With Xiao Man's command, countless archers appeared from all sides, aiming at the people inside the Imperial Ancestral Temple!
The courtiers were terrified, cowering together, fearing they would be shot into hedgehogs if they showed their heads.
"Xiao Man, are you trying to rebel?" Jing Yujun stepped forward and asked.
Xiao Man glanced coldly at Jing Yujun: "Rebel? What is rebellion? My husband was murdered in broad daylight by Feng Moran. If the Empress hands over the killer, I can pretend nothing happened."
"You're dreaming!"
Xiao Man's expression was icy, her eyes filled with murderous intent: "If the Empress is unwilling, then don't blame me for acting rashly."
"Your Majesty, there are plenty of fish in the sea. You shouldn't risk the fate of the Blue Moon for one man." Jing Yujun looked at the Empress and advised her to hand over Feng Moran.
The Empress's face turned ashen, her lips trembling slightly, her gaze fixed on Xiao Man as if she wanted to devour her alive: "Xiao Man, don't go too far!"
"Is the Empress willing to ruin the country for a man's favor?" Xiao Man asked slowly. "If the Empress is so foolish, I'm afraid all the civil and military officials, and the people of this realm, will not agree!"
"Xiao Man, why must you involve A'ran in the grievances between us? A'ran is innocent!"
"Is he truly innocent?" Xiao Man said coldly. "Master, how did my mother die?"
Feng Moran merely looked at Xiao Man, not answering.
"The tomb at Yusheng where my mother was buried is just a cenotaph. Where is my mother's body?" Xiao Man's eyes were pitch black, revealing no emotion, but Feng Moran knew Xiao Man was very angry. The angrier she became, the calmer she appeared.
"How did my father die?" Xiao Man continued. "Don't tell me he was murdered. They were just pawns used by others. The one who truly killed my father is you!"
Feng Moran was so enraged that he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face etched with pain: "Man'er, is that how you see me? You truly don't know what kind of person I am, or how I treated you?"
"I don't know!" Xiao Man said sharply. "I once thought you were a strict but gentle master, a kind and benevolent father. But what did you do? You killed my mother, and didn't even spare her body. You tortured my father to death in pain and despair. And now, you've targeted my husband. Master, what enmity do I have with you that you must treat me this way?"
Feng Moran looked at the tearful Xiao Man and stumbled forward. No, he had never intended to hurt her. He only wished for her to become a qualified ruler, to conquer the world. He merely wanted to possess her alone, but those people insisted on snatching her from him!
"Man'er, even if I harmed the world, I would never harm you."
"Lies!" Xiao Man said coldly. "How many of the countless assassination attempts were arranged by you? How much of Old Madam Xiao's hatred for me was deliberately instigated by you? You used every means to make me lose all my allies and friends. You wounded me so severely, yet you dare to say you wouldn't hurt me. Feng Moran, are you a devil?"
Feng Moran shook his head. No, it wasn't like that. A qualified emperor cannot have emotions, let alone weaknesses. And the Xiao family, along with her friends, would all become her weaknesses. They could not be allowed to remain!
Before Feng Moran could get closer, Xiao Man struck again, her dagger aiming straight for Feng Moran's throat. Feng Moran leaned back, narrowly dodging it, but a bloodstain still appeared on his neck, showing that Xiao Man was determined to kill him!
"You really want to kill me! You actually want to kill me!" Feng Moran was furious. He could understand Xiao Man stabbing him as an act of excessive grief, not knowing what she was doing. But now, Xiao Man truly wanted to kill him!
"I want to kill you!" Xiao Man charged forward, disregarding everything, wanting to fight Feng Moran to the death. Feng Moran reached out and grabbed Xiao Man's wrist, pulling her towards him, and then struck her chest with a palm. Xiao Man's expression remained unchanged as she aimed her other hand at Feng Moran's ribs.
They separated, and Feng Moran retreated several steps, spitting out another mouthful of blood. The Empress stepped forward, wanting to help, but was kicked away by Xiao Man, falling to the ground in disarray.
The Empress sat up, looking at her hands in disbelief. Where had her power gone? Why was it gone?
The Empress's gaze fell upon Feng Moran, who was fighting Xiao Man fiercely. Wasn't Feng Moran's martial arts crippled? Why had he become so powerful now? A vague suspicion began to form in the Empress's mind, but she was hesitant to believe it. She had given her heart to Feng Moran, and yet he had been scheming against her all along!
"Feng Moran, you've been plotting against me!"
Feng Moran didn't even spare the Empress a superfluous glance, only staring at Xiao Man: "For a man, you've accused me of so many baseless charges. Do you really want me dead that badly?"
"Master, are they truly baseless charges?" Xiao Man suddenly switched the dagger to her left hand and slanted it downwards, stabbing Feng Moran in the ribs. The blow was extremely devious. Feng Moran trembled violently in pain and immediately pushed Xiao Man away, retreating repeatedly.
"Who are you? Who exactly are you?"
Xiao Man played with the dagger in her hand: "Master, don't you even recognize your disciple?"
"You... you're not Xiao Man. Who are you?"
"Master, have you lost your senses? If I'm not Xiao Man, then who am I?" Xiao Man moved, leaving an afterimage in her original spot, and in an instant, she was in front of Feng Moran. Feng Moran's eyes were filled with horror. He wanted to distance himself from Xiao Man, but Xiao Man pressed forward relentlessly, forcing Feng Moran to fall from the high platform and land in front of everyone in a sorry state.
The courtiers retreated one after another, distancing themselves from Feng Moran. Feng Moran was the black sheep of the Feng family. It was widely rumored outside that Feng Moran had annihilated his entire family, but there was no proof. However, everyone in their hearts knew that this seemingly immortal, detached young master of the Feng family was a sinister and wicked scoundrel!
"My Lord." Several figures leaped out, surrounding Feng Moran protectively, their gazes filled with hatred towards Xiao Man. For her, their Lord had poured out his heart and soul, yet she treated him like this!
"My Lords, do you know why the Feng family was annihilated?"
The courtiers all looked at Xiao Man. Even though they were terrified, their desire to hear gossip couldn't be concealed.
"The Feng family were remnants of the former Qin!"
The Feng family were remnants of the former Qin! This statement echoed throughout the Imperial Ancestral Temple and in everyone's minds. Those who had been watching the spectacle were now looking at Feng Moran with terrified eyes, as if remnants of the former Qin were some terrifying entity. Killing intent flared in everyone's eyes.