Chapter 47: A Night of Slaughter, A Happy Partnership
"Second Miss Jun!"
"What... what are you doing here?"
The Third Prince froze, his eyes widening as he recognized the newcomer.
"Jun Qianyue!"
Standing beside him, Nian Nujiao swallowed hard. She had always prided herself on her appearance, but the moment she laid eyes on Jun Qianyue, she truly understood the weight of the phrase 'peerless beauty.' Even a woman as arrogant as Nian Nujiao had to admit defeat; in front of Jun Qianyue, she felt an instinctive, burning sense of inferiority and jealousy.
"Your Highness, the Third Prince," Jun Qianyue acknowledged coolly.
"You shouldn't be here!" the Prince stammered.
Jun Qianyue's lips curved into a faint, mocking smile as she shook her head. "And why is that?"
"Tonight, my second brother sent a message ordering me to guard the Scripture Pavilion!" The Third Prince looked at her with a mix of confusion and bravado, using the Second Prince's name as a shield.
"Hmph."
Jun Qianyue nodded thoughtfully, though her eyes remained indifferent. "I know you've been his lapdog since you were children," she said softly. "But so many years have passed... why haven't you made any progress?"
"You—!"
The Third Prince's face flushed a deep crimson. Unwilling to tangle with Jun Qianyue's sharp tongue, he pointed an accusing finger at her. "Second Miss Jun! Are you here tonight to shield Ning Ye?"
"Yes."
Jun Qianyue nodded without a hint of hesitation. She murmured the words as if they were the most obvious truth in the world. "He is, after all, this Young Lady's fiancé. It is only natural that I protect him, is it not?"
"Presumptuous!" the Third Prince roared, his voice cracking with rage. "His unauthorized entry into the Scripture Pavilion is a capital offense! Furthermore, this Prince suspects he is colluding with the assassins who attacked my mother tonight!"
He took a step forward, trying to loom over her. "Forget about you—even if your father, General Jun Wuhui, stood here, he wouldn't be able to save him! If Second Miss Jun insists on this path tonight, do not blame this Prince for disregarding our past friendship!"
"That's right!" Nian Nujiao chimed in, her voice dripping with ice. "Jun Qianyue, you must know your place! The Junlin Dynasty belongs to the Wu Clan! The Empire has rules! The Imperial Capital is not a lawless zone where you can do as you please!"
"Is that so?"
The curve on Jun Qianyue's lips deepened.
Without warning, her hand lashed out. She moved with terrifying precision, her fingers winding into Nian Nujiao's long hair. With a violent jerk, she dragged the woman directly in front of her.
"Ah!"
"You wretch!" Nian Nujiao shrieked. "Let go of this Consort! Or else... I will make you regret this for the rest of your life!"
Held fast by her scalp, Nian Nujiao screamed as the tearing pain radiated through her skull. She tried to fight back, but to her horror, she found her cultivation base—her high-level Star Gathering strength—mercilessly suppressed by a mysterious, crushing pressure. She was frozen.
Panic set in. She looked helplessly toward her husband.
"Husband! Save me!"
The Third Prince flew into a rage. He urgently signaled the elderly man standing in the shadows. "Old Man Ye! Jun Qianyue is rebelling! Apprehend her immediately!"
Silence.
The old man in linen clothes seemed to have gone deaf. He kept his head lowered, idly kicking a pebble across the floor of the underground palace, acting as if the scene before him didn't exist.
"You... She..."
The Third Prince's expression collapsed. In that instant, the terrifying reality dawned on him: Old Man Ye was Jun Qianyue's man.
As expected of her, Ning Ye thought, watching the reversal from the shadows with a sigh of admiration.
In the next second, Jun Qianyue turned her wrist, and a sharp, gleaming dagger materialized in her hand.
"You... what do you want to do?" Nian Nujiao's delicate body trembled as the chilling aura of the blade pressed against her skin.
"What do you think?"
Jun Qianyue leaned in close, exhaling a breath scented with orchids into Nian Nujiao's ear. She pressed the cold steel against the woman's fair neck, the smile on her face growing increasingly playful—and cruel.
"You... you can't kill me!" Nian Nujiao stammered, her voice trembling. "I am the granddaughter of the Devil Sect's Grand Elder! I am the Third Princess Consort of Junlin! If you kill me... you will..."
