This villain has become a ghost

A few dead trees stood crookedly, their branches rustling in the wind. The streambed was littered with rocks and dead branches, and the cicadas chirped incessantly.

The soldiers were still fighting.

The mountains in the distance appear golden in hue.

Nangong Qianshang looked up and saw the beautiful scenery, and suddenly smiled with relief, looking bright and elegant.

He looked at Ye Zhaoxi and spoke clearly, word by word:

"Okay... then let's die together."

Everyone: "?"

Shen Yue and Su Shaoran turned around at the same time.

Shen Yue said coldly:

"...I do not agree."

Su Shaoran nodded: "Same as you."

Nangong Qianshang's words just now were so loud that even the fighting soldiers stopped.

He took out a lighter from his sleeve and lit it, his peach blossom eyes flickered:

"Shh..."

"But the King agreed."

"Grand Master, Master Su, I told you... you didn't have to come with me. But since you're here, follow my plan and die together."

"I owe you... I will pay you back in the underworld someday!"

Ye Zhaoxi's eyes finally showed some emotion, his brows twitched, and he looked at him in disbelief:

"what are you doing?"

Nangong Qianshang threw the tinderbox into the wild forest. The grass and trees were dry in summer and easily caught fire. The fire started almost instantly.

There was a crazy glint in his eyes:

"One, rise, and die."

-

Song Haotian, along with his ministers and Yingsha, escaped from Duanheng Mountain and hurriedly rode to the palace.

On the way, we happened to pass by Zhongding Mountain, which had long since become a ruin.

The ministers discussed:

"Why did Zhongding Mountain collapse?"

"This is a miracle, don't talk nonsense!"

"Ferocious beasts and venomous snakes roamed the Zhongding Mountain, but the Imperial Master was the only one unaffected by them. Heaven had assigned it to the Imperial Master's domain. With the Imperial Master's death, it naturally collapsed."

Someone sighed, "In short...it's impossible for another mountain to collapse into ruins in an instant like Zhongding Mountain..."

The voice just fell.

There was a rumbling sound coming from the distance, very much like thunder, but deeper and clearer than thunder.

The entire Duanheng Mountain suddenly exploded and collapsed.

Flames shot up into the sky like an angry dragon, dyeing half the sky crimson. Boulders and trees on the mountain tumbled down, smoke and dust filled the air, obscuring the sun. Countless pieces of rubble flew out as the mountain collapsed and the earth cracked.

Everyone was stunned and their pupils were dizzy.

The people who just spoke almost bit off their tongues:

"Broken Hengshan... Explode, explode, explode..."

"But the regent and the others..."

While they were in disbelief, Song Haotian had already turned his horse around and rushed desperately towards the blown-up Duanheng Mountain.

Is this the plan you came up with?

He let the ministers go first, but ended up staying behind... to perish together with Ye Zhaoxi and the others?

Is this right?

"General Song, are you crazy? The wildfire is not out yet..." someone shouted.

Song Haotian's eyes were red, he glared at them fiercely, gnashing his teeth and said:

"Shut up!"

"...Can't you see that the Regent and the others are trying to save you?! According to the Queen Mother's plan, you all must die!"

"Now, those who know what's best for them... follow this general to put out the fire!"

-

The entrance of the palace.

Tan Tinghe and others were pacing back and forth, already extremely anxious. When they saw the explosion of Duanheng Mountain not far away, they felt even more disheartened.

The people of Dongdu were stuck in the streets, looking at the scene of a mountain blowing up in astonishment, pointing and talking.

Song Haotian and others were late.

After waiting for a long time, no one came back.

Tan Tinghe looked at Song Zhiyi cautiously.

Song Zhiyi stared at the distant mountains with flames shooting up into the sky and broken into pieces. His face was pale and he frowned without saying a word.

After a while, she suddenly raised her eyes and murmured, "That's not right..."

Tan Tinghe asked doubtfully:

"General, what's wrong?"

Song Zhiyi turned to look at Tan Tinghe and asked quickly:

"Do you smell a strange smell?"

Tan Tinghe sniffed hard and said blankly: "No..."

The summer breeze blew away the heat and brushed across the high palace walls.

Song Zhiyi suddenly touched upon a certain part of her mind, and in an instant a horrifying thought emerged, making her shudder involuntarily.

She shouted:

"No, it's just not right!"

"You guys, quickly take people to evacuate the people around the palace!"

-

Shuhua Palace.

Willow trees beside the palace wall sway in the wind, the sun is about to set, and the golden sky is sprinkled on the glazed tiles. The flowers in the back garden are in full bloom, and the fragrance is rich and sweet.

Luo Tong dressed up beautifully today, looking as pretty as a fairy from Gui Palace, and her heavy makeup concealed the haggard look on her face.

She dismissed the palace maids and sat quietly in the courtyard alone.

Luo Tong gently stroked the jade bracelet on his wrist, took out a fire starter from his sleeve, and looked into the distance with empty eyes.

The collapse of Duanheng Mountain also means... Ye Zhaoxi will not survive.

But it doesn't matter, she will be here to accompany her soon.

"Empress Shu!"

Luo Tong suddenly looked up and saw Song Zhiyi rushing towards him in a red dress, with a red tassel fluttering in the wind on the spear in his hand.

Luo Tong frowned and said, "Marquis Wu'an... The palace is dangerous, you shouldn't have come."

"Shouldn't you come?" Song Zhiyi thought her attitude was a little strange, but he still snatched the tinderbox from her hand and said in a deep voice, "...If I don't come, will the Concubine Shu ignite the gunpowder buried in the palace and kill everyone?"

Luo Tong looked up at her for a long while before he slowly sighed:

"Marquis Wu'an, you are so smart."

"...This is indeed...the plan of this palace and Ah Yan."

Song Zhiyi held her wrist and said word by word:

"Then stop it!"

"...Empress Shufei, you have done favors for both King Xuan and His Majesty, and you have never taken a human life. They will not harm you."

"Give up this plan, and you'll still be fine!"

Luo Tong smiled gently, her smile was a little tired, but still beautiful.

She whispered:

"Actually... I've already given up."

Song Zhiyi frowned, staring at her intently, and asked in surprise, "...what do you mean?"

"My and Ayan's plan... has failed, hasn't it?" Luo Tong said.

She rose gracefully and said, "...if the ministers and General Song rushed to the palace, and then joined up with Marquis Wu'an and the newly minted Jinshi, and everyone gathered...I would naturally light the fire sticks, blow up the entire palace, and kill you all."

"But Yizhou was defeated too quickly. Murong Jin on the border has stopped cooperating with us. Ling Chaomian's death has caused the plan in Dongdu to fail..."

"Now... what's the point of just killing you and those young people?"

Song Zhiyi stared into her eyes, still feeling uneasy: "But there is indeed gunpowder buried under the palace."