Emperatriz viuda Xiaoxuan

Capítulo 165

Zi Jin slowly opened her clenched fist, the purple ice crystal in her palm gleaming faintly: "Crimson Ice Jade... I'll give it to you... Let her live..."

"No...no..." Sikou Xunle shook his head listlessly, his eyes vacant, seemingly trying to express something.

Dugu Xihui stared blankly at Zi Jin, who was panting heavily, yet he felt an inexplicable pang of heartache. He told himself that if she died, his wife would come back to life, telling himself this over and over again, but it couldn't be… it couldn't be. Her every smile and frown had suddenly flooded his mind, fading his wife's memories without warning… fading his wife's smile… It shouldn't be like this, it shouldn't be like this, it shouldn't be her, it shouldn't be her… He loved his wife… the person he had been waiting for was his wife… they had only known each other for a few days… yet his wife had been by his side for so many years… so many years… He had tried so hard not to get close to her… he had tried so hard not to notice her… was it still not enough?…

"Little white rabbit, white and white, loves to eat carrots and vegetables..."

"Well... your skin is too... pale. I've read a few medical books since I was little... I didn't mean anything by it. If you don't want to... I promise you I won't say anything more next time. I promise... umm... I promise Yu Luo, okay?"

Legend has it that on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month each year, if people listen attentively under the grapevines, they can faintly hear celestial music and the whispered words of the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd.

"You're not allowed to be so willful anymore."

Have you thought it through...? Which is more important, me or the person you want to replace?

"Seeing you looking so distressed, I'll come back to see you when I have time."

"Hahaha... He got so embarrassed and angry... That expression was so cute... so cute..."

Madam Yu stared wide-eyed at the dying Zi Jin, finally realizing what was happening: "Wutong, quickly go and call the doctor! Go now!"

Unresolved emotions and inescapable demonic obstacles; karmic retribution—when will we meet again? Parting leaves fall in the wind, the zither strings break. (Nine)

The fallen leaves and the broken strings (Nine) The phoenix tree, obeying its command, was about to rise when it suddenly collapsed to the ground. Lady Yu, supporting the ice coffin, swayed twice before finally sitting weakly on the ground. Dugu Xihui, caught off guard, fell to the ground with a thud. Bao Xian, supporting himself on the zither stand, stumbled to the side. The Prince of Anle slowly released his grip on Zi Jin, staring incredulously at her sly smile, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. In an instant, the world changed color, and of the group, only Sikou Xunxiang remained standing upright.

Zi Jin lowered her hand from her chest. Although there were bloodstains all over her body, no blood was flowing out. She frowned, rubbed her chest, and stood up nimbly. Pulling open her phoenix robe, she saw a golden soft armor underneath, without a single wound. She casually fiddled with the burning lotus incense, dripping the red liquid from her hand onto it, making the fragrance even sweeter.

A warm smile played on Zi Jin's lips, her brows furrowed with smugness. When she saw Si Kou Xun Xiang, who remained standing motionless, she first turned cold, then forced a calm smile: "So this veil has this use... I almost forgot... Soft silk also has anti-poison properties. Tell me... what do you want?... To keep me or to keep her?"

Si Kou Huanxiang remained standing still, motionless. Zi Jin walked over in confusion and gently touched Si Kou Huanxiang, only to find that he did not move. Zi Jin slowly removed his bamboo hat, and saw that he stood there peacefully with his eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to everything.

Zi Jin glanced sideways and pondered for a moment before swiftly pressing several acupoints on Si Kou Huan Xiang's body with her silver needles. Si Kou Huan Xiang instantly opened his eyes, looking directly at Zi Jin. A hint of relief flashed in his gentle eyes, but when he saw Zi Jin staring at him, he quickly lowered his gaze.

Zi Jin looked at Si Kou Xunxiang with a complicated expression and slowly said, "It's not that I didn't give you a choice, but that you were too careless... I'm sorry I can't release your pressure points..."

Si Kou Xunxiang glanced sideways and saw the bloodstains on Zi Jin's clothes. He hurriedly looked up and asked, "Are you... alright?"

Zi Jin didn't glance at Sikou Xunxiang again, turning her gaze to Prince Anle. She walked step by step onto the high platform, her smile impossible to conceal: "Prince Anle, I admire you! To think of such a useful method, sealing off the five senses in addition to acupressure, it's truly pitiful to be your brother… What a pity… I really want to see his… choice…"

Anle Wang's previously lifeless eyes suddenly brightened. He paid no heed to Zi Jin's mockery, a radiant smile breaking through the clouds on his exquisite face. Dugu Xihui stared blankly at Zi Jin's every move, clearly still not having reacted. Bao Xian's slightly pale face wore a serene smile.

Zi Jin walked up to Dugu Xihui, slowly extended her hand, and then suddenly flung the purple ice crystal in her palm. The ice crystal hit the ground and shattered into pieces: "What kind of spiritual power can bring the dead back to life? Once you're dead, you're dead. What are you... still hoping for?!"

