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

The dim candlelight flickered in the room as Lingyan handed the suicide note to Xiao Muyao.

The moment Xiao Muyao's gaze fell upon the familiar handwriting, his body stiffened abruptly.

With trembling hands, Xiao Muyao held the suicide note, his eyes gradually focusing as he read it word by word, his face growing paler.

"Sixth Brother and Sister-in-law, I hope that when this letter reaches you, you will forgive my act of suicide. In my life, I have been blessed by the Emperor's grace and education, and I have studied literature and martial arts. I have lofty aspirations. In the past, I have always thought of working alongside my sixth brother to assist the country. I believe that although I am slightly less intelligent than you, I am not far behind."

"However, several years ago, my sixth brother was honored as the Crown Prince. At that moment, it was as if a thunderbolt struck from the heavens, shattering my ambition and destroying my pride. I am a prince, and now that I have this position, how could I not covet the throne? If I could wield the power of the nation, I would surely devote myself to realizing my ambitions, bringing glory to my ancestors, and benefiting all people. What is wrong with that? The thought of vying for the throne was deeply rooted in my heart from that moment on, but in the end, it all came to naught, leaving only regret."

"This time I am taking my own life not for any other reason, but because I am unwilling to be tormented by pain and suffering. I cannot let go of my grief, nor can I bear to hurt you. I am caught in a dilemma, and only death can solve this problem. Although I am leaving, my heart is still full of love and I dare not forget you. I only hope that my sixth brother will have pity on my wife and children and not let them suffer. I will be grateful to you in the afterlife."

Xiao Muyao's lips twitched slightly, as if his throat was being tightly gripped by the giant hand of fate, and he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

Only endless sorrow surged within my heart like a tidal wave.

These words were like poisoned blades, piercing straight into the softest part of his heart.

Xiao Muyao's brows furrowed, and his eyes instantly turned as red as cinnabar, brimming with tears.

He could almost see his fourth brother struggling like a trapped beast and feeling the last trace of regret for his attachment to the mortal world as he wrote.

His breathing was rapid and disordered, his chest heaving like a lone boat in a raging storm.

The suicide note in his hand trembled violently.

Lingyan was also deeply saddened.

He sighed, feeling a mix of regret and pity.

The Fourth Prince was a truly upright and virtuous gentleman.

It's just a pity.

Unfortunately, his personality either led him to be arrogant and domineering or to utter ruin; there were no other possible outcomes.

If he were forced to watch someone else ascend the throne while he himself had to submit to them, he would surely suffer a fate worse than death.

Although she admired and understood him, she did not agree with his extreme personality that saw no other choice but life and death.

But she also respected his choice. He was unwilling to be subordinate to others, unwilling to be outdone by them.

He would only be an emperor, not a prince.

I'd rather die than accept this.

Ling Yan took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in her heart, and then gently unfolded Zeng Qi's suicide note in her hand.

Her gaze moved slowly as she began to read, word by word.

"Since you have gone first, why should I live on alone? On the road to the Yellow Springs, I wish to accompany you, to continue our bond in the next life, so that our past life's缘分 (fate/destiny) may not be forgotten."

The handwriting appears to be stained with tears, telling of Zeng Qi's heart-wrenching state of mind when she wrote these words.

A trace of pity and emotion welled up in Lingyan's eyes.

She seemed to see Zeng Qi sitting at the table, her face filled with sorrow yet also revealing a resolute determination.

Every stroke of her pen conveys her boundless love for the Fourth Prince and her unwavering belief in following him through thick and thin.

It was a deep-seated, life-and-death attachment.

Even if separated by life and death, their loyalty will remain unwavering.

"Sixth Brother and Sixth Sister-in-law, I have been with the Prince for many years, day and night. How could I not know what he thinks? The Prince has long harbored a death wish, like a shadowy figure at the bottom of a cold pool. Although he is hidden in the ordinary, I use love as my thread and affection as my eyes to finally see into that deep despair. Now that I know your will, my heart is also determined. I will follow you to the death, and my will will never change."

"I still remember the first time I met the prince in the army. He was just over twenty years old, with a strong and agile figure. He was heroic and dashing in the training ground, competing with the soldiers. Amidst the shadows of swords and the flash of blades, his heroic spirit was fully displayed. His eyebrows and eyes were full of youthful spirit. He seemed like a god descended to earth, shining brightly. I fell in love with him at first sight. My heart was captivated and deep feelings were planted. From then on, I was drowning in the sea of ​​love and was immersed in it for the rest of my life."

"Now that Your Highness is about to depart for the Yellow Springs, how can I remain alone in this world? The worldly splendor is like fleeting clouds to me, but Your Highness's love is the weight of my life. The Yellow Springs are a dark and desolate path, and I do not wish for you to walk alone. I wish to accompany you with my body, to warm your soul with my love, for all eternity, never to be separated."

"However, worldly ties bind us, and I am bound by my attachments. My youngest son, Qi'er, is still young, innocent and naive, and unaware of the ways of the world. I also have two concubines who have spent their lives with me in the Prince's mansion. Now that I have passed away, I only hope that my sixth brother and sister-in-law will have mercy on me and lend a helping hand to take care of Qi'er's growth and protect the well-being of my concubines. I will remember this kindness and affection even in the afterlife and repay it with all my heart."

Ling Yan's eyes were fixed on Zeng Qi's suicide note.

The deep affection and resolute determination conveyed by those delicate handwriting were like sharp blades piercing the depths of her heart.

Her shoulders trembled slightly, and tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes.

First, it dripped down drop by drop, then it fell in a torrent like beads from a broken string.

The tears streamed down her cheeks, down her chin, and dripped onto her clothes, leaving dark stains.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Muyao took the will and slowly scanned the lines of text. His face grew paler and his eyes gradually reddened.

His heart felt as if it were being pounded, and pain and sorrow surged into his mind like a tidal wave.

Lingyan and Xiao Muyao stood there in the sorrowful room for an unknown amount of time.

Waves of grief assaulted their defenses.

After a long while, Lingyan slowly raised her hand and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, trying to compose herself.

Xiao Muyao also tilted his head slightly, closed his eyes tightly, and tried to suppress the emotions that were about to burst forth.

His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white.

He released his grip after a moment, raising his hand to tidy his somewhat disheveled hair and robes.

Their gazes fell on the bed one last time.

The figures of the Fourth Prince and Zeng Qi seemed frozen in time, yet in their eyes, they were like a dazzling painting.

That silent stillness speaks of endless sorrow and despair.

They felt a mix of emotions, but they knew they couldn't stay any longer.

The moment they turned and stepped across the threshold, they seemed to distance themselves from the sorrow inside the house.

Afterwards, they dragged their heavy steps toward Qi'er's residence.

Pushing open the door, a suffocating silence filled the room.

When they received the news, eight-year-old Qi'er was overcome with grief and fainted from crying.

At this moment, he was lying quietly on the bed, his small body appearing even more frail and lonely against the backdrop of the brocade quilt.

His face was as pale as paper, and his long eyelashes trembled slightly, as if he were still shrouded in sorrow in his sleep.

Dried tear stains still lingered at the corners of his eyes, marks of his previous heartbreak.

His hair was scattered messily on the pillow, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, as if he could not find peace even in his unconscious state.

Upon seeing this, Lingyan's eyes instantly reddened.

She bit her lower lip, trying hard not to let her tears fall, but the mist in her eyes only grew thicker.

Xiao Muyao stood to the side, his brows furrowed, his deep eyes filled with tenderness and self-reproach.