The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 499 The Emperor's Sword

As the hood slipped down, Lu Linxuan's delicate face was suddenly revealed. Her dark eyes, illuminated by the dim light, silently watched Li Xingyun's instantly frozen expression.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment. After Li Xingyun blurted out the words "Junior Sister," he froze by the threshold. For a moment, all the blood in his body seemed to rush to his head, and then all of it disappeared in the next moment.

Shock, ecstasy, disbelief, and overwhelming guilt surged like a tsunami... countless expressions shifted across his face. Li Xingyun looked at the person in front of him, his Adam's apple bobbing a few more times, but he ultimately couldn't utter a word.

He subconsciously took a step forward, raised his arm, as if wanting to pull the person in front of him into a tight embrace to confirm that this was not a dream.

But after taking that step, he felt as if something invisible had pierced his heart, and he froze on the spot, no longer daring to look directly into those eyes that were still clear, yet filled with too many complex emotions. His raised arm trembled slightly, and finally fell limply to his side.

The hall suddenly fell into a deathly silence.

Lu Linxuan took off her hood and looked at her senior brother, who was both familiar and unfamiliar to her. She remained silent for a long time, watching the complex emotions that changed rapidly on his face. But soon, she spoke first, her voice even trying to sound as light as possible.

"Senior brother, long time no see."

Upon hearing this voice, Li Xingyun froze again, as if that one word, "Senior Brother," had instantly drained all his strength. Then, he abruptly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were bloodshot.

He didn't look at Lu Linxuan, but clenched his fists tightly, as if trying to suppress some kind of pain. Then, he raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face with all his might.

The crisp, resounding slap echoed in the silent hall, exceptionally jarring. A clear red mark appeared on Li Xingyun's cheek instantly, but the burning pain was nothing compared to the agony in his heart.

Lu Linxuan was so startled that he immediately stepped forward.

"Junior sister..."

But Li Xingyun just shook his head, lowered his head, still not daring to look Lu Linxuan in the eye, his shoulders trembling slightly: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry... It's my fault, I'm the one who let you down..."

For over a year, he had thought of these words a thousand times, but when he actually faced her, he realized that any words were too pale. He was the one who pushed her into the eye of the storm, making her the culprit of "brotherly quarrels" in the eyes of the world.

As Lu Linxuan looked at Li Xingyun's rapidly swelling cheeks and the almost overflowing pain and self-blame in his eyes, her own eyes instantly welled up with tears.

She took a step forward, getting closer to him, and gently shook her head: "Senior brother, I have never blamed you."

She met Li Xingyun's astonished gaze with sincere eyes and said, "Being caught in this chaotic vortex, swept up by fate and manipulated by others, it's not your fault. It can only be said that we are all helpless."

As she spoke, she turned her head slightly, as if to gather her thoughts. When she turned back, her tone had become even calmer, and a faint smile even curved her lips.

"And I've heard that you married Princess Shangrao and she's pregnant... Putting aside the imperial ambitions imposed on you, if you can truly live a peaceful life with Princess Shangrao, I'm genuinely happy for you. It's good that someone treats you sincerely."

Li Xingyun stared blankly at her, seeing the open blessing in her eyes and hearing the heartfelt joy in her words. A bitter feeling mixed with loss and self-consciousness instantly welled up in her heart.

He instinctively reached out, wanting to grasp Lu Linxuan's wrist, wanting to tell her this wasn't what he wanted, wanting to pour out his year-long, heart-wrenching longing. However, when he met her clear, frank, even world-weary mature eyes, his outstretched hand fell limply to his sides. He gave a bitter smile and said self-deprecatingly:
"Living a peaceful life... who can argue with that? Now that things have come to this, if I were to say that I miss you day and night, that I am haunted by your dreams, yet you have ultimately married someone else... let alone you, I'm afraid even I would find it laughable."

"I believe."

Two soft words rang out, suddenly interrupting his increasingly agitated yet increasingly powerless speech.

Li Xingyun suddenly looked up, almost thinking he had misheard.

Lu Linxuan stared at him, his eyes devoid of any mockery or the aloofness he had expected, only pure sincerity.

