Chapter 25

Xiaowei was just an ordinary maid in the palace, of low status. Suddenly, she saw Ning Guifei, one of the most powerful figures in the palace. Naturally, Xiaowei was trembling with fear, hardly daring to take a deep breath. However, after so many years in the palace, she knew all the proper etiquette. She trembled as she knelt down and bowed to Ning Guifei, the Ninth Prince, and the Marquis, addressing them as "Your Highness, may you live for a thousand years."

Ning Guifei said coolly, "You are a servant who knows the rules. I was just talking to my son about how the most important thing in this world is the rules. Without rules, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"

"Your master, the Prince of Fei, is someone who doesn't follow the rules, acting recklessly and causing endless trouble. His mother died early, and he lacked discipline. I was close to Mu Guifei, but I couldn't just watch this child throw tantrums and forget the emperor's grace. If we can finally make your master see the light, it won't be in vain for the friendship I had with his mother."

Xiao Sheng, on the roof, couldn't help but sneer inwardly. "I just saw you plotting with your son and brother, and although your intentions were evil, they were straightforward. As a villain in a play, you were quite good. I, the Prince, will play along with you, even if it costs me effort and energy, it won't be in vain for your thoughts."

"But now, your pretentiousness is truly disgusting. I wonder what expression you will have when you see the illustrations in that book. It will surely be quite entertaining."

In the hall, Xiaowei was trembling, not daring to say a word. She carefully took out the book from her bosom, wrapped in a handkerchief. She held it with both hands, raised it high, and said timidly, "Your Highness, I searched carefully in the Fourteenth Prince's room but found no phoenix egg. Only this book seemed unusual, so I dared not delay and brought it for Your Highness to see."

Ning Guifei nodded in satisfaction and waved her hand. "Good. Bring it here." The eunuch beside her immediately bowed and obeyed, walking over with small steps, picking up the book wrapped in the handkerchief, placing it carefully on a tray, and presenting it to Ning Guifei.

Ning Guifei took the tray, unwrapped the handkerchief, and picked up the book, reading, "A generation... later... ice? What are these two middle characters? Too messy." As she spoke, she slowly opened the book.

Suddenly, Ning Guifei's originally fair face turned white, then green, then yellow, and finally a furious red!

Ning Guifei, unable to contain her anger, grabbed the book and threw it to the ground with all her might. She stood up and screamed, "Wretched maid! How dare you mock me with such a thing? Guards, take her out and beat her to death!"

Ning Guifei's sudden change of attitude shocked everyone present. Xiaowei, in particular, felt as if she had been struck by lightning, collapsing to the ground, her face pale and bloodless.

Before Xiaowei could react and beg for mercy, two burly palace guards pounced on her like wolves. Each grabbed one of her arms and dragged her out without a word. The friction of her skin against the floor made her come to her senses, and she immediately let out a deafening cry, tears streaming down her face, struggling and begging for mercy.

However, a small woman, in the hands of two guards who could kill tigers with their bare hands, had no chance to struggle. In no time, Xiaowei was dragged out of the hall like a dead dog.

Her cries gradually faded into silence. But a moment later, a high-pitched, piercing scream erupted, sending chills down everyone's spines. The screams were continuous and desperate but short-lived. Soon, the hall outside returned to a deathly silence, with no sound to be heard.

From beginning to end, the Fourteenth Prince on the roof saw everything clearly. But deep in his heart, he remained calm, showing no emotion. Xiao Sheng had no pity for traitors. Xiaowei's fate was entirely her own doing, and no one else was to blame.

Shifting his gaze from the front of the hall, he focused back inside. Ning Guifei, though she had ordered the execution, her chest still heaved rapidly, her cheeks red, and her lips tightly pressed, clearly still furious.

Everyone was puzzled. Why did the Empress Dowager suddenly fly into a rage and order an execution? Others might not understand, but Xiao Wang, as her son, had no such reservations. He stepped forward, picked up the book, and asked, "Mother, this..."

Before he could finish, Ning Guifei's body trembled, and she screamed, "Let go! Kun'er, you mustn't look at such nonsense."

