Jiaoze knelt on the ground, his mind a complete mess.
His mother just sent someone to call him over, saying she had something to tell him, so he came right away.
I never expected to witness such a breathtaking scene as soon as I arrived at the entrance of the main hall.
Fortunately, Meng Qingyin was nearby and reacted quickly, knocking the dagger out of the assassin's hand in time, thus preventing serious consequences.
But he never imagined that the assassin would be none other than Jiao Ruxue, whom he had been longing for for three years!
What did Jiao Ruxue experience in the past three years?
Why has her hair turned silver? Why does she look so haggard, as if she has just recovered from a serious illness?
And why did she want to assassinate her mother?
He had no idea about any of this.
The words of begging for mercy slipped out, and as soon as he realized what he had said, a wave of regret washed over him.
Jiao Ruxue wanted to kill his mother!
How could he possibly beg for her forgiveness?
Can……
He couldn't bear to watch Jiao Ruxue be executed.
He loves both of them, and he doesn't want to hurt either of them.
How can he protect Jiao Ruxue without hurting his mother's feelings?
Jiaoming looked coldly at Jiaoze.
She couldn't understand how someone as career-driven as herself could develop such a romantic mindset.
How could she entrust the entire Merfolk clan to him with such confidence?
"Jiaoze, get up." She was trying her best to control her anger, her voice tense. "You must always remember that you are the leader of Jiaoze. Never show your weakness to others."
Jiaoze slowly got up, and a feeling of powerlessness welled up in his heart again.
Yes, he is the leader of the Merfolk.
His mother taught him from a young age that he should always consider the big picture and never forget his responsibilities.
In order to train him to be a qualified leader, his mother rarely showed him any tenderness, only strictness and rigor.
However, his mother never asked him if he wanted to be the leader.
He is indecisive and prone to impulsive and emotional actions, making him completely unsuitable for important tasks.
Now, he can't even protect the people he loves. What use is he?
This time, a strong thought arose in Jiao Ze's mind.
In a moment of impulse, he blurted out once again, "Mother, please spare Jiao Ruxue, I can give up being the leader."
Jiao Ming was furious. "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you even know who Jiao Ruxue is? She deliberately approached you to use you to harm me. Are you really going to give up your mother and your position as leader for a woman like that?"
Jiaoze was completely stunned, incredulous: "No way... what reason would she have to do this?"
Jiao Ming sneered: "Because she believes that I killed her parents, and with Jiao Si's instigation, she is determined to avenge them! She has no feelings for you, only the desire to use you!"
Hearing these words, Meng Qingyin wasn't particularly surprised.
She had guessed that this might be the case.
Now that Jiaoming has said these words himself, it only confirms her guess.
As a criminal who had once plotted a rebellion, Jiao Si was someone Jiao Ming could not help but send people to monitor him, so every move he and Jiao Ruxue made was in her hands.
Jiaoming was fully aware of all the plans of the uncle and nephew.
Even today's assassination attempt was probably orchestrated by Jiaoming.
Jiao Ling'er had told her that Jiao Ming was a very great leader who led the Jiao Clan to become the overlord of the ocean, and even some races on land submitted to the Jiao Clan.
This ruthless leader was unusually frozen in fear when faced with Jiao Ruxue's assassination attempt.
and……
If it weren't for her instruction, Jiao Ruxue would probably have had a hard time disguising herself as a maid and sneaking into the main hall.
Most importantly, the timing of Mermaid's appearance was too perfect.
He happened to appear and witness the scene just as Jiao Ruxue attacked Jiao Ze, neither too early nor too late.
Meng Qingyin felt that everything was under Jiaoming's control.
She deliberately allowed Jiao Ruxue to assassinate her, and then deliberately let Jiao Ming witness it.
As for her purpose...
It was probably to sever Jiao Ze's feelings for Jiao Ruxue, force him to break off his love and affection, and personally eliminate his weakness so that he could become a rational leader of the Jiao clan.
It's a pity, she probably never expected her son to be so love-struck, loving a beautiful woman more than his country.
No, it's more than that.
Jiaoze doesn't even want Jiaoming, his mother anymore.
After all, Jiao Ruxue attempted to assassinate Jiao Ming right in front of him, but instead of severing his feelings for Jiao Ruxue as Jiao Ming had hoped, he begged Jiao Ming to spare Jiao Ruxue's life...
Meng Qingyin thought, "Jiaoming probably wants to die right now, doesn't he?"
Although Jiao Ming wasn't quite driven to death by Jiao Ze, she wasn't much better off, and she couldn't suppress the anger in her voice: "Are you still going to beg for her now?"
That unfilial son! He's infuriating!
If she had a second child, the position of leader of the Merfolk would never have fallen to this unfilial son!
After hearing her words, Jiao Ze fell silent.
Jiaoming thought he had come to his senses, and his expression softened slightly: "You should no longer interfere in this matter—go back and reflect on how to lead the Merfolk to greater prosperity and strength..."
“No, Mother,” Jiao Ze said slowly, “I’ve thought it through. I’m not the best candidate for leader. You should train someone else.”
Jiaoming was furious. "You've gone mad! For a woman who doesn't love you, you actually gave up your position as leader! How could I, Jiaoming, have given birth to such a worthless bastard! Guards, the leader is tired, take him back to his bedchamber to rest!"
Immediately, guards stepped forward and, seemingly respectful but actually forceful, took Jiaoze away.
Only Jiaoming and Meng Qingyin remained in the main hall.
Meng Qingyin suddenly realized that being alone with Jiao Ming wasn't a good thing, after all, she, an outsider, knew too many secrets of the Jiao Clan that she shouldn't know...
She suddenly felt a little worried. Would Jiao Ming harm her?
I should have handed the mermaid pearl to Jiao Ze earlier and left this place of trouble as soon as possible. Why did I stay here to watch the show?
But Jiao Ming was clearly blinded by anger at the hopeless Jiao Ze, and glared at her angrily: "What are you still standing here for? Are you waiting for me to hold you accountable?"
As she spoke, Meng Qingyin stepped back, saying, "I'll step back now."
"Wait a minute," Jiao Ming suddenly called out to her.
Meng Qingyin froze. Had she changed her mind?
"You and Jiaoze are friends, can you help me persuade him not to act impulsively?" Jiaoming said after a long silence.
After saying that, she leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and looked exhausted.
Meng Qingyin thought to herself, Jiaoming is an excellent leader, but definitely not a qualified mother.
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