"Ming Yu, follow me." Hong Daiyu called out.

Lu Fengmian turned his head at this sound, his veil gently fluttering as he stood up and slowly walked towards Hong Daiyu, who stood with another man. While noticing that the man looked familiar, Lu Fengmian did not think any further.

"Come, let's get a private room so we can talk in peace." Hong Daiyu did not care for Yang Delun's odd stare and merely announced to them.

Lu Fengmian had no objections, merely following Hong Daiyu while also sending a look towards Xi Feng, who merely smiled. With this, he silently followed the two as they climbed up the stairs and entered a private room located in the hallway.

Hong Daiyu entered in, lighting up a candle and brightening the room.

"Sit down first." Hong Daiyu said to the two men.

Yang Delun took a seat on the chair around the round table while Lu Fengmian slowly took a seat opposite of him.

Hong Daiyu looked at the two before she raised a brow with a bright smile and introduced, "Yang Delun, this is Ming Yu. Ming Yu this is Yang Delun, Duke Yang."

Looking at Yang Delun, Lu Fengmian's frosty eyes did not change and in a cold and chilly voice, he said, "A pleasure to meet you, Duke Yang."

"Likewise, it is the same for me." Yang Delun did have his cautions up.

"Well, Delun, tell him what you told me. Ming Yu is easily trusted and also a very helpful person for your case. Of course, that depends on if you have fully agreed to my deal." Hong Daiyu lifted her red lips.

Yang Delun's face darkened. "Before that, let me explain to Ming Yu. I still can't trust you fully."

Hong Daiyu smirked as she rolled her eyes.

Lu Fengmian now understand the two's relationship. They weren't on friendly terms, but they were quite civil even with the animosity. Lu Fengmian realized something. His heart was really turning cold and he no longer thought about him or Tang Qingshan. He had really moved on, even while he still cared for Tang Qingshan, he had come to the point where he understood that he shouldn't do anything now.

Now, he thought of Ming Yu as a different him, the identity that he would be using from now on. He was now fully a fox demon, Ming Yu, the fox demon and White Jade of Hong Pavilion.

"Please, Duke Yang, if you have anything, I shall help you to the best of my abilities," Lu Fengmian's voice became a bit warmer, not as cold as before.

Sitting opposite of Lu Fengmian, Yang Delun's face turned a darker color. "I want to know if there is an antidote to the Tomb Poison, other than the cure that it comes with."

To hear this, Lu Fengmian immediately thought of the possibilities. Furrowing his brows slightly, his blue eyes narrowed. "Duke, Tomb Poison has only one cure in this world. It is a poison specifically modified for each antidote and as long as the antidote is consumed, there is no way to recreate it."

"I have to save this person no matter what, is there a different alternative?" Yang Delun did not grow flustered with this answer. He also knew that he was asking for the impossible.

Hong Daiyu, who was listening, suddenly said, "Delun, first, are you willing to join us? Think about it. Once you give your affirmation, only then will I let Ming Yu help you."

Yang Delun froze for a while, staying in silence. "Daiyu, you know that my position is too crucial for me to help Yue Junwang rebel and take the throne. Not to mention, you know that Qi Longhai will never betray His Majesty and that I will follow what Qi Longhai does."

Hearing a familiar name, Lu Fengmian finally understood. Everyone's fate was really too deeply entangled now, but Lu Fengmian could only go forward.

"You love a man who loves someone else. You have lived in the shadows for so long simply to protect him. He was poisoned because of the Emperor, he did that to save someone else. If you want to save him, then wouldn't it be best to get rid of any other obstacles that will stop you? So long as the Emperor is still alive, Longhai will always have a lingering feeling for him. Yue Junwang has promised a world, a land safe for all demons to roam. Yang Delun, though not a full-blood demon, you are still my nephew." Hong Daiyu leaned closer to Yang Delun, her face showing cruelty.

Lu Fengmian looked at the two. This world was suddenly getting clearer for him to understand. Xu Weiyuan was the main character, Tang Qingshan, the male lead. This world's villain was Lu Yingyue, Hong Daiyu, Mo Shen, and also the fox demons in general. Lu Fengmian, the original soul's position was unknown to him.

"I don't want to hurt Longhai." Yang Delun finally showed a look of vulnerability.

