Regarding her knowledge of Emperor Cui Jie, Chiying wouldn't claim first place—that belonged to his mother, Rongshi. But she ranked second. Under the dual pressures of being surrounded and denied, he, who valued face above all, would surely choose to prove himself as the real emperor rather than a puppet.
Chiying started planning the next steps: "When he comes down from the mountain, I'll talk to him."
"No!" Emperor Cui Yi's eyes bulged. "Are you kidding? Guo Ziyang is cunning and deceitful. If you go forward, what if they capture you?"
Chiying smiled slyly, "Hear me out. I'll lure them with words. You find a hiding spot and shoot him with an arrow when he gets close."
The surrounding soldiers: "..."
Emperor Cui Yi reconsidered and nodded, "Don't get too close. I'll show you my skills with consecutive arrows and take out both Guo Ziyang and the puppet."
Chiying hurriedly said, "No! Guo Ziyang needs to be executed by chariot dismemberment. Shooting him dead is too merciful."
The soldiers: "..."
What kind of nonsensical conversation was this?
Upon hearing about executing Guo Mao by chariot dismemberment, Emperor Cui Yi's eyes sparkled, and he rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Woof!" He rode off to find a hiding spot.
Soon, a group of Humontore soldiers descended the mountain. Among them, Chiying immediately recognized Emperor Cui Jie on a black horse.
Countless encounters after rebirth, she had always felt fear and considered retreating. But this time, watching them approach, she felt no fear, only unusual calmness. Emperor Cui Jie wore a fur hat and scarf, revealing only part of his face, which no longer showed the confident air of the past, but his stubborn eyes remained unchanged.
Stubbornness or whatever else, today was the end, Chiying thought coldly.
Emperor Cui Jie stopped several meters away, pulling down his scarf and smiling, "Chiying, you've suffered these years. Your efforts are etched in my heart."
Hidden in the bushes, Emperor Cui Yi tensed.
"You risked yourself to infiltrate Wu Wang's camp for me. Your loyalty touches me deeply. Today is the day to settle this. Once I kill this thief, I'll return triumphant and make you empress!"
Emperor Cui Yi almost jumped out of his hiding spot—what did he mean? Was Chiying a spy sent by his brother? Impossible!
Chiying remained silent, watching him with a faint smile.
Emperor Cui Jie continued, "You and Lingfang sacrificed so much for me. Now Lingfang is gone, and I'll repay her debt to you."
Chiying replied, "Oh."
Emperor Cui Yi almost fainted. What did "oh" mean? Did she admit to being a spy? Were the six years of companionship just an act? Had he been constantly deceived? Was Chiying the most dangerous spy by his side?
Emperor Cui Jie extended his hand, "Come back to me. I've made agreements with the Western Regions. Twenty thousand allied troops have surrounded Wu Wang's five thousand men below. You no longer need to serve an unpredictable and suspicious man."
Chiying remained expressionless, staring straight ahead.
Chiying was calm, but Emperor Cui Yi was far from it. His heart was filled with anxiety. He refused to believe Chiying was a spy. This must be Guo Ziyang's trick. But why didn't she speak? Why didn't she refute? Was he truly deceived? Did he lose completely?
Emperor Cui Jie sensed Chiying's unusual silence and frowned, turning to Guo Ziyang for an explanation.
Guo Ziyang also didn't understand Chiying's intentions. His counter-espionage plan assumed Chiying would vehemently deny it, causing Emperor Cui Yi to doubt her. Then, during their internal conflict, he would shoot them both dead. Capturing the king meant victory.
Just as everyone was puzzled, Chiying finally spoke.
"Cui Renyu, I see through you today."
Her voice was softer, almost fragile.
"I once believed you were a gentleman, a man worthy of my trust. For you, I endured humiliation without complaint. Your happiness brought me genuine joy. I would do anything for you."
Guo Ziyang's expression changed instantly, realizing Chiying's scheme. He tried to stop Emperor Cui Jie, but it was too late.
Emperor Cui Jie said tenderly, "I understand your feelings, Chiying. I've always understood."
Chiying's voice suddenly became sharp, "Understand? What do you understand? You understand nothing! I did so much for you, yet you never cared about me! In your eyes, I was always just a substitute for Lingfang! I am your wife, your empress!"
Chiying, taking advantage of her resemblance to her sister and wearing male attire with a helmet, imitated Changsun Lingfang's voice perfectly, even shedding tears.
Emperor Cui Jie was stunned, rumors claiming Changsun Lingfang hanged herself long ago. Seeing his deceased wife appear shocked him.
"Lingfang..." Emperor Cui Jie strained to see through the distance and Chiying's tears. He urged his horse forward, "Lingfang! Let me explain. It's not what you think!"
Chiying sobbed loudly, "Yingrong told me you arranged the assassination attempt on the way to the palace because you feared my child would solidify the Changsun family's position. How could you bear to harm your own child? Your flesh and blood!"
"What!" Emperor Cui Jie exploded in anger.
Chiying cried out, "How could you kill your own child!"
Emperor Cui Jie roared, "Who did you call him? You...you and him..."
Chiying sneered mockingly, "Yes, I'm his concubine now. After you abandoned me, I gave up on you. The emperor and elder sister treated me well. Only with him do I feel alive."
If there's one universal weakness among men, it's jealousy. No one can tolerate their wife marrying their enemy. Chiying exploited this flaw, coinciding with Guo Ziyang's counter-espionage plan, thus turning the tables.
Upon hearing his woman had become his brother's concubine, Emperor Cui Jie's anger boiled over. Ignoring Guo Ziyang's attempts to stop him, he drew his sword and charged forward, "Wh*r*! I'll kill you!"
Chiying smiled coldly, standing her ground. Guo Ziyang shouted desperately, "Protect the Prince!"
As Emperor Cui Jie spurred his horse forward and swung his sword, Emperor Cui Yi, who had been waiting impatiently, drew his bow and shot an arrow. It pierced Emperor Cui Jie's chest, knocking him off his horse. He tumbled down the snowy slope, coming to a stop at Chiying's feet, blood spurting from his mouth.
"You..." Emperor Cui Jie struggled to reach out.
Chiying looked down coldly, "Your acting was impressive, trained by Guo Ziyang. But you couldn't fool your own spouse. Not knowing whether I was Changsun Chiying or Changsun Lingfang, you dare claim to be the former emperor?"
Her voice carried clearly to all the Humontore soldiers.
Emperor Cui Jie's eyes widened in disbelief, reaching out to grab her.
"You..."
Holding Prosperity calmly said in a low voice, "You owe me a life, and today you must repay it."
Cui Jie struggled for a while but finally succumbed to the pain of an arrow through his chest, dying with anger and resentment.
Holding Prosperity raised her head and no longer looked at him. Instead, she loudly addressed Guo Mao, who had also rushed to the scene: "Guo Ziyang, I admire your loyalty to the late emperor, but how can you taint the royal bloodline by finding someone who merely resembles him to deceive everyone?"
With Cui Jie dead, Guo Mao knew he was doomed. He sighed deeply and said, "Holding Prosperity, you are indeed an extraordinary woman. I admit defeat wholeheartedly. Do as you wish; kill or torture me as you see fit."
Holding Prosperity smiled slightly: "You have some self-awareness and don't fight a losing battle. I appreciate that about you..."
Cui Yi slung his bow over his back and excitedly jumped out: "Men! Capture Guo Ziyan and take him away to be dismembered!"
Guo Mao: "..."
Holding Prosperity: "..."
Holding Prosperity slapped her forehead: "Where was I just now?"