Emperatriz viuda Xiaoxuan

Capítulo 220

In August of the same year, Emperor Yanhe took Empress Luoxia of Chen Kingdom as his Imperial Noble Consort. Also in August of the same year, Emperor Yanhe incorporated most of Chen Kingdom's army into the hands of Chen Kingdom's generals and executed nearly thirty disobedient military officers.

In September of the same year, the State of Chen fell, and the world was initially at peace.

In the early winter of the second year of Yanhe in the Yue Kingdom, Prince Yu of the Yue Kingdom, Jun Chi, conquered twelve cities of the Yao Kingdom in half a year and headed straight for the imperial city of the Yao Kingdom.

In the winter of the second year of the Yanhe era of the Yue Kingdom, the Yao Kingdom sent an envoy to the Yue Kingdom to present a letter of surrender. Prince Yu refused to accept it and besieged the capital of the Yao Kingdom for half a month.

Inside the Yao Kingdom's palace, panic reigned as the sounds of battle outside the capital drew ever closer to the palace.

Empress Dowager Dugu, dressed in a solemn and orthodox crimson palace gown, walked alone step by step beneath the palace walls. Her well-maintained hands gently caressed the sandalwood box in her arms, her gaze unfocused as she stared into the distance.

"Brother Ruoxi...why are you treating me like this? If you don't like me, why did you marry me in the first place?"

"Dugu Ruoxi! You like her?... How could you like her! She's your own sister!"

"Dugu Ruoxi, this is my child! You gave him to me, so why did you take him away from me? Why did you send him to that cannibalistic place?! ...It was all for her! Give me back my child! Give me back my child! ...Dugu Ruoxi, I hate you! I hate you!"

"Dugu Ruoxi, if you dare to die! I curse you! I curse your entire Dugu clan! May you all suffer a terrible death! A terrible death!...Dugu Ruoxi!!—"

"You think you can escape me just because you're dead? Even if you turn to ashes, you'll still be in my hands! Dugu Ruoxi, have you forgotten? You think I can't take my revenge? You still have your son, the son you and that bitch's daughter both cherish so much... He's still in my hands, Dugu Ruoxi, have you forgotten?"

Empress Dowager Dugu kicked open the gate of a palace. Inside the dark palace, where the windows were nailed shut, only a palace lantern emitted a dim light. A person was bound to a dragon bed made of gold and silver by layers of iron chains.

Bound by layers of iron chains, the emaciated Dugu Xihui struggled and roared upon seeing the newcomer, "Let me go! Let me go!"

Empress Dowager Dugu sneered, "Didn't you want to follow her off the cliff? Didn't you want to die for her? Today I'll give you that chance."

Dugu Xihui's eyes were filled with venom as she stared intently at Empress Dowager Dugu, and she said coldly, "What do you want now!"

Empress Dowager Dugu smiled slightly, slowly extending her hand that was not holding the sandalwood box, revealing a black pill, and said in a low voice: "Eat it, eat it, and you will be able to see the one you love."

Dugu Xihui smiled coldly: "You would be so kind?"

Empress Dowager Dugu approached Dugu Xihui's dragon bed step by step and said softly, "You know how much I've hated you all these years, and you know how much I've wanted you dead! It's a pity you couldn't die then! Now that I'm leaving, how can I bear to leave you alone in this world?"

Empress Dowager Dugu suddenly pried open Dugu Xihui's mouth and shoved the pill inside. She pressed down hard on Dugu Xihui's mouth and nose until he swallowed the pill.

Instantly, Dugu Xihui felt as if thousands of tiny insects were gnawing at his head. The excruciating pain caused him to scream and collapse onto the dragon bed.

Empress Dowager Dugu let out a soft gasp, as if she had aged decades in an instant. She slowly sat down on the dragon bed, gently stroking Dugu Xihui's eyes, eyebrows, and lips, her lifeless eyes gradually filling with tears.

After a long silence, Empress Dowager Dugu sighed softly and said, "Do you know how much you resemble him? Do you know that all these years... I haven't dared to look at you more than once, otherwise... otherwise I don't know how I would have treated you, my child... you are my child... I waited for you and longed for you every day... you are my child, my child with him... how could I not love you? How could I not cherish you?"

The sounds of fighting were getting closer, and the clash of weapons could be faintly heard.

Empress Dowager Dugu glanced at Lou Shuo, who had been standing in the shadows: "Hui'er... I'm entrusting him to you from now on... He has taken the Forget-Dust drug, and from now on... there will be no more Dugu Xi Hui in this world."

Lou Shuo stepped forward and unlocked the chains on the dragon bed. He picked up the unconscious Dugu Xihui and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, Lou Shuo will protect Young Master Jinyang, even at the cost of his life." After saying this, he turned and jumped into the secret passage opened by Empress Dowager Dugu.

Empress Dowager Dugu watched Lou Shuo's retreating figure with tears in her eyes, nodded heavily, gritted her teeth, and slammed the door to the secret passage shut. She reached out and broke the mechanism of the secret passage, then hugged the sandalwood box in her arms and silently sat down on the dragon bed.

