The dagger shot out with great speed.
To prevent the plan from failing, Ji Binyu leaped forward and fiercely stabbed Wu Dezheng.
At this point, he could no longer afford to hesitate.
Feng Ninghe had made so many preparations; she must have already known the truth.
Clang!
The dagger, however, fell to the ground at that moment.
Ji Binyu, who had been charging forward with great momentum, also fell to the ground in a sorry state.
The fall was sudden.
Even Ji Binyu was caught off guard. He raised his eyes in shock and quickly scanned his surroundings: "Who is it!"
Feng Ninghe, however, looked at Si Jianye at this moment.
She hadn't clearly seen Si Jianye's movements, but she could feel the surge of spiritual energy that had passed by him.
So it was him who intervened...
Su Hongxiu raised his eyes slightly, his well-defined fingers unfolding the bone fan he had just closed, a hint of displeasure in his eyes: "Your speed is truly remarkable."
Just now, he had also intended to make a move.
Si Jianye's speed was so fast that it left no room for reaction; he was a step too slow.
Si Jianye wore a golden mask, and his narrow eyes beneath it exuded a hint of coldness. He did not respond to Su Hongxiu, standing still as if to himself.
Even with many eyes watching, Feng Ninghe could immediately notice Si Jianye.
The golden mask did not conceal his untamed aura.
Ji Binyu managed to get up, his eyes burning with furious rage: "Who acted in the shadows? Cowards who dare to act but not admit it?"
He could no longer hold back, saying whatever came to his mind.
He had clearly had an opportunity to silence Wu Dezheng forever, but now that his plan had failed, judgment awaited him.
Si Jianye raised his eyes, sweeping a cold glance at Ji Binyu.
A subtle, almost imperceptible wave of spiritual energy also struck Ji Binyu at that moment.
It felt as if a powerful hand was pressing down on Ji Binyu, and no matter how hard he struggled with all his might, it was useless; he couldn't get up at all.
"Who is it?"
"Who exactly is it!"
While filled with anger, a trace of fear flowed through Ji Binyu's heart.
He had no power to resist, unable to even get up.
How monstrous was this person!
Splat!
A crisp slap echoed.
An invisible hand fiercely struck Ji Binyu's cheek.
"Pfft!"
Ji Binyu's internal organs were almost shattered by the blow, and bright red blood spurted from his mouth.
The warning slap forced Ji Binyu to shut his mouth.
He understood that the person who acted was issuing a warning.
If he continued to speak, the next time it might not be just a slap.
It was Si Jianye who had acted against Ji Binyu.
Si Jianye's deep eyes cast downwards, his icy gaze fixed on everything before him.
In the past, anyone who dared to speak disrespectfully to him would already be dead.
But this person was still useful to Feng Ninghe, so he couldn't die now. He was too lazy to act, so he decided to leave Ji Binyu's life to Feng Ninghe.
For some reason, seeing Si Jianye standing there impassively, Feng Ninghe couldn't help but smile, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"Binyu, are you alright?"
Lin Yuran frowned slightly and came to Ji Binyu's side, quickly helping him up.
Ji Binyu slowly shook his head, his face, etched with darkness, as cold as ice.
Feng Ninghe also gave an order to the guards at this moment: "Surround the yamen, don't let Ji Binyu and Lin Yuran have any chance to leave."
The guards dared not delay and quickly acted according to the orders.
Feng Ninghe knew that with Ji Binyu and Lin Yuran's cultivation, these guards alone would not be able to stop them.
She specifically looked at Feng Xing.
A single glance made Feng Xing instantly understand her intention.
Feng Xing's hand quietly rested on his long sword, ready to draw it at any moment.
Seeing the guards surrounding them, Ji Binyu raised his eyes and let out a muffled grunt: "Empress, what is the meaning of this?"
Seeing these guards, he found it laughable.
He was the Protector of the Nation, his cultivation had reached the Nascent Soul stage; how could these lowly guards compare?
Feng Ninghe did not respond to Ji Binyu, lowering her gaze to Wu Dezheng: "Continue what you were saying earlier."
Wu Dezheng suddenly pointed at Ji Binyu: "It was him! He is the mastermind behind everything! He harvested souls for cultivation. My family was held captive by him, and I had no choice but to submit to him!"
Facing the accusation, Ji Binyu was disdainful. He raised his eyes and looked directly at everything before him.
Lin Yuran knew that at this point, any further pretense was impossible.
Lin Ninghe had returned to Lin Country for revenge.
She lowered her gaze and said in a low voice, "Binyu, I'm afraid we have no way out."
They had killed Lin Ninghe back then. Who would have thought that this woman not only survived but returned a hundred years later, causing them so much trouble.
Ji Binyu narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of disdain in his expression. He tilted his head and glanced at the vast blue sky.
The azure sky stretched endlessly.
Such a beautiful sky made one want to destroy it...
He curled his lips, his voice drawn out: "Even if we have no way out, they will have to be buried with us..."
"What? The mastermind is actually the Protector of the Nation!"
"General Ji harvested souls for cultivation! Why would he do such a thing? We even supported him, and he doesn't care about our lives at all!"
"Empress, you must not forgive this great general lightly!"
The court officials and commoners buzzed with discussion, their eyes wide with disbelief as they stared at the scene before them.
Feng Ninghe raised her eyelids, her indifferent eyes sweeping over the two before her: "A hundred years ago, I did not die from qi deviation, but was framed and lost my life."
The Imperial Tutor quickly stepped forward, his features contorted: "Your Majesty, I knew you could not have died from qi deviation! What exactly happened back then?"
The ministers chimed in repeatedly: "Empress, someone dared to attack you! What is going on?"
"Who dared to harm the Empress with such audacity!"
The reactions of Gongyi Yuan and the ministers caused Lin Yuran's pupils to involuntarily constrict. A small ball of dark energy appeared in her palm, and she moved her lips, whispering, "Binyu, we should prepare early..."
With Feng Ninghe's reappearance, Lin Yuran had expected that the truth from a hundred years ago would not remain hidden for long.
But she hadn't expected the secret to be revealed so quickly.
Feng Ninghe raised her hand and pointed at Lin Yuran, her expression icy: "It was she and Ji Binyu, colluding together, who attacked and took my life."
"What! It was the Princess?"
"How could it be the Princess? For the past hundred years, the Princess has served Lin Country wholeheartedly. When the Empress met with misfortune, the Princess even guarded her tomb..."
The ministers' eyes widened in shock, their disbelief evident as they looked at the scene before them.
In front of others, Lin Yuran had behaved impeccably, making everyone believe she was a good princess.
Those who knew her true face were already dead...