Chapter 104: Congratulations, You Get One Chance to Revive
Xiao Jingyu seethed with impotent rage, but there was nothing he could do.
After calming down, he began to question her. "What kind of Hidden Weapon did you use to injure me?"
Xiao Li didn’t speak.
Xiao Jingyu already had an answer in his heart. "You were the one who injured Lu Yanzhi. And you were the one who killed Lu Cang in the Imperial Palace that day. Right?"
He didn’t bring up the time Liu Xueyin was saved because he felt it was impossible for Xiao Li to have rescued her. If it had truly been Xiao Li, Liu Xueyin would never have made it out alive that day.
Even if Xiao Li denied it, Xiao Jingyu was convinced it was her.
He took a deep breath. "Xiao Xuanyang, are you insane? You’ve caused such a huge mess just because of that little misunderstanding between Lu Yanzhi and Xue Yin. How many people do you have to kill before you’re satisfied?"
’Just because of that little misunderstanding between Lu Yanzhi and Xue Yin?!’
Xiao Li mused. ’As expected of the man who would become Emperor and still allow Lu Yanzhi and Liu Xueyin to see each other. His level of enlightenment is truly beyond that of ordinary people.’
’But wait, that’s not right. All of that happens later. Which episode is this act from?’
Xiao Li tried hard to recall the plot in her mind, but reality had become a chaotic mess that no longer matched up.
She fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "If I remember correctly, you actually detest Liu Xueyin too. You were always cold and dismissive of her. Why are you so obsessed with finding her now?"
Xiao Jingyu declared with aloof dominance, "She is my Princess Consort, in life and in death."
Xiao Li’s eyelid twitched. ’What a ridiculous thing to say.’
’But this way, the plot lines up.’
The aloof Prince, unaware of his own love, only realizes how much he cares for the Princess Consort who always annoyed him after he has lost her.
’The following plot points should be: the search, misunderstandings, jealousy, continued angsty romance, and ascending the throne on the side.’
’We’re still a long way from the arc where he grovels to win her back.’
Once she figured it out, Xiao Li felt a sense of admiration.
’I’ve practically bulldozed the entire plot, yet the male lead is still here, diligently following his emotional script.’
’So professional.’
"Brother, your feelings for your Princess Consort are truly... so moving..."
Xiao Li wanted to laugh, and the more she spoke, the wider her smile grew.
"Since your bond is so profound, to the point of following each other in life and death, how could I not help you fulfill that?"
Her smile was brilliant, yet it looked incredibly eerie in the cramped dungeon. And though she was smiling, her eyes held no warmth—only a chilling, frenzied killing intent.
Like a demon capable of every evil.
Her voice, soft and laced with laughter, slowly began her tale. "Brother, you may not know this, but on the day you followed Lu Cang to stage your rebellion, your Princess Consort was right here."
"After I killed Lu Yanzhi, I was afraid he’d be lonely on the road to the Yellow Springs, so I hurried back to kill her."
"I poured a whole bottle of crane’s beak red down her throat. She was dead from the poison in moments, you know?"
Xiao Jingyu stared at her, shocked and furious. "You really killed her?"
"Of course," Xiao Li said with a cheerful smile. "Didn’t you already guess, Brother? Otherwise, why would you have Jiang Yu’er trick Wang Shiqi into luring me out to be killed?"
She took out the pistol she had just used to wound Xiao Jingyu. "Speaking of which, I should be thanking you, Brother."
"I’ve been wanting to kill you for a while, but I could never find a suitable reason. Now that you’ve made the first move, I have no psychological burden whatsoever."
"You..."
Xiao Jingyu saw the dark object and immediately realized what it was. Before he could speak, Xiao Li had already fired.
BANG!
Xiao Jingyu tried to flee, but he had already been shot twice and could barely move. He used all his strength just to roll over once.
The bullet grazed him, leaving a bloody gash on his arm.
"Xiao Xuanyang..."
