Duan Xingzhi explained, "It was this person who exposed my whereabouts on the night I went to get the medicine."

Xiao Shiye was instantly enraged.

"What grudge do I have against this woman? Why would she go to such lengths to take my life!"

"Sending a maid to poison me a second time wasn't enough; she even wanted to destroy the person who was searching for medicine for me, completely severing my chances of survival!"

He suddenly gave a cold laugh.

"This Ji Xueyan is truly a good concubine for Third Brother."

Zhang De also angrily said, "This woman plotted to harm the Crown Prince. According to the law, her entire family should be executed! Your Highness, should this old minister take the evidence and go to the Third Prince's residence to arrest her?"

Xiao Shiye waved his hand.

"No need."

"Tonight, when our third brother forces us to abdicate, let our troops launch a counterattack against the Third Prince's residence and catch him completely off guard!"

"At that time, he and Ji Xueyan can be dealt with together."

That night.

As expected, the Third Prince Xiao Renyue mobilized his private army, intending to rebel!

Unfortunately, he made a fatal mistake; his attempt to force the emperor to abdicate failed, and instead, the Crown Prince's troops besieged the Third Prince's residence.

"Third brother, surrender now, and I may spare your life."

Xiao Shiye, mounted on his horse, shouted loudly.

Xiao Renyue stood in the hall, his hair disheveled, laughing wildly, pointing his sword angrily at Xiao Shiye, "Surrender?"

"You want me to watch you ascend the throne and humiliate me?"

"ridiculous!"

His eyes flashed with murderous intent, "Since I can't poison you, I'll just kill you!"

Having said that, he leaped forward, raised his sword, and fiercely thrust it at Xiao Shiye!

Snap—

A black feathered arrow pierced through the void, carrying killing intent, and stabbed fiercely into Xiao Renyue's chest!

Pfft—!

The arrow pierced his body.

Xiao Renyue suddenly fell to the ground, landing back in the hall, and spat out a mouthful of blood.

“You…” Xiao Renyue looked toward where the arrow had come from.

Upon seeing Duan Xingzhi, dressed in black, standing on the rooftop with his clothes fluttering in the wind and an unreadable expression, with a cold crescent moon behind him, resembling the scythe of death.

“You traitor…” Xiao Renyue spat out another mouthful of blood.

"Traitor?" Xiao Shiye turned his horse around and strolled leisurely outside the palace, laughing, "Night Owl has always been my man, utterly loyal and sincere, how can you call him a traitor?"

"Third brother, you're too stupid."

"Unable to discern whether those around them are friends or foes, they blindly trust them."

Xiao Renyue stared in astonishment.

"No wonder……"

"No wonder you knew my plans!"

"Night Owl!" he roared, turning his head. "I will never forgive you!"

Duan Xingzhi remained silent and did not answer.

Looking into his eyes, it was as if he were looking at a lump of dead flesh.

Xiao Shiye said, "I now have evidence of your treason. You poisoned the crown prince, raised a private army, and attempted to destabilize the country. Every single one of these acts is undeniable! What else do you have to say?"

Xiao Renyue stared intently at him, knowing that his chances of winning were slim, his eyes bloodshot.

"Kill me or torture me, it's all up to you!"

"Your Highness!" A woman's exclamation suddenly came from afar.

Xiao Renyue turned his head and saw Ji Xueyan running towards him from under the eaves.

“Xueyan…” He was deeply moved.

Unexpectedly, at this crucial moment, she was the only one willing to stay by his side.

In the past, he overlooked...

"Your Highness!" Ji Xueyan rushed to Xiao Shiye and knelt down. "The Third Prince rebelled, and I knew nothing about it. I beg Your Highness to have mercy and spare my life!"

"I am willing to serve as your slave, to be your ox or your horse, to repay Your Highness!"

Xiao Renyue: ...?

Ji Xueyan crawled forward on her knees and kowtowed repeatedly.

He was filled with deep regret.

How could I have been so blind as to choose Xiao Renyue?

If a crown prince had been chosen, things wouldn't have come to this.

It's all the night owl's fault!

The change of power halfway through her reign shattered her dream of becoming empress!

She glanced at the dark figure on the roof, her eyes filled with hatred.

Xiao Renyue was in a daze, thinking he had misheard.

He stared at the back of Ji Xueyan's head in disbelief, taking a long time to process what was going on.

He roared angrily, "Ji Xueyan! You shameless woman, how dare you betray me!"

Ji Xueyan acted as if she hadn't heard anything.

He pleaded with Xiao Shiye on his own.

"Your Highness, I am a close friend of the Crown Prince's concubine. Your Highness has a deep affection for her and would certainly not be willing to punish Xueyan, would you?"

"Your Highness, please spare Xueyan's life for the sake of the concubine!"

Her eyes were filled with tears, as if she were weeping and lamenting.

She firmly believed that in her past life, even a cold-blooded person like Night Owl looked at her differently, so she would definitely be favored by the Crown Prince.

Even a mediocre concubine can monopolize the Eastern Palace.

Why shouldn't she?

Moreover, the position of Crown Princess is still vacant; perhaps it's reserved for her by Heaven.

"So you're Ji Xueyan?" Xiao Shiye sat on his tall horse, looking at her coldly.

Ji Xueyan was overjoyed.

"Does Your Highness recognize me?"

Xiao Shiye's voice suddenly turned cold, "Was it you who instigated the concubine's maid to poison me?"

Ji Xueyan's smile froze at the corner of her mouth.

"You wicked woman! Come in here!" Xiao Renyue grabbed her hair and dragged her into the hall, saying viciously, "Even if I die here today, I will make you pay with your life!"

He waved his hand.

All the candles inside the hall fell out.

Flames shot into the air, instantly engulfing the curtains and spreading rapidly.

Flames raged and thick smoke billowed.

"Fire!" shouted soldiers outside the palace. "Protect the Emperor! Quickly, protect the Emperor!"

"Protect His Highness the Crown Prince!"

They stepped back, supporting Xiao Shiye.

Ji Xueyan screamed in terror, "Xiao Renyue! You're a madman! Let me go!"

"Help!" she cried out, coughing and gasping for breath from the thick smoke. "Someone, please save me..."

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