Qi Gang had been waiting outside for nearly half an hour, and just as Zhou Pei was about to return, Old Master Hou still hadn't come out. Deputy Qi's heart was racing, urging Qi Gang to bring Old Master Hou out, otherwise he would be in trouble if Zhou Pei found out.

  Qīn Jiāng was just about to push the door open when it swung open, and Old Master Hou came out with a tired gait, looking even more aged.

  "Master Qi, I'm entrusting Rong'er to you. Take her out and find a place for her to settle down, then let her fend for herself!"

  The old marquis bowed deeply to him and was taken away by the deputy general.

  His eyes were sunken and his heart was desolate, he went in to see Xiao Zongrong, still unconscious, with festering wounds all over his body, it's unknown whether he can survive after leaving.

  In her heart, she felt that Old Master Hou's golden pardon was wasted, and there was no other way out. She could only secretly ask the deputy general to find some medicine for her to eat. She herself went back to contact a famous doctor and prepared some expensive therapeutic medicine, just waiting for the Xiao family to be executed before taking out Xiao Congrong and treating her, doing everything humanly possible and leaving the rest to fate!

  Xiao Congrong still didn't know that the fate of the Xiao family had been decided, and she struggled vaguely at the line between life and death. After entering the prison cell, Old Master Hou said a few words to her, then seriously said: "Rong'er, concentrate your mind and listen to Grandfather's next words, remember as much as you can, and slowly ponder them later!"

  Is there still a bath later? Xiao Zongrong just smiled bitterly and flashed through such an idea, and then heard Old Houye whispering a vernacular article in her ear, which seemed to be a scripture of exhalation.

  She was dazed and didn't think deeply, so she just memorized what Old Master Hou told her to. She was originally very intelligent and had a super strong memory, so even though she was confused, after being repeated three or four times by Old Master Hou, she remembered it word for word.

  At last, when the time was almost up, Old Master Hou held her in his arms and sighed: "Foolish child, this is all that Grandfather can do for you now. From now on, whether it's good or bad fortune, it's all up to your own destiny...Grandfather believes that no matter what happens, you won't disappoint us!"

  Xiao Cong Rong was already exhausted and couldn't comfort him, drowsily feeling Old Master Hou's warm palm on her head, a warm and comfortable feeling slowly spreading from the top of her head to the meridians throughout her body.

  But just as she felt comfortable for a while, that power suddenly came crashing in like a landslide, causing her already fragile nerves to become unbearably painful. Before she could even think about whether Old Master Hou couldn't bear her suffering and decided to end it quickly, she was unable to resist the pain and fainted...

  She had been immersed in suffering all along, and her body didn't know if it was because she ate something bad, but she felt bloated, with waves of gas making her feel uncomfortable. One moment she was hot like being in a steamer, with countless hot air making her sweat profusely, the next moment she was cold as if walking naked in icy weather...

  The heavens and earth were at war, and I was in a daze, unsure of where I was. In a haze, I heard a mournful cry, wondering if I was going to die. For some reason, Xu Zheng came to mind, and I trusted him simply because I loved him...

  What about Chu Qing? She chose him as her partner, didn't she also trust him? Where is he then? Is he just going to let his partner die like this?

  Don't blame him! This is heavenly prison, Xiao family committed a crime against heaven, what can a businessman do?!

  But knowing is one thing, and thinking is another. She couldn't help but feel disappointed, it's just that she didn't know if this disappointment was because of him... or because she had misjudged someone again!

  It's just a fleeting encounter... Those ambiguous feelings are all illusions, right? Even Xu Zheng, whom she deeply loved in her past life, could turn against her in times of crisis. Why would she pin her hopes on Chu Qingchuan, who is essentially nothing?

  Is it really nothing at all? Xiao Congrong faintly felt that thinking this way, there was a place in his heart that was empty, and no matter how much his body swelled with anger, he still felt like it couldn't be filled.

  Providing you with the best online romance novels.

  To avoid trouble and prevent the people from making reckless remarks, the place where the Xiao family was to be executed was not chosen at the Meridian Gate, but rather at a military camp near the Heavenly Prison. Under the high flagpole, a simple execution ground was set up, and as the Xiao family were of military origin, dying in a military camp could also be considered a fitting end.

