The Xue Sha of Flaming Valley.
They were people who only obeyed Yang Xiao.
All of them were elite assassins that she had raised and taught killing skills to. They had played a significant role in Li Xiao's creation of the Dragon Ruins.
Li Xiu Si, the intelligence chief of the Dragon Ruins, known as "Chang Gong," was once a member of the Xue Sha.
After the Dragon Ruins were established and stabilized, the Xue Sha quietly retreated to Flaming Valley, never to be seen again.
However—
Twenty years later, the Xue Sha reappeared!
Moreover, they blocked both the front and back doors of the hall.
What were they planning to do?
It was obvious.
They were here to kill!
Everyone thought that to prevent internal strife within the Dragon Ruins and ensure Changsun Li Qianfan's smooth succession, Yang Xiao would wait until tonight at the earliest to strike down those who were "acting out."
But as the Xue Sha appeared silently, everyone realized that Yang Xiao's patience was far less than they had imagined.
She intended to kill them on the spot!!
And she would start with Katerina.
As Katerina realized this, her limbs turned ice-cold.
An indescribable fear, like a pair of invisible hands, gripped her throat tightly.
It choked her, leaving her powerless.
Her fearsome combat prowess was now useless.
She knew clearly that any struggle would not only be futile and result in her immediate death at the hands of the Xue Sha, but her only son, Kasi (who also had a Chinese name), would also be ruthlessly executed by Yang Xiao!
Fear.
Regret.
There was no need to explain Katerina's fear.
As for her regret—
"How could I have been so delusional, thinking that Kasi, who was mediocre in every aspect, could contend for the position of Dragon Lord?"
"Even if Li Qianfan was an utter waste, I shouldn't have forgotten that his mother, Li Wujiang, was the most formidable expert of our time. Nor should I have overlooked that Empress Dowager Xiao valued pure Eastern land bloodlines above all else."
"My death is insignificant; my son cannot die!"
Katerina wailed inwardly and frantically searched for Li Xiao.
At this moment.
To evade Yang Xiao's execution and ensure her son's safety to the greatest extent, her only recourse was to seek Li Xiao's help.
But Li Xiao.
At some unknown point, was no longer present.
"The day Su Ziyu lands in the Dragon Ruins will be the day Empress Dowager Xiao unleashes a bloody massacre on the opposition!"
Suddenly, everyone present understood this.
This plan of slaughter, which disregarded kinship—
Yang Xiao had meticulously planned it long before deciding to bring Su Ziyu to the Dragon Ruins, and had even secretly consulted with Li Xiao, Lu Ziqi, and Li Wujiang.
This was also the sole reason Lu Ziqi was not present at the Dragon Ruins today.
Undoubtedly.
No matter how bloodthirsty Yang Xiao was, she did not wish to harm her sons' wives.
But for the future stability of the Dragon Ruins.
To avoid the inevitable prolonged and destructive internal strife among brothers during the competition for succession.
And to prevent the Dragon Ruins from being weakened by betrayal during internal conflicts, providing an opportunity for enemies like the Moses family and the Imperial Palace to exploit!
Yang Xiao had no choice but to be ruthless!!
On the day Su Ziyu arrived at the Dragon Ruins, she resorted to iron-fisted tactics to eliminate all elements of instability.
"I, Yang Xiao, will bear all the sins alone,"
Yang Xiao, who had been watching everything coldly from a corner, finally spoke slowly. "Do not even think of resisting. Because the moment you entered the hall, you inhaled a gas that can cause muscle weakness."
Katerina and Roman, who possessed considerable martial strength, went from pale to ashen.
They instinctively tried to circulate their energy.
Blocked!
Everyone in the hall, except for Yang Xiao and a dozen Xue Sha members, became "weak women" who couldn't even lift a chicken.
As for Su Ziyu and Mo Hongti.
They appeared calm, but in reality, they were stunned.
They couldn't fathom the ruthlessness in Empress Dowager Xiao's heart as she raised her butcher's knife against her "daughters-in-law"!!
Even the young princesses like Zi Ye Zi Qin, whose psychological resilience far surpassed Su Ziyu and Mo Hongti due to their status, were now pale-faced and instinctively leaned towards Ding Xiaolang.
Only Ding Xiaolang could provide them with a sense of security.
"Send Katerina on her way first."
Yang Xiao's tone was cold. "Considering she bore a male heir for the Dragon Ruins, ensure she feels no pain."
"Yes."
Two Xue Sha members responded in unison and slowly approached Katerina.
Whoosh.
Everyone standing near Katerina instinctively retreated rapidly.
Around Katerina, there was only one boy (her son), and a five-meter radius around her became a vacuum.
"Empress Dowager Xiao."
