Chapter 231: Ayin, Kill Him

"The Empress said Xiao Jingyu was dead, so you tell me who this is!"

From Mu Hati’s actions, Xiao Li knew what was in the box.

Sure enough, the box was opened.

"WHOA!" A gasp swept through the hall.

Who else could it be but Xiao Jingyu, sitting in that box, gaunt and haggard?

Fearing the envoys from other nations wouldn’t recognize him, Mu Hati kindly introduced him. "This is the cousin this prince was looking for, Longsheng’s Prince Chen, Xiao Jingyu."

Hearing the envoys’ surprised whispers, Mu Hati smirked triumphantly and questioned Xiao Li with great bravado, "The Empress claimed Prince Chen was dead, so who is he? For a mighty Empress to lie is truly shameful."

Xiao Li watched his performance with composed amusement. ’This clumsy drama is, strangely enough, far more interesting than all that singing and dancing.’

Song Junzhan rose to his feet, his expression cold and stern. "According to your own words, you’ve never met Prince Chen. How can you be so certain this is the real Prince Chen?"

"The Chi Rong envoy’s goodwill is false; your provocation is real. My Longsheng’s banquet does not welcome uninvited guests."

"General Rong, apprehend them at once!"

Rong Qing had been waiting for those exact words. He acted personally, slamming Mu Hati to the ground with one palm while the other Chi Rong people were restrained.

Mu Hati hadn’t expected them to go off-script. He panicked.

"Is the Empress trying to cover up the truth by force?"

"As an Emperor, why do you not dare to admit what you’ve done?"

Xiao Li almost laughed at his stupidity. ’...Who gave him the courage to come here and pass judgment on an Emperor?’

Enraged, Rong Qing slammed his hand down, pinning Mu Hati’s neck to the floor and instantly silencing his shouts.

In that instant, there seemed to be a SNAP. Mu Hati’s eyes rolled back in his head, and his neck went limp.

The envoys from the other nations shuddered. ’Did he just kill him?’

"Third Prince!"

From a corner, a woman dressed as a palace maid rushed out. The Silver Armor Guards failed to stop her, and in a flash, she threw herself down in front of Mu Hati.

"Third Prince!!!"

She cried out in anguish, tears streaming down her face as she glared at the main seat with eyes full of hatred. "Xuanyang, how could you treat human life so cheaply?"

Xiao Li didn’t speak. When a guard tried to pull her away, she fought him off desperately. "You don’t believe the Third Prince’s words, but what about me, the Princess Chen? Can I not prove that is Prince Chen?"

Her gaze, filled with heartache, fell upon the motionless Xiao Jingyu.

"Xuanyang, you were jealous of the childhood bond between me and Yanzhi! You indiscriminately killed the innocent, poisoned me repeatedly, and destroyed Yanzhi’s family. And now, you won’t even spare your own brother."

Her eyes blazed with accusation. "Xiao Xuanyang, how can you be so vicious?"

Faced with the accusation, Xiao Li felt a flicker of annoyance but remained calm, her expression one of composed curiosity. "If you knew I wanted to harm and kill him, why bring him here into the middle of the grand hall?"

"I wanted to leave with the Prince..." Liu Xueyin gritted her teeth, her face a mask of hatred and resentment. "But if I had taken him away, wouldn’t that be exactly what you wanted?"

"Xiao Xuanyang, I won’t let your conspiracy succeed! I will let everyone see what you’ve done to your own flesh and blood, and I will let everyone know that Prince Chen is still alive!"

With that, she swept her gaze across the hall and demanded loudly, "She harms her own family, slaughters the innocent, and is utterly devoid of conscience! She is cruel and vicious to the extreme! Why do you still support her as Emperor? What right does she have to be the Emperor?"

The crowd, most of whom had never even seen Prince Chen or Princess Chen before: "..." ’Wait, what is this drama all about?’

Harming family, slaughtering the innocent—none of that could really be considered a crime anymore.

The Empress hadn’t hidden any of these facts. Everyone knew she had killed many people; her brutal reputation preceded her.

But her ferocity and cruelty had overturned a corrupt and filthy court, forging the clear, powerful, and prosperous nation that stood today.

Every single official present was, more or less, a beneficiary of this change in Imperial Power.

Besides, whether it was Prince Yanping or Prince Chen, they had both been participants in the struggle for the throne. They were the Empress’s enemies. ’The fact that they didn’t die on the day of her accession and have lived until now... that can’t really be called persecution, can it?’