  The night before Xiao Jia's execution, several uninvited guests arrived at the Heavenly Prison. Led by Liu Gonggong, a close eunuch of the Emperor, they claimed to have an imperial order to re-examine Old Master Xiao and Xiao Lideng.

  Zhou Pei was not there, the deputy general checked that the token was genuine and let several people in. Among them, one person made him take a few more glances, with a slightly petite figure, like a woman, but his whole body was covered in a cloak, making it impossible to distinguish whether he was male or female.

  After being glared at by Director Liu a few times, he understood the situation and retreated. Since someone else had the emperor's token, they would take responsibility if anything went wrong. Whether it was a man or a woman, and what relationship they had with him, he let his subordinates handle it and found a place to take a nap, thinking that one less thing to deal with is better than one more.

  Xiao Lidie found it strange that he was about to be executed, yet someone came to see him in such a mysterious and secretive manner.

  The old master was much calmer, dragging his obviously weak legs, moved to the execution room and sat down with a thud, panting heavily.

  Xiao Lid's heart felt guilty, his old father's body had clearly deteriorated a lot, in just a few days he looked like an old man of seventy or eighty, and the fierce and heroic spirit of the past was nowhere to be found.

  Words of comfort could not be spoken, and he knelt down in front of Old Master Hou like a criminal, speechless and choked with sobs, two lines of turbid tears falling down.

  No matter how he commands his million-strong army, no matter that he is the master of a family and a father to his children, only in front of this man can he still be a child, and reveal this vulnerable side of himself...

  Resentment, pain, persistence, compromise... All the emotions that don't need to be said, this man understands. He swept over him with a warm and gentle gaze, and the calm light soothed all his emotions... Everything is in silence!

  The prison door opened, and both of their gazes shifted over to see the petite figure walking in, standing before them, pushing open her cloak to reveal the face that had once captivated the city. Neither of them showed much shock, instead they silently stared at the woman.

  The woman was very calm, slowly unbuttoning her cloak and handing it to the guard beside her. She waved her hand and the guard retreated silently, standing at the door.

  In a bright yellow imperial robe, with intricate embroidery of a phoenix spreading its wings on the chest, and paired with sparkling hairpins, Empress He, with her elegant and noble demeanor, was still extraordinary even in prison. She smiled as she looked at the Xiao family father and son, but after waiting for half a day without seeing anyone come forward to pay their respects, her smile slowly froze on her face.

  "Xiao Ge... how did you end up like this?" Her gaze shifted from the old man to Xiao Lide's face, and she was stunned for a moment before connecting the frail old man in front of her with Xiao Lide. He Huanghou covered her mouth in shock, preventing herself from crying out loud.

  Is this old man in front of me the majestic middle-aged general I saw in the palace a few days ago? Where did that spirited and energetic demeanor go? That full head of black hair, where did it go? Although she knew he would suffer in the heavenly prison, how could she have imagined the hardships in the heavenly prison when she was living in luxury and beauty in the palace? How could she have imagined what kind of speed this human purgatory would ravage a person's body and dignity...

  Xiao Lid slowly stood up straight, standing upright, looking down at the woman in front of him who was above all others, her clean and elegant face, dignified attire and his tattered prisoner's clothes, with the scars on his face forming a stark contrast.

  Providing you with the best online romance novels.

  He simply looked at her quietly, without hatred, nor pity, not even a hint of respect as a subject to his lord, just like a passerby looking at the scenery, having seen it, he waved his sleeve and discarded it from his mind, not even mentioning nostalgia.

  The empress was nailed down by such disdain, and her majestic appearance in the eyes of this man was just so light and airy? Not even a look of respect?

  The old master seemed to be in poor spirits, hanging his head as if he were dozing off, and didn't even bother to look at her finery or acknowledge her arrival, which only made her anger soar.

  It's just such disdain... it's just such underestimation... more than 20 years ago it was like this, and now it still is... is He Xiao Yu really so unworthy in the eyes of the Xiao family?

  The former He Xiao Yu was underestimated, but now she is the mother of a nation and holds the power to control the life and death of the Xiao family. How can they still look at her with disdain and expect her to be calm?

