Chapter 129
Chapter 129: Killing a Prince
On a winding stone path, thick-soled copper-nailed boots hurriedly rose and fell. The sharp sound of footsteps echoed between the halls and chambers, shattering the calm within the Heavenly Brocade Guard’s main headquarters.
Dressed in a white satin robe fastened with a black linen belt, Third Prince Li Zhu walked swiftly and silently, his face dark with anger, following behind a Heavenly Brocade Guard attendant.
Soon, the guard stopped before a courtyard. Glancing nervously at Li Zhu’s darkened face, he cautiously said, “Your Highness, this is the Eighth Prince’s residence.”
Li Zhu, robust and imposing, impatiently waved his hand without sparing the guard a glance. “Now get lost!”
Not daring to linger, the guard quickly retreated. Li Zhu shoved open the half-closed courtyard gate and strode directly inside.
Upon entering, Li Zhu’s fierce gaze swept the courtyard and settled on a pavilion. Beneath it sat a handsome young man in black, leisurely sipping tea from a porcelain cup. Beside him stood a lovely maiden in snow-white robes.
When Li Zhu arrived, the delicate and beautiful young woman glanced toward him, but the young man continued drinking his tea, entirely unbothered.
“So, you are Consort Jing’s son?” Li Zhu asked coldly, his gaze fixed upon Li Mu Sheng.
Li Mu Sheng remained silent, completely ignoring him. It was Cang Yin Yue who turned toward Li Zhu and said, “The Heavenly Brocade Guard has more important tasks right now and cannot help investigate the murder of Imperial Concubine Ji. Your Highness, it is best if you leave.”
Hearing her words, the anger in Li Zhu’s heart erupted. “Since when is it the turn of a lowly maid like you to speak?” he snapped viciously.
A cruel glint flashed in his eyes as martial Qi surged silently within him. Step by step, he advanced toward Li Mu Sheng and Cang Yin Yue, each stride amplifying his formidable aura. Purple and gold light flickered in his fierce eyes.
To Li Zhu, this Eighth Prince, raised outside the palace, was arrogant beyond measure. With no backing, how dare he defy his authority, especially now, when Heavenly Brocade Guard must find his mother’s murderer?
The frustration from failing to uncover the true culprit and his burning hatred surged forth all at once.
“Ignorant, arrogant, disrespectful to elders! Today, I shall discipline you in Father’s stead. Perhaps you’ll learn some humility. Shang Yang City is no backwater; it is not a place where you can behave recklessly!”
Li Zhu spoke harshly, his gaze fixed on Li Mu Sheng. Yet, strangely, the angrier he became, the calmer his face appeared.
As he stepped forward, martial Qi gathered around both his arms, forming two streams of purple and gold like coiling dragons. With a powerful motion, Li Zhu thrust both arms forward, sending forth a roaring wave of Qi toward Li Mu Sheng in the pavilion.
Seeing this, Li Mu Sheng merely raised an eyebrow, unwilling to move himself. Instead, he glanced toward Cang Yin Yue.
Cang Yin Yue hesitated for a moment but ultimately drew her sword swiftly. The Imperial Dragon Divine Sword swept through the air in a graceful arc of azure light, intercepting Li Zhu’s attack.
Cang Yin Yue understood the sword’s power and deliberately held back. After all, Li Zhu was still the Great Li Empire’s Third Prince; she didn’t want to seriously harm him and cause trouble for Li Mu Sheng.
But even with restraint, she had underestimated the power of the Imperial Dragon Divine Sword—the empire’s sacred artifact. The sword’s dazzling glow not only destroyed Li Zhu’s martial Qi instantly but also sliced directly into his arms, piercing his Qi shield and leaving deep gashes several inches long.
Li Zhu stopped abruptly, staring in shock at his bleeding arms. Scarlet blood quickly soaked his pristine white sleeves.
“You lowly maid, how dare you injure me?” Fury burned in Li Zhu’s eyes as he glared at Cang Yin Yue. Clenching his teeth, he shouted to empty air, “Kill her!”
Immediately, from a shadowy place outside the courtyard, an elderly figure in black appeared swiftly, standing before Li Zhu in a blink. The elder took one look at Li Zhu’s wounded arms and hesitated no longer. A chilling murderous intent filled the air as he stretched forth his hand, summoning a ghostly, claw-shaped shadow aimed straight at Cang Yin Yue.
