True Heiress Cuts Ties, The Marquis Household Bitterly Regrets-Chapter 281 - 280: Did Zhaozhao Die?

"What?"

Emperor Anqing was shocked. Did he really not know that the Taiyin Evil also contained the Xie Family’s former emperor?

This blow almost made Emperor Anqing kneel to the ground.

If it were an ancestor, how could he dare to eliminate it?

"Tch, now that you know my identity, you should worship me. I can protect you for a lifetime, just like I protected the late emperor, ensuring your peace and prosperity!"

Seeing that he was scared, the Taiyin Evil continued to tempt, "Not just you, as long as you serve me well, even your descendants can make a pact with me, and I can ensure the eternal legacy of the Great Chao Country."

"This..."

At this moment, Emperor Anqing had to admit that he was indeed tempted.

He was an emperor, and this throne was obtained by sacrificing his own younger brother.

To stay on this throne forever, he must give up something.

Then...

"Stay awake."

Yu Nianzhao scolded. She had used quite a bit of Divine Power to destroy the five evils, and her body was visibly weakened. If she didn’t press the advantage, Xie Jiuxiao wouldn’t be able to escape this fate.

But Emperor Anqing was still there hesitating and even had improper thoughts. How could she not be angry?

"The Taiyin Evil, being such a sinister thing, is a mistake from the start. It only exists because of people’s selfishness, just like the evil spirits of Tomb Guard City. For the Xie Family’s royal power, how many lives have to be sacrificed? Now it’s Xie Jiuxiao, but in the future, it could be your descendants. You will regret it eventually!"

Yu Nianzhao’s eyes were fierce, "The late emperor is the example. He regretted it, wanted to destroy the Taiyin Evil but couldn’t, and ended up dying early—what about you?"

Everyone gasped.

The only one who would dare to speak so bluntly to Emperor Anqing was Yu Nianzhao.

Yu Nianzhao’s words were like a knife, hitting right at the target.

Emperor Anqing clutched his chest, smiling bitterly, "Yes, Zhaozhao, you’re right. I was truly tempted just now. It’s so terrifying!"

"Hmph, emperor, I am your elder, do you really want to kill your ancestor? That’s truly disrespectful."

The Taiyin Evil was still being sarcastic.

Yu Nianzhao was no longer polite as she sent over a talisman paper, "Hmph, you big-headed ghost! You think you’re some delicate little princess? Your descendants may not dare to touch you, but I do. You aren’t my ancestor, why keep you around as a New Year gift?"

The golden light of the rune enveloped Xie Jiuxiao, and the Taiyin Evil let out a shrill scream.

Yu Nianzhao formed a seal with her hands, while Jiu followed behind her. In a clap of thunder, he revealed his nine-headed snake appearance, making one’s heart quiver upon seeing it.

"A prematurely dead soul, devouring the souls of the living, causing chaos in the world. Ultimately, you are judged... You have no right to reincarnate, you will be annihilated!"

Yu Nianzhao spoke coldly. A golden array appeared under her feet, and as she formed a seal with her hands, a talisman blending with powerful Divine Power burst forth, swiftly striking towards Xie Jiuxiao.

Rumble!

With thunder rolling and lightning flashing, two evils were forced out from Xie Jiuxiao under the cover of the talisman.

The fate disk binding them together surfaced before Yu Nianzhao’s eyes. Furrowing her brows tightly, she used all her strength to release her King Yan power.

The chilling wind howled, and all the evil spirits trembled and kowtowed on the ground. Even the underworld sensed the ripple of Yu Nianzhao’s power.

"As long as this fate disk is shattered, Xie Jiuxiao, you’ll be free afterwards."

Yu Nianzhao’s lips curled up. In Xie Jiuxiao’s shattered gaze, she unhesitatingly exerted force, breaking the fate disk that connected Xie Jiuxiao and the Taiyin Evil.

Bang!

It was the sound of shattering, and the Taiyin Evil let out an angry and unwilling roar.

He still wanted to escape, pursued by Dongfang Hong and other family heads of the mystic sects with all their might.

With Jiu’s help, the last two evils were swallowed into Jiu’s belly.

Turning her head to look...

Yu Nianzhao’s vision began to blur. As the life force in the body she inhabited was continually fading, she seemed to glimpse another dimension in her trance.

A woman very similar to herself and another person she was entangled with... a monk!

"Zhaozhao!"

[Master!]

Familiar voices of concern could be heard beside her, but Yu Nianzhao disregarded them, wanting only to rest a while.

Just... rest for a while!

Yu Nianzhao had a very, very long dream. In the dream, she was reincarnated as a princess, a pampered princess from birth.

She was innocent and carefree, born to the Empress, always surrounded by suitors.

One day, however, she barged into a meditation room and met the handsome monk who would cause her a lifetime of regret.

He was benevolent and gentle, treating her no differently from anyone else.

The princess loved the monk’s chanting and ordered him to stay in the capital city to perform spiritual rites for her.

Over time, rumors spread in the capital.

The princess was betrothed to the Prime Minister’s son and became melancholy.

She asked the monk to take her away, willing to give up her princess status and elope with him.

But the monk remained unmoved, saying... he loved her, just as he loved every living being, even advising her to forget him and focus on her own life.

The princess experienced heartbreak for the first time, and for the first time, she had rebellious thoughts.

On her wedding day, she eloped.

When the monk found her, she was standing at the edge of a cliff, gazing at the mountains and rivers.

She said, "When I was in the palace, I always thought I was the happiest person in the world. But when I truly tasted the freedom, I discovered I’m like a bird caged, only able to move forward as others pull on the strings. The only thing I’ve followed my heart on is falling in love with you. But you’ve pushed me away. Am I really so unworthy that you can’t like me at all?"

The monk exclaimed anxiously, "No, it’s not like that! I’m bound by the monastic vows, just like you are!"

"No, it’s not the same. You’re bound by the monastic vows because you’re willing! And I, I’m just someone about to rot. Since I can’t escape fate, I can at least choose to end it."

The princess shed tears and jumped off the cliff without hesitation.

The monk shouted, eyes tearing, "No! Zhaozhao!"

Zhaozhao?

Yu Nianzhao’s breath hitched. Her consciousness snapped back, and she opened her eyes abruptly, sitting up swiftly.

Her forehead was covered with a fine bead of sweat as she incredulously recalled the details of the dream.

Good heavens!

Zhaozhao?

Could the princess in the dream have been herself?

She was willing to end her life for a monk? How could she possibly do something so foolish?

Yu Nianzhao felt extremely uncomfortable, her head aching.

It felt as though someone had flipped a switch in her brain, filling it with countless fragmented memories.

"Zhaozhao?"

A deep voice was close by.

Yu Nianzhao glared angrily, "What are you yelling for? My ears are perfectly fine."