“Is there anyone outside?” Shi Sheng asked him in a tone as natural as could be.

  Ling Yue subconsciously shook his head.

  Shi Sheng immediately went to lock the door before returning to drag the sack inside.

  Ling Yue, “.……”

  “Anyone bully you?” Shi Sheng busied herself with untying the string on the sack while asking Ling Yue.

  “No.”


  Ever since he entered the palace, he could feel people protecting him secretly. They were very well hidden; he wouldn’t have been able to discover them had he not been a practitioner.

  There was no way those people had been sent by the Empress, so the only person who could have sent them had to be the Prime Minister.

  “Thank you.”


  “Really not used to this sudden politeness.” Shi Sheng muttered. Just after saying that, she finished untying the string, revealing the contents of the sack.

  Once Ling Yue saw what was in the sack, he didn’t know what kind of expression he should make, so his face remained stiff.

  Shi Sheng tied the Crown Princess up with rope and stuffed something into her mouth.

  A coldly gleaming sword appeared from thin air, its blade resting underneath the Crown Princess’s chin.

  Ling Yue, “.……”

  “The one who drugged you was her. How do you want to deal with her? You want her dead or what? Say the word, I’ll do it.”


  “What did you say?” Ling Yue looked at Shi Sheng in surprise.

  “How do you want her to die?” Shi Sheng patiently rephrased.

  Ling Yue shook his head. “No, the first sentence.”


  Shi Sheng frowned. “The one who drugged you was her.”


  Killing intent suddenly exploded forth from Ling Yue, startling Shi Sheng. But soon, a smile appeared on her face.

  “Will it cause you trouble if I kill her?” Ling Yue looked at Shi Sheng and spoke deliberately.

  “She’s just a Crown Princess.” Shi Sheng’s tone was light, clearly not taking the woman seriously.

  Ling Yue walked towards Shi Sheng, killing intent filling his usually clear eyes. “Can you lend me your sword?”


  His own sword had been confiscated upon entering the palace.

  “It’ll dirty your hands. Let me do it.”


  Ling Yue felt like he’d taken a blow to his heart.

  Having someone who was willing to get blood on their hands for your sake……was the most indescribably touching confession.

  Suppressing the weird emotions in his heart, Ling Yue insisted, “I want to do it myself.”


  Shi Sheng looked at him before handing him the sword. “Have you killed before?”


  “Yes.”

  Ling Yue took the sword from her. It was so light, he could barely feel its weight at all.

  With how powerful the sword had seemed in her hands, he had expected it to be very heavy, so this was a big surprise.

  Ling Yue approached the Crown Princess with the sword. Perhaps due to the encroaching killing intent, the unconscious Crown Princess came to.

  Ling Yue used the sword to remove the cloth from the Crown Princess’s mouth. “You were the one who drugged me?”


  “Ling Yue?” When the she made out the person standing before her, the Crown Princess’s eyes lit up. But the pain on her face and body when she moved brought her to her senses. “Ling Yue, you actually dared to attack me!”


  “Eh, Crown Princess-sama, don’t get the wrong person. I attacked you.” Shi Sheng poked her head out from behind Ling Yue and voluntarily admitted to it.

  After all, one had to take responsibility for their own actions.

  “Jun Liyou!” The Crown Princess shrieked. “What do you want? Are you rebelling?! Ling Yue, are you in cahoots with her?! Release me! What do you two want?!”


  “You drugged me.” Ling Yue ignored the Crown Princess’ shrieking.

  “Release me! I am the Crown Princess!”


  “What drug? I don’t know what you’re talking about!”


  “Ling Yue, release me! I’ll give you whatever you want as long as you release me! I’ll make you my first husband! When I ascend the throne, you’ll be Emperor!”


  “You’re still thinking of ascending the throne? In your dreams.” Shi Sheng spoke frostily.

  The Crown Princess glared hatefully at her. “Jun Liyou, just what do you want?!”


  “All I did was pummel you. And then tied you up.”


  The Crown Princess was so angered, her breathing quickened and her face turned green.

  “Did you drug me at the banquet?” Ling Yue asked once more.

  The Crown Princess’s eyes swivelled in their sockets, as she seemed to think of something. She anxiously spoke, “Did the Ning Princess do anything to you? As long as you release me, I’ll help avenge you! I won’t hold this against you; you’ll still be the future Emperor!”


  Shi Sheng, “.……”

  The Crown Princess’s words had indirectly confirmed her involvement.

  Ling Yue’s gaze lowered.

  He tightened his grip on the sword and raised it high. His sleeve made a beautiful arc, as the sword whistled through the air and plunged accurately into the Crown Princess’s chest.

  “.……Oof.” The Crown Princess’s voice halted, disbelief written in her eyes.

  Even till the very end, she still didn’t know what she’d done wrong.

  In this world, you can’t just pretend like nothing happened after you fail at something. Since it was done, you should be prepared for the consequences—no matter the severity. These are the rules.

  Shi Sheng went over to take her sword back. “The lil priest is fine. You don’t have to listen to them. Follow me back.”


  Ling Yue slowly lifted his head to look at her. The killing intent in his limpid eyes faded, only to be replaced by an inexplicable emotion.

  Ling Yue shifted his gaze from her face and replied calmly, “Since they want a Heaven’s Ritual, I can’t disappoint them now, can I?”


  After a slight pause, Ling Yue asked, “Is Gu Su okay?”


  “Dunno.”

  “Please help me take care of him for a few days.” Ling Yue requested sincerely.

  Shi Sheng looked at him. Ling Yue didn’t know what nerve he’d touched on, but her only reply was a forceful harrumph.

  Ling Yue, “.……”


  Since Ling Yue wouldn’t leave with her, Shi Sheng could only return with the Crown Princess’s corpse in tow. After disposing of the body, Shi Sheng leisurely made her way back to her residence.

  It appeared Dai Yue had some form of GPS system planted on Shi Sheng……she had only just stepped foot into the residence when the former managed to find her. “Your Excellency, the little priest wants to see Master Ling Yue, and he won’t listen when I try to persuade him otherwise.

  “Just use meds and put him to sleep, then.” Shi Sheng spoke naturally.

  “Your Excellency……”

  Thinking of Ling Yue’s words, Shi Sheng waved a hand irritably. “Take me over to have a look.”


  After Gu Su had woken up, he’d begun raising all hell, demanding to see his Senior Brother. Dai Yue and Ying Yue really had no way to deal with him.

  “I want to see Senior Brother!”


  Accompanying this shout, a figure dashed out of the room and slammed right into Dai Yue, who had been walking at the front.

  Dai Yue caught him, saving Gu Su from taking a spill.

  “I want to see Senior Brother! Let me see Senior Brother!” Gu Su struggled against her grip, wanting to run outside.

  But Dai Yue didn’t dare to let him go. After all, her lady was standing right behind her.