The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

Liu Yong froze, his expression changed drastically, and a hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes.

He has been by Xiao Ji's side for many years, through thick and thin.

Back then, if Xiao Ji hadn't reached out to help him, taking him in from a hungry and cold little beggar on the street, where would he be today?

However, people strive for higher positions, while water flows downhill.

Who can resist the allure of a bright future?

At this moment, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was presented to him.

If he seizes this opportunity, becoming a king or prime minister will be within his grasp.

How could he just watch such wealth and power slip through his fingers?

The guilt that had just been churning in my heart vanished in an instant in the face of this intense desire, disappearing without a trace.

Liu Yong took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, took two steps back, and knelt down directly in front of Xiao Ji with a thud.

"Your Highness, please don't blame me. It's all fate." His voice trembled slightly, yet it conveyed a sense of determination.

He never imagined that Xiao Ji, who had fought in numerous battles and whose fame struck fear into the hearts of his enemies, would ultimately fall at the hands of such an unknown nobody as him.

A surge of indescribable pride welled up in Liu Yong's heart, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

The last trace of guilt in his eyes was completely swallowed up by greed; at this moment, his heart was filled with desire.

He slowly reached down to his calf and pulled a sharp dagger from his boot.

The dagger gleamed with a cold light in the dim light inside the tent.

He moved his feet lightly, but his heart was pounding like a drum. Even though Xiao Ji was no longer breathing, he still felt fear.

"Your Highness, may you have a safe journey," Liu Yong said softly. As the last word left his mouth, he suddenly raised his dagger and stabbed Xiao Ji in the neck with all his might.

As long as Xiao Ji's head is presented to that person, one can rise rapidly in rank and achieve great success.

However, just as the dagger was about to pierce Xiao Ji's skin, a hidden weapon flew out from nowhere and accurately struck Liu Yong's wrist.

A sharp pain shot through him, and he cried out softly as the dagger in his hand fell to the ground.

A crisp clanging sound stood out starkly in the quiet camp.

The once empty and silent tent was suddenly filled with several guards who rushed in like ghosts.

They were agile and nimble, and in the blink of an eye, they had Liu Yong surrounded.

Tian Qi stared coldly at Liu Yong, his voice filled with anger: "Liu Yong, how dare you betray the Prince."

Looking at the familiar faces in front of him, Liu Yong felt a surge of fear and his face turned deathly pale.

But soon, he forced himself to remain calm, trying to make his voice sound less trembling, and said loudly to the crowd, "What crime have I committed? People strive for higher positions, and water flows downhill; this is an eternal truth."

"Now that the prince is dead, what use is it even if you capture me? You might as well join me in submitting to His Highness the Crown Prince, and from then on, we brothers will live a life of luxury and wealth."

As Liu Yong spoke, he pointed at Xiao Ji and shouted, "Look carefully, the prince is dead!"

However, the crowd remained motionless, like wooden or clay sculptures, their eyes still cold and unmoved by his words.

The entire tent was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

In the suffocating silence, Tian Qi suddenly opened his eyes wide with anger, raised his foot, and kicked Liu Yong hard in the back of the knee.

Caught off guard, Liu Yong was kicked forward and fell heavily to his knees in front of Xiao Ji.

Liu Yong struggled to get up, but at that moment, he was shocked to see that Xiao Ji, who had been "dead," slowly moved and came back to life.

Xiao Ji casually wiped his face, his movements seemingly relaxed, but his voice was deep and filled with boundless authority: "So it was the Crown Prince who sent you."

Xiao Ji's resurrection terrified Liu Yong.

His eyes widened like saucers, and his lips trembled as he murmured repeatedly, "How could this be? How is this possible? You clearly drank several cups of poisoned wine just now, how could this happen?"

"You mean these poisoned wines?" Tian Qi handed the wine pot on the table to Liu Yong, opened the lid so he could see the mechanism inside.

It turns out that there's a secret inside this wine pot; just turn it to the left and you'll get non-poisonous wine.

With Xiao Ji's internal strength, turning the mechanism of the wine pot would not be difficult.

Liu Yong collapsed to the ground like a defeated rooster, his eyes filled with despair: "No, it can't be like this."

Suddenly, as if grasping at the last straw, his eyes lit up and he crawled towards Xiao Ji on his knees.

Waving his hands wildly in the air, he pleaded tearfully, "Your Highness, please spare me! I was just momentarily bewitched, my heart was clouded by greed. Please, Your Highness, have mercy and spare my worthless life..."

However, his pathetic pleading appearance seemed ridiculous to everyone.

Xiao Ji looked at him with eyes full of disgust and disdain, not wanting him to get any closer.

With a flick of his toe, Xiao Ji sent Liu Yong flying like a rag doll.

Liu Yong flew through the air in an arc before crashing heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood that splattered across the ground in a shocking display.

Xiao Ji's emotionless voice, seemingly emanating from the depths of hell, rang out coldly: "Drag him out and tear him apart with five horses."

"No, no! Your Highness, please spare me!" Liu Yong's face turned deathly pale instantly, and fear overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

He tried to struggle to get up and run away, but his legs felt like they were made of lead, so weak that he couldn't control them at all.

He tried to crawl back to Xiao Ji's feet, hoping to beg for his forgiveness in exchange for a chance to live, but Tian Qi kicked him away hard.

At this moment, Liu Yong showed none of the ferocity he had displayed as an assassin.

He collapsed to the ground, like a lump of mud that couldn't be lifted up.

Just as everyone was about to drag him out, Liu Yong suddenly shouted hoarsely, "Your Highness, I have important news to report! The Crown Prince has sent troops to assassinate the King of Dongling. He will not allow the King of Dongling to return to Dongling safely."

He even intends to eliminate Her Highness the Princess; his aim is to provoke war between the two nations, Your Highness!

Xiao Ji's expression shifted, his eyes turning cold as he asked, "Is this true?"

“It’s absolutely true, Your Highness. Those campfires are the signal. As soon as I succeed, the Crown Prince will make his move immediately.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ji's expression turned serious.

"Tianqi".

"Your subordinate is here," Tian Qi said firmly.

Xiao Ji shouted sternly, "Go and save the princess!"