Instantly, Dugu Xihui's face turned deathly pale. He opened his mouth slightly, but could not utter a single word.

Zi Jin walked step by step to Madam Yu's side: "Madam, where is the antidote?"

Madam Yu's aged face remained calm. She regained her former smile, tinged with a hint of satisfaction: "Jin'er has truly impressed me. It's a pity... There were only three of them, yet two of them attacked you. Can't Jin'er see through this?... I'd like to see if Sikou Xunxiang will also make a move against you... What a pity... what a pity..."

Zi Jin's expression shifted, her smile devoid of genuine emotion: "It's not that I can't see through it, it's that you and they can't see through it either. Who I am, and who I am not, what does it matter? In any case, Na Lan Feng Jin won't come back to life... won't she?"

Madam Yu looked at Zi Jin and said, word by word, "Whether Na Lan Feng Jin is dead or not, Jin'er knows best in her heart. She is clearly alive but unwilling to admit it and take responsibility... Such a person is the most tragic."

Zi Jin's eyes sharpened: "Madam, you should not force the issue. Hand over the antidote."

What if I don't give it to them?

Zi Jin slowly stood up, looked down at Madam Yu and said, "Whether you give it to her or not is no longer up to you!"

Madam Yu looked at Zi Jin, whose expression had changed slightly, and smiled gently: "My life should have ended more than ten years ago. I have lived these extra years, which is enough. Life and death are no longer important to me. If I were to die at Jin'er's hands, I would not blame her or complain... because only Jin'er like this is worthy of being a member of the Nalan family."

Zi Jin smiled softly, her eyes icy cold: "I know you're not afraid of death, and I will never forget your life-saving grace. I wonder if you remember telling me that everyone has weaknesses... Madam, you should think this through."

Madam Yu returned Zi Jin's smile with sincerity, looking directly into her eyes: "If I give Jin'er the antidote, I'm afraid I'll never see her again in my lifetime. Hehe... Jin'er, use whatever means you have. I also want to know if Jin'er's heart has hardened like a rock."

Zi Jin squinted at Madam Yu, who was still smiling, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes.

Seeing Zi Jin's reaction, Madam Yu's smile now contained a hint of mockery.

Zi Jin turned around and closed her eyes. After a long while, she suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Jun Lin, whose face was pale. She walked towards him very slowly, step by step.

Seeing Zi Jin approach, Jun Lin was flattered and surprised. His eyes slowly welled up with tears, like the warmth of spring sunshine, or like flowers blooming in an instant, pure and elegant, captivating and endearing. He gazed intently at Zi Jin as she walked towards him, a faint smile slowly spreading across his lips.

Zi Jin lowered her eyes, squatted down, her long eyelashes concealing her thoughts. She took Jun Lin's slightly cold hand and warmed it in her own: "Are you cold?"

The joy in Jun Lin's phoenix eyes rippled gently, deepening little by little. He couldn't speak or move, but the smile on his lips grew even stronger.

Zi Jin gently rubbed Jun Lin's hand, seemingly glancing unintentionally at Madam Yu in the distance: "You are the person I least want to hurt, but... time and time again I have to choose you... You hate me, don't you..." As soon as she finished speaking, Zi Jin swiftly pulled out the half-foot-long gold hairpin from her hair bun, stabbed it hard into Jun Lin's shoulder, and then quickly pulled it out.

Blood splattered onto Zi Jin's face.

"Jin'er!" Madam Yu screamed, then suppressed the trembling in her voice, "How...how could you do this?"

Zi Jin turned her face away, closed her eyes, then opened them again, staring intently at Madam Yu: "Madam, have you made up your mind?"

Jun Lin stared wide-eyed at Zi Jin in disbelief, staring straight at her... There was no questioning in his eyes, only disbelief and pain.

A glint of resentment flashed in Madam Yu's eyes: "I will not give you the antidote! Kill him! Let's see if you can really bring yourself to do it!"

Beneath her sleeve, Zi Jin's hand clenched into a fist. She abruptly turned her face, and the gold hairpin in her hand plunged deep into Jun Lin's shoulder again. Holding the still-pricked hairpin, Zi Jin turned to face Madam Yu.

Madam Yu was shocked and stared at Zi Jin in disbelief: "How could you do this? How could you do this! He is Lin'er! Have you forgotten? He is your Lin'er! How could you do this? How could you be so cruel to him? In this world... who is as sincere to you as he is? You have hurt him and used him time and time again... How could you bear it? How could you bear it!"

Zi Jin lowered her eyes and said in a low voice, "If you had given me the antidote from the beginning, why would I have treated him like this?"

"I won't give it to you. I won't let you leave without any ties!" Madam Yu said in a harsh voice, her eyes filled with resentment.