"The wind is rising..." In the Hall of Diligent Governance, the Empress Dowager suddenly sighed with an ambiguous tone.
Amidst the howling wind came the crisp, melodious jingling of bells—these were bells hanging beneath the flying eaves. Occasionally, a palace might have one or two, but today the bell sounds seemed unusually heavy, layered and uneven, as if numerous bells were chiming in symphony within the wind.
At first, Shen Xihe paid it no mind, but for some reason, the more she listened, the more inexplicably agitated she became. When she looked again at the Empress Dowager, who was toying with a teacup, her gaze held a gravity she couldn't quite comprehend: "Moyu, order someone to shoot down the bells."
As she gave the command, Shen Xihe stared intently at the Empress Dowager and indeed noticed the Empress Dowager's fingers momentarily still. The sense of foreboding grew stronger, and she coldly demanded, "On whom have you cast your art?"
Ever since learning that someone skilled in the Soul-seizing Art was by Xiao Changyan's side, Shen Xihe had gradually gathered bits and pieces of information about the Soul-seizing Art. Over the past year, she hadn't mastered it completely, but she had gained a deep understanding. She knew the Soul-seizing Art was a mysterious technique capable of manipulating thoughts, bewitching minds, and turning those under its influence into puppets.
Those affected would remain unaware unless triggered by a specific Hidden Command. Once the command was activated, they would become like possessed individuals, forgetting everything, with only the bone-deep command implanted during the spell remaining in their minds!
"You are so clever, why not take a guess?" The Empress Dowager looked at Shen Xihe with leisurely composure.
Moyu and the others swiftly exited the Hall of Diligent Governance, aiming at the bronze bells swaying beneath the flying eaves. The bells were about the size of an adult man's fist, tinkling crisply as they swayed in the wind.
Moyu ordered the bells to be shot down, but the arrows were intercepted mid-flight by arrows from an unknown source. The opposing archers were astonishingly accurate, startling Moyu and her companions into heightened vigilance.
They shot again, only to be blocked once more.
Moyu personally leaped up along the corridor pillars, attempting to approach the eaves and cut the bells down. Before she could get close, arrows shot toward her. She swiftly dodged, countering with a sword strike that severed the incoming arrow. Just as she rose and took a few steps closer to the bells, another arrow flew at her like a shooting star.
"Your Highness, there is more than one person," Tianyuan closely monitored the directions of the arrows and realized it wasn't a single archer, and they were spaced far apart.
Despite Moyu's skills, she couldn't get close to the bells for the moment, especially when three arrows suddenly shot toward her simultaneously from different directions. Shen Xihe's heart tightened as Moyu tumbled down from the eaves, fortunate to have avoided being hit by the arrows.
She abruptly turned to the composed Empress Dowager: "It's Prince Xin."
The Empress Dowager froze for a moment, then her eyes once again overflowed with admiration. She hadn't expected Shen Xihe to guess correctly on the first try.
The Soul-seizing Art was most effective on those with weak willpower and unstable minds. The Empress Dowager had failed once before on a young Xiao Huayong, and since then, she had been extremely cautious. Under normal circumstances, she would never risk attempting it on someone like Xiao Changqing.
But if Xiao Changqing were in a state of disarray and mental instability, it would be all too easy to succeed.
Half a year ago, just such an opportunity had arisen.
After deducing the truth, Shen Xihe grew even calmer. Among Xiao Changqing's group, it was clear that Xiao Changqing held the primary position. Shen Xihe was reluctant to believe he could fall under the art's influence, but aside from Xiao Changqing, no one else could make the Empress Dowager so confident and unafraid!
Anyone else could be suppressed by Xiao Changqing, but if it were Xiao Changqing himself, no one could restrain him."At this moment, does Youyou still have any chance of winning?" The Empress Dowager's smile deepened.
"Until the final moment, how can victory or defeat be determined?" Shen Xihe showed not a trace of panic.
The Empress Dowager had always admired Shen Xihe. She said, "Why must we both suffer losses? I promise you peace in the northwest—why not turn conflict into amity?"
Shen Xihe's gaze was serene as she quietly regarded the Empress Dowager. She believed the Empress Dowager's words were sincere, without any deception.
But she disliked aligning herself with someone like the Empress Dowager.
Though Shen Xihe disapproved of the Empress Dowager's actions, she had to admit one thing the Empress Dowager said was right.
Power is safest only when held in one's own hands.
The Empress Dowager craved authority, but she lacked the vision and stature of a true ruler. Perhaps it was because she had not yet ascended to the throne. Once she held great power in the future and truly became the second empress, she would realize she too could not tolerate the northwest's independence.
Shen Xihe had already expended too much energy scheming for her family. She did not want to spend her entire life maneuvering for them.
In today's struggle, she would never yield!
"It seems my attempts to win you over still cannot move you." The Empress Dowager understood Shen Xihe's choice and was not surprised—it was within her expectations.
How could a dragon or phoenix among men be willing to submit to others?
What the Empress Dowager thought of her mattered little to Shen Xihe. Her concern was for Xiao Changqing, fearing he might be deceived into mistakenly killing Xiao Changying.
She knew well how deep the bond was between the brothers. If Xiao Changqing truly killed Xiao Changying, even if he later regained his senses, he would likely go mad.
What Shen Xihe did not know was that at that moment, the two brothers were already locked in a fierce battle.
In martial skill, Xiao Changying was undoubtedly superior to his elder brother Xiao Changqing. Yet he held back at every turn—unable to deliver even a harsh blow, let alone a fatal one. In contrast, Xiao Changqing fought as if Xiao Changying were his mortal enemy, striking with deadly intent at every move.
After several exchanges, Xiao Changqing remained unscathed, while Xiao Changying bore numerous sword wounds.
Xiao Changying firmly believed his brother was under some sinister influence. Anxiously, he tried to close in and knock Xiao Changqing unconscious, but Xiao Changqing's martial skills were no trifle, and Xiao Changying found no opportunity to do so.
As for the men Xiao Changqing brought, though they followed his orders, they were aware of the brothers' deep bond. They surrounded and attacked others but refrained from targeting Xiao Changying.
Xiao Changqing deflected Xiao Changying's sword. In Xiao Changying's eyes flashed the sword blossoms his brother wielded. He could have easily dodged, but for some reason, as if suddenly remembering something, he did not evade.
The sword pierced Xiao Changying's chest. Suddenly, Xiao Changqing's eyelids twitched, and he instinctively withdrew the blade, allowing only two inches of the tip to penetrate Xiao Changying's flesh.
Seeing his brother indeed hold back, Xiao Changying felt a surge of joy: "Brother..."
Before Xiao Changying could finish, Xiao Changqing pulled out the sword, leaped into the air, and kicked Xiao Changying away, coldly ordering, "Surround him!"
"Brother, stop this—I beg you to stop—" Xiao Changying tried to charge forward, but several black-clad warriors restrained him.
He could only watch helplessly as Xiao Changqing walked further away.
Under the eaves, the evening breeze whispered, blood surged, and bronze bells chimed.
As if guided by some inexplicable force, the bell tones tugged at Xiao Changqing's mind, leading him and his men toward the sound.
While Xiao Changying had held back against his brother, he showed no such restraint toward Xiao Changqing's men. These men dared not truly strike him dead, and Xiao Changying soon forced a breakthrough—though his chest was already drenched in crimson blood."Your Highness, you must not go to find Prince Xin!" You Wenjun blocked Xiao Changying's path.
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