Hong Daiyu shook her head lightly, "The world needs to be changed. You also want to save him, and I will ask for you to rebel. Do not forget that you carry half the blood of a demon within you."

Yang Delun sat in silence with this.

Hong Daiyu suddenly turned to Lu Fengmian and asked, "Do you have a way to cure the Tomb Poison?"

"Well, this way has always been a sacrifice." Under his veil, Lu Fengmian showed a tired smile. "Only the demons can do it. Give away our life force to any person and you will save them. Even a dead person can be revived so long as a demon gives away their life force. Of course, this is a method that results in a death no matter what."

Yang Delun was out of it, but he heard Hong Daiyu's sharp inhale.

"Is that the only other option?" Hong Daiyu asked, her normal craftiness gone.

Lu Fengmian could only lightly nod his head. "Tomb Poison is a poison meant to kill even with an antidote. While the humans have no other option than to save just one person, the fox demons can save a person only by giving away our life force." This was really the only way, at least from the original's memories, it was the only way.

There was a moment of silence within the room.

Suddenly, Yang Delun spoke up, "Aunt, I will do as you say."

Hong Daiyu's attention was taken by Yang Delun, and a slight smile came onto her lips. "I will arrange everything then. Ming Yu, I will keep your plan in mind and try to think of a way to save Longhai then."

"Understood," Lu Fengmian complied. His cold face turned away, a flicker of pain running through his mind.

Just about now, what was Tang Qingshan doing?

-

Tang Qingshan rubbed his temples, pain infiltrating through his head. As he dismissed all the servants tailing him, even Xu Weiyuan, he slowly entered his study room. As soon as he got in, there was a familiar figure standing by the table, waiting for him.

"General." Lu Yingyue called out. Unlike normal, today, she appeared in her demon form, white fox ears on her head, long nails protruding, with fangs appearing from her mouth. Her eyes rolled to Tang Qingshan, a hint of villainous light in her eyes.

"Yingyue," Tang Qingshan's voice was calm, even as his heart created many ripples. By the side, he clenched his fist.

"It seems like Madam Tang and your dear husband has already told you the truth." Lu Yingyue said in a nonchalant tone, a bewitching voice coming from her, her eyes starring straight at Tang Qingshan coldly.

Tang Qingshan felt a wave of numbness attack him, but he was able to fight it off. With his voice shaking, he said, "They have. How long were you trying to hide it for?"

"Who knows? If anything, I would've wanted this matter to stay hidden but things have already escalated to this point. Unfortunately, the truth would have come out sooner or later. I killed your father, I won't lie about it." Lu Yingyue's voice was cold and deadly as she said this, as if she thought nothing of this death.

Anger lit within Tang Qingshan's eyes, a flame within them as Lu Yingyue said this. "You killed my father, a man who had nothing to do with you, demons. Did you expect that I would so easily forgive you?"

Lu Yingyue merely looked at her long and sharp nails, almost looking like claws, with disinterest. Unlike how she behaved in front of Lu Fengmian, she had really shed that character when in front of her enemies. She was reverting to the her from before, the one that killed without thinking twice, fooling and misleading men.

Lu Yingyue smirked, "Well, of course you wouldn't. But I admit, I did make a mistake in my plans. Feng'er was truly fooled head-over-heels, a fool drunk in love. But, I have to applaud you. Because of you, he had finally awakened his real abilities, the potential powers that he was too scared to wake. Thanks to you, he is now unrivaled, a demon with immense power in his hand."

Upon hearing this, Tang Qingshan furrowed his brows in confusion. What did she mean?

Lu Yingyue looked up just in time to catch Tang Qingshan's questioning expression and her sneer got even wider, eyes shining brightly. "Oh my, did you not know, General?" She tossed her head back, holding back a laugh with her body shaking.

"What do you mean?" Tang Qingshan felt a foreboding feeling in his heart. What was she going on about? What had he done to Lu Fengmian?

"Well, since you are asking, it is only polite that I answer your question." Lu Yingyue finally replied, eyes gleaming as looked into Tang Qingshan's eyes. Her smile glowered, "Feng'er was in love with you. My oh my, he was truly in love with you. Every time he looked at you, his eyes would brighten. For you, he had gone countless nights without sleep just to help you win the war. He loved you more than himself, he was willing to stay in this place knowing the dangers of his identity being found."

