"Xue Yu..." Xue Zi Ning said coldly.
"Xue Yu, kill her..." Xue Chang An shouted.
Xue Zi Ning looked at Xue Yu, whose face was icy. "Forgive me..."
Xue Yu lunged at her rapidly. She dodged.
At this moment, Xue Yu was no longer the same. Her skills were extraordinary. After a few exchanges, her body was covered in wounds.
She retreated repeatedly.
Xue Chang An sneered, "Good sister, you see you ultimately cannot defeat me."
Her sword hit the ground. Xue Yu's long sword pointed directly at her forehead, and she said coldly, "You lost."
"Xue Yu, why?" she asked, word by word.
Xue Yu turned her face away. "There is no why."
"Kill her..." Xue Chang An roared.
Xue Yu turned her head, resentment and unwillingness in her eyes. Looking at her, she said, "I'm sorry..."
He thrust his greatsword towards her.
Xue Zi Ning suddenly leaned back. The sword grazed her nose. She quickly grabbed the dagger that had slipped from her sleeve and slid it along Xue Yu's long sword towards the hand holding it.
Xue Yu was startled, loosened his grip, and the sword fell. Xue Zi Ning smoothly caught the sword and kicked Xue Yu. Xue Yu cried out in pain, slammed against the wall, and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Xue Zi Ning turned to look at Xue Chang An. Xue Chang An was greatly alarmed, heading towards the archers and shouting, "Fire! Fire..."
She threw the dagger in her hand. The dagger pierced Xue Chang An's calf, causing her to collapse on the ground in pain.
She carried her sword and slowly walked towards Xue Chang An. Her long sword pointed directly at Xue Chang An's face, and she said coldly, "This is the end."
"Fire! Fire..." Xue Chang An's face had become hideous and terrifying.
Xue Zi Ning looked at the archers and said coldly, "The era of Xue Chang An's rule has passed. Now, lay down your weapons, and I will spare your lives."
The archers exchanged glances, then lowered their bows.
At this moment, Wu Da Kang arrived with his men and had these people taken away.
"Kill me!" Xue Chang An suddenly said, grabbing her sword to strike her own neck.
How could Xue Zi Ning let her succeed? She kicked her away, the sword grazing her hand.
Xue Chang An angrily said, "Why didn't you kill me? Kill me..."
"Your crimes will be judged in due course..." Xue Zi Ning said coldly.
"Your Majesty, this humble general arrives late to save you!" Wu Da Kang said, kneeling on one knee.
"It's alright. Take them all away and guard them well," Xue Zi Ning said coldly.
The era of Xue Chang An's rule had finally passed.
Three days later, Xue Zi Ning traveled by carriage to a courtyard in the capital.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Xue Zi Ning alighted. Wen Yu Xi, who was driving the carriage, said, "This is it."
"Good," Xue Zi Ning nodded.
People from Qian Jin Lou were guarding the entrance. They saluted Wen Yu Xi upon seeing him.
Pushing open the door, an old woman sat there, frail and decrepit. Seeing the person who had arrived, she remained silent.
"What is going on?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Wen Yu Xi said, "She was like this when we found her. The doctors could do nothing."
Xue Zi Ning said, "Let me talk to her."
Wen Yu Xi nodded. "Call me if you need anything. I'll be waiting outside."
"Alright," Xue Zi Ning replied.
The door was closed. Xue Zi Ning stepped forward and took the old woman's hand. "Aunt Yuan, do you remember me?"
The old woman lowered her head. When she saw her, her eyes clearly widened. "Wuwu..."
The old woman could only make muffled sounds, tears streaming down her weathered face.
Xue Zi Ning reached out and pried open her mouth, only to discover that her teeth had been pulled out.
Xue Zi Ning was stunned. She hadn't expected this.
"Aunt Yuan, I have some questions for you now. You only need to nod or shake your head."
Aunt Yuan nodded.
Xue Zi Ning took a deep breath and asked, "The current Xue Zi Xuan is not actually His Majesty's descendant."
Aunt Yuan nodded.
She asked again, "Nor is he the child of Xue Wen Jie."
Aunt Yuan paused, her eyes widening as she looked at her. Xue Zi Ning said, "Aunt Yuan, I know most of what happened. I just want to confirm. Don't be afraid; no one will harm you."
Aunt Yuan nodded.
"Is the child of Consort Chao Gui and Xue Wen Jie still alive?"
Aunt Yuan paused for a moment, then shook her head.
Xue Zi Ning was taken aback. "Does His Majesty have any other descendants?"
Aunt Yuan's eyes widened, looking at her with terror, as if she had something to say but couldn't. She gestured frantically in her agitation.
"Aunt Yuan, don't rush. Think carefully," Xue Zi Ning comforted her.
Aunt Yuan shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes from frustration. Suddenly, she saw the jade pendant at her waist, pointed to the pendant, and then pointed to her.
"Aunt Yuan, what does this mean?" Xue Zi Ning asked, confused.
Aunt Yuan suddenly convulsed, foamed at the mouth, and fainted.
"Wen Yu Xi," she called out.
Wen Yu Xi pushed the door open and was startled by the scene before him. "What happened?"
"I don't know. She was like this after I asked a few questions," Xue Zi Ning said.
Leaving the courtyard, Xue Zi Ning remained silent in the carriage. Seeing this, Wen Yu Xi said, "Is it very troublesome?"
She looked at him and said, "Are you interested in joining Huang Ze?"
Wen Yu Xi was taken aback, then smiled. "Are you planning to take me as a member of your harem?"
She also smiled. "Yes, are you willing?"
Wen Yu Xi rested his chin on his hand. "I need to consider this. After all, I can't abandon my number one assassin organization. It can save my life at a critical moment."
"Is that so? If you're not willing, then forget it. Plenty of people want to join my harem anyway."
Wen Yu Xi's gaze gradually dimmed. After a long while, he said, "What about him?"
"Who?"
"Yan Zhao..."
Xue Zi Ning fell silent. He saw a hint of sadness in her expression.
"I am waiting for him to return..."
"A Ning, Yan Zhao has done nothing to wrong you. Don't listen to Xue Chang An's nonsense."
"I know. I don't believe anyone else. I only want him to tell me himself."
"A Ning, actually..."
"Wen Yu Xi, don't try to persuade me. I know everything. What stands between us now is not Xue Chang An, but the nation. One of us will have to make a sacrifice."
Wen Yu Xi was taken aback.
She raised her head and said, "Huang Ze, I cannot and will not abandon it. Will he?"
"A Ning, you still don't understand Yan Zhao. He will..."
"Human hearts are unfathomable, with too many variables..."
"A Ning, becoming an emperor requires decisiveness and not trusting easily, but you also need to believe in people's hearts."
"I know, that's why I'm waiting for him to choose. I'm giving him time to choose."
"A Ning..."
"How about it? Aren't you going to take the opportunity to join my harem?"
Wen Yu Xi smiled faintly. "Don't pretend to be so generous. Can anyone easily enter your heart? Give me an official position. Forget about the harem; I don't want to harbor unrealistic fantasies. Besides, you're just trying to silence gossip, so don't use me as a shield."
He was afraid Yan Zhao would hit him.
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