After being siblings for more than a decade, I accompanied Xiao Jingxuan on his last journey.

In the grand hall, it was only him and me.

Xiao Jingxuan was still immersed in the confrontation just now, gradually recovering his senses.

"When was it?"

He asked me when did I have the idea to take the throne.

He asked if it was when he suppressed me and ascended the throne? Or when he sent me to danger in Biancheng? Or was it because of the marriage alliance?

I shook my head and said, "None of those."

I said, it was earlier.

Since I was already a dying person, I let you become an enlightened ghost.

"When father was still alive, I was already planning this."

Xiao Jingxuan widened his eyes.

"Xiao Jingzhao, you!"

"At that time, did you not know your true identity? I am indeed your biological brother!"

I sneered with extreme disdain.

"If it wasn't because I recognized you as my brother, do you really think you could have ascended to this throne?"

"Then why didn't you kill me at that time and directly ascend the throne?" Xiao Jingxuan showed a pained expression.

"Xiao Jingxuan, you... are really foolish."

"The world is already harsh toward women. Not to mention, to become an Empress who breaks the traditional concepts.

"If I were to contend for this position with my older brothers, even if I won—" My voice trailed off.

"A princess killing her brothers and seizing the throne, disregarding principles and bringing chaos to the court...even if I forcefully took this position, I'm afraid the voices of criticism from the court and the people would drown me, let alone governing the state."

"'The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin.' The same applies to an Emperor."

"Therefore, this 'city' naturally needs my dear older brother to attack first."

Xiao Jingxuan's eyes were filled with intense hatred.

But the next moment, he promptly knelt down in front of me, understanding the situation.

"Jingzhao, Jingzhao! Even if we are not blood-related siblings, we are still father's children! Jingzhao, I will abdicate! Yes, I will pass the throne to you! Can you spare the life of your older brother?"

While he was speaking, he hurriedly removed his crown.

"Spare my older brother?"

Xiao Jingxuan desperately nodded.

"Then, did my older brother ever think of sparing me?"

I raised the cup of wine he prepared for me.

"Did my older brother read 'On the Ways of a Sovereign'?"

Xiao Jingxuan nodded confusedly.

But he didn't understand why I suddenly changed the topic at this moment.

"Then, my older brother should remember that there is a saying in it—'

'The way of a sovereign is to put the people first. If one sacrifices the people to serve oneself, it is like cutting off one's own limbs and taking them to fill one's belly. When one's belly is full, one will perish.'

"So, my dear older brother, it's not that I don't spare you, it is that the subjects have forsaken you."

"A king abandoned by the multitude should not exist in this world anymore."

I dropped the emperor's crown he had taken off to the ground.

And the same cup of wine.

I leaned down before him.

"Oh, older brother, you should trust me. I will treat you differently. Now, it's a matter of circumstance."

Xiao Jingxuan closed his eyes in despair.

He drank the poisoned wine and waited for his death in half a month.

But... suddenly, a violent pain struck. Xiao Jingxuan, like a wild beast, madly smashed and rolled on the ground.

Oh, I forgot.

Xiao Jingqing hated me too much.

Although she has already left the capital.

But two days ago, she had bribed the palace maids at the reunion banquet.

She added the most potent poison to the wine prepared for me.

Since I wasn't the one drinking it, I didn't pay it any mind.