Yi Wenjun 9

Xiao Ruojin asked in a hoarse voice, "What exactly are you trying to do?"

His thoughts were in turmoil. Had Yi Wenjun finally lost patience and come to take revenge for being forced into marriage all those years ago? Yes, Xiao Ruojin had known perfectly well that Yi Wenjun hadn't wanted to marry him. He had simply turned a blind eye to it for the sake of the Shadow Sect's influence and Yi Wenjun's beauty.

Otherwise, why would he have kept Yi Wenjun under virtual house arrest in a separate courtyard of Prince Jingyu's Residence?

Or had Yi Wenjun finally fallen in love with Xiao Ruofeng, and now intended to kill him and seize the throne for Xiao Ruofeng?

The emperor could hardly be blamed for thinking so. Even though a rift had formed between him and his younger brother, he couldn't deny how outstanding Xiao Ruofeng was. It hardly seemed strange for a woman who had borne him a child to fall in love with him.

Even after Yi Wenjun had shown that her martial cultivation surpassed Jinxuan's, Xiao Ruojin still saw her as a woman trapped by love.

One look at Xiao Ruojin's expression was enough for Yi Wenjun to know what he was thinking.

She sneered inwardly. Even though there were plenty of women with peerless martial skills in the martial world, the Xiao imperial family always looked down on women, and liked to trap them with love and marriage.

Yi Wenjun didn't waste words with Xiao Ruojin. She simply took a golden scroll from her sleeve.

Shock flashed in Xiao Ruojin's eyes. The Dragon Seal Scroll!

Yi Wenjun smiled. "Yes, it's the Dragon Seal Scroll that disappeared back then. Your Majesty can take a look and see whom the late emperor truly chose as his successor."

Before Xiao Ruojin's eyes, Yi Wenjun slowly unfurled the Dragon Seal Scroll. As despair spread across his face, she read the words written on it: "...Prince Langya, Xiao Ruofeng."

Xiao Ruojin closed his eyes. The mystery that had plagued him day and night, his daily nightmare, had finally become reality. His imperial father had chosen Ruofeng.

Ruofeng had yielded the throne to him, and now he was going to take it back.

Yi Wenjun admired Xiao Ruojin's grief-stricken, despairing expression for a moment before speaking unhurriedly. "Which of you brothers lives or dies has nothing to do with me. This scroll can remain missing forever. I have only one demand: no matter what crime Xiao Ruofeng dies for, I must not be implicated. And I've had enough of being a secondary consort. Perhaps, as a way to reassure the people, you could raise me to principal consort after Xiao Ruofeng dies?

"Also, I must be free to come and go in Northern Li, and the Shadow Sect must not be suppressed. Those are my demands. Well?"

Xiao Ruojin asked her in disbelief, "Do you mean that? What about Lingchen?"

Yi Wenjun was utterly unconcerned. "Of course I mean it. The fact that I brought the scroll to you instead of Ye Xiaoying should tell you where I stand. As for Lingchen, his father will naturally worry about him. If even his father doesn't want him to live, what can I do?"

After hearing Yi Wenjun's words, Xiao Ruojin felt no relief. Instead, he felt an intense chill and a profound fear.

Of course he was afraid. This cold-hearted woman, whose father was dead and who cared for neither her son nor her husband, not only possessed peerless martial skills but also held something over him. She frightened him far more than Xiao Ruofeng did.

If the situation hadn't already reached a stalemate, leaving him no choice but to press on, he wouldn't even have wanted to fall out with Xiao Ruofeng. For he felt that, in all of Heavenly Revelations, only Xiao Ruofeng could stand against this witch, even a little.

Yes, Yi Wenjun was no longer the woman who had attracted him with her beauty, a woman absorbed in love. She was a heartless, pitiless witch.

But now he truly had no other choice. He could only agree to Yi Wenjun's demands, however unwillingly. At least she wasn't seeking power.

Yi Wenjun wasn't afraid of Xiao Ruojin going back on his word. Today's intimidation was enough to make him tread carefully.

