Meanwhile, Xiao Mei wrestled with her injuries and the emotional turmoil brewing around her. She had always trusted General Liang implicitly, believing that their bond was unbreakable. Now, with Lin Feng's revelations and General Liang's refusal to see the truth, her heart felt heavy, as if it had been stabbed.
When General Liang confronted her the next day, his demeanor had shifted. "Xiao Mei," he said, his voice steely, "I need you to investigate the Crimson Shadows. There's a traitor among us, and you need to find out who it is. The Emperor believes it's someone from our ranks, and I must protect our family."
Xiao Mei's heart sank. "I refuse to believe that anyone in the Crimson Shadows would betray us. We're family, Liang! You know that!"
"Family?" he snapped, his voice rising. "You think loyalty means ignoring the truth? The Emperor is right; we can't afford to be blind! You need to do this!" His words cut deep, and Xiao Mei felt the weight of his anger bearing down on her.
"Liang, please…" she pleaded, her voice trembling. "I've trusted you completely. Don't turn your back on me now. The Emperor is the one we should be wary of; he's the one who sent the assassins!"
"Enough!" Liang shouted, his frustration boiling over. "You're being naive! I'm trying to protect you and our group. But if you won't cooperate, then maybe you're the one who doesn't belong!"
Xiao Mei felt as though the ground had been ripped from beneath her. "How can you say that? I have always fought for us, for our family!"
But General Liang, torn between his loyalty to the Emperor and his feelings for Xiao Mei, stormed off, leaving her standing alone, her heart aching with betrayal.