When the Hai clan of Yingzhou pressured Queen Yan into marriage, she truly could no longer find any reason to refuse.
The little princess Yan Xue’er could still find a man at the groom selection ceremony and marry early, cutting off Hai Wuyan’s hopes.
But Queen Yan could hardly use the same method. Therefore, the marriage contract proposed by Hai Gang was something she could not refuse at all. Once refused, it would be contempt.
And now the Yan clan was entirely dependent on the Hai clan. Without the Thunder Islands granted by the Hai clan, nearly one hundred thousand Yan people would have nowhere to shelter.
Unable to refuse marrying Hai Gang, and upon hearing the news of Solon’s death, Queen Yan at that time already harboured thoughts of death.
She planned to use her own body to sacrifice to the Sea God.
In this way, she could also shake the hearts of all the island lords, making all Yan people obediently leave Yan Island and submit to Yan Mo’s rule.
Her suicide was firstly to refuse the marriage contract, secondly to die for love, and thirdly to pave the final road for her son.
And transferring the throne to Yan Mo in advance was something she had planned long ago.
Because many years ago, she had secretly inquired about Solon’s situation and learned that his wife was no longer alive. So she had always fantasised that one day, when Yan Island no longer needed her, she would cast everything aside, transfer the throne to her son in advance, and then go to Tianshui City to spend her remaining years happily with Solon, and bring her daughter along as well.
It was this obsession that supported her tedious and dull life as queen.
She had not expected that Solon would bring news of her beloved’s death.
Therefore, she chose this most resolute path.
…
And Solon and Yan Xue’er had already descended from the central palace island in an iron cage to the sea surface, intending to sail and rendezvous with the Queen Island fleet, then return to the Tianshui City coast at the fastest speed.
These ten thousand salt people and over one hundred and fifty warships, though still not numerous enough, were already an extremely formidable force. Moreover, that several thousand ton magnificent great ship was also within this fleet, serving as Yan Xue’er’s flagship.
Therefore, after the wedding ended, what Solon should have done was to ignore everything else and immediately go to rendezvous with the Queen Island fleet, and immediately return to the Tianshui City waters.
However, on the small boat, little princess Yan Xue’er’s beautiful eyes were filled with absolute panic and unease, constantly gazing in the direction of the palace.
Though she was still a child and did not quite understand what exactly was happening, she had already vaguely sensed a kind of fear, a fear of what her mother queen would face next. After all, the hearts of mother and daughter were connected. She could sense it, yet could not put it into words.
And after Solon returned to the boat, what constantly surfaced in his mind was Queen Yan’s fiery and resolute gaze, that gaze of eternal farewell.
After the wedding ended, she immediately drove Solon and little princess Yan Xue’er away, firstly for Solon’s safety, and secondly because she did not want Solon and Yan Xue’er to witness what would happen next.
At this time, according to reason, according to interest, Solon should think of nothing and directly leave as quickly and as far as possible.
But what constantly surfaced in his mind was Queen Yan’s gaze of eternal farewell and resolute determination.
Connecting this with Hai Gang’s forced marriage and the news of Count Solon’s death, he quickly guessed a terrifying answer.
“No good, Queen Yan is going to kill herself. She will use her own life to sacrifice to the Sea God.”
Then, Solon fell into a brief yet difficult choice.
Should he pretend to know nothing and continue forward, go to rendezvous with the Queen Island fleet, immediately leave the Yan Islands, and return to the Tianshui City territorial waters?
Or should he return to the palace at the fastest speed to stop Queen Yan’s suicide?
He also knew that once he went back, he would likely encounter fatal danger. It was the most foolish behaviour, not in line with interest, nor in line with reason.
But many times, he could not act according to reason.
Queen Yan had treated him so well, like her own flesh and blood. Could he simply watch the queen walk towards death?
Furthermore, before him little princess Yan Xue’er was gazing at him with such panic. She was merely a child. Could he be so cruel as to directly take her far away and allow her mother to die?
He could not. He had never been a rational person.
