I want to go somewhere the Empress cannot find me

These words clearly hit a sore spot for Xiangxiang. Instantly provoked, he began to scream.

This appearance, however, instantly brought a person to Ren Tianye's mind.

Zhan Shubai!

The former defending general of Yunji City, the man who was so absurd that he ended up playing tug-of-war with the city gates. He possessed extraordinary martial prowess and the clear ability to be enfeoffed as a marquis or appointed as a prime minister, yet he met a tragic end all because he was a sycophant to Xiao Mingzhao.

How similar this screaming Xiangxiang was to Zhan Shubai.

Not only did Ren Tianye have this thought, but Wang Ming beside him felt the same. Wang Ming even found it a bit unbearable, feeling that the Empress, Xiao Mingzhao, simply had a type.

He had no idea where she managed to find so many people with such similar personalities!

But right now, stepping in for Ren Tianye, he began to mock him mercilessly.

"Impossible, you say?"

"Wake up, boy!"

"If Xiao Mingzhao wasn't treating you as a mere substitute, would she have locked you up in this Jinghua Palace, never allowing you to see anyone else?"

"Isn't it just because your identity cannot be exposed?"

"Especially, it cannot be exposed to Tuoba Xiangtai?"

Pausing for a moment, Wang Ming said lightly, "You probably don't know yet, do you? The Third Prince of the Barbarians, Tuoba Xiangtai, the very person you are a substitute for, has already been in the capital for several months..."

Ren Tianye immediately added, "Yes, for several months. The two of them have been staying in a place called the Yuchen Mansion. That mansion is far grander and more magnificent than your Jinghua Palace, and its decorations are incredibly lavish. Xiao Mingzhao and Tuoba Xiangtai have been together there all this time, and they still haven't come out."

"I just wonder, what are Xiao Mingzhao and Tuoba Xiangtai doing together every day in the Yuchen Mansion?"

"Is it possible..." Ren Tianye looked at Wang Ming and laughed, "that the two of them are studying how to play Pai Gow every day?"

"It's possible!" Wang Ming immediately nodded. "However, this subordinate feels it's more likely they are playing pitch-pot. General Wei Shuo, what do you say?"

"I feel it's more likely they are playing the guessing game, though it's just a guess..." Wei Shuo sighed. "Ah, what on earth are those two holed up together researching every day? It's really so hard to guess!"

With Ren Tianye, Wang Ming, and Wei Shuo tossing out sarcastic remarks one after another, Xiangxiang's demeanor completely changed. From his previous hysteria, he gradually turned stunned, bewildered, and then a mask of utter agony crept over his face.

Two lines of clear tears flowed from the corners of his eyes.

At this moment, Xiangxiang finally understood.

"So, so, this is how it is..."

"So this is the truth!"

"Luan'er, no, Xiao Mingzhao, she, she actually loves, not, not me!"

Xiangxiang's mental state collapsed in an instant.

What was even more devastating was that all the past memories flooding back to him like a tide, those beautiful scenes, were now exposed by Ren Tianye and the others to reveal a bloody, cruel truth.

No wonder, from the very first day he got together with Xiao Mingzhao, she began to mold him. She made him change into clothes he didn't even like, shave his beard, exercise, and controlled his diet, gradually turning him into someone entirely different from his past self, turning him into another person.

She even made him continuously learn some inexplicable ways of speaking and mannerisms. He had only thought that Xiao Mingzhao wanted to one day show their love to the whole world and wanted him to present a better image to the public.

Now, he understood!

He understood completely!

That woman who had been deeply entangled with him for years, yet always turned her head away when he was moved by passion and tried to kiss her, had actually been keeping herself pure for her true love deep in her heart.

The romance she imagined was nothing but a meticulously designed scheme.

He was just a substitute for that piece of trash, Tuoba Xiangtai!

Just a substitute!

Xiangxiang felt as if a basin of freezing lake water had been poured over him, chilling him from head to toe, from the outside straight to his heart. His heart was ice-cold.

Suddenly, Xiangxiang went a little mad.

He kicked off the painted wooden clogs on his feet. These were given to him by Xiao Mingzhao, but they were one size too small and had always chafed his feet, causing them to bleed several times, yet he had never been willing to take them off.

But now...

He would rather walk barefoot than ever wear them again!

However, the scenes constantly flashing before his eyes caused him agonizing heartbreak.

For Xiao Mingzhao, he woke up early and slept late, training his physique every single day.

For Xiao Mingzhao, he tried his utmost to learn inexplicable postures and movements.

For Xiao Mingzhao, he changed from his original self into the current Xiangxiang. For this beautiful dream, he gave up everything, gave up his own identity, but now, he was faced with this naked truth.

Xiangxiang was already in tears.

Yet he stood firmly, got up, and walked straight toward the door.

This took the few people present by surprise.

Why was he leaving?

Wang Ming quickly shouted, "Xiangxiang, where are you going?"

"I want to leave!"

Xiangxiang did not stop his steps. "Leave this capital, leave this... heartbreaking place, and go to somewhere no one knows me."

"So that Xiao Mingzhao can never find me again."

"I will make Xiao Mingzhao regret this for the rest of her life!"

Wang Ming: "..."

Wei Shuo: "..."

Ren Tianye: "..."

Immediately after, with a single look from Ren Tianye, Wang Ming instantly had the personal guards apprehend him.

Damn it, going to a place where no one can find you? Keep dreaming! You are such a great weapon to deal with Tuoba Xiangtai, how could we let you go?

Besides, if you really left, it might actually be impossible to find you later, and that would be troublesome.

"Let me go, let me go, what are you doing?" Xiangxiang shouted. "I want to leave this capital, I want to make it so Xiao Mingzhao can never find me in this lifetime. I'm cutting all ties with her. I will never be a substitute again, I want to go back to being myself..."

The shouts grew fainter and fainter as he was dragged away by Ren Tianye's guards. As he was taken further away, Ren Tianye finally felt that the Jinghua Palace had quieted down.

Then, a thought stirred in his mind.

Jinghua Palace?!

Mirror reflection?

Heh!

Xiao Mingzhao had clearly known from the very beginning that this Xiangxiang was just a mirror reflection. In her heart, the one she loved the most was still the unattainable Tuoba Xiangtai. He just wondered if she had enjoyed enough of Tuoba Xiangtai by now.

However, these were all just internal complaints that vanished in a flash. His mind was still focused on the entire Great Yu dynasty. Turning his head to Wei Shuo, he said, "General Wei Shuo, you were indeed right. This Great Yu is sick!"

"Under Xiao Mingzhao's leadership, it has become terminally ill."

"It's beyond saving!"

"If she, as the Empress, behaves in such a manner, there's no need to even imagine how absurd the people below her must be."

"It seems nothing short of military force can put a stop to this!"

Wei Shuo finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as General Ren believed it, it was fine. He had been afraid that General Ren wouldn't believe it, which would mean this world was completely beyond salvation. At the very least, for the rest of his life, it would be difficult to ever see a chance for peace across the four seas again.

He said, "Great General, these accumulated evils have existed for a long time, and they cannot be eradicated without the force of thunder and fire. This subordinate requests General Ren to establish the Demon Suppression Bureau to crush all these monsters and demons!"

...