Under the dark night.

Feng Xiyun was being held hostage by the assassin.

Countless torches surrounded the assassin completely.

The assassin had nowhere to go.

The atmosphere was tense, silent to the point of being dead quiet.

Stalemate.

Suddenly, the torches opened up a path.

The man at the forefront, riding a noble steed, Xiao Jinxing, stopped his horse at a distance neither too near nor far from the assassin.

He looked coldly at the veiled leader of the assassins.

The leader glared at Xiao Jinxing, a fierce look in his eyes.

He tightened his grip on Feng Xiyun, the dagger pressed hard against her neck, threatening, "If you don’t let us leave, I’ll kill her immediately!"

Xiao Jinxing seemed to glance at Feng Xiyun for the first time.

Watching Feng Xiyun with fear in her eyes, her mouth covered.

She had not expected to be suddenly kidnapped.

Feng Xiyun felt the Emperor’s gaze and quickly showed a pleading look.

When being violated by the horseman, she did want to die out of shame.

But after that crushing emotional moment passed, death did not seem so daunting.

Even if she had to die.

She should perish together with An Ning.

What she could not obtain, An Ning should not dream of getting either.

She could not just die at the hands of the assassin.

As the truly cold blade pressed against her throat, the fear of death made her tremble all over.

The leader kept staring coldly at Xiao Jinxing, observing his every move, even any expression.

Xiao Jinxing withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at Feng Xiyun.

Feng Xiyun felt a chill in her heart.

For the performance she had given in front of the Emperor, would he not save her...

No, he wouldn’t.

The Emperor ultimately tolerated her.

Even though she had schemed against the Empress, even though she lost her chastity, the Emperor still kept her by his side in the end.

The Emperor surely wouldn’t want her to die.

"If you release her, I will let you go." Xiao Jinxing spoke directly.

Feng Xiyun’s eyes reddened with emotion upon hearing the Emperor speak.

She knew, the Emperor treated her differently.

The Emperor wouldn’t leave her alone.

"If we release her, we won’t be able to escape. Even if the Emperor keeps his word and lets us go, we’ll still face death for not completing the mission given from above." The leader said coolly.

"So what do you want?" Xiao Jinxing raised an eyebrow.

"The Emperor allows us to take Doctor Feng away safely; then if the Emperor wants someone, he can ask the Crown Prince of Cang Kingdom to give him to you!" The leader spoke clearly.

Xiao Jinxing’s eyes turned icy.

"Otherwise, death awaits. We will perish alongside Doctor Feng!" The leader threatened.

"Then let’s perish together." Xiao Jinxing suddenly spoke indifferently.

The leader’s pupils dilated instantly.

Feng Xiyun also couldn’t believe what she heard.

The Emperor had just tried to rescue her.

Yet now he says to let her perish together with the assassin!

"Do you truly care nothing for her life?!" The leader was somewhat agitated.

Clearly, the Emperor had deep feelings for Doctor Feng.

Impossible for him to just ignore.

"Why should I care for the life of a decoy!" Xiao Jinxing replied coldly.

The leader was shocked.

So all the information they had understood from the beginning was deliberately shown by the Emperor.

The purpose was to lure them out and capture them all.

The Emperor had known of their existence all along?!

Feng Xiyun kept her eyes fixed on Xiao Jinxing at this moment.

Tears welled in her eyes.

What had Xiao Jinxing just said.

He called her a decoy?!

So his preference and kindness towards her were all just to show the spies.

So the so-called usefulness of her wasn’t to accompany him to the front line, but just as a decoy.

Merely a bait to mislead the spies!

Feng Xiyun suddenly laughed.

Laughed until tears streamed down.

The leader also sensed Feng Xiyun’s emotion and let go of her mouth.

Hoping Feng Xiyun would still gain the Emperor’s sympathy to let them leave.

"Emperor, I once risked my life to save you, is this how you treat me?!" She asked him, asked in breakdown.

"Given what you’ve done, that I haven’t had your Feng Family executed, haven’t buried your family with you, is already repayment for saving my life, I’ve mentioned before; it’s you being ungrateful, constantly seeking more!"

"So from beginning to end, I was merely a pawn for you. From Xun City following you to Mobei, you intended to send me to my death!" Feng Xiyun roared uncontrollably.

"I had not made up my mind in advance to use you as bait." Xiao Jinxing replied with utmost indifference, "It was your actions that forced you into this predicament. The Emperor has warned you more than once to be sensible, yet you repeatedly test my limits. Falling to today’s situation is your own doing!"