Feng Wu paused, finding this Emperor somewhat unfamiliar.
The young woman withdrew her gaze, her voice as cold as frost, "Ignorance is no excuse for his foolishness. Those who join the Red Lotus Cult betray me. I spare none who betray me; they all die."
Feng Wu lowered his eyes. Feng Yin was loyal to the imperial authority, and he had to obey. "Yes, your subordinate obeys your decree!"
The young woman looked at Hua Yun Jin. Hua Yun Jin saw that the clear, bright look in her eyes was gone, replaced by a murderous intent beneath a chilling frost.
She was reveling in the slaughter.
The young woman raised her sword, pointing it directly at the gem in his hand, and said each word coldly, "Put it down."
He stuffed the gem into his waist, looked up, and smiled, "Come and take it!"
The young woman's gaze turned sharp, filled with a piercing killing intent, "You overestimate yourself."
She sprang up, like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath. This time, Hua Yun Jin found he had no way to dodge. The young woman's sword pierced his shoulder.
Without a moment's hesitation, she pulled the sword back, accompanied by bone-deep pain.
"You did that on purpose, to make me lower my guard?"
Hua Yun Jin asked word by word.
He could no longer understand the Empress as she was now.
The young woman responded with a voice as cold as the twelfth lunar month, "If not, how could Feng Wu lead people to control the Red Lotus Cult?"
Hua Yun Jin's eyes flickered, "Xue Zining, you are so unfamiliar I cannot understand you."
The young woman replied coldly, "I do not need you to understand."
The young woman suddenly exerted force again. Hua Yun Jin retreated repeatedly, but he found he could not escape. Soon, new wounds appeared all over his body.
If this continued, even if he wasn't killed, he would die from excessive blood loss.
The sword again pierced his other shoulder fiercely, the blood staining his robes red.
He looked up and saw the young woman's unfamiliar, cold eyes.
He smiled. At this moment, he and the Empress were complete strangers. What was he still expecting?
The sword pointed directly at his brow. The young woman's face showed a bloodthirsty, cold smile, "Hua Yun Jin, this is the end!"
"Wait…"
A voice suddenly called out.
The young woman slowly raised her eyes and saw Xue Yun Lan clutching Xue Jing Yun's corpse by the neck.
She saw the young woman's bloodthirsty indifference and the chilling, palpable killing intent.
She was gambling, betting that Xue Jing Yun was different in Xue Zining's heart.
As expected, a flicker of panic appeared in the young woman's eyes, "Let him go."
"Make them retreat, and let me and Hua Yun Jin leave," Xue Yun Lan shouted.
She saw the young woman's gaze, as cold and unyielding as iron, but it had developed a crack.
"Your Majesty, you must not." Feng Wu, who had finished the killing, walked in and objected.
The young woman lowered her eyes. Feng Wu added, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of Xue Kingdom is dead. Letting them go will bring endless trouble."
After a long moment, the young woman raised her eyes. Her gaze, stained with blood, now held a trace of its former clarity. "Feng Wu, let them go…"
Feng Wu trembled. The Empress, who had been so decisive and commanding moments ago, had changed again.
Xue Yun Lan said to Hua Yun Jin, "Come here."
Hua Yun Jin gave the young woman a deep look, closed his eyes, then opened them again, stood up, and walked to Xue Yun Lan's side.
The young woman looked at Xue Yun Lan and said word by word, "Xue Yun Lan, you must keep your word, or else…"
The young woman's gaze turned icy, "I will kill you in the most brutal way."
A bone-chilling coldness penetrated Xue Yun Lan's limbs. She trembled, knowing that this time Xue Zining was not lying. If she broke her promise now,
Xue Zining would deal with her in the most brutal manner.
Moreover, she looked down at the sleeping person in her arms. How could she bear to let this person suffer any harm?
Loving someone and not being able to have them is not suffering.
Yan Zhao, no, the Crown Prince of Xue Kingdom, Xue Jing Yun. In the next life, she hoped their meeting would be perfect.
She pushed Xue Jing Yun's corpse away, knocked on a nearby stone, and a cave entrance appeared behind it. She helped Hua Yun Jin stand, looked at the young woman, and said slowly, "High mountains and flowing water. Xue Zining, we will meet again!"
Just as Feng Wu was about to pursue them, a voice came from behind, "Don't chase."
Feng Wu paused, about to ask why they weren't pursuing, when only two more people from the Red Lotus Cult stood between them and complete annihilation.
He saw the young woman's wrist was bloody and mangled.
Xue Yan also saw it and exclaimed in shock, "Your Majesty, you…"
Xue Zining shook her head, "It's nothing. Bandage me."
Xue Yan quickly took out a handkerchief and bandaged her.
After bandaging, Xue Zining pushed her away and went to Xue Jing Yun's corpse. She gently lifted his head and held him in her arms.
She smiled, and her blood-stained face wore the most moving smile she had ever had. She said softly, "I still prefer to call you Yan Zhao…"
As she spoke, tears began to flow, from one drop to another, until she was weeping uncontrollably.
"I… I'm sorry…"
Whether in her past life or this one, the only person Xue Zining owed was Yan Zhao.
"Your Highness…"
When Xue Song and Xue Feng arrived, they saw the young woman holding the sleeping Crown Prince in her arms.
Xue Song stepped forward to examine him, while Xue Feng urgently asked, "How is His Highness?"
Xue Song sighed, "His Highness…"
Xue Feng took a step back, his eyes filled with intense sorrow, "Ultimately, His Highness has reached this point."
Xue Song tilted his head back, forcing the tears that were about to fall back down.
"Why are you crying? Have we reached the final step?" Xue Li stomped over, pushed Xue Zining aside, felt Xue Jing Yun's pulse, and after a long while, said, "There is still a trace of life, but it will be gone soon."
"Tell me, what do I need to do?" Xue Zining grabbed Xue Li and asked.
Xue Li slowly pushed her away and said coldly, "If it weren't for you, His Highness would not have reached this point. He would have steadily ascended the throne of Xue Kingdom and ruled it. Now, with the Crown Prince of Xue Kingdom gone, Xue Kingdom will inevitably plunge into another bloody struggle for the throne."
"Xue Li, this was His Highness's decision; it has nothing to do with the Empress," Xue Feng interjected.
Xue Li froze, turned to look at Xue Feng, who met his gaze without evasion.
"Xue Li, Xue Feng is right. His Highness…"
Xue Song closed his eyes, the tears he had been holding back finally flowing.
Xue Li trembled. He lowered his head. Xue Song choked out, "This was His Highness's last word. Xue Li, fulfill His Highness's wish."
After a long pause, Xue Li grunted in affirmation.
He looked at Xue Zining again and said coldly, "His Highness's body is currently intact. What is needed now is to preserve his body. We will figure out the rest later."
"What do you need me to do?" Xue Zining asked.
Xue Li looked at her and said indifferently, "I heard that the Poison King Valley has a secret technique to preserve a corpse from decay."
"Alright, I will set off for the Poison King Valley immediately." Xue Zining left without looking back.
Poison King Valley
The poison master, Fan Qing, scratched his head and asked the disciple beside him, Qing Yu, "Um… how long has the Empress been kneeling?"