I am the villain in the book

Anhua Gate Street, the Liu Manor.

Over a hundred Imperial Guards nearly filled the entire main hall, with even more outside.

In the firelight, as bright as day, Liu Zhongchun calmly finished reading the last letter “proving” the Liu family's conspiracy with the Xu family, lowering his head in silence for a long time.

"What is it?"

In that instant, Wei Xianzhi felt a surge of unease, though his expression remained stern.

"Lord Liu, do you have anything to say at this point?"

“…”

Liu Zhongchun raised his head, shaking it gently.

"Since the evidence is all here, what else can this old man say?"

"Then you admit your guilt?" Wei Xianzhi's unease grew even stronger.

"Admit guilt…"

Liu Zhongchun looked at Wei Xianzhi, sighing softly after a long while, "Lord Wei, since you came here tonight with the Imperial Guards, what difference does it make whether I admit guilt or not?"

"The Emperor has already decided that my Liu family will rebel, so what do you want me to say?"

“…”

It must be said that those who can reach high positions are not simple people.

In just a few words, Liu Zhongchun made it clear that he had figured everything out.

He knew best whether the Liu family had conspired with the Xu family, and since this kind of thing had happened at this time, it meant that Ning Yongnian had decided to sacrifice the Liu family to exchange for the temporary stability of Da Ning.

He had even guessed his own fate, including the hundreds of people in the Liu family, as well as the fate of the officials, big and small, who followed the Liu family.

"Lord Wei, if I'm not mistaken…"

A bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, Liu Zhongchun glanced at the rows of Liu family members kneeling outside the house, and asked softly:

"The Liu family's fate should be execution of the nine generations, and immediate beheading, right?"

According to Da Ning law, those who commit treason are subject to execution of the nine generations and immediate beheading.

The two words "immediate beheading" meant that the prisoner could be executed on the spot without trial.

"Lord Liu, we are just acting according to the law."

Wei Xianzhi's tone remained calm, but his brow furrowed imperceptibly for the first time.

Based on his experience interrogating countless prisoners, the more calmly a person behaves when they know they are bound to die, the less likely they are to actually die.

This sounds contradictory, but that's the way it is.

"Hoo!"

He raised his right hand and waved it behind him.

"Clang clang!"

Hundreds of long sabers were suddenly drawn, and in the next moment, they were placed on the necks of every member of the Liu family.

Delay would only lead to changes, Wei Xianzhi decided not to wait any longer.

"Lord Liu, I know you understand what's going on in your heart."

"If it were my Wei family kneeling here tonight, I believe you would not be soft-hearted."

The main hall suddenly became silent, as if even the desperate cries for mercy outside had become ethereal at this moment.

In many film and television works of the previous life, both the righteous and the villainous characters would talk a lot before killing the enemy.

Of course, no matter how long the righteous characters talk, the enemy will still die.

And if the villain says even just one extra word, the plot may undergo a shocking reversal in that one word's time.

The audience is already accustomed to this routine, and although they understand that this is entirely the screenwriter's fault, they sometimes can't help but complain, "The villain dies from talking too much."

However, what most people don't know is that when a person is in this kind of moment, expressing what is in their heart is an instinct.

As for whether there will really be a reversal in reality…

"Lord Wei, you are right, if it were me, I wouldn't be soft-hearted either."

Facing Wei Xianzhi's last "true words" before taking action, Liu Zhongchun just shook his head with a bitter smile: "This time, the Liu family has indeed lost, I admit it."

"Those officials, big and small, I know I can't protect them."

"But I still want to try to protect the lives of the hundreds of people in my Liu family."

The red light of hundreds of torches flickered, but there were always corners that were not illuminated.

Wei Xianzhi stared at Liu Zhongchun, his tone cold.

"Lord Liu, I don't think you can do it."

"Perhaps, but I still have to try…"

Liu Zhongchun looked back, slowly saying word by word:

"Lord Wei, even though no news has been leaked before, you still brought over a thousand Imperial Guards to surround the Liu Manor, presumably because you feared that my Liu family still has the power to resist."

"However, have you seen anyone resisting?"

"Lord Wei, haven't you thought about where those martial artists who are loyal to my Liu family…"

"…are right now?"

"Bang!"

"Protect the Madam!!"

"Die!"

"Run away!"

"Damn!"

“…”

Just as Liu Zhongchun's words caused Wei Xianzhi to break out in a cold sweat, hundreds of martial artists who had been hiding in the capital for a long time had already stormed into the Wei Manor.

These people were the few remaining "armed forces" of the Liu family in the capital. Compared with the entire Hanging Mirror Division, of course, the combat power gap was very large, with only two third-rank, and only a hundred or so middle third-rank.

However, it was enough to attack the Wei Manor, which was not well prepared.

In fact, Wei Xianzhi couldn't be blamed for this.

The entire Wei Manor's "defense" level had always been at its maximum state. Even if there was a major operation tonight, and 80% of the Hanging Mirror Division's yamen runners had gone to clear out the Liu faction officials, there were still nearly two hundred people left on daily alert.

This was already cautious enough, after all, there was a second-rank ancestor in the family.

From Wei Xianzhi's point of view, he was going to "catch a cicada" tonight. Who would have thought that this "cicada" would bite him back at the critical moment of death?

Of course, all of this was not arranged by Liu Zhongchun in advance.

This was just the order he issued the first time he noticed that something was wrong.

Strictly speaking, Liu Zhongchun didn't know why Wei Xianzhi surrounded the Liu Manor with the Imperial Guards at the time, nor did he know whether his people could break into the Wei Manor.

However, it was this "gambling" decision that now seemed to have the potential to save the lives of hundreds of people in the Liu family.

"Ah!"

"Help! !"

"Don't kill me!"

"Everyone, defend to the death!! Our people are coming soon! !"

“…”

The chaotic and noisy shouts clearly entered the house, and then into the ears of Lu Jingyao and Yuan'er.

The two had never heard or seen such a scene before, and now they were already pale with fright.

However, after all, they were people who had been kidnapped once, so they wouldn't just sit there.

"Madam, quickly hide under the bed! If the bandits break in, I will lead them away!"

Qiuyun opened the bed curtains in a panic, trying to push Lu Jingyao under the bed.

However, the latter held her hand tightly and refused to let go.

"Qiuyun, you hide in here too!"

"Madam! The bandits are not stupid! Hurry up! It's going to be too late!"

"I remember!"

Lu Jingyao suddenly seemed to remember something.

"We can hide in the secret passage!"

"The secret passage has already been blocked!"

Qiuyun wanted to cry but had no tears, desperately pushing Lu Jingyao under the bed, and then, in the next moment…

"Bang!"

The door was suddenly kicked open, and then several men covered in blood rushed in with knives.

"Found them!"