Yet, in mid-strike, the old man suddenly froze completely still.
Behind him, Li Zhu frowned, about to speak, but his pupils abruptly shrank. To his horror, he saw a bloody hole piercing clean through the back of the elder’s skull.
Li Zhu’s raging fury was suddenly doused as if by icy water. Looking around frantically, he demanded, “Who dares?”
At this moment, Li Mu Sheng’s calm voice drifted over from beneath the pavilion, “Naturally, it is me.”
Li Zhu spun toward Li Mu Sheng and immediately shook his head in disbelief. “Impossible!”
“You’re bluffing. You must have someone powerful hidden behind you. He is from the Imperial Palace; killing him will not go unpunished. Whoever is protecting you will surely face death!” Li Zhu declared grimly.
He had assumed that no one in Heavenly Brocade Guard headquarters would dare harm him. Yet, unexpectedly, Li Mu Sheng defied all rules. Not only did his subordinate injure him, but they also killed a palace expert assigned for his secret protection. Utterly lawless!
At this moment, Li Mu Sheng glanced at Li Zhu calmly. “Nothing is impossible. Even your beloved mother—I went into the palace and ended her life myself. Killing this man was easy.”
Hearing these words, Li Zhu stiffened in shock, then snapped his gaze onto Li Mu Sheng, eyes burning with rage. “You’re courting death!”
He didn’t believe Li Mu Sheng had the ability to kill his mother, yet such reckless words stirred his hatred deeply. Li Zhu wished he could tear Li Mu Sheng apart on the spot. But realizing his current disadvantage, he forcibly restrained his killing intent.
Suddenly, Cang Yin Yue spoke clearly, her eyes locked on Li Zhu, “Third Your Highness, did you know that Imperial Concubine Ji colluded with Marquis Cang Yuan’s household, kidnapping young women and murdering them to practice evil arts?”
Li Zhu’s fierce expression shifted instantly, turning toward Cang Yin Yue. “How do you know about this?”
Cang Yin Yue’s eyes narrowed slightly as she replied softly, “Imperial Concubine Ji deserved death. I advise you to let the matter rest quietly. Otherwise, once the truth spreads, even in death, she will find no peace.”
Li Zhu’s expression turned chillingly dark. He snapped sharply, “So what if I killed a few people to hone my skills? How dare a lowly maid presume to instruct me? Just wait—I swear you will pay dearly for today’s insult!”
Holding back the bleeding from his injured arm, Li Zhu spun around, ignoring the corpse of the elderly man in black lying lifelessly on the ground, and hurriedly strode towards the courtyard gate.
Li Mu Sheng not only had hidden masters protecting him, but even this seemingly humble maid was formidable. Alone, Li Zhu was no match for them. For now, swallowing his humiliation and retreating was his only choice. Later, he would seek help from his second elder brother and maternal grandfather. After all, Li Mu Sheng was merely a worthless prince with no backing. Li Zhu had countless ways to repay today’s humiliation a hundredfold.
At that moment, Li Mu Sheng, seated beneath the pavilion drinking tea, cast a glance at Cang Yin Yue. “Miss Cang, people like him aren’t worth sparing. Those who deserve death should be killed without hesitation. If someone has value, squeeze them dry before ending them.”
As his voice faded, a faint Talisman Light silently slipped into Li Zhu, who had barely begun his departure.
Before Li Zhu even realized what had happened, the Life Death Talisman erupted within his body. Instantly, agonizing pain surged through him, like thousands of ants gnawing at his flesh, piercing straight into his bones. He collapsed onto the ground, screaming uncontrollably and writhing helplessly in torment.
Li Mu Sheng then calmly said to Cang Yin Yue, “I set the talisman to kill him after half an incense stick’s worth of time. This man is close to the Second Prince. See if you can glean any useful information about the key to the Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury from him. Of course, if he has nothing to offer, that’s fine too.”
Cang Yin Yue took a deep breath. Although she felt killing Li Zhu wasn’t right, the matter had already escalated. Letting Li Zhu leave alive could lead to unforeseeable vengeance. It seemed best to end his life now. Afterwards, she could dispose of the body and deny everything. Perhaps then, this whole incident could be smoothly resolved.
Thinking this, Cang Yin Yue nodded. Working within the Shadow Spy Division and Six Gates, she knew countless ways to handle a corpse discreetly, leaving no trace behind.
