Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

But what they didn't know was that He Jingchuan had a small crescent-shaped birthmark on his lower back, which was very pretty and unique.

Of those still alive after this incident, besides the parties involved and He Jin'an, there are no other survivors.

So only she, Xiao Muyao, Lu Yanqing, Chu Xiyao, and Shen Qingchen knew about it.

He Jin'an had just clearly seen that the person in the coffin did not have a crescent-shaped birthmark on his lower back, which is why he was certain that this person was not He Jingchuan.

He Jin'an was just overwhelmed with grief, but then he was overjoyed.

Caught between extreme sorrow and joy, he was unsure whether to cry or laugh, or how to react.

She was even more afraid that she would reveal some trace of herself, so she could only make herself "faint".

He actually knew that she would cover for him, which is why he fainted in her arms.

He Jin'an should already know by now that her relationship with He Jingchuan is not ordinary and is not innocent.

He only knew that He Jingchuan liked her, but he hadn't thought of anything else.

But she had just shown him her birthmark. If their relationship was truly innocent, how could she know that something was different about this place, given how private it was?

Therefore, He Jin'an now trusts and feels completely at ease with her.

Moreover, they all knew that it was better for He Jingchuan to be "dead" than alive.

Since the matter had become so serious that someone had to die in his place, He Jingchuan's condition at the time must have been extremely bad.

If people found out he was still alive, people from both the Southern Frontier and the Northern Li would probably all rush out to find him.

We don't know how He Jingchuan is doing now, but it's probably not much better.

Therefore, this matter must not be leaked until they confirm his safety.

Therefore, they must find He Jingchuan as soon as possible and bring him back safely.

Lingyan immediately returned to her residence and sent out her men to search for his whereabouts.

The guards had already recognized her as their master and would obey her orders without question, and would never leak any secrets.

Furthermore, the guards unanimously believed that General He was a hero of their Great Zhao.

They deeply admire those who dedicate themselves so wholeheartedly to the country and its people.

Which man of the Great Zhao Dynasty did not admire him?

So when they learned that he was not dead, they were naturally overjoyed.

We will do everything in our power to find him and bring him back safely.

...............

After the Fifth Prince returned He Jingchuan's coffin to the General's Mansion, he went to the palace to report to Emperor Jingzhao.

Emperor Jingzhao already knew about He Jingchuan's death in battle.

After all, the commotion outside the palace was so great that it alarmed the entire city.

When Emperor Jingzhao received the news, Xiao Muyao was right beside him.

He was sitting at his desk processing memorials when he heard the news of He Jingchuan's death in battle.

The calligraphy brush in his hand seemed to be frozen in mid-air as if under a spell.

Immediately afterwards, his fingers tightened uncontrollably.

The brush snapped with a loud crack under the immense force, its broken bristles scattering in all directions.

Then his body trembled violently as if he had been electrocuted, and he stood up in a panic.

His knee slammed hard against the edge of the table, but he felt no pain at all.

As he stood up, the table shook violently, and the teacups on it wobbled a few times before rolling off.

The teacup tumbled in the air, reflecting the dim light in the room, before crashing heavily to the ground.

With a loud bang, the teacup shattered instantly, shards flying everywhere, some even landing at Xiao Muyao's feet.

However, he seemed completely unaware of all of this.

Only the words "to die in battle" remained echoing in his mind.

Over and over again, like a spell.

How can it be?

He is He Jingchuan!

How could he die?

He couldn't believe it, and he found it hard to accept.

But he knew perfectly well that this was the truth.

Since the matter reported to the Emperor was of such great importance, how could anyone dare to lie?

He just couldn't accept it.

At this moment, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists at his sides.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, slowly sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto his clothes, leaving a dark stain.

His thoughts surged like a tidal wave, instantly transporting him back to when he was seventeen.

That year, he followed him to the battlefield for the first time to gain experience.

They were all teenagers at the time, but each one of them was more mature and composed than the last.

Later, it was discovered that they shared the same ideas, similar views, and compatible philosophies.

Therefore, they cherished each other and regarded each other as confidants.

They faced life and death together on the battlefield and discussed strategies together in the camp.

Those past moments unfolded like a series of paintings before Xiao Muyao's eyes.

That was the first time in his life that he had so admired and respected someone, especially someone who was about the same age as him.

They later became friends, and then fell in love with the same woman.

Then their bond deepened, and his feelings for him became so profound that he was the most important person to him besides his father, mother, Yin'er, and Yan'er.

Now that he has learned of his death, his eyes are bloodshot, and his chest heaves violently as if a boulder is pressing down on him, making it hard for him to breathe.

When Emperor Jingzhao received this news, he was deeply saddened and regretful.

Such a fine general and minister, such fine young men and juniors.

He passed away at such a young age...

He sighed.

Turning around and seeing Lao Liu's distraught and distressed appearance, I felt heartbroken.

He then said nothing more, turned around and stepped out of the main hall, leaving the place for the sixth brother to vent his emotions.

As the palace doors slowly closed, he was now all alone.

Xiao Muyao's tears finally burst forth like a flood, flowing freely down his face.

My body felt as if all my strength had been drained away, and I suddenly went limp.

Leaning against the pillar beside him, he slowly slid down to sit on the ground.

Then he began to sob silently, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

The suppressed sobs seemed to be a mournful cry emanating from the depths of the soul.

...............

It is unknown how much time passed before Xiao Muyao's tidal wave of sobbing gradually subsided.

His shoulders were still trembling slightly, a lingering tremor from the pain he had endured.

Then he slowly raised his hand, which seemed to bear an immense burden, and trembled as he wiped away the crisscrossing tears on his face.

Tears blurred his vision, and everything before him became hazy and unreal.

Then he struggled to his feet, his hands bracing against the ground. The coolness of the ground seeped into his body through his palms, but he was completely unaware of it.

His legs felt weak and limp, like two noodles that had lost their support, making each effort seem so difficult.

Then, holding onto the pillar beside him, he slowly moved upwards.

After he finally stood up, he began to tidy his appearance.

He gently smoothed out the wrinkles on his clothes with his hand; those wrinkles were the marks left when he collapsed to the ground.

Then his fingers slid meticulously across the clothes, not missing a single uneven spot.

Then he raised his hand and smoothed his somewhat messy hair behind his head.

His movements were slow and gentle, as if he were performing a sacred ritual.

After tidying himself up, he slowly began to walk towards the palace gate.

He then slowly pushed open the palace door, which creaked slightly as he did so.

The moment he stepped out of the palace gate, he straightened his back and a faint smile appeared on his face.

It was as if all the pain and struggle they had just experienced inside the palace had never existed.

Then his gaze became deep and steady, and he walked out of the palace with elegant and proper manners.

No one knows what painful, dark moments he experienced behind those tightly closed temple doors during that brief period.

He locked all his pain behind that temple door.

What is presented to everyone is always the strong, composed, and dignified Crown Prince in everyone's eyes.