Chen Luoqing arrived just in time to seize the hairpin from Guihua. Guihua cried even harder when she saw him.

The empress dowager’s panicked gaze snapped to Chen Luoqing, and she asked in a trembling voice, “Tell me, Luoqing, is she telling the truth?”

Chen Luoqing disapproved of Guihua’s recklessness, but the empress dowager would know sooner or later. He nodded with difficulty and said, “It’s all true!”

His confirmation hit the empress dowager like physical weight. Her mind blanked in shock.

A fist collided with Chen Luoqing’s face. The general didn’t retaliate, and instead let Yang Hanlun grab him by the collar and throw a couple more punches, his eyes blazing and his veins throbbing visibly. After receiving a few punches, Chen Luoqing gave Yang Hanlun a derisive look and said quietly with tears in his eyes, “It’s you. You got her killed!”

“You’re lying!” Yang Hanlun yelled hysterically. “You’re lying. It can’t be. It can’t be Birou...”

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!” Lihua cried out in shock as the empress dowager collapsed, bleeding from her seven orifices.

“Imperial Mother!” The low growl could be felt in the tremor of the world!

-----

Yang Hanlun dragged his ladened feet to the Linhai Hospital. He wanted to see the young beggar they were talking about.

Gozi and his friend knelt before Yang Hanlun in proper greeting. Gozi looked up at Yang Hanlun and said, “Do you remember me, Your Highness?”

It took a moment...