Chu Shaoyang's neck was bleeding profusely. The imperial guards dared not delay and immediately prepared a carriage. The guard tightly gripped Chu Shaoyang's neck, his eyes blazing as he surveyed the surroundings. He said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, please stay close to this subordinate."

As he spoke, he protected Chu Shaoling while walking out. His eyes were fixed on the surroundings, occasionally shouting loudly for the imperial guards to keep their distance. Chu Shaoling was somewhat dazed. Even at this point, it wasn't that he had lost the ability to protect himself, he just didn't want to. But now, with the appearance of this guard, Chu Shaoling could no longer follow his own wishes and slowly followed him out.

The guard hurriedly checked the carriage with Chu Shaoyang. Fortunately, the leader of the imperial guards didn't dare to tamper with it. The guard had Chu Shaoling get in the carriage first, then he glanced around at the imperial guards and shouted, "Apologies, brothers. I won't harm Prince Ming. After ensuring the prince's safety, I will naturally release Prince Ming. But if anyone tries to be clever, don't blame me for taking desperate measures!"

After saying that, he struck Chu Shaoyang's back of the neck with his palm, knocking him out. He shoved him into the carriage, then leaped in himself and fled like the wind!

It was dusk and there weren't many people on the streets. While the imperial guards were still hesitating, the guard galloped through the mass grave outside the city. There were fewer and fewer people around. Chu Shaoling lifted the carriage curtain to look. The guard's face was getting paler and paler. Because they couldn't take the main road, the carriage was bumpy. It seemed the wound was bleeding non-stop. Chu Shaoling felt a bit distressed and asked softly, "Why are you doing this?"

The guard paused for a moment, urging the horses to go faster. After a while, he said, "This subordinate was assigned to serve by Your Highness' side eight years ago. This subordinate is crude and unrefined, unworthy of personally protecting Your Highness. Three years ago, this subordinate was derelict in his duty and committed an offense. At that time, it was Your Highness who spoke up and had the commander spare this subordinate. This kindness and sentiment, this subordinate will never dare forget in his lifetime. Now that Your Highness is in trouble, this subordinate should risk his life to protect Your Highness' safety."

Just for these reasons he would die for him? Chu Shaoling thought of the man's expression just now and felt moved in his heart. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "You look to be just past your coming-of-age ceremony. Have you started a family?"

The guard turned his face away without answering, his eyes carrying a trace of bitterness. Chu Shaoling instantly understood.

The past events he spoke of, Chu Shaoling actually didn't remember at all.

Chu Shaoling was cold by nature. He couldn't understand how a person would silently accompany and loyally serve him in the residence for so many years.

Chu Shaoling was silent for a while before softly asking, "What is your name?"

The guard smiled slightly, his heroic face showing a hint of childishness. He answered in a low voice, "Wei Ji. 'Wei' as in guard, 'Ji' as in halberd."

Chu Shaoling carefully considered the two characters and nodded. "Wei Ji, good name."

There were countless imperial guards in the imperial city. How could they let a carriage with three people easily escape? Not to mention this was just an escape planned by a guard, full of loopholes. Before the night watch, the carriage was chased to the edge of Heartbreak Cliff west of the imperial city. Several thousand pursuers surrounded the carriage. The only direction without pursuers was the towering, precipitous cliff.

Chu Shaoling calmly got out of the carriage. Wei Ji was so anxious that his forehead was covered in sweat. He looked at Chu Shaoling, his face full of remorse. Chu Shaoling smiled faintly, his slender fingers lightly resting on Wei Ji's shoulder as he said softly, "It's not your fault. I have to thank you. In the end, I got to live a few more hours."

And let him experience a bit of human warmth before his death.

Chu Shaoling looked at the imperial guards surrounding them without any gaps and sighed lightly. It was still a pity. Chu Shaoling looked back at Wei Ji, feeling a bit distressed. He was just a minor guard. Originally, he didn't have to die.

Saying more now was useless. The imperial guards pressed closer and closer, their shining blades reflecting a dark light. Chu Shaoling chuckled, his exquisite features carrying a hint of arrogance. This wasn't bad either. Rather than taking his own life, dying together with Wei Ji at the hands of a group of imperial guards could be considered a hearty end. Chu Shaoling drew his blade. Two people, two swords, against the three thousand elite soldiers before them. Laughable yet tragic!

Chu Shaoling and Wei Ji charged into the ranks of the imperial guards together. A melee ensued.

The imperial guards were wary of Chu Shaoling but didn't hold back against Wei Ji. In less than half a moment, Wei Ji was wounded in a vital spot. He already had several blade wounds on his body. Seeing that he could no longer hold on, in a daze, Wei Ji looked back at Chu Shaoling. Chu Shaoling was also injured. An imperial guard raised his blade to strike. The dying Wei Ji suddenly felt a surge of hot-bloodedness. He leaped in front of Chu Shaoling, blocking that final blade for him.

Having reached this state, the imperial army no longer approached, just surrounding the two from a zhang away.

Wei Ji was drenched in blood, just hanging on by a breath. At this moment, he could no longer support himself. Wei Ji slowly pulled out the long blade piercing his chest, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Chu Shaoling's voice was hoarse. "Wei Ji."

Wei Ji knelt on one knee in front of Chu Shaoling. Hearing this, he turned his head to look at Chu Shaoling and smiled weakly. He could no longer see clearly, his consciousness gradually blurring. He murmured in a raspy voice, "Your Highness, ten years ago, I entered the palace with my father and saw Your Highness in Bitao Palace."

That year, Empress Ling had not yet passed away, the Zijun Marquis Manor still held power, and Chu Shaoling was still the honored legitimate prince.

In Bitao Palace, under the peach blossom tree, with falling petals fluttering, Chu Shaoling, dressed in splendid robes, raised an eyebrow and smiled. Stunning enough to topple nations and cities.

Just that glimpse of beauty was forever engraved in Wei Ji's mind, never to be forgotten.

For Chu Shaoling, Wei Ji trained hard in martial arts. For Chu Shaoling, Wei Ji worked diligently and entered the palace. For eight years, he meticulously protected Chu Shaoling's safety. The only time he was derelict in his duty was on the day of Chu Shaoling's grand wedding, when Wei Ji got dead drunk through the night.

Wei Ji slowly closed his eyes. Silently guarding this person for ten years, now meeting this end, it could be considered a just reward.

Wei Ji never said anything until his death, but Chu Shaoling understood it all.

Chu Shaoling, who had been calm for so long, who had been cold for so long, suddenly felt his heart ache. He had no regrets walking to this point today. He only regretted, why did he only find out about all this today? Why did he only find out today that he had a person like Wei Ji by his side? If he could have known a day earlier, if he could do it over again, he would certainly...

Chu Shaoling's face didn't change. He picked up the long blade from Wei Ji's hand and stood up unsteadily. Chu Shaoling raised the blade and feinted. The imperial guards all retreated. Chu Shaoling sneered and turned around, picking up Wei Ji's corpse. He took a few steps and leaped off the cliff! The three-thousand-foot-tall Heartbreak Cliff towered into the sky, and the bodies of the two lay together at its base.