Lu Ziyuan sneered, "Your cousin and aunt fear to death. Sohow they found out about my lineage, and even before I knew my true identity, they attempted to harm over and over. At first, I thought it was the Emperor..."
He paused and recalled the mistakes he had made, choosing to no longer speak.
If the Crown Prince hadn’t provoked him, how could he...
"Are you wondering why he targeted so much?" Lu Ziyuan’s eyes flickered slightly, looking at the dagger tightly held in her hand, he said lightly, "Because I am the legitimate son of the late Empress, fostered in the Lu family with the Emperor and several old ministers all aware. He wants the position of Crown Prince, but unless I die, he can’t attain it."
The legitimate son of the late Empress?
Xie Wanqing’s eyes widened.
Fifth Prince?
As far as she knew, the late Empress died in childbirth, and the Fifth Prince was born prematurely, not surviving even a full month and followed his mother soon thereafter.
When she realized he might be a Prince, she instinctively assud he was the Emperor’s illegitimate child, never imagining he was the legitimate son?
The sa legitimate son known to several old ministers.
Such an origin, yet arranged to beco the youngest legitimate son of the first branch of the Wuyuan Marquis Mansion?
Xie Wanqing’s first reaction was, why would the Lu Family agree?
But in the next instant, she wondered, why wouldn’t they agree?
The young n of the Lu Family hold the military power, their family’s n are illustrious in battle, whether they feared the Emperor is known only to themselves.
And the previous generation of the Lu Family did not even have daughters, none in the palace.
To foster a child for the Emperor, and still be the legitimate son, what an opportunity!
Once Lu Ziyuan grows up, the Emperor would have a legitimate prince skilled in battle, while the Lu Family would earn the gratitude of raising this prince.
Regardless of the palace intrigue involved or the considerations for imperial power in the Emperor’s decision, it’s not important.
What’s important is that in the turbulent tis of the Great Khan, the successor needed certainly isn’t the renowned Crown Prince.
In tis of chaos, it’s not virtue that prevails, but...
Xie Wanqing made sense of it all.
Lu Ziyuan wasn’t mistaken, perhaps he was the Emperor’s predetermined Crown Prince from birth.
As long as he lives, the Crown Prince’s position is indeed unattainable for the Crown Prince.
Since he claid to have avenged himself, there was no need for her to ask about the ultimate fate of the past life.
...surely he won.
Whether he ascended to the throne or beca the Crown Prince was not important.
What mattered was that he is the legitimate son secretly nurtured by the Emperor for over a decade, now eighteen, with an unstoppable aura.
A general victorious at the Northern Border, moreover, a legitimate son of the Empress.
What great expectations the Emperor had for this son, she could guess so.
If she truly killed him...
It would be tantamount to cutting out the Emperor’s heart.
Stability of the Great Khan’s empire aside, the Emperor surely wouldn’t spare her.
Even if Lu Ziyuan really covered all tracks, there’s no wall that doesn’t let the wind through, she wouldn’t dare gamble on keeping this matter from a monarch.
As long as there’s a hint of suspicion, the Emperor would prefer to kill wrongly than let it go.
What’s more, even if Lu Ziyuan could prove he died from an old illness resurfacing, his death would still be related to her.
He rushed back thousands of miles to the Capital for her, broke into Duke Pei Mansion at night for her, all old illnesses due to her, how could the Emperor ever forgive her?
Perhaps the Xie family would be implicated!
Outside, a gusty wind seed to signal an impending storm. Xie Wanqing tightly gripped the dagger in her hand, standing motionless by the desk.
Lu Ziyuan, seated, tilted his head to look at her and smiled lightly, "What are you worried about? It’s not that you can’t part with , is it?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Wanqing’s eyelashes trembled, her gaze eting his, both could see each other’s expression.
She was flustered and panicking with the dagger in hand, while the man sitting there waiting for her life-or-death decision was calm and indifferent.
She pursed her lips, "What if I don’t want your life, but instead sentence you to never appear before again?"
"That won’t do," the girl in front dispelled her killing intent, Lu Ziyuan concluded that she still had feelings for him, a tightly held heart finally relaxed, although none of this showed on his face.
He said: "As long as I live for a day, I cannot help but co see you."
Xie Wanqing nodded stiffly, then asked, "So this kind of thing will keep happening, even if you let go back now, every ti I leave the house you might kidnap and humiliate ?"
Humiliate...
Lu Ziyuan’s face hardened.
"Don’t say it like that. If you don’t like it, I won’t force you anymore." He laughed, "Since you don’t want to kill , I’ll assu you’ll end your marriage with that sickly man."
"Estimated ti to end the marriage? Give a deadline," considering she hasn’t been married long, abruptly ending it would indeed be unreasonable, he said thoughtfully, "Or I can co up with a solution..."
He was already imagining how to ensure she ends the marriage smoothly, but Xie Wanqing’s hand holding the dagger did not relax.
Clearly the blade was in her hands, yet she felt utterly cornered.
A crushing despair enveloped her, scenes from her dreams vividly reminded and warned her that the man before her was akin to a mountain, always oppressing and forcing her.
He seed to offer her choices, but was convinced she wouldn’t truly kill him.
His strategies were flawless, perhaps he had analyzed her psyche thoroughly, but Xie Wanqing refused to accept it.
She refused to be manipulated and tangled by him again.
Who said she only had two choices?
The wind howled outside, seeming to bring footsteps along. When Lu Ziyuan looked over, Xie Wanqing seized the chance and swung the dagger abruptly.
The blade was aid at her own chest.
Slitting her throat would be too ugly, her courage was limited to only stabbing her chest.
Yet even so, the dagger ultimately failed to pierce her heart, Lu Ziyuan’s reaction was astonishingly quick.
Almost the instant she swung, he stood up at lightning speed, grabbing her wrist with force, causing the sharp dagger to fall to the ground.
The next mont, Xie Wanqing was already pinned by him on the desk, hands gripping her throat.
"What do you think you’re doing?" His gaze bloodshot, pupils shaking with frenzy, gritting his teeth like a mad beast, "What are you trying to do!"
"Can’t... you see?" Xie Wanqing smiled with her neck stiff, "I’d rather die than be tangled by you for a lifeti. Why should my choices only be those two from you? Don’t forget, everyone can choose their life or death."
Life and Death!
The hand at her neck trembled, Lu Ziyuan stared at her, his complexion changing repeatedly, finally spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Who told you everyone can decide their life and death?" His teeth held blood, looking terrifyingly extre, "Do you know how your cousin and aunt begged to end their suffering? They wish more than anyone to die, yet they can’t. Wanwan, do you want to try?"
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