This is only the beginning. Months later, the Western Liang army, accompanied by the long-missing Third Prince Xia Zhichun, came charging into the Qi Kingdom from the border under the banner of “following the will of heaven to eliminate evil and punish treachery”. Meanwhile, inside the Qi Kingdom, people were in panic, and rumors spread that the current emperor had obtained the throne by poisoning his father and murdering his brothers.
Rebellions arose in various parts of the Qi Kingdom, responding to Third Prince Xia Zhichun’s call, vowing to drive this patricidal and fratricidal demon from the dragon throne. The Western Liang army joined forces with local rebel troops, capturing Yanfeng City.
The Third Prince Xia Zhichun rescued the former Qi Emperor, confirming Xia Yiwen’s misdeeds. Supported by officials and the people, he replaced Xia Yiwen as the true Son of Heaven. Xia Yiwen fled in fear of punishment, whereabouts unknown. Shortly after being rescued, the Qi Emperor passed away due to physical weakness.
After the situation stabilized, the Western Liang army withdrew from the Qi Kingdom. Emperor Yan and the new Qi Emperor Xia Zhichun expressed that the two countries would usher in a long-awaited peaceful era. To show gratitude for Western Liang’s support, Xia Zhichun ceded the western cities of Liao and Kangyuan to the Western Liang Kingdom as a gesture of friendship.
When hearing this news, my family seemed somewhat dejected. After all, the Great Qi Kingdom was our homeland. Who would willingly see their native land suffer such changes?
I felt uneasy. Although I understood that ceding territory was a transaction between Xia Zhichun and Yan Or, An Jin was also involved, at least as someone who knew about it.
With the Qi Emperor and the Eastern Palace dead or fled, they no longer posed a threat to us. However, these decisive methods inevitably damaged the Qi Kingdom that the An family had guarded for hundreds of years.
Right or wrong could no longer be clearly distinguished. The Qi Emperor and the Eastern Palace had repaid their debt to the An family, and the An family’s centuries-old responsibility had come to an end. I was willing to share the guilt that An Jin bore.
But why hasn’t my husband appeared?
Chapter Sixty-Five: Youth in the Snow
