213: Chapter 213 The Luo River Cannot Cross the Soul of the Glass Man

Just that one moment. A fleeting glance. Separated by thousands of feet of mist and waves, and ten thousand miles of clouds and mountains. The world lost its color.

She hurriedly lowered the curtain, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, her cheeks burning hot.

Just that one look. At sixteen, the Jiang State princess, Jiang Li, knew. In this life, she would never fall in love with anyone else.

Watching him descend the stairs and walk slowly to the riverbank, how could she possibly escape her fate?

Later, she learned that he was the Crown Prince of the Yin Shang Dynasty, the future King of Yin, Di Xin.

Their wedding was an alliance between two states, a union of interests. But... it was not the mutual affection she had fantasized about in her naive maiden heart.

But what did that matter? Once her heart was given, it could not be taken back.

A maiden's thoughts are as faint as wisteria, drifting away like smoke. Even with the coldness after marriage, even with the loneliness of the deep palace. Even with beauties as numerous as clouds around him.

Even later, when Su Daji arrived, someone who made her feel both amazed and threatened... she still held on. She held on to that heartbeat from that fleeting glance, she held on to the responsibilities of being the "Queen".

For so many years. She saw rain on the lonely mountain, saw the fires of displacement burn across the southwestern sky. In the Cold Palace, she blocked hidden arrows for him. When he was unconscious, she exhausted everything to extend his life. When he made his plans, she cooperated in silence.

Even on that absurd wedding night. In such an unbearable way. She humbly sought a trace of belonging as a "wife".

She calculated everything for him. Whether in strategy or in longing.

That Queen who calculated half the imperial court, her deepest initial wish was actually just to invite her King to watch the fireworks in her heart.

It was just because there was no justification for her actions. To stay with him forever was the same.

Her whole life seemed to be chasing that figure by the Luo River. Constantly approaching, only to be pushed away. Until today, he finally stopped completely. And she finally... reached the end.

Very well. Queen Jiang walked slowly to the front of the Star-Plucking Tower, which had become a sea of flames and ruins. The scorching heat wave rushed towards her, setting her sleeves and hair on fire. Her steps were steady, her back straight.

Just like that year when she was eighteen, riding in a magnificent phoenix carriage, crossing the rushing Luo River. Heading toward the city named "Zhaoge". Heading toward the man destined to entangle with her for a lifetime.

Amidst the dancing flames. She seemed to see the mist and waves of the Luo River again. She saw that tall, upright youth in black robes, across the vast river, casting a distant glance at her.

"Su Chen..." "My King..." "My... husband." "Jiang Li..." "Meeting you at the Luo River, parting forever at Zhaoge."

"Perhaps, it is precisely because my name only contains the character 'Li'." "That is why in this life, I have had so many partings and so few reunions with my King."

"If there is a next life..." "I will not be called Jiang Li anymore." "Let's call me... Luoli." "Jiang Luoli." "The 'Luo' of the Luo River, the 'Li' of glazed glass." "Cleaner, and... warmer."

"I will still be born in Jiangnan, born on the banks of the Luo River." "Not a princess, nor a Queen." "Just an ordinary girl from a merchant family in Jiangnan."

"Meet you before anyone else." "Study with you, grow up with you, become stronger with you." "Picking mulberry in spring, washing silk in summer, picking lotus in autumn." "Gathering around a small red clay stove in winter, embroidering handkerchiefs with mandarin ducks playing in water." "And then..."

She looked at the raging flames before her that were about to consume her completely, and slowly closed her eyes. "Just waiting..." "To be reunited... with you."

In an instant, she seemed to hear. In the flames, something was calling her. It was that year when she was eighteen. Su Chen's voice.

"You are the little princess of the Jiang State." "You are beautiful, like the lotus in this Luo River."

What did she say at that time? Ah, she forgot. She only remembered her pretty face turning red, bowing her head. Her voice was so low it was almost a murmur.

"My King, in my next life I will be called Jiang Luoli." "A native of Jiangnan." "You must... not mistake me for someone else."

The moment her words fell. She took a step forward, without hesitation, throwing herself into that red lotus karmic fire that consumed everything.

So warm... Finally. She had completed that goal that had consumed almost her entire life. How to get closer to him. In life... In death... Together forever.

... The snow of ashes was still falling softly. Falling into the courtyard that had turned into scorched earth. Falling on the shoulders of the Zhaoge soldiers and civilians, who were gradually standing up, wearing white mourning bands on their foreheads. It also fell in the center of the courtyard. On that lonely purple figure standing there.

She just stood there, motionless. Letting the gray dust cover her shoulders and hair. To share the same quilt in life, and the same grave in death. What a "duty of a Queen". Then what about her?

She, this Demon Consort, this meritorious official who killed the tyrant with her own hands. This fool who was kept in the dark, personally burned the person she loved most to death, and was still full of anticipation to share the future with him... In what identity should she go? Where should she go?

Queen Jiang's last provocation about the "next life". Recalling it now, it didn't feel harsh at all. A next life? What a vague word. Would there really be one? I'm afraid... we will never meet again.

Moreover. If there is a next life, who will the King of Yin meet first? Who will he fall in love with first? She didn't know. She only knew. In this life, she met him, fell in love with him. And... lost him forever. And, he died at her hands. She killed him with her own hands. With her own hands.

"Heh... hehehehehe..." "Su... Lady Su." Hearing the strange, grim laugh emitted by Su Daji. A low call pulled Su Daji slightly out of the endless emptiness.

She slowly turned her stiff neck. Outside the courtyard gate, standing there, were several rows of soldiers in bright armor. They were flying the flag of the Jiang State.

Naturally, they must be the reinforcements from the Jiang State that Queen Jiang had mentioned. At the head was a middle-aged general. His face was five or six parts similar to Jiang Li's, and as he looked at the still-burning Star-Plucking Tower, his face was full of sorrow. Instead, he appeared even more resolute and stern.

At this moment, he was looking at her with an extremely complex gaze. This person was Jiang Li's older brother. Following Jiang Li's instructions, he was the main general who had secretly infiltrated Zhaoge to provide support. Jiang Huan.

"I, Jiang Huan, under the command of my sister... her dying wish, have come to help the righteous people of Zhaoge evacuate."

Jiang Huan's gaze swept over the soldiers and civilians kneeling all over the courtyard, and finally landed back on Su Daji. "Time is tight. Although the Xiqi army has slowed down their advance due to the fire just now, their scouts are already close." "Please, Lady, make a quick decision and follow us to evacuate Zhaoge quickly and head to the East Sea."

"Although the Jiang State has strong national power, and you still have the identity insurance set up by the King of Yin." "But after all, Xiqi is supported by... the will of Heaven." "Although the Jiang State has the strength to commit a great taboo against the world, unless it is an absolute last resort, we still hope to keep our trump cards." His gaze lingered for a moment on Su Daji's stunning face, which betrayed no emotion, and he added.