The Demon Prince

Xiao Xingyue took the money and immediately went to the Imperial Study.

The emperor was waiting, wearing a new dragon robe.

The lamp on the imperial desk illuminated his face, making him appear dignified and cold.

The chief eunuch stood aside, not daring to utter a sound. Just now, someone from outside had come to report to His Majesty that the Ninth Prince had the Ministry of Justice arrest the Minister of Rites.

Taking over a high-ranking official position without authorization is a serious matter!

Xiao Xingyue bowed and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

The emperor tapped his fingertip on the imperial desk: "Things."

Xiao Xingyue handed over the confession, which the emperor took and read line by line. The atmosphere in the imperial study grew increasingly somber.

Finally, the emperor slammed the confession onto his desk with a loud bang:

"Very well, very well indeed! They dared to switch examination papers right under my nose, support their own faction, plot against the newly appointed top scholar, and even try to deliberately lose face in front of Gou Li's delegation! Issue an imperial decree!"

The chief eunuch immediately knelt down: "This servant is here!"

"Lu Chengzhang and Cui Daoyuan are implicated in a major corruption case related to the imperial examinations and their collusion with foreign enemies in gambling. They are to be imprisoned immediately and, after a joint trial by the three judicial authorities, executed according to the law!"

After hearing his order, Xiao Xingyue still didn't leave. The emperor frowned, remembering his promise to Xiao Xingyue to investigate the deaths of his father and brother.

"My word is law; you may investigate. However," the Emperor said, staring at Xiao Xingyue after a moment of silence in the study, "if you discover that the deaths of your father and brother are related to me, what will you do?"

The chief eunuch was sweating profusely, and no one dared to respond to his words.

Xiao Xingyue, however, looked directly at the emperor's oppressive gaze:

"If the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die. In that case, my Xiao family can only accept our fate."

The emperor's gaze was deep and fixed on Xiao Xingyue, awaiting his next words.

As expected, Xiao Xingyue continued, "However, Your Majesty will have to trouble you to explain this to the people of the world."

"How did the people of the world learn of this?" the emperor asked again.

Xiao Xingyue answered quickly:

"I will spread the word."

The chief eunuch was completely numb, wishing he had no ears.

The emperor remained silent for a long while before gritting his teeth:

"Then you damn well better find out the truth for me! Don't wrongly accuse me!"

Xiao Xingyue cupped his hands in greeting:

"Your subject obeys the decree."

The emperor waved his hand: "Get out."

Xiao Xingyue turned and rolled away, rolling very quickly. When he reached the door, the emperor remembered something and told him to leave the dragon robe behind.

But he had already tucked the dragon robe away and gone far away.

The emperor was incredulous. He looked at the chief eunuch, who pursed his lips tightly, not daring to laugh.

……

Outside the Imperial Study, Li Lingxi waited for Xiao Xingyue. Seeing him emerge safely, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Didn't your father hit you?"

"He doesn't have the guts," Xiao Xingyue replied.

Li Lingxi rolled her eyes: "You really dare to say that."

Xiao Xingyue stared at her pretty face:

"The Sixth Princess".

Li Lingxi stepped back warily: "What are you trying to do now?"

Xiao Xingyue cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his expression solemn:

"I am deeply grateful for the princess's help today. My admiration for the princess is like a never-ending river."

Li Lingxi's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Xiao Xingyue nodded:

"It's like the Yellow River overflowing its banks; once it starts, it's out of control."

Li Lingxi's chin practically pointed to the sky: "Now you know how amazing I am, right?"

"Know."

"You know you're not good enough for me, right?"

"I know that too."

Li Lingxi was overjoyed. Her confidante was right; this weakling was indeed stunned by her.

Xiao Xingyue slowly spoke:

"So, Princess, please do me a small favor next time."

Li Lingxi's smile froze, and she became even more wary: "I won't help."

Xiao Xingyue sighed:

"Unfortunately, I was originally planning to say that if the princess helps me next time, I will agree to annul the engagement."

"This will make you the first princess among all the princesses to regain your freedom."

Li Lingxi's breathing quickened. She hated being bound by marriage and oppressed by palace rules.

She is free, like the mechanical bird she forged herself, soaring through the sky.

But she didn't want to appear too hasty:

"You'd be that kind?"

Xiao Xingyue laughed:

That's why I said I needed the princess's help.

"You have to keep your word!" Li Lingxi gritted her teeth. "Deal!"

She turned and left, the small mechanism at her waist jingling softly.

After Li Lingxi walked away, Xiao Xingyue rubbed his temples.

Today's harvest was great; Lu Chengzhang and Cui Daoyuan fell, but the master codenamed "Lamplighter" has yet to show up.

The Gou Li mission is almost here, and the bodies of her father and brother will soon be returned to the capital. A mess of debts is piled up before her eyes.

……

Inside the Imperial Study.

Not long after Xiao Xingyue left, Qin Zhenyue was summoned to the palace.

When the General of the Western Garrison entered, he was still carrying the chill of the night. He frowned when he saw the confession on the imperial desk.

The emperor pushed the items over, saying, "Take a look."

After Qin Zhenyue finished reading, his expression became terribly grave:

"Your Majesty, this case must be thoroughly investigated."

"I've entrusted the investigation to Xiao Xingyue. He also needs to investigate the true cause of his father and brother's deaths." The Emperor stared at Qin Zhenyue: "Didn't you also suspect me?"

Qin Zhenyue remained silent.

The emperor said coldly:

"Then let's go investigate together."

Qin Zhenyue paused, then clasped his hands in a fist salute:

"I obey your decree!"

Xiao Xingyue had just returned to the Prince's mansion when Zhao Yuanbao rushed over carrying a pigeon with a bamboo tube tied to its leg.