"It wouldn't be the first time."
Jun Qianyue's voice was cold, cutting through Nian Nujiao's threats.
Rip!
With an indifferent flick of her wrist, Jun Qianyue drew the blade across Nian Nujiao's throat. A thin red line appeared on the pale skin, and a split second later, it burst open. Vibrant, hot blood sprayed out like a fountain, splashing directly onto Third Prince Wu You's face.
"Urgh..."
Nian Nujiao clutched her severed throat, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Jun Qianyue. To the very end, she hadn't believed that Jun Qianyue would actually dare to kill her, regardless of her profound background.
Thud!
Nian Nujiao's body collapsed, landing heavily at the Third Prince's feet. A pool of thick crimson blood began to spread around his boots.
"You... what have you done?!"
The Third Prince's pale, effeminate face was now masked in blood. His pupils trembled violently as he stared at the woman before him.
Jun Qianyue had no intention of answering him. She simply parted her red lips and looked over her shoulder, speaking playfully to the shadows.
"You or me?"
"I'll do it."
Ning Ye stepped out of the darkness without hesitation, walking steadily toward Third Prince Wu You.
"You... don't come over!" The Prince stumbled backward, his face draining of color. "This Prince is royalty! I am the Third Son of Junlin!"
"Understood, Third Prince."
Ning Ye nodded noncommittally. With a casual flick of his wrist, the Reverse Moon Blade slashed out, cutting through the void itself.
Pfft!
Amidst a fresh spray of blood, the Third Prince's head was thrown high into the air. It landed with a dull thud and rolled across the stone floor, finally coming to a stop at Jun Qianyue's feet.
"Haha!"
Jun Qianyue looked up, inhaling the heavy metallic scent of blood that filled the air. A look of satisfaction graced her features as she turned to the old servant.
"Old Man Ye. You saw nothing of tonight's events."
"Heh." Old Man Ye chuckled dryly. "Second Miss Jun knows this old servant well. I am advanced in years... not only am I blind, but my hearing has gone as well."
He bowed deeply to Jun Qianyue, then turned and shuffled away, vanishing into the shadows.
Once the old man was gone, only Ning Ye and Jun Qianyue remained in the silent Ancient Hall.
"Successful?" Jun Qianyue asked indifferently.
"Mn. Everything that needed to be obtained has been obtained." Ning Ye nodded.
"Since it's over, let's go home. This Young Lady is a bit tired." Jun Qianyue rubbed her brow, feigning fatigue.
"Mn."
Ning Ye nodded. Instinctively, he stepped forward and took Jun Qianyue's hand, intending to lead her out. But after only two steps, he realized his mistake. Although Jun Qianyue was blind, her spiritual senses were incredibly sharp; she didn't need a guide to navigate the Imperial Palace.
However, he was already holding her hand. If he let go now, wouldn't he lose face?
So, Ning Ye steeled himself. He kept his grip firm, pretending nothing was amiss as he led her toward the Scripture Pavilion exit.
Oh? This guy... he's starting to act the part of a fiancé, Jun Qianyue mused, amusement dancing in her heart. She didn't resist, allowing him to lead the way.
Suddenly, she recalled something and stopped.
"Ning Ye."
"Hmm?"
"You weren't... 'eaten' by Mu Li, were you?"
Uh.
Ning Ye started. 'Eaten' in the literal sense and 'eaten' in the way she implied were two very different things. He straightened his posture and replied righteously, "Of course not!"
"That's good." Jun Qianyue smiled.
"And you?" Ning Ye asked. "How was your interaction with the Empress tonight?"
"Hahahaha!"
Jun Qianyue chuckled, offering her candid assessment of the Empress—or rather, the former Saintess of the Yin Yang Sect, Mu Lingxi.
"She's just a silly little dummy."
Ning Ye raised an eyebrow. That is the first time I've heard anyone call the Yin Yang Saintess a 'dummy,' he thought. But if it's Jun Qianyue saying it, I suppose it's normal.
"Ning Ye," she called out softly.
He turned to look at her. "What is it?"
"Hmm..." Jun Qianyue hummed, a genuine smile gracing her lips.
"It was a pleasure working with you."
Ning Ye was momentarily stunned. Then, a faint smile mirrored hers. He nodded.
"Pleasure working with you."
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