At most, she just hadn’t granted them glory and riches.

Look at Prince Wei, who was so smooth when it came to latching onto a supporter. Isn’t he living perfectly well now? He’s even been entrusted with great responsibility.

Xiao Jingyi, currently rushing back: ACHOO! ’Could it be that Imperial Sister is thinking of me?’

Song Junzhan shot Rong Qing a dissatisfied glare. ’Why isn’t he drawing his blade at a time like this? Letting this woman spout nonsense... Is this how a Commander of the Silver Armor Army behaves?’

"Rong Qing!"

A gentleman does not argue with a petty person. This Liu Xueyin was babbling like a madwoman; it would be best to just kill her directly.

As if waking from a dream, Rong Qing swung his blade at Liu Xueyin. But in that exact instant, Mu Hati, who had been unconscious, miraculously awoke. From somewhere, he produced a dagger and plunged it into Rong Qing’s back.

"Xue Yin, move!"

Mu Hati shouted. Liu Xueyin quickly turned, but in her panic, she stumbled and fell, coincidentally dodging Rong Qing’s fatal blow.

Ignoring the pain, Rong Qing swung back with his saber. Incredibly, Mu Hati’s martial arts were enough to block the attack, and the two began to trade blows. They moved so fast that the nearby Silver Armor Army couldn’t even find an opening to intervene.

Xiao Li narrowed her eyes slightly. "Lou Yan, what do you make of his technique?"

Lou Yan replied calmly, "It’s full of openings."

That was right. Mu Hati’s skills were not refined. He relied more on brute force and his body’s reaction speed. To a trained martial artist, his style was riddled with flaws, yet he was somehow withstanding Rong Qing’s counterattack.

Since he was serving as an indoor guard today, Rong Qing was using a broadsword without a long hilt. Having been stabbed first, his combat effectiveness was hampered.

Therefore, it wasn’t martial prowess that allowed him to fight Rong Qing to a standstill, but luck.

When a female lead is favored by fortune, those who wholeheartedly help her will also receive a share of that favor.

But that favor isn’t for their own sake; it exists so they can burn themselves out to help the female lead escape her predicament.

Xiao Li’s gaze shifted slightly, landing on Liu Xueyin.

Mu Hati was fighting desperately to buy her time, yet she had only run to Xiao Jingyu’s side. She cupped his face with aching tenderness, crying out in anguish, "Husband, it’s me, Xue Yin! Husband, say something..."

While Liu Xueyin and Xiao Jingyu were playing out a scene of undying love, Mu Hati was fighting for his life, all alone.

’The sorrow of a simp.’

Having seen enough of the show, Xiao Li leaned against the armrest and said languidly, "Ayin~ kill him."

Lou Yan shuddered, casting a look of disbelief at Xiao Li. "As you command, Your Majesty!"

The next moment, he drew his sword and flew forward. Rong Qing saw his chance and pinned Mu Hati in place, allowing Lou Yan to take his head with a single stroke.

Blood sprayed like a fountain, splashing onto those nearby.

The wound on Rong Qing’s waist was still bleeding, but he paid it no mind, dropping to both knees. "This subject was incompetent. I beg Your Majesty for punishment."

He didn’t understand how the man could have woken up after being knocked unconscious, much less how he had failed to defeat Mu Hati.

He could clearly see his opponent’s openings, and he knew his own skills were superior, yet every strike he made met with resistance, as if his body wouldn’t obey his will.

In that brief fight of a few dozen moves, he felt like a clown who had brought shame upon the Empress.

Before Xiao Li could speak, Liu Xueyin’s shrill cry rang out. "Third Prince! Third Prince..."

Xiao Li gestured with her eyes for Rong Qing to withdraw. They could discuss punishment later; first, he needed to get his wound treated.

Liu Xueyin was wailing loudly, but seeing the head that had rolled onto the floor, she didn’t dare go any closer.

After a few choked sobs, she turned to demand of Xiao Li, "Why did you kill him? How could you kill him?"

She spoke through a torrent of tears, as if her own parents had died.

"You cold-blooded, heartless devil! Slaughtering the innocent, treating lives like dirt—you’ll die a miserable death!"

The crowd: "..."

Although they, too, felt the Empress was quite ruthless, they decided they would much rather support that ruthless, devilish Empress than agree with this woman.