I’m Competing With The Male Lead For A Woman[Gl] Chapter 165: When I wake up, I’ll go see her

Above the capital, thick and murky dark clouds descended.

Ye Ji, clad in armor, stood on the city wall, gazing up at the sky. There was hardly a trace of light to be seen. In front of the City Gate, the army was dressed in black, with helmets concealing their faces. They wielded swords engraved with a golden crow, casting a cold and stern shadow on the rain-streaked blue bricks.

Ye Ji lowered his gaze, observing the figure of a crimson-robed woman riding on a horse at the forefront of the army. Even in the midst of a palace coup, Xiao Shuang did not don armor today. The sky was filled with dense clouds, but her crimson robe remained vivid, the only striking touch of blood-red.

Xiao Shuang held a silver sword and looked up at Ye Ji, saying, “Open the city gate.”

Ye Ji remained silent. He fixed his gaze on the sword adorned with golden red gemstones in the hands of Princess Zhao Yang, speaking slowly, “I thought you would no longer use this sword.”

Years ago, Princess Zhao Yang had used this sword to pierce the chest of Zhin, a prince of Yao Country. Today, Princess Zhao Yang, now known as Xiao Shuang, also wielded this sword.

Xiao Shuang did not explain to Ye Ji why she chose to use this sword. She simply stated indifferently, “Having an injury on my wrist does not mean that I cannot wield a sword. This sword of mine is aimed at everyone in this palace. Admiral Ye, if you intend to block me today, I will also use this sword to clear any obstacles.”

Upon hearing Xiao Shuang’s words, Ye Ji and the archers on the city wall fell into silence.

Autumn wind stirred up fallen leaves.

After a while, Ye Ji asked, “Zhao Yang, is there no other way for you?”

Xiao Shuang met Ye Ji’s gaze and replied, “No.”

Ye Ji stared at Zhao Yang for a moment, then raised his hand and said to the vice general at his side, “Let them pass.”

….

On the way from the City Gate to the Yangxin Hall, there were not many soldiers offering resistance. Blades swung, blood splattered, and heads fell to the ground. The entire process was conducted in absolute silence, without a single superfluous word. The only sounds were the frightened cries of eunuchs and the blood staining the white jade steps.

A strong and ominous stench of blood permeated the air, and Xiao Shuang sheathed her sword, ascending the steps. Tang Yu, by Xiao Shuang’s side, raised her hand to wipe the blood from her face. She hurried a few steps to catch up and whispered, “Your Highness, there are no guards in front of the palace. Be wary of deception…”

“I know.”

Xiao Shuang heard Tang Yu’s words but continued walking forward without turning back or stopping her steps. She pushed open the door and passed through every familiar scene. Golden dragon curtains, bronze animal-headed incense burners emitting smoke. She arrived at the innermost layer of the bed and pulled aside the pearl curtain, pausing there, gazing at Emperor Qi lying within the bright yellow canopy.   

It was the first time she observed the monarch of Qi Country so seriously. He was thin and weak, with sunken eye sockets. His mouth opened, struggling to breathe, like a stranded fish on the shore, on the verge of losing his life.  

Xiao Shuang carefully observed him for a long time, then a faint smile curved her lips. There were not many emotions revealed in her smile, but one stood out clearly — mockery.  

Hearing footsteps, Emperor Qi turned his eyes towards the side of the bed and caught sight of the smile on Xiao Shuang’s face. Despite his dwindling breath, he moved his lips and asked, “Imperial sister… What are you laughing at? Are you… mocking me?”

Xiao Shuang took a step forward, standing where she could meet Emperor Qi’s gaze. She stopped and replied, lifting the corner of her lips, “No.”

Emperor Qi said, “I understand… You must be thinking that lying here, I am unworthy to be your lifelong opponent. Thus, even if you… if you kill me, you won’t feel any satisfaction.”

Xiao Shuang stared into Emperor Qi ‘s widened eyes and smiled again. “Your Majesty, you exaggerate. After all these years, you haven’t changed. You still hold yourself in such high regard.”

“I have never regarded you as my opponent, nor have I ever expected that killing you would bring me the slightest satisfaction. Standing here, I have no particular thoughts. I just find it a bit boring to have reached this point.”

Emperor Qi laughed in response, “Indeed, Imperial sister, you have never regarded me seriously. Naturally, you wouldn’t… consider me as your opponent. But, Imperial sister, I am about to win. I… I will surpass you.”

Xiao Shuang looked at Emperor Qi and asked calmly, “What is winning?”

On the dragon bed, a hint of eagerness appeared on Emperor Qi ‘s aged and sickly face. “Imperial sister, I have played a great game, starting from when you poisoned me… No, it should be when you began eliminating the Lu clan. I have been laying out my strategy.”

Xiao Shuang asked casually, “So?”

Emperor Qi said, “So… so, I’m going to win against you, Imperial sister. It is my greatest wish in this lifetime, to win against you once. In the past, I won without a fair and honorable approach, but today, at last… at last, I can win with dignity.”

“Imperial sister, you must admit it. In this game, you are not as good as me.”

Xiao Shuang smiled and asked, “Is that so?”

Emperor Qi ‘s voice faltered, rising and falling, “Yes… Imperial sister, I am close to winning. I had my loyal people spread the news that I am dying soon. I am certain that you won’t miss the opportunity to strike when I am at my weakest. You will definitely seize the chance to stage a palace coup. For this moment, willingly, I consumed the poison you’ve been giving me all these years.”

