Chapter 118: Why Did You Shave Your Head? Aren’t You Cold?

"Second Brother, please return my Princess Consort to me."

’Here we go. The classic showdown between the male lead and the second male lead.’

Xiao Li knew she couldn’t just snatch the woman away herself right now. So, embracing the spirit of someone who loves to watch a good train wreck, she "kindly" reminded him, "Fourth Brother, you’re mistaken. That’s Second Brother’s concubine, Miss Xue Zhi, not your Princess Consort."

As she spoke, she didn’t forget to kick the young guard beside her, whispering, "Quick, go get the men from the Patrol Camp."

’Things are already this heated. Are the patrolling soldiers dead or something?’

’Prince Chen is still accused of treason. A golden opportunity for meritorious service just falls into their laps, and they don’t even know to grab it.’

Xiao Jingyu stared fixedly at Liu Xueyin, his icy eyes suppressing a burning rage. "I would never be mistaken about my own Princess Consort."

Liu Xueyin tilted her head back to look at him, her expression a mixture of fear and confusion. "I don’t know you."

Xiao Jingyu snapped. Enraged, he growled, "Playing dumb is useless! Without my permission, you will remain Princess Chen even in death!"

’What a domineering declaration.’

Xiao Jingzhao, as if jolted from a dream, yanked Liu Xueyin behind him. "Jing Yu, what is this nonsense? Your search for your Princess Consort has nothing to do with me! This is my concubine!" He had the nerve to look offended.

Xiao Li took the tea Lan Yue offered. One sip sent a pleasant warmth through her body, making her feel much more "amiable."

"Did you hear that, Fourth Brother? That’s not your Princess Consort. Prince Yanping would *never* hide your Princess Consort away to make her his own concubine."

Xiao Jingzhao roared, "Shut your mouth!"

Xiao Jingyu tightened his grip on his longsword. "Second Brother, if you have the gall to do this but not admit to it, then don’t blame me for what comes next."

With that, he charged straight at Xiao Jingzhao.

Xiao Jingzhao instantly drew his sword to parry, and the two men fell into a vicious melee.

Xiao Li reached for more tea, only to find it had frozen solid. With a sigh, she handed the cup back to Lan Yue.

The two brothers were so focused on their duel that they gave no orders, so their guards actually stopped fighting. Instead, they retreated to either side, clearing a space in the middle for their masters to go at it.

Her interest piqued, Xiao Li picked up her longbow again, nocked an arrow, and drew the string taut.

"Prince Chen, in the name of His Majesty, I shall eliminate you!"

With that, the arrow flew.

*THWACK!*

It struck Xiao Jingzhao squarely in the arm. He flinched in pain, nearly getting cut down by Xiao Jingyu.

He scrambled to dodge with a desperate roll, and in the process, his hood finally fell off.

"BWAHAHAHA..." Seeing that shiny bald head again, Xiao Li still found it hilarious. ’And when I remember that Jia Ruo was the one who poisoned him, it makes me want to laugh even more. This pair of siblings is just too much fun.’

Xiao Jingzhao hacked off the end of the arrow shaft and roared in pain, "Xuanyang, what do you think you’re doing?"

Xiao Li lazily nocked another arrow. With Rong Qing protecting her, she was brazenly and unabashedly arrogant.

"I’m trying to apprehend the traitor, Prince Chen. I didn’t expect to accidentally injure Prince Yanping. My sincerest apologies. This weather is freezing, it’s affecting my performance. By the way, Prince Yanping, why did you shave your head? Aren’t you cold?"

Her smug tone was just asking for a punch.

Xiao Jingzhao was grinding his teeth in hatred for Xiao Li, but he didn’t even have time to curse her. Seeing Xiao Jingyu rush toward Xue Zhi, he immediately raised his sword to block him.

"Jing Yu, you’re going too far!"

Xiao Jingyu’s gaze was firm, his voice chillingly resolute. "If she isn’t my Princess Consort, then all you have to do is pull down her veil and let me see. Prince Yanping, why are you defending her so desperately? What guilty conscience are you hiding?"

’Hmm, that does make sense.’