Katerina trembled, her lips quivering as she tried to beg for mercy, to say something, but nothing came out.
Her knees buckled, and she collapsed powerlessly to the ground.
"Grandmother!"
Her son, Kasi, finally realizing what was happening, hurriedly knelt down. "Grandmother, please spare my mother! I am willing to die in her place!"
Filial piety.
It was the first rule in the Dragon Ruins family law.
All the second-generation heirs of the Dragon Ruins, regardless of their aptitude, had to be filial.
Kasi's kneeling and his offer to die for his mother was an instinctive reaction.
Katerina, who was already trembling, was struck again as if by an electric shock upon hearing her son's words, and choked out, "Kasi, don't talk nonsense!"
"I'm not talking nonsense!"
Kasi, fearing that his grandmother would impatiently wave his mother away with the Xue Sha, said this.
He dared not look at Katerina, but used his knees as feet, walked a few rapid steps towards Yang Xiao, and kowtowed heavily. "Grandmother, I am willing to die. I am willing to use my death to sound the alarm for all my brothers who wish to contend for the position with Brother Qianfan! And to exchange it for my mother's life!"
"Kasi—"
Katerina screamed. In her extreme fear and haste, she rolled her eyes and fainted.
But a few seconds later, she suddenly woke up as if resurrected.
She dared not faint!
For she feared that not only would she never wake up again, but she would also see her son in the underworld.
Her son was everything to her!!
Katerina, who had been less than humane in her youth and fearless of death, could die a thousand times over, but she could not allow her son to die in his prime due to her own misplaced ambition.
After regaining consciousness, Katerina did not plead with Yang Xiao. Instead, she turned to Su Ziyu.
"Su Ziyu, I am willing to atone for my ambition with my death. But I beg you, after I die, for the sake of Kasi and Qianfan being blood brothers, please let him live a peaceful life to old age!"
Katerina pushed herself up and stumbled towards Su Ziyu.
In her extreme fear, Katerina's mind raced faster than ever before.
Seeking Su Ziyu's intercession was far more effective than directly pleading with Yang Xiao.
Because Su Ziyu was the absolute female lead of the Dragon Ruins today!
As long as Su Ziyu pleaded for Katerina, even if it displeased Yang Xiao, she would have to comply with her wishes.
In that case.
Not only would her son be safe, but Katerina would at most be banished from the Dragon Ruins!
As Katerina was about to lunge at Su Ziyu, two Xue Sha members grabbed her arms.
"Su Ziyu, I beg you!"
Katerina cried out tearfully.
Everyone, including Yang Xiao, subconsciously turned their gaze to Su Ziyu.
In an instant.
Su Ziyu became the absolute focal point of the scene.
So.
What should Su Ziyu do?
Ignoring Katerina's fate would be the most rational course of action.
Because Yang Xiao had to execute Katerina not only to prevent internal strife, but also to secure the interests of Su Ziyu and Li Qianfan.
But what if Su Ziyu was truly cold-blooded and indifferent to Katerina's life and death?
Even if she could secure her position as the young mistress of the Dragon Ruins, all opposition factions would remain unconvinced.
Should Su Ziyu plead for Katerina?
Heh.
Not only would it incur Yang Xiao's deep displeasure, but it would also leave a destructive internal conflict lurking within the Dragon Ruins!
She would never again receive Yang Xiao's unconditional support!!
It might even cause Li Qianfan to completely lose his status as the heir to the Dragon Ruins.
Because the Lord of the Dragon Ruins must possess a certain degree of ruthlessness to command awe and respect, enabling him to speak with absolute authority.
The above—
Though cruel to say.
It was precisely the reality.
Founders often didn't face such situations.
But those who inherited the mantle had to possess an iron will.
This was why ordinary people often said that conquering a kingdom was easy, but holding onto it was difficult.
Su Ziyu, who came from a wealthy family at best, had never experienced anything like this?
She had been inexplicably thrust into the spotlight.
"What should I do?"
Su Ziyu stared blankly at Katerina, her mind in a chaotic mess.
Then she looked at Mo Hongti, who had been appointed as her assistant by Yang Xiao.
Mo Hongti's background was undoubtedly much higher than Su Ziyu's.
However.
Compared to the Dragon Ruins, the Qingyun Mo family was insignificant.
Mo Hongti also didn't know what to do.
Yet, she had to provide Su Ziyu with some advice in the shortest possible time.
She had to!!
Buzzzzzzz.
Just as Mo Hongti was trembling with nervousness, a clear buzzing sound came from Su Ziyu's pocket.
Her phone was ringing.
The caller ID was "Nencao."
Upon seeing the caller ID, Su Ziyu, who had been at a loss, suddenly calmed down miraculously.
She answered the phone and casually turned on the speaker.
She said softly, "Qianfan."