“After you kill me, the Crown Prince will bring the people I entrusted to him to defeat you… When both of you are weakened, Jin’er will ascend the throne and become the ruler of Qi Country…”

After listening to Emperor Qi ‘s series of words, Xiao Shuang’s face did not show surprise or any emotional fluctuations. She simply asked, “Why do you want Jin’er to become the Emperor?”

Emperor Qi said, “Imperial Sister, isn’t that Fengxuan’s wish? Isn’t it also your wish? Since you cannot achieve your own wish, I will help you… I will fulfill your wish by making Jin’er the Emperor. That way, I will have accomplished something you couldn’t, and I… will have won.”

After a while, Xiao Shuang shook her head and smiled.

“So, this is the reason why you willingly put yourself in a dangerous situation and lured me here.”

“Of course.”

Xiao Shuang looked at Emperor Qi and said, “However, I have already entrusted half of the Tiger Token and half of the Fengling Guards to Jin’er. I left her a note, asking her to leave Qi Country and seek the freedom she desires.”

“Now that the Commander-in-Chief is gone, what meaning does your chess game have?”

Upon hearing this news, Emperor Qi ‘s expression froze for a moment, then he became incredibly angry, almost unable to believe it.

“Why… Why would you, you actually don’t want Jin’er to become the Emperor? But isn’t that Fengxuan’s wish? Weren’t you… trying to help her fulfill her wish? Why, at this point, do you… want to take back your moves?”

Xiao Shuang smiled and replied, “What she wants is never this. And what I want is not this either.”

Realizing that he had miscalculated, Emperor Qi felt immense pain and began to cough violently.

Blood gushed from his lips, and his throat emitted incomprehensible sounds. He couldn’t form coherent sentences, and tears streamed down his face.

After a while, he managed to squeeze out a few words from the flowing blood, “Ridiculous… It’s too ridiculous!”

He had calculated for so many years, anticipating that Fengxuan would protect that child for the sake of Zhao Yang and let it survive.

But he never expected that for the sake of Xiao Jin, Zhao Yang would willingly give up revenge and Fengxuan’s wish.

If Xiao Jin couldn’t become Emperor, how could he help Imperial Sister fulfill her unattainable wish? How could he win?

However, at this moment, Xiao Shuang was no longer interested in listening to Emperor Qi ‘s words.

Emperor Qi struggled on the bed, blood pouring from his lips, staining the bright yellow brocade with a vivid red color.

Xiao Shuang raised her hand and touched the sword at her waist, saying to Emperor Qi, “I have no interest in killing you, but before you die, I want you to experience the feeling of a sword piercing your heart.”

With that, she unsheathed her sword.

The white blade pierced through the bright yellow brocade, splattering a splash of red.

Xiao Shuang retracted her sword, and the blood spattered on her robe. Red intertwined with red, leaving no trace, as if it was meant to be.

She didn’t look at the scene that followed, and with Tang Yu by her side, she walked out while carrying her sword.

The blood dripping from the tip of the sword spread from the white jade steps all the way outside the hall.

Outside the hall, the Fengling Guards held their weapons, fighting against masked black-clothed mens. The Crown Prince rode on horseback, smiling as he watched the scene through the billowing smoke and flames.

Xiao Shuang said to Tang Yu, “Send the signal and gather the remaining people.”

Tang Yu obeyed the order and released a signal flare, exploding into a firework in the sky above the capital.

“Your Highness, what’s next?”

Xiao Shuang looked at the blood-soaked sword in her hand and said, “Next, we kill.”

….

The chaotic battle lasted a long time.

From the initially evenly matched confrontation to the gradual decline of Xiao Shuang’s side, it only took the time to brew a pot of tea.

The reasons for this were also clear at a glance.

Tang Yu watched as the Fengling Guards, who should have taken care of the black-clothed mens, suddenly drew their swords and stabbed their comrades.

She realized something and couldn’t help widening her eyes as she looked at Xiao Shuang.

But Xiao Shuang’s expression didn’t change at all.

She sat on her horse and watched as a thousand archers, guarding the outskirts of the capital, climbed the city walls and shot arrows towards their side. She didn’t even dodge.

Tang Yu leaped into the air, wielding her sword, and cut down the arrows. She grabbed Xiao Shuang’s sleeve, her footsteps urgent, and said, “Your Highness, there are traitors among our people. We need to leave quickly!”

Xiao Shuang shook her head, opened her lips, seemingly wanting to say something, but was drowned out by the sound of weapons clashing.

Arrowheads pierced the chests of the Fengling Guards, and the echoes of bodies falling to the ground reverberated in their ears.

Tang Yu, with Xiao Shuang in tow, retreated. A Fengling Guard with blood all over his face approached and reported, “Your Highness, Commander Tang, General Ye… Admiral Ye has closed the city gates. Our reinforcements can’t come in, and now, even if we retreat, we won’t be able to get out…”

“What!?” Tang Yu grabbed the collar of the Fengling Guard, questioning sharply, “Say it again!”

Xiao Shuang stopped her, saying, “Tang Yu, that’s enough.”

Tang Yu let go of the Fengling Guard’s collar, looked at Xiao Shuang, and a thought suddenly arose in her mind. “Your Highness, did you already know that all of this would happen? Is that why you entrusted one-third of the Fengling Guards and the half Tiger Token to Prince Yan?”

Xiao Shuang didn’t answer Tang Yu’s question.