  "Old Master Hou, it's Xiaoyu. Do you still remember me? I've come to see you!" He Xiangyun humbly walked up to Old Master Hou and called out in a bowing manner.

  Old Master Hou raised his eyes, narrowed them and sized her up for a long time, as if he had only just recognized her. He smiled and said: "Xiao Yu? He family's Xiao Yu... Ah, you've grown up! Oh... why are you wearing the Empress's clothes? Take them off quickly, you can't wear them... this is a crime of great irreverence!"

  He Xiaoyu's face stiffened, and she looked up at Xiao Lide, but no one had told her that Old Master Hou was mentally ill!

  Xiao Lidai lowered his eyes and seemed to be thinking about something, as if he hadn't heard Old Master Hou's words at all.

  He Xiao Yu sneered and took two steps back, saying: "Old Master Hou, you're getting old and forgetful? I'm He Xiao Yu! My father went to your house to discuss marriage, but you didn't want me as a daughter-in-law, so my father sent me into the palace. Now I'm the Empress Dowager! How can I not wear these clothes?! Speaking of which, I should thank you... if it weren't for you refusing to let General Xiao marry me, I wouldn't be the Empress today! You tell me... how should I 'thank' you?"

  She bit out the words "thank you" heavily, and she was too lazy to conceal the hatred in her eyes. She had waited for this day for so long, what's the point of being humble again?

  Old Master Hou listened and looked at her seriously, then smiled: "You should be grateful to me! If I hadn't forbidden Li De from marrying you, you would have become a counter-revolutionary like us and been imprisoned. You're too delicate to bear such hardships, and it's not suitable for you to be the daughter-in-law of the Xiao family! I didn't misjudge you!"

  "You...!" He Xiao Yu was furious and didn't pretend anymore, angrily saying: "You old thing, what did I do to offend you? Twenty years ago, you said I had a deep mind but a small belly, not suitable for being the daughter-in-law of the Xiao family. Was that short-lived Yun Qing more suitable then? What made her better than me? You let Big Brother Xiao choose her!... Do you know or not, just because of your one sentence, you ruined my lifelong happiness... I won't accept it!"

  She yelled loudly, grabbed the whip from the rack and lashed out at Old Master Hou's face, Xiao Lideng reached out to grab the tail of the whip and said calmly: "Mother, Father's body is weak, if you want to hit someone, hit me instead!"

  He finished speaking and dropped his whip, blocking Old Master Hou's path.

  He Xiao Yu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly became angry: "Do you think I'm reluctant to give up? Xiao Li De, I am no longer the He Xiao Yu of twenty years ago. I have long since stopped liking you..."

  Romance Station - The web provides you with the best online romance novels.

  She yelled and whipped him mercilessly, and soon Xiaolide's body was covered in bloodstains, mixed with old wounds bursting open flesh.

  Xiao Lidai didn't even frown, standing quietly in front of Old Master Hou. He waited until He Xiaoyu was exhausted and dropped the whip before raising an eyebrow sarcastically: "You should be satisfied now! Can we leave?"

  He Xiaoyu was stunned, looking at his blood-soaked body, and couldn't believe it was her doing, even more unbelievable that he would leave like this!

  "Do you hate me? Xiao Da Ge... I didn't mean to... I really don't know what came over me just now! How did I end up hitting you like this..."

  She hastily pulled out a handkerchief and went forward to wipe the bloodstains from his face. Xiao Lide's face turned away, dodging her, and shouted: "Enough! He Xiaoyu, that's enough!"

  "I really didn't mean to..." He Xiao Yu dropped tears, at a loss for what to do, and looked at Xiao Li De with tears welling up in her eyes.

  Xiao Lide scowled in disgust and coldly snorted: "Stop pretending! He Xiao Yu, do you know what the one thing is that I, Xiao Lide, have never regretted in my entire life?"

  "What is it?" He Xiao Yu looked at him with some expectation.

  Xiao Lidai smiled, with a bloody face somewhat relieved: "It's just that I listened to my father and didn't marry you! Ginger is still spicy when it's old, the old man didn't misjudge you!"