"Senior brother, I believe you're sincere. I believe your longing isn't fake, and I believe in your helplessness and lack of control. In this chaotic world, amidst the towering waves, individual will... is sometimes pitifully insignificant. We're all like being pushed along by the tide; it's already difficult enough to barely keep ourselves from drowning, so how can we expect to have complete control over the direction?"

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze seemingly sweeping across the deep night outside the window, or perhaps gazing into the past they could never return to. "So, I really don't blame you. Seeing you... at least for now, is at peace, and I'm truly happy."

Li Xingyun was stunned again. It was as if he was truly realizing for the first time that in just one year, his innocent and naive junior sister had grown into such a person.

He took a deep breath and finally asked the anxious question that had been swirling in his heart: "Junior sister, how did you come back? How did you spend this year? Did they..." The words "bully you" stuck in his throat, and he couldn't ask any more.

Looking at the worry and the joy of regaining what was lost on his face, Lu Linxuan felt a warmth in her heart and said softly, "It was the King of Qin who sent people to protect me and bring me back. In Bianliang..." She carefully chose her words, "Although I was not free, I had enough to eat and wear and was not mistreated. The King of Qin always treated me with courtesy."

"Really?" Li Xingyun seemed to have a huge weight lifted off his shoulders and let out a long sigh of relief.

"That's good, that's good, I'm glad you're alright..." Li Xingyun kept repeating these words, as if they were the only comfort he could grasp at this moment.

Now, all his previous turbulent emotions have suddenly been completely replaced by a kind of joy, to the point that a thought suddenly and uncontrollably surged from the bottom of Li Xingyun's heart, growing stronger and stronger.

So he suddenly took a step forward, his hands instinctively grabbing Lu Linxuan's arms, his voice even trembling slightly with excitement:
"Junior sister, it's good to see you back. We...we're leaving now! Leaving this awful place, flying far away! We'll go somewhere no one can find us, just like we used to be in the Sword Pavilion..."

Lu Linxuan did not struggle, but just looked at him quietly, and Li Xingyun's face froze as a result.

Lu Linxuan then gently shook his head and asked, "Senior brother, what about Princess Shangrao? What about the child in her womb? What about Master? And what about those ministers who follow you and have entrusted their lives to you?"

She tilted her head slightly, looking directly into Li Xingyun's eyes. "Senior brother, can you really... still leave without a second thought, just like you did back on Mount Qingcheng? Can you really abandon Princess Shangrao, Jiangnan, and everyone involved in this position without regret?"

Each question he uttered made Li Xingyun's face grow paler. His grip on Lu Linxuan's arm loosened little by little, finally falling limply to his sides. He staggered back a step, as if all his strength had been drained, and slumped heavily into the chair beside him, his face blank, his eyes staring vacantly at the ground, unable to utter another word.

Seeing his dejected appearance, Lu Linxuan felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

She stepped forward, her tone softening further: "Senior brother, do you remember when we were little, when Master... when he taught us to gather herbs, he would occasionally let slip some things about the world? Although we were ignorant at the time, you always had the phrase 'healing the sick and saving lives' on your lips, saying that once you mastered medicine, you would travel the world and save those who needed saving."

She hesitated, her gaze flickering slightly as she looked at Li Xingyun's lowered eyes. "Is that thought still there?"

Li Xingyun didn't look up, but her hands, which were resting on her knees, curled up slightly.

Lu Linxuan continued softly, “Look at the King of Qin. While he certainly used ruthless methods to sweep away the warlords of the Central Plains, look at how he abolished those powerful and influential figures who preyed on the people, distributed land to the people to cultivate, and cut countless exorbitant taxes… Aren’t these saving those who deserve it? Aren’t these doing the ‘saving the world’ things you once wanted to do? It’s just that he stands higher, sees further, and does more.”

She observed Li Xingyun's reaction and sat down beside him.

"Brother, the people of Jiangnan are suffering just as much. These military governors and generals, in order to oppose the King of Qin and maintain their own power, have increased taxes, conscripted soldiers, and forcibly labored the people, causing countless families to be broken and people to die. How is this any different from the devastation we witnessed in Hedong after leaving Taiyuan? Now that you are in this position, if you can see the big picture, act accordingly, and help the King of Qin... to subdue Jiangnan, completely eliminate these warlords, and implement the benevolent policy of equal land distribution and tax exemption to this extent, allowing the people of Jiangnan to live and work in peace... this is truly fulfilling your ambition to heal the world. The King of Qin... is a true hero who can tolerate and recognize talent. If you can truly do this, how could he not approve? How could he not give us a real way out?"