Tang Yu asked again, “So you mean, Your Highness, you also knew that Tang Ling would betray us?”

After a long pause, Xiao Shuang said, “I feel guilty towards Tang Ling.”

“I knew her true identity, but back then, when she was wholeheartedly loyal to me, I pushed her away and sent her to Yao Country to become a hidden chess piece.”

Tang Yu was a bit bewildered and asked, “True identity? What true identity does Tang Ling have?”

Xiao Shuang didn’t explain further, only saying slowly, “For my own selfishness, I repeatedly put Tang Ling in dangerous situations and made her do many unwilling things. I owe her a lot, and now that she has betrayed me, it’s only natural.”

“What about Admiral Ye?”

“Ye Ji… When he entered the city gate just now, he reminded me, but I have my own reasons that I must fulfill.”

Xiao Shuang calmly said, “Since stepping through the palace gates, I never intended to return alive.”

Tang Yu moved her lips and her voice carried a hint of sadness, “Your Highness, what about us? The Fengling Guards? We have risked our lives for you, wanting to follow you and help you achieve your grand plan, not to watch you go to your death!”

Xiao Shuang softly said, “I have disappointed you, but I am tired. I know that Ye Ji is dissatisfied with me, and I also know that Tang Ling may have disloyal intentions.”

“I am a ruthless person. I know that I can kill Ye Ji, and I can kill Tang Ling.”

“But if I kill my cousin Ye Ji, the blood of the Ye family will no longer flow within me. If I kill Tang Ling, I would feel guilty and lose someone I can trust.”

“Tang Yu, I cannot kill all the people in the world, and I have no intention of making everyone fear me. Because from the beginning to the end, the world has never been in my eyes. The throne can change hands, and I don’t care who sits on it in the end.”

“What I’ve always wanted is never this world.”

The last Fengling Guard fell to the ground. Xiao Shuang’s voice also ceased here.

The stone floor was littered with corpses. The black-clothed mens stepped back, making way for someone who approached.

A woman dressed in red with a blood butterfly mask walked toward Xiao Shuang and smiled, saying, “Princess Zhao Yang, the Crown Prince is waiting for you in the Taiji Hall. Please follow me inside for a discussion.”

Tang Yu stepped forward, drew her sword, and stood in front of Xiao Shuang.

But Xiao Shuang pushed Tang Yu’s sword away with her hand and said, “No need.”

After speaking, Xiao Shuang bypassed Tang Yu and said to the woman in red, “Lead the way.”

Tang Yu shouted, “Your Highness!”

Xiao Shuang turned around, glanced at Tang Yu, and then said to the silent black-clothed mens, “She is the Vice Commander of the Fengling Guards of this palace and the younger sister of Tang Ling. If any of you dare to harm her, even if this palace loses power, Tang Ling will make sure you live worse than death.”

After saying these words, Xiao Shuang followed the woman in red and walked forward, no longer hearing any sounds behind her.

Step by step, Xiao Shuang walked further away, just like the young Princess Zhao Yang from before. The palace attendants carrying study books and bamboo scrolls followed behind, trying to catch up, but she walked towards the direction of the Taiye Pond, without looking back.

She walked alone like that. She entered the Taiji Hall, crossed the corridor, and saw the Crown Prince standing in the side hall.

The Crown Prince slightly bowed and greeted Xiao Shuang, “Princess Zhao Yang, you’ve arrived.”

Xiao Shuang nodded.

The Crown Prince gestured for the woman in red to pull out a seat and said, “Please have a seat, Aunt.”

Xiao Shuang sat down. She turned her head and looked through the open window, beyond the majestic buildings, and saw a clear and pure pool of water.

On the water’s surface, there were still faint ripples of light.

It was the Taiye Pond.

Xiao Shuang couldn’t help but smile.

Sitting across from her, the Crown Prince extended his hand out the window, pointing to the building next to the Taiye Pool and said, “I know that Aunt enjoys looking at the Taiye Pool. So, I want to leave that small building for you, Aunt.”

Xiao Shuang, born in the royal family, naturally understood the hidden meaning behind his words.

“You want to confine me?” Xiao Shuang asked.

The Crown Prince avoided the topic of confinement and spoke gently, “If Aunt feels uncomfortable, in the future, I can send someone to accompany you to stroll around the Taiye Pond.”

Xiao Shuang looked at the Crown Prince and smiled, saying, “Thank you, but I already have my own plans.”

The Crown Prince met Xiao Shuang’s gaze and stared at her lips for a moment. His expression subtly changed, and he said, “You…”

Black blood overflowed from Xiao Shuang’s lips, and her vision started to blur.

Amidst the chaos, Xiao Shuang faintly heard the Crown Prince seemingly shouting something.

She didn’t like noise and found it headache-inducing, so she said to the Crown Prince, “There’s no need to shout… This poison was taken by me before entering the palace, and there’s only one antidote. Moreover… I have already consumed it.”

While the Crown Prince was still speaking, Xiao Shuang could no longer hear anything.

Warm blood sprinkled on her neck, feeling warm, as if it were the water at the bottom of the Taiye Pond or the spring sunlight.

Xiao Shuang felt as if she could see the end.

The spring sunlight was radiant, and there was a bright scenery. Someone was standing on the bridge, waiting for her and smiling at her.

Finally, the Crown Prince heard Princess Zhao Yang say, “Stop making noise. I’m going to sleep.”

