“Knock, knock, knock…”
Just as the dagger was mere millimeters away from Yun Mu’s chest, the door of the small room was knocked on.
Accompanying the sound was a voice calling out repeatedly, “Princess Xuanzhu, Physician Lu has something to report.”
Qin Luoyi, hearing this, felt her mind whirl with agitation.
She loosened her grip on the dagger, and the madness in her eyes receded like a tide retreating.
Lowering her gaze to the youth who was struggling to break free from her embrace, she leaned down and softly blew into his ear.
In a gentle voice, she said, “You can’t escape, you know. After all, the weak have no say, right? Once Miss Shangguan Qiuyue’s matter is settled, I’ll take you away, little one. Just wait~”
With that, she lightly patted his cheek before stepping away from the bed.
Yun Mu watched her retreating figure, confusion swelling in his heart.
After Miss Qiuyue’s matter is settled?
Does that mean I’m going to die and be taken away?
Uh…
Judging by her expression just now, it seems I won’t find peace even after death…
If I’m torn apart after death, can I still be reincarnated with my parents?
Clearly, he hadn’t once considered the possibility of surviving.
***
Outside the door, Shangguan Ce stood with a grim expression.
Just a few hours ago, he was playing with mud like a fool—under the watchful eyes of several servants.
Although these servants dared not mock him, he still felt deeply humiliated to be seen making a public spectacle of himself.
Experiencing such a thing was far harder to accept than death itself.
So, adhering to the principle that great men overlook minor details, he comforted himself while killing those servants.
In a tone both solemn and earnest, he warned them to be more careful in their next lives, thus quelling the rage inside him.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
He continued knocking on the door, repeatedly calling out until the sound of the door sliding open reached his ears.
When the beautiful figure appeared before him, he was stunned, his hand frozen mid-air, and a whispered
“So beautiful”
escaped his lips.
But quickly, a chilling deathly aura enveloped him as he suddenly dropped to his knees.
“Xuanzhu, I beg your pardon! I spoke recklessly earlier; I deserve to die.”
“Then go die. What are you still wasting words for?”
“W-what? Xuanzhu, I… I was just stunned by your beauty, so I spoke out of turn, I—”
“I said, since you already admit you deserve death, then just go die. Why explain so much? Are you a trash bin by nature? Shameless, full of nonsense…”
As she spoke, a “clang” sounded.
At Shangguan Ce’s feet, the dagger emanating a ghostly green glow stirred up some dust.
This… although it was known that the Eldest Princess had an eccentric personality and disliked interacting with others, he was still from the Shangguan family.
At his young age, he had reached the second cultivation stage—a genius whose strength was exceptional even by the standards of the Ancient Kingdom Academy.
And yet, she actually wanted him dead just because of one careless remark?
No, that can’t be right.
The Eldest Princess surely has a heart capable of love; this must be a test.
Yes, a test.
He glanced at the dagger beside him, a smile slowly spreading across his face.
If I pick up this dagger and stab myself, she’ll surely stop me.
Right?
Maybe she’ll even appreciate my ‘fearless’ spirit.
Then I can cling to the Eldest Princess’s influence, and eventually secure the position of family head…
Lost in his imagination, one hand reached for the dagger.
A sharp pain spread through his palm, but it was negligible compared to his burning ambition.
He placed the dagger against his chest where his heart was, looked up at Qin Luoyi’s still cold face, and spoke in a trembling voice, “Since Your Highness commands me to die, then I shall obey…”
With a slight increase in pressure, the dagger’s sharp tip cut through his clothing, sinking half an inch into his chest flesh.
At this spot, just a little more force would pierce his heart.
But… the expected command to stop never came.
Instead, his hand uncontrollably pressed down harder.
Strange… I was already easing off…
Why is the dagger still sinking deeper?
At this rate, I’ll really die…
Could it be…
He gathered his Starlit Eyes power into his hands and pushed outward, lifting his gaze to the woman before him.
His face instantly went pale.
The Eldest Princess’s eyes emitted a ghostly green glow—exactly the same color as the dagger’s.
“I say, Shangguan… what was your name again? You swore just now that you wanted to die, so why are you now using your weak Starlit Eyes to resist me? Or… were you lying to me earlier?”
“I… Xuanzhu… I’m sorry… I was wrong… I truly know my mistake…”
“Wrong? How amusing. Everyone knows that deceiving the ruler is a capital offense. Now, you’ve not only lied to me, but also harbored ill intentions. What punishment do you think you deserve?”
“Ah…!”
Before he could speak further, Shangguan Ce felt a sudden surge of greater force strike his chest.
The pain of his heart being torn apart surged through his body.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
His hands clutching the dagger grew weak.
With a “thud,” he collapsed like a corpse on the ground.
