Chapter 188

Shen Shuangning feigned humiliation, her clear almond eyes glared back, yet her heart pounded.

Two soldiers stood to her left and right, hands still on her shoulders, as if fearing she might do something unfavorable.

Prince Rui glanced at the soldiers and said, "Release her."

A frail woman, could she possibly overturn the heavens?

Only then did the soldiers release her and retreat to the sides.

Pei Zhi bowed slightly and explained to Prince Rui: "When news of Xiao Jingyuan's death reached Jingcheng, the Shen clan secretly left the capital; I feared a ruse, so I personally led men in pursuit, tracking her all the way and finally intercepting her outside Quanzhou City."

"She fled to Quanzhou because she could not accept the heir's death in battle; after much thought, I brought her to your lordship, hoping she might be of use—this is my modest effort to serve you."

Prince Rui had long heard that Shen Shuangning was pursued by the empress, yet he never imagined she would fall into Pei Zhi's hands, nor that Pei Zhi would deliver her to him.

The reason behind this is far more interesting than the vulgar beauties who throw themselves at him.

Keeping her serves both to test whether Xiao Jingyuan is truly dead and, at a critical moment, to manipulate his people—far more intriguing than gold and silver beauties.

Prince Rui's gaze toward Pei Zhi grew more appreciative; he ordered Shen Shuangning taken away and strictly guarded, then specially kept Pei Zhi to speak.

Before parting, Shen Shuangning and Pei Zhi exchanged a glance without changing expression.

On a barren hilltop outside Quanzhou City, a man wearing a green demon mask gazed toward the city, his black eyes like ink, fixed firmly on the distant Quanzhou City.

The wind, carrying the dry scent of plants, howled past, blowing the man's black hair wildly.

A black-clad covert guard silently appeared behind him, dropped to one knee, and whispered in an extremely low voice: "Report to the Heir, the Junior Tutor and the Heir's Consort have entered the rebel army; the messenger says the Heir's Consort currently faces no threat to her life, though Prince Rui has stationed guards, he has not inflicted punishment or harsh treatment on her."

Xiao Jingyuan loosened his grip on the dry twig in his hand slightly.

"Any new developments on Prince Rui's side?" Xiao Jingyuan's voice came through the mask, carrying a hint of wind‑rasped hoarseness, yet remained steady and strong.

"Report to the Heir, Prince Rui has already dispatched a hundred‑thousand‑strong army northward; he is presently in Quanzhou City forcibly conscripting men to expand his forces, apparently aiming to quickly assemble his troops and join forces with the empress in the capital."

The covert guard reported truthfully, his tone tinged with gravity: "Moreover, our men outside the city have found traces of the empress's assassins; they too seem to be searching for the Heir's Consort's whereabouts, but are currently blocked outside the city by Prince Rui's men. The two sides, strangers to each other, have actually clashed."

Xiao Jingyuan listened silently, the coldness in his black eyes deepening.

The empress has not given up searching for Shen Shuangning, perhaps because she simply does not believe he is dead, or perhaps some rumor leaked and she learned something.

Given the current situation, the empress has no retreat, which is why she is so nervous about his sudden appearance causing trouble.

Xiao Jingyuan lowered his gaze to the black‑iron token in his hand, lost in thought.

He then turned his gaze back to distant Quanzhou City, wishing he could rush to rescue Shen Shuangning and bring her to his side—but he knew he could not.

At present, Quanzhou City holds over a hundred thousand troops, with Prince Rui's spies everywhere; if he were discovered, not only would rescuing her be impossible, but he himself would likely be trapped in a siege with no burial place.

He could only wait for Prince Rui to pull out his camp and leave Quanzhou before any chance arose.

That night, a victory report arrived from the front; Prince Rui held a banquet in his mansion and specially invited Shen Shuangning.

Now that Shen Shuangning is in his custody as a prisoner, she naturally has no right to refuse, but at least her life is not in immediate danger.

Those attending the banquet were either Prince Rui's confidants or local officials and merchants; none had seen Shen Shuangning before, nor did they know her identity.

Seeing her exquisite beauty and two maidservants constantly at her heels, they guessed she was likely a woman Prince Rui had recently taken into his household.

They thought her status was probably low, merely a plaything.

An official who had previously sent beauties to Prince Rui saw Shen Shuangning, his eyes lit up, and he suddenly understood.

He mused that it was no wonder that no matter how many beauties he had sent to Prince Rui before, they never got a second glance—now he realized there was a pearl and jade ahead, making everyone else look like stones.

A smooth‑talking official teased Prince Rui with two remarks.

