“Ah!”
The dozen or so heads that had fallen in the center of Weiyang Palace were tightly bound together by their own hair. Each face looked so vivid, as if still brimming with life.
First Kill looked terrified, Second Kill grim, Third Kill angry, Fourth Kill puzzled, Fifth Kill astonished, Sixth Kill dazed, Seventh Kill disdainful, Ninth Kill gritting his teeth, Tenth Kill peeking furtively, Eleventh Kill indifferent, and Twelfth Kill looked utterly wretched.
Each one was so lifelike, it was as if they could start talking any second.
Only an incredibly fast technique and an immensely high level of inner power could achieve such a result.
It was said that back when Shangguan Hanshan had fought his way back to Daxia, the heads of the brothers and uncles who had once bullied him had hung on the city walls in this same vivid state.
Shangguan Luoyue fainted on the spot.
Her heart sank straight to the bottom.
Her foster father knew!
The sudden upheaval in Weiyang Palace happened so fast that before anyone present could react, a dark figure was already standing silently behind Xiao Ao.
Xiao Ao felt a chill crawl straight up his spine.
He forced himself not to look back. The dignity of the imperial family couldn’t be lost.
“Who goes there!”
The dark figure spoke coldly: “Your Majesty of Xizhou, do not be alarmed. We are shadow guards in service to the ruler of Daxia. We come with no ill intent. We are merely here to invite General Huo Ci back to the mansion for a conversation. We hope Your Majesty of Xizhou will grant permission.”
Xiao Ao’s face turned ashen.
Daxia truly had no regard for them at all.
Even a mere shadow guard could order him around like this.
But looking at the pile of heads on the ground, and feeling the pressure of the man standing right behind him, Xiao Ao couldn’t utter the word “no.”
“Might I ask why Daxia has sent two delegations? Isn’t that thinking a little too highly of my Xizhou?”
Xiao Ao naturally understood that if the shadow guards were here, it meant Shangguan Hanshan was here too. Since he had come, why was he still hiding in the shadows?
As soon as he finished speaking, two more shadow guards materialized in the hall, hoisted Shangguan Luoyue up on either side, and vanished in a flash.
For a moment, all the civil and military officials were so terrified they didn’t dare make a sound. No matter how frightened they were, they dug their nails into themselves to keep quiet.
Xiao Ao clenched his fists.
A wave of powerless rage surged in his heart.
“Shangguan Luoyue behaved disgracefully and acted with arrogant狂妄. The ruler will punish her severely for it. As an apology, the ruler has specially sent word that Daxia will no longer interfere in any matters between Xizhou and Beiluo. Is Your Majesty of Xizhou satisfied?”
Even though it was good news, Xiao Ao couldn’t bring himself to feel the least bit happy.
It was obvious charity, and it made him, the lofty sovereign, lose his dignity.
“Huo Ci, the imperial envoy has invited you. Go at once!”
Xiao Ao was a smart man.
Without enough power to contend with the other side, revealing ambition would only lead to self-destruction.
Jiang Xingyan was shocked by Shangguan Hanshan’s ruthless efficiency, and actually grew a bit curious about him. She immediately clasped her fists to Xiao Ao and said, “Your subject takes his leave.”
Yun Chunfeng gave a slight nod and was about to follow Jiang Xingyan out.
But Xiao Ao and the shadow guard both spoke up at the same time to stop them.
“Where does the Imperial Advisor think he’s going?”
“The ruler only wishes to see General Huo Ci alone.”
Jiang Xingyan was about to protest when she saw Yun Chunfeng shake his head at her.
“Your Majesty, do not be alarmed. This humble one is merely seeing the general off.”
The two walked outside Weiyang Palace, the shadow guard trailing them like a shadow, waiting by the door.
“He’s guessed it.”
Jiang Xingyan was only slightly surprised for a moment. That man’s feelings for A Niang were so true and pure—he was bound to notice the differences between her and Huo Ci. She just hadn’t expected it to be so soon.
“No matter what decision you make, Brother Yun will always stand by the Eldest Miss.”
Jiang Xingyan felt a soft warmth in her heart. Her Brother Yun always gave her unconditional support when she needed it most.
“Alright. I’ll wait for your return.”
——-
By the time Jiang Xingyan rode at full speed back to the Grand General’s Mansion, Shangguan Hanshan had already dragged Huo Ci’s grandmother, Li Yuan, out of the side courtyard.
Li Yuan knelt on the ground in terror, not daring to raise her head and look at the distinguished, arrogant person sitting in the armchair. No matter how domineering she usually was, she still valued her life. The decisive, ruthless scene today wasn’t something just anyone could pull off.
She curled up, trying hard to make herself less noticeable.
Shangguan Hanshan took a sip of tea and had just grumbled to himself, That damned brat, taking so long to get here! when he heard a shadow guard announce from outside, “Ruler, Huo Ci has arrived.”
Startled, he dropped his tea bowl.
Clatter!
Jiang Xingyan’s heart tightened. Not knowing what had happened inside, she quickened her pace and hurried into the room. Her eyes immediately fell on the kneeling Old Madam Huo, who was so scared she jumped.
When Li Yuan saw out of the corner of her eye that her son had returned, she immediately started wailing with a purpose.
“Your Excellency, this great lord of the imperial family! I don’t know what that wretched woman Jiang has done to offend you! But now that my son is back, he’s the emperor’s favorite. You can ask for any compensation you want! That wretch Jiang is yours to do with as you please. Just please, spare this old woman’s life!”
Jiang Xingyan’s mouth twitched. She had seen people asking for trouble, but never anyone so eager, so afraid they wouldn’t die horribly enough.
Sure enough, the next second, Shangguan Hanshan’s entire aura dropped. It was like the sky suddenly darkening, thick clouds pressing right down on your face.
A shadow guard materialized in front of Li Yuan, grabbed her by the neck, and lifted her up.
Smack! Smack!
Two heavy slaps landed squarely on Li Yuan’s old face, nearly taking her head clean off.
Li Yuan stood frozen, forgetting the pain. There was something about this scene today that seemed strangely familiar. A flickering memory surfaced: she had been in this exact position before, slapped repeatedly by someone she couldn’t quite see. In the end, they had actually slapped her head clean off her shoulders.
In an instant, Li Yuan went ice-cold from head to toe. Their Huo family was truly going to be ruined by that lowly merchant woman! But now her cheeks were so swollen she couldn’t utter a single word.
Ever since “Huo Ci” had entered the room, Shangguan Hanshan had been staring intently at “him,” taking in every single expression. Seeing his own mother humiliated, “he” didn’t fly into a rage or start a massacre. Instead, “he” merely glanced at her indifferently and then didn’t spare her another ounce of attention.
Swish!
Shangguan Hanshan suddenly stood up from the armchair. His eyes burned as he stared straight at the “Huo Ci” before him. A thousand words were stuck in his throat; he didn’t know which one to ask first.
Jiang Xingyan glanced over at the bed. Huo Ci was still lying unconscious. Right now, he truly was the picture of a complete and utter unfilial son.
“I know what you want to ask. But now is not the time.”
Shangguan Hanshan’s lips trembled, and tears had already filled his eyes. If the soul inside this body in front of him was Yanyan’s soul, didn’t that mean Yanyan had already died a horrible death once before?
“Then when is the time!”
The skin of that damned brat made him burn with hatred, yet Yanyan’s soul inside it made his heart ache with tenderness.
“When I am myself.”
Before Shangguan Hanshan could be completely overcome with heartbreak, a secret guard whispered in his ear:
“Ruler, Shangguan Luoyue has vanished.”
