Chapter 216: Chapter 216

Prince Qin Mansion, study.

The man held a scroll in one hand and sat by the window, the light sunlight pouring through the half-opened window, casting a faint golden hue around him.

He lowered his eyes slightly, his side profile as if painted, akin to a deity.

Two young Hidden Guards in black attire stood below him.

"Your Highness, the remnants of Rashamon Hall who attempted to assassinate the princess have all been pursued and slain after fleeing to the southwest."

"As for Black Wind Village, when we struck their lair that day, those bandits used incendiary bombs, smoke grenades, tear gas, and various confusing smoke to escape en masse. We’ve captured a portion and currently have them in the dungeon."

"The identities of the third batch have been confirmed; they’re from Nanyue Li Palace and Yellow Springs Inn, but they left their organizations half a year ago."

"Moreover, the female assassin in red insists there was no mastermind behind the action, claiming she merely received money from Mrs. Qin and her daughter for the task."

After the Hidden Guard finished speaking, Nangong Mo showed no reaction; he casually turned a page of his book.

"As for the spies of Mrs. Qin and her daughter caught last time, kill them."

The Hidden Guard paused; during the raid on Black Wind Village, a few spies were also captured. After days of interrogation, they had extracted almost all the information possible and indeed, keeping them was unnecessary.

"Make the bodies look presentable and send them to Lin Yanran."

The Hidden Guard secretly glanced at his master, wondering if "presentable" meant what he understood it to mean?

Nangong Mo raised his gaze, sweeping a mild look towards him, prompting the Hidden Guard to immediately lower his head, "I understand! I’ll handle it right away! Your subordinate takes his leave!"

Nangong Mo watched as the Hidden Guard rushed off as if fleeing for his life, expressionlessly turning his gaze to another Hidden Guard.

The second Hidden Guard, who had just been inwardly mocking his comrade, instantly snapped to attention like a pine tree, "Your Highness!"

Nangong Mo looked at his subordinate, casually raising a brow, "How are the arrangements I asked you to make?"

"Your Highness, everything is ready! We can execute at your command."

Nangong Mo’s lips curled as he thought of something, lazily saying, "Then do it three days from now."

The Hidden Guard responded crisply, but furrowed his brow, showing a hesitant expression as he looked at his master.

Nangong Mo, somewhat bothered by his gaze, coldly spat out a word, "Speak."

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince secretly mined Tu Mountain’s iron and Yao Mountain’s copper, forging a large batch of weapons, crossbows, and new currency, and privately recruited troops, nurturing a large private army and retainers. If these are exposed, even if it can’t shake his position as Crown Prince, it would still cause him significant trouble."

"We collected, investigated, and tracked this lead, spending a long time. Isn’t this supposed to be used for a deadly blow against the Crown Prince? Your subordinate doesn’t quite understand your approach..."

Nangong Mo’s lips curved with playful interest, the Hidden Guard instantly flinched about to kneel, "Your subordinate misspoke! I shouldn’t question your decision!"

Nangong Mo gestured for him to rise, "Whether he becomes the Crown Prince or not, I couldn’t care less."

The Hidden Guard fell silent.

Years ago, when the soldiers’ rights were taken from him, those of them who had followed their master into battle, risking their lives for so long, were all furious, wishing to overthrow the incompetent emperor and the unjust world.

With their combat strength and his reputation, marching eastward to seize the throne in the Imperial City, there was an eighty percent chance, if not absolute, of success!

But, their master had no interest in power struggles and didn’t care about that position.

Nangong Mo glanced at his somber subordinate, somewhat helplessly pressing his brow.

"Even if these charges lead to the Crown Prince’s impeachment and banishment, there are still the Third Prince, Fifth Prince, and Seventh Prince."

"Furthermore, the Crown Prince’s many years of secret plotting go beyond this; pushing him too far now isn’t timely."

After listening, the Hidden Guard furrowed his brow in thought for a while, "I was foolish! Your subordinate will adhere to your commands!"

