Chapter 100: Blood Stains the Prince Mansion, Jiangxue's Request, Awakening (Seeking Monthly Votes)

No one at the scene had yet reacted.

Pei Shaoqing had already raised his sword and charged forward.

"Puchi!"

A cold light flashed, accompanied by a spray of scalding scarlet blood; Yan Sidong's head flew high into the air, his body, still spurting blood, collapsed with a thud, and his head rolled twice on the ground, the expression on his face still somewhat dazed.

The others only then suddenly snapped to their senses.

They followed closely behind, raising their blades and charging forward.

"He wants to kill this Prince! He actually wants to execute this Prince without even questioning me to my face!" The Shu Prince, unable to believe or accept it, stumbled backward, his eyes red as he cursed loudly: "Yan Wu! Yan Wu! You fratricidal, brother-killing scoundrel! You will surely stink for ten thousand years!

No wonder even your own son wants to rebel against you; this Prince only regrets not having truly rebelled against you! Are you worthy of the spirits of the late Emperor in heaven? Yan Wu..."

The next second, Wei Yue flew from his horse's back and struck him dead on the spot with a single palm, "The Shu Prince has conspired to rebel and raised an army to resist arrest; his crimes are unforgivable. Execute his entire household!"

Yan Siqin had already wet his pants in terror; he crawled on the ground laughing like a madman, snot and tears streaming down his face, and shrieked hysterically: "Big brother! You are so ruthless, big brother!"

"Puchi!"

He was decapitated by a single blade strike; his prone body hit the ground with a thud, his eyes wide open, dying with his grievances unavenged.

And this slaughter had only just begun.

"Don't kill me! I beg you... ah!"

"I am the Princess! Are you lowly commoners insane?"

"Protect the Princess! Fight them to the death!"

The household servants, who were usually high and mighty and bullied others by relying on their status, were now like helpless lambs, left to be slaughtered.

The Shu Prince's guard was still considered loyal and attempted to fight to the death to escort the Princess to break through, but it was all in vain.

Those who came from the Capital were at the very least Martial Artists of the Condensing Qi Realm, and there were no small number of Roaming Dragon Realm experts; with a Grandmaster presiding, no one in the Shu Prince Mansion could stop them.

Wei Yue stood with his hands behind his back, watching coldly from the sidelines.

For a time, screams, cries, and shrieks rose one after another, while the Jing'an Guards were like emotionless machines; no expression could be seen on their masked faces, only the silence as they repeatedly swung their blades.

Until the Prince Mansion was filled with the stench of blood and there were no living souls left.

Every inch of the floor was almost dyed red with blood.

The black robes on every Jing'an Guard had traces of being soaked through with blood, their pale masks were covered in splattered blood droplets, and their blade tips dripped with blood.

"Reporting to the Lord, the entire household of the Shu rebel has been wiped out," Lu Feng said as he walked up to the hands-behind-the-back Wei Yue to report.

Wei Yue turned and left immediately, "Return to the Capital."

The Jing'an Guards who came from the Capital followed one after another.

"Respectfully sending off the Lord!" Pei Shaoqing, Lu Dingchuan, and the other local Jing'an Guards of Shuzhou all knelt on one knee and shouted in unison.

"Giddyap! Giddyap!"

Wei Yue came in a hurry and left in a hurry.

Leaving behind only hundreds of corpses in the Shu Prince Mansion.

Not until the sound of hoofbeats could no longer be heard did Pei Shaoqing and Lu Dingchuan, who had been kneeling with their heads bowed, stand up.

Seeing this, the others also rose one after another.

"Many thanks to Brother Pei for pulling me back!" Lu Dingchuan walked up to Pei Shaoqing, his face full of emotion as he spoke.

Pei Shaoqing smiled slightly, "Brother Lu has never treated me poorly, so how could I harm you, Brother Lu?"

"I won't say much more in thanks; too many words seem pale. From now on, Brother Pei, just watch how I treat you," Lu Dingchuan extended a hand.

Pei Shaoqing gripped it firmly, "I trust Brother Lu's character immensely, just as you chose to trust me when facing the Shu Prince at Furong Xuan."

Lu Dingchuan revealed a smile, withdrew his hand, and turned to look at the corpses strewn everywhere, frowning, "Brother Pei, the other corpses are easy to deal with; dragging them to the mass grave will suffice. But how should we dispose of the Shu Prince's family's bodies? They are, after all, members of the Imperial clan!"

"Lord Wei not collecting the Shu Prince's body means he has left it for us to handle. Build a grave and set up a tombstone outside the city to bury them. As you said, they are members of the Imperial clan; if we are too sloppy, the Emperor will be displeased," Pei Shaoqing said.

