CHAPTER 690: CHAPTER 276: THE DEATH OF XIE RUILIN (PART 1)

Xie Ruotong opened her eyes just as dawn was about to break.

"Awake?" Lin Qianyu asked her gently from the side.

Xie Ruotong nodded.

She stretched languidly, "What time is it now?"

"The third watch of the morning (around 3-5am)," Lin Qianyu answered.

"Have I slept that long?"

"You slept quite well," Lin Qianyu smiled.

Xie Ruotong moved her body and stood up from the chair.

She glanced at Xie Ruilin, noticing the blood beneath her that had flowed and covered the floor.

The deathly pallor of her bloodless cheeks, and her motionless figure, made Xie Ruotong think for a moment that Xie Ruilin had already died.

She went over and put her fingers under Xie Ruilin’s nose.

To her surprise, there was still a faint breath.

She turned her gaze to Song Yanqing and approached him, "Xie Ruilin is not dead yet."

Song Yanqing moved his eyelids and looked up at her.

"Still unwilling to talk?" Xie Ruotong asked.

Song Yanqing nodded.

"I’m really losing patience," Xie Ruotong said bluntly.

Her tone unmistakably carried immense impatience.

"Hmm."

Xie Ruotong did not press further. She turned around and walked over to Xie Ruilin, "Can you still speak?"

Xie Ruilin did not move at all.

"Do you have any last words?" Xie Ruotong continued to ask.

Her tone, indifferent even in kindness, was chillingly cold-blooded.

Xie Ruilin still did not respond.

So Xie Ruotong quietly waited for a while.

"Give me the dagger," Xie Ruotong extended her hand.

Lin Qianyu handed her another dagger.

Xie Ruotong took it, about to plunge it into Xie Ruilin’s heart.

"Brother Yanqing," Xie Ruilin suddenly spoke.

Her voice was very soft.

Xie Ruotong could hear it.

But it must have been very hard for Song Yanqing to hear.

"I’m sorry," Xie Ruilin said, "I just love you so much."

Song Yanqing showed no reaction.

It was unclear whether he truly did not hear or had chosen to endure in silence.

"I love you so much, so much that I deceived you, it was me who saved you that year," Xie Ruilin’s voice was full of pain.

Yet no more tears could flow.

"I love you so much, that’s why I did so much, sorry for what I did to Xie Ruotong..." Xie Ruilin’s eyes moved slightly, looking at Xie Ruotong.

Xie Ruotong remained utterly indifferent.

"The miscarriage..." Xie Ruilin’s voice choked up, "had nothing to do with Xie Ruotong, I caused it myself, it was I who intentionally blamed it on Xie Ruotong..."

At this moment, it seemed Song Yanqing had some reaction.

His gaze turned toward Xie Ruilin.

At this moment, Xie Ruilin could hardly see clearly anymore.

Darkness came in waves.

Wave after wave, a detachment from reality.

She knew very well that perhaps in the next moment, she would die.

"Brother Yanqing, if you do survive..." Xie Ruilin’s voice faltered, growing weaker, "you must live well, you must live well with the person you love..."

She suddenly didn’t want to.

To hinder the happiness between Song Yanqing and Xie Ruotong.

Until the very moment of true death.

She suddenly hoped that her death could pave the way for them to be together again.

Xie Ruilin closed her eyes.

After closing her eyes she said, "Brother Yanqing, I have no regrets, loving you."

As her voice trailed off.

Xie Ruilin was engulfed in complete darkness.

All reality had nothing to do with her anymore.

She left this world.

After a day and night of torment, finally, she would never wake up again.

The dagger in Xie Ruotong’s hand was still not used.

Her expression was cold and indifferent as she spoke to the prison guard, "Take Xie Ruilin’s body to be buried in the mountains."

"As you command," the prison guard quickly left.

Xie Ruilin’s body was taken away.

Inside the interrogation room, in the end, only Song Yanqing was left.

Song Yanqing watched as Xie Ruotong walked over to him.

Xie Ruilin was sent away.

Next, it’s his turn.

"Do you have any last words?" Xie Ruotong was forthright.

Really, patience exhausted.

She had spent an entire day and night with Song Yanqing.

In the end, still, nothing was gained.

Song Yanqing seemed to move his lips.

But he said nothing at all.

"You can’t speak anymore?" Xie Ruotong asked.

After all, Xie Ruilin had just made such a heartfelt confession, saying he did not regret loving him even whilst facing death, yet Song Yanqing showed no reaction; probably, he couldn’t speak.

Song Yanqing’s silence was not because he couldn’t speak.

It was.

He couldn’t bring himself to say it.

He thought, without him, his Xie Ruotong would certainly live a better life.

He didn’t wish to taint her path to happiness.

"Then let it be." Xie Ruotong waited for Song Yanqing for a while.

Song Yanqing still did not speak again.

She lifted the dagger in her hand, aiming for the position of his heart.

One stab and he would undoubtedly die.

Her eyes tightened.

Not a hint of forbearance in their depths.

The moment the dagger was about to plunge into his chest.

"General Xie."

A familiar male voice suddenly emerged in the interrogation room.

Xie Ruotong’s gaze flickered slightly as she turned around.

Xiao Wu suddenly appeared here.

"Lord Wu?" Xie Ruotong was quite surprised.

Shouldn’t Xiao Wu be accompanying the Prince at this time?

How did he suddenly appear in the prison?

"The Prince sent me to call for General Xie; the Prince has matters to discuss with you," Xiao Wu explained.

"Okay." Xie Ruotong agreed without hesitation.

She turned around, intending to stab Song Yanqing.

Then follow Xiao Wu to the Imperial Palace.

"General Xie." Xiao Wu suddenly called out to her again.

Xie Ruotong’s eyebrows tightened.

"The Prince instructed not to kill Song Yanqing for the time being," said Xiao Wu.

Xie Ruotong then stared intently at Xiao Wu, "He won’t disclose Prince Xiao Jinsen’s whereabouts, not even if it kills him, I’ve tried all means of interrogation."

"But a servant can only execute the Prince’s orders," Xiao Wu said helplessly.

Xie Ruotong pursed her lips.

The dagger she was holding was trembling involuntarily.

"General Xie, please follow me into the palace quickly," Xiao Wu urged.

Xie Ruotong clenched her teeth.

She put down the dagger, truly not even giving Song Yanqing another glance, and left with Xiao Wu.

She dropped a sentence as she left, "Lock him up in the dungeon!"

Song Yanqing was fortunate, he survived for the time being.

He didn’t know whether he should feel relieved?!

He also didn’t know what the Prince was keeping him alive for.

All he knew was.

Xie Ruotong hadn’t managed to kill him.

And he was filled with reluctance.

Xie Ruotong promptly followed Xiao Wu to the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Palace, due to the death of both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, was draped everywhere in white silk.

Giving off an exceptionally desolate and bleak atmosphere.

Xie Ruotong entered the sleeping quarters where Prince Xiao Jinxing was residing.

Prince Xiao Jinxing’s eyes were filled with exhaustion, the dark shadows under them clearly visible.

Presumably, he too had been sleepless.

After all, the death of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager was a matter of grave importance for the Daxuan Kingdom.

Not only did he have to manage the funeral arrangements for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, but he also had to stabilize the court’s situation.

One could imagine how busy that would be.

His mind must be weary, as much as his body.

"Your servant greets Your Highness," Xie Ruotong saluted.

"Did Song Yanqing reveal the whereabouts of Xiao Jinsen?" Prince Xiao Jinxing queried.

"Your Highness, I have subjected Song Yanqing to extreme torture, but he has said nothing," Xie Ruotong replied.