Chapter 223: Life and Death Assassination

"Come here!" Xiao Wei, dressed in a dark silk robe embroidered with dragon‑scale patterns, let the wide hem drape onto the cold blue stone floor, like a beast in the night waiting for prey.

After all these years, his arrogance still remains detestable.

Yalan stared at him fixedly, her hand hidden beneath the sheer robe already clenched into a fist, then gradually relaxing, just like her body, taut to the limit at this moment.

"Come here!" This time Xiao Wei's voice carried a thin anger; he was in a bad mood tonight and needed to vent it urgently.

At this moment he wanted to possess madly the woman before him, who had fled from his side for so many years; yes, only through her could he find satisfaction.

Princess Yalan steadied herself and silently inhaled a deep breath.

The devil before her had killed all her clan and kept her locked up for a night of humiliation.

She hated him, to the point of wanting to eat his flesh and drink his blood; yet her face still held a stiff smile as she stepped toward that devil.

"Your Highness Fu'an," Princess Yalan performed a very proper thousand‑bow salute.

Xiao Wei looked at her obedient demeanor, his expression briefly paused; this woman had been tempered, losing the edge she once had.

He lifted his hand, seized her into his arms, bent down and pressed his lips to hers, with a mix of urgency and ferocity, and an indescribable longing within.

Princess Yalan's hand slightly clenched into a fist, pressed against Xiao Wei's chest, holding back a shiver through her whole body, truly fearing she might not endure and would have to reveal a killing move now.

Though Xiao Wei couldn't defeat Xiao Yin, his martial skill as the army's chief general was naturally not weak; not to mention a frail woman like her, even someone like Xiao Yin might not be able to kill Xiao Wei in a day or two.

She must endure, must endure, now is not the time.

She knows a man's weakest moment is during the pleasures of the bed.

Amidst confused emotions and passion, who can withstand an instant kill?

Xiao Wei hadn't expected the woman in his arms to be so obedient; a few years ago she almost bit the flesh off his shoulder—she was like a different person.

As Xiao Wei thought, he truly fell for her, lifted his hand to grip her delicate chin, stared intently and said, "Do you hate me?"

Princess Yalan was startled; this man had always been a plunderer, never caring about others' feelings.

She was indeed a bit stunned by Xiao Wei's question, then pressed her lips together and let out a low bitter laugh.

"Hate!" she lifted her eyes, staring at him, "I hate you, infinitely hate you!"

When Princess Yalan spoke those words, she stared fixedly into his eyes, her whole body trembling slightly.

Xiao Wei examined her, his gaze now carrying a hint of complexity.

"Hate me? Then why come to Southern Qi's Shang Jing? And why vie for the flower queen?"

In the empty room, the atmosphere grew increasingly heavy; every probe was a sharp knife.

Princess Yalan danced on the tip of that blade; this was an alternative duel, and the loser would lose their life.

Xiao Wei's gaze locked onto Princess Yalan's face, as if to pierce a huge hole through her sorrowful visage, leaving no refuge for her lies.

If earlier Princess Yalan had claimed she didn't hate him and wanted to cling to him, her head would already have been presented before him by now.

"Speak! Why come to Shang Jing?" Xiao Wei's voice was wrapped in a layer of frost.

Princess Yalan chuckled softly, and when she raised her head again, her face was stained with endless mockery.

"You want to know? I think Your Highness would be better off not asking."

"Speak! Why appear in Shang Jing?" He suddenly raised his hand and clamped Princess Yalan's throat.

Because he squeezed too hard, the wine cup on the table toppled to the floor, releasing a sharp, sweet aroma that added a hint of dangerous ambience to the scene.

Princess Yalan's hand instinctively brushed her own wrist, yet it was still not allowed.

It is still not the time; Xiao Wei's guard is high, not a good opportunity.

Her slightly trembling fingers rigidly brushed the bracelet on her wrist, but she held back and did not strike.

Princess Yalan lifted her eyes, staring intently at the reckless man before her, while the corner of her mouth curled into an extremely seductive smile.

"Your Highness asks why I am in Shang Jing?"

"Of course it's to kill you for revenge! Otherwise why would I come to Shang Jing? Is it because of you, you stinky man?"

Xiao Wei froze there, his grip on Princess Yalan's hand loosening slightly, his eyes toward her holding an ambiguous emotion.

"You want to kill me?"

"What else?" Princess Yalan clenched her teeth, "It's just a pity that I've been bought and sold by people, a homeless weak woman; killing you is so hard that even when I just entered your phoenix tower, I was stripped completely."

"Xiao Wei! I can't kill you!"

Xiao Wei focused his gaze on the woman before him, silent for a long while, then suddenly released her hand and burst into laughter.

"If you kill me, you'd be better off submitting to me; I, this Highness, actually love your stubborn demeanor—truly something that makes one… unable to let go!"

Xiao Wei seized Princess Yalan, pushed her onto the bed, and immediately climbed onto her.

The old matron guarding outside heard the intermittent sounds from inside, a wry smile flickering on her face; no matter how lofty a woman, none could escape the Third Prince's hand.

She thought this one was different from the previous, but it turned out to be another schemer seeking to climb the dragon and attach to the phoenix.

The sounds inside were enough to make one's face flush; the old matron had long become accustomed and didn't wish to disturb the Prince's mood, slowly retreating with her companion.

She had just led the person to the corner leading to the second floor when suddenly a roar from Xiao Wei erupted from inside, followed by the sound of a heavy object crashing down.

"This…" the old matron was stunned, not knowing what to do.

One can't just barge in at this moment, right?

In the past, similar intense situations have occurred; those women who couldn't endure the Prince's torment and fought back were never subdued by him, but met especially tragic ends.

At this moment, the noise in that room grew louder, soon followed by Xiao Wei's hoarse, desperate wail.

That wail frightened the few of them considerably.

It used to be the women's wails; now why has it become the Prince's?

"Quick! Someone, come!!"

The old matron hurriedly led the person toward Xiao Wei's room.

By now the room was already in ruins, the bed draped with luxurious sheer curtains stained with blood everywhere.

Princess Yalan lay prone at the corner beneath the window, vomiting blood in large gulps, coldly watching the blood‑soaked Xiao Wei.

Xiao Wei clutched the dagger at his chest, staring fixedly at Princess Yalan, who had been slapped away by him in his frenzy; the anger on his face could not be described in words.

Just now, as his passions surged, Princess Yalan attacked—but thanks to his martial training he instinctively avoided her first strike.

Her thrust aimed at his throat, but perhaps from panic or disbelief that he could dodge, in her confusion the blade struck his chest—though off target.