Startled by Ning Guifei's sudden outburst, Xiao Wang instinctively shuddered and loosened his fingers. The book fell to the ground with a thud, landing open. Coincidentally, the open page had a full-color copperplate print! The two figures in the illustration were vivid and lifelike.

After all, this was a book published by the Garo Temple. The printing quality and the realism of the illustrations far exceeded the average level of the Da Hao Dynasty, making it easy to get one's blood boiling.

In an instant, everyone in the room understood. The Marquis and Jiang Weichen immediately pretended to drink from their cups, covering their faces. Xiao Wang, however, was furious, shouting, "That damned Fourteenth Prince, daring to bring out such a thing, clearly insulting you, Mother! Mother, wait, I'll go and bring him here, beat him up, and make him kneel before you and apologize!"

Ning Guifei, both angry and embarrassed, and somewhat disappointed, couldn't help but step forward and slap him. "Slap!" The crisp sound echoed, and Xiao Wang spun around like a top, falling to the ground. He covered his swollen face and exclaimed, "Mother, why did you hit me?"

"Why did I hit you? You still don't know why?" Ning Guifei scolded, "Because of your foolish words! What do you mean by bringing the Fourteenth Prince here to beat him and make him apologize? If you could do that, would you be limping and coming to me to complain?"

"Apologize? For what? What he reads in his room, who can control? Do you want me to admit that I bribed someone to present a book that incites lust and theft as a secret manual, causing a big mess? If this gets out, how can I face the world? Now, tell me, should I have hit you?"

Xiao Wang, after being scolded, became dejected and dared not speak. The Marquis stood up to mediate, "Sister, Kun'er sometimes lacks consideration, but he is young. It's not his fault. The Fourteenth Prince is just too cunning."

Ning Guifei snorted and casually waved her arm, grabbing the book from the air. With a burst of energy, the book shattered into pieces, like thousands of paper butterflies flying everywhere. Her skill was effortless, showing no signs of strain, clearly that of a martial artist at the "Five Qi Convergence" level.

In the world described by the author with the surname Jin, there was a small country on the northwest border. The princess of that country, who had a lifelong feud with her senior sister, loved to flirt with handsome young men and was one of the greatest martial artists of the time. She had mastered the ability to strike an enemy's back from the front.

However, at this moment, if Ning Guifei could enter that world, her skill just now would be enough to rival the princess, and might even surpass her.

Even though the book was shattered, Ning Guifei still felt a surge of anger. She turned to Jiang Weichen and said, "Mr. Jiang, I've heard that the Jiang family's 'Blood Sect' secret techniques are best at eroding the soul and killing without a trace. I want you to kill Xiao Sheng!"

Jiang Weichen put down his cup and nodded, "I can do it. Since you're not afraid of alarming the snake, I'll take action. How do you want Xiao Sheng to die? Should I bring him here alive and execute him in front of you, or simply kill him on the spot?"

"I don't want to see him again. Kill him on the spot." Thinking of the illustrations in the book, Ning Guifei's cheeks flushed red. She then composed herself and said, "This little thief, after all, is nominally of royal blood. If the matter becomes public, the Empress and that despicable Zhen woman will surely use it as an opportunity to attack, making it difficult to resolve. So, please be careful when you act, and don't leave any clues."

Pausing, Ning Guifei stomped her foot and said, "Hmph, this little thief is getting off easy."

"Empress, rest assured. I'll do it cleanly." Jiang Weichen stood up confidently, "Empress, please wait. I'll be back soon." As he spoke, his body suddenly turned into a cloud of black smoke and dispersed into the wind, a display of incredible skill.

"Good, good! With Mr. Jiang's help, that Fourteenth Prince is definitely dead!" Xiao Wang's eyes gleamed as he shouted, "Fourteenth Prince, see who can save you now! Ha, daring to make me limp? This is your fate!"

Xiao Wang's words, of course, were not heard by Jiang Weichen, who had already left the palace. He transformed into a faint blood shadow and merged into the night sky, heading for the southeast corner of the palace—the Tenth Prince's residence.

Suddenly, a golden light shot up from the ground, blocking Jiang Weichen's path, and then exploded, scattering thousands of golden sparks.

——

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