Chapter 95 Of course, her head must be cut off, and her body...
The next moment, Xiao Dingguan felt a sudden pain in his throat.
The strong fingers gripped his throat tightly and continued to tighten.
The composed smile on Ji Chengnin's face had long since vanished. He lowered his head, but his tone remained calm as he asked, "What did you say?"
"Creak—"
The neck bones, unable to bear the weight, let out a mournful cry.
The young general repeated gently, "What did you say? Say it again."
Xiao Dingguan's eyes turned bloodshot from suffocation. The air seemed to rapidly dissipate, his chest heaved violently, and his throat constricted with spasmodic, hoarse sounds.
"I said..." His voice was so hoarse it was unrecognizable. He spoke slowly and deliberately, "I said, you are truly the most foolish person in the world, or is the wealth and glory the emperor has given you enough to buy your mother's life, to buy your unwavering loyalty to him, hahahahahahahaha," Before he could finish speaking, a fist slammed into his chin. A whiff of blood quickly escaped from his mouth, and Xiao Dingguan groaned in pain from the blow.
The fingers are tightening.
The slender fingers were like iron hoops, deeply embedded in his skin, so tight that his vision began to turn white.
He struggled desperately, but his body was unable to move.
At this moment, killing him would be no harder for Ji Chengning than crushing an insect.
Ji Chengnin, however, crushed the insect with the same force, without changing his expression.
More and more, with increasing force.
His eyes quickly became bloodshot, and Ji Chengnin's face began to blur in his vision.
Ji Chengning wanted to kill him.
The young general was expressionless, exuding a chilling aura. His usual ambergris scent had long been replaced by the smell of gunpowder and blood, a somber and intense aroma that permeated his very being.
"call--"
A sound like a broken bellows came from his throat.
Xiao Dingguan's legs kicked weakly.
At this moment, he was finally certain that Ji Chengnin really wanted to kill him!
But why? Isn't Ji Chengnin curious? Doesn't he want to know about Ji Lang's past with the emperor? Can he really ignore the hatred of killing his mother for the sake of the emperor's favor?
"season……"
"Crunch, crunch."
It seems that the sound of a neck bone breaking can already be heard.
Just before everything went completely black before his eyes, Ji Chengnin suddenly let go.
"Bang."
The adult male's body lay limply on the ground, dust flying everywhere.
Xiao Dingguan opened his eyes with great difficulty and was met with Ji Chengnin's cold and ruthless face, like that of a god of death.
“You don’t want to die,” Ji Chengnin said firmly.
Xiao Dingguan breathed heavily.
Who would want to die?
"You don't want to die, yet you dare to provoke me," Ji Chengnin was quite astonished, looking at Xiao Dingguan as if he were a fool courting death. "Xiao Dingguan, you don't actually think that after you say these bullshit words, this general will be so alarmed that he will treat you as an honored guest and then directly start a rebellion in Luanyang, do you?"
Xiao Dingguan didn't speak, but stared intently at Ji Chengning with his blood-red eyes.
"Smack!"
The heavy scabbard slammed into his face.
Xiao Dingguan was jolted by the blow, his dizziness persisted, but the sharp pain in his chin made it impossible for him to faint.
Ji Chengning calmly sheathed his knife.
"Speak, General Xiao." At this moment, Ji Chengnin actually gave him an extremely gentle and handsome smile.
However, in Xiao Dingguan's eyes, it was nothing short of a vengeful ghost demanding his life.
The blade was within reach.
But he knew very well that, given Ji Chengnin's ruthless nature, it was nothing short of wishful thinking for him to die a quick and painless death.
He laughed loudly, not for any other reason than that Ji Chengnin had taken the initiative to speak, so this matter would certainly not be easily dismissed!
A morbid ecstasy surfaced in his bloodshot eyes.
Whether Ji Chengnin tramples the imperial palace in the future, or the emperor orders Ji Chengnin to be executed, either outcome is what he wants to see.
So he took a trembling breath and spoke.
