"Situ Jingyan!" Upon hearing Situ Jingyan's words, Situ Jingye raised his eyes fiercely, his gaze filled with resentment and hatred, and roared in disbelief, "How could you possibly do this? How could you possibly do this!"
The words were not finished, but Situ Jingyan understood their meaning.
Shen Qianmo merely gave a mocking smile. Even on the verge of death, he didn't understand how he was going to die?! Did he, like his foolish mother, believe that Situ Jingyan was afraid of their power?!
"Death is not scary. What is scary is dying without knowing it." Shen Qianmo's lazy and casual words drifted past Situ Jingye's ears.
Situ Jingye turned his gaze and saw a woman dressed in white, exuding an ethereal beauty. Her jet-black hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and her brows held only a faint disdain; she didn't even glance at him. It was utter contempt and disdain!
In all his years of navigating battlefields and officialdom, when had Situ Jingye ever been so scorned?! That seemingly casual remark wounded his pride more deeply than a thousand arrows piercing his heart, making it unbearable for him.
Situ Jingyan! He's ruthless! Even the woman beside him is so cruel.
"If you dare to glare at Mo'er again, don't blame me for being impolite!" Situ Jingyan's icy words reached Situ Jingye's ears.
Situ Jingye raised his eyes angrily, but was forced to lower his head. The red-clad, eerie man's cold light in his eyes was too captivating, like a demon from hell. He just stood there looking at him, yet there was an invisible pressure that forced him to lower his head.
As Situ Jingyan's red robes swept past his eyes, and as his slender yet captivating chin was held high, Situ Jingye had an unexpected realization. Situ Jingyan was the true king, the only king in this world, and he himself had no choice but to submit.
"All your forces have been wiped out. I promised Jinghao I would let you die a quick death." Situ Jingyan's emotionless voice came from above.
Situ Jingye raised his eyes in terror, his arrogance and anger gone, replaced by boundless despair and fear. The oppressive atmosphere and the overwhelming aura made him feel that he was truly doomed.
All forces. Completely wiped out. This fact was almost unbelievable to him. But coming from Situ Jingyan's mouth, it was as if it possessed a magical power, leaving him no choice but to believe it.
In that instant, only one thought crossed his mind: It's over, it's all over.
Before Situ Jingye could beg for mercy, the fan in Situ Jingyan's hand had already slid across Situ Jingye's throat. One blow, death, without the slightest hesitation or delay. Situ Jingyan's face remained indifferent.
Shen Qianmo looked at Situ Jingyan's profile and felt a sudden pang of heartache. Situ Jingyan did this to preserve Situ Jingye's last shred of dignity. He didn't want him to beg him with a fawning expression, so he acted so swiftly, just to ensure Situ Jingye died with dignity.
In truth, Situ Jingyan also has a soft heart. Even though he is ruthless in his decisions, there is warmth in his heart after all.
"Jingyan. Everything in the past is in the past." Shen Qianmo reached out and held Situ Jingyan's hand. Yes, all the unbearable things were over. From now on, she would be there for him.
The emotions in Situ Jingyan's eyes were completely concealed by a deep darkness, and a wicked and cynical smile curled at the corner of his lips as he said, "Yes, it's all over. Shouldn't Mo'er be preparing for our wedding?"
"The Emperor of Tianmo wants to marry the Palace Master of the Demon Palace?" Shen Qianmo asked with a smile.
She knew that her status disqualified her from becoming empress, but she trusted Situ Jingyan and believed that he could resolve everything.
"No. It is Situ Jingyan who wants to marry Shen Qianmo." Situ Jingyan held Shen Qianmo's hand and said earnestly.
It wasn't an emperor marrying an empress. It was him, a living, breathing human being, marrying the only woman he would ever truly love in his life. This was simply a wedding about love, unrelated to power or status.
However, this is just their idea. The court officials of Tianmo probably won't let them have their way.
"Miss, a man has come outside and says he wants to see you." Qianqian was still as lively and energetic as ever, with a sweet smile on her face.
Shen Qianmo was drinking tea when he heard Qianqian's words. He frowned slightly, put down his tea, and pondered to himself.
A man?! How could a man be coming and going in this palace?! Besides, Situ Jingyan hadn't told anyone she was staying here. If it were Qingzhu or Qingsong, Qianqian would have told them directly. Who on earth would come looking for her at this time?!
"Please invite him in." Shen Qianmo lowered her head and took another sip of tea, a playful smile curving her lips. Her dark eyes shone brightly, as if all the fragrance in the room had gathered around her.
