The daoist nun carried her sword and stood five steps behind Yu Wen and Wang Anfeng.
At this distance, a swordsman of the Middle Third Rank could, in one thousandth of a breath, behead the person in front with their longsword, or in an instant cripple the martial arts of the youth before her, rendering him as defenseless as a lamb awaiting slaughter.
Li Wanshun steadied her breathing, her right hand still clutching the dagger and her left hand raised, holding onto the cup in front of her, made of bone china, soothing to the touch, as smooth as a beauty's skin.
Behind Wang Anfeng, the daoist nun's eyes lit up slightly, her right hand rising a little.
It didn't matter that Wang Anfeng wasn't handing over the sword.
In just an instant, she could snatch away the young man's longsword, turn it against him, and with a burst of killing intent, shatter his meridians, stripping away his entire martial cultivation and power. By then, even if the Princess couldn't exert her Seventh Rank martial arts abilities, she could easily pierce his heart with the dagger.
Yu Wen in front pointed at a dish before Wang Anfeng and whispered,
"See, I didn't lie to you, did I?"
"My aunt is a very nice person."
Wang Anfeng nodded, suddenly feeling somewhat ashamed of his earlier suspicions.
An invisible killing aura had already enveloped him from behind.
Next to Li Wanshun, brass serving maid lamps stood on either side, casting flickering shadows, creating a halo of uncertain light and darkness.
On the wall behind Wang Anfeng, the shadows cast by the killing intent appeared thin as mist, shifting and uncertain.
Li Wanshun watched the young man in blue, and visions of her father lying in a pool of blood, the bloodstained dagger, the respectful deep bow of the blue-robed Confucian scholar, and his cold, sharp words flashed before her eyes. The voice in her mind grew clearer and colder.
It was her own voice.
She could see her father, in his Dragon Robe, stained with blood, lying on the ground, glaring furiously.
Drop the cup, kill him, avenge your father...
She could see the blue-robed scholar bowing with a cold voice,
"Please go ahead, Your Highness."
There was the shrill voice of her mother, driven mad by obsession,
"What are you crying for? What are you afraid of? This world should rightfully be ours. What's wrong with my attire?!"
"It was that Confucian scholar, him, and your beast-hearted second uncle. They are the ones who stole this world from us, took what rightfully belonged to us..."
"A son must pay for his father's debts."
Voice after voice echoed in her ears, whether they were her own thoughts or from elsewhere, they were all clear and vivid at that moment, tempting her, driving her. Yet at the same time, another voice was telling her something else.
This voice was so grand, so vast.
As if it came from the entire world, strong enough to contend with the hatred that had built up over more than a decade.
Her palm could hardly grip the porcelain cup, surrounded by layers of mist obscuring her view, numerous thoughts struggling within her heart, but she never let go.
At that moment, she still couldn't bring herself to make the final ruthless decision. With a slight exhalation, she prepared to place the cup back where it belonged.
But just at that moment, perhaps due to the great drain of abandoning her resolve, her wrist suddenly went limp.
The snow-white bone china hit the floor and shattered into pieces.
Wang Anfeng paused, looking toward the source of the noise with Yu Wen, and at the same time, the daoist nun behind him had her eyes slightly light up as she circulated her energy through Zhou Tian, the thick killing aura outlining the surroundings, revealing various phantoms behind her.
Li Wanshun's heart lurched, almost instinctively crying out,
Suddenly, she stood up, her mind in turmoil, causing a surge like waves, and the lamps on either side flickered out instantly. Inside the room, for a moment there was silence. Li Wanshun felt as if she had broken free from some restraint, her heart pounding fast and her breathing quickening, but she did not know what the situation was like at that point.
Listening intently, she heard the sound of liquid flowing from the table and dropping, her face turning slightly pale.
At that moment, she heard the sound of furniture colliding, as if someone was walking slowly, moving past the round table, heading towards the window. For some reason, the breathing seemed to slow as she looked up in that direction.
Accompanying the creak of the hinges, bright moonlight poured in, illuminating the darkness. A porcelain cup lay shattered on the table; amidst a deep darkness, beyond the window, she could see the sky full of brilliant stars, the full moon hanging high, radiating endless light.
