He pushed Meng Yao another step outward, leaving her half-hanging over the cliff: “Brother Meng, I believe you could defeat me in just a few moves, but your stepsister is about to fall. If you save her first, I’ll push Sister A-Yao down. If you save A-Yao first, your stepsister will fall. You can only choose one sister, Brother Meng. Which one will you choose?”
Meng Yao cried out in despair: “Brother, save me first!”
Meng Chi stood in the middle, torn.
Ruan Ning couldn’t hold on any longer.
She couldn’t wait for Meng Chi to decide. A gust of wind swept through, and her weak hand involuntarily let go. Ruan Ning floated down, experiencing an intense feeling of weightlessness.
Ruan Ning bitterly smiled, reflecting that human plans cannot match heaven’s designs. Who could have predicted Sun Jia Cong’s appearance?
Meng Chi shot out like an arrow, grabbing her arm and shouting, “Don’t be afraid!”
Sun Jia Cong laughed heartily, “Poor Sister A-Yao, even after becoming unfilial for your brother, he still only cares about that sister.”
Heartbroken, Meng Yao pushed him away and smiled desolately at Meng Chi: “Brother, I’ll haunt you even as a ghost.”
“No!” Meng Chi shouted, lunging toward her while still holding Ruan Ning.
A commotion erupted as nuns and servants rushed in, shouting to rescue them.
Meng Yao fell quickly. Meng Chi kicked against the stone wall, propelling himself out and catching her.
“Brother,” Meng Yao’s tears, blown by the wind, landed on his face. “You still care about me. I can die content now.”
Ruan Ning, on the verge of fainting, saw Meng Chi’s resolute face through her blurry vision, wondering if he had ever fallen before and if this time would be the same.
He had been unconscious for two days and two nights, unaware of the beauty of the capital, Yu Fei, whom he had named to be brought into the palace.
At that moment, Yu Fei, resembling a living Guanyin, hid behind layers of curtains, embracing a brocade-clad guard.
“Ning Ning,” the tall and handsome imperial guard Min Shi said breathlessly, kissing away her tears, “come with me. The Emperor won’t last long. Concubines without children will have to be buried alive.”