She took a slight breath, her voice tinged with worry: "But if you continue like this, stuck in this high position, used as a shield by these people of Jiangnan against the King of Qin, and manipulated as a pawn by the Bad Commander... Senior brother, think carefully, is this really what you want? Does this still resemble your original aspirations in the slightest? If this continues, not only will the people of Jiangnan see no peace, but you yourself..."

Her voice choked as she looked at Li Xingyun's face: "You yourself will eventually find yourself in a desperate situation, and you really will... die."

Li Xingyun listened quietly, the paleness on his face gradually fading. He remained silent for a long time, so long that Lu Linxuan almost thought he had been persuaded. But in the end, he slowly raised his head, looked at Lu Linxuan, and slowly shook his head.

"Junior sister, you're right, but not entirely right either."

Lu Linxuan's face turned pale instantly.

“In the past year, I haven’t understood much, but there’s one thing that I understand perfectly.” Li Xingyun’s tone was calm to the point of desolation, “The game of power in this world, especially the pursuit of hegemony… once you’re in, there’s no going back. Some prices aren’t just for the King of Qin to see. They’re not something we can choose to pay.”

"The reason why Shu Emperor Wang Jian was able to survive was because he surrendered early and decisively. He was originally a warlord who seized power during the chaos. For the King of Qin, his surrender was merely the subjugation of a vassal state, which did not diminish his prestige but rather demonstrated his benevolence. The King of Qin needed such an example to show those warlords who were still observing, so that they would know that as long as they were pragmatic, there was a way to survive."

"And what about Prince Jin, Li Cunxu? Why did he have to die? Because he was a member of the Shatuo Li clan, a warlord of the north, and a true rival to Prince Qin in the struggle for control of Hebei. Therefore, Li Cunxu knew he had no way out, and this had nothing to do with Prince Qin's magnanimity. His death was for the world to see, for those who dared to try to control a region, wavering between the new system and the old ways. It was to tell them that this path was completely closed. His death was also for future generations of historians to see, to proclaim to the world that Prince Qin swept away all the warlords and cleansed the world without any hesitation or delay..."

His gaze returned to Lu Linxuan, and he smiled calmly: "I, Li Xingyun... bearing the name of 'Li Tang,' sit in this Yangzhou city, causing the Jiangnan warlords, who should be the most pragmatic and the weakest to surrender, to harbor rebellious intentions. In the eyes of the Prince of Qin, in the eyes of the people of the world, and in the writings of future historians, what essential difference is there between me and Li Cunxu? In fact, because of the name 'Li Tang,' I am even more of a nuisance than Li Cunxu."

He closed his eyes slightly: "Someone has to pay this price. Pay it to the King of Qin, pay it to the world that is about to be unified, pay it to the world and people's hearts that need a complete resolution, and also pay it to... the historical pen of future generations that will judge merits and demerits."

"A carefree life, practicing medicine to save lives..." He softly repeated Lu Linxuan's words, and when he opened his eyes again, he smiled once more. "How could my senior brother forget? But how could I be worthy to mention it? Junior sister, I will listen to you. But now that I have stepped onto this path, regardless of whether there are powerful figures in Jiangnan, I will inevitably bear the final price, so that I can see it through to the end."

Lu Linxuan's face was deathly pale. She had never imagined that her usually carefree senior brother had already come to this realization. And these words were exactly the same as what Xiao Yan had told her in Jiangling... just on different paths.

Lu Linxuan's heart sank to the bottom, and he wanted to urgently persuade him again: "Senior brother..."

Li Xingyun waved his hand, forced himself to cheer up, and called out towards the door, "Zifan!"

Zhang Zifan pushed open the door and entered, glancing at Lu Linxuan with a similarly grave expression.

"How many people know about Lin Xuan's return?" Li Xingyun asked in a deep voice.