The man quickly followed Qianqian inside. Shen Qianmo gestured for Qianqian to go back to her room first, then calmly looked up at the man.
She wore a flowing, azure robe, her hair was simply styled, and her features were not particularly outstanding, but her eyes seemed to encompass everything. A faint smile played on her lips as she looked at Shen Qianmo.
"Since you wish to see me, you should state your name." Shen Qianmo remained silent for a while. Seeing that the man seemed to have no intention of speaking, she put down her teacup, glanced at the man lazily, and seemed to completely disregard him.
The man raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes, which were veiled in a thin mist. No wonder she was the woman the Emperor loved; she was truly extraordinary. Even under his scrutiny, she remained so composed. What was merely an ordinary action seemed to possess an innate air of nobility.
Even so, she was not qualified to stand by the Emperor's side. He was determined to marry her as Empress, which would cost him immense support, especially at this crucial moment. He would not allow anything to hinder the Emperor's pursuit of the throne.
"Haoyue greets the Palace Master of the Demon Palace." His tone was indifferent, lacking respect, and his voice was gentle, as if it were a calm greeting. However, there was no shortage of hidden sarcasm in his words.
A glint flashed in Shen Qianmo's previously indifferent eyes. Her eyebrows rose slightly, and a cryptic smile appeared on her face as she said calmly, "Prime Minister Tianmo?!"
Although she had never met Haoyue, she was familiar with his name. If Qingsong, Qingzhu, Hongmei, and Hongju were Situ Jingyan's assistants in the martial arts world and in secret, then Haoyue and Yunxin were Situ Jingyan's indispensable right-hand men in the imperial court.
Prime Minister Haoyue is a man of extraordinary talent. He is adept at all the political intrigues of the court; there is nothing in this world that his eyes cannot see through. But what does this stunningly brilliant prime minister want with her?!
"Yes." The calm and gentle reply was crisp and concise, without any fuss. Haoyue went straight to the point and said, "The Palace Master of the Demon Palace is also a smart man. He must have guessed some of the purpose of Haoyue's visit."
Shen Qianmo raised an eyebrow again, a hint of mockery in her smile. She slowly stood up, taking each step with great deliberation, until she finally stopped coldly in front of Haoyue and asked, "Does the Prime Minister perhaps wish for Qianmo to leave Jingyan?"
Haoyue's body trembled slightly. This woman had such a strong presence. She had just walked over so calmly, but her aura was no less than that of the emperor.
If it weren't for this thorny issue, marrying such a woman to the emperor wouldn't be considered a mismatch. Unfortunately, it's absolutely not possible to do so now.
"The Palace Master is indeed clever." Composing himself, Haoyue remained gentle and indifferent, but his misty eyes made it impossible to see what he was thinking.
Shen Qianmo stared coldly into Haoyue's eyes, feeling that she could never see through his thoughts. Yet, being looked at by him, it was as if all her secrets were laid bare.
"Unfortunately, you've come to the wrong person." Shen Qianmo turned around nimbly, leaving Haoyue with only her ethereal white silhouette.
Haoyue looked at Shen Qianmo's somewhat indifferent back and understood that Shen Qianmo was giving her the order to leave.
"Now that Linwei has changed hands and Crown Prince Yan Xiuling has ascended the throne, he has proposed a marriage alliance, offering Princess Anya to the Emperor." Haoyue did not leave, but continued speaking indifferently.
Shen Qianmo's body twitched slightly. Yan Xiuling was going to marry his cousin to Situ Jingyan?! It seemed he was about to make his move.
In this way, if Situ Jingyan refuses to marry Princess Anya for her sake, it will give Yan Xiuling the opportunity and reason to take action, making it seem more legitimate. At the same time, it will also affect the relationship between Situ Jingyan and the Tianmo court officials, because they will feel that Situ Jingyan is disregarding the country for his own selfish desires.
"So what?!" The words that came out were still cold, but a hint of hesitation had appeared. Situ Jingyan should be able to handle this situation, right? Even if he gave Lin Wei an excuse, so what?! Did Tianmo fear Lin Wei?!
"The Li Kingdom has grown increasingly powerful in the past two years, having annexed many smaller states. Its strength is now vastly different from what it once was. If His Majesty insists on refusing the marriage, then Linwei is very likely to join forces with the Li Kingdom. Tianmo's internal situation is currently unstable, and it will probably be powerless to face the combined attack of two powerful nations." Haoyue saw Shen Qianmo's figure tremble slightly and understood that Shen Qianmo's feelings for Situ Jingyan were genuine, so her words softened a bit.