With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

The blade was drawn again.

This time, they cut off his fingers as he tried to break free of the ropes.

Fresh blood gushed out instantly.

"ah--"

A heart-wrenching scream rang out.

Xiao Yunzhao stood before him, his eyes no longer wavering.

"If something really happens to her, it will only make me not turn back."

"They won't let me into Chengtian Gate."

She would never use the child in her womb to force him to lose control.

That person doesn't understand Shen Nannan at all.

All she knew was that she was Xiao Yunzhao's only weakness.

So they thought that a blood-stained garment could lead him anywhere.

Xiao Yunzhao did not look at him again.

The guards immediately dragged the person away.

Xiao Yunting stared at the blood-stained clothes, his expression even more grim than before.

"She knows this old road."

"She escaped from the palace from here back then, so of course she knows."

Xiao Yunzhao looked at him, "She also knows you might be able to help me."

Xiao Yunting fell silent.

Consort Yu never completely trusted anyone.

Including him.

So she buried people near the old Prince Rui's mansion early on.

Whenever Xiao Yunzhao appeared, they would present him with the blood-stained garment, leading him towards Chengtian Gate.

Even if Xiao Yunting told him the old path, he couldn't stop a madman who had lost his mind for Shen Nannan from abandoning his own path to survival.

"She knows you better than I thought."

Xiao Yunting said in a low voice,

"What she knows is the me from before."

Xiao Yunzhao walked to the dry well. "She doesn't understand me now."

Before, he only had Shen Nannan.

So if something happens to Shen Nannan, he will have nothing left.

He still only has her now.

But she had already taught him that loving someone doesn't mean risking your life to die with her.

No matter what happens, you must believe that the other person is still waiting for you to come home.

"Your Highness."

Mo Bai was still somewhat uneasy. "Should we send someone back to the Prince's residence first?"

"group."

Xiao Yunzhao said, "But we won't wait."

Blood has been spilled in the palace.

If they linger here a moment longer, the crown prince will have a greater chance to force the emperor to abdicate.

Shen Nian and the Sixth Prince are still in Cining Palace.

Moreover, the more quickly the bloodstained garment appeared, the more it proved that the people in the palace were afraid he would take another path.

"Go down the well."

Xiao Yunzhao did not turn back.

Mo Bai immediately led his men to follow.

Xiao Yunting stood at the well's edge, watching the man's figure disappear into the darkness, before finally closing the folding fan.

He originally thought that the blood-stained clothes would cause Xiao Yunzhao to completely lose control.

After all, even he could tell that the fabric on it did indeed belong to Shen Nannan.

But Xiao Yunzhao hesitated for only a moment.

So he chose to believe her.

Xiao Yunting suddenly remembered what Consort Yu had said.

Why should anyone love that bastard child?

Perhaps it was because someone loved him that he was finally no longer the knife in her hand that only knew how to kill.

Inside the Prince Zhao's residence, another person was apprehended.

The man mingled among the maids responsible for washing clothes and sneaked into the backyard during a change of guard in the mansion, stealing the red begonia skirt that Shen Nannan was wearing that day.

The guards, who were hiding in the shadows, did not immediately alert the situation.

After she handed the clothes to the person who was there to meet her, they arrested both of them at the same time.

Qiu Yun, holding the blood pack she had taken from one of the men, turned pale with anger.

"Your Highness, did they steal your clothes to deceive the Prince with this blood?"

Shen Nannan stared at the blood pack. To make the scam more believable, those people didn't care about killing one more innocent person.

"They will tell Ah Chao that I was taken away."

Shen Nannan quickly figured it out.

"Then lead him to Chengtian Gate."

She gently placed her palm on her abdomen.

The baby seemed to sense its mother's emotions and stirred restlessly inside.

Shen Nannan slowly exhaled.

"Your Highness, should we send a message to the former Prince Rui's residence immediately?"

"deliver."

She paused for a moment, then added, "There's no need to send me a token of my affection."

Qiu Yun was stunned.

"But didn't you and the Prince agree..."

"Precisely because it was agreed upon, it's not necessary."

Shen Nannan looked down at the wedding ring on her hand.

This ring will never leave her.

Xiao Yunzhao wouldn't believe the blood-stained clothes unless he saw them.

If she breaks their agreement and gives away the ring out of fear that he will lose control, then she doesn't trust him.

"Just send someone with one message."

"The Prince's residence is safe and sound."

"I'm waiting for him to come back for dinner."

Qiu Yun quickly sent a message through her secret guards.

Shen Nannan did not go to the study, nor did she pace back and forth in the room.

She had the food reheated after it cooled down, and also ordered the kitchen staff to keep the soup that Xiao Yunzhao liked warm.

Then, she sat quietly at the table.

It was as if he was just going out to take care of an ordinary matter.

I will be back soon.

The underground channel beneath the dry well was even colder and more gloomy than I had imagined.

The stone wall was covered with damp moss, and the water underfoot was above the shoes.

Xiao Yunzhao walked at the very front.

The poison still stirred faintly in his heart, but it could no longer control his steps.

As we approached the first fork in the road, three soft, rhythmic sounds suddenly came from behind us.

That was a message sent from the Prince's residence.

After listening intently, Mo Bai quickly walked to Xiao Yunzhao's side.

"Your Highness, the Prince's residence is safe and sound."

"Someone did indeed steal the outer skirt that the Princess wore today; it has been apprehended."

Xiao Yunzhao showed no surprise.

Mo Bai added, "The princess also sent someone with a message."

The culvert was too dark to see the man's expression clearly.

All you could see was his hand slowly loosening its grip on the knife.

"What did she say?"

"The princess said she is waiting for you to come back for dinner."

Xiao Yunzhao stood there for a long time before raising his hand to touch the sachet in his arms.

"understood."

He continued forward.

His steps were more steady than before, and he never looked back again.

At the end of the old underground canal, the sounds of fighting could be faintly heard coming from inside the palace.

The same night as in my previous life.

The same palace.

Even the bloody path that awaited him had already been prepared.

But this time, he did not step into Chengtian Gate.

He did not become a madman again, completely controlled by Consort Yu, because of a blood-stained red robe.

Xiao Yunzhao stood in the darkness, slowly tightening his grip on the long sword in his hand.

He took a different path.

He also wanted to personally change the ending for himself and Shen Nannan.