“When I wake up, I’ll go see her.”

….

The smoke of war billowed, and dark clouds pressed down on the city.

Ye Ji stood on the city wall. The palace road was straight and long, extending from the city gate to the magnificent palace buildings.

At this moment, a wheelchair slowly rolled past him, followed by a vast army.

Clad in black robes and sitting in the slightly worn purple bamboo wheelchair, it could only be the current Prince Yan, other than herself.

Indeed, it was Xiao Jin sitting in the wheelchair.

Ever since Xiao Jin learned that Tang Ling was working for the Crown Prince, while rushing back to Prince Yan’s residence to meet Ye Suyu, she also found the old wheelchair and sat back on it.

Before that, Xiao Jin thought she no longer needed the wheelchair.

But in the end, she still sat on it and arrived at the bottom of the city gate.

If her opponent was the Crown Prince, she needed something like this to deceive him, to make him underestimate her.

Xiao Jin looked at the tightly closed city gate and then at Ye Ji standing on the city wall. She already had a rough idea of what was happening inside.

Her mood sank to the bottom, but she couldn’t reveal the slightest bit on her face.

Ye Ji fixed his gaze on Xiao Jin leading the troops, his tone indifferent, “Your Highness, perhaps you shouldn’t be here at this time.”

Xiao Jin said, “But now, I am here.”

Ye Ji shook his head. “Everything has already settled. Your Highness should return to Prince Yan’s residence or go elsewhere.”

“I must go in.”

Ye Ji fell silent.

After a moment, his voice transmitted from the city wall to below, “I act under orders and will not let you in.”

Xiao Jin looked at Ye Ji and asked, “Master Ye, whose orders are you following?”

Ye Ji’s voice carried a chill, “My Ye family has been loyal for generations, naturally, I follow His Majesty’s and the Crown Prince’s orders.”

“You consider yourself a loyal subject, so you let Princess Zhao Yang in and then close the city gate, cutting off her retreat?”

Ye Ji’s voice carried a hint of coldness, “I advised Zhao Yang before, but she remained stubborn. I had no other choice but to choose self-preservation and protect the Ye family.”

“The Ye family has already missed an opportunity. This time, I won’t let her drag our family down and get involved in this mess.”

Now, Xiao Jin finally understood why Ye Suyu said that the Ye family was stubborn and rigid.

Seeing this situation, Ye Suyu leaned down and whispered to Xiao Jin, “Your Highness, should we directly charge through the city gate and attack inside?”

Looking at the thick smoke rising from between the palace buildings, Xiao Jin’s heart was pounding, but she restrained herself and tried to stay calm.

“We only have seven thousand cavalry here. Ye Ji’s men have occupied all the city gates, and there are archers on the city walls. We don’t have siege equipment. Even if we rashly launch an attack, we won’t be able to break through.”

Ye Suyu looked at Ye Juege.

Ye Juege nodded, “Indeed.”

After realizing this, Xiao Jin whispered, “Ye Ji has closed the city gate. We can’t forcefully break in, but we’re running out of time. Take a small squad of cavalry inside first, and perhaps Ye Ji will let them pass.”

Ye Juege exclaimed, “Your Highness, absolutely not. You’re taking too few people. What if…”

“There won’t be any ‘what if.’ I can only do it this way,” Xiao Jin interrupted.

Xiao Jin raised her sleeve, blocking the blind spot in her vision, and handed the half-piece of the Tiger Token in her hand to Ye Juege. She whispered, “Juege, take this and go to the Shenji Camp to mobilize more troops.”

Ye Juege nodded and received the half-piece of the tiger token.

Xiao Jin said, “Use signal flutes with Suyu. If I haven’t come out after half an hour, take the troops from the Shenji Camp and rendezvous with the people from Fengyang City. Lead them to attack from inside.”

“Remember, if the situation changes and Tang Ling’s people arrive, don’t force your way through. You must take these people and go, then find… the princess.”

Ye Juege looked at Xiao Jin, almost shouting out loud.

“But Your Highness, I’ve followed you for so many years. How can I leave you alone and go? I cannot obey this order. It’s better for me to die now than to do this…”

Xiao Jin stared at Ye Juege, “Juege, I trust you. I can only entrust this matter to you.”

Ye Juege remained silent.

“You can rest assured. I promise you that I won’t die so easily. I will survive.”

“You also promise me, okay?”

Ye Juege remained silent for a long time, then clenched her fist tightly around the tiger token.

“Understood… I will obey.”

After finishing this matter, Xiao Jin spoke to Ye Ji on the city wall, “I will only bring a hundred elite soldiers with me.”

Ye Ji shook her head, “Your Highness, it’s against the rules for the prince to lead troops into the palace.”

Xiao Jin took out the amnesty token that she couldn’t send out and held it up for the people on the city wall to see.

The archers on the wall fixed their gaze and recognized the shiny golden token, unable to help but exclaim, “Isn’t that the amnesty token bestowed by His Majesty?”

“It seems to be… I heard that it was originally created by Emperor Tai as a reward for a few founding elders. Only a few people can possess it. Why does it appear in the hands of the Prince of Yan now?”

Ye Ji also realized that Xiao Jin was holding the rumored amnesty token and her expression couldn’t help but change.

Sitting in the wheelchair, Xiao Jin said lightly, “Seeing this token is like seeing the current emperor. In that case, can I be allowed to pass?”

