Inside Cixi Palace, the flickering candlelight illuminated Regent Xiao Yuan's "sincere" face with its dim light.
He raised his empty cup high, his posture extremely humble, and spoke with utmost sincerity, perfectly portraying the image of a loyal minister who was only at odds with the monarch's political views.
"Your Majesty, please drink this cup to the brim! Let us, uncle and nephew, reconcile all past grievances!"
This last sentence struck the hearts of everyone in the hall like a heavy hammer blow.
This glass of wine is no longer just a simple drink.
It became a symbol of "reconciliation" and a testament to "family affection".
Under the weighty banner of "harmony among the imperial clan," under the loving gaze of the Empress Dowager, and after the Regent's almost oath-like "heartfelt words," Xiao Che seemed to have no reason to refuse.
If he drinks, it would be tantamount to acknowledging the Regent's "loyalty" and admitting that the previous conflict was just a "misunderstanding." Tonight's treacherous banquet would then be brought to a perfect end by the Regent.
If he refuses to drink, he will be publicly humiliating the Empress Dowager and the Regent, confirming his reputation as "cold-hearted and ungrateful" and "intolerant of his own relatives." All his previous ruthless actions will then be rendered meaningless.
This is an open strategy.
A trap woven from kinship and morality, seemingly warm and affectionate, but actually fraught with danger.
Lin Wanwan's heart skipped a beat. She looked at Xiao Che, wondering how he would handle this seemingly unsolvable situation.
However, to her surprise, a smile slowly appeared on Xiao Che's face.
That smile was gentle and composed, carrying a hint of a monarch's approval of his subject's ability to "correct his mistakes," and a hint of a nephew's satisfaction at his uncle's "returning from the wrong path."
"Uncle Wang, you flatter me."
Xiao Che slowly rose and personally filled the wine glass in front of him. The amber-colored liquid rippled in the glass, reflecting a dazzling light.
He raised his wine glass and gestured towards the Regent.
"Uncle Wang is a pillar of the nation, a trusted advisor to the late Emperor, and my... elder." His voice was gentle and warm, without the slightest hint of reluctance. "Between Uncle Wang and me, there are only different considerations regarding the future of the country. How can there be any past grievances?"
His words were impeccable, affirming the regent's position while downplaying all the conflicts as "different considerations," giving both sides a perfect way out.
"Since Your Highness has such a wish, how can I refuse to drink?"
As he spoke, he was about to drink the wine in his cup in one gulp.
A scene of harmony between the emperor and his ministers, and deep affection between uncles and nephews.
Even the Empress Dowager, sitting on the main seat, wore a smile of immense relief, as if the gloom that had hung over the royal family had finally vanished completely at this moment.
Looking at this utterly hypocritical scene before her, Lin Wanwan couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
As expected of two top actors sharing the stage, their acting skills are so good that they would all deserve an Oscar if they were in modern times.
She habitually turned her gaze to the top of Xiao Che's head.
She was already quite impatient to see how he would use his unique "emoji barrage" to furiously criticize the disgusting performance in front of her.
Perhaps it will be the birth of a "drama queen"?
Or perhaps it's a GIF like, "I don't believe you, you old geezer, you're really bad."
She was even prepared to suppress her laughter.
However, this time, when her gaze fell on that familiar area, all the expressions on her face froze completely in an instant.
No.
There was nothing there.
There were no funny or sarcastic emojis as expected.
The area above Xiao Che's head, which used to be bustling with activity, was now deathly silent.
Lin Wanwan's heart sank suddenly!
An unprecedented and extremely ominous premonition, like a cold, venomous snake, instantly coiled around her heart!
Something's not right!
Something's really wrong!
Since she acquired this cheat, no matter whether Xiao Che's heart was filled with anger, joy, scheming, or murderous intent, her facial expressions have never been absent!
This emptiness terrified her more than any grotesque emoji!
Just as she was shocked and thought that her cheat code had malfunctioned.
An unexpected change occurred!
Without warning, the silent area above Xiao Che's head suddenly flickered!
That wasn't light, but a... ominous crimson color, as if it came from the depths of hell!
Immediately afterwards, in Lin Wanwan's suddenly contracting pupils, a pattern that made her soul tremble suddenly appeared!
It was a hideous, grotesque skull, seemingly formed from endless bones and resentment... a dynamic skull!
Two inextinguishable, blood-red ghost flames burned in its eye sockets! Its jaw opened and closed at an extremely slow and eerie frequency, as if it were chewing something, or as if it were emitting a silent, hellish mockery!
The pattern was filled with extreme evil and terror. Just one glance made Lin Wanwan feel cold all over, as if she had fallen into an ice cave!
What...what is this?!
Her heart was pounding wildly, almost leaping out of her chest!
However, what terrified her even more was yet to come!
Beneath the grotesque and terrifying animated skull, a line of twisted characters, also composed of dripping blood, slowly emerged, stroke by stroke!
The characters seemed to be carved in the void by the fingers of countless vengeful spirits, filled with endless fate and malice!
[Ultimate boss, a fight to the death.gif]
Boom—!!!
When the final character "休" (xiū, meaning "rest") was fully formed, accompanied by a slowly dripping drop of blood, Lin Wanwan felt as if her brain had been struck by a black lightning bolt!
In an instant, everything went blank!
What about the deep affection between uncle and nephew, what about the harmony between ruler and subject, what about political differences, what about reconciliation...
It's all fake!
The seemingly peaceful atmosphere of "reconciliation" in front of us forms the most ironic and terrifying contrast with the extremely cruel truth revealed by this meme!
It's a fight to the death!
It's a fight to the death!
These eight words, like the most vicious curse, were deeply imprinted on Lin Wanwan's soul!
It turns out that there was never any room for compromise between them!
From the very beginning, this was a final destiny where it was either you or me who would die!
"Clang—!"
A crisp, piercing cracking sound instantly shattered the false harmony within the hall.
The glass filled with fine wine slipped from Lin Wanwan's cold, trembling fingers and crashed heavily onto the spotless floor, shattering into pieces!
The amber-colored liquor splashed everywhere, like shattered tears.
The sudden noise startled everyone!
Xiao Che, who was about to drink, suddenly stopped! He turned around abruptly and looked at Lin Wanwan beside him, a look of surprise and confusion flashing in his eyes.
The Empress Dowager, seated on the main seat, froze with a smile, her brows furrowing slightly.
On the other side, Regent Xiao Yuan, who had just been all "sincere," had a fleeting, almost imperceptible glint of... malice and knowingness in his eyes the moment he saw Lin Wanwan lose her composure.
"Empress?" Xiao Che held her cold arm and called out softly.
Lin Wanwan seemed not to hear her.
She felt as if struck by lightning, her whole body turned ice-cold, and she froze on the spot.
Her gaze swept past everyone else, fixed intently on Regent Xiao Yuan's gentle smile, which at that moment perfectly revealed a hint of "concern" and "doubt".
That's the face.
This face, seemingly that of a kind and honest elder, actually harbors malicious intentions.
The owner of this face wants to drag her and Xiao Che into an abyss of no return!
At that moment, for the first time, Lin Wanwan felt a tremor from the depths of her soul!
She knew there was no turning back between them.
The war has already begun.
But what the other side wants is their lives!
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