“Your Majesty, apart from me, a few trusted confidants, and the envoy who escorted Miss Lu here, no one else knows our whereabouts. Our movements are absolutely secret.” “Good.” Li Xingyun nodded, then turned his gaze to Lu Linxuan, whose lips were trembling. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Bring the envoy who escorted Linxuan to see me.”

Lu Linxuan looked at Zhang Zifan again, hesitating to speak.

The truth about Zhang Xuanling and his wife being his biological parents suddenly stuck in his throat, but he ultimately didn't tell Zhang Zifan directly.

Soon, led by Zhang Zifan's confidant, two figures dressed in ordinary Taoist robes were brought into the hall.

Upon seeing Zhang Zifan standing in the hall, Zhang Xuanling, who had entered first, was almost imperceptibly startled, while Xu Huan's eyes instantly reddened, her hands clenched into fists in her sleeves as she barely managed to suppress her emotions. They suppressed their surging familial feelings and ultimately did not acknowledge Zhang Zifan in this setting, but instead bowed to Li Xingyun first.

"This humble Taoist priest, Zhang Xuan, along with my wife, Xu, pays homage to the ruler of the Southern Dynasty."

Li Xingyun and his companion were not surprised that the people escorting Lu Linxuan were two Taoist priests, nor did they care about the form of address. Li Xingyun simply got up and went over, saying politely, "There's no need for such formalities, Taoist priests. Thank you both for escorting Linxuan all the way, traversing mountains and rivers. Your hard work and merits are immense."

"Your Majesty is too kind. This is what His Highness the King of Qin entrusted to us, and it is also our duty as husband and wife."

Zhang Xuanling straightened up, pondered for a moment, and then spoke directly: "Your Highness sent my wife and me here, apart from escorting Miss Lu, there is really nothing else. To be honest, Your Majesty, we are also from the Celestial Master's Mansion of Raozhou, and we will return after this matter is completed. However, there is something I would like to say, and I would appreciate Your Majesty's permission."

Zhang Zifan frowned, but Li Xingyun had already raised his hand: "Please speak, Daoist Master."

"Your Majesty, as I travel along the way, I have witnessed the implementation of the new policies in the Central Plains, and the people are gradually finding peace. The King of Qin has swept through the northern lands, and all nations are coming to pay tribute. The unification of the world is an inevitable trend. The world, after a long period of division, will eventually unite. The various towns in the south have been separatist for a long time. People like Xu Wen, Zhang Hao, and Wang Shenzhi hold military power and oppress the people with their harsh policies. They are the source of chaos."

Zhang Xuanling looked directly at Li Xingyun and said, “If the king can obey the will of Heaven and the people, stop the war and surrender, it will be a blessing for the people of Jiangnan and save lives from further suffering. If the king is willing, I am willing to work on this matter and persuade the King of Qin to treat the Southern Dynasty’s rulers and ministers well. I hope the king will think it over.”

However, almost as soon as Zhang Xuanling finished speaking, Zhang Zifan stepped forward and stood slightly in front of Li Xingyun.

"Master Zhang's words are rather flippant!"

His gaze sharpened as he said, “With a single edict from the King of Qin, all the accumulated merits, lands, and positions of the officials and generals of Jiangnan will be stripped of their titles and reduced to commoners. This decree has already incited countless powerful figures in Jiangnan, large and small, to prepare for a desperate battle. Your Majesty is the leader of Jiangnan; are Xu Wen, Zhang Hao, and their ilk not to be trifled with? If Your Majesty shows any intention to surrender, they will surely strike first to protect themselves. The King of Qin is far away in Bianliang, unable to reach you. How can Your Majesty's safety be guaranteed during the surrender process and afterward? How can a mere promise gain your trust?”

Xu Huan was stunned, and Zhang Xuanling was also stunned and then surprised.

Zhang Zifan ignored the two of them and continued aggressively:

"Furthermore, His Majesty has already married the Empress, and the lives and fortunes of the Wu royal family are inextricably linked to His Majesty. If His Majesty abandons Jiangnan and leaves, the Wu royal family will instantly become the target of public criticism. How could Xu Wen and his ilk let them go? They will surely use the pretext of 'aiding the rebels' to carry out a purge and elimination. How can the Prince of Qin guarantee the lives of these hundreds of people? Princess Shangrao and His Majesty's future prince are in Bianliang, far from their homeland and relatives. How can the Prince of Qin ensure that they can truly enjoy the rest of their lives in peace?"

