate," fully a hundred meters high outside the city walls, slowly rose. Countless rebels rushed in, and among them, a multitude of Quelan County’s common folk.
The white-haired woman stood atop the high wall. Behind her were two white-haired girls, their small faces deathly pale, and she clutched them tightly.
She looked down at the rebels, recognizing familiar faces among them.
—Just yesterday, they had drunk two large bowls of hot porridge at her charity porridge stand.
Now, their eyes were filled with madness. They laughed heartily as they charged into the residences, frantically looting all sorts of things.
Going from house to house, they plundered from the very people who, just yesterday, had been as destitute as they were.
"Mommy, what are they doing?"
"Are they too hungry...? Wuque still has a piece of pancake here."
The white-haired woman covered their eyes and whispered into Dan Wuque’s ear, "Wuque, you are the older sister. Remember, no matter what, you must protect your little sister, do you understand?"
"In a little while, you two will follow Grandpa Huang and head that way. Don’t look back, understand?"
"Mommy will come right after."
She crouched down, carefully tidied their clothes, gently stroked their tender cheeks, and kissed them.
"Wuque, can you promise Mommy one thing?"
Dan Wuque blinked at her.
"Even if it’s for Mommy."
"Don’t look at any of this. Just remember that everything is beautiful!"
Dan Wuque nodded with a smile, then took the hand of Dan Wulan, who remained silent. They followed Old Huang, who was missing his two front teeth, in that direction.
"Mommy, when you come later, remember to bring a white bun for Wulan!"
"She doesn’t like pancakes, teehee..."
The white-haired woman smiled tenderly, then nodded vigorously.
"Of course, Mommy remembers!!"
"Run fast now, or Mommy will catch up to you very soon!"
Once her back was turned, tears streamed down her face, wetting her hair and her blouse.
Children, Mommy is sorry.
Clad in a plain white dress, she gazed at the residence, now half overrun, listening to the nearby clamor of battle.
She entered the rear hall, where a middle-aged man knelt on the ground.
Today, he had deliberately dressed in a splendid ceremonial robe: black embroidered with crimson patterns, exuding an imposing dignity. It was the robe he had worn to court to congratulate the new Emperor upon his ascension. This was only the second time he had worn it. It remained just as stately, solemn, and magnificent, preserving his final shred of dignity as the Prefect of Quelan County.
"You shouldn’t have come." ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹⟡𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⟡𝙣𝙚𝙩
His voice was hoarse as he looked at her, his eyes filled with tenderness.
"I’m here to be with you..."
How could she abandon him in their final moment?
He smiled, his gaze filled with tenderness.
She adjusted his crown.
The sounds of battle drew nearer. They looked at each other, seemingly recalling their wedding day. Candlelight flickered around them. She had been draped in a gauze veil, and he had lifted it.
The door was violently kicked open.
The grating sound echoed throughout the room.
"Hahahaha! Found the damned official right here! He sure knew how to hide..."
"I, Wang Mazi, have struck it rich!!!"
"No official is any good! Look at all this wealth!"
The couple watched them, not a hint of fear in their eyes.
They allowed Wang Mazi’s blade to pierce his heart.
As they lay dying, they could faintly hear the crowd’s raucous laughter:
"Being an official is great, eh? These clothes, tsk tsk tsk, this fabric must be worth a lot. Strip it all off..."
「Sword Sect’s residence.」
"White buns..." Dan Wulan murmured softly.
Dan Wuque hugged her tightly, retying the silk ribbon on her bellyband that Su Bei had tied incorrectly.
"Saintess, perhaps we should skip it today..."
Even though he was still looking forward to what was about to happen, Su Bei declined righteously. He silently dressed himself and adjusted the Azure Crown on his head.
Key Smoke, utterly bewildered by his actions, finally couldn’t resist asking, "Elder Su, is making ice cream very complicated?"
Su Bei blinked. "What ice cream?"