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!
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