Originally, his only family member was Suo Ningbing. Later, there was one more, Yan Nai’er. Now there was one more, Queen Yan, and before him, little princess Yan Xue’er.
After only a few seconds of hesitation, Solon decided to go back, even if his return could not salvage everything.
Thus, Solon, who had just sailed away, immediately returned.
Holding Yan Xue’er’s small hand, he re-entered the iron cage, ascended to the palace island, and rushed into the great palace hall at the fastest speed.
However…
He was still one step too late. Queen Yan had already jumped down.
What he saw was only the shocking scene of Queen Yan leaping into the abyss.
Seeing this scene, little princess Yan Xue’er directly fainted.
…
Seeing that Solon had actually returned after leaving, Tu Lingduo could not help but feel wild joy.
She immediately identified that Solon was not some Shen Lang at all, but Solon, the younger half-brother of the little princess. To seize the fleet, he had actually married his own half-sister. He was simply beneath beasts.
At this time, all Yan people and island lords were plunged into the grief of losing their queen.
And Yan Mo was so grief-stricken he wished he could die in her place.
Hearing Tu Lingduo’s words at this time, his gaze immediately turned into two sharp swords, piercing towards Solon.
If this man before him was Solon, it would be absolutely unforgivable.
He was a Yan pirate, yet he knew propriety and ethics. Though he had very much liked Suo Ningbing, once he learned she was his own half-sister by the same father, he immediately cut off his thoughts and let her and her people go.
Yet Solon, to obtain the Yan pirate fleet, would even marry his own sister. That was completely beneath beasts.
Most importantly, he dared deceive him, Yan Mo?
“Shen Lang, is what this woman says true, or false?” Yan Mo looked at Solon, word by word.
Solon sneered, “This young lady, on what basis do you say I am Solon?”
Tu Lingduo said, “Solon, stop pretending. You recognised me as Tu Lingduo long ago. I have been raped by you more than once, so I could be considered your most intimate woman. I can recognise your scent with my eyes closed, entirely relying on a woman’s intuition.”
Impossible!
Solon had never truly slept with Tu Lingduo. The two of them had no intimate relationship whatsoever.
The reason Tu Lingduo firmly identified him was entirely based on speculation, based on interest theory.
She had used the bitter flesh stratagem and the sowing discord stratagem to trick Solon into coming to Yan Island for aid. She felt Solon would certainly come.
And this Shen Lang before her had obtained enormous benefits on Yan Island. Though his disguise was flawless, whoever gained the greatest benefit was Solon.
The reason Tu Lingduo had not identified Solon before was because Queen Yan was not dead. She would certainly protect Solon.
Now, Queen Yan was dead, and Yan Mo had become the new king. She could safely identify him now.
And if she identified wrongly, if he really was not Solon but the so-called Shen Lang, then at worst she would apologise.
Tu Lingduo continued, “In any case, wanting to know whether he is Solon or not is very simple. Just use a medicinal liquid to directly wash away his disguise. It so happens I have brought this kind of medicinal liquid. Solon, surely after I wash away your disguise mask, it won’t reveal a demon spot disease face again? You have already played this trick before Yan Nai’er.”
Having said this, Tu Lingduo truly took out a bottle of medicinal liquid.
“King Yan Mo, may I go and uncover this beast’s true face for you?” Tu Lingduo asked.
And at this time, Solon had only one feeling in his heart.
Knowing a person’s face but not their heart!
Once, he had thought Gui Qinshao was the most selfish and shameless woman, yet she would rather die than betray her own father.
Once, he had thought Zhi Ning was the most vicious and despicable woman, yet after being slept with by him, she made one foolish move after another, instinctively unwilling to kill him in her heart. And after becoming pregnant, even if it meant breaking with her brother Zhi Li, she tried every possible means to give birth to the child.
Whether Gui Qinshao or Zhi Ning, they both had their own emotions, their own obsessions, and were both people of temperament.
Only the Tu Lingduo before him, Solon had spared twice, and had attempted to liberate her from her family’s imprisonment.