  "Ah……” He Xiao Yu was struck and took a few steps back, looking at Xiao Li De, then also looked at the old Hou Ye with a relieved smile. Suddenly, she felt that there was really no need to pretend anymore. Others had already seen through her clearly, why bother jumping up and down like a clown?

  "Hahaha...... Hahaha...... Hahaha......"

  She stared blankly for a moment, then burst out laughing wildly, her laughter making the already gloomy prison cell even more ominous. Her laughter rose from despair to triumph and finally to madness, becoming increasingly reckless and crazy.

  Xiao family father and son looked at this ugly side of the motherland, their eyes were filled with the same disdain. This disdain stimulated He Xiaoyu even more, she picked up the whip on the ground and fiercely lashed it on Xiao Lid's body, laughing extremely evilly.

  "You say I'm petty... Haha, I am petty... Old Master Hou, don't you know that a hero like you shouldn't offend a petty woman?"

  She bent down and looked at Old Master Hou, laughing uncontrollably: "For one sentence you said back then, to compensate with the lives of everyone in the Xiao Manor, do you think it's worth it?"

  "It's really you..." Xiao Lide gritted his teeth, looking like he wanted to pounce on her and strangle her to death. The guards at the door immediately rushed over and shielded He Xiaoyu in front of him.

  He Xiao Yu waved her hand, still smiling: "Nothing will happen to him, if he dares to touch me, tomorrow before the Xiang family is executed, send those women to the prison cells to entertain the prisoners!"

  One sentence stopped Xiao Lide's momentum, gritting his teeth and staring at her, He Xiaoyu smiled lightly: "Didn't you say I'm narrow-minded? I'm narrow-minded, bite me!"

  "Shameless!" Xiao Lidai spat out this word, without even looking at her, and helped up Old Master Hou. The two of them supported each other as they walked outside.

  "Are you here for revenge? Your whole family, young and old, were sent to their deaths by me... Don't you dare kill me? Hahaha... Old Master Hou, seeing how one sentence of yours led to the downfall of an entire family, don't you have even a hint of regret? Tomorrow, watching them die one by one in front of you, will you still say you won't regret it? Hahaha... I'll grant your wish and let you die last, so you can taste the flavor of having no greater sorrow than a dead heart... Hahaha!"

  Xiao's father and son ignored her, dragging their heavy chains as they walked out. He Xiao Yu laughed for a while, seeing the two of them almost reaching the door without looking back, and couldn't help but get furious, shouting: "Xiao Li De, stop right there!"

  Romance Station: Providing you with the best online romance novels.

  Xiao Lideng paused for a moment and continued to walk forward. He Xiao Yu called out, "You beg me! You beg me and I'll pardon your entire family! Old Houye, as long as you admit that you were wrong about me back then, I'll cancel the execution sentence for tomorrow!"

  She chased after them, disregarding the empress's demeanor, and blocked their path. Her stunning face twisted in a mixture of desperation and unbearable humiliation, she cried out anxiously: "Ask me, I can save you! I must be able to!"

  Xiao Lide looked at the woman who had once moved his heart, now crazily losing her composure, and for the sake of proving herself, she even sacrificed his family members. He couldn't tell if he hated her or not, but only felt that she was really pitiful... Was this what had been entangling him all his life?

  For twenty years, he has traveled far and wide, seeing all the wonders of the world, but she remains in the same place, no matter how high her position or great her power, her heart was locked up twenty years ago, missing out on so many beautiful scenes...

  "You should save yourself!" He shook his head: "We can ask you... that's nothing! But will you save us?"

  He stared into her eyes, calm and peaceful inside, the anger just now had dissipated, lightly and leisurely piercing through her: "You won't!...... So why bother asking you!"

  He Xiao Yu was stunned, only to hear him say: "Letting you be beyond cure... is the best punishment heaven can give you!"

  Beg you... satisfied your vanity, what you pursue is just such satisfaction!

  Don't ask you... You toss and turn, with a perpetual sense of emptiness in your heart that can never be fulfilled. This sense of emptiness stays with you even when you sit on the highest throne or own all the wealth under heaven. There's always some place that remains empty, forever lacking what you need to fill it up.