Zhang Zifan grabbed Li Xingyun, who was trying to silence him, but continued to speak calmly:

"Moreover, now that Miss Lu has quietly returned, although it can still be kept secret, if His Majesty shows even the slightest intention to surrender, or if Miss Lu's whereabouts are inadvertently exposed, and the powerful figures of Jiangnan learn that the Prince of Qin has safely released her as an envoy to persuade them to surrender, how could they not be alarmed? How could they not be afraid? They will certainly regard His Majesty as a major threat, and intensifying their coercion will be the least of their worries. In their extreme fear, they might even dare to fight to the death and surrender to the Prince of Qin first, risking His Majesty's life. At that time, not only will surrender be difficult, but His Majesty, the Empress, and even Miss Lu will likely all be in danger..."

After his barrage of questions, Lu Linxuan was initially taken aback, not to mention the others.

She watched Zhang Zifan and Zhang Xuanling confront each other, her lips moved, and that secret almost burst out, but she held back in the end. Since Zhang Xuanling and his wife did not choose to recognize each other at this time, she would not make decisions on her own.

Faced with Zhang Zifan's attitude, Zhang Xuanling was not angered. He remained silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Minister Zhang's concerns are not without merit. Therefore, I am willing to rely on the century-old reputation of the Celestial Master's Mansion and the strength of the Taoist sects in Jiangnan to mobilize reliable people to secretly arrange for me to personally escort the King, the Queen, and the main members of the Wu Kingdom's royal family northward to the border of the Central Plains. Although this plan is difficult, it may not be impossible!"

"Taoist Priest!"

Zhang Zifan grew increasingly anxious, not even having a chance to question Zhang Xuanling about his authority to mobilize the Celestial Master's Mansion to carry out this matter, but instead repeatedly exclaimed:
"Do you know how many heavily fortified prefectures and cities one must traverse from Yangzhou to the border controlled by the Central Plains? The hundreds of miles of Huainan are riddled with checkpoints and scouts, and the vital waterways and land passes along the Yangtze River are all under the control of powerful vassal states. While Your Majesty currently commands respect in Yangzhou, if you were to leave the palace, it would surely alarm your ministers and incite public resentment. Even if Your Majesty wished to surrender to the north while inspecting the river defenses, and even if you could bring the Empress along, how could you possibly escort the imperial family? How could you escort the Emperor's father-in-law? And if the Prince of Wu doesn't go, would the Empress be willing to leave alone? The Taoist priests of the Celestial Master's Mansion might be able to deliver messages or hide a few, but escorting living people, especially the Emperor and his pregnant Empress, along with so many members of the imperial family, through such a perilous place?"

He shook his head violently, his tone resolute, "...It's nothing short of a fool's dream! If this move goes wrong even slightly, if even the slightest leak is made, it will be utterly disastrous, a lose-lose situation! Did the King of Qin send you two here precisely to carry out such a perilous plan?"

Zhang Xuanling was speechless for a moment, Xu Huan's eyes were full of anxiety, and Lu Linxuan's hands were clenched tightly, also at a loss. Zhang Zifan, like a lone wolf protecting its master and its friend, was tense all over, warily scanning everyone, including Lu Linxuan.

Just as Zhang Xuanling was about to argue again, and the atmosphere in the hall was extremely tense, Li Xingyun suddenly patted Zhang Zifan on the shoulder.

This simple action instantly attracted everyone's attention.

Li Xingyun smiled at Zhang Zifan, who turned around to look at him, then glanced at Zhang Xuanling and his wife, whose expressions varied. Finally, his gaze settled on Lu Linxuan's face before he looked away.

“What Zifan said is also what I feel.”

“Junior Sister…” He didn’t look at Lu Linxuan, but paused slightly, as if he had used all his strength to finish his sentence, “Shangrao was indeed drawn into this situation because of me. Without me, she probably wouldn’t have done this. And she has treated me this way. I have already wronged you. How can I abandon her?”

Lu Linxuan was about to speak subconsciously.

However, Li Xingyun did not give her a chance to speak. He raised his head slightly, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate the roof and reach into the unknown distance. "You said you don't blame me, but I have never forgiven myself... Once this step is wrong, every step will be wrong, and it will be difficult to turn back."