Even if Xiao Jin wanted to lead a large force into the palace, even with this amnesty token, Ye Ji would still not let her in. But if she only brought a hundred cavalry soldiers into the palace, holding the token, Ye Ji would indeed be unable to stop her.

Realizing this, Ye Ji said to Xiao Jin, “Your Highness, please ask the cavalry behind you to retreat one mile.”

Xiao Jin nodded and gave the order.

The cavalry soldiers received the order, tightened the reins in their hands, turned around, and silently retreated.

They retreated until they were one mile away. Then Ye Ji ordered the vice general to open the city gate, allowing Xiao Jin and the one hundred elite soldiers behind her to enter the palace.

Along the way, Xiao Jin looked at the blood splattered on the palace walls and felt an impulse several times to stand up from her wheelchair, wanting to move faster.

But her rationality told her that she couldn’t. She couldn’t do it now.

Xiao Jin suppressed her emotions, but when she saw Tang Yu surrounded by numerous black-clothed men, her voice couldn’t remain completely calm, “Vice Commander Tang, where is Princess Zhao Yang?”

Tang Yu had just fought against dozens of black-clothed men and was already covered in bruises. Blood flowed down her forehead, a bright red stain blurring her vision.

But Tang Yu could hear the voice of Prince Yan, so she said to Xiao Jin, “Your Highness, Princess Zhao Yang, she went to the Taiji Hall.”

Xiao Jin looked at the blood on Tang Yu’s forehead, remained silent for a moment, and then said, “Alright.”

Between the buildings, black smoke rose, obscuring the once clear and blue sky.

Sitting in the wheelchair, Xiao Jin entered the hazy smoke. She couldn’t see the path or the direction clearly. The only thing she could keenly perceive was the heavy and intense beating of her heart.

Like a slowly descending sunset, the setting sun brushed over the tip of the Dali Temple, leaving behind a crimson afterglow.

Xiao Jin saw the black-clothed men guarding the entrance of the Taiji Hall, and they saw her too.

They immediately raised their hands, touching the weapons at their waists, going on high alert.

Seeing the masked faces of the black-clothed men, Xiao Jin instantly understood.

The Crown Prince was inside.

Suppressing her inner unease, Xiao Jin reached for the armrest of the wheelchair and said to the black-clothed men, “Convey a message for me.”

The black-clothed men glanced at Xiao Jin and then disappeared at the entrance of the hall.

After a while, the black-clothed men returned and bowed to Xiao Jin, saying, “Prince Yan, the Crown Prince requests your presence in the main hall for a conversation. But before entering, according to the palace rules, a body search must be conducted.”

Xiao Jin naturally knew about this rule in the palace.

But due to the temper of the original owner and the support of Xiao Shuang behind her, few people dared to conduct searches.

Even if a search was conducted, Xiao Shuang would have a female court official replace her.

Although times had changed, Xiao Jin looked at the woman in red and her gaze remained cold.

Ye Suyu even held the steel whip in her hand as if she could whip it out at any moment, starting a bloody battle.

At this moment, Shen Guichen, wearing a butterfly mask, walked out from behind a pillar. She giggled at Xiao Jin, “Your Highness, you misunderstood. The Crown Prince only wanted him to convey the message, not to search you. It’s me who should conduct the routine search.”

Xiao Jin looked at the woman in red.

After a while, she nodded faintly, “Go ahead.”

Shen Guichen smiled and approached, saying, “Your Highness, pardon me.”

Xiao Jin raised her hands and focused on the mask on Shen Guichen’s face, allowing her to search without saying a word.

Even though Shen Guichen searched Xiao Jin thoroughly, she didn’t find any hidden weapons or tools. However, she discovered something that shocked her greatly.

The look in Shen Guichen’s eyes as she glanced at Xiao Jin carried a subtle meaning.

Xiao Jin calmly let Shen Guichen continue searching. After all, before entering the palace, she had already removed the sleeve arrows, the hidden dagger in her boot, and threw them away. There was nothing to be found now.

However, disguising herself as a man was something she couldn’t hide anymore.

Shen Guichen was only astonished for a moment before she calmed herself. She said to Xiao Jin, “Your Highness, please proceed.”

Ye Suyu was about to push Xiao Jin into the Taiji Hall but was stopped by Shen Guichen.

“Miss, please stop.”

Ye Suyu’s voice turned cold, “Why?”

Shen Guichen smiled and replied, “The Crown Prince said that only Prince Yan is allowed to enter.”

Ye Suyu raised her eyebrows slightly, about to protest, but she was held back by a stern look from Xiao Jin.

Xiao Jin said to Shen Guichen, “Very well.”

Realizing that Xiao Jin was preparing to go in alone, Ye Suyu couldn’t help but call out, “Your Highness!”

Xiao Jin looked at Ye Suyu and said, “Stay here for a while, Suyu. I will come out soon.”

Ye Suyu couldn’t say anything else.

The woman in red pushed Xiao Jin’s wheelchair, and they quickly disappeared from Ye Suyu’s sight.

Taiji Hall, main hall.

The light shining through the thick clouds cast a faint glow on the palace lanterns. There were no candles in the hall, but a dim light enveloped it.

The sound of the wheelchair rolling over the golden bricks reverberated, crisp and melodious.

On the high seat, the Crown Prince, dressed in imperial robes, took advantage of the dim light and looked down at Xiao Jin.

Seeing Xiao Jin in the wheelchair, he spoke gently, “I thought that after giving you Bai Lidan, you would have taken the antidote.”