But of course, Xiao Jingzhao *did* have a guilty conscience, so he’d die before admitting it. "She is my concubine! Do you have no respect for me, insisting on seeing her face? You show up attacking and trying to kill, and now you want to talk reason? It’s too late for that!"

Both brothers had their own "principles," and neither was willing to back down. The only solution was violence.

Meanwhile, Xiao Li raised her arrow and aimed for that shiny egg of a head, trembling... ’Oh, I’d love to put an arrow right through it.’

Rong Qing sighed in resignation and offered his shoulder for her to use as a brace.

"Be careful, Princess. Swords have no eyes."

’Don’t get too reckless,’ he thought. ’If both sides decide to attack us at once, we’ll be in real trouble.’

Despite his thoughts, Rong Qing’s grip on his broadsword didn’t loosen in the slightest. He remained on high alert.

’What can you do when your master loves to stir up trouble? You protect her with your life, of course.’

Xiao Li let her fingers slip, sending an arrow flying.

*Thunk.*

This time, it struck Xiao Jingyu’s arm, giving the nearly-defeated Xiao Jingzhao a chance to catch his breath.

Xiao Jingyu clutched his arm and fell back, his sharp gaze fixed on her as he snarled, "Xuanyang, that is enough."

Xiao Li nocked another arrow, aimed for Xiao Jingyu’s head, and released it without a moment’s hesitation.

Sensing the danger, Xiao Jingyu dodged in a hurry, but Xiao Li followed up with a rapid volley of three arrows, each one flying with lethal intent.

With nowhere to run, Xiao Jingyu could only parry. Still, one arrow grazed his cheek, and blood instantly trickled down his face.

Xiao Li’s haunting voice drifted from the distance. "Xiao Jingyu, I’ve told you before: don’t use that ridiculously arrogant tone with me. You’re a defeated man. You should at least learn some respect and humility. If you can’t manage that, I don’t mind teaching you myself."

’He might be the male lead, all arrogant and proud, but it wasn’t long ago that he was lying half-dead in my basement.’

’I really could have killed him.’

Apologies and conciliatory words didn’t suit his character; he would never say them. So he chose silence, turning his aggression back toward Xiao Jingzhao.

With Xiao Li’s interference, a one-on-one duel was clearly impossible. His eyes filled with murderous intent as he gave a cold command: "Move out!"

The two groups of men, who had been waiting on the sidelines, clashed once more.

’Are the men from the Patrol Camp all dead?’ Xiao Li wondered again. ’All this chaos has been going on for ages, and still nobody has come to stop it.’

’We’re in the Imperial City, less than a quarter-hour’s ride from the Imperial Palace, yet no patrols have shown up for a massive armed brawl like this. This Imperial Power is doomed, sooner or later.’

Xiao Li didn’t care how Xiao Jingyu and Xiao Jingzhao fought. Her eyes were locked on Liu Xueyin with an unwavering determination to get her.

"Did you bring the Smoke Bombs?"

Rong Qing immediately produced one. "I did."

Seeing Liu Xueyin being forced back while Xiao Jingzhao was too busy with his opponent to help her, Xiao Li gave the decisive order: "Toss it!"

She nocked three arrows, drew her bow, and let them fly. It didn’t matter who they hit.

The Smoke Bomb was thrown. With a POP, thick smoke instantly billowed out, and her guard seized the opportunity to grab the target.

"Ah—"

Liu Xueyin only had time for a single shriek before she was knocked unconscious.

*POP! POP!*

Another volley of Smoke Bombs went off. The people caught inside, their vision obscured, began to slash about wildly.

By the time they fought their way out of the smoke, they saw Xiao Li’s men clashing with another group entirely.

"Po Feng!"

Xiao Li was exasperated. ’I was just about to get her, and now someone just had to show up and ruin everything.’

’You’re a Death Warrior from the Lu family. If you want to kill me, then just do it. Why are you trying to snatch her away?’

Po Feng’s martial arts favored agility and speed, making it difficult for her arrows to track him. But Xiao Li didn’t want to reveal her gun to these people just yet.

She turned her head and glanced at Xiao Jingyu and Xiao Jingzhao, who had both emerged from the smoke. "What are you gawking at? Go after him!"