The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 639: He’s Willing to Sacrifice His Crippled Body to Pave the Way for A’Yuan

Chapter 639: He’s Willing to Sacrifice His Crippled Body to Pave the Way for A’Yuan

Qi Hong sneered coldly, "Fine, I’ll kill you, this little wretch, along with him."

Hearing Qi Hong’s insult again, Chu Yan’s heart was deeply pained.

In that moment of distraction, Qi Hong had already grabbed his hand and pulled him forward. Chu Yan, still puzzled, saw a surge of black mist emanate from Qi Hong’s chest. His hand, held tightly by Qi Hong, was forced to grasp something.

The texture felt like wood.

Chu Yan’s pupils contracted sharply.

It was peachwood!

He wanted to cry out, but Qi Hong, now feeble, managed to say his last words to him:

"Remember, you killed Emperor Qi. You are now a great hero of Mu Nation. Seize this opportunity..."

Heh, Nanli and her cursed mouth.

Turns out, she was right about his fragile fate and short life.

The black mist swirled around the hall, chaotic and thick. The voices of those present became muffled, and visibility was nearly zero.

Yet, in the next moment, the black mist began to fade.

When everyone could see clearly again, Qi Hong had already fallen from the steps, rolling to the floor.

There was a gaping hole in his chest where black mist still faintly seeped out.

He still had a sliver of breath left, his gaze fixed upwards.

Chu Yan stood frozen in place, holding a peachwood dagger in his hand.

Was it... was it Chu Yan who stabbed Emperor Qi?

"Bro..." Chu Yan’s eyes reddened, gazing at Qi Hong’s lifeless body as he murmured faintly.

He wanted to shout the two words Qi Hong had always longed to hear:

"Elder Brother!!!"

But before he could, Emperor Muwu’s loud wail interrupted, "My son!"

The Emperor leaped up and grabbed Chu Yan, sobbing loudly, "Thank heavens for you, my son. You’ve saved me so many times. I always knew you no longer blamed your father!"

Chu Yan turned his head, still dazed.

Emperor Muwu pulled him close, embracing him tightly. Leaning into his ear, he whispered:

"Mu Nation has warred with Qi Nation for years. Many military families have lost their loved ones on the frontier. They harbor deep hatred for Qi Nation and Emperor Qi. If you call him ’elder brother’ now, all of Qi Hong’s death would be in vain. Do you understand?"

Chu Yan’s mind buzzed, but he understood Emperor Muwu’s words.

Indeed.

If he couldn’t hold it together at this moment, his elder brother’s death would have been meaningless!

It was Elder Cao who forced his elder brother to death; he could not falter here!

Suppressing his grief, Chu Yan straightened himself and, with an unyielding expression, declared,

"Emperor Qi was tyrannical. He deserved to die!"

His voice echoed through Qianlong Palace. No one could miss it.

Hearing these words, Qi Hong’s lips curled slightly before he finally closed his eyes in peace.

He was willing to sacrifice his crippled body to pave the way for A’Yuan.

Chu Hanlin was stunned by how the events unfolded. He couldn’t fathom the pain Chu Yan must be enduring. But he knew he had to speak:

"Everyone, if my son were truly Emperor Qi’s younger brother, how could he possibly have killed Emperor Qi? It was clearly Elder Cao who orchestrated Emperor Qi’s arrival and then maliciously slandered my son. Please, see through the deception!"

Qi Hong hadn’t gone after anyone else, but he showed no mercy to Elder Cao. In the blink of an eye, Elder Cao’s face aged dramatically—his hair turned white, and his body hunched as if he were a decrepit old man of seventy or eighty.

Struggling to stand, Elder Cao leaned against a pillar, wanting to say something. But Emperor Muwu shouted,

"Watch your words—this is the son of the Emperor!"

Just then, golden light burst into the hall as two figures descended.

A slender figure stumbled, nearly falling.

Ye Siheng calmly steadied her, saying, "Careful."

Nanli nodded in thanks.

The scene before her was shattering.

Qi Hong was dead. The one holding the peachwood dagger was none other than her fifth brother.

Her heart sank. A torrent of indescribable emotions washed over her.

Qi Hong had practiced the dark art of the Ghost Dao, sacrificing his soul in the process. Now, not even his spirit would remain.

"Fifth Brother..." Nanli walked toward Chu Yan.

"Sixth... Sixth Sister..." At that moment, Chu Yan seemed to lose all his strength.

He dropped the peachwood dagger and stumbled forward, throwing himself into Nanli’s arms. He buried his head in her shoulder, and tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes.

Next to Qi Hong’s corpse, he finally allowed himself to cry. But he still couldn’t tell the truth.

"You came back just in time... They... they’re all bullying me! Bullying me!"

Exposing my lineage.

Forcing my brother to take his own life.

What kind of righteous officials for the people? Hah! Just conniving old fools with ulterior motives!

He wept like a child, utterly aggrieved.

Ye Siheng narrowed his eyes and approached them. His tone was devoid of emotion:

"Fifth Brother, if they’re bullying you, let go of A’Li so she can investigate and get justice for you."

I understand you’re grieving, but don’t cling to A’Li like that.

Nanli patted Chu Yan’s back and said, "Yes, Fifth Brother, I won’t let anyone bully you."

Chu Yan, still shedding tears, reluctantly released his grip on his sister and straightened his posture.

Nanli turned, her delicate face now icy cold, exuding a murderous aura.

Many officials in the hall had witnessed her ferocity in exorcising ghosts and slaying demons. Seeing her like this, their hearts pounded, and their legs trembled.

A cowardly minister pointed at Elder Cao and stammered,

"T-The Ninth Princess, it wasn’t us—it was Elder Cao! He said the Fifth Young Master wasn’t of the Chu bloodline but Emperor Qi’s younger brother!"

With one speaking up, others quickly followed, including members of the scholar-official faction.

Elder Cao’s heart sank, but he had long understood the fickle nature of his peers. He stood by his actions, unwavering:

"Indeed, it was I!"

Although weakened and leaning against the pillar, he boldly declared, "I did this for the people, for the Mu Nation!"

Nanli smirked, lifting her chin slightly.

"My father is loyal to the throne and the nation. When Ye Chengyan rebelled, he saved His Majesty and many of you!"

"And not just my father—I’ve made significant contributions myself."

"I’ve exorcised ghosts and slain demons, not just to accumulate merit, but to protect my family. I want them to take pride in me, to live good lives because of me."

"If anyone dares to harm my family—my parents, my brothers—I will not forgive them!"

"With the merits my family and I have earned, even if my Fifth Brother were truly Emperor Qi’s younger brother, so what? None of you have the right to touch him!"

Elder Cao caught the critical point. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he shouted,

"Ninth Princess, so you admit it! Chu Yan is a member of Qi Nation’s royal bloodline!"

"The Emperor may choose not to punish you and the Chu family, but Chu Yan... he must die!"

Nanli laughed coldly and flung a talisman at him. A violent gust of wind swept Elder Cao off his feet, slamming him to the ground.

The wind cut like blades, leaving his body covered in bloody gashes. His agonized screams filled the hall.

The officials shuddered, terrified by this ruthless side of the Ninth Princess.

Nanli’s gaze was cold as moonlight.

"I said, anyone who harms my family will face my wrath. Elder Cao, you’d better keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, you’ll lose your life before the truth even comes out."

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