He was dead, but… not completely.
The dagger embedded in his chest began to rapidly decay, transforming into a streak of light that penetrated deeper into his chest.
Moments later, the wound healed and restored itself to its original state.
“Spare me…! Xuanzhu, spare me! I dare not do it again!”
With a terrified cry, he scrambled up, face pale and breathing ragged.
He had no time to think of anything else and immediately began kowtowing wildly.
Having faced death once, all that filled his mind was fear.
He knew Qin Luoyi’s strength and status far exceeded his.
Before her, he was nothing but an insect that could be crushed at any time.
“Heh, I thought you were some kind of hero, but you’re just a coward who clings to life,”
Qin Luoyi took a few steps back, not stopping his kowtowing.
“Speak. What did Lu Qi tell you to say? If I don’t like it, you can prepare to have your body collected.”
“Physician Lu said…”
“Did I tell you to stop?”
“Sorry!”
Shangguan Ce lowered his head and resumed kowtowing.
“After Lu Qi treated me, he asked me to tell you not to touch Yun Mu’s Glazed Bones and Starlit Eyes, but other areas can be handled as you wish.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes, and he also said to use your special Starlit Eyes power to…”
“Say it.”
“To help me with treatment, see if it’s possible to restore my memory.”
“You should count yourself lucky I haven’t killed you yet. Restoring memory? What a foolish dream…”
“S-sorry!”
“Tsk, anything else? If not, then get out.”
The sound of the door closing was heard.
Shangguan Ce hurried to continue.
“There’s more! Physician Lu asked you to visit him at the Bamboo Pavilion in the main courtyard during the day.
He said it’s important and requests you to come quickly.”
More kowtowing sounds followed.
Qin Luoyi looked disdainfully at the bloodied man and clicked her tongue with disgust.
“You can’t even tell the urgency properly? Worthless. Next time you speak like that, you’ll die—understand?”
“Yes, yes, I understand.”
“Good. I’m going to see my teacher now. Yun Mu is in the room; watch him carefully. Don’t let anyone approach him, including your family head.”
“Yes! At your command!”
The girl passed by him, lowering her eyes to the blood staining the floor.
Her brows knitted slightly, as if she had seen something repulsive.
“Remember, don’t touch him, or you will die too…”
“R-right, I definitely won’t dare.”
After the rustling wind sounds faded, Shangguan Ce stopped kowtowing.
He covered his head with one hand and pulled a Handkerchief from his Qiankun Bag to wipe the blood from his face.
Slowly standing, he stared fiercely at the half-open door.
A ruthless gleam flashed in his eyes.
“Yun Mu, you damned bastard!”
In his eyes, as long as the youth was still alive, it was not a breach of—
Meanwhile,
Qin Luoyi soon arrived at the main courtyard.
She walked leisurely to the Bamboo Pavilion and sat down opposite the old man without bowing or greeting.
“Ah, you’re here?”
“Mm, so Lu Qi, what did you call me here for?”
“Hehe, aren’t you going to call me teacher?”
“I give you face in public; whether I call you that in private depends on my mood. Now, get to the point.”
“All right, all right… I’ll get straight to the point,”
the old man slowly turned around and smiled.
“Actually, I want to ask you for a favor. I don’t know if you’re willing.”
“What favor?”
“It concerns Miss Shangguan Qiuyue. The gist is…”
In a few words, Lu Qi explained the situation clearly, but the girl still hesitated.
“Lu Qi, although she is Lin Elder Sister’s daughter, I have no connection with her. Using my abilities like this won’t help me. I have no obligation…”
“When this is done, I guarantee Yun Mu will not die, and I’ll remove the condition that requires him to be borrowed for five days every month. Then he’ll be entirely yours… How about that?”
“Fine, I agree.”
The speed of her decision nearly caught the old man off guard.
“You’re quite a child… sigh. All right, then. Nothing else. You can go back.”
Just as Lu Qi turned to leave, Qin Luoyi grabbed his sleeve.
A faint excitement flickered across her face.
“Lu Qi, there’s something I want to ask.”
“Hm? Go ahead…”
“If the Shangguan family suddenly lost some worthless playboy, would that be a problem?”
“If you want to kill him, go ahead. He’s just a low-ranking member. Shangguan Hongzhi won’t say anything.”
“Is that so… is that so…
Good.”
She muttered to herself and released his sleeve.
“If that’s the case, I’m going back to watch the fun. You keep busy.”
With that, she hurriedly left the pavilion.
Watching her departing figure, Lu Qi frowned slightly.
He stroked his long white beard and sighed deeply.
“This child… her personality is exactly like the Sacred Majesty’s. It’s a pity her heart isn’t in governance. Such a pity…”