Forty-five years ago, in the Ji family mansion in the capital—no, at that time the Ji family did not yet have marquises, the highest-ranking official, Lord Ji, held the position of Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies—this Lord Ji's family gained a son and a daughter.
Ji Chen, Ji Lang.
Ji Chen and Ji Lang looked very alike since childhood, with similar features and eyes. They also liked to dress the same way. From childhood to adolescence, no one except the two of them could tell who was Ji Lang and who was Ji Chen.
This similarity has not disappeared with age; on the contrary, it has intensified.
The brother and sister were both literate, went to school, practiced swordsmanship and martial arts, like two sides of a mirror, with little difference in their likes, dislikes, hobbies, and even temperaments.
However, perhaps because he was the older brother, Ji Chen was more composed, while Ji Lang was more flamboyant and unruly.
At that time, the Ji family was not too worried, because the two were, after all, men and women, and differences would eventually become apparent over time.
However, this difference only became apparent when Ji Chen was seventeen and went to guard the border with the army, while Ji Lang stayed at home and never went out.
But, but, Xiao Dingguan laughed hoarsely, "But Ji Lang is not the type to stay at home. She used Ji Chen's identity to accompany the army!"
Therefore, the famous Marquis of Yongning was actually two different people.
Xiao Dingguan knew this, of course. When he was five years old and started his studies, he was in the same school as the Ji siblings. When he first saw Ji Chen and Ji Lang, he was shocked and mistook them for demons in human form.
It was only later that they learned that it wasn't a demon disguised as a human, but rather siblings born of the same mother.
For the next twelve years, the three of them attended the same academy, studied under the same martial arts instructors, and even joined the army in the same way.
The elders of both the Xiao and Ji families only regarded Xiao Dingguan as a good friend of Ji Chen and Ji Lang, which is why they insisted on being on the same side. In fact, he wanted to see when the brother and sister would show their differences.
Furthermore, both Ji Lang and Ji Chen are exceptionally talented, their scarlet robes fluttering, their beauty stunning and resolute, making them the envy of many and the source of much jealousy!
“She could fool others, but she couldn’t fool me,” a smug glint flashed in Xiao Dingguan’s bloodshot, swollen eyes. “I joined the army just like the other two. On the night I arrived at Changyang Pass, I found Ji Lang and said…”
He said, "I know you've been impersonating your brother, Ji Lang. There's no precedent in the Wei Dynasty for women to serve in the army. If I were to report you today, guess what would happen to you and your brother?"
Ji Lang looked at him strangely, as if he couldn't understand what he was saying at all.
"Brother Xiao."
Ji Lang spoke slowly and deliberately, "Are you too tired?"
Xiao Dingguan sneered, "Ji Lang, don't pretend!"
Ji Lang's long, dark eyelashes drooped slightly, trembling as if he were deep in thought.
He strode forward, aggressive and menacing.
The next second, he was punched hard in the face. Before he could even react, the girl moved with lightning speed. By the time he came to his senses, a sharp dagger was already stuck in his neck.
What are you going to do?
He heard someone ask.
The voice was soft, but cold.
Like spring snow falling on bamboo leaves.
He turned his head with difficulty and saw a face that looked exactly like the man holding the knife.
Ji Chen.
As expected!
Ji Lang lowered her head. "What do you want? Money, power, fame, and fortune—I can't give you any of that." She curved her crimson lips into a smile. "Ji Chen, tell me, can a person still speak without a tongue?"
Ji Chen said calmly, "He can still write, but you'll have to sever his tendons too."
Xiao Dingguan was covered in cold sweat, his jawline clenched tightly.
Ji Chen laughed, tossed the dagger to Xiao Dingguan, and released his grip on Xiao Dingguan's hand. "Go ahead and talk. This place is utterly boring. At worst, we'll be thrown back to the capital when things go wrong."
"Ah Lang." Ji Chen's tone was ambiguous, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
"Ji Lang!" Xiao Dingguan called out to her loudly.
Ji Lang paused in his steps.