Lu Yingyue paused, looking at the dimming light within Tang Qingshan's eyes, the paling of his face, and the look of shock and devastation sinking in. "And yet, all this time, you had hid the fact that you were already married, that you already had someone you loved within your heart. All these months that Feng'er had spent with you, yet you did not tell him that you already had a lover. My brother thought that loving you was the right decision only to end up devastated when he found out that you loved someone else." Lu Yingyue scoffed.

"You don't understand the pain Feng'er felt when he realized the truth. His heart broke into a million pieces but he still loved you too much to even think about ruining your life over his feelings, so he continued to pretend."

Tang Qingshan froze, his face so pale, look draining immediately. No. What? Lu Fengmian was in love with him? The strength within his body felt as if it had disappeared and he staggered.

But, how? Tang Qingshan had never noticed. Even if things got too weird between them, Tang Qingshan had always thought that Lu Fengmian merely loved him as a friend.

Then, the realization dawned on him. Looking back upon it, Lu Fengmian had never hid his feelings. It was only Tang Qingshan who had never noticed. Tang Qingshan couldn't explain why his heart was hurting like so, the deep and sharp pain cutting through him.

He didn't know what to do. Tang Qingshan was lost, confused, and afraid. Why was his heart suddenly so confusing to understand? He had loved Xu Weiyuan, after all, the man was the one he loved. But now, why did it feel like Lu Fengmian had suddenly entered his heart unknowingly?

Lu Yingyue watched Tang Qingshan's struggle in silence. Finally, at long last, Lu Yingyue broke the silence. "I will be taking my leave. General, I hope that you have realized what you've done." With this, a mist surrounded her body, settling as it disappeared leaving nothing behind.

Tang Qingshan looked at the empty space before he closed his eyes in silence. What to do? What should he do? He gritted his teeth...

-

"Yue Junwang," Standing by the side, Bingqing bowed slightly before standing straight.

Mo Shen looked at her, "Bingqing, did she follow your words?"

"Yes, it won't be long before she truly caves in. I estimate that you can begin planning and getting all the ministers on your side to prepare the rebellion. Knowing Qi Meizhen, that woman has gone insane. She will definitely try to harm Bai Suixin and Mo Chou." Bingqing smirked as she reported.

Mo Shen nodded his head. His hands were holding onto a scroll, reading over it as he softly said, "It is only a matter of time. I heard that Lu Fengmian and Lu Yingyue have deflected to our side?"

"Yes, luckily, Tang Qingshan had done something. After all, Lu Yingyue is strong enough as she is. To add another demon, one who was born from the previous King of the fox demons, of course, Lu Fengmian is a great addition." Bingqing's beautiful face held mischievousness on it, her beautiful eyes alluring and entrancing.

Mo Shen smiled at her display as he set down the scrolls. Stretching out his hand, Bingqing smiled as she put her own hand into his. Mo Shen softly grasped her hand, his other arm resting around her waist.

"Thanks to the fox demons that you sent out, Bai Suixin and Mo Chou now believe that the child Mian Huaran has is mine. What to do? You know that I love you more than anything, how can I bear to touch a woman who belongs to Mo Chou?" Mo Shen gently pouted.

Bingqing laughed as she shook her head, grasping Mo Shen's hand. "I know that you haven't done any of those things, and I know that I have wronged you. But I need Bai Suixin and Mo Chou to believe that they know every one of your plan. I had to use Mian Huaran so that Mo Chou would also plot against her and so that Qi Meizhen would go insane. Worry not, I know that you love only me."

Mo Shen leaned his head onto Bingqing's shoulder. "I don't want to rebel, but I need to create a peaceful world. Only when everyone accepts the fox demons, only then can I be with you in peace. I don't want to hide you anymore."

"My dear prince, I know. I know that your heart is burdened, but I am thankful for everything." Bingqing gently consoled.

Mo Shen closed his eyes, head still leaning on Bingqing. "If rebelling is the only solution to create a peaceful world for you and I, then I will forsake everything."

To hear this declaration of love, Bingqing's smile grew warmer, eyes shining. Gently, she lightly gave Mo Shen a kiss on his forehead. "I will be by your side. Just await the outcome. I will give you that throne and await the day that I become your Empress."

(Bingqing (To maintain youth), 23 years old, vice-leader of Chen, Hong Daiyu's adopted daughter, and Mo Shen's lover)

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