Chapter 119 Counterattack (1) Killing one's father and seizing power would be a better path...
The water clock room in the imperial palace announced the time. At that moment, the afterglow of the setting sun flowed like molten gold onto the glazed tiles, coating each tile with a dazzling yet gentle radiance.
Golden sunlight pierced through the intricately carved window frames, casting dappled shadows across the spacious courtyard. The copper bells under the eaves rang out with a clear and melodious sound. Xiao Liling looked up at the sound and said to Pan Pei, who was styling her hair, "It's such a beautiful sight, but it's a pity that I'll never see my second brother again after today."
Pan Pei carefully placed the last gold hairpin in Xiao Liling's hair, then brought out an exquisitely crafted crimson brocade robe in the style of an empress, adorned with nine phoenixes in flight, and helped Xiao Liling change into it. As she adjusted the sash, she asked, "Would the princess like to see him off?"
Xiao Liling wiped her rouge-stained fingers with a pink handkerchief and said softly, "Of course, I will give it to you."
Xiao You was imprisoned in the Northern Garrison Prison for several days. A few days ago, his "head" was hanging on the city gate. During the months he was imprisoned, he had been tortured beyond recognition.
The prison robe on his upper body was only a few tattered pieces of fabric hanging loosely on his body. His bare chest was covered with knife wounds, burns, and whip marks, and there was a bloody hole that kept oozing bloody pus, which emitted a foul stench.
"Second brother."
Someone gently called his name in his ear. Xiao You struggled to open his wet, sticky eyes and looked up to see Xiao Liling standing upright in front of him, dressed in a phoenix robe. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his limbs, which were chained, struggled violently, causing the wooden rack to shake.
Xiao You's eyes were bloodshot, and he leaned forward to meet Xiao Liling's gaze, his anger surging. "Why?! Xiao Liling, why did you do this?"
The cell was dimly lit, the light from the flickering candle illuminating the filthy pool of blood on the floor, reflecting Xiao Liling's slow, gentle gesture of wiping Xiao You's face with a handkerchief. Her voice was as gentle as ever, "Second brother, you look like a stray dog now."
Xiao You stared in disbelief, forcefully turning his head away from her handkerchief. He slowly calmed himself, carefully examining her phoenix-embroidered dress from head to toe, and said, "A wolf in sheep's clothing... nothing more than that... Xiao Liling, you betrayed us to marry him? Haha, you were born a princess, holding a high position in the Great Hua Kingdom, yet you killed your own father for a man? Are you insane! Why? What was it all for?!"
Xiao You's blood was boiling. He couldn't understand why Xiao Liling was doing this. She had always been obedient and filial, so why had she become like this?
“Why…” Xiao Liling chewed on these three words, then leaned to signal Pan Pei to bring over an ochre-colored earthenware jar. She took it and presented it to Xiao You, her smile a mixture of sarcasm and mockery. “It was the princess of Huachao who obeyed Emperor Jingde, Xiao Songyun, not me.”
There was something in Xiao Liling's eyes that Xiao You had never noticed before. He was surprised and looked at the ochre-colored earthenware jar, and a guess began to form in his mind.
The next moment, Xiao Liling confirmed his guess. Her slender white fingers, stained with red nail polish, opened the lid of the jar, and the ashes suddenly came into view.
Xiao Liling plucked out a small pinch of powder, blew it gently, and it scattered across Xiao You's face, creating a hazy mist between them. She laughed through the smoke, "Xiao You, your biological father? This is our biological father."
Xiao You was utterly shocked by her crazed state, muttering, "You're insane...you're really insane..."
The earthenware jar in her hand felt icy cold. Xiao Liling curled her red lips slightly and simply turned the jar upside down on Xiao You's head, causing Emperor Jingde's ashes to splash all over his face and body.
He was terrified and tried to dodge, but his limbs were firmly locked, rendering his attempts to evade futile. His head, face, and body were covered in bone ash, and he finally roared in a frenzy, "You're insane! He's your father, you beast who disregards humanity!"
Perhaps fearing that the ashes would stain the phoenix robe, Xiao Liling took two steps back. When she spoke again, her tone was cold and calm, but the sense of madness was still there. "From childhood, he taught us that preparation is the key to success and lack of preparation leads to failure. He prepared for more than ten years to launch a coup to seize the throne, and so did I."
