Chapter 100: Blood Stains the Prince’s Mansion, Jiang Xue’s Plea, Awakening

Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Blood Stains the Prince’s Mansion, Jiang Xue’s Plea, Awakening

Before anyone at the scene could react, Pei Shaoqing had already drawn his sword and charged forward.

"SCHLICK!"

A glint of cold steel flashed. Accompanied by a spray of hot, crimson blood, Yan Sitong’s head flew high into the air. His gushing body crashed to the ground as his head rolled twice, the expression on his face still one of bewilderment.

Only then did the others snap to their senses, drawing their blades and charging forward right behind him.

"He’s trying to kill me! He’s going to execute me without even a trial!" King Shu stumbled backward, his eyes red with disbelief and denial as he roared, "Yan Wu! Yan Wu! You bastard who kills his own brothers! You’ll be reviled for eternity!

No wonder even your own son wants to rebel against you! My only regret is that I didn’t *actually* rebel! How can you face the spirit of our imperial father in heaven?! Yan Wu..."

The next second, Wei Yue flew from his horse and killed him on the spot with a single palm strike. "King Shu plotted a rebellion and resisted arrest with armed forces. His crimes are unforgivable. Exterminate his entire household!"

Yan Sikun had pissed himself in terror. He collapsed to the ground, laughing like a madman, tears and snot streaming down his face as he shrieked hysterically, "Big Brother! You are so cruel, Big Brother!"

"SCHLICK!"

He was beheaded with a single slash. His prone body fell with a thud, his wide-open eyes staring, unable to rest in peace.

And the slaughter had only just begun.

"Don’t kill me! Please... AHH!"

"I am the Princess Consort! Have you peasants gone mad?"

"Protect the Princess Consort! Fight them to the death!"

The household retainers, usually so arrogant and abusive of their power, were now like helpless lambs to the slaughter.

King Shu’s personal guards, at least, remained loyal, attempting to fight to the death to escort the Princess Consort out. But it was all for naught.

The weakest of the men from the Capital City were Martial Artists of the Qi Condensation Realm, and there were quite a few in the Wandering Dragon Realm as well. With a Grandmaster overseeing them, no one in the Shu Royal Mansion could stand in their way.

Wei Yue stood with his hands clasped behind his back, observing with cold indifference.

Screams, cries, and wails rose and fell in waves, yet the Jing’an Guards were like emotionless machines. Their masked faces showed no expression as they silently, relentlessly swung their blades.

Until the stench of blood billowed from the Royal Mansion and no one was left alive.

Nearly every inch of the floor was dyed red with blood.

The black robes of every Jing’an Guard were soaked with blood. Their pale masks were spattered with crimson beads, and blood dripped steadily from the tips of their blades.

"Reporting, Lord Wei. The Shu traitors and their entire household have been annihilated," Lu Feng said, approaching Wei Yue.

Wei Yue turned and left without another word. "Back to the capital."

The Jing’an Guards from the capital quickly followed.

"We bid you farewell, my lord!" Pei Shaoqing, Lu Dingchuan, and the other local Jing’an Guards from Shu State knelt on one knee and called out in unison.

"HYAH! HYAH!"

Wei Yue’s arrival was as swift as his departure.

He left behind only the hundreds of corpses in the Shu Royal Mansion.

Pei Shaoqing and Lu Dingchuan remained kneeling with their heads bowed until the sound of hoofbeats had faded completely. Only then did they rise.

The others, seeing this, also rose to their feet.

"Thank you, Brother Pei, for looking out for me," Lu Dingchuan said, walking up to Pei Shaoqing with a look of profound gratitude.

Pei Shaoqing smiled faintly. "Brother Lu has never treated me unfairly. How could I ever bring harm to you?"

"I won’t say any more. Words are pale. From now on, Brother Pei, just watch my actions," Lu Dingchuan said, extending a hand.

Pei Shaoqing grasped it firmly. "I have the utmost faith in your character, Brother Lu, just as you chose to trust me in the Furong Pavilion when you faced King Shu."

Lu Dingchuan smiled, then withdrew his hand. His brow furrowed as he looked at the bodies strewn across the ground. "Brother Pei, the other corpses are simple enough—we can just drag them to the Chaotic Burial Mound. But what about the bodies of King Shu’s family? They are of the Royal Family, after all."

"The fact that Lord Wei didn’t arrange for King Shu’s burial means he left it for us to handle," Pei Shaoqing said. "Let’s bury them outside the city, raise a grave, and set up a stone marker. As you said, they are Royal Family. If we are too careless, His Majesty will be displeased."

