Chapter 459 - 457: The Seven Sons of the Xiao Family (Part 1)

Chapter 459: Chapter 457: The Seven Sons of the Xiao Family (Part 1)

At the same time, Cheng Xiao’s tense voice rang out, "Madam, it’s... Duke Xing. And also..."

Xu Jing’s eyes opened slightly.

Duke Xing... Jiang Shaoyan!

But why is it that with Duke Xing’s arrival, there were no sounds of weapons clashing outside?

Why did Duke Xing come, and for what reason?

Xu Jing abruptly pushed open the carriage door, and when she saw the scene before her, her heart sank.

Outside, Duke Xing Jiang Shaoyan was standing at the front of the road with a group of soldiers. The number of soldiers he brought was not many, roughly about twenty or so.

The number of guards on her side easily outmatched them.

However, despite this advantage, Cheng Xiao and the others dared not act rashly because—Jiang Shaoyan was holding a familiar woman hostage—Cheng Qingqing, whom she had just seen when she left Anping County!

No wonder Cheng Xiao hesitated to speak earlier.

Xu Jing’s eyes turned cold, and she secretly signaled Cheng Xiao to look after Xiao Huai’an inside the carriage. She then got off the carriage and said coldly, "Jiang Shaoyan, what on earth are you trying to do? I originally thought you were a man who could take a loss. Was I wrong?"

Seeing Xu Jing, Jiang Shaoyan’s eyes flashed with hatred, and he gritted his teeth, sneering coldly, "Lose? I never intended to lose! It’s all because of you and your dear husband! If you hadn’t meddled in Lingzhou’s affairs, causing Li Yuan’s useless plans to fail, forcing us to act ahead of schedule, everything would have gone according to my original plan. The whole world would have already been in the hands of our Jiang Family!

It’s all because of you! It’s all because of you!!"

As he spoke, he obviously lost control, glaring at Xu Jing with hatred in his eyes, shouting over and over as if a beast driven to its last stand.

From a young age, he had been working towards achieving the grand ambitions passed down through generations of the Jiang Family, viewing it as the most important goal of his life.

Originally, everything was going smoothly, except for Princess Consort Ling suddenly deciding to sever ties with the Jiang Family, which was slightly out of his control. Everything else was as expected.

He never cared about Princess Consort Ling’s sudden madness, even thinking it was just right. He could use this opportunity to create a fa?ade of breaking away from Prince Ling, further removing the Jiang Family from the suspicion of rebellion.

When did things start to spiral out of control?

When he had no choice but to accept the fact that they were utterly defeated and the Jiang Family’s great ambitions over the years were ruined in his hands, the two people he hated the most came to his mind—Xiao Yi and his wife, Xu Jing!

If it weren’t for them, the Jiang Family wouldn’t have been exposed so quickly.

They could have steadily pushed forward with the plan to acquire the military supply rights at Guangming Hall and secretly added slow-acting poison to the military’s medicines. Then, at the most opportune moment, they would have taken Prince Ling away and staged a coup!

The victory that the Jiang Family had longed for years was already within reach, and it was all because of this hateful couple! It was all because of them!

The more Jiang Shaoyan thought, the more he became consumed with hatred. He couldn’t control the strength in his hand, cutting a line of blood on Cheng Qingqing’s delicate, pale neck with the knife he held.

Cheng Qingqing trembled in fear but, afraid of affecting Xu Jing, bit her lip and didn’t make a sound.

Unconsciously, Xu Jing’s fists clenched tightly. Seeing Jiang Shaoyan showing signs of further madness, she said coldly, "So, you’ve come for revenge? Jiang Shaoyan, I am right here. Don’t drag innocent people into this!"

This guy was clearly at the end of his rope, wanting to take someone down with him before he died.

Jiang Shaoyan looked at Xu Jing with a sinister gaze, his mouth curving into a smile as he said, "Miss Xu really is a smart person, but just because Miss Xu is clever, doesn’t mean I am any less so. You have so many guards on your side, I wouldn’t dare let this woman go just like that.

Unless, Miss Xu, you come over and exchange yourself for this woman!"

Cheng Xiao instinctively shouted in a stern voice, "No!"

But Xu Jing lifted her chin and said calmly, "Okay."

Cheng Xiao looked at Xu Jing abruptly, his face anxious, "Madam..."

Xu Jing, however, raised her hand, turned to him, and said in a low voice, "There is no other way in this situation. Don’t worry, protect Chang Xiao well."

Jiang Shaoyan was right across from them, so she couldn’t explain to Cheng Xiao why he should be at ease.

After speaking, she slowly walked toward Jiang Shaoyan.

While she spoke with Cheng Xiao earlier, Jiang Shaoyan had been watching them intently. Now he couldn’t help but say gruffly, "Is Miss Xu plotting something? I advise Miss Xu, don’t play any tricks, or I don’t mind perishing together with you."