It was in hopes of planting a seed in her heart, letting her break away from her own family, and eventually stand on Princess Zhi Yan’s and his own side.
However, she was the one who would stop at nothing for the sake of interest.
To return to the family’s power layer, she could use any means whatsoever.
Now it seemed, the incident of Gui Xingfu slapping his daughter Gui Qinshao was fake, and Gui Qinshao’s private meeting with Solon at Yuhua Pavilion was also deliberately orchestrated by this group of old foxes.
It was to let Solon learn of the anti-Suo naval forces. And Yan Mo’s appearance in the rocky island waters to plunder and recognise Suo Ningbing was also part of this conspiracy, to make Solon come to Yan Island for aid.
Gui Qinshao was destined to be heartbroken. Her father Gui Xingfu did not love her as much as she had imagined.
To kill Solon, he unhesitatingly used his own daughter, not merely slapping her once. And he let her go to Yuhua Pavilion, fully knowing that after she went there, she would certainly be ravaged by Solon.
And Tu Lingchen in the pavilion several hundred metres away from Yuhua Pavilion was also completely acting. He fully knew what was happening inside.
It was just that no one had expected that the most vain, most fearful of death, most selfish Gui Qinshao would have such hard bones, preferring death to betraying her own father.
So they had no choice but to have Tu Lingduo personally step forward, using the bitter flesh stratagem to tell Solon the intelligence.
Combined with Yan Mo and Suo Ningbing’s recognition of each other, it let Solon know that he actually truly had a half-brother by the same father, who held an enormous maritime force in his hands.
Yan Mo’s naval forces became Solon’s only lifeline. Solon would certainly go to the Yan Islands to seek aid from Yan Mo.
And once Solon appeared before Yan Mo, that would be a dead end.
It was just that they had not expected that this little fox Solon would be so alert. He did not come to find Yan Mo, but through another identity, through little princess Yan Xue’er, found Queen Yan.
Moreover, he decisively admitted his identity to Queen Yan, thereby obtaining her absolute protection, making Hai Wuyan and Tu Lingduo and others completely unable to act. Even Queen Yan would not let Yan Mo approach Solon.
Solon had jumped into this terrifying trap, but had jumped out again, successfully escaping with a powerful fleet.
But they had not expected that Solon would be so foolish, acting on emotion at the critical moment. He had clearly already obtained the Queen Island fleet, had clearly already escaped to safety, yet he returned on his own.
He was completely seeking his own death!
…
Yan Mo said, “Woman, go wash away his disguise. I want to see who this brother-in-law Shen Lang of mine actually is, whether he is human or ghost, or perhaps a beast.”
“Yes!” Tu Lingduo said.
Then, she came before Solon and poured the medicinal liquid onto her hand.
Tu Lingduo said, “This is a medicinal liquid I had a sorcerer prepare in advance. It can wash away any disguise. I had long thought you would have this move.”
Finally, finally, in one of her struggles against Solon, she had won!
Tu Lingduo had indeed been moved by Solon, developing a sadomasochistic love.
But when her father Tu Lingtuo banished her from the family’s power centre, marrying her to the monster Tu Liyang, all the strange feelings Tu Lingduo had for Solon vanished completely.
She had only one thought in her heart, to return to the family’s power layer. To achieve this goal, she could pay any price whatsoever.
And Solon was her best stepping stone.
With a triumphant smile, Tu Lingduo wiped the palm soaked with medicinal liquid across Solon’s face.
“Solon, you will soon reveal your true face. Think about it, how exactly will you die?” Tu Lingduo said word by word.
Then, bit by bit, she wiped and washed Solon’s disguised face.
As long as she personally killed Solon, Tu Lingduo would become a meritorious subject of the Tu Ling family and return to the centre of power.
In Tu Lingduo’s heart was filled with cruel triumph, and a trace of regret.
With Solon’s wisdom, he could originally have been even more powerful. But unfortunately, he fell short by just that little bit. At the critical moment, he was too emotional, not cold and ruthless enough.
However, after washing with the medicinal liquid, Solon remained that dark Shen Lang face, without any change.
