Song Qingchao thought all night.
In the end, she connected the relationships between the old emperor, the third prince, the hostage, Feng Shaocheng, and Wanyan Xiyin.
When the war began.
She estimated that the old emperor was likely on his way out.
The reason Wanyan Xiyin dared to be so arrogant was twofold: first, he learned of the internal strife in Dayuan and wanted to take advantage of the weakness; second, he had allies within the court.
This was true collusion with the enemy...
And the culprits could only be one of two people: the third prince or the hostage.
To gain an edge in their internal power struggle, they were not above involving foreign powers.
The more Song Qingchao thought, the more fearful she became.
She didn't know the outcome of her previous life because she had died!
Currently, Wanyan Xiyin was likely not yet a major threat. If she eliminated him now, then...
Song Qingchao was decisive. Hesitation led to defeat.
If she missed this opportunity, she didn't know when she would encounter Wanyan Xiyin again.
As for the forces behind him...
To catch the thief, one must first catch the king. Without the main commander, his forces would scatter like dust.
She would not sacrifice the common people for her own benefit.
If the war could be avoided, she would still prefer to avoid it.
After all, it was ultimately the people who suffered.
She had countless ways to exact revenge, but the lives of the people were only one.
A secure homeland came first, followed by a clear and peaceful realm, and finally, eternal companionship.
The sky was still dark.
It was the best time to act in the quiet of the night.
Song Qingchao gently woke Zhou Si and explained her plan.
Zhou Si had no other reaction.
He was simply his master's dark blade; his existence was to protect his master.
As for the reasons...
His master's actions were naturally for good reason.
The two of them silently found Wanyan Xiyin's room.
They were all in the main building, so the rooms were close.
Song Qingchao found it without much effort.
After dealing with a few minor guards, Song Qingchao managed to enter the room.
She took out the Mother-Child Mandarin Duck Blades from her spatial storage and walked towards Wanyan Xiyin with firm and cautious steps.
Wanyan Xiyin lay on the bed, his abdomen rising and falling with each breath.
His appearance was eerily similar to how he looked when he was drugged and incapacitated in her previous life.
In her past life, how did he die?
Let her recall...
It seemed she, clad in a sheer veil, was forced onto horseback, treading over the corpses of countless Dayuan soldiers, watching as her father, engaged in fierce combat, was impaled by several long spears through his chest, becoming a human porcupine.
She had entered the city to poison, to dance. In the grand hall, she witnessed her own brother’s lifeblood being pierced by a sword.
She also saw the man arguing with her brother being stabbed in the lower back.
But she was powerless. Her body grew weaker each day, feeling as if it would break with every movement.
She could only smile, smiling as she finished her dance.
Her bare feet stepped on the blood-soaked carpet, splattering everywhere on her dress.
After the dance concluded, she walked step by step onto the platform.
Soldiers outside dragged the bodies of Feng Shaocheng and Su Yingying and threw them onto the ground.
Both had met gruesome ends.
Every bone in Feng Shaocheng’s body had been broken, his corpse collapsing like mud.
Su Yingying was no better; her once proud fair skin was covered in red marks.
This was Wanyan Xiyin's answer to her, and also the condition for him to desire her body.
Wanyan Xiyin, in front of all his loyal subjects, pinned her down.
Tearing at her, wanting her.
She paid it no mind, treating their laughter as the funeral dirge.
She only devotedly pushed her red lips into Wanyan Xiyin’s mouth.
Finally, his voice fell silent, and Wanyan Xiyin stopped moving.
She pushed him away.
Using the Ziwu Mandarin Duck Blades gifted by her father, she stabbed Wanyan Xiyin until he was riddled with holes.
Then, she set fire to everything.
In this life, although the circumstances were different,
Song Qingchao's hatred had not diminished. She tightly gripped the Ziwu Mandarin Duck Blades and walked towards Wanyan Xiyin.
Her movements were clean and swift, leaving no room for hesitation.
She raised the blades.
But Wanyan Xiyin woke up.
He dodged skillfully, rolling across the bed, but Song Qingchao still managed to inflict a large gash on his arm.
Wanyan Xiyin lost the amiable demeanor he had downstairs; he was now as sinister as a starved wolf.
Song Qingchao, of course, was not afraid.
She still had Zhou Si to help her. Wanyan Xiyin would definitely not leave alive tonight!
The master and servant duo struck with fatal intent, each blow aimed to kill.
Their synchronized movements gave Wanyan Xiyin no chance to breathe.
He already had one injured arm, and now, with two people attacking him, his wounds continued to multiply.
He knew he was going to die!
But how could he die like this?
"Song Qingchao, I have never had any quarrel with you. Why do you seek my death!"
Song Qingchao: "!!!"
Her blade paused, giving Wanyan Xiyin an opening.
"Master!"
Zhou Si reminded Song Qingchao.
Song Qingchao quickly regained her composure.
She threw the Ziwu Mandarin Duck Blades aside, grabbed the Nine-Clawed Hook, and reeled in Wanyan Xiyin, who was attempting to escape by jumping out the window.
The commotion had already alerted the people at Shuiyun Jian.
Song Qingchao felt it was inappropriate, gave Zhou Si a look, and then, taking Wanyan Xiyin with her, leaped out the window, crossed the courtyard, and entered the building of Xiyun Pavilion.
Song Xiaoguo rushed over upon hearing the noise.
She found her master with a somber expression and Zhou Si covered in half a body of blood.
Song Qingchao sat on the stool, her hands clasped together resting on her chin, staring intently at Wanyan Xiyin, completely oblivious to Song Xiaoguo's arrival.
Song Xiaoguo knew Song Qingchao's personality.
She then pulled Zhou Si away.
In the dark and empty room, only a sliver of moonlight shone through the window.
"How do you know who I am?"
Wanyan Xiyin let out a dry laugh, "Your red mole and jade pendant are undeniable."
"Why do you know me?"
This was what Song Qingchao found most terrifying.
Wanyan Xiyin was quite frank, "Will you let me go if I tell you?"
"You know the answer." Song Qingchao released her grip and sat up straight. "What you say is merely to sow discord within me."
"As expected of a general's daughter. I know of you, naturally, because of your father."
His tone shifted, "However, I have more of a feeling of admiration for you, young lady."
Wanyan Xiyin burst into laughter.
"To die by your hand, it is not a loss. But you came to kill me, did you get the news from that person?"
These words bewildered Song Qingchao.
In this life, she had never met Wanyan Xiyin before, so what admiration could he speak of?
She also didn't know who he was referring to, but for now, she could only go along with it.
"Hmph, a treacherous and ungrateful wretch."
He cursed for a while. Annoyed, Song Qingchao kicked him. "Answer my question."
"Your question?"
Wanyan Xiyin raised his chin, showing no fear of his current predicament.
"Miss Song would be better off listening to my question first."
The corners of his mouth gradually curved upwards, his smile resembling the scythe held by a demon from hell.
"Don't you want to know who pushed the Song family into the abyss?"