Xie Mu's lips moved silently, reciting imperial laws about treason and wartime conduct. Her mind catalogued each statute, searching for precedent to handle Yuan Xia's actions. The massacre technically fell within military jurisdiction since the Shadow Sect had been declared enemies of the state, yet the scale and method violated...
"Found anything useful in those laws?" Yuan Xia's voice cut through her thoughts.
The three women stiffened. None had heard Yuan Xia approach - she stood right behind them, Black Heaven sword gleaming with drying blood.
"If you meant to stop me, you would have acted already." Yuan Xia's tone held no malice, just cold certainty. "Instead you watched me eliminate every Shadow Sect member in this compound."
"This was excessive," Xie Mu found her voice. "The emperor-"
"I did this for Li Shen's safety." Yuan Xia's scarred face remained impassive. "The Shadow Sect would have hunted both him and me. Your new emperor moves too slowly with punishment."
