Autumn Water Courtyard fell into sudden silence.
Everyone there was holding their breath as they looked toward Yang Cheng.
He was clearly only a year and a half old, his body still small.
Other children his age would still be snuggling in a wet nurse's arms.
Yet Yang Cheng stood there radiating imperial authority.
Wu Cangming's steps froze.
"I am the Crown Prince. You are a prince's son. I am your lord, you are my subject," Yang Cheng said. "A subject like you dares to threaten his sovereign, sees defeat by me as shame, and even holds a grudge, planning revenge against me. Is this how Southern Guardian Prince Wu Zhaoyan teaches his heirs?"
Wu Cangming panicked and quickly turned around. "Your Highness, that was just angry talk. Our Wu clan has defended the southern frontier of Great Zhou for generations and rendered countless merits. Will Your Highness punish me over a few angry words?"
"Merit is merit, and fault is fault," Yang Cheng replied. "If not for your clan's immense contributions, what you just did would warrant death."
"Now the death sentence is spared, but punishment is still due."
As he spoke, Yang Cheng reached out with one palm toward Wu Cangming.
The most valuable thing on Wu Cangming was the qilin jade embedded in his body from birth.
Now that Wu Cangming had delivered himself and given Yang Cheng such a big excuse, how could Yang Cheng let this chance slip by?
In an instant, a large hand of true qi pierced through Wu Cangming's chest.
Next to his heart, there was a piece of blood-colored jade shaped like a qilin.
Yang Cheng grabbed it out directly.
"Splurt!"
Wu Cangming spat a mouthful of blood, his face full of despair and venom as he glared at Yang Cheng. "You… you actually dug out my qilin jade…"
"This jade will serve as your gift of apology to me," Yang Cheng said indifferently.
He knew this would stir up future trouble.
After all, Wu Cangming wasn't some nobody.
But to get a system reward, he had to go through with it—even if it meant dealing with consequences later.
The system's rewards were all world-shaking.
Besides, the Southern Guardian Prince's Manor was already harboring ulterior motives. Yang Cheng had zero guilt doing this.
Ding!
[Host has extracted Wu Cangming's qilin jade, effectively crippling him. A heaven-defying move.]
[Achievement level has surpassed "glorious," reaching "legendary." You have earned the highest-grade reward.]
[1,000 Blood Shadow Guards have been granted. Host may claim them anytime.]
The system message calmed the killing intent in Yang Cheng's eyes.
If digging out Wu Cangming's qilin jade hadn't granted top-tier achievement points, Yang Cheng would have killed him right there.
But now, he could spare the dog's life.
Yang Xiu was secretly overjoyed, though his face looked shocked and angry. "Big Brother Crown Prince, Wu Cangming came all the way from Chanzhou to the capital as a guest. How could you treat him like this?"
"Don't you realize this might chill the heart of Southern Guardian Prince? What if it causes unrest in Chanzhou? Can you bear that responsibility?"
"That's my problem," Yang Cheng said. "Since you came to receive Wu Cangming, I'll leave him to you."
Yang Xiu was more than happy. "Men, take Wu Cangming away."
Later, he would be sure to whisper poison into Wu Cangming's ear, stirring hatred toward Yang Cheng.
That way, Southern Guardian Prince's Manor and the Crown Prince faction would clash, and he could profit from the fallout.
"Your Highness…"
Lu Yun looked at Yang Cheng with pleading eyes.
He still hadn't said whether he'd accept her.
"Yang Xiu is the so-called 'son of destiny' your Jade Zither Pavilion talks about. Why aren't you chasing after him? What are you still doing here looking at me?" Yang Cheng asked.
Lu Yun quickly said, "Yang Xiu may indeed be a son of destiny, but I care more about the true essence of the Dao of the zither."
"My talent in the zither is decent, but compared to the myriad worlds out there, I'm nothing. Relying on myself alone, I might never touch the ultimate mysteries of zither Dao."
"Only by following Your Highness do I have hope. I beg Your Highness to grant me this chance."
"Because of your previous actions, you're not yet qualified to be my handmaiden. At most, you're a candidate," Yang Cheng thought for a moment and said.
Lu Yun had both talent and background. Rejecting her outright would be improper if she sincerely wished to follow him.
