They carried Tian Ke into a tent without delay. The physician knelt beside him and placed two fingers on his wrist, remaining still as he measured the pulse. The silence was heavy with tension. A eunuch rushed into the main hall and bent close to whisper in the Ming Emperor's ear. The Emperor's face turned cold. His gaze cut sharply toward the Third Prince, filled with contempt.
"You will answer for this. I shall deal with you later," he said icily, then turned and swept out of the hall without waiting for a reply. He made straight for the tent. Inside, Ji-nara sat by Tian Ke's side, quietly sobbing. Yun Yuhua and Qian'ai stood nearby, pacing, unable to calm their hearts. When the Emperor entered, all present immediately dropped to their knees.
"Long live Your Majesty," they said in unison. The Emperor's gaze rested on Tian Ke, then shifted to the physician.
"How is he?"
The physician bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty, his pulse is unstable—at times faint, then suddenly strong. This indicates severe internal disruption. The young man has overexerted himself. His qi is nearly spent, his blood dangerously weak. He continues only by the strength of his will. Had he pushed himself any further, he might never have awoken."
He lowered his voice.
"He must rest. He will require warm food and potent medicine. Any further exertion may endanger his life," the physician said solemnly.
"How long before he regains consciousness?" the Emperor asked, his voice grave. The physician lowered his head.
"If Heaven allows, within a day or two. But he will be greatly weakened. He will need constant care for at least a fortnight."
The Emperor looked at Tian Ke, then at Ji-nara—still weeping, her shoulders trembling as she blamed herself under her breath. Yun Yuhua and Qian'ai sighed in relief to know their brother would live, yet their hearts remained heavy knowing he would be bedridden. Tian Ke lay still—eyes closed, breath barely stirring.
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"I have one final verbal edict—one I had already conveyed to Yelua before his demotion," the Emperor said calmly. A heavy silence settled over the tent, tense with unease.
"What nonsense is this?" one voice whispered harshly.
"Has he lost all reason to act so recklessly?"
The Emperor cleared his throat, and the murmurs died at once. Lee Jae remained composed, his gaze steady as he turned to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty," he said, calm but edged with curiosity. "What matter is so grave that it warrants your presence here in Mongolia?"
The Emperor smiled, the kind that held secrets.
"I have come to annul the engagement between Jinaran and Yelua," he declared. "In its place, I bestow upon her a new engagement—with a heir of Ming blood."
"What? A Ming heir?"
"Who could it possibly be?"
"Are not His Majesty's sons far too old for her?"
"Absurd! It would be no different than bidding her marry her own father!" Jeong Min's father snapped, unable to hold his tongue. The Ming Emperor merely smirked. Lee Hae closed her eyes, then turned to face the Emperor. With graceful poise, she bowed.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for broadening our horizons," she said. A collective gasp rippled through the tent. Even Lee Jae looked stunned.
"Lee Hae…" he called, his voice taut with urgency. But she turned sharply, eyes cold and unflinching.
"You turned your back when I needed you most," she said. "Now that the Emperor of Ming has stepped onto this land and extended his hand to me and Ji-nara—I will accept it."
Her voice was steady, resounding like the decree of a judge. Lee Jae clenched his fists, his fury simmering beneath his calm exterior, his gaze fixed unblinkingly upon her. With unshakable resolve, Lee Hae stepped into the center of the hall. In an instant, Ji-nara burst into the main tent, her breath ragged, tears staining her face.
"Mother, I beg you! I do not wish for another marriage!" she cried, her voice trembling. Without hesitation, Lee Hae seized her daughter's sleeve and pulled her down to kneel before the Emperor. The Emperor observed them, his expression inscrutable, not a word escaping his lips.
"Your Majesty, once more, I thank you for your kindness," Lee Hae said, her voice low and steady, refusing to argue.
The Emperor raised his hand in a gesture of restraint. "You may rise. I would not have my future in-laws kneel after such a difficult moment."
Lee Hae rose slowly, her back straight. But Ji-nara remained on the floor, her sobs wracking her body.
"I will not marry another! I will only marry him!" Ji-nara cried, her voice breaking as the words spilled from her lips.
"Ji-nara, maintain your dignity," Lee Hae urged, her voice steady but betraying a tremor of fear. "This is the Emperor—if you-"
"I would rather die than marry a man I do not know!" Ji-nara shouted, her face contorted with despair. The Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly, and a sigh escaped him, heavy with unspoken thoughts.