Since the other party had made their intentions clear, Xiao Jin no longer spoke in riddles, “Bai Lidan is dead.”

The Crown Prince smiled, “Whether he lived to that age or died, it makes no difference.”

It sounded as if he didn’t regret the death of his subordinate.

Xiao Jin didn’t respond to the Crown Prince’s words and simply looked around, searching for Xiao Shuang’s figure.

The Crown Prince observed Xiao Jin and smiled, “Sometimes, I feel that apart from certain aspects, you and the Third Brother are quite alike.”

Xiao Jin lifted her head, meeting the Crown Prince’s gaze, and heard him say, “But ultimately, you’re still different.”

Being exposed for the second time, Xiao Jin no longer felt surprised. Looking at the Crown Prince, she calmly asked, “How are we different?”

“On the day you interrupted the wedding, when you saw me in the study, you addressed me as ‘Prince’ and ‘Your Highness.’ But the Third Brother dislikes formal titles and often casually calls me ‘Imperial Brother.'”

Xiao Jin nodded, “What else?”

“The Third Brother knows Bai Zheng, so she wouldn’t step foot in the Yanyu Building and investigate the origin of that incense pill.”

Xiao Jin asked, “These things alone don’t constitute solid evidence.”

“And also, you spent a long time reading the book in the study. It was a legendary tale I wrote, which I used to tell the Third Brother. If it were her, she wouldn’t enjoy reading or studying it repeatedly.”

“You enjoy strong liquor, while the Third Brother finds it too harsh and loses its flavor. The drink she often has is light wine. Even if she drinks in a hurry, she wouldn’t drink strong tea because she dislikes its bitter taste.”

The Crown Prince listed one thing after another, and when Xiao Jin finished listening, she smiled, “So?”

The Crown Prince paused, looking at Xiao Jin, “So, she’s dead. She will never come back, right?”

Xiao Jin nodded, “Of course.”

The Crown Prince fell silent.

However, Xiao Jin didn’t have time to circle around with the Crown Prince anymore. She directly asked, “I just want to know, where is Princess Zhao Yang?”

“Unfortunately,” the Crown Prince evaded the topic, speaking gently, “She is the only imperial sister I have, and I should have given her whatever she wanted. But you are not her, so I won’t answer your question for now.”

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Xiao Jin recalled the few lines the original author hastily mentioned in the original work about the Crown Prince’s funeral procession. The only memorable detail was that the Crown Prince himself carried the coffin and walked at the forefront of the funeral procession. They traveled through several cities and spent several days together before parting ways.

With a hint of irony in her tone, Xiao Jin said, “Crown Prince, so you only dared to speak these words after confirming her death? Only when she’s gone can you shout “Third Imperial Sister” and speak the truth. But what’s the use now?”

The Crown Prince didn’t answer Xiao Jin’s question right away. After a while, he shook his head and said, “You don’t understand. Prince Yan has always been willful and dislikes owing anyone anything. Even if I wanted to give her something, I could only do it in a roundabout way.”

“She didn’t want to be the Empress, she wanted to live freely. So, in order to protect her, I befriended the Fifth Prince and supported her to become the next Emperor.”

“But you dethroned the Fifth Prince,” Xiao Jin didn’t believe a word the Crown Prince said.

The Crown Prince replied, “That’s because I knew she was already dead. So all the strategies and plans I had laid out for years lost their meaning.”

“Whether the Fifth Prince becomes Emperor or whether Quzhao belongs to Qi Country is no longer important.”

Hearing these words, Xiao Jin suddenly remembered that the Fifth Prince had told her that it was the Crown Prince who orchestrated the attack on the Quzhao Country. And the original owner of her body had the blood of the Quzhao Country flowing through her veins.

Could it be…

The Crown Prince looked at Xiao Jin and said, “I thought you were probably attached to her, a divine being who came to the mortal realm to experience trials. I believed that you would find a way to bring her back.”

“So, I intended to give you this position to help you overcome your tribulations.”

“You could be the Emperor for ten years, twenty years, thirty years, and when you have had your fill, you can bring her back once. I don’t ask for much, just once. I wanted to give her the wine that was sealed underground in the Eastern Palace, to see her ride out of the city gates on horseback and explore the landscapes that I could never reach in my lifetime. That was my only wish, but it seems that it can never be fulfilled.”

Xiao Jin shook her head.

“I am not a divine being, so you don’t have to make vows to me.”

“Besides, many people’s desires are already lost, things that can never be regained. If she were still alive, your wishes would change, and you would want other things.”

“In other words, these are all unattainable obsessions. If you desired less, you wouldn’t give birth to any unnecessary thoughts.”

After listening to Xiao Jin’s words, the Crown Prince smiled and said, “You make sense. But if you have no obsessions, why are you here?”

Xiao Jin remained silent.

The Crown Prince looked at Xiao Jin and said, “Now I understand. You are indeed not a divine being. Divine beings have no sorrow or joy, no obsessions, and they cannot persuade others but cannot persuade themselves.”

After a while, Xiao Jin remained silent.

Touching the armrest of the wheelchair, she asked again, “Where is Princess Zhao Yang?”

The Crown Prince left his seat, descended the steps, and said to Xiao Jin, “She is dead. I killed her with my own hands.”

“Now you know, this game has come to an end. My wish cannot be fulfilled, and your wish has also been shattered.”