“This chaos started because of the Li Tang dynasty, and it continues because of the Li Tang dynasty. I have been pushed into this position and become this flag. This price should not be borne by you, or Shangrao… you should not have been dragged into this.”

------

Several days passed in a flash, and the atmosphere in Bianjing was quite different from the relaxed atmosphere of the previous two months, enveloped in a solemn and busy atmosphere.

The auspicious day for the coronation ceremony has been set, and the entire capital of Bianjing is making final preparations for this momentous occasion.

Inside the Qin Prince's mansion, besides the busy atmosphere, there was also a joyful ambiance.

Just these past few days, the concubine Ping An gave birth to the second son of the Prince of Qin, who named him "Li Dai". As a result, the Prince's palace and surrounding areas have been celebrating for several days.

On this day, Xiao Yan did not accompany Xue'er. Instead, he went to the side hall early in the morning. It turned out that the ceremonial robes that the Ministry of Rites had been sewing for several months were finished and he needed to try them on himself.

Before the bronze mirror, several holy maidens, including Miao Chengtian and Xuan Jingtian, carefully adjusted Xiao Yan's intricately decorated imperial robes.

The so-called black robe and crimson skirt, with the twelve imperial symbols shimmering in the sunlight, and the wide sleeves hanging down, revealing embroidered sun, moon, stars, mountains and rivers. Of course, the most dazzling thing was the twelve-tassel crown, with white jade beads hanging down in front of his eyes, swaying gently with his slight movements, making a soft and pleasant clinking sound, half-concealing his dark and glaring eyes.

The Empress personally adjusted the gold and jade belt around his waist, then stepped back, a smile playing on her lips. Her gaze remained fixed on Xiao Yan, admiring his majestic and naturally dignified figure reflected in the mirror, her eyes filled with undisguised appreciation and admiration.

This attire, a symbol of supreme power, looked on him as if he were born to wear it.

"How is it?" Xiao Yan turned his head slightly to look at the mirror, his voice clear and bright.

The Empress examined him carefully and chuckled, "My husband, wearing this imperial robe, exudes a magnificent aura and commands respect throughout the land. He is truly a man ordained by Heaven."

She paused, then added with a hint of teasing, "But these tassels are swaying quite a bit, so my husband should make sure he sees the jade steps carefully."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan couldn't help but chuckle. He then raised his hand, signaling Miao Chengtian and the others to step back. He turned around to face the Empress, gazing at her radiant beauty under the candlelight. He walked to his desk, took out a memorial from a drawer, and handed it to the Empress.

"The Ministry of Rites has submitted several candidates for the title of Empress. Yunji, take a look and see if there is one you like?"

The Empress was slightly taken aback, then two faint blushes rose on her cheeks. She glared at him reproachfully, a rare hint of shyness in her eyes. She then gently spat, "Husband! Such a matter... how... how can you ask me about it?"

She turned her head slightly, lowered her voice, and said with a hint of shyness, "Your Majesty, I am of shallow virtue and do not deserve any title. It is up to you, my lord, to decide."

Xiao Yan was amused by her rare display of coquettishness and was about to speak again when a series of slightly hurried footsteps came from outside the palace gate.

But it was Qianwu's figure that appeared at the door.

"Your Majesty and Your Highness, the Grand Master Xu Huan has suddenly returned to the Central Plains and has come to the palace to request an audience."

While the news was somewhat unexpected, it was only natural for Zhang Xuanling to be responsible for escorting Lu Linxuan south and then send someone back to report. However, it was unnecessary to have Xu Huan make the trip herself.

However, before Qianwu could finish speaking, he brought in another item and respectfully presented it to Xiao Yan.

"The Master of the Imperial Sacrifices brought this item back with him."

Looking at the sword box in Qianwu's hand, the Empress's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, while Xiao Yan's eyes behind the tassels remained unchanged. He simply lifted the lid of the sword box and remained silent for a long time.

Thus, the Tang Dynasty Emperor's Sword, which had once stirred up the world and wandered for many years, finally returned to the hands of its nominal true owner.

Like the final piece of a coronation puzzle, it was settled with such a resounding thud.

(End of this chapter)