She extinguished the burning incense, and Jinxuan's voice immediately came from outside the door. "Your Majesty?"

Xiao Ruojin coughed twice and said hoarsely, "It's nothing. Brew another pot of hot tea."

When he turned around after saying this, Yi Wenjun was nowhere to be seen in the room.

A month later, Prince Langya was imprisoned on a charge of treason. Because the case had yet to be settled, Emperor Mingde issued a special decree stating that Prince Langya's secondary consort would retain her status and treatment, and that no one was to harass the Prince of Langya's Residence.

As the sole disciple of the master of Baixiao Hall, Xiao Chuhe was one of the few people in Heavenly Revelations who did not look down on Yi Wenjun. Led by Xiao Lingchen, this favored son of heaven of Heavenly Revelations met Yi Wenjun for the first time, the woman others disparaged in their rumors and gossip.

"Aunt, when Su Changhe and Su Muyu of the Dark River launched a surprise attack on the Shadow Sect, you stopped them with one slash of your twin sabers. And Baili Dongjun, who tops the Supremacy List, and Ye Dingzhi have always been on good terms with you. Luo Qingyang, one of the Five Sword Immortals, is your senior brother and has always felt guilty toward you.

"Now the Prince of Langya's Residence is in grave danger. Not only Uncle, but Lingchen will also be implicated. Please step in and help Uncle."

Xiao Lingchen also dropped to his knees. "Mother, please save Father."

Yi Wenjun continued blending her incense with an air of calm indifference. "Back when I was forced to become your imperial father's concubine, your uncle didn't help me. When I was bestowed upon your uncle as his secondary consort, he didn't speak another word on my behalf. When the Shadow Sect was in grave danger, your uncle was even the one pulling the strings behind the scenes. And as I recall, you and your master were quite happy to watch the show. Why didn't you remember then that it was my family, Lingchen's maternal family?

"Now, Xiao Chuhe, you're using Xiao Lingchen to plead with me, forcing me to save your uncle? Why should I let the people who truly care about me risk their lives for someone who has always used me?

"If your uncle cares about Lingchen, he'll naturally arrange a way for Lingchen to live. What need have I to worry?"

Xiao Chuhe's face was grave. "Perhaps, in all that happened back then, my Xiao family wronged you. But I am my imperial father's most beloved son, the legitimate son of the reigning emperor. If you stand by and refuse to help now, aren't you afraid of what I might do to the Shadow Sect and to you in the future?"

Yi Wenjun scoffed. "Your Xiao family loves nothing more than tearing down the bridge after crossing the river. No matter how flowery your promises, I wouldn't believe a nephew who has only come to pay his first visit to me today.

"As for what you might do to us, even if you truly become ruler of the realm one day, my senior brother has reached at least Half-Step Divine Wandering, to say nothing of me. I reached the Divine Wandering Realm long ago.

"Emperor Tai'an could do nothing to Li Changsheng back then. What could you possibly do to me in the future?"

With that, Yi Wenjun abruptly unleashed the presence of a Half-Step Divine Wandering expert, pressing Xiao Chuhe to his knees.

Xiao Lingchen jerked his head up. "What about me, then? What am I? Was I just a tool you used to scheme against Father?"

Yi Wenjun looked at Xiao Lingchen, somewhat puzzled. "You're your father's son, aren't you? A member of their Xiao imperial family. Just because I gave birth to you, must I be responsible for your life? I haven't hated you, beaten you, or killed you. What more do you want from me?

"I thought you understood long ago. Didn't your actions before this make your attitude clear? Why are you suddenly asking me for familial affection now? You should know that I'd rather my father had ignored me back then the way I ignore you now."

Xiao Chuhe finally understood that Yi Wenjun truly had no affection for his uncle. And for them, who had always neglected her, to play on her feelings now was a little too late.

He hurriedly took Xiao Lingchen away from the Prince of Langya's Residence, lest they anger this woman and make her add insult to injury.