Yu Xiaoyu only remembered halfway through her meal that Yan Jin Chao seemed not to have touched anything from beginning to end.
She looked up at Yan Jin Chao, who was still meditating, and couldn't help but ask, "Young Master Yan, aren't you eating?"
"No, you eat!" Yan Jin Chao replied indifferently without lifting his head.
Yu Xiaoyu was slightly stunned and said no more, lowering her head to continue eating.
Halfway through her meal, someone walked in from outside. She put down her plate and looked at the person who entered, her gaze growing much colder, because this person was none other than Wen Ling.
The one who had used and deceived her.
"It's you..." Yu Xiaoyu gripped the bars of her cell, glaring fiercely at Wen Ling.
Wen Ling smiled, "Miss Yu, it seems you find this place quite accommodating."
"Wen Ling, heaven will not forgive you for your wicked deeds..."
Before Yu Xiaoyu could finish speaking, she felt her neck being grabbed, and a suffocating sensation brought her to the brink of death.
A silver light flashed, and Yu Xiaoyu felt the hand on her neck quickly retract. She fell to the ground, gasping for the air she had long missed.
She knew it was Yan Jin Chao who saved her. Grateful, she looked towards him. At that moment, Yan Jin Chao rose from the ground.
His moon-white robe cascaded down like flowing water, not a single speck of dust on it despite his previous seated position.
Yu Xiaoyu was stunned. How could Yan Jin Chao manage to keep his robe spotless in this prison?
In contrast, she herself was no longer anything like her former self.
Yan Jin Chao walked up to Wen Ling and said coldly, "There is no animosity between us, why must you provoke the innocent?"
"Innocent? Young Master Yan, you've likely forgotten. If it weren't for her, you wouldn't be here today."
Yan Jin Chao said faintly, "Without her, you would have captured me anyway. Your target is Wen Yu Xi, and I was merely a catalyst to lure him out."
Wen Ling chuckled softly, "It seems Young Master Yan has seen through my plan. Don't you find it strange, why I would go the long way around?"
Yan Jin Chao looked at him calmly and said slowly, "That is also something I cannot understand."
He had thought Wen Ling was after the Empress's body. Now it seemed that wasn't the case. Therefore, he felt puzzled. What did Wen Ling truly want?
"Haha, it's enough for me that the once brilliant and talented Crown Prince of Xueguo cannot figure it out."
"So, Wen Ling, what exactly do you want to do?" Yan Jin Chao asked.
Wen Ling gazed into the distance, "In the past, I wanted the Empress's body, so I could be with my sister forever. But my sister said that wouldn't be her anymore. Yes, with the Empress's appearance, it wouldn't be my sister. My sister is Wen Nuan. Even if she came down with imperfections, she would still be my sister. I love my sister."
Yan Jin Chao felt an inexplicable sense of relief. Fortunately, Wen Ling wasn't still in Xue Zining's body; otherwise, it would have been truly troublesome. But what about now? What was Wen Ling trying to achieve?
"Wen Ling, Wen Yu Xi is here..." As soon as Yan Jin Chao finished speaking, Wen Ling felt a killing intent coming from behind him.
He leaped back, narrowly dodging Wen Yu Xi's attack.
"Wen Yu Xi's sneak attack is indeed a victory without honor," Wen Ling said with a cold smile.
Upon hearing this, Wen Yu Xi frowned and said sternly, "I don't need righteousness to deal with a traitor of Qian Jin Lou, because you are not worthy."
Wen Ling chuckled softly, "Is that so? Then it seems I don't need to be particularly benevolent either. Wen Yu Xi, today is your death day."
Saying this, Wen Yu Xi charged forward again, and soon they were locked in combat.
Meanwhile, Wen Yu dealt with the assassins in Qian Jin Lou, then used his sword to break the chains and walked in to stand before Yan Jin Chao, saying, "Young Master Yan, can you walk?"
Yan Jin Chao nodded, "Yes."
Yan Jin Chao walked out. At this moment, many more assassins swarmed in. Wen Yu stepped forward to engage them.
Yu Xiaoyu, who had emerged from the cell, saw this scene and returned to the cell. Although she wanted to leave, she didn't want to die!
Yan Jin Chao took a few steps and felt his heart being gnawed by insects. The pain caused beads of sweat to appear on his forehead.
Wen Yu Xi also sensed something was wrong with Yan Jin Chao and questioned Wen Ling, "What did you give him?"
Wen Ling smiled, "Nothing much, just something that can suppress his cultivation, preventing him from unleashing his power."
"Hey, are you alright? Can you get out by yourself?" Wen Yu Xi asked.
He couldn't afford to worry about Yan Jin Chao right now.
"I'm fine," Yan Jin Chao said, heading towards the exit.
Wen Ling sneered, "Yan Jin Chao, the moment you step out of this cell, you will cough up blood and die."
Yan Jin Chao stepped out of the cell and spat out a mouthful of blood. He quickly pressed the acupoints on his meridians.
Wen Yu Xi was shocked, "Wen Ling, what on earth did you give him?"
"Something good. I have the antidote. If you kill me, he will never get the antidote."
"You, Wen Ling, you are truly despicable and shameless..." Wen Yu Xi cursed in anger.
Wen Ling burst into laughter, "Is that so? Then as you say, I am indeed despicable and shameless."
Yan Jin Chao was now kneeling on one knee, blood continuously flowing from the corner of his mouth.
Wen Ling said, "If he doesn't take the antidote soon, he will bleed to death."
Wen Yu Xi frowned, dropped his sword with one hand, and said, "My target is me. Give him the antidote and release him. I will let you deal with me as you wish."
"Wen Yu Xi, you truly surprise me. This is for your own good. If he dies, the Empress will truly belong to you."
Wen Yu Xi gave a wry smile, "But she will be sad."
He knew that although the Empress had sent him to handle this, she didn't want him to overthink things. However, he knew that the Empress still longed for Yan Jin Chao. If Yan Jin Chao were to die, the Empress would likely remember him even more.
"Wen Yu Xi, are you sure?" Wen Ling asked.
"Yes," Wen Yu Xi replied.
"My lord, don't..." Wen Yu cried out.
Wen Yu Xi looked at Wen Yu and said, "Wen Yu, give Yan Jin Chao the antidote and take him to the Empress."
"No, my lord, I disagree, I disagree..."
"Wen Yu, this is an order." Wen Yu Xi said word by word.
Wen Yu was biting his lower lip so hard it was almost bleeding, "My lord..."
Yan Jin Chao suddenly opened his eyes and said coldly, "I don't need anyone to sacrifice themselves for me, nor do I need you, Wen Yu Xi."
As his words fell, he suddenly leaped up, landing in front of Wen Ling, and grabbed Wen Ling by the collar.
Wen Ling was greatly surprised, "You... how can you still move?"
Yan Jin Chao said calmly, "You only know me as Yan Jin Chao, but you don't know that I am also Xue Jing Yun."
Wen Yu Xi was stunned, "You've regained your memory?"
"No, I just remembered that I am Xue Jing Yun."