After the Hidden Guard left, Ye Xiao came in, first stealthily glancing at his master, observing his expression, before seriously reporting:

"Master, after the princess left the mansion, she disguised herself as a dashing young man and entered a forge. Unclear what weapon she wants to create."

Nangong Mo didn’t lift an eyelid, absently continuing to turn the pages of his scroll.

Ye Xiao sneaked a look at the book in his hand, muttering softly, "So engrossed, one would think it was a springtime art album..."

As soon as he spoke, Ye Xiao suddenly felt a bone-chilling coldness locking onto him, chilling to the soul, almost making him scramble in fright.

"Master, master, she speaks daily of wanting to murder her husband, do you think she’s having some contraption made to target you?"

Nangong Mo squinted at him, "If you want to die, just say so."

Ye Xiao promptly stood straight, "Your subordinate doesn’t want to! Your subordinate can’t bear to leave! Your subordinate still hasn’t climbed hills and crossed seas for you or killed and plundered!"

Under his master’s increasingly cold gaze, Ye Xiao wisely stopped, "After leaving the forge, the princess went to Fanghua Pavilion!"

The master must be interested in the princess’s affairs!

"Master, you wouldn’t believe how striking the princess looked when she left Fanghua Pavilion! She dazzled a crowd! She’s likely at the market now..."

Ye Xiao braced himself to passionately depict the scene when a voice colder than the winds of the underworld said, "You may roll out."

Ye Xiao shivered, instantly dropped to the ground, and rolled out in the most standard posture with utmost speed.

After rolling out a good distance, he pulled out a blade of dogtail grass and put it in his mouth, "Essential to calm down, lush green grass! Little Green, you’re still the best!"

At this moment, Yun Ran indeed sported a stunning look, flaunting down the busiest street in the Imperial City’s most bustling area, just as Ye Xiao had mentioned.

She intended to be ostentatious.

She wanted those plotting against her to know she was still alive and well, hopefully to anger them to death.

Ever since her return two days ago, Yue Ying had updated her on the affairs in the capital and the mansion, including those rumors.

Not only did they wish to kill her, but they also wouldn’t let go of her reputation posthumously, truly malicious!

She would have to carefully plan a grand retaliation.

"Yue’er! Is it really you?!" Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by NovєlFіre.net

A voice filled with delight interrupted Yun Ran’s thoughts.

Turning around, she saw Shen Weixi’s joyous face.

In an instant, she was enveloped in a whirlwind-like embrace, Shen Weixi squeezed her tightly.

"Wuuu! Yue’er, I missed you so much!"

"I thought it would be ages before I saw you!"

"Ah, let me hold you a while longer!"

"You wouldn’t believe the sinister things that King Qin did behind your back when you were ill and injured!"

"Absolutely heartless and inhuman!"

Seeing Shen Weixi on the verge of tears, Yun Ran hurriedly patted her back to comfort her, "Weixi, don’t be sad. Tell me, what did he do?"

Shen Weixi wiped away her nonexistent tears, spoke bitterly:

"He set his dogs on me! Ahh! You know I’m terrified of dogs!"

[That really is treacherous!]

"Although the dog couldn’t catch me, he even made wings for that dog of yours!"

[Dog... wings?! A flying... dog? What, does it want to fly up and bite the moon?!]

"Not only that, its wings are more aerodynamic than mine! I can’t outfly it... Ahhh! I can’t even outfly a dog..."

[That truly sounds like something Nangong Mo’s dog would do...]

Yun Ran comfortingly stroked her face, "Weixi, Weixi, don’t be afraid, I’ll go back and bury its wings so it can only watch you fly~!"

Shen Weixi’s eyes brightened at her words, "Yue’er, it’d be a waste to bury them, give me those wings!"

Yun Ran agreed without hesitation, "Alright! Wait for me, I’ll send them to you tomorrow."

In the shadows, watching all this unfold, Nangong Mo silently smirked coldly.

They cuddled his princess, slandered him, and wouldn’t even spare his dog’s wings!