In the winter of the second year of Yanhe in Yue Kingdom, Prince Yu broke through the imperial city and stormed into the palace of Yao Kingdom. When he entered the forbidden palace, a huge fire suddenly broke out in the Zhengde Hall, the sleeping quarters of Emperor Tianshou.

In the winter of the second year of the Yanhe era of the Yue Kingdom, Emperor Tianshou and his mother, Empress Dowager Dugu, committed suicide by burning themselves in the Zhengde Hall, and the Yao Kingdom perished.

In the spring of the third year of Yanhe in the Yue Kingdom, the Yue Kingdom completely annexed the two countries and unified the world.

Late spring of the eighth year of Yanhe in the Yue Kingdom.

Shops line both sides of the streets along the Huaiyin River, with people coming and going, some in a hurry and others leisurely. The architectural styles here are diverse, ranging from the elegant sophistication of the Jiangnan region to the grand style of the North.

On the towering arena stood a young man in purple robes, facing the wind. A vibrant, almost fading, gold-plated blue peach blossom, its most beautiful moment perfectly captured beneath his eye. His amber eyes shimmered like stars, and his tightly pursed lips were alluring and seductive.

What an absolutely handsome young man!

The young man in purple glanced sideways at the people below the arena, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Since no one is willing to fight, then this glass ring belongs to my Jinyang Tower."

"Wait!" A sharp shout rang out, followed by a flash of red.

A woman holding a golden whip appeared to be under twenty, with slightly upturned willow-leaf eyebrows, fan-like eyelashes, slender phoenix eyes, a delicate nose, and pale pink, slightly upturned lips. Her reddish-brown hair was tied into a simple bun. Although she could not be called a beauty, the vibrant energy she exuded was captivating.

The young man in purple narrowed his amber eyes slightly, scrutinized the woman for a moment, and smiled slightly: "Does the young lady also want this ring?"

Zi Jin tilted her head and smiled mischievously: "Call me 'Miss'? You're getting better and better at talking... If it were anything else, what could you do to me? But unfortunately, I can't give up this ring."

The young man in purple changed his expression slightly, a hint of arrogance flashing across his face. He played with the jade flute in his hand and sneered, "Miss, you seem quite confident. If you have the ability, take it first."

Zi Jin stepped forward, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Tsk tsk, as expected of Young Master Jinyang, even when he's angry he's so handsome." Her tone was light and teasing, her eyes were full of affection, and she couldn't help but smile.

Teasing! Blatant harassment! Blatant harassment in public!

No matter how good-natured a man is, it would be hard for anyone to swallow such an insult.

With a light tap of his toes, Young Master Jinyang pointed his jade flute directly at Zi Jin's face. Zi Jin subtly turned her head slightly, dodging the fierce flute. A hint of surprise flashed in Young Master Jinyang's eyes. He turned and swung back, but the woman took two steps back. The jade flute, as fast as lightning, didn't even touch Zi Jin's clothes.

Within two moves, Young Master Jinyang realized that Zi Jin was toying with him, and a hint of shame and anger flashed in his amber eyes. He lightly turned his jade flute, and instantly, a foot-long, thin, soft sword emerged from its core. Young Master Jinyang gathered his inner strength and slashed at Zi Jin.

Zi Jin was slightly taken aback, then pouted, seemingly extremely dissatisfied with Young Master Jinyang who had already decided to kill her. Zi Jin suddenly lashed out with her golden whip, as fast as lightning. Young Master Jinyang staggered back several steps until he reached the edge of the arena, barely managing to dodge the whip.

The rage in Young Master Jinyang's eyes intensified. He concealed his inner energy, his figure flashing as he leaped to Zi Jin's side, brandishing his sword and striking directly. Zi Jin seemed startled by this attack overflowing with murderous intent, her dark eyes filled with astonishment. Without thinking, she raised her whip to block, striking with all her might, and dodged the murderous jade sword to the side.

Young Master Jinyang never imagined that the woman could move so fast. Forced to retreat step by step, he lost his footing and was about to fall off the stage. Zi Jin was shocked and used her golden whip to wrap around Young Master Jinyang's body, pulling him back and supporting his swaying form.

"Young master, you were very careless."

These words were like adding fuel to the fire, and Young Master Jinyang's shame and anger surged to the extreme. He raised his palm and struck Zi Jin. Zi Jin was startled again, only dodging and not attacking, retreating dozens of steps. Young Master Jinyang glared resentfully at Zi Jin, who stood leisurely on the opposite side, looking down at the audience. His eyes flashed, and he threw the copper coin in his hand.

After a few exchanges, Young Master Jinyang realized that although the woman's martial arts were high, her vigilance against enemies was almost nonexistent. He could definitely take her down with a hidden weapon. Although it was not the act of a gentleman to injure someone with a hidden weapon, he absolutely did not want to give up that ring. Over the years, he had been detached from worldly desires and had nothing to worry about, but this ring was the only thing he had ever liked at first sight. How could he let it go?