Prince Rui merely held his wine cup, the corner of his mouth curling in a half‑smile, offering no explanation, yet his eyes glanced sideways at Shen Shuangning without changing expression.

They had expected to see her flushed with anger, but instead she buried her head in her bowl, eating earnestly, as if the officials' words were about someone else.

Shen Shuangning truly did not care; it was merely a few teasing remarks, and they would not make her lose any flesh—she ate and drank as she should, to keep herself strong.

Pei Zhi, somehow having gained Prince Rui's favor, now sat at the prince's right‑hand seat and was also exchanging pleasantries with the officials.

Tonight's banquet is a Hongmen feast.

Everyone present knew what Prince Rui was plotting; some were forced, others willingly allied with him.

After all, rebellion is a capital crime punishable by extermination of nine kin, yet if it succeeds one earns the merit of "following the dragon," thereafter rising high and prospering, even poultry and dogs ascending to heaven; such temptation is enough to drive many to take risks.

After three rounds of drinks, the conversation grew louder, and somehow the topic turned to Xiao Jingyuan.

A rotund official with a fleshy face stood up, holding a wine cup whose contents sloshed over his robes, which he ignored, and shouted at the top of his voice:

"What is Xiao Jingyuan anyway? He merely relies on Yan Wang's power to act tough in the north; those military achievements might even have been won by his father. Now, without his father in Quanzhou, he's dead! A complete fool! Hahahaha!"

The words fell, and the hall burst into a wave of laughter.

The officials who had willingly allied with Prince Rui laughed especially loud to curry favor, while those compelled to obey laughed reluctantly but dared not fail to join in.

Someone chuckled, "Just look at you—you're out of the loop; Xiao Jingyuan isn't even Yan Wang's biological son, merely an adopted one!"

"Yan Wang's true son long ago returned to the capital to acknowledge his ancestry—what was his name again? I think it's Xiao Ze. Xiao Jingyuan, dead or not, would otherwise become a homeless stray; after all, how could an adopted son compare to a true son?"

Prince Rui took a sip of wine and smiled faintly; he was among the few who knew the true situation.

That Xiao Ze is a member of the Heavenly Saint Sect; he merely resembles the consort in appearance, and is in fact not Yan Wang's biological son at all.

The real Xiao Ze had long been fed to dogs by the Northern Qi people back then.

Ouyang Wentian, the sect leader of the Heavenly Saint Sect, only after learning of this did he devise a vicious plot: he found a woman resembling the consort among the populace, raised her for over ten years, waiting to trip up Yan Wang.

Unexpectedly, the consort really fell for it.

Thinking of this, Prince Rui felt a tinge of regret; if Xiao Jingyuan were still alive, he would surely be most interesting.

Just then, a personal guard approached Prince Rui, bent down, and whispered a few words.

Prince Rui's formerly proud expression changed instantly.

The empress killed the Princess Royal because she had long ago handed the black‑iron token to Xiao Jingyuan!

That scoundrel Xiao Jingyuan is very likely still alive!

The crowd was drunk as skunks and failed to notice Prince Rui's change in expression.

The rotund official who had just disparaged Xiao Jingyuan a moment ago did not forget to exalt the true host of this banquet.

Now that Xiao Jingyuan died in Black Stone Mountain—he had it coming! Unlike our Prince Rui, who guards the southeast and suppresses sea pirates, and is now about to march north to seize the world—that's a true hero!

What a true hero!

Shen Shuangning's face turned cold, but she didn't flare up on the spot; instead she rose and left directly.

The two maidservants tasked with monitoring her immediately followed.

Shen Shuangning was unaware that, after she left, Prince Rui ran his blade through the belly of that portly official.

That official died without realizing he had flung his flattery onto the horse's leg.

Prince Rui killed without blinking, gave a cold chuckle, then left the group of terrified guests behind and walked straight away.

Pei Zhi, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, shook his head at the dazed official before him, feigned inability to hold his liquor, bowed, and took his leave.

Turning, he walked in the direction Prince Rui had gone.

Shen Shuangning dared not drink at the banquet; she had intended to return to her quarters straight away, but no sooner had she turned a corner than a tall figure blocked her path.

Looking up, she saw it was Prince Rui.

The man's expression was somewhat twisted, his whole body exuding a dangerous aura.

Shen Shuangning instinctively stepped back, but Prince Rui reached out and seized her chin hard, making her frown in pain, yet she didn't utter a sound.

"Tomorrow is the seventh day after Xiao Jingyuan's death; you are his woman. Tomorrow we break camp, and if I take you as a sacrifice to the banner, I shall surely gain a good omen."