But just as she moved, Li Mu Sheng spoke again, “Miss Cang, leave his body intact. After all, he and I share some distant kinship. It wouldn’t do for rumors to spread that I’m heartless.”
Hearing this, Cang Yin Yue’s brows furrowed slightly. Yet, since it was Li Mu Sheng’s request, she wouldn’t refuse. Though it was troublesome, she’d do her best to handle the matter delicately.
After about half an incense stick’s time passed, Cang Yin Yue glanced at Li Zhu’s now-lifeless form. Then she reported everything she’d learned to Li Mu Sheng.
Initially, when she had learned the Second Prince possessed one of the keys to the Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury, she hadn’t held much hope for Li Zhu’s information. But surprisingly, Li Zhu revealed that after obtaining his key, Second Prince Li Que had secretly searched for other keys and seemed to have made some progress.
“According to Li Zhu, the other remaining key in Shang Yang City should be with that fake prince locked in the prison,” Cang Yin Yue said thoughtfully to Li Mu Sheng. “However, those remnants of Great Qi had previously claimed the remaining key was held by a woman of the Great Li royal bloodline.”
“If neither party lied, then combining these statements, the last key to the Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury is likely in the hands of the Eldest Princess, who’s closely connected to that fake prince.”
Li Mu Sheng studied Cang Yin Yue with interest. He found the young lady’s line of reasoning intriguing. Her conclusion wasn’t unreasonable. Indeed, it narrowed their search considerably.
“This matter, I leave to you, Miss Cang,” he instructed. “However, the Eldest Princess appears to have strong martial dao skills and capable protectors. If it becomes too dangerous, wait until I return.”
“Rest assured, Your Highness,” she replied with confidence. “I know my limits.”
Turning away, she began to tend to Li Zhu’s corpse. Yet, Li Mu Sheng reached out to stop her.
“Let the Heavenly Brocade Guard handle this. After all, I did this partly to assist their Commander. They should take responsibility for tying up loose ends.”
Li Mu Sheng summoned the Heavenly Brocade Guard members previously dismissed from duty and instructed them to deal with Li Zhu’s remains. Since he had promised an intact corpse, naturally, he intended to keep his word.
However, when the guards arrived and saw the body of Li Zhu sprawled on the ground, they froze as if struck by lightning. When the guard Zeng Hai finally recovered his senses, he felt chills running down his spine, his clothes quickly soaked with cold sweat.
“Your… Highness, you want me to deal with the Third Prince’s corpse?” stammered Zeng Hai, eyes blank and voice trembling.
Originally, his superior had assigned him to guard the Eighth Prince—a position envied by many in the Heavenly Brocade Guard. After all, being noticed by the prince promised rewards, promotions, and a prosperous future.
But now, Zeng Hai nearly fainted from fear. What had he seen? The robust and proud Third Prince lay dead, cold and lifeless, right here in the courtyard. And the Eighth Prince was ordering him to dispose of this royal corpse. Suddenly, the vision of promotions and prosperity vanished from his mind, replaced by imminent death and doom.
…
Moments later, Zeng Hai had no idea what he was doing. Mind blank, he stumbled out of Li Mu Sheng’s courtyard, Li Zhu’s corpse weighing heavily on his back.
After walking a short distance, Zeng Hai wiped cold sweat from his forehead. Turning back for a final glance at the courtyard, he collapsed onto the ground, utterly drained.
Li Mu Sheng had ordered him to handle the corpse. Refusal was impossible—he knew refusing would merely mean adding his corpse next to Li Zhu’s.
“This matter… It’s beyond me,” he murmured, shaken. “I must inform the Pacification Commissioner…”
Yet soon, he hesitated again. A prince had died. Could a mere Pacification Commissioner really handle such a crisis?
He sat on the ground, his face shifting with dread and uncertainty. Finally, he rose unsteadily, hid Li Zhu’s corpse carefully, and hurried to the hall where Commander Fu Qi Wen stayed.
Initially, when Zeng Hai entered to report, Fu Qi Wen continued working on documents, assuming the guard was there with routine updates. However, once Zeng Hai nervously explained the details concerning Li Zhu, Fu Qi Wen abruptly stopped writing. He stood up swiftly, eyes wide with shock, staring at Zeng Hai.
“What did you just say?”