The youth in the blue shirt stood in front of the window, turning to look back.
"Your Highness, were you frightened?"
Li Wanshun ultimately did not make a move.
After sending the young boy and girl away, she had Ding Song take them back to their homes. Holding a lantern in her right hand, she stood alone in the courtyard.
The nun stood behind the woman and asked softly,
"Why did you not strike?"
Long having followed Li Wanshun, she knew that the hatred was real.
Li Wanshun had a distant look as she raised her head to gaze at the full moon, at the stars filling the sky, the immense voice that opposed her hatred resounded in her mind again, bringing back to her past questions.
Why did Grandfather pass the throne to my second uncle, and not to another uncle?
The people of Great Qin valued rituals and the Confucian Masters valued propriety. Second Uncle's accession was abnormal. Why, then, does he now manage to unite Great Qin from top to bottom, with everyone following his orders?
She had no answer, only a sense of weariness as she spoke,
"Wan'er, take me to enjoy this mid-autumn moon..."
The nun was slightly startled, but nodded lightly in agreement, and took hold of Li Wanshun's waist, her killing aura turned into a shadow, then with a step they soared into the sky. In a moment, the trees, residences, passersby, and lights below gradually became smaller, but these tiny things combined together formed a grandeur that words could not describe.
Back in the day, Great Qin was not as powerful as it now is. If it were handed over to her own father, could he really have achieved this? With the war not yet quelled and difficulties both within and without, could that father, who ardently wished to send his daughter off with a grand dowry over thousands of miles, truly lead Great Qin to expel the foreign tribes?
Had her father back then, done something to Second Uncle and Third Uncle?
Li Wanshun grew more fatigued, yet a self-mocking thought arose in her heart.
If wars were still raging today, if those foreign tribes had not been thoroughly subdued, the casualties of war would extend far beyond just one household. Born into a peaceful family, where lost objects on the road are not picked up, even the most remote homes are filled with plenty. In such a prosperous era, if one death could fulfill her wish, is it right or wrong?
And if one death could fulfill her wish, ignoring the suffering of the people, what's to stop her?
Looking at the golden age of Fufeng below, Li Wanshun murmured softly.
"Noble youths, wealthy households, would all ascend to high towers, lean out from balconies to enjoy the moon, the sound of strings and woodwind instruments, pouring wine and singing loudly, taking delight in the evening's festivity."
"Even those with more modest homes would ascend to their small balconies, arrange family feasts, gather around their children, to celebrate the good season. Even the people from humble lanes, buying wine from the market, are unwilling to waste this night. Tonight, the street vendors continue until dawn, revelers enjoying the moon, the elderly at the market, the burning never ceases."
"Wan'er, do you ask me why I didn't let you strike?"
The nun, confused, looked sideways and saw the eyes next to her, witnessing the world reflected within them.
Li Wanshun's elaborate garments fluttered slightly as if a golden phoenix spread its wings. Holding a lantern, she looked at the mountains and rivers of Great Qin, at this great era, and said,
"Because I am not only the daughter of a father."
"I am also the princess of Great Qin..."
The nun was briefly taken aback, then she understood.
In her gaze towards Li Wanshun, a trace of pity appeared.
She herself had heard her Master speak of the Crown Prince that year, ambitious and tyrannical, lacking the qualities to be a ruler, yet solely favored by the Emperor. At that time, there were states that could contend with Great Qin. If it were that Crown Prince ruling now, Great Qin could not possibly be so powerful.
That incident from the past, with the death of a few, brought forth a wise ruler for the world, ushering in an era of great peace.
She held a personal grudge, yet she owed a debt of gratitude to the nation.
To change the destiny of the world with one's own strength, this is the unparalleled patriotism of a statesman.
To kill the son of such a patriot for personal vengeance.
Such an act, precisely because she is a princess of Great Qin, is something she cannot do.
Li Wanshun looked down at the lights below, murmuring softly,
"I too wish to see the people living in peace in my lifetime, a world without disaster."
"To see this prosperous era of Great Qin continue unbroken..."