“Tomorrow, I will ascend the throne as the ruler of Qi Country. And you will live in the small building next to Taiye Pool, spending the rest of your life there.”

“Everything is fair.”

After saying these words, the Crown Prince smiled and stared into Xiao Jin’s eyes, trying to see something.

Soon, he realized he was wrong.

Because Xiao Jin’s eyes didn’t move, and there was nothing in them.

The only thing that moved was her hand.

Since she arrived in this world, Xiao Jin had always liked placing her hand on the armrest of the wheelchair. This position made her feel at ease.

When she first arrived, the original owner used a wooden wheelchair, not this purple bamboo one.

After coming to this world, Xiao Jin found a trustworthy guard and had them create this purple bamboo wheelchair according to her request.

She kept this secret well-hidden and didn’t tell anyone, not even Old Zhang or Ye Juege.

Even Chu Shao didn’t know.

And at this moment, the Crown Prince became one of the few people who shared this secret.

Xiao Jin’s fingertips rested in the gap of the armrest. In her hand was a thin thread that blended seamlessly with the color of the bamboo. She gently pulled it, breaking it apart.

“Bang!”

A loud noise.

In an instant, nine black arrows shot out from the purple bamboo tube.

The arrows were swift as lightning.

Several extremely sharp and silent black shadows pierced towards the Crown Prince’s face and chest.

The dozens of black-clothed mens lurking in the hall didn’t have time to react. Even the woman in red guarding the door couldn’t stop them, despite drawing her sword.

“Phew!”

Out of the nine arrows, three were avoided or cut off by the Crown Prince. The rest found their mark in his body.

But it wasn’t enough to kill him.

The Crown Prince lifted his sword and severed the arrows that aimed for his vital points. His speed was even faster than Shen Lang, the master of the Blood Rain Pavilion.

He covered the bleeding wound on his chest, looking at Xiao Jin with a smile in his eyes.

“The martial arts of Prince Yan were taught by me. Do you think that these tricks alone can kill me?”

Xiao Jin didn’t say a word.

Because she had one more arrow.

Just as the Crown Prince was about to speak again, Xiao Jin stood up by pushing her wheelchair’s armrest with the tip of her toes. She left the wheelchair.

The black-clothed mens lurking on the roof didn’t anticipate that the legs of Prince Yan were not crippled. In their urgency, they drew their bows and aimed at Xiao Jin’s face.

The arrow was about to be released when the Crown Prince’s voice stopped them:

“Don’t kill her!”

The arrow deviated and struck Xiao Jin’s left arm.

But Xiao Jin seemed unable to feel the pain of tearing flesh. With her right hand, she exerted force and grasped the tenth black arrow hidden inside the bamboo tube.

As multiple arrows were shot towards her back, Xiao Jin lifted her boot and kicked the heavily injured Crown Prince, sending him crashing to the ground.

A segment of the black arrow emerged from her palm. She raised her hand and fiercely stabbed it into the Crown Prince’s heart.

Blood splattered on her face.

At the same time, there was also the muffled sound of arrows piercing through her robe and burying themselves in her back.

Xiao Jin slowly released the black arrow stained with blood, lowered her head, and spat out a mouthful of blood, which happened to land on the Crown Prince’s five-clawed dragon robe.

The Crown Prince looked at Xiao Jin with his eyes open and smiled.

“You truly are not her.”

Xiao Jin felt the excruciating pain coming from her back, but she still raised her hand and wiped away the blood from her lips.

“I never was her.”

The Crown Prince seemed to want to say something more, but blood gushed from his mouth, obscuring his words.

Afterward, his eyes lost focus, and he ceased to breathe.

Xiao Jin heard the angry shout of the woman in red , faintly accompanied by the footsteps of Ye Suyu rushing into the hall.

Blood entered her eyes. She couldn’t clearly see how many swords had been unsheathed; it had become a blur.

Listening to the sound of blades clashing near her ears, crisp and clear like raindrops falling on a stone slab, it felt as if the capital city in autumn had just experienced a heavy rain.

After the rain ceased, Ye Suyu fell to the floor, her body broken, oozing crimson blood.

Before any thoughts surfaced in Xiao Jin’s mind, her limbs acted before her consciousness, standing up and embracing Ye Suyu’s lifeless body.

Her hand touched the splattered red neck, pressing her face against it. It felt cold, but the blood was warm.

Vaguely, something rolled down from the corner of her eye.

However, Xiao Jin couldn’t distinguish whether it was a tear or blood.

Ye Suyu lay in her embrace, smiling at her, then closed her eyes.

Xiao Jin held tightly onto the body that was about to lose its warmth, murmuring to herself, “You promised to wait for me outside, so why… why are you also surnamed Ye? Why are you also from the Ye family, so stubborn…”

The black-clothed mens rushed to the side of the Crown Prince’s corpse and reached out to check his breath.

Upon discovering that their master had completely lost his breath, they immediately drew their swords and slashed towards Xiao Jin, who was kneeling on the ground.

Xiao Jin neither looked at nor attempted to dodge the multiple sword lights aimed at her. The tremors and the sound of swords unsheathing were all drowned out by the blood before her eyes.

After a moment, silence returned.

The autumn wind blew into the main hall through the wide-open doors, sweeping away the dust on the jade vessel with a beast’s face.

The butterfly mask fell to the ground near Xiao Jin’s feet. The blood on the floor gathered and spread, gradually engulfing the carved patterns at the base of the jade vessel.