He roared in terror and fury.
The pity one feels before death can move anyone. Anyone but Xiao Li. But she suddenly remembered: Xiao Jingyu was Liu Xueyin’s bane, and Liu Xueyin might not be dead.
’There was only one black piece on the chessboard. Removing one black piece would cause two, three, four more to appear...’
She aimed the gun in her hand at him again. As he watched in terror, she suddenly spoke. "Congratulations. You’ve won a chance to be revived."
Xiao Jingyu had no idea what she was plotting, but even hearing he might live, he didn’t dare to relax.
The wounds on his body were a stark reminder that for Xiao Li, killing him was as easy as flipping her hand—and that she was truly willing to do it.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The sound of clashing weapons came from the entrance of the dungeon. Evidently, Xiao Jingyu’s men had come to rescue him.
Xiao Li walked out just as Rong Qing’s blade forced Nan Yin back.
They had clearly been watching the Princess Mansion for the past two days, followed her to the dungeon, and, upon hearing the gunshot, assumed she had killed Xiao Jingyu. They couldn’t hold back any longer and charged in.
"Princess Xuanyang!"
Nan Yin glared at Xiao Li, his eyes filled with a hatred so intense it looked as if he wanted to devour her alive.
Xiao Li was not afraid of him. "Your master isn’t dead yet. Hurry up and take him away."
Beifeng, who had followed despite his injuries, grabbed Nan Yin’s arm and stared warily at Xiao Li. "Careful, it could be a trap."
Xiao Li couldn’t be bothered to explain. "Rong Qing."
Rong Qing and Yang Jun retreated to her side, clearing the entrance.
Whether they believed her or not, Xiao Li turned to leave, adding one last thing as she went, "Tell him this: I’m only sparing him this once. If he chooses to be my enemy after this, he’s welcome to try..."
After speaking, Xiao Li left with her people, not even leaving a guard behind.
Nan Yin and Beifeng still suspected a trap, but they couldn’t just not go in.
"I’ll go in."
Nan Yin went in with one other person, while Beifeng and the rest guarded the entrance.
Moments later, Nan Yin emerged, carrying the heavily injured Xiao Jingyu on his back.
"Go!"
Everyone departed quickly. It wasn’t until they were back at their hideout that any of them could quite believe it.
Princess Xuanyang had actually let them go. But they had no time to dwell on it now; the most important thing was to save the Prince’s life.
The Prince had been severely wounded for two days. Even if Princess Xuanyang hadn’t tried to kill him, he was already not far from death.
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No sooner had Xiao Jingyu been released than the Wang family came knocking at her door.
Xiao Li glanced around her vast mansion. ’Even murder isn’t enough to scare off these treacherous, two-faced turncoats.’
"I’m not seeing them."
Wang Shiqi had schemed against her and tried to kill her. What right did the Wang family have to question her?
"Tell the Wang family that the killer was Prince Chen, and that Prince Chen appeared because he was searching for the missing Princess Chen."
"Also, why did Wang Shiqi ask to meet me, only for me to run into Prince Chen? The Wang family owes me an explanation for that."
’I already spared Xiao Jingyu’s life. Making him take the blame for this is letting him off easy.’
Wang Shiqi had gone to the Mei Garden in pursuit of Xiao Li. They had both encountered danger together, yet Wang Shiqi had died a horrible death while Princess Xuanyang was merely knocked unconscious. The contrast naturally made the Wang family direct their anger toward Xiao Li. They even believed she was the reason Wang Shiqi had lost his life, and their hearts were filled with rage and hatred.
However, with Rong Qing standing at the gate holding his greatsword, the Wang family didn’t dare take a single step forward.
In any case, Xiao Li had given her explanation. The Wang family could take it or leave it. As for the matter of Wang Shiqi plotting against her, she had a score to settle with the Wang family over that.
The Wang family: ’Everyone says this princess is a vicious woman. Why did Wang Shiqi have to get involved with her?’