They truly do not know who I meant, the Emperor thought, his gaze shifting from Ji-nara to the others. He raised his hand, and the room fell into a heavy silence.
"I promise you, my child," he said calmly yet reassuringly, "the man you marry will be one to your liking. He will treat you with the utmost care and respect."
Ji-nara shook her head vehemently. "There is only one man in my heart," she said, trembling. "No one else. Please, Mother, I beg of you."
The Emperor smiled, a soft, warm expression. "I assure you, the man you will find will surpass your expectations. But I shall offer you a challenge," he said, his tone turning playful. "I will give you a clue to aid you in your search, and when you find him, you may ask of him."
Ji-nara, taken aback by the Emperor's sudden change in demeanor, wiped the tears from her cheeks. She hesitated, then nodded.
"And if I cannot find him?" she asked quietly.
"Then he will find you," the Emperor answered with a smile that held a quiet certainty. "When you seek him, he will come to you. You need only ask. His heart is more guarded than a fortress."
The realization hit Ji-nara like a flash. Her face softened, her heart skipping a beat. Could it be…? Her heart knew it even before her mind caught up. Tian Ke. She smiled, her eyes bright with gratitude, and she bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," she said, her voice full of emotion.
The Emperor nodded with satisfaction, pleased by her response. "Go with peace, Lady Ji-nara. Trust that fate will guide you."
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As she sat down, Yun Yuhua sniffled, trying to calm herself. Tian Ke and Qian'ai smiled gently, doing nothing but holding the space for her.
"I…"
Before she could finish, Tian Ke spoke softly. "Yuyu, let me tell you something. I know Ma has always been on your mind, day and night… but you will always be my little meimei. Someone I'll cherish until the day I die. I promised Ba I'd protect you and Li'ai. That promise is part of who I am—it always will be."
Yun Yuhua looked up, her eyes still wet. He continued.
"It's hard to keep pushing your feelings down. You're still growing. If you believe that he's the one you love… then don't hold back. Accept it. Fully."
She smiled through her tears and reached out to hug him, warm and tight.
"But…" she murmured, pulling back slightly, "something about him just doesn't feel right. He's hiding something."
Tian Ke let out a slow breath. "I know. After finding out Ji-nara is a Mongol princess… Seo Ju is definitely more than what he pretends to be."
Hidden behind the trees, Seo Ju stood completely still, watching them. He had followed them from a distance but hadn't expected this. He hadn't expected her tears. His jaw tightened. It wasn't the mention of a confession that stung—it was the pain in her voice, the way her heart ached because of him. He felt the same—torn, restrained. But how could he confess when his own family might be responsible for her family's fall? Until he knew the truth, he couldn't ask for her heart. Not when his hands might still be stained with guilt he didn't yet understand.
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Yun Yuhua's lip curled into a smirk at the pathetic-looking eunuch. Seo Ju stepped forward, shielding her with his body. His glare could have frozen fire.
"You dare utter such filth in my presence?" His voice was low and lethal. "I'll see your manhood fed to the dogs before you ever lay a hand on her."
"Charge!" Go Nam barked.
His men rushed in. Seo Ju met them head-on—dodging some, slashing down others. Blood sprayed the cave floor. A few blades caught him, slicing through cloth and skin, but he pressed forward, relentless.
He returned to Yun Yuhua, blood dripping from his sleeve. She reached for his sword, eyes blazing, ready to fight by his side.
SWOOSH!
An arrow tore through the air. Yun Yuhua's eyes snapped to the archer—Kyung Muwon—smirking from the shadows.
"Seo Ju!" she cried, grabbing his chest and yanking him back just in time.
But the motion threw her off balance. Her heel slipped against the cliff's edge—gravel gave way beneath her feet.
She fell.
Seo Ju's heart stopped. "Yuhua!"
Her hands remained at her sides, clenched tight against her will. She refused to reach for him, even as the ground disappeared beneath her.
He dove after her without a second thought, his body plunging into the air.
Only then—when he was the one to jump, the one to chase her—did her emotions explode. Her hand shot out, desperate, and in the chaos of the fall, he caught it.
Together, they tumbled, bodies entwined, into the roaring river below—swept toward the crashing waterfall.