The Emperor could kill the Shu Prince, and could even be too lazy to collect his body, but they, as outsiders, could not.

Lu Dingchuan nodded, "We shall do as Brother Pei says."

"Now that the matter here is finished, I will leave the cleanup to you, Brother Lu. I shall take my leave first," Pei Shaoqing said, cupping his hands.

Lu Dingchuan returned the salute, "Go carefully, Brother Pei."

Pei Shaoqing turned and walked out of the Shu Prince Mansion, stood at the entrance and looked back once, then leaped onto the back of the Black General and spurred the horse's belly, darting away.

Lu Dingchuan, who had seen him to the door, watched the receding figure with unconcealed envy in his eyes. A Dragon Blood Treasure Horse! He wondered if he would have the chance to be gifted one in this lifetime?

………………………

Leaving the Shu Prince Mansion, Pei Shaoqing headed straight for Jiangxue's residence, intending to bathe and change clothes before returning to Tongzhou.

Ye Hanshuang and Liu Yuheng had not come to Jingguan City to meet him; they must have returned a step earlier. With the speed of the Black General, he could catch up to them even if he set off later.

"Lord Pei!" The sturdy woman who opened the door was stunned after seeing that the visitor was Pei Shaoqing, then hurriedly turned back and shouted inside: "Young Lady, Lord Pei is here."

Then she stepped aside, "Lord, please come in."

Just as Pei Shaoqing stepped through the door, he saw Jiangxue, dressed in a long green skirt, running over with a face full of joy.

As she ran, her light gauze slipped, revealing her jade-white shoulders; the rounded jade mounds inside her pink embroidered bodice rose and fell, as if they might jump out at any moment.

"Pei-lang, I have missed you so much."

She threw herself into Pei Shaoqing's arms and hugged him tightly.

Seeing this, the sturdy woman closed the door and walked away quietly.

"Is Xue'er missing this Young Master, or missing the dance of the spear and staff?" Pei Shaoqing asked, holding her slender waist.

"I miss both." Jiangxue's eyes were as seductive as silk; then, belatedly smelling the scent of blood, she looked down and realized that she had already been stained with quite a bit of blood, and was immediately frightened out of her wits, "Ah! Pei-lang, this..."

"It is all someone else's. Prepare hot water and serve this Young Master a bath," Pei Shaoqing said indifferently.

Jiangxue pursed her lips and replied: "Yes."

Wealthy households always kept hot water on hand, so Pei Shaoqing was soon sitting comfortably in the wooden tub.

Her hair pinned up, the stark-naked Jiangxue also sat inside to attend to his bath, using her own smooth, delicate body to scrub every part of him with care.

She was just like a beautiful snake, her supple figure constantly coiling around Pei Shaoqing, slithering over his body.

Soon, her face flushed like a rosy cloud, and she was panting for breath.

Face-to-face with Pei Shaoqing, she held his face with a dazed look in her eyes, "Young Master, help this slave wash up, too."

Mist filled the air, and her skin was white with a rosy tint, appearing as if it would break at a touch.

"Wash where?" Pei Shaoqing asked with a half-smile.

Jiangxue threw herself into his arms, leaned into his ear, and whispered like an orchid, "Wash both inside and out until clean."

Soon, water splashed everywhere in the tub.

After a long while, Pei Shaoqing finally stopped.

Jiangxue asked, "Is Young Master satisfied?"

"A femme fatale," Pei Shaoqing exhaled.

Jiangxue, however, suddenly began to sob in a low voice.

"What is it, Xue'er?"

"Xue'er has a favor to ask." Jiangxue suddenly scrambled up and knelt on the bed, saying.

Pei Shaoqing frowned, reached out to touch her delicate cheek, and said, "Xue'er, just say what you have to say; why be like this between us?"

"Xue'er implores Young Master to avenge the destruction of my family and home." Jiangxue kowtowed heavily.

Pei Shaoqing's expression was calm, "Tell me about it first."

"Xue'er's real name is Xu Hui; my late father was the former Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, Xu Yong, who was framed by that villain Xie Wenjin for colluding with foreign tribes and plotting rebellion, leading to the execution of our entire family.

Only my young self and my mother's personal maid escaped the disaster; all these years, I have not for a moment stopped wanting to take revenge, so I beg Young Master to help me."

Pei Shaoqing had no idea who Xu Yong or Xie Wenjin were, but he could guess that Xie Wenjin must be a big shot now, so he didn't feel it was worth risking his neck for a moment of pleasure.