The Emperor can kill King Shu, and he can even choose not to bother with the body. But people like us can’t afford to be so negligent.

Lu Dingchuan nodded. "We’ll do as you say, Brother Pei."

"Now that this matter is settled, I’ll trouble you to handle the cleanup, Brother Lu. I’ll be taking my leave," Pei Shaoqing said, clasping his fist in salute.

Lu Dingchuan returned the gesture. "Take care, Brother Pei."

Pei Shaoqing turned and strode out of the Shu Royal Mansion. He paused at the gate for a final glance back, then leaped onto General Hei’s back. With a kick to the horse’s flanks, he shot off.

Lu Dingchuan, who had walked him to the gate, watched the distant figure with unconcealable envy. ’A dragon’s blood steed! I wonder if I’ll ever be fortunate enough to be granted one in this life?’

....................

After leaving the Shu Royal Mansion, Pei Shaoqing went straight to Jiang Xue’s residence. He planned to bathe and change before heading back to Tongzhou.

Ye Hanshuang and Liu Yuheng hadn’t come to meet him in Jin Guan City, so they had probably gone back already. With General Hei’s speed, he could leave later and still catch up to them.

"Lord Pei!" The stout woman who opened the door started in surprise when she saw him, then quickly turned to shout inside. "Miss, Lord Pei is here!"

She stepped aside. "Please come in, my lord."

The moment Pei Shaoqing stepped inside, he saw Jiang Xue running toward him, her face alight with joy, dressed in a long cyan gown.

As she ran, her light shawl slipped down, revealing fragrant, jade-white shoulders. The round mounds beneath her pink, embroidered tube top bounced precariously, as if they might leap out at any moment.

"Mr. Pei, I’ve missed you terribly."

She threw herself into Pei Shaoqing’s arms, hugging him tightly.

Seeing this, the stout woman closed the door and quietly slipped away.

"Did Xue’Er miss me, or did she miss playing with my spear?" Pei Shaoqing asked, wrapping an arm around her slender waist.

"Both," Jiang Xue purred, her eyes full of seduction. A moment later, she caught the scent of blood and looked down, only to see that her own clothes were now stained. Her beautiful face paled in fright. "Ah! Mr. Pei, this..."

"It’s all from other people," Pei Shaoqing said coolly. "Prepare a hot bath. You will attend to me."

Jiang Xue pursed her lips. "Yes, my lord."

Wealthy households always had hot water on hand, so Pei Shaoqing was soon sitting comfortably in the bathing tub.

With her hair pinned up, a completely naked Jiang Xue sat in the tub with him, attending to his bath. She used her own smooth, delicate body to meticulously wash every part of him.

She was like a beautiful serpent, her supple body coiling around Pei Shaoqing, gliding across his skin.

Soon, her face was flushed crimson, and she was breathing heavily.

Facing Pei Shaoqing, she cradled his face, her eyes hazy. "Won’t you help wash me too, my lord?"

Steam filled the air, her skin a translucent white flushed with pink, so delicate it seemed it might break at a touch.

"Wash what part?" Pei Shaoqing asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

Jiang Xue threw herself into his embrace and whispered by his ear, her breath as fragrant as an orchid, "Wash me clean, inside and out."

Soon, water was splashing from the tub.

A long while later, Pei Shaoqing finally ceased.

Jiang Xue asked, "Was my lord satisfied?"

"A true siren," Pei Shaoqing exhaled.

But Jiang Xue suddenly began to sob quietly.

"What’s wrong, Xue’Er?"

"I have a favor to ask," Jiang Xue said, suddenly climbing out and kneeling on the bed.

Pei Shaoqing frowned, reaching out to stroke her delicate cheek. "Xue’Er, just say what’s on your mind. There’s no need for this between us."

"I implore you, my lord, to avenge the annihilation of my family," Jiang Xue said, kowtowing heavily.

Pei Shaoqing’s expression was calm. "First, tell me what happened."

"My real name is Xu Hui. My father was the former Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, Xu Yong. He was framed by that villain, Xie Wenjin, and accused of treason for colluding with foreign tribes. My entire family was executed.

Only I, a child at the time, and my mother’s personal handmaiden managed to escape. All these years, I have thought of nothing but taking revenge. Please, my lord, help me."

Pei Shaoqing had no idea who Xu Yong and Xie Wenjin were, but he could guess that Xie Wenjin must be a powerful figure today. ’Is a moment of pleasure really worth risking my neck?’ he thought. He didn’t think so.

"Ah, Xue’Er," Pei Shaoqing said gently.

