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

Upon hearing this, Ling Yan looked directly into Xiao Muyao's eyes, her gaze filled with encouragement and heartache.

She said gently, "Then cry, cry as much as you want."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Muyao's body jolted violently, as if a taut string had finally snapped.

His lips trembled slightly, and his eyes instantly turned red as if they were about to bleed.

At first, only a few suppressed sobs were squeezed out of his throat, like the mournful cries of a trapped wild beast.

Immediately afterwards, the sobbing turned into loud crying, and tears flowed out like a flood bursting its banks.

His tall frame trembled slightly, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.

He cried so hard that he seemed to want to expel all the grief, reluctance, and pressure in his heart along with his tears.

The cries echoed through the empty hall, startling the dust on the beams so much that it seemed as if it would fall in a flurry.

Lingyan stood silently by her side, tears welling up in her eyes.

She gently reached out and grasped Xiao Muyao's trembling fists, offering him silent comfort and strength through her presence.

Time passed unnoticed until Xiao Muyao's surging sobs gradually subsided.

He seemed to be slowly waking up from a long and heavy nightmare, his chest still rising and falling slightly, his breathing not yet completely steady.

She raised her hand and gently wiped away the remaining tear stains from the corner of her eye, a gesture that carried a hint of carefree relief.

Then he took a deep breath and felt as if his body and mind had been cleansed by a sweet rain, feeling relaxed and refreshed like never before.

Looking up at Ling Yan, his originally cold and deep eyes now shone brightly, like the brilliant stars in the night sky.

The corners of her lips also turned up slightly, revealing a smile.

That smile was like the warm spring sun piercing through the clouds, bright and radiant.

It dispelled the gloom and sorrow that had shrouded his face for many days.

Lingyan looked at him, her eyes full of smiles.

He finally came out!

so good!

So next, she should...

It's time to leave.

…………

Lingyan originally intended to leave during the period immediately following Emperor Jingzhao's death.

Because he was overwhelmed with other matters, and it was a time of great chaos.

But she felt sorry for him and couldn't bear to leave him when he was so sad.

That's why it's been delayed until now.

Now, the storm has finally passed, and she can leave with peace of mind.

Unexpectedly, on that very day, the situation changed drastically, and devastating news struck like a thunderbolt.

The fourth prince, Prince Su, and his wife, Zeng Qi, committed suicide by hanging themselves in their residence.

The news swept through the entire palace and the capital like a biting cold wind.

Upon hearing this news, Consort Li Gui's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief.

Her lips trembled slightly as she murmured, "This...how is this possible?"

The next moment, an overwhelming grief overwhelmed her, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood before fainting.

When Xiao Muyao heard the devastating news, he was instantly stunned and stood frozen in place.

His face was filled with shock and confusion: "Fourth Brother...why is he doing this?"

His voice was low and hoarse, and his eyes were filled with pain and self-blame.

He clenched his fists, filled with remorse, hating himself for being so careless.

They failed to notice the sorrow in his heart, which led to this irreparable tragedy.

Ling Yan was also filled with astonishment and regret.

how come?

How could this happen so suddenly?

She felt as if a cold wind had pierced her heart, instantly chilling her to the bone.

Zeng Qi...

Fourth Brother...

The princes and princesses were also extremely astonished.

The eldest prince was somewhat gloating.

This matter could be manipulated and utilized.

The princesses embraced and wept. Blood is thicker than water. Recalling the moments they had spent together in the past, they felt an emptiness in their hearts and were overcome with sorrow.

When the civil and military officials learned of this, the court was in an uproar.

Some ministers shook their heads and sighed, feeling sorry for the royal family's misfortune.

Some whispered among themselves, secretly speculating whether Prince Su's actions concealed a conspiracy of palace intrigue.

In an instant, all sorts of rumors and gossip surged up like a tide, spreading both inside and outside the palace.

In the streets and alleys of the capital, people discussed the news extensively.

Prince Su and his wife committed suicide. Did they abandon their children?

The entire capital was shrouded in a somber atmosphere by this devastating news.

It was as if even the air itself was filled with an atmosphere of sorrow and unease.

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

When Lingyan and Xiao Muyao stepped into the Prince Su's mansion, they felt only a deathly silence and desolation.

The flowers and trees in the courtyard drooped their branches, as if mourning the changes in the mansion; the vitality of the past had long since vanished.

Then I stepped into the dormitory room, which was filled with the aura of death.

Ling Yan and Xiao Muyao's gazes were instantly fixed on the scene on the bed.

The Fourth Prince and Zeng Qi lay there quietly, as if they had fallen into an endless slumber.

Xiao Muyao's body jolted violently, his eyes widening in shock and pain.

His lips trembled slightly, but he couldn't speak for a long time.

Lingyan suppressed her grief and slowly walked forward to examine him closely.

Their bodies were already cold and stiff, and their faces were incredibly peaceful, as if they had found release before passing away.

Zeng Qi's black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and she held Prince Su's hand tightly, their fingers intertwined.

Ling Yan's hands trembled slightly as she slowly approached the bed.

Her gaze lingered on the bodies of the Fourth Prince and Zeng Qi, scrutinizing them inch by inch.

Her pale face, purple lips, and dried blood at the corner of her mouth made her heart sink.

She crouched down, approached the jade cup that had tipped over on the edge of the bed, and gently sniffed the remaining wine.

His brows were furrowed, and a hint of pain and determination flashed in his eyes.

Then she forced back the overwhelming sadness that welled up inside her.

With a tremor that he could hardly suppress, he said in a low voice, "It was arsenic. They died from taking arsenic. Judging from the state of their bodies and the signs, they did not die at the same time. Fourth Brother should have gone first, while Zeng Qi... although she was also poisoned, her skin still had a little elasticity. So, in my judgment, she went to the Yellow Springs with endless determination half an hour after Fourth Brother's death."

As she spoke, Lingyan's eyes reddened, and tears welled up in them.

She turned her head away, unable to bear watching this heartbreaking scene any longer.

But the grief lingered like a shadow, impossible to shake off.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Muyao felt dizzy and swayed a few times before he could barely stand.

His eyes were fixed on the body on the bed, and his eyes quickly became bloodshot.

Tears welled up uncontrollably, streaming down his cheeks and gathering into drops on his chin before falling to the ground.

Lingyan also suppressed her grief and tried her best to calm herself down.

She slowly approached the bedside, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over the pillow.

As if guided by some unseen force, she gently lifted the pillow.

Beneath that, two neatly folded suicide notes were revealed.

Upon seeing this, Lingyan carefully picked up the suicide note, her hands trembling slightly.

After taking a deep breath, she first opened the letter from the Fourth Prince.