Ji Ling's voice was hoarse.
She curled up, wrapping her arms around herself as if that could ward off the cold seeping from her very bones.
Those proud, icy eyes had gone hollow and dull.
It was hard to imagine this was the Empress of Ji Prefecture.
"Ji Ling..."
Zhao Zhugui's voice had turned calm. He knew Ji Ling was in great pain at that moment.
All along, Ji Ling had been plotting to restore Ji Prefecture to its former glory.
She had lost, but from beginning to end, she had made the revival of Ji Prefecture her responsibility.
But the affairs of heaven and earth could not be decided by a single heart alone.
"Ji Ling, you're too weak."
Zhao Zhugui spoke indifferently. Ji Ling looked at him, coldness surfacing in her eyes.
But this time, she did not argue.
"The weak get beaten," Zhao Zhugui said.
"Ji Prefecture was the weakest of the Five Clans to begin with. Only by obeying Chen Yuan's orders could it seize any benefits.
"So Ji Prefecture's defeat was inevitable from the very start."
Ji Ling clenched her silver teeth and looked at Zhao Zhugui.
"So this is what you've wanted to say all along?"
"Isn't it?" Zhao Zhugui looked at Ji Ling.
"Do you still plan to devour the Lord of Martial Arts someday?"
As Zhao Zhugui spoke, Ji Ling's pupils contracted.
"You!"
Her voice trembled.
"You knew all along!"
Zhao Zhugui did not deny it.
"Your intentions were too obvious."
Ji Ling gritted her teeth and glared at Zhao Zhugui, but the next moment, her anger suddenly drained away.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha!"
She burst into laughter.
"Ji Chen!"
Her voice turned piercing.
"Chen Yan, you two made fools of me, made fools of Ji Prefecture!"
Zhao Zhugui looked at Ji