Jiang Xue looked up. "My lord."

"Whether your father was framed or not, the case is closed," Pei Shaoqing said. "Do you realize that by not arresting you right now, by still being willing to share a bed with you, I am already taking an enormous risk?"

Tears streamed down Jiang Xue’s face. "I know."

"Now that I know your identity, I am still willing to shelter you. And yet, you ask me to seek revenge for you? Do you have any idea of the risks I would face if I got involved?" Pei Shaoqing’s voice held a note of displeasure.

Jiang Xue threw herself into his arms, sobbing. "I’m sorry, my lord. It’s my fault. I was too greedy, too insatiable. I pushed my luck, too desperate to avenge my parents."

"I understand how you feel." Pei Shaoqing’s tone softened as he gently stroked her damp hair. "Tell you what. I don’t know the details of what happened back then. After I return to the capital, I’ll look into it. If your father was truly framed, I will find a way to exonerate him."

’I’ll just make her a promise for now and see how things develop. I can’t just believe everything she says. If an easy opportunity to clear the Xu family’s name presents itself, I don’t mind helping. Otherwise, I’ll just forget about it.’

"Thank you, my lord! Xue’Er is yours for all my life," Jiang Xue said. She had been prepared for rejection and was shocked that Pei Shaoqing had agreed.

Deeply moved, she hugged him and covered his face in kisses, then took the initiative to reach down and adjust his trajectory.

This was the only way she knew how to repay him.

Just then, the handmaiden’s voice came from outside the door. "Miss, that man, Wang, is here again."

"The scholar who was chasing the carriage the other day?" Pei Shaoqing asked, raising an eyebrow with interest.

"Yes." Jiang Xue bit her red lip, worried he might get the wrong idea. "Send him away. Tell him not to come back. I don’t want Mr. Pei to have any misunderstandings."

"Miss, he came to say farewell," the maid continued. "He said he congratulates you on finding a good match and thanks you for your help when he was in financial straits. He vows to repay this kindness in the future."

Jiang Xue’s expression grew complicated. Wriggling her hips and letting out a soft moan, she said, "Tell him for me... that it’s good he can... mmm~ move on. I don’t expect him to repay me. Wish... wish him success on the imperial examinations."

"He looked so heartbroken that day. I thought he’d never recover," Pei Shaoqing chuckled.

Jiang Xue said wistfully, "How many men are there who would truly live or die for a woman? Once he calmed down, he would naturally realize his own future is more important. A man who throws his entire heart at a woman will never amount to anything."

Pei Shaoqing couldn’t help but chuckle at that. In the society of his past life, there were plenty of simps and doormats like that.

This scholar, Wang, was already leagues above those men. He knew when to press on and when to back down, he remembered kindness, and he knew how to let go.

"If he’s such a poor scholar, how did he have money to frequent a brothel and request a top courtesan?" he asked curiously.

Jiang Xue answered, "His classmates were treating. He doesn’t have any silver coins of his own; he can barely afford food."

Pei Shaoqing had an epiphany. ’Well now,’ he thought, ’this one’s a genuine, government-certified poor scholar.’

Outside the small courtyard, Wang Shen stood dressed in an old, long robe, washed so many times it had faded to white. He no longer cut the pathetic figure he had that day chasing the carriage; now he looked dignified, his posture tall and straight.

"My lady is with Young Master Pei and cannot see you off. She says she doesn’t expect repayment and wishes you success on the imperial examinations," the handmaiden said coolly as she came out.

"Thank you." Wang Shen smiled faintly and calmly clasped his fist in gratitude. "And please, tell the Man of Pingyang that I hope he treats Miss Jiang Xue well."

With that, he tightened his grip on the bulging pack on his shoulder, turned, and walked away with a composed stride.

At first, he had been heartbroken.

But after a night of drowning his sorrows, he woke up to his four bare walls and a few tattered books. At that moment, Wang Shen had an epiphany.

For a man like him, the priority should be to make something of himself. What right did he have to long for romance?

Miss Jiang Xue had not looked down on his poverty. She had appreciated his talent and offered him aid—this was already an immense kindness.

She had found a good man, a brilliant young talent like the Man of Pingyang, no less. He should be happy for her and wish her well.

He should also work hard and strive to become someone capable of repaying her great kindness, so as not to betray the special favor she had shown him in the past.

How could he possibly allow himself to fall into despair and wallow in misery?

Having had his awakening, Wang Shen knew that chasing her carriage had brought him utter disgrace in Jin Guan City. He decided to leave and travel for his studies, resolving to return in glory only after he succeeded in the imperial examinations.