A soft, gentle voice echoed within the room, like a sudden gust of wind and a raging tide. Xuan Yi’s eyes widened instantly, a chill rising from the depths of his heart and spreading throughout his body in an instant.
She actually wanted the Nan household to be annihilated?
Although the Nan household was a loyal supporter of the Emperor and destined to be enemies with their Prince’s residence, hearing such words of destruction for a household and sect from the lips of someone from the Nan household sent shivers of fear down Xuan Yi’s spine.
Ji Jinmo’s gaze, falling upon Nan Shiying, was filled with scrutiny and consideration. The marks on her neck only proved she had been strangled by the bed curtains, but could not confirm anything else. He naturally did not believe that a mere good-for-nothing, who was bullied by everyone, would be reborn like a phoenix soaring in the heavens simply because she did not die. This was impossible.
Nan Shiying met Ji Jinmo’s eyes directly, calmly facing his suspicion and speculation. Even if there were many unreasonable aspects, so what? Her identity could withstand scrutiny and verification. She was indeed the fifth daughter of the Nan household, Nan Shiying.
“You wish for your father to die?” Ji Jinmo’s gaze shifted as he slowly spoke.
“Father?” Nan Shiying let out a cold laugh, the first emotion other than shyness she had displayed. “Does he even deserve it?”
Xuan Yi glanced at Nan Shiying.
Perhaps sensing Xuan Yi’s expression, Nan Shiying let out another cold laugh. “He indeed gave me life and blood, but that is all. In return, Your Highness, this subject only asks that when the Nan household is eventually destroyed, you spare him a complete corpse. That shall be considered my repayment for his gift of life.”
“What kind of repayment is this? If not a complete corpse, what else do you want?” Xuan Yi grumbled softly.
Nan Shiying’s beautiful brows curved with a smile. “I have heard that there are many wild dogs outside the city?”
Her words were ambiguous, but both Ji Jinmo and Xuan Yi understood.
Not leaving a complete corpse meant being devoured by wild dogs.
Xuan Yi shivered again abruptly.
Nan Chaoyin, oh Nan Chaoyin! To think you were once a prime minister, yet you mistook a jackal for a sheep. Now, you have released the wolf into the forest, and your good days are surely numbered!
Ignoring Xuan Yi’s astonishment, Nan Shiying slightly lowered her eyelids and glanced at Danqing, who lay in a pool of blood. She spoke frankly, “As for her, she is the trusted maid of my good elder sister. Since matters have reached this point, I am not afraid to speak the truth.”
“I originally intended for her to be a scapegoat, so I could sneak out of the Prince’s residence and return to the Nan household to rescue the wet nurse. But I did not expect the guards at your manor to be so vigilant. Since I could not escape nor dispose of the body myself, I had no choice but to confess everything to you, Your Highness.”
“Your Highness, Nan Chaoyin wanted me to die in your residence to use my death to impeach you. You, on your wedding night, forced the death of a high official’s daughter. Even though your power is absolute and you would not be punished, it would be enough to earn you a reputation for brutality and cruelty.”
“At that time, scholars all over the land would condemn you, and the common people would believe it to be true. Then, you, the Regent Prince, would truly be infamous for all eternity.”
“You are presumptuous!”
Xuan Yi broke out in a cold sweat from Nan Shiying’s audacious words. Was she not afraid that His Highness would simply have her head removed?
Ignoring Xuan Yi, who glared at her, Nan Shiying continued to gaze calmly at Ji Jinmo, whose expression had remained unchanged from beginning to end.
Ji Jinmo’s lips, naturally upturned, curved slightly upward. A tear-like beauty became increasingly prominent as his smile deepened.
“Reputation?”
He sneered. Though he said little, his arrogant demeanor, which belittled the world and viewed all things as insignificant, erupted like volcanic lava.
“Do you think I care about reputation?”
Nan Shiying raised her hand and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, saying with a smile, “You naturally do not care. If you did, you would not be fighting the Emperor for a woman.”
“However, Your Highness, a thousand-mile embankment can collapse from an ant’s nest. Your path is bound to be perilous with every step. Since you already know the Nan household’s schemes, why then follow their intentions?”
“This subject merely wishes to say that I am willing to become your vanguard, your weapon. As long as you grant me a path to survival, I am willing to walk through mountains of blades and seas of fire for you, Your Highness.”
As Nan Shiying spoke, she knelt on the blood-stained ground. The scarlet blood reflected in her determined and resolute gaze, making her figure even clearer and more distinct in Ji Jinmo’s eyes.
…
The third watch of the night.
The moonlight was hazy.
In the back alley of the Regent Prince’s manor, several figures in night-attire were ambushed.
“Wang Er, what watch is it?”
From the darkness, a hushed inquiry came. The asked Wang Er, calculating the time, replied, “It’s nearing the third watch.”
The third watch?
By all rights, there should have been movement within the Prince’s manor by now. The fact that it remained silent until now suggested a change of plans!
“We cannot wait any longer, we retreat!”
“But…”
“No ‘buts,’ hurry…”
Before the voice could finish, a cold glint flashed, and blood sprayed out like a torrent. A head was cleanly severed, falling to the ground and rolling a few times.
“Ah…”
Wang Er let out a terrified scream. Before the sound could escape his mouth, it was tightly covered by a hand. Xuan Yi quickly killed everyone except Wang Er. After capturing Wang Er, he casually broke all of his limbs, knocked him unconscious, and handed him to Jia Huan. “Take this person to the dungeon and interrogate him thoroughly.”
Jia Huan nodded at Xuan Yi and dragged Wang Er into the Prince’s manor like a dead dog.
At the corner of the back alley.
Ji Jinmo and Nan Shiying stood side by side, watching Xuan Yi’s swordplay, which was as fast as if it were piercing through time. Nan Shiying’s eyes lit up.
This body she had reborn into was simply too weak. If she could learn even a single move, it would be enough for self-preservation when she roamed the martial world in the future.
“Your Highness~”
Nan Shiying looked up, her gaze fixed on Ji Jinmo, smiling sweetly.
Ji Jinmo raised an eyebrow slightly, feeling that ever since he agreed to help her rescue the wet nurse, she had become somewhat audacious.
“Speak!” he still responded.
Nan Shiying’s eyes curved, her fan-like eyelashes trembling as she smiled, tickling one’s heart.
She rubbed her hands together and tentatively asked, “Your Highness, I’ve become your vanguard, how can I be defenseless? I see Xuan Yi follows you and seems to have a lot of free time. Why don’t you let him teach me martial arts?”
Upon hearing Nan Shiying’s words, even Ji Jinmo couldn’t help but be stunned. Clearly, he had not expected her to make such an unreasonable request.
Xuan Yi stumbled, nearly falling over on flat ground.
What’s wrong with you? Don’t you know your own status? Do you really think you’re the Princess Consort?
His Highness would never agree to that!
Ji Jinmo remained silent for a moment before speaking softly, “That depends on this trip to the Nan household!”
Xuan Yi: “……?”