"Young Master, your confidante has written again."

"So fast?"

Xiao Xingyue opened the bamboo tube; the contents of the paper were all filled with excitement:

"A soulmate! Ahhhh! I'm so excited!"

Today is truly gratifying! That weakling who wanted to marry me has finally witnessed my abilities.

He looked completely convinced and almost knelt down on the spot.

However, I also discovered a great secret today, Father (crossed out)...

The words "Father Emperor" were heavily crossed out, and then the text continued:

"My dad is probably having a headache; there's someone secretly sabotaging his business."

My dear friend, do you think I did something amazing?

—Little Spirit Child.

Xiao Xingyue laughed after reading it.

The sixth princess was clearly being led around by him all the way, but in her letter, it turned into her soloing the Heavenly Prison instance.

He sat down at the desk, picked up his pen, and began to write:

"A soulmate! Ahhhh! I'm so excited!"

You will definitely amaze everyone today!

That weakling may not say it, but he's definitely been intimidated by you.

However, this matter is not over yet. With a hidden force stirring things up, more clues are needed.

If you can continue to demonstrate your abilities, then the weakling will definitely realize the gap between you, and the matter of annulmenting the engagement will naturally follow.

—Little Blackie.

……

As night deepened, the roof tiles of the Prince's Mansion creaked softly.

Just as Xiao Xingyue finished sorting and putting away the pills, a red shadow fell outside the window.

Li Shunhua came again, and she seemed to be in a hurry, as if she was holding a grudge.

Xiao Xingyue glanced at her:

"Eighth Princess, the door is just ahead. You need to get this habit of climbing over walls cured."

Li Shunhua coldly:

"Stop talking nonsense and practice your skills."

The voice was deeper than usual.

This was because she had heard something from Qin Zhenyue today: Xiao Xingyue was able to withstand Lu Chengzhang's palm strike and they were evenly matched.

Lu Chengzhang is a fifth-rank official. Even if Xiao Xingyue only relied on the Holy Dragon Technique to cheat, it means that he has at least touched the threshold of the fourth-rank official, or even... he is already a fourth-rank official!

Li Shunhua felt extremely frustrated. Ever since she was forced to transfer her Sacred Dragon Skill to Xiao Xingyue, her progress had been very slow.

Xiao Xingyue's progress was even faster than hers, and his martial arts strength was also soaring.

She refused to accept this; she couldn't continue to be so weak!

She had to get the military officer representative position; she wanted the court to see that even a woman could wield a gun and command troops!

The two people sat cross-legged facing each other inside the room.

As soon as the Holy Dragon Technique was activated, the energy inside the room became powerful.

But soon, she felt herself being suppressed by Xiao Xingyue again! Sweat began to bead on her forehead, and her breathing became erratic.

Xiao Xingyue opened his eyes:

"Eighth Princess, are you sure you can handle this?"

If you can't keep up, then don't bother practicing anymore, forget it.

Li Shunhua was so angry that her chest heaved, and her internal energy surged even more violently.

The more she tried to stay calm, the less she could maintain it; her inner energy, mixed with resentment, surged wildly within her body.

Zhao Yuanbao's voice suddenly came from outside the door:

"Your Highness, Shen Huaxian requests your presence. She says she's undecided about what to do with the murals in the main hall and would like your advice."

Xiao Xingyue finished his practice and stood up:

"understood."

Li Shunhua opened her eyes, her expression unfriendly: "You're really leaving?"

Xiao Xingyue walked out, saying, "The matters of my Prince's Mansion are important. Please wait a moment."

Li Shunhua could only let out a cold snort.

Xiao Xingyue walked to the door and, seemingly casually, placed a bulging medicine bag on the table. The porcelain bottle clinked lightly against the ground, producing a crisp sound.

"Take a break first, but don't sneak any food."

After saying that, he left.

Li Shunhua stared at the medicine pouch. The room was eerily quiet, and the pile of porcelain bottles on the table looked like a group of coquettish little devils.

She knew it was wrong to take things without asking.

She was a princess, Qin Zhenyue's granddaughter, and from childhood to adulthood, no one taught her to steal other people's things.

But she also knew that if things continued to slow down like this, she would inevitably lose the contest for the military representative.

Those people in the court already looked down on her. They would say that the princess was just playing around, that it was disgraceful for a woman to command troops, and that no matter how strong the Zhenxi Prefecture was, it couldn't allow a princess to run amok on the border!

Li Shunhua's breathing became increasingly rapid. She recalled her grandfather's words: "If you weren't a girl..."

Thinking of this, Li Shunhua suddenly stood up and walked to the table:

"Consider it the betrothal gift he gave me, and I'll return double the dowry to him later."

She opened the medicine pouch, and a strong medicinal fragrance wafted out.

One of the porcelain bottles was unlabeled, and the powder was bright red with a strong odor. She poured out a little, held it to her nose, and felt her blood and energy surge.

Tonify Qi and invigorate blood? Or a strong medicine! A thought suddenly struck her:

"There's definitely something good hidden there."

She poured out a small amount and swallowed it. The medicine entered her stomach, and she felt very comfortable at first. The speed of the Holy Dragon Technique immediately increased, and many blockages were cleared.

Li Shunhua's eyes lit up; she had found the right person.

She vomited some more, but soon, something was wrong; a heat surged from her abdomen and spread wildly through her limbs and bones.

She wanted to suppress it with the Holy Dragon Technique, but since she had previously transferred her cultivation to Xiao Xingyue, his foundation was still being strengthened. As soon as she suppressed the true energy, the medicinal power rebounded, wave after wave stronger than the last.

Li Shunhua held onto the corner of the table:

"Damn it! What kind of medicine is this... Why am I so hot..."