The mad princess forces love upon him, and the aloof imperial advisor trembles every night.

Chu Qingyue slowly raised her eyelashes. In that instant, Yan Song felt a chill run down his spine—those eyes were so still, as still as a deep pool before a blizzard.

"Lord Yan," she spoke, her voice clear and cold like a jade chime, yet carrying a chilling intent, "you said that my killing of the Blood Blade Sect was indiscriminate slaughter of innocent people."

She walked slowly down the jade steps, her skirt brushing against the gleaming gold bricks.

"Blood Blade Sect, a notorious assassin organization in the martial arts world, has taken on 327 jobs in the past seven years, killing 19 government officials, slaughtering 46 entire merchant families, and abducting countless women and children to sell as slaves in the northern border—"

She stopped three steps in front of Yan Song, tilted her head slightly, and a mocking smile curved her dark red lips.

"Does Lord Yan know how much innocent blood is on their hands? Or is it that in your eyes, those children whose eyes were gouged out and tongues cut out, the women who were tortured to death, and the loyal officials whose families were wiped out, are not 'innocent,' and only those killers who sell their lives for money deserve your description of 'indiscriminate killing'?"

Yan Song's body trembled violently, his lips quivering: "Even so... the Ministry of Justice should conduct the trial, the three judicial departments should determine the crime, and the punishment should be carried out according to the law! How can we resort to private torture and violence to suppress violence? If this precedent is set, what will become of the law of the land?!"

"Lennancial punishment?" Chu Qingyue chuckled, interrupting him.

"On my way back to the capital in triumph, the Blood Blade Sect sent six groups of assassins who chased me for three hundred miles. If I hadn't been lucky, Lord Yan would be impeaching a corpse in a coffin right now."

She took a step forward, and the chilling murderous aura emanating from her caused Yan Song, a seasoned official, to instinctively take a half-step back.

"Even now that I'm living in the princess's residence bestowed by my father, they still haunt me. Last night, eighty elite members of the Blood Blade Sect infiltrated the princess's residence, their swords poisoned, each strike deadly, to assassinate the reigning princess and a hero who had contributed to the downfall of the kingdom—"

She spoke each word slowly and deliberately, each word like an icicle hitting the ground.

"This is an unforgivable crime, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family! I acted in self-defense, slaying the invading enemy and displaying his head to the public, precisely to demonstrate the majesty of the imperial law and to deter all evil spirits and demons! What wrong have I done?"

Her voice suddenly turned sharp, her gaze like lightning: "Or is it that in Lord Yan's eyes, I should surrender and offer my neck for execution to uphold your utterly hypocritical 'royal decorum'? To please some people... in their desire to kill me with a borrowed knife?!"

Yan Song's face was ashen, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty did not mean that! Your Majesty only..."

"What does Lord Yan mean by this?!" Chu Qingyue suddenly raised her voice, her imposing aura overwhelming Yan Song, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

"I survived a near-death experience, ambushed in the night, and still in shock. Today, I dragged my wounded body to court, yet I saw no concern from Lord Yan, nor did I see the Censorate impeaching the capital for its utterly corrupt security, allowing assassin organizations to run rampant! Instead, they eagerly jumped out to plead for the infamous Blood Blade Sect, hurling accusations at me!"

She took a step closer, and the bloodthirsty aura emanating from her, born from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, was no longer concealed, rushing towards you:

"Those who know you know you are the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate; those who don't might think you're the Blood Blade Sect's hidden Grand Elder in the court!"

"Your Majesty! This old minister is innocent! This old minister's loyalty is as clear as day!" Yan Song panicked for a moment, instinctively looking at the eldest prince Chu Xuanche, his eyes revealing pleading.

Chu Xuanche cursed the old man inwardly for his impatience, but fearing the investigation would lead back to him, he had no choice but to feign brotherly concern and step forward to smooth things over:

"Please calm down, Your Highness. Lord Yan is a straightforward man. If his words are inappropriate, it is only in the course of his duties. Please don't take it to heart and upset yourself."

"Straightforward?" Chu Qingyue scoffed, her eyes filled with undisguised mockery. "Your Royal Brother certainly knows how to make excuses for him."

She abruptly changed the subject, her tone suddenly tinged with a deliberately feigned vulnerability and grievance, as she faced the Chu Emperor on his throne.

"Father, I have been away from home for seven years, fighting bloody battles on the battlefield, facing death several times, yet I have never uttered a sound of complaint. Now that I have returned, the capital is still as prosperous as ever, but I feel a chill in my heart."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, her voice clear and cold:

"I heard that when my eldest brother woke up, there were three hundred heads of unknown origin on his bed; and when my fifth sister woke up in the middle of the night, there were bloody eyeballs wrapped around her neck. As for me? I'm not much better off. Last night, my residence was attacked, and in the chaos, someone strung these things together and hung them on the gate of the Princess's residence."

After saying that, she took out a sandalwood box from somewhere and opened it herself.

The heavy stench of blood mixed with the strange sweet and fishy smell of preservative herbs instantly filled the air.

The box was filled with human ears—neatly strung together with thin hemp rope, the auricles pale, the earlobes dark red, some still attached with undried scabs.

"Ugh—" one of the civil officials couldn't help but gag.

Chu Qingyue's gaze slowly swept over Yan Song, whose face was ashen, then over Chu Xuanche, whose forehead was covered in cold sweat and whose eyes were flashing with malice, and finally settled on Chu Xuanjing, whose face was slightly pale.

The curve of her lips deepened, carrying a ruthless, all-knowing, cat-and-mouse-like charm.

Chu Xuanche's mind was buzzing, and his vision was going black. He had secretly hired the Blood Blade Sect at great expense, intending to eliminate his powerful and suddenly returned imperial sister. But how could Chu Qingyue, who had just returned to the capital, use such ruthless methods and such a hidden network of connections throughout the capital?

It's like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind! Someone took advantage of the chaos to uproot the Blood Blade Sect, then turned around and splashed the dirty water even harder, trying to drag them down completely!

Third Brother! Chu Xuanjing! You hypocritical Third Brother! You dared to use his people as pawns, and then you wanted to put him on the hot seat so you could reap the benefits! Anger and fear gnawed at his heart like venomous snakes, and his gaze towards Chu Xuanjing was almost spitting fire.

Chu Xuanjing's fingernails, hidden in his sleeve, almost dug into the tender flesh of his palm, the stinging pain bringing a sliver of clarity.

Blood Blade Sect was a hidden dagger he had painstakingly cultivated for many years and buried deepest. Now it has been uprooted and its head is hanging high, becoming a weapon for Chu Qingyue's counterattack, and it may even backfire on him!

This woman... just how much does she know? Was it a lucky accident, or had she already figured it out?

He looked up and met Chu Qingyue's ambiguous smile. There was no triumphant arrogance in her eyes, only a bottomless, icy pool that reflected no human figure.

Chu Qingyue no longer looked at him, but turned to the Chu Emperor, kneeling on one knee with a swift and decisive movement. The silver armor clashed against the gold bricks, producing a resounding clang.

"Father! The Blood Blade Sect has become so rampant that it dared to carry out such ruthless attacks on princes and princesses in the capital. Their hearts are despicable, and their ambitions are not small! Moreover, I was ambushed on my way back to the capital, and suffered heavy casualties! Twenty-seven sons cannot die in vain! If the mastermind is not severely punished, how can I comfort their souls? How can I inspire the army? My actions may be radical, but they are born of my utmost loyalty. I want to rid the country of this scourge, avenge my soldiers, and deter those who dare to harm me."