But not just anyone could be his maid.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Lu Yun looked grateful. She felt the Crown Prince giving her this chance was already a rare show of mercy.
Everyone else on the scene was stunned.
She was a true disciple of the Jade Zither Pavilion—someone qualified to be a Crown Princess.
And yet, such a person could only be considered a candidate for the Crown Prince's maid?
After the rest were dismissed, Cheng Junyi said, "Chengcheng, let me test your swordsmanship."
She picked up a tree branch as her sword and sparred with Yang Cheng.
Very soon, Cheng Junyi was shocked to discover just how astonishing Yang Cheng's grasp of the sword truly was.
He hadn't practiced any profound sword techniques.
It was like he was born to wield a sword, naturally becoming one with it.
Cheng Junyi used all kinds of sword forms, attacking from different angles, but Yang Cheng blocked and dissolved them all.
He was so young—there was no way he had mastered these sword techniques.
Cheng Junyi even felt that if she were in his place, she might not perform as well.
That alone showed Yang Cheng was a natural-born sword genius.
"That's enough," Cheng Junyi finally said with deep emotion. "Chengcheng, your sword Dao in the future will reach extraordinary heights."
That afternoon.
After leaving Autumn Water Courtyard, Yang Cheng began thinking about the Blood Shadow Guards.
As expected, the 1,000 Blood Shadow Guards were likely 1,000 individuals.
If he wanted to claim that reward, he'd need to be careful about where he did it.
If he claimed them inside the palace, and 1,000 men suddenly appeared, Emperor Qian Yuan might have them all executed on the spot.
So, he'd have to find a remote, empty location.
But as the Crown Prince, he was always followed—this wouldn't be easy.
When Yang Cheng returned to the palace, he found Yun Liyue both happy and worried.
She was proud because his martial talent had shocked the entire capital.
At only a year and a half old, Yang Cheng had actually defeated a Martial Master like Wu Cangming. That was unbelievable.
But he was still too young, and didn't yet know how to hold back—he had crippled Wu Cangming.
That was going to be a real problem.
The Southern Guardian Prince's Manor was one of the pillars of the state.
Even Emperor Qian Yuan had to tread carefully around them.
Now that Yang Cheng had crippled Wu Cangming, there was no way they'd just let it go.
"Cheng'er, you're usually so clever. Why were you so heavy-handed this time?" Yun Liyue asked, clearly troubled.
"Does Mother think your son was wrong?" Yang Cheng replied.
"You weren't wrong, but there's more to these things than right and wrong," Yun Liyue sighed. "Wu Cangming is the heir to Southern Guardian Prince. Even if he committed serious offenses, you shouldn't have gone that far. You'll provoke the entire Southern Guardian Prince's Manor."
"So what if I did?" Yang Cheng said calmly. "Mother, I'm the ruler. He's the subject. If a ruler is afraid to offend his own vassals, then what's the point of being emperor? Might as well hand over the throne right now."
Yun Liyue was briefly stunned.
Then she looked thoughtful.
"Your Highness, I think what His Highness said makes a lot of sense," Hu Po added.
"It makes more than just sense," Yun Liyue smiled. "I've been playing political games for years, always overthinking everything. Yet in the end, my son sees things more clearly than I do."
"Cheng'er, you're right. You're the ruler. Even if you were wrong—which you weren't—it's the vassal who should be fearful, not you!"
Then she stood up, voice cold. "If the Southern Guardian Prince's Manor knows their place, fine. But if they don't, then I'll make sure they understand they have no place ruling this empire."
Late that night.
At the Southern Guardian Prince's residence in the capital.
Wu Cangming sat with cold, hateful eyes. "Yang Cheng, you think my qilin jade is that easy to take?"
That jade had long been linked to his consciousness. He could call it back anytime.
He hadn't done it earlier because his hatred was overwhelming.
Since Yang Cheng dared to rip it out, he was going to make him pay.
He closed his eyes to meditate. Moments later, his consciousness linked to the qilin jade.
Buzz—
His mind entered the jade.
Through it, he saw a baby.
The baby was sitting in meditation—clearly cultivating.
A cold, twisted smile formed on Wu Cangming's lips.
If he attacked Yang Cheng's mind through the jade now, he might be able to make Yang Cheng suffer qi deviation and cripple him completely.