Tu Lingduo was startled, and poured more medicinal liquid to scrub Solon’s face.
However, Solon’s face completely did not change. It remained the dark, masculine, handsome Shen Lang, not the Solon who was prettier than a woman.
“Woman, what is going on?” Yan Mo said coldly.
Tu Lingduo’s heart chilled. Could it be… could it be that she had truly guessed wrong?
Could it be that Solon really had not come? Could it be that this person before her truly was the so-called Shen Lang?
Why would this be? The sorcerer Yao Meng was certainly no ordinary person. Her disguise technique seemed extremely, extremely terrifying, not something that could be washed away by the mere medicinal liquid Tu Lingduo had prepared.
Tu Lingduo said, “Solon certainly found an extremely skilled sorcerer to disguise him, so ordinary medicinal liquid cannot wash it away. But on his waist, there is a very hidden bite mark. It can be revealed with one pat.”
Solon said nothing, directly lifting the clothing at his waist to let Tu Lingduo inspect.
Last time at Yan Nai’er’s place, Tu Lingduo had recognised Solon based on this bite mark on his waist. When Solon was seven years old, Tu Lingduo had bitten his waist, leaving a tooth mark.
And when the sorcerer Yao Meng changed Solon’s (Lan Ling’s) face, she had completely replicated all birthmarks and scars on his body.
And this time, she had spent several hours disguising Solon, completely not missing a single inch from head to toe. All of Solon’s characteristics were altered or concealed.
Tu Lingduo patted desperately at Solon’s waist area, but never saw the so-called bite mark.
Immediately, her heart grew colder and colder, continuously sinking.
Solon said coldly, “I am the brother-in-law of the Yan King. You, an outsider, have slandered me so. I believe you need to give me an explanation.”
At this time, Tu Lingduo was even more completely certain that he was Solon, because she sensed Solon’s killing intent.
At this time, her eyes suddenly turned, “There is still another way to determine whether he is Solon or not. Just examine whether little princess Yan Xue is a virgin or not. Princess Yan Xue is so beautiful that no man can resist, and everyone saw Shen Lang’s pillar supporting heaven just now, completely magnificent and powerful. The two of them, a lone man and a single woman, shared a room for over half a month. If little princess Yan Xue is still a virgin, that can only prove one thing. Shen Lang is Solon. He knows little princess Yan Xue is his own half-sister by the same father, so he could not bring himself to do it.”
These words spoken, Solon’s heart trembled. This was indeed a flaw.
This Tu Lingduo was completely determined to put him to death!
Yan Mo waved his hand, and immediately two Yan women stepped forward, supporting little princess Yan Xue to go to a side room to examine her body.
“There is no need to examine. Little princess Yan Xue’er is a virgin!” A sinister voice came from outside.
Then, an enchanting figure drifted in!
It was Ashiluo, the man beautiful to the point of enchantment.
“Husband…” Haina’er’s beautiful eyes lit up, and she directly threw herself into his embrace.
Like a ghost, Ashiluo suddenly rushed before Solon, directly taking out a porcelain bottle and pouring out medicinal liquid to scrub Solon’s face.
Instantly, Solon’s disguise disappeared inch by inch, restoring his snowy white skin, restoring his true face that was prettier than a woman!
Ashiluo was a major figure of the Demon Continent. The sorcerer Yao Meng’s disguise technique was naturally nothing to him.
Even, he himself was a master of disguise, only he felt his own face was too beautiful, so he was unwilling to change his appearance.
Seeing Solon restored to his true face.
Yan Mo was completely stunned. He truly looked so, so similar to himself.
Ashiluo clapped, “Congratulations, Brother Yan Mo. You pair of half-brothers have finally recognised each other.”
Tu Lingduo let out a long breath of relief, “King Yan Mo, you should fulfil our secret agreement. Moreover, your younger brother Solon is completely a beast in human clothing. To cheat your fleet, he actually married his own half-sister!”
Yan Mo did not speak, his two eyes unblinking, just staring at Solon like that!