Xue Zining was very close to him, appearing to outsiders as if the two of them stood intimately together. Wen Yuxi seemed to smell her subtle fragrance.
Wen Yuxi took a deep breath, "Your Majesty, it is truly wrong to treat your savior this way."
"Savior? You have the nerve to say that?" Xue Zining said coldly.
Wen Yuxi chuckled softly, "You should know Hua Yunjin, no, now it should be Xue Jingyuan, how could he let you escape?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Zining sneered, "Because he knows you will complete what he wants to do, after all, you are on the same boat."
Wen Yuxi sighed, "Your Majesty, saying this truly wastes this humble one's intentions. After all, the people around you have already left safely, haven't they?"
"But Xue Jingyuan has always wanted only me. They are merely means to lure me out."
"Your Majesty, I have nothing to say if you put it that way. But do you think you can hurt this humble one? Or escape the pursuit of Qianjin Lou?" Wen Yuxi said with a smug confidence.
Xue Zining curled her lips and suddenly moved closer to Wen Yuxi's neck. Her crimson lips parted slightly, her warm breath fanning his neck, making his already beating heart quicken its pace.
"Since you know, then why don't you consider why I can still stand here with such confidence?"
Wen Yuxi was startled. The Xue Zining behind him gave him a feeling of fearlessness, just as she had said, why was she so nonchalant? Her companions had all left.
"Why?" Wen Yuxi couldn't guess and couldn't help but ask.
Xue Zining raised an eyebrow, her tone much more relaxed, but the dagger in her hand did not falter. Her breath continued to caress his neck, "Because you fell into my trap."
Wen Yuxi's gaze sharpened, "A trap? This humble one does not know what trap I fell into."
Suddenly, Xue Zining thrust the dagger fiercely, aiming for Wen Yuxi's waist. He was already on guard, his hand swiftly catching the dagger. He turned, the sharp blade cutting through his palm, blood flowing out between his fingers.
Wen Yuxi frowned. His body seemed to be growing progressively weaker. He looked up at the smiling girl. "What did you do?"
The girl's fair face exuded a wicked charm, her clear eyes more beautiful than ever. "Do you want to ask what I did yesterday?"
Wen Yuxi trembled. "What exactly did you do?"
The girl chuckled softly, her gaze turning cold. "That cup of blood."
Wen Yuxi's eyes widened, his face turning cold. "What did you put in my blood?"
"Won't you find out what I put in my blood?"
Wen Yuxi's gaze turned icy. Gritting his teeth, he spat out each word from between his clenched jaws, "Xue Zining..."
The girl smiled, like a flower from hell, alluring and seductive.
"Wen Yuxi, you are no longer the young Lin Yanzhi you once were, and I am no longer the Empress who willingly gave you her heart's blood." Xue Zining said, word by word. People always grow up and realize that some things, once done, are in the past.
Wen Yuxi clutched his chest, which was now aching, but a cold smile played on his lips. "Xue Zining, do you think by poisoning me, you can escape?"
"We'll only know if you try, won't we?" Xue Zining stepped back several paces, watching Wen Yuxi coldly.
"Seize her..." Wen Yuxi pointed at Xue Zining and said coldly.
The men in black stepped forward to swarm her, only to find their bodies had gone soft and they could not move.
Xue Zining sneered, "When I walked over just now, I sprinkled some soft bone powder. I'm afraid none of you can move."
"Xue Zining, you are truly despicable and shameless." Wen Yuxi could no longer maintain his composure and finally erupted in anger.
"Speaking of despicable, how can I compare to your collusion with Xue Jingyuan in harming innocent girls? I am merely protecting the peace of Huangze and its people. Wen Yuxi, you are only reaping what you have sown." Xue Zining stood there, looking down at Wen Yuxi.
Wen Yuxi froze, as if he were transported back in time to when he first saw the Empress. She had entered slowly, wearing a flowing gown the color of water and sky. Her fair face held eyes as clear as the deepest spring, and her entire being exuded a regal aura. It was that single glance that captured his heart. From then on, he found that no one else could make his heart beat again. Now, his heart was pounding violently. He desired her, including the taste of blood that so captivated him.
"Do you think by putting poison in my blood, I would let you leave? Xue Zining, you underestimate a person's obsession and inner demons. And you..." Wen Yuxi slowly straightened his body, the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth adding a touch of breathtaking beauty. A hint of defiance flickered in his alluring eyes. "You are my obsession and my inner demon, Xue Zining, you can never be free from me..."
Xue Zining watched him coldly, sneering, "But you are not my obsession or my inner demon, and you can never restrain me."
"Then let's see if I can keep you." As Wen Yuxi finished speaking, he lunged at Xue Zining.
Xue Zining drew the silver whip from her waist and lashed out. Wen Yuxi's charge was not deterred by the silver whip. She was inwardly alarmed. If he hadn't drunk her poisoned blood, she might not have had a chance of winning. Indeed, the leader of Qianjin Lou was extraordinary.
"Xue Zining, your blood is poisoned. You must have taken a lot of poison yourself, otherwise, how could it permeate into your blood?" Wen Yuxi asked, looking at the girl's sluggish movements.
Xue Zining stopped. "You are correct. For this cup of blood, I have consumed poison for many days."
"Xue Zining, you are truly heartless," Wen Yuxi blurted out.
"To save someone, what is this?" Xue Zining sneered. She knew that the leader of Qianjin Lou was the supposedly deceased Lin Yanzhi, and she had planned this. She knew Xue Jingyuan might not act personally, as these matters would be most appropriately handled by Qianjin Lou. And the disguised Lin Yanzhi would surely carry out this task for Xue Jingyuan. Therefore, the only person she needed to deal with was the leader of Qianjin Lou, Wen Yuxi. She had previously sent Xue Yan to investigate the missing girls and discovered that even those who were found were already corpses. They had not been violated before death, but had bled to death, with the bleeding occurring from the heart. She recalled that the leader of Qianjin Lou suffered from palpitations and needed heart's blood as a medicinal guide. Her investigation with Xue Yan revealed that Lin Yanzhi was in a state of fake death and often took the heart's blood of young girls as a medicinal guide. She had planned this. However, it was a case of harming the enemy while also damaging herself. Her body had suffered greatly.
"Xue Zining, was it worth it?" Wen Yuxi asked, looking up.
"It was worth it..." Xue Zining said, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.