A scene too swift for the ear to evade.

Just like that, it happened.

Xiao Jinxing coldly watched Wu Xufan, his gaze flickering to the sword tip aimed at his throat.

With a single command from Wen Jingtang.

Wu Xufan could seal his throat with a sword.

Wen Jingtang laughed, a wild and unrestrained cackle, "Xiao Jinxing, you were raised by me. Everything you have was given by me. Do you still think you can outwit me?! How arrogant of you."

Xiao Jinxing glowered, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Wen Jingtang.

"I thought you might be of some use, but I didn’t expect you to be so incompetent. I waited for your message all of yesterday, only to find out today that you even saved Xiao Zhanping. You truly disappoint me to the core!" Wen Jingtang hissed through clenched teeth.

It was because she could not accept the betrayal from Xiao Jinxing.

"At this point, you are worthless." Wen Jingtang said indifferently, "From the beginning to the end, you were just a pawn to me. Wherever I wished to place you, there you should be. Once you betray me, there’s only one path left—death!"

"Empress Dowager, if you kill Brother Xiao, I will surely have my father raze the Imperial Palace to the ground!" Bai Mowan was beside herself with agitation.

She clutched her sword, ready to slay Wen Jingtang.

Wen Jingtang glanced at Bai Mowan and didn’t take her seriously at all.

She spoke with unchallengeable arrogance, "There’s no need for excitement. Everyone here will die one by one!"

"You..." Bai Mowan was furious.

"If you were not Bai Wenwu’s daughter, you would have died long ago," Wen Jingtang sneered, "I originally thought you had some competence, but now it seems you are even less useful than Ye Qichi!"

Being suddenly named, Ye Qichi couldn’t help but shiver.

In such a complicated situation, she wanted to go unnoticed, like air.

So that no one would notice her.

To silently be just one of the spectators.

Bai Mowan, being ridiculed like this by Wen Jingtang, had her eyes redden with urgency.

Wen Jingtang didn’t waste more time on Bai Mowan and turned to Xiao Jinxing, "Before you die, I will reveal to you the truth that you’ve always wanted to know!"

Xiao Jinxing fixed his gaze tightly on Wen Jingtang.

The rage in his eyes was unmistakable.

"That year, the poison given to your mother, forcing her into a clandestine affair with the Imperial Physician, was orchestrated by me." Wen Jingtang’s tone was calm, as if she was talking about something of no consequence, but after speaking, she appeared so pleased with herself.

Her eyes seemed to taunt Xiao Jinxing even more.

Xiao Jinxing’s veins throbbed prominently now.

His eyes suddenly seemed bloodshot, his entire being emanating an icy chill.

But Wen Jingtang was utterly unconcerned.

Seeing others in pain seemed to be something that delighted her.

"To gain you, I resorted to such means. Xiao Jinxing, it’s also because you were too outstanding as a child. If you had not been better than the Crown Prince, better than the King of Chu, why would I have sought to frame your mother? Had you been slightly inferior to any of them, it wouldn’t have been your mother who died, but theirs!" Wen Jingtang’s words grew more arrogant and self-satisfied, veering into the deranged, "After I framed your mother, I purposefully crippled your leg to fill you with hatred, to fill you with loathing for Xiao Zhanping, all for the sake of my revenge!"

"In the end, I did so much for you, and at the last moment, you still failed to kill Xiao Zhanping! Your personality, Xiao Jinxing, so hesitant and not ruthless enough, will never achieve anything great. If only you had a bit more of Xiao Zhanping’s cruelty, a bit more of Xiao Jinsen’s ferocity, you would have become the Emperor long ago!" Wen Jingtang spat sarcastically, "Now, dying by my hand, you only have yourself to blame!"

"Even if I had killed the Emperor, would you really have let me ascend to the throne?" Xiao Jinxing, suppressing all his emotions, asked Wen Jingtang word by word.

Wen Jingtang laughed mockingly, "Why would I allow the son of my enemy to become the Emperor."

"So, you only ever saw me as a pawn for your revenge, a pawn to increase your pleasure." Xiao Jinxing spoke impassively.

The sudden calmness, as if he was not the same enraged person from just before.

Wen Jingtang didn’t care about the change in Xiao Jinxing’s emotions.

In her eyes.

Xiao Jinxing was just a pawn.

A chess piece that can be used, or thrown away.

No, not an ounce of emotion.

She issued an order to Wu Xufan, "Kill Xiao Jinxing for me!"

Wu Xufan’s eyes tightened.

Xiao Jinxing also looked at Wu Xufan with such a cold gaze.

"I’m sorry, Your Highness," said Wu Xufan.

Xiao Jinxing’s Adam’s apple moved.

Wu Xufan gripped the hilt of the Treasure Sword tightly.

But in that moment, he did not stab directly at Xiao Jinxing.

Instead, he swung his arm.

The sword’s edge turned.

The tip of the sword was now pressing against Wen Jingtang’s throat.

Such an unexpected turn of events.

The plot twist was so abrupt, it left people unable to react for a moment.

Not just Wen Jingtang, Xiao Zhanping, and Bai Mowan were also stunned.

Even Bai Mowan had thought, if Wu Xufan killed Xiao Jinxing,

she would avenge Xiao Jinxing even at the cost of her own life.

But now,

what is the situation?!

Is Wu Xufan Xiao Jinxing’s man?!

When Wen Jingtang came to her senses, her eyes bore down hard on Wu Xufan, "Do you know what you are doing?"

"What do you think?" Wu Xufan said with a sinister smile.

No need for explanations.

He has simply, rebelled.

"You, Marquis Wu’s Mansion, have betrayed me!" Wen Jingtang ground her teeth in fury, ablaze with anger.

Wu Wenchang, whom she trusted the most, had actually rebelled.

Her son’s most loyal subordinate who later pledged allegiance to her and secretly helped her accomplish so much, in the end, rebelled!

"It’s not Marquis Wu’s Mansion that has rebelled, it is just me who has rebelled," Wu Xufan clarified, "My father has his loyalty, and I have mine. The person I am loyal to has always been only Your Highness. If Your Highness and the Empress Dowager are one, then my father and I are the Empress Dowager’s people. If Your Highness and the Empress Dowager are not aligned, I am Your Highness’s man, my father is the Empress Dowager’s man, and my father and I are enemies!"

"You would even betray your own father for Xiao Jinxing!" Wen Jingtang could hardly believe her ears.

"Empress Dowager, my father taught me from a young age to have faith! Once I identify with someone, to be loyal to them, even in death, even if everyone turns against me, I must never forget my principles! From the time I have memories, the person I have followed has always been Your Highness, in my childhood, adulthood, and even more so now!" Wu Xufan stated with righteous indignation.

Wen Jingtang, who had calculated every move in her life.

For revenge, she played such a meticulous great game.

She refused to accept being defeated by Wu Xufan.

To be precise,

being defeated by Xiao Jinxing’s hand.

Xiao Jinxing was someone she raised herself.

If she wanted Xiao Jinxing dead, Xiao Jinxing should die.

Not,

corner her into such a desperate situation!