Xiao Jin looked at Shen Guichen’s pale and thin face, as well as the feathered arrow piercing through her skull.

As expected, footsteps sounded from outside the hall.

In the dimly lit corner, a woman in a green robe walked leisurely. Due to the backlighting, Xiao Jin couldn’t see her face clearly, only her slightly curved amber eyes.

Tang Ling’s sleeves swayed as she approached Xiao Jin. A smile appeared between her brows as she said, “Prince Yan, Princess Zhao Yang is waiting for you in the side hall.”

Xiao Jin held Ye Suyu, remaining silent.

At this moment, a squad of elite guards responsible for protecting the capital city surrounded Xiao Jin, forming a tight circle.

Tang Ling caressed the half piece of the tiger token in her hand and explained to Xiao Jin, “Your Highness, there’s no need to panic. The half piece of the tiger token that the Crown Prince held is with me. The area surrounding the capital city is also under my control. Therefore, Admiral Ye has surrendered.”

“And these soldiers are Admiral Ye’s subordinates. They have come to take Miss Ye back to the Ye family.”

Understanding Tang Ling’s words, Xiao Jin smiled. She lowered her head and looked at the face in her arms. After closing Ye Suyu’s eyes, she gently released her hold.

Before handing Ye Suyu over to the Ye family’s army, Xiao Jin picked up the steel whip that had fallen in the pool of blood and placed it between Ye Suyu’s hands.

Then, Xiao Jin stood up and walked step by step toward the side hall.

Blood flowed down her back, staining the floor tiles with scattered crimson beads.

Approaching the bedside, Xiao Jin saw the princess lying on it.

Princess Zhao Yang was sleeping soundly, motionless.

Xiao Jin raised her hand but then pulled it back. When she reached out again, she held the princess’s face in her hands and clumsily wiped away the bloodstains from her lips.

Wiping little by little, until the blood-stained face became pale and clean again, she stopped and embraced the person lying on the bed.

Xiao Jin held Xiao Shuang and felt that the person in her arms was so light, just like a dream.

At this moment, she thought of Chu Shao. When Chu Shao held her, did she also have such thoughts?

Just like when she arrived, Xiao Jin stepped on the blood-soaked floor and walked step by step into the side hall. And now, she walked out the same way, step by step.

Tang Ling stood beside a chair.

The countless corpses couldn’t tell her story, so Tang Ling smiled as she looked at Xiao Jin walking out of the side hall and spoke to her.

Tang Ling seemed to say a lot, but Xiao Jin couldn’t hear clearly. She only held Xiao Shuang’s lifeless body and said to Tang Ling, “I want to return to Prince Yan’s Mansion.”

Tang Ling raised an eyebrow slightly. “And then, Your Highness?”

“After that, I will go to the Dali Temple.”

For Tang Ling, Xiao Jin still had her uses, so she agreed. However, she sent a large group of people to accompany Xiao Jin, surrounding her.

Xiao Jin picked up Xiao Shuang, stumbled as she descended from the carriage, and walked straight into the mansion. From a hidden compartment, she took out the silver hairpin and the IOU for 48,000 words.

She tucked these items into her bosom.

When she was about to leave, she saw the drizzling rain outside and suddenly remembered that something was missing.

It was only when she found the last missing item that Xiao Jin, carrying Xiao Shuang, boarded the carriage and left the capital city, heading toward the distant misty mountains.

The tip of the tower at the Dali Temple was white and bright. Amidst the mountain peaks, the lingering sound of a bell echoed.

Xiao Jin dug into the mud with her hands. Rainwater seeped into the burial ground, mixing with blood, wet and cold.

In the drizzling autumn rain, the guard by her side used his sword to dig a pit. Xiao Jin uncovered the coffin she had prepared for herself and gently picked up Princess Zhao Yang.

She placed Princess Zhao Yang, the note, the wooden hairpin, and the silver hairpin inside the coffin.

She looked at the person in the coffin for a final glance.

Several heavy thuds.

Seven coffin nails were driven into the golden nanmu shell, sealing it shut.

Xiao Jin squatted in place and gazed for a long time.

Finally, she moved her numb legs and walked away following the path she came.

Standing on the stone steps of the Dali Temple, Xiao Jin looked up and saw a patch of floating clouds hidden among the distant mountains. As it drew nearer, she realized that it was actually two cranes flying side by side.

She watched the two snow-white cranes spread their wings and fly into the faraway distance.

Eventually, they disappeared into the green mountains without a trace.

Xiao Jin couldn’t help but smile.

Then her body swayed and collapsed, falling down along the folding steps.

Before completely losing consciousness, Xiao Jin lay on the ground and saw a familiar face.

She smiled and thought, “It was all just a big dream.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Translator’s note: Wuwuwuwu… Xiao Shuang died. 😭😭😭 What kind of reason was that? Did he do all those things just to win over Xiao Shuang? What kind of brain does that Emperor have?! Tell me! Ah! He doesn’t deserve to simply die like that. I wish Xiao Shuang could have tortured him! I know it’s painful for Xiao Shuang. All this time, every second, day, month, and year, I know she’s been having a hard time. Moving on isn’t that easy. She truly loves Fengxuan, but she didn’t have the time to confess. 😭 And now, she has died, finally able to see her beloved Fengxuan. I hope there will be another lifetime for them to meet again and fall in love happily without obstacles. 😭😭😭

That’s all for this week’s update. I will update again if I’m not busy. Thanks.

TO BE CONTINUE…