Xiao Dingguan stared intently into her eyes. "I want to have a match with you. If you win, I will keep your affair with Ji Chen a secret and will be at your beck and call without question. If you lose, you will obediently return to the Ji family mansion to embroider and await your marriage."
Ji Lang laughed upon hearing this. "Alright," she gently pushed away Ji Chen's hand that was pressing on her shoulder. "Brother, someone is eager to be our dog, why refuse?"
The result is obvious.
Xiao Dingguan lost, just as he had lost countless times to Ji Chen and Ji Lang in the previous twelve years.
And then he actually kept his promise and never revealed Ji Chen and Ji Lang's identities. From a small centurion to a captain, and then to a general, he always kept his promise.
Meanwhile, the Ji siblings rose rapidly in rank, eventually becoming General Who Protects the State, and were granted land and titles, with the honorary title of Yongning.
Marquis Yongning was brave and fierce, winning every battle. Not to mention he had saved the emperor's life, making him extremely famous and powerful.
However, two years after the new emperor ascended the throne, the Marquis of Yongning, who had always been close to the emperor, rarely came to the capital. He was stationed in Changyang Pass for many years, fighting against the barbarians.
Two years later, twenty-seven barbarian tribes, led by Tilan, submitted to Wei, offering their crown prince to the capital as a hostage for peace talks.
"We have conquered the lost territory. To show our sincerity, the King of Tilan sent his heir to the capital to negotiate, willing to submit and become a vassal of our dynasty forever," Xiao Dingguan stared into Ji Chengning's deep eyes. "The conflict between the two sides has finally ended. The King of Tilan admires the bravery of Marquis Yongning and often invites him to the barbarian tribes for drinks and entertainment. Whether it is Ji Chen or Ji Lang, they all attend the gatherings alone, and the host and guests enjoy themselves to the fullest."
"Half a month later, Prince Tilan arrived in the capital," his smile grew deeper and more sinister, "but for some unknown reason, he was killed. The court said he had treacherous intentions and attempted to assassinate His Majesty, which is why he was beheaded. But, did he suddenly go mad? A hostage from a defeated nation, traveling thousands of miles to assassinate the ruler of a victorious nation—he didn't care about his life, but he still thought about his tribe! What's even more interesting is that this news quickly spread to the border."
He suddenly burst into laughter, "And back then, your mother was still in the barbarian tribe!"
Xiao Dingguan's eyes were bloodshot. He laughed so heartily and loudly that tears welled up in his eyes. "Guess how the barbarian king, who has lost his beloved son and future heir, will treat this, the Yongning Marquis he thought had deeply betrayed his trust?"
Of course we should kill her!
Of course, her head should be cut off, her body thrown into the flames, and her bones crushed to ashes!
May she never be reincarnated!
Less than three days after Ji Lang's death, the imperial court's posthumous title quickly arrived at the border, stating that the Marquis of Yongning had died for his country, that the barbarian tribes were fickle and had killed a valiant general of our dynasty, and that there was no possibility of peace negotiations thereafter.
Even if the other surviving Marquis of Yongning doesn't die, he will!
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Dingguan's throat tightened suddenly.
The young man's eyes seemed to burn with fierce light, and his handsome face suddenly loomed close to him. "You're spouting nonsense!"
“I’m just spouting nonsense,” Xiao Dingguan said, looking at Ji Chengning’s expression. He barely felt the pain in his neck anymore, only a euphoric and ecstatic feeling. “Ji Chengning, go ask your second uncle, no, your maternal uncle, ask Ji Lin, who your mother really is! Aren’t you surprised that if the Marquis of Yongning is really your father, you know nothing about your mother’s identity? In all these years, have none of your mother’s relatives ever visited the Ji residence?”
"Hahahaha, such a bizarre thing has happened in the world, Ji Chengnin!"
Bone clashed against bone, Xiao Dingguan's face turned purple, but he was still laughing, staring intently at Ji Chengnin's face, and asked with difficulty, "Or is it that you really don't care who killed your mother?"
"Click—"
Bone broken.
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Author's Note: A red envelope will be dropped in this chapter.
[shy]
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