"Xue'er," Pei Shaoqing said in a gentle tone.

Jiangxue looked up, "Young Master."

"Regardless of whether your father was wronged, the verdict has already been set. Do you know that the fact I haven't arrested you yet and am still willing to share a bed with you is already taking a huge risk?" Pei Shaoqing said.

Jiangxue wept like rain, "This slave knows."

"I know your identity now and am still willing to shelter you, yet you want me to help you take revenge? Do you know what kind of risk I would be taking by getting involved?" Pei Shaoqing's tone held displeasure.

Jiangxue threw herself at him, hugging him tightly, and sobbed, "I'm sorry, Young Master; it is all because this slave was too greedy, too ungrateful, too pushy, and too eager to avenge my parents."

"I can understand your feelings." Pei Shaoqing's tone softened, and he gently stroked her wet hair, saying, "How about this: I am not clear about the events of that year. When I return to the capital, I will investigate. If your father was truly wronged, I will find a way to clear his name."

Better to make a promise first; he would see how things went later.

He couldn't just believe everything she said.

If there was an easy opportunity to clear the Xu family's name, he wouldn't mind helping, but otherwise, he would let it go.

"Thank you, Young Master; Xue'er will be Young Master's person forever." Jiangxue had been prepared for a rejection and hadn't expected Pei Shaoqing to agree.

She was moved beyond measure, hugging him and kissing his face repeatedly, taking the initiative to reach out and help him adjust his trajectory.

This was the only way she had to repay him.

Just then, the maid's voice suddenly came from outside the door, "Miss, that man surnamed Wang is here again."

"The scholar who chased the carriage that day?" Pei Shaoqing immediately raised an eyebrow and asked with interest.

"Yes." Jiangxue bit her red lip, fearing he might harbor resentment, and said, "Send him away; tell him not to come again in the future. I'm afraid Young Master Pei might misunderstand."

"Miss, he came to say goodbye, saying he wishes you well in finding a good match and thanks you for your help when his purse was empty; he will surely repay this kindness in the future."

Hearing this, Jiangxue's expression was somewhat complex; while twisting her waist and humming softly, she said, "Tell him for me, it's... hmm~ good that he can move on; I don't expect him to repay me, I wish~ I wish him success in the imperial examinations."

"Seeing how heartbroken he was that day, I thought he would never recover," Pei Shaoqing chuckled.

Jiangxue said gloomily, "How many men would actually seek death over a woman? Once they calm down, they will naturally realize that their future is what matters. A man who pours his whole heart into a woman has no prospects anyway."

Pei Shaoqing couldn't help but smile at this; in the society of his previous life, there were plenty of such simps and losers.

Compared to those people, the scholar surnamed Wang had already won by a lot: he knew when to advance or retreat, remembered kindness, and knew how to let go.

"Since he is a poor scholar, how does he have the money to visit a brothel and request the top courtesan?" he asked curiously.

Jiangxue replied, "His classmates treated him; how could he have any silver himself? He can barely afford to eat."

Pei Shaoqing suddenly realized; well, this was a proper, poverty-stricken scholar who could stand the test of the people.

Outside the small courtyard, Wang Shen, wearing an old, washed-out long gown, no longer looked as disheveled as he did chasing the carriage; he was handsome and stood tall.

"Miss is currently accompanying Young Master Pei and has no time to come out to see you off. She says she does not expect you to repay her and wishes you success in the imperial examinations," the maid said indifferently as she walked out.

"Thank you." Wang Shen smiled slightly, bowed calmly to express his gratitude, and added, "Please tell the Baron of Pingyang for me, I hope he treats Miss Jiangxue well."

As his voice fell, he tightened the bulging bundle on his shoulder with one hand, turned around, and left with a steady gait.

At first, he was heartbroken.

But after drowning his sorrows for a night, waking up to look at his bare walls and a few broken books, Wang Shen suddenly had a great epiphany.

For someone like him, the top priority was to get ahead; what right did he have to covet love?

That Miss Jiangxue did not mind his poverty and appreciated his talent enough to provide financial aid was already a great kindness.

She had found a good match, and a young talent like the Baron of Pingyang at that; he should be happy for her and offer his blessings.

At the same time, he should work hard to strive for the ability to repay her great kindness, so as not to let down the special regard she once showed him.

How could he just fall into depravity and sink further?

Having suddenly awakened, Wang Shen knew that his act of chasing the carriage had already caused him to lose all face in Jingguan City, so he decided to go out to travel and study, and would only return home in glory on the day he succeeded in the imperial examinations.

(End of chapter)