Xiao You looked at his half-sister, who seemed like a complete stranger to him, and asked in a trembling voice, "What are you talking about?"
Xiao Liling said, “Xiao You, you and I have been raised in luxury since childhood, but our circumstances are completely different. Since I was fourteen, I have lived in fear every day because Xiao Chuoyi wanted to marry me off to a distant place in order to win over the surrounding kingdoms. I know what kind of person he is. As long as the benefits are enough to entice him, he doesn’t care about me. He has always treated me as an object.”
Xiao You roared, "You said it yourself! As a princess, it's only right that you do something for Dahua!"
There was a water clock in the cell, and the sound was particularly clear in the quiet atmosphere. Xiao Liling was silent for a while, then said slowly, "Yes, if you tell too many lies, you'll even fool yourself."
Xiao You was indignant, his already pale face flushed red with anger, and he cried out, "You won't get your way! Father is not a good person, but does that mean Xiao Yinshi is?! Trying to negotiate with a tiger will only result in being utterly destroyed! Your schemes will not succeed!"
“Second brother, I’ve come to see you off on your final journey today as I get married.” Xiao Liling was not angry. She wore a fox fur coat over her clothes, the red fox fur trim making her smile appear even fainter. “After tonight, Xiao Zhuoyi’s lineage will have no descendants.”
The poisoned wine was brought to Xiao You's lips, but he turned his face away sharply. Xiao Liling whispered in his ear, "For the sake of brotherhood, I've come to send you on your final journey. Or do you want to be tortured to death here by Xiao Yinshi?"
Xiao You was already in a deadly situation. Upon hearing this, he turned his head, his eyelashes trembling, and let Xiao Liling send the venom into his throat.
The excess liquor dripped down his chin, and as Xiao Liling turned to leave, he said again, "What is this? Is this the last bit of mercy you've given me?"
Xiao Liling turned around, the flower ornament between her brows flickering in the candlelight. She looked at Xiao You, who was being slowly swallowed by the dark light and shadow, and said softly, "I just wanted you and your twin brother to die in the same way."
Upon hearing this, Xiao You suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't resist the rapidly taking effect of the drug and died on the rack with his eyes open.
The sounds of music drifted into the room through the prison window. Xiao Liling wiped her fingers with a pink handkerchief, and Pan Pei stepped forward to help her straighten her clothes, saying, "Princess, just send him away with a cup of poisoned wine. Why bring up those past events?"
Xiao Liling said, "It's more interesting to die with your eyes open."
Pan Pei understood. As she knelt down to straighten Xiao Liling's skirt, she said, "What Xiao You said earlier is true. It is indeed dangerous to negotiate with a tiger. Although the person on the emperor's throne grew up with the princess, in my opinion, he is definitely not a sentimental person."
Xiao Liling asked, "What are you worried about?"
Pan Pei said, "Actually, given the friendship between the princess and His Majesty, you could have asked for other conditions after helping him ascend the throne. Why insist on marrying him? The princess should know that he has no romantic feelings for you."
The joyous music grew louder and louder. Xiao Liling stepped out of the imperial prison and looked at the dark sky filled with stars above her head. She said, "Don't worry, my desire for power is far greater than my longing for him. Feng Youming is right in 'Women's Studies.' Since ancient times, women have been victims because they have neither power nor martial arts skills. All the fear and trembling I have experienced over the past few years stemmed from my weak power. Therefore, I will ascend to the highest position that belongs to women."
After saying this, she turned around and smiled at Pan Pei, saying, "The ancients said that Heaven and Earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs; others said that Heaven and Earth are a furnace, and creation is the craftsman. In fact, it is still a question about whether we can be autonomous. Pan Pei, after tonight, I will ascend to the Phoenix Throne, and you and I will no longer be at the mercy of others."
***
With the new empress now in power, a grand banquet is about to begin in the palace. The palace is adorned with dazzling decorations, and colorful flags flutter in the square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Melodious music fills the air, and officials from all walks of life, dressed in court robes, are arranged in neat rows according to their rank, their expressions solemn, awaiting the start of the grand ceremony.
As the Master of Ceremonies read the imperial edict of investiture, the entire square fell silent. Xiao Liling, adorned with a nine-dragon, four-phoenix crown, her hair ornaments swaying gently, surrounded by pearls and jade, exuded an indescribable air of nobility and majesty. Holding a jade tablet, she slowly ascended the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Colorful fireworks burst across the night sky, transitioning from golden yellow to fiery red, from azure to emerald green, intertwining to create flowing scrolls of light and shadow, adorning the night sky with a dreamlike beauty. The fireworks illuminated the square, making the faces of the officials shine brightly.
"Bang!" A gunshot interrupted his reading of the imperial edict. At the same time, Xiao Liling stopped in her tracks as she stepped onto the white marble steps and collapsed onto them!
Pan Pei was the first to see the blood flowing from her knee and cried out, "Protect her! Protect her!"
However, the Imperial Guards did not step forward. Pan Pei keenly sensed something was amiss, shielded Xiao Liling behind him, and looked around warily.
The blue-robed eunuch holding up the red table behind her casually lifted the red cloth on the table, stepped forward and kicked Pan Pei off the stone steps, then slowly squatted down to be at eye level with Xiao Liling, playing with the phoenix seal and saying, "Princess Liling, how does it feel to be just one step away from success?"
The blue-robed eunuch removed the human skin mask from his face. Xiao Liling, clutching her bleeding knee, looked at Feng Tan, her lips trembling, "Just one step away..."
Feng Tan never goes back on her word. She and Arslan had put a lot of effort into this situation, and they could not relieve their hatred without personally killing their enemy.
The officials in the square below the steps, unaware of what had happened, watched as the new empress, lying in the blood, grabbed the lower robe of a blue-robed eunuch, her knuckles turning white from the force.
Xiao Liling's forehead was covered in a fine sweat from the pain. Her eyes were filled with tears as she tightly gripped Feng Tan's robes. She said, "You were just one step away from saving your master, and I was just one step away from ascending to the throne. Is this the karmic retribution of cause and effect...? Ha..."
The blade slipped from Xiao Liling's sleeve, and Feng Tan swiftly grabbed Xiao Liling's wrist as she attacked, aiming the pistol at her shoulder and pulling the trigger again.
Another gunshot rang out. Xiao Liling felt a pain in her shoulder, the dagger slipped from her hand, and she let out an uncontrollable cry of pain.
Feng Tan grabbed Xiao Liling's chin, forcing her to look up at her. "You want to seduce Xiao Zhan into working with you from the inside, but he won't come today. The scheme you and Xiao Yinshi set up will only backfire on you in the end."
Xiao Liling clenched her fists to keep herself awake, and said with difficulty, "There are thousands of soldiers inside and outside the palace. Even if you kill me, I won't be able to leave Dahua."
Feng Tan threw the Phoenix Seal down the jade steps. Xiao Liling's gaze followed it, narrowing sharply. When she looked up at Feng Tan again, her eyes were filled with sorrow. "We were both born princesses, but we are fundamentally different. Your father and mother cherished you like a treasure, while I was just a political pawn. Feng Tan, you will never understand my sorrow. I killed Feng Tan because I had the right to do so, just to pave the way for myself."
Facing imminent disaster, Xiao Liling did not want to die. She had lived a life of constant anxiety and would not rest in peace until she died on the throne.
Feng Tan saw Xiao Liling's unwillingness, which made her feel even more pleased. She faced the resentment that had arisen in her heart since Feng Youming's death and looked down at Xiao Liling, saying, "You have read the academic journal written by the teacher. You should know that she was paving the way for all girls in the same situation as you. You are intelligent and ambitious. If I were you, killing my father and seizing power would be a better path than just focusing on a nominal empress position."
Xiao Liling lay prone on the stone steps, half of her body stained red with her own blood. The doors of the Taihe Hall slowly opened, and Xiao Yinshi slowly walked out of the hall.
He was dressed in a dark imperial robe, his face was terribly pale, and there was no emotion in his eyes as he looked at her.
When Feng Tan looked up and met Xiao Yinshi, who was far away on the steps, she slightly curled the corners of her lips and pulled the trigger, shooting Xiao Liling straight through the forehead.
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