Wen Yuruo was taken aback, her eyes welling with tears as the weight of public humiliation sank in.

She instinctively looked to Xiao Jin for support, only to see him rise solemnly.

“Princess, please enlighten me,” Xiao Jin said, accepting the challenge.

The hall erupted in excitement.

What had begun as an internal squabble within the Guard Army had now become a battlefield where Wen Yuesheng staked her claim, not for personal feuds but for military honor.

The soldiers in the northern barracks couldn’t help but cheer quietly.

Looking at the soldiers from the other three barracks, their eyes also gleamed.

After many years of joint military exercises, the guard troops, let alone securing first place, had never even made it into the top three.

They were all young, passionate soldiers—who could be content with this?

And these thoughts were useless to them.

Because even if they truly thought about it, those above them would remind them that the Palace Guard was more important than them. Their role in the exercise was merely to help the Palace Guard win.

…Who would want to be an ordinary soldier if they could become a general?

The moment Wen Yuesheng stepped into the arena again, countless eyes glowed with intensity.

Over there, the competition hadn’t yet started.

A palace attendant led Yan Ling into the arena.

He raised his gaze and saw Wen Yuesheng standing under the sunlight. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, her waist slender.

She stood in the autumn breeze, seeming to merge with the wind.

Yan Ling stopped in his tracks.

On the competition stage, Wen Yuesheng, just like in the previous match, entered unarmed.

However, just before the start, Xiao Jin said, “Since this is a competition, there’s no reason to not use weapons.”

He had already seen Wen Yue Sheng’s abilities but still subconsciously thought that she should be given fairness.

What he didn’t realize was that this so-called fairness, in his mind, carried an air of superiority.

Because he didn’t believe that Wen Yue Sheng could win, he asked if she needed a weapon.

Since the question was asked, a palace attendant turned to Wen Yue Sheng: “Does the princess have a weapon she prefers?”

Wen Yue Sheng glanced at the sword in the attendant’s hand and replied lightly, “A sword.”

Xiao Jin, in front of her, was momentarily stunned.

Xiao Jin’s sword was a famous, high-quality sword, crafted by a renowned artisan, and it had accompanied him for many years.

But the sword handed to Wen Yuesheng was an ordinary weapon, one that common soldiers used for training.

After the palace attendant stepped back, the signal sounded.

Xiao Jin then placed one hand behind his back, holding the sword with one hand as he stood before Wen Yue Sheng.

Up in the palace, someone commented, “Looking at this, Prince Yong’an can’t be completely indifferent to the princess. Holding the sword with one hand does show some consideration.”

“Consideration for what?” Prince Wei Yangwang sneered, “Does the ability demonstrated by Si Ning just now need his consideration?”

Before anyone had a chance to retort, they saw Xiao Jin attacking with his sword.

Among the four princes, Xiao Jin’s martial arts were indeed the best.

In a previous match against Hao Zhou’s general, if Lu Tingyu hadn’t appeared, Xiao Jin would have been the strongest.

His sword moves were fierce and sharp.

Any soldier who fought him could feel the immense pressure in his attacks.

The sound of a rushing wind filled the air as his sword nearly created afterimages.

The sword cut through the air, heading for Wen Yue Sheng’s ear.

This was not a fatal strike but a move to push her back.

However, Xiao Jin’s martial arts were so strong that even a move like this carried overwhelming momentum.

If someone else had tried to take this strike, they would have been forced back.

But Wen Yuesheng showed little reaction.

She didn’t move at all, and as the sword passed right in front of her face, its cold edge forming a small reflection in her eyes, she raised her hand.

Clang! The swords collided with a loud sound.

Xiao Jin’s sword, which could cut through iron like mud, sliced a mark into the sword Wen Yuesheng was holding.

But that was all.

Xiao Jin’s entire assault was blocked by that simple swing of her sword.

Not only did the onlookers react, but even Xiao Jin himself was momentarily stunned.

But in that moment, he saw Wen Yue Sheng raise her hand that was still holding the prayer beads and gently touch her chest.

Her fingers traced a shallow crescent-shaped mark.

In the next instant, Xiao Jin felt an overwhelming killing intent.

His expression changed slightly. He was about to retreat when Wen Yuesheng’s sword struck his side.

She didn’t even treat the sword like a real weapon.

With just a strong strike, Xiao Jin felt a dull pain in his right shoulder, as though his bones were breaking apart.

When the original owner was seven years old, Xiao Jin had taken Wen Yuesheng and Wen Yurou out to play and had left her at home.

She had climbed over the wall to chase after them but fell, injuring her right shoulder, nearly fracturing it.

As Xiao Jin retreated, his entire right shoulder and arm went numb.

His right hand could barely hold the sword.

His face changed drastically, and he quickly switched the sword to his left hand.

But just as he grasped the sword, a heavy blow struck his knee.

Bang!

The loud noise made the surrounding palace attendants jump.

…When she was twelve, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Xiao Jin had taken Wen Yuesheng and Wen Yurou to a lantern festival.

He held Wen Yurou’s hand, ignoring Wen Yue Sheng behind them.

In the crowded street, Wen Yuesheng tried to squeeze through but was knocked down by the crowd and scraped her knee.

From then on, a deep scar remained on her knee.

Xiao Jin’s legs buckled as pain shot through him.

Cold sweat dotted his forehead as he stumbled to stay on his feet.

By the time he got back on his feet, Wen Yuesheng had only made two moves, and both had left him severely injured.

The sword in Xiao Jin’s hand could now only be held to his side to steady himself.

He raised his gaze to Wen Yue Sheng, but was stunned.

From this angle, it reminded him of the many times when Wen Yue Sheng had looked up at him, always filled with longing and devotion.

But in that instant of distraction, Wen Yuesheng’s sword struck again.

Bang!

The blow struck his back like a heavy hit, the pain spreading throughout his body as though his bones were shattered.

Even though Xiao Jin had an excellent physique, blood poured from his mouth as he staggered from the pain.

The palace attendants around them were all shocked. No one had expected Xiao Jin to lose so completely.

He was covered in injuries, blood flowing from his mouth.

The pain of his broken bones almost took away his breath. Wen Yuesheng had struck him mercilessly. Every inch of his skin and bones screamed in agony.

Yet these injuries were not life-threatening.

He exerted all his strength to stand up.

As he did, he caught a glimpse of a cold sword light piercing through everything, aimed directly at his throat.

Whoosh—

The world went silent.

Wen Yuesheng’s sword stopped just at his throat. It only needed to move an inch further to kill him instantly.

He looked up and saw the cold killing intent in her eyes.

Wen Yuesheng’s eyes were dark, without a trace of emotion.

In the roaring wind, she crushed his pride, piece by piece, until he was left in ruins, standing before her.

She coldly spoke, “You lost.”

It seemed that there was going to be a heavy rain at the horizon.

A fierce wind blew, causing Wen Yue Sheng’s robes and dark hair to flutter lightly, with the remaining fragments of sunlight now gathered behind her.

She held a long sword, its blade gleaming with cold light, and the tip of the sword pointed directly at Xiao Jin’s throat.

The palace attendants nearby watched with fear, frequently glancing towards the hall.

After suffering a heavy blow to his spine, Xiao Jin breathed out a steady stream of foul air through his mouth and nose. His gaze was disoriented, and he was close to exhaustion.

But all of this combined didn’t compare to the coldness in her eyes.

In front of the crowd, she aimed the sword at him, filled with murderous intent.

And it was all without any pretense.

At this moment, the hall had descended into chaos.

The Empress suddenly stood up, her face looking extremely grim.

Beside her, Wei Lanzhi’s expression changed drastically.

Everyone below exchanged uneasy glances.

Even Wei Hengzhi and those from the Zhen Guo Gong family were utterly stunned.

They had never expected that today’s martial arts competition would lead to such a scene.

Wei Hengzhi was even somewhat dazed. Just a few months ago, Wen Yuesheng was still fixated on marrying Xiao Jin.

In order to marry into the family, she had desperately tried to please the Zhen Guo Gong family members.

Including him.

Those clumsy tricks that he found annoying at the time now seemed like they came from a different world.

Who could have imagined that one day, Wen Yuesheng would have her sword pointed at Xiao Jin’s throat in front of everyone?

Just a while ago, the hall had been lively with discussions about who Xiao Jin would marry.

But now, it seemed irrelevant whom Xiao Jin married. It was clear that Wen Yuesheng had no part in that.

This wasn’t Xiao Jin’s choice; it was Wen Yue Sheng’s.

Because, if she had even the slightest warmth left for Xiao Jin, she wouldn’t have the sword pressed against his throat today.

Wen Yuruo’s face turned pale, and her formerly rosy lips quickly lost their color.

She stared at the disheveled Xiao Jin, momentarily stunned.

In her eyes, Xiao Jin had always been noble and untouchable, the only legitimate son of the Emperor, someone too precious to even consider.

It wasn’t just her; Wei Lanzhi had always seen him that way too.

But the noble and untouchable Xiao Jin, in Wen Yuesheng’s hands, was now nothing but a defeated opponent.

Someone who, with little effort, she had brought to the brink of collapse, almost unable to stand.

“Aunt,” Wei Lanzhi snapped back to her senses, her voice trembling. “She won’t actually strike, will she?”

The sword hanging over Xiao Jin’s throat made everyone’s hearts race.

If anyone else had been in the hall today, Wei Lanzhi wouldn’t have asked such a question.

But this person was Wen Yuesheng.

In the past few months, she had already seen what kind of person Wen Yue Sheng had become.

She could have ordered the First Prince’s arm to be severed, turning him into a cripple, and she certainly wouldn’t hesitate to kill Xiao Jin.

The Empress tightly gripped the silk handkerchief in her hand, her expression tense. She glanced up at the Zhen Guo Gong, exchanging a look.

The Zhen Guo Gong’s face was as grim as water, and he lightly shook his head at the Empress, signaling her to stay calm.

Wen Yuesheng would never kill Xiao Jin in front of so many people.

The Empress naturally understood this, but understanding it was one thing, and seeing the sword hanging there was another.

Today, everyone from the Yong’an Wang family, including the Empress, deeply felt what it was like to have a sword in someone else’s hands, with their life in someone else’s control.

And all of this was a result of the burdens they had placed on Wen Yuesheng.

On the martial arts platform, Wen Yuesheng raised her eyes and met his gaze.

Under Xiao Jin